Bolivar CC Honors Community Leaders

By Gloria Way

  Over 200 Bolivar residents packed Jose Cantina’s in Crystal Beach last Wednesday evening to honor and celebrate local leaders at the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) Annual Awards Banquet. The theme of the event was “Shining Bright” honoring “The Best of Bolivar Peninsula”. In line with the theme, the awardees were given trophies in the shape of a star. And many ladies were “shining bright” dressed to the ninths in beautiful sequin gowns.

  A common thread among the honorees and all the attendees was the resilience of the peninsula in dealing with disasters, be they natural or manmade. The peninsula residents help each other and can depend on each other in times of crisis. It is a strong community filled with people whose goal is to improve the quality of life for every resident. It is a very proud community.

  The banquet was emceed by Shauna and Chris Williams. They did an excellent job keeping the awards ceremony running smoothly and on time. Special “thanks” were given to Jose’s Cantina, Island Liquor, Ray’s Fireworks, and Texas Crab Festival, and to the banquet committee members Beth Terminella, Colt Thomas, Karen Jewell, Maria Cruz, Mary Denus, Peggy Johnson, Shauna Williams, and Megan Swain.

  Kudos to Jose’s Cantina as the dinner was delicious. Attendees were given a choice of Cajun redfish, ribeye, chicken fried chicken, and grilled chicken topped with strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

  The 2025 award winners are:

Dedicated Service to the Board of Directors – Amee LaBlanc

Educator of the Year – Cheyenne Gage

Volunteers of the Year – Malcolm and Leanna Comeaux

Ambassador of the Year – Sabrina Flowers

Rising Star Award – Elyssa McClendon

Business of the Year – Seaside Lumber

Community Excellence Award – Entergy

Citizen of the Year – Keith Zahar.

  “These honorees represent the best of Bolivar”, said Beth Terminella, BPCC board President. “We are honored to celebrate their contributions that make our community stronger and more vibrant.”