Lifestyle

   James Scardami of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Bay City has achieved the professional designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist.
   Scardami successfully completed the Accredited Asset Management Specialist, or AAMS, Professional Education Program from the Denver-based College for Financial Planning. 
   Those who complete the program, pass a final exam, and sign a code of ethics and disclosure form earn the AAMS designation.
   This advanced training offers investment professionals the hands-on information needed to provide comprehensive financial services.
   Study topics include understanding the asset management process and understanding asset allocation and strategies.

The Texas Tribune

   County Judge Nate McDonald narrowly won re-election Tuesday as nearly half of Matagorda County’s 21,654 registered voters turned out to vote.
   A total of 10,636 or 49.1 percent of voters cast ballots in early, absentee and election-day polls.
   The JP 1 referendum on the legal sale of all alcohol beverages, including mixed drinks - Proposition A - passed with 2,065 votes or 74.6 percent of the total votes cast.
   Leading off with this election year’s countywide contested races are:

   The tax abatement reinvestment zone for Air Liquide’s proposed $107 million production plant was unanimously approved by Matagorda County Commissioners Court Monday, Nov. 5.
   Noting that Air Liquide’s continued negotiations with the Port of Bay City Authority were in place, Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard moved to approve the reinvestment zone that will be on 20.64 acres near Oxea of FM 3057.
   Air Liquide is seeking a five-year tax abatement - 100 percent in 2021 and dropping yearly to 55 percent in Year 5 in 2025 - as part of the reinvestment zone designation.
   Air Liquide’s proposed manufacturing plant will produce argon, nitrogen and oxygen.
   The plant will be near Air Liquide’s industrial gas pipelines that run through Matagorda County from Lake Charles, La., to Bishop, Texas.
   Construction on the plant is slated to begin in May 2019.

   Parents, swimmers and BCISD staff members took issue with the swimming pool curfew - prompted by the lack of overhead lighting - at the Bay City Pool at city council’s regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 1.
   Bay City High School Swim Team Coach Bob Button said the curfew caused the cancellation of a recent swim meet.
   The curfew “seems very odd with little notice,” said Robert Vargas, a parent of a BCHS swimmer.
   “Why not notify the team in August when Button schedules meets,” Vargas asked.
   The timing of and confusion from the curfew after sunset came after a lengthy repair process of the pool’s heating system that affected swim team practices.

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   With over a dozen drop-off sites, Toys for Tots Matagorda County is aiming to provide Christmas joy to 1,000 local children of all ages.
   “Our goal is to give every child four toys, four stocking stuffers and a book for Christmas,” said Toys for Tots coordinator James Scardami.
   “Every toy that gets donated here locally, stays in Matagorda County. I started this campaign because I’m a Marine and I believe every child deserves a Christmas gift.”
   The toys will be arranged in age-specific groupings before being given out to registered families.
   “According to the foundation, toys for infants and teenagers are the hardest to come by,” he said.
   “Right now, we’re accepting toys for all ages as well as applications.”
   Applications can be found online at toysfortots.org and searching for Matagorda County when prompted.