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01/10/2026

Heritage Tours Draw Hundreds to Historic Galveston Churches
By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
Photos by Robert Mihovil
The Sacred Heritage Galveston Catholic Tours exceeded all expectations, prompting docents and parish leadership to plan another event in June.
"It was interesting to see all the people who came in. We learned most of them were from out of town, some from out of state, and we know of at least one from Japan," explained one of the docents.
"It seemed like a lot of people who had passed the churches on their visits to the beach or other places in Galveston had come for the tours," said another docent.
The committee had hoped for 25 guests per church but surpassed their goal at each location:
Holy Rosary: 80
Sacred Heart: 120
St. Mary's Basilica Cathedral: approximately 40
St. Patrick: 40
Ursuline Chapel: 65
When the doors opened at 9:00 a.m., visitors were already waiting at each church the committee said.
"I was impressed with the interest and the number of people," said Veronica Ayala, an O'Connell High School graduate.
Sacred Heart hosted a wedding at 2:00 p.m. on the same day, and although tours had closed two hours earlier, some visitors still quietly stepped inside to admire the beauty of one of Galveston's historic churches, docents reported.
Guests who toured Ursuline Chapel were guided by Carol Martorell, a 1965 graduate of Ursuline Academy. She recalled in detail the chapel's history, including how its stained-glass doors once served as the visitor's entrance at the original Ursuline Academy.
The original Ursuline Academy was torn down after Hurricane Carla.
One question that guests at all the churches asked most frequently concerned each church's history during the Great Storm, a hurricane that struck Galveston in 1900 and remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

01/10/2026

First Men’s Galveston Mardi Gras Krewe of Axe-Idents Invited to Perform
in Mande Kings Day Walking Parade & Festival 2026
on Saturday, Jan. 10, in Mandeville, La.

GALVESTON, Texas (Jan. 7, 2026) – Fearless and fun Krewe of Axe-Idents “Lumberjacks” will travel from Galveston to dance to rhythmic beats on Mandeville streets on Saturday, Jan. 10, as guest performers in the Mande Kings Day Walking Parade & Festival 2026.
Members of the first and only men’s Mardi Gras Galveston krewe will “road trip” to the New Orleans North Shore suburb of Mandeville to shake, shimmy, and strut for Mande Kings Day Walking Parade spectators. The parade starts at 3 p.m. at the Mandeville Lakefront. The Festival will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Mandeville Trailhead.

Founded by Brandon Bracewell in April 2025, the Krewe of Axe-Idents has made history as the first men’s marching and dancing Mardi Gras krewe based in Galveston. A native of Moss Hill in southeast Texas, Bracewell said he decided on the name of the krewe “quite by axe-ident.”

Members of the krewe wear green and black sleeveless plaid shirts and black shorts as the base of their costumes, and they dance (perhaps not so well) to a wide range of 80s, Funk, Hip Hop, and “surprise” tunes.

“I was thrilled to get a message from Mande Milkshakers reps back in early October 2025 inviting us to perform in their Kings Day Parade to kick off the 2026 Mardi Gras season. At that point, we had not even performed in a parade. They liked our concept, and they believed in us. So, we said ‘yes.’ We debuted in the Second Annual Mystical Parade of Boo in Galveston in late October, and we were pleasantly surprised that we won the Best Walking Group Award,” Bracewell said.

For the Mande Kings Day Walking Parade on Jan.10, 11 Lumberjacks (guys who dance) and nine Lumberjills will entertain Mardi Gras revelers. The Lumberjills are women who encourage the Lumberjacks to have fun dancing as well as they can. The Lumberjills are wives, girlfriends, sisters, and friends of the Lumberjacks who assist with distributing beads for spectators and water for Lumberjacks during parades.

Bracewell has been affiliated with the Tutu Live Krewe, an award-winning women’s Mardi Gras Krewe based in Galveston, for over two years as a member of the Tuxedos men’s Tutu Live Krewe support group. He said that interest in an all-men’s Mardi Gras dance krewe has been steadily growing.

“Tutu Live Krewe founder Donna Swartz and my significant other, Leah Cox, encouraged me to start a guys’ krewe last year after Mardi Gras season wrapped up. So, I decided to go for it. And I am glad I did,” Bracewell said. “We are having fun. And most of us are stepping way out of our comfort zone because none of us has a dance background! Spectators see us making a courageous and somewhat awkward attempt to dance in public, and their response has been incredibly positive and supportive.”

The officers of the Krewe of Axe-Idents are as follows:
● Brandon Bracewell, president
● Luis Huerta, vice president
● Kirra Guidry Randolph, secretary
● Matt Bruzek, treasurer

“Response has been extremely positive. Participating in eight parades this year will definitely help us recruit new members. I am confident that we will keep growing over the next several months and years,” Bracewell said.

Recruiting for the Krewe of Axe-Idents is ongoing and is open to men ages 27 and older. The dues for dancing krewe members are $180 per person for the first year. A “hauler” membership is available for $50 per person for anyone who prefers not to dance with the krewe and instead prefers to assist in support roles -- such as carrying the krewe’s banner, driving the krewe vehicle, and distributing water to krewe members and beads to spectators.

Choreographer committee members include Crystal Titsworth-Barker, Rachel Beaman, Angela Bruzek, Leah Cox, Amy Jo Johnson, Renee Marcela Hinojosa, Luis Huerta, and Mark White.

“Our choreography team brings the energy and the magic to our moves,” Bracewell said.

The Krewe of Axe-Idents is a non-profit organization that was founded in April 2025. For more information, please visit www.kreweofaxeidents.com and follow the krewe on Facebook and Instagram.

PHOTO: Brandon Bracewell, founder and president, Krewe of Axe-Idents

PHOTO: Krewe of Axe-Idents Lumberjacks, Lumberjills, and choreography team members.

01/10/2026

Brandon McDermott Band and The Jetties to Open for Dos Borrachos at
Galveston Island Country Music Fest 2026

By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
GALVESTON, TX (January 5, 2026) -- The Third Annual Galveston Island Country Music Fest is turning up the volume! The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is thrilled to announce that the Brandon McDermott Band and The Jetties—sponsored by Zero/Six Consulting, LLC—will open for Texas country legends Dos Borrachos on Saturday, January 24 at the Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd. The doors open at 6 pm with live music, games and entertainment.
Brandon McDermott Band, a Galveston staple along the Texas Gulf Coast, has been electrifying audiences for years with its signature Texas sound. Their second full-length album, Across The Causeway, racked up more than 300,000 streams and featured the Top 50 Texas Music Charts single “43rd and R”, fan favorite “Hear Your Name,” and even a guest appearance by Texas music icon Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Joining them are The Jetties, a high-energy Dance Hall Country band formed during the 2020 Covid shutdown. Based in Galveston County, The Jetties—Jared Waggoner, Justin Catrett, Jojo Kline, Jeff Birmingham, and Courtenay Winson—are known for their lively performances that keep crowds dancing and singing all night long.
Headlining the evening are Texas country powerhouses Dos Borrachos, Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager. Their latest album, Uno Mas (June 2025), delivers fan favorites like “Margarita Man,” “This Beer is Making Me Awesome,” “Those Nights These Days,” and “Joe Sure Knows How to Live.” Expect their trademark mix of humor, honky-tonk, and heartfelt Texas country.
“This year’s event is more than a concert—it’s a full-on Texas-style celebration!” said Gina Sp****la, President and CEO of GRCC. “ Picture a “Bankers Ball meets Texas Hill Country H***y Tonk” with pool tables, a mechanical bull, arcade games, a Texas-sized dinner, vendors, drinks, and of course, incredible live music.

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with live music, games and entertainment, followed by a brief annual meeting and awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. Afterward, the music takes center stage.
Proceeds benefit the Chamber’s mission to promote and advocate for business and community development.
For sponsorship opportunities, reserved tables and open-seating tickets, visit the Galveston Chamber website. Attendees must be age 21 or older.

01/10/2026

Weber Secures $30M for Texas Coast in House Bill

By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) secured more than $30 million for critical projects in Texas’ 14th Congressional District as part of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.

The funding includes:

$17,900,000 for the Galveston Ship Channel Operation and Maintenance dredging as identified in the President’s Budget Request. Maintaining authorized depths in the Galveston Ship Channel is essential to supporting port reliability, supply chain efficiency, and the continued movement of energy and commerce that underpin America’s economic and national security.
$9,061,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) construction account to deepen the Sabine-Neches Waterway from its current 40-foot depth to its congressionally authorized 48-foot depth, as authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2014.
$5,000,000 for USACE’s investigations account to advance pre-construction engineering and design for the Texas Coastal Project, locally known as the Ike D**e. This funding supports a comprehensive coastal resiliency strategy to reduce flood risk and restore ecosystems along the Texas coast. Estimates show the project could generate $2.31 billion in annual economic savings and improve more than 6,000 acres of coastal habitat.
$1,250,000 for Texas A&M AgriLife Research to support oyster research and the development of a long-term breeding program for the rapidly expanding Texas Gulf Coast oyster aquaculture industry. This investment will strengthen domestic seafood production, reduce pressure on vulnerable wild fisheries, and advance marine aquaculture as a growing sector of Texas agriculture.

“This didn’t happen overnight,” said Rep. Weber. “Southeast Texas is a gateway to our nation’s economic and strategic strength, and advancing projects of this scale requires sustained effort. I’ve worked to keep these priorities moving forward because protecting the coast, moving energy and commerce through our ports, and supporting the livelihoods tied to our waterways all ensure Texas’ 14th District is prepared to meet the nation’s needs when it matters most.”

The Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 now advances to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

01/10/2026

Our library now offers 3D printing! No experience needed -- whether you're a maker, a student, or just love cool tech, the team at Moore Memorial Public Library is ready to help.

Next Saturday at 11 a.m., they're offering an orientation & info session where you can learn the basics of 3D design and printing. In this free program, you'll learn:

✅ How the 3D printer works
✅ Safety & setup tips
✅ How to prepare your first print

The 3D printer orientation on Jan. 17 is open to everyone, but please note: minors wanting to attend must attend with an adult.

01/07/2026

🐶🐱 Happy Monday from Animal Alliance of Galveston County! 🐾

Start your week off right by taking care of your pet’s health 💙
We’re here with low-cost spay & neuter services plus affordable wellness care, including:
✔️ Vaccines
✔️ Heartworm testing
✔️ Preventatives
✔️ Microchipping
✔️ Routine wellness exams

Keeping pets healthy helps our entire community 🌎🐾

📅 Appointments are required
📍 La Marque, TX
📞 Call 409-933-1600 or schedule online through the MyPetsWellness app

Let’s make this a great week—for you and your pets! 🐕🐈✨

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

Just received our recertification from the Texas Department of Agriculture…