< Previous90 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016Krewe BaBalu’s(a NoN-Profit orgaNizatioN) 2016 Mardi gras eveNtsContact Gladden Walters at gladdenwalters@gmail.com go to krewebabalu.com or call 281-703-3331 for tickets or more info. January 23, 2016 Mardi Gras Ball Tremont Hotel 8PM-MidnightThe Krewe Babalu ball will feature live music, an open bar and food. Come join the krewe as they present this year’s Royal Court. Cost is $125 per person. January 29, 2016 Den Party Club 21, 2102 Postoffice, Galveston 6-10 PMThe first night of the Galveston Mardi Gras season Krewe Babalu welcomes the publicwith music, raffles and drink specials. Cost is $20February 5, 2016 Balcony Party Dargon & Tobyn Bldg., 2228 Strand (23rd & Strand) 5PM - 1AMThis is the official Krewe Babalu balcony on the best corner in town.Come view all of the parades that come through the entertainment district.There will be light food, music, and a cash bar. Cost is $60.00 per person. February 5, 2016 Krewe Babalu Krewe Parade All Strand Area, Float Rides Available 8PMThis is the 11th annual Krewe Babalu All Krewe Parade.All krewes and organizations are welcome to join in the parade. February 6, 2016 Balcony Party Dargon & Tobyn Bldg., 2228 Strand (23rd & Strand) 12PM - 1AMLight Food, Music, and Cash BarThis is the official Krewe Babalu balcony on the best corner in town.Come view all of the parades that come through the entertainment district.There will be light food, music and a cash bar. Cost is $90.00 per person.February 9, 2016 Krewe Babalu Fat Tuesday, Public Celebration, Food, Music, and Cash Bar 5PM -TillBuck Shot Saloon, 2409 MarketThis is the last party of the Galveston Mardi Gras Season.Come before and after the parade to enjoy music and a cash bar.Voted Best BAR-B-QUE in Galveston CountyMon. – Sat. 10:30am–8:00pm Sun. 11:30am – 8:00pmLet Us Cater Your Parties & Events35th S (One block from Seawall)409-762-3151 49 years of family cookin great BBQ for Galveston County! HomemadeBrisket Chilli2601 Broadway • Galveston, Texas 77550409-765-5538 • FAX 409-765-6753Dentistry for the whole family.Serving Galveston Since 1919Our office services includeBleaching • Crown and Bridge Extractions • Dentures and Partials Root Canals • Implant ServicesWilliam L. 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Seventy-two years later, the singer, songwriter, producer and ‘People just keep calling’Try as he might, Don Westmoreland has never been able to walk away from music for long COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 93owner of Limelight Recording Studio might finally be ready to accept that a life in music is his destiny.“I keep trying to retire, but people just keep calling,” Westmoreland, 80, said.As a living link to so many names and chapters in Texas music history, Westmo-reland is still in demand. His work as a songwriter, producer and engineer connects him with everyone from 1950s country music legends Little Jimmy Dickens and Carl Smith to Willie Nelson, Herb Remington, Bob Wills, Bo Diddley, Doug Supernaw and many more.Locals such as Galveston-born Hamilton Loomis, Neil Austin Imber and Bert Wills all have recorded at Limelight. Westmoreland once engineered a voice-over with Holly-wood actor Gene Hackman, and was host to several country music radio shows over the years, including one in the early 1960s on KIKK broadcasting out of Pasadena.Westmoreland’s life as a child was rocked literally and figuratively by the 1947 tragic explosion in Texas City’s port that killed nearly 600 people. A ship carrying 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire in the harbor on the morning of April 16 while Westmoreland was walking to school. He watched as his father, a volunteer fireman, passed him on the road aboard a fire truck. That would be the last time Westmoreland saw his father, Marion “Jack” Westmoreland.An hour later, while he was in class, the school shook from the enormous blast that blew out windows and flattened nearby homes.Twenty-seven of the 28 members of Texas City’s volunteer fire department were killed in the explosion, Westmoreland’s father among them.Two years later, in 1949, after working through the summer as a cleanup boy in an electrical shop, and despite his vow to avoid performing ever again, Westmoreland bought himself a gui-tar, a bicycle and a pair of cowboy boots and was ready to take on the world.“I had everything I thought I would ever need in life,” he said.Westmoreland’s mother, Mattie Lou, didn’t full-heartedly agree with her son’s choice to pursue music. But by the early 1950s, Westmore-land had established himself as a reliable guitar player and singer of country music. Though not yet of legal drinking age, and still a student at Texas City High School, Westmoreland was playing in bars and nightclubs from Galveston to Houston six nights a week.On a chance meeting with some music industry heavies in 1953, Westmoreland was given an opportunity to have one of his songs, “The Bottom Fell Out,” recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens and/or Carl Smith, both then Nashville stars. Westmoreland was instructed to record a demo of the song and send copies to Dickens and Smith. But not long after recording the song in Hous-ton, Westmoreland drove one of his older bandmates home to Galveston after a gig. After seeing his bandmate’s meager living conditions for the first time, Westmoreland decided that night he wanted nothing more to do with music. Within a week, he became engaged to a “nice girl” from his high school and graduated shortly thereafter. Westmore-land never sent the demo recording of his song to Nashville and concedes to some regret about it. It would be seven years and four children later before he opened his guitar case again.In 1960, after quitting his job at Union Carbide in Texas City, Westmoreland began performing again, but his interest in music production took precedence and he began recording local musicians in the Dickinson house he still calls home. He met his current wife, Alice Kalinowski, in 1962 during a recording session and the two began singing together. Their professional musical part-nership, known simply as “Don and Alice” led to a single released later that year on Westmoreland’s newly formed label, Tri-umph Records. Artists released on Triumph included notable country singers Johnny Lee and Leon Rausch. But by 1966, the label was defunct.Westmoreland continued recording in his house until 1982, when he built the facility known today as Limelight Recording Studio, a 2,100-square-foot building next door to his home. Westmoreland said he can’t count the number of recording sessions and albums he produced or engineered, but after so many years in business, it might be time to begin winding it down, he said. At least until the next phone call comes in. Found your dream home and now you need a mortgage lender? Call Paul Vincent at 713.568.8855 Paul will help you put the financing together so you can put the key in the front door . PAUL VINCENT 2228 Mechanic St. Suite 316 Galveston TX 77550 NMLS# 49103 Branch NMLS# 1128212 Paul.Vincent@georgetownmtg.com 713.568.8855 Real Experience...Real Relationships… Real Estate Mortgages Paul & Georgetown Mortgage offer: Residential Primary Home Loans Second Home Loans Investment Loans, Up to 4 Units Residential Refinance Loans FHA Loans VA Loans Construction Loans 94 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016Hang TenStory and photo by Irene AmietJamaica Beach resident Angel Ellen Hagmaier is an attorney who moved to Galveston 22 years ago from Wil-liamsburg, Va.Who is your hero? My brother Aaron. He is a kinder and gentler version of myself; selfless and patient but he’s not quite as funny.What are you most proud of? All of my accomplishments and achievements are the result of the grace of God and the loving support of the people in my life. As a result, I am able to help people and make a differ-ence in the world I live.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would make myself about 2 or 3 inches taller — a lot less time in high heels.Where would you like to grow old? A warm and sunny beach somewhere far from the madding crowd where I can still get a good pedicure.What’s your guilty pleasure? Valet, every chance I get, or, as I like to call it, “the ministry of convenience” and Lindt dark chocolate for breakfast.What skills would you like to possess? Ballroom dancing, quantum physics and to run hurdles.What’s something no one knows about you? Do people really break the silence in this type of forum? I think it is best if the voices in my head stay there.What song is your personal anthem? “Try a Little Tenderness.”Last meal you made. Homemade chick-en potpie.Describe a favorite memory in 10 words or less. Moonlit helicopter ride over the island for my 34th birthday. Angel Ellen HagmaierCoast Monthly poses 10 questions to an intriguing resident of the Texas Coast. COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 95Michael J. 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The gallery, sponsored by The Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation, has a small gallery with a featured artist each month and then gallery space for local artists.After retiring from the banking and mortgage industry, Charlotte Stirling had a lot more time to devote to her favorite hob-by — refurbishing vintage vanity chairs.Glenda Mastin, retired from industrial and chemical sales, was busy making things out of stained glass and anything found on the beach.Today, along with several other local artists, they’re showing their work at the newly opened Gallery by the Gulf on Bolivar Peninsula.But it was a long time coming.The previous gallery, which included a museum, was heavily damaged during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and never returned. The storm left local artists without a place to display their work, except for occasional festivals.With help from the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation and some community-minded residents, money from the Jane Long Festival — held yearly since 2009 — paved the way for a new gallery.The gallery, upstairs at 1980 state Highway 87, is overflowing with ingenious works of art.Operating as a nonprofit, the gallery’s mission is to provide local artists a place to promote their craft, while providing the commu-nity and visitors with a viable art center.The gallery got this far through inspiration from Jane Long, known as the “Mother of Texas,” Stir-ling said. Long spent a winter on Bolivar Peninsula in 1821, alone and pregnant, while her husband, James, left with some of his sol-diers to incite Texas settlers into declaring their freedom from Spain and establishing the Republic of Texas.James Long eventually was cap-tured, imprisoned and then shot in Mexico.After his death, Jane Long remained resilient in her efforts to protect Fort Las Casas — now Fort Travis.“We embraced her story as we all recovered from Ike,” Stirling said.Gallery by the Gulf even offers Jane Long jewelry for sale, de-signed specifically for the gallery by artist Jack Hall of Seabrook.Other artists involved with the gallery include: Belinda Bailey, Dana Dekerlegand, Cheri Duggan, Scott Hanson, Zeb Hickman, Alice Hurlbert, Margaret Lindow, Sharon Rigsby, Angela Travis and Ron Venable.The area occupied by Bailey and Travis features an assortment of repurposed furniture, glass art, painted mermaids and seashells.Duggan’s acrylics on canvas and Lindow’s beachcomber “found art” pop with color. Hickman’s con-‘We embraced her story’98 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016temporary paintings also occupy this space.Dekerlegand, who calls her art “Beach Gypsy,” has a style of her own, turning ordinary shipping pallets into birdhouses, crosses and cutouts of marine life. She also makes key chains out of corks and beach glass, and designs jewelry.Hanson’s round table — with its pedestal base made of rafter tails from part of the island’s recently demolished military housing at Fort Crockett — is a sight to behold. Venable’s specialty is painting on salvaged wood.Mastin and Rigsby’s “All Washed Up” area is full of mosaics, driftwood and shells.“We like to find things on the beach that have washed ashore and make art out of them,” Mastin said. “We also incorporate things like stained glass, pottery, beads, old jewelry and china into our art and even made a light fixture out of an old galvanized chicken feeder.”Stirling’s “Powder Your Nose” space features her one-of-a-kind revamped vanity chairs.“When I find one that needs a home, I buy it and repurpose it,” said Stirling, who often affixes her signature tassel to the back.Currents | ArtistsFused glass artist Sheryl Lambert was a recent artist of the month at Gallery by the Gulf.Charlotte Stirling, president of the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation, refurbishes vintage vanity chairs.Artist Margaret Lindow uses her beach combing finds, from shells and sea glass, to children’s toys and plastic bottle caps, in her art.Glenda Mastin turns driftwood into functional furniture and artwork. She also creates mosaics that include tile, glass and objects she’s found beach combing.Hulbert’s painted gourds have a special display area of their own — in the gallery’s bathroom.“With only 900 square feet of space, we had to make use of every inch of it,” Stirling said.Other artists have pieces on consignment at the gallery, and a different exhibitor is featured each month. “We like to find things on the beach that have washed ashore and make art out of them.”– Glenda Mastin COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 9924HOURSERVICE7 Days A WeekLocated Across From Galveston County JailBonding From The County Jail Bonding From All City JailsGale Lilliman - Owner •GALVESTON •HITCHCOCK •SANTA FE•TEXAS CITY •DICKINSON •KEMAH•LEAGUE CITY •FRIENDSWOOD •LA MARQUE409-762-0188CHECKS ACCEPTEDGulf CoastBail Bonds5324 Ball St.If you find yourself “Hooked” callA New Horizon for Texas Coastal Living Starts at HarborwalkContact us today to find out how to receive a 12- month complementary HarborWalk Yacht Club Social Membership.*homesites | cottages | yacht club memberships1445 Harborwalk Blvd. | Hitchcock, TX 77563 | 866.435.8777 toll free | harborwalk.com | facebook.com/Harborwalk Developed by Legend Communities. 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