Coastal Scene Magazine

FALL 2018

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oastal Scene Magazine Living Volume & Leisure in the Coastal 6 Bend Issue

Table of Contents

3

Fall 2018 Debbie Aylesworth Editor/Publisher debbiea@cbredbook.com

Brenda Dodson Business & Marketing Consultant

office@cbredbook.com

Gary Kuhn Marketing Consultant office@cbredbook.com

Seafair

As the Bell Rings

In Every Issue: Publisher’s Note Local Events Business Directory

Matthew Scherzer Marketing Consultant mmscherzer@gmail.com

5 29-31 38

Tina M. Riley Production Manager/ Graphic Designer snobawl@hotmail.com

From the Cover: A Passion for Music, A Love for Animals, A Man of God

advertising and distribution

361.790.7106 office@cbredbook.com www.shopcoastalbendonline.com

Thousands Flock to the Coast Hook, Line and Sinker Winds from the East Mean Somethin’s Brewin’ ...

Welcome Home Real Estate is Thriving Only a Few Remain The Little Things ...

Coastal Scene Magazine ©2018 is a free publication published 4 times per year and distributed throughout the Coastal Bend. Reproduction in whole or in part without the express written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Coastal Scene Magazine cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of content or opinions expressed by its authors or advertisers. Coastal Scene Magazine office is located at 361 S Commercial, Aransas Pass, Texas 78336.

PHOTO BY BRENDA DODSON

4

Welcome Y’all

oastal

Scene

Fall 2018

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: e hope you like this special were bused to neighboring campuses and edition of Coastal Scene others moved to other districts.

Magazine. We call this our Folks living on the coast aren’t totally back to school edition because unaware of the possibility of a hurricane, most schools in our neck of the but it was a shock. The shock was in the woods begin their 2018-19 school year in massive destruction that occurred. We August. We also tout September, October didn’t believe it was possible, but now and November as some of the best months have seen the harsh reality and how it to fish in the Coastal Bend, so we have changes a part of your life that existed Debbie Aylesworth, included some current information on innocently undisturbed.

Editor/Publisher fishing.

Fortunately, all looks clear in the One of our features this month is a fellow Atlantic where the tropical storms pass church member, Terry Fisher. He has a magnificent through because those waters are unusually cool. voice and sings in the choir with me. When I It’s safe and sound, so come see us! It’s beautiful learned he was a biology major, whose first career here and will be through the fall months. The fishing choice was zoology, I was intrigued. I know you’ll is great and so are the beaches. We have some of the enjoy his story. finest restaurants serving all kinds of food, including We have had a terrific summer. It’s been hot, our delicious catches in local waters. Our coastal but look around the state of Texas and you’ll see communities are more than ready for visitors. temperatures were high everywhere. I hate to brag, Rockport is having their annual Seafair in but we have the coastal sea breezes that really keep October with terrific talent like Asleep at the Wheel. you comfortable, so we have not suffered as much It promises to be a fun time for everyone. as some Texans.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy this With rising temperatures come warmer waters, edition as much as we did putting it together for which are the fuel for hurricanes. At press time you. the water temperature in Port Aransas was 87 Don’t Get Caught Boarding Up! WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED degrees. Forecasts for hurricanes just dropped this week from a possible nine to two according to the National Weather Service.

To say that folks in the Coastal Bend don’t have any anxiety about what the current hurricane season might hold for us would be unrealistic. We observe the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey this month. It’s another reason we almost celebrate the beginning of school.

Last year, area schools couldn’t start on time because most campuses suffered extreme damage, except for Portland and Corpus Christi. Students

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Thousands Flock to the Coast BY

KARLA ABERNETHY

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housands of feathery visitors are expected to make their way to Rockport-Fulton in September during their annual fall migration. The event is marked by the annual HummerBird Celebration in Rockport and Fulton.

This year’s celebration will be Sept. 13-16 and is the 30th anniversary of the event welcoming hummingbirds as they pass through the area, stopping to eat and preparing for the long, non-stop journey across the Gulf of Mexico to Mexico and beyond.

“We are right in their central flight zone,” said Sandy Jumper, Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce Vice President Marketing & Promotion. “There are so many that you don’t see anywhere else. There are thousands all over the community. We try hard each year to figure out the specific flight schedule but they don’t always get the memo.

So, we don’t always get the event scheduled when we have the most birds, but we try.”

Whether at the height of the flight pattern or not, there are always plenty of the smallest of birds to see. Tiny but fast, hummingbirds can travel up to 49mph and rarely stop flying. They eat every 10-15 minutes and visit 1,000-2,000 flowers per day.

Approximately 5,000 people from all over the world are expected to be in the area for the HummerBird Celebration.

“We have had people from Great Britain, Japan, Germany, China and all over the United States,” Jumper said.

(Office) • 512.363.7885 (Cell) This year’s celebration is special for a couple of reasons. It is a milestone year – 30 years since resident Betty Baker and wildlife expert Jesse Grantham were joined by others in creating the educational event. It also is a return to “normal” after last year’s event had to be cancelled following the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Harvey.

Tickets were sold, sponsors locked in, venues set and everything in place when the area sustained a direct hit Aug. 25, 2017.

“This was the only event we were not able to have last year,” Jumper said. “It was just two weeks after the hurricane. The fact that we were not able to have it last year, makes it even more special this year to have it post Harvey.”

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Fall 2018

As the Texas coast continues to recover, events like this seem even more vital to the community’s recovery, Jumper said.

Those who purchased tickets for last year’s event were given the option to use the tickets this year or receive a refund or donate the cost of the ticket to hurricane relief efforts. According to Jumper, a big percentage chose to keep their tickets for this year to come back and show their support.

The opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 13 already is sold out but tickets still were available at press time for the 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner in Recreation Hall at Drifter’s Resort. The night will feature keynote speaker Martha McLeod, an award-winning teacher and youth birding program sponsor.

McLeod recently was named “Birder of the Year” by Swarovski Optiks/Bird Watcher’s Digest. Her student birding team has achieved top honors at the annual Great Texas Birding Classic. She was the recipient of the Texas Excellence in Math and Science, the H.E.B. Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement award and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

“It is exciting to have someone who is that well known in our community and teaching our children,” Jumper said.

Tickets to the dinner and “Harvey, Hummingbirds & Hope” are available at 2018hummerbird.trstickets. com for $35. The menu will be Texas BBQ with all the trimmings.

In keeping with the 30-year theme, All Speaker tickets are available for $30 (discount from past years). Hear from the many speakers scheduled throughout the fourday event.

Another keynote speaker is James Currie. He will speak at 3:40 pm Saturday.

Currie is Nikon’s Birding Adventures and National Geographic TV host and author of the award-winning book When Eagles Roar. He has attended the RockportFulton event in the past and featured the local celebration as part of his show, Jumper said.

Among the many speakers scheduled, the popular raptors program is back. At 5 pm Friday, Sky Kings Raptors will be at the High School Auditorium. There will be hawks, owls, falcons, vultures, parrots and other feathered animals will be flying around the auditorium.

Cost for each speaker session is $5 or the All Speaker pass gives access to all speakers. A complete list is available at the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce website, www. Rockport-fulton.org/Hummer Speakers.

There will be 30 Hummer Homes to visit. Local residents open their backyards to visitors. Each yard provides a close look at the hummingbirds. Each home must meet a set criteria and be approved as a Hummer Home. Each home will have a “Hummer Home” sign.

A list of scheduled homes is available at the RockportFulton Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at 319 Broadway, 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am-2pm Saturday.

Fall 2018

There is a guided tour available for $15. An experienced birder will guide visitors to three homes where Master Bander Sue Heath will present an exclusive hummingbird banding demonstration.

Other events include Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch Bus Field Trip, Hummer Breakfast at the Aransas County History Center and a bird Photography Class.

There is so much to do and see during the special HummerBird Celebration. For online registration, go to www.RockportHummingbird.com and go to the Chamber website to see all the events and features.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRY FISHER

A Passion for Music, A Love for Animals, A Man of God y 1982, Terry Fisher had already chosen his career path. He wanted to be a zoologist. He worked at the San Antonio zoo every summer as he worked toward his degree in biology at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Raised in San Antonio, Terry said he chased a girl to college in Wisconsin. He got the biology degree but not the girl and moved back to Texas after graduation. He continued working at the San Antonio Zoo. “I was the animal keeper of all the large mammals,” he said, “antelope, gazelles, zebras, giraffes, rhinos and elephants. I spent several years training elephants.

“I loved training elephants,” Terry said. “That was the coolest job in the world. OSHA thought that was one of the most dangerous professions in the world, but I loved it. Elephants have a full range of emotions like people do. They laugh, cry, get angry and pout.

Elephants are very social animals.

A lone African elephant named Alport was his favorite.

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Fall 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRY FISHER

“She would never do anything to hurt you and would do anything to keep from hurting you. I was leading her one day and an Asian elephant slapped her on the butt. The Asians didn’t like her.

She (Alport) swung around hitting me in the head with her tusks.

It knocked me down, but I was alright. I got up and she grabbed my hand and stuck it inside her mouth, putting my hand on her tongue. That was an apology. I often had wet elephant slobber on me,” he laughed.

In 1991, his responsibilities were as the Animal Registrar.

“I essentially was managing all the animal’s records, shipping and receiving animals throughout the world and maintaining animals in captivity. This required computers and, in 1992, I ended up being the computer guy for the zoo, too. I actually created my title ‘ZITS’ (Zoological Information Tech Specialist).”

Terry worked with Jordan Jay, the public relations officer for the zoo.

“She and I had done radio together,” Terry said. “On St. Patrick’s Day 1999, we realized we liked each other and we were married in November of that same year.

“We just grew close, really quick,” Terry said. “She was the one who put up with me. It didn’t take long to fall in love. She has a similar personality and she is the sweetest person I have ever met.

“In 2002, I decided I was done with the zoo,” he said. “It was not good money, just a job of passion that only paid $35,000 a year. Although, I got to do cool things like travelling around the world and even spent some time on safari in Africa. I travelled around to 150 zoos in the United States and other countries. I went to Brazil before I met Jordan and, afterwards, she and I made several trips together in the U.S.” Terry went from the zoo to advertising, working for a large agency in San Antonio. He didn’t enjoy this nearly as much but the pay was better.

Terry’s parents also lived in San Antonio and began having health issues. His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and, when his mom fell, Terry stepped in to help.

“I quit work and was able to do that because Jordan was working. We had Grayson, our oldest son, and there came a time when we said, ‘We need to move somewhere else.’

“My brother was in Portland and Mom and Dad moved to Portland. Jordan and I moved to Rockport.

Almost immediately we went to Coastal Oaks Church.

Our friends at Oaks Hills in San Antonio where Max Lucado was the minister said, ‘You should go to Coastal Oaks Church in Rockport. It is most like ours.’

Fall 2018

“Scott Robbins and a special lady named Aileen greeted us the first time we visited Coastal Oaks and made us feel right at home. We never went anywhere else. It also took about three weeks before I joined TERRY continued on page 37

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here is something for the entire family at the 44th Annual Rockport-Fulton Seafair. “We have something for all age groups. Live entertainment all weekend. Food all over the place. Competitions all over the place,� said Sandy Jumper, Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce Vice President Marketing and Promotion.

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Fall 2018

The 44th annual event on Oct. 11-14 is set to be another weekend of fun on the coast. As the area continues to recover from last year’s devastating hurricane, the celebration brings people into the community to stay, eat, shop and enjoy all the coastal community has to offer.

Seafair begins Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Festival Grounds at Rockport Harbor. Tejano Night will feature Elida Reyna, Latin Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter.

Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel hit the stage on Friday night. The band began in the 1970s and has earned nine Grammy Awards and released more than 25 studio and live albums. The band tours nationally and was named Touring Band of the Year in 1976 by the Country Music Association and received the Lifetime Achievement in Performance Award in 2009 from the Americana Music Awards. They are known for western swing, which Benson refers to as “jazz with a cowboy hat.”

Music lovers will take a trip back to the 1980s when The Spazmatics hit the

stage. The group performs the best of the 80s complete with dance moves, skinny ties, horn-rimmed glasses and lots of energy.

On Sunday, the entertainment will feature local artists and SEAFAIR continued on page 35

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HOOK, LINE AND SINKER Fall Fishing in Coastal Bend Means Cooler Nights, Bigger Bites hrimp is abundant this year in the Coastal Bend. While that’s not the goal of anglers on bay fishing or even deep sea fishing boats, Erickson and Jenson Seafood Company in Aransas Pass says they have been bringing in more than 100,000 pounds of shrimp when their

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shrimp boats dock and they expect more throughout August. Owner Grant Erickson, who runs 12 shrimping boats, told KIII News of Corpus Christi “These boats have been coming in with tremendous volumes of shrimp, and shrimp is cheap and everybody should enjoy it.”

Shrimping season runs from the middle of July throughout the fall. Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass is the home of Erickson and Jenson Seafood Company South Texas offers world-class saltwater fishing year round. For the nearshore fisherman there are 1000s of square miles of shallow bay and over 250 miles of Gulf beach. For the offshore enthusiast, the South Texas Coast provides easy access to the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Fishing in South Texas gives anglers opportunities for freshwater lakes and rivers or bay and deep sea fishing in the Gulf waters lining Nueces, San Patricio and Aransas Counties. Fish in fresh water sources are bass, a variety of panfish and catfish, while saltwater varieties of fish include redfish, flounder, saltwater trout, grouper and the list goes on. Bay fishing and deep sea fishing will offer fishermen an endless choice of tackle, bait and lures to reel in their limits.

Kayak fishing is popular in the shallow waters in Aransas and San Patricio Counties and fishermen eager to have fresh fish for dinner can be seen daily with top water lures snagging trout, redfish and a variety of gulf fish. Bay fishing offers as many different kinds of fish as there are ways to snag them.

Bays in Aransas and San Patricio contain numerous saltwater marshes, channels and shallow flats.

Although many parts of the bay are very shallow, fish are abundant and angling can be done by means of various casting techniques or fly fishing. Wade fishing can be seen year round in the mild temperatures of South Texas.

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Fall 2018

Saltwater trout are plentiful and abundant in the spring. Other varieties include: amberjack, Atlantic croaker, black drum, black fin tuna, blacktop shark, blue crab, bluefish, Florida pompano, gag grouper, gray snapper, hardhead sea catfish, King mackerel, Lane snapper and many varieties of trout, shark and turtles.

Fishing is still bringing in record-sized catfish.

Camping is hard to beat with shoreline sites inside Lake Corpus Christi State Park, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. Predominant fish species in the lake are largemouth and white bass, crappie, blue, channel and flathead catfish as well as bluegill and red ear sunfish. Largemouth bass are abundant with frequent reports of fish reaching five pounds-plus being caught. Blue catfish are the most abundant breed of catfish although flathead and channel catfish also provide excellent numbers. White bass comes in from the Nueces River channel during cooler months and in the main reservoir during summer.

Crappie fishing has been improving and respectable catches are not uncommon in the spring.

The state park at Lake Corpus Christi has a beautiful view of the lake with shoreline campgrounds available.

Amenities abound at Mustang Hollow Campground in Mathis, also located right on the shoreline of Lake Corpus Christi. The former KOA has a swimming pool for families and has live entertainment most Fridays and Saturdays. This campground features 47 wooded acres of wildlife area, 2 miles of lakeshore, 20 boat slips-and 46 camping cabins and cottages (along with RV and tent sites). Enjoy fishing, boating, hiking and swimming in the lake or pool. Keep an eye out for arrowheads; this site is a Karankawa Indian state archaeological landmark. It’s a great central location for day trips to San Antonio, Gulf of Mexico, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas State Aquarium, Mexico and more.

Choke Canyon Reservoir is formed from the Frio River watershed in Live Oak and McMullen counties and is located four miles west of Three Rivers. Its’ isolated beds of water star grass provide shade for marine life. Largemouth bass and catfish are the most popular sport fish in the reservoir. Bass are abundant with frequent reports of double-digit fish being boated.

Blue catfish are the most abundant catfish species, but flathead and channel cat also provide excellent fishing.

White bass provide excellent angling opportunities in the main Frio River channel during cooler months and along the northern shoreline during the summer.

The surface area of the reservoir covers 25,670 acres with a maximum depth of 95 feet. Popular spring baits include spinner baits, buzz baits, rattletraps, crank baits and unweighted soft plastic worms or jerk baits. Summer bass fishing in Choke Canyon can be frustrating for even the most experienced angler. Top water baits such as buzz baits, Zara Spooks or Pop-R’s presented very early or very late in the day near weed beds, are popular and can be productive throughout the day if cloud cover is present.

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Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

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The Flounder Run

Coastal Scene did a little research on catch limits for our readers.

• Black drum – 5 Length in Inches (Minimum Maximum) 14 – 30 No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.

• Channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies - Daily Bag: -25 (in any combination) Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 12 - No limit • Flathead - Daily Bag:5 - Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 18 - No limit • Gafftopsail - Daily Bag: No limit Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 14 - no limit • Flounder - All species, their hybrids and subspecies Daily Bag: 5/2 (see below) Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 14 - No limit Daily bag is 5 fish except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2 fish and flounder may be taken only by pole-and-line; and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit is 2 fish and flounder may be taken by any legal means. Possession limit is equal to the daily bag.

• Gag Grouper - Daily Bag: 2 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 22 - No limit • Goliath Grouper – Daily Bag – 0 – This fish is catch and release only.

Every year, female flounder make two large migrations between the bay system and the Gulf of Mexico. One is in the fall when they move out to the Gulf of Mexico to meet their mates for the spawn and the other migration is in the late winter/ early spring back into the bays of the Coastal Bend to spend the summer feeding.

The spring migration of flounder into the bays is spread out over a longer period and provides increased angling opportunities along the channels and reefs leading in from the Gulf. Because it is spread out over a longer period and the flounder group in smaller numbers, it provides a modest increase in activity.

When anglers refer to “the flounder run,” they are generally referring to the fall migration when hormone driven females are piling up along the points and passes that lead back to the Gulf of Mexico as they go out to spawn. During the October to December fall migration, flounder catches soar and is the prime time to find flounder in large groups.

Because of the great concentration of flounder during these times, Texas has significantly reduced the number of flounder allowed to be caught during some of these months and has excluded the use of gigs altogether during the month of November.

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• Great Amberjack - Daily Bag: 1 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)34 - No limit • Red Drum - Daily Bag: 3 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum)20 – 28 During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fish retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.

• Red Snapper Daily Bag: 4 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 15 - No limit Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait.

• Sheepshead - Daily Bag: 5 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 15 - No limit • Spotted Seatrout - Daily Bag: All waters north of FM 457 in Matagorda County – 10 All waters south of FM 457 – 5 Length in Inches (Minimum - Maximum) 15 – 25 No more than one spotted seatrout over the stated maximum length may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit.

For more information on specifics or other species not listed, go to www.texas.gov.

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year later, much progress has been made but there is more to do.

Aug. 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport. The Category 4 storm had sustained winds of 130 mph, spawned 28 tornados and dropped record rainfall. It would become the second costliest hurricane on record causing $125 billion in damage.

For the Coastal Bend, the impact was catastrophic.

Thousands of structures were demolished or damaged.

Residents were forced to relocate in search for temporary housing. Schools and businesses were closed.

Landmarks and tourist attractions were damaged or destroyed.

But, the people along the Coastal Bend are resilient and work immediately began to restore their communities.

More than 85 percent of restaurants and more than 60 percent of shops are open in Port Aransas. Just half of lodging facilities were open at the start of the summer season, but as work continues more are reopening their doors each month.

Millions of tourists visit the area every year and, though numbers are down some according to recent reports, many have flocked back to the Texas destination spot.

I recently walked the beach on the island. It was beautiful – it was “normal.”

At the harbor in Rockport I met a woman temporarily living on a friend’s sailboat. She was home when Harvey made landfall. She and her dog crouched down in the bathroom as her small home crumbled around her. “The winds even sucked the teeth right out of my mouth,” she said as she held her hand in front of her face. She has not been able to replace them. Yet, she

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Fall 2018

HURRICANE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WATER Drinking water (one gallon per person per day for 14 days) Water for cooking and hygiene (one gallon per person per day) Water for pets

FOOD Non-perishable packaged or canned food to last 14 days Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables Canned or boxed juice Cereal Canned or boxed milk Soup Peanut butter and jelly Granola bars Trail mix

Bread, crackers and cookies Special food for babies and the elderly

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bragged on her community. “This is the best place in the world. I love it here.” And she will not leave, teeth or no teeth, she said with a laugh.

As I have traveled to RockportFulton, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside, Portland and the small communities in the area, I have watched as blue tarps were replaced with roofs. The process may seem slow, but when nearly every roof you saw had a blue tarp, the progress has been tremendous.

I am excited each time a business re-opens its doors. In the days and ❒ Alberto weeks immediately following Hurri❒ Beryl cane Harvey, the streets of Aransas Pass were quiet. Debris was every❒ Chris where, and one had to travel and ❒ Debby search for a place to buy gas or gro❒ Ernesto ceries. Some businesses fared better ❒ Florence than others and opened quickly.

Today, I see resemblances of ❒ Gordon before the storm. There is plenty of ❒ Helene shopping in Rockport-Fulton. The ❒ Isaac beach is full of sun worshippers. ❒ Joyce People are smiling and enjoying summer on the Coast. ❒ Kirk Students made it through a diffi❒ Leslie cult school year and are ready for the ❒ Michael new year. ❒ Nadine There is still much to do. Some beloved attractions are still missing ❒ Oscar like the Aquarium in Rockport and ❒ Patty people continue to wait for housing, ❒ Rafael but I see pride and progress. The ❒ Sara smell of salty ocean is in the air, the sand is hot and people are deter❒ Tony mined to reclaim their home and ❒ Valerie their favorite vacation spot. ❒ William Luckily, what first was reported to be another active hurricane season, is now said to be a mild one. The ocean has been relatively quiet. But, the Coastal Bend is prepared. It has weathered storms and will be ready should another reach its shores.

Cooler for ice and food storage Flashlights with extra batteries or hand-crank Car charger for cell phones Battery operated digital TV with car charger adapter Grill with extra propane, charcoal or Sterno Waterproof matches Paper plates, bowls and cups Napkins, paper towels and toilet paper Outdoor extension cords Plastic eating utensils Important family documents Diapers Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

2018 Atlantic tropical storm names:

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Fall 2018

HEALTH ESSENTIALS Two week supply of prescription drugs Two week supply of vitamins Over the counter pain reliever Toiletries and hygiene items First Aid Kit

Blanket Towels Cleaning supplies Work gloves Duct tape Multi-tool Waterproof tarps Plastic sheeting Rope Basic tool kit Moist towelettes Extra cash Maps Bicycle helmet Emergency generator Sunscreen Mosquito repellent Plastic garbage bags Antibacterial hand soap

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AS THE BELL RINGS ...

BY

KARLA ABERNETHY

oastal Bend faculty and students are starting another school year. A year ago, the new school year was delayed when Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport and devastated the Coastal Bend area.

When the hurricane hit on Aug. 25 last year, some school districts had only been in classrooms a week, while others were just ready to begin. Harvey pounded the communities of Port Aransas, Rockport-Fulton, Aransas Pass, Ingleside and surrounding communities with winds reaching more than 130 mph, tornados and torrential rainfall. School districts in the impacted communities had destroyed and damaged facilities forcing cancellations. Staff was displaced as their homes were destroyed. Business and area attractions were damaged or destroyed. Students were forced to leave communities as their families looked for temporary housing and employment.

Though rebuilding continues, school districts are ready for a new year.

“Last spring, we started talking about moving from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’ and that is certainly our focus this year,” said Port Aransas Independent School District Superintendent Sharon McKinney. “Harvey knocked us down, but we are back up and stronger than ever.”

PAISD was expecting a starting enrollment of 500 students, according to McKinney. At the time residents evacuated the island of Port Aransas last year, enrollment was at 520. That number dropped to 475.

“Lack of housing caused many students and families to have to relocate. Many were out of their homes for months after the storm,” McKinney said. Former residents continue to return, and the superintendent is hopeful that enrollment numbers will continue to rise throughout the coming school Sandy Johnson-Walker, Owner year.

Open Mon. - Fri. In nearby Ingleside, Harvey’s impact led to an 8 a.m.-4 p.m. increase in student population.

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Fall 2018

this past year were staying with relatives until their house was repaired.”

Ingleside ISD began last school year with 2,183 students, reaching a peak of 2,365 before dropping down to 2,157 by the end of the school year.

“We plan on being about the same as we ended last year,” Mircovich said.

Both districts report school facilities are ready to open with just a few remaining repairs within the districts.

At Port Aransas, the transportation and maintenance buildings still need to be rebuilt. Some final roof work at one campus is all that remains in Ingleside.

Port Aransas ISD sustained $15 million in damages, Ingleside ISD $10 million, Aransas County ISD was estimated at more than $54 million and Aransas Pass ISD also was in the millions. All districts did reopen and complete the 2017-18 school year. Some sent students to other districts and classrooms were moved to other buildings.

“We have had upwards of $10 million in damage to our district and every building had damage and our students only lost 17 days of instruction,” Mircovich said.

“It is a testament to our entire staff to work together for the benefit of our students.”

The experience of Hurricane Harvey revealed the extent of how important the school system is to a community, McKinney said.

“It was evident that our schools are the heart and soul of our community,” she said. “When our schools re-opened on Oct. 6, it signified that, as a community, we would recover. People tell me that knowing that the schools were back up and running gave them hope that they would personally recover from the hurricane.”

Both superintendents expressed appreciation for faculty and staff throughout the natural disaster and recovery. Plans were in place and challenges were addressed and overcome as everyone worked together to take care of each other and get kids back in school.

“Having the right people who are able to problem solve, think on their feet, communicate effectively and are empowered to lead is what is most important and impactful,” McKinney said. And her district had that.

Mircovich expressed his support of the district’s

overall response to the natural disaster. Communication issues such as temporary cell towers and internet service following such an event need to be addressed and establishing guidelines for handling large amounts of donations are necessary, he said.

Both districts continue to address budgetary issues because of Hurricane Harvey. The storm impacted property values and therefore taxes, which impacts tax collections for the district. They are working with Texas Education Agency regarding state funding and applying for disaster assistance grants. Administrators continue to review costs, determine budgetary cuts and wait to hear what money will be recovered from the state.

“We are running a very lean staff into this next school year,” Mircovich said.

But, area districts are Port Aransas ISD prepared and ready for the 2018www.paisd.net 19 school year.

August 20, 2018 “In the district, we are in good shape,” McKinney said. “We have Aransas County ISD many generous donors who are www.acisd.org supplying backpacks and school August 22, 2018 supplies for our students and other donors ready to help with Aransas Pass ISD school clothes when needed.” www.apisd.org Some students and families August 27, 2018 remain displaced as they wait for homes to be repaired and rebuilt, Ingleside ISD so the donations will be helpful. www.inglesideisd.org And, volunteers are always August 27, 2018 welcome to help at campuses.

“Our students had a different year, to say the least, but they were very resilient,” Mircovich said. “They overall still scored competitively with other districts around us and with the state on their standardized testing. I am very proud of their achievements.

“Now we are just saying a little prayer that we hope nothing brews in the Gulf this August through October and we will be ready to start a new academic year with our students in a hurricane-free environment.”

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Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

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WELCOME HOME

Real Estate is a Thriving Business in the Coastal Bend eal estate continues to be one of the most active businesses in the Coastal Bend.

Property values are rising in most markets although there are plenty of “deals” for the shrewd buyer. Homes don’t sit on the MLS long, especially during summer months. The real estate forecast is getting better every day as hope is restored to communities rebuilding and restoring homes and businesses.

“Real estate is picking up as more properties are repaired and being put on the market,” said Elizabeth Martin, managing broker/Realtor with Eling Coastal

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“I have folks from San Antonio and Austin looking for property in Rockport and the surrounding area. Some people are coming in looking for acreage.”

When inquiry was made on values of property in the coastal bend, Martin said, “Values are holding steady. We still have people looking for the post-hurricane ‘deal’. Right now I can’t speak for Ingleside and Aransas Pass, but Rockport values are holding steady.”

Darcy Zaricor with Coldwell Banker Ron Brown Company thinks values in Rockport are as strong as ever. “We bought our home seven years ago for $93,000 and sold after

Harvey for $175,000. It was move-in ready and there was absolutely no squabble at all on the price.

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home in South Texas because zoning won’t allow decent mobile homes. Some places will allow a modular, but many people can’t afford homes except mobile homes. We need those workers that live in mobile homes and they can find living spaces,” Zaricor said. “I get multiple calls each week for property that will allow a mobile home and we don’t have anything because of zoning. There aren’t any homes available in the mid price range. They either need a ton of repairs or they are over $180,000. The average person cannot afford this.”

In Portland and Port Aransas, midpriced housing is not readily available.

Many people employed in Port Aransas were having a difficult time finding affordable property to live in and were having to look outside the city. The same is true of Portland. While there are some rentals and a few multi-family apartments, middle priced homes are a scarcity in both communities. Port Aransas is still restoring affordable housing damaged in the hurricane last year.

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Lisa Roland, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel Realtors in Portland said, “There are several properties in Portland and Aransas Pass for sale. Anything under $200,000 is a very popular price for our market.”

Roland continued, “Real estate prices are going up. The housing market has started to move and that drives the price.

However, prices are different per square foot in just about every area of Portland. Whatever sells in that area drives those prices.”

In San Patricio and Aransas Counties, rental property is limited. Due to the fact that there are very few rental homes available in the south San Patricio County, further building and development is desperately needed.

❖

COASTAL LIVING ON THE WATER Many people dream of owning coastal properties. Living close to the water can be relaxing, and it's hard to beat the fresh air and the relaxing sound of the waves. However, coastal homes require some unique upkeep that prospective buyers should familiarize themselves with before buying a property.

SALTWATER Salt buildup is one of the pitfalls of living close to the ocean. Salt is corrosive to metal components, so homeowners are advised to avoid metal parts in various areas of construction on their homes. Windows and doors are particularly at risk because they face the constant onslaught of Mother Nature.

Fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum are less corrosive than other metal parts and should be considered in window framing. Homeowners may need to apply lubricant to moving parts, locks and fasteners to keep them moving smoothly.

Consult with a lawn and garden expert about which coastal plants thrive with high levels of salt in the air. Professionals can make recommendations on lowmaintenance landscapes that will not be damaged by the sun and salt.

Humidity and salt concentrations also can cause concern indoors. Mold likes damp, dark conditions, so homeowners should do their best to keep their homes dry and well-ventilated. Rely on dehumidifiers to take moisture out of the air.

Install more vents to draw air outside and create fresh air flow.

COASTAL FLOODING Coastal flooding is another concern for homeowners who live close to the water. Prospective buyers should first determine if the house they want to buy is in a flood zone or an evacuation zone. This is information that may come up when applying for homeowner's insurance, as flood insurance is a separate policy.

Individuals may have to take special measures to protect their homes from incoming tides or high waters during storms.

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Only a few remain any small towns have boasted their own Rialto Theater. Webster defines the word rialto to mean theater district. In the Texas Coastal Bend, Aransas Pass has a performance and visual arts forum right in the heart of downtown — one of the few remaining Rialtos to survive and even prosper.

The Rialto Theater in Aransas Pass began its life as a state-of-the-art movie theater in 1937, part of a theater chain built by the Hall brothers starting in Beeville. The Rialto seated 460 in “air-conditioned comfort” with plush seating and an inclined floor to allow unobstructed

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viewing of the screen. The fact that you could get out of the heat and watch a movie made for a perfect place to meet and maybe find a bit of romance. Folks around town who grew up in the area tell stories of meeting their first sweetheart right there at the Rialto. Movies were shown until 1991 when the theater fell silent after a 54-year career.

In 2004, new owners began a revival of the original building which marked the birth of a new vision. A year-round event schedule is in place, full of traditional and eclectic performances in a 100-seat theater auditorium which is fronted by a 40-seat beer/wine bar, with gallery and lobby for art exhibits.

The seats in the theater are not the original seats, but they have their own history. Some of them were purchased at an auction from the Rialto in Sinton, Texas; and the others are kin to Willie Nelson. A lead Every Tuesday: Music Jam 6-9 pm; came from a Happy Hour till 7pm.

Every Friday: Happy Hour 5-7 pm; truck driver Music from our Baby Grand friend led to Carl’s Corner September 7—23: Truck Stop, “Deathtrap,” vintage thriller written by Ira Levin produced by the Rialto. This south of Dallas, ingeniously constructed play offers a where Willie rare and skillful blending of two priceless sold his biotheatrical ingredients: gasp-inducing diesel. A theater thrills and spontaneous laughter. there was being October 5—21: refurbished, Aransas Repertory Theatre will present and these time“Men On Boats.” Ten explorers. Four tested seats boats. One Grand Canyon. The true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition when a were for sale. one-armed captain and crew of insane The yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the cherished course of the Colorado River. original theater November 2—18: marquee was “Steel Magnolias” will be produced destroyed when

by Rockport Little Theatre on the Rialto Hurricane Celia stage. devastated the December 7: Coastal Bend Live Radio Show on stage in 1970. The two weekends produced by the Rialto. old gal survived “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Orson Wells then and stood adaptation of a “A Christmas Carol.”

Adapted by Pete Lutz. tall after Harvey made landfall in December 21/22/23: 2017. She has Aransas Repertory Theatre and the Rialto so much more will host Christmas caroling, story telling, music and laughter. to give to our community.

The Rialto Theater is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization powered by volunteers, fostering education in the arts: visual arts, music and live theater throughout the year in the Coastal Bend. Visit www.rialtotheater.org.

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Fall 2018

PORT ARANSAS FERRY OPERATED BY TxDOT

WELCOME Y’ALL! The Coastal Bend Offers Lots to See and Do for Everyone. few of the Coastal Bend attractions are still closed due to sustained damage from Hurricane Harvey but repairs are being made. We will update you and give the status of the area’s events and attractions as they change.

Below is a list and status of some of the area’s attractions.

INGLESIDE

Cove Park, located on FM 1069 going toward the bay, sustained damage and is being repaired. The bathrooms are not functional, but the fish cleaning station is being worked on. Portable toilets are available for use right now. Ingleside on the Bay has a public boat ramp that is being used now and is included in the park, which is located on Ebony and Woodhaven.

Whitney Lake is a 50 plus acre project, which includes several bird watching areas, extended docks over marsh areas, observation platforms and many other amenities. It is restored and fully restored for recreation.

The Splash Pad is open and expected to be open through October.at N.O. Simmons Park. Parts were being ordered at press time and Parks and Recreation folks told Coastal Scene it would be ready to go when

Fall 2018

SATURDAY, SEPT. 15

From 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.

N.O. SIMMONS PARK

Complimentary Beer Tasting Cup

FOOD TRUCKS • LIVE MUSIC • MORE LIMITED VIP TICKETS $65 REG. ADMISSION $20 PRE-SALE AVAILABLE

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Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

25

SUNSET FISHING IN COPANO BAY

the visitors come later this summer.

ARANSAS PASS

BACONFEST TEXAS ARANSAS PASS

A salty, seaside celebration benefitting the Aransas Pass Police & Fire Departments

OCTOBER 13, 2018 Redfish Bay Boathouse • 361-758-9000 322 Huff Street • Aransas Pass, TX

Join us for this family friendly celebration of all things related to bacon!

Featuring live music, great food, fun contests, games, cooking & eating competitions and much more!

... and shine up your dancin’ shoes ‘cause the party starts Friday night, October 12, with an outdoor dinner/dance featuring the

Jason Roberts Band!

26

Conn Brown Harbor, home of Redfish Bay Boathouse and Redfish Willie’s Waterfront Grill is cleaned up and ready to launch. Several locals are fishing there daily and at least one boat ramp is repaired but docks are still being worked on. The Harbor did sustain damage, but is now open to visitors.

Seaman’s Memorial Tower is a structure dedicated to those fishermen who lost their lives at sea. It is located on the point of the southern end of Conn Brown Harbor. The Tower sustained a lot of damage. It is being worked on and visitors can enjoy most of the site.

Hampton’s Landing on Ransom Road is open and the boat ramps are good. There is also a fish cleaning station there.

Veteran’s Memorial Park is located at the intersection of McCampbell and Maddox in Aransas Pass. The park is damaged and in need of repairs. City officials have been so busy with cleanup, they are just now getting to these repairs.

The Rialto Theater, a gallery and live theater, sustained some damage but repairs were completed and the theater is open. They have repainted and have a beautiful, new look. There is a year-round event schedule in place, full of eclectic performances in the 98-seat theater, fronted by the gallery and lobby for art exhibits. Check out their website at www.rialtotheater. org.

Area artists and supporters of the theater maintain the period attractiveness of the Rialto. Check the Calendar of Events in this edition of Coastal Scene. They have regular entertainment on Tuesdays and Fridays.

PORT ARANSAS oastal

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Fall 2018

N.O. SIMMONS SKATE PARK IN INGLESIDE

Damage was extensive in Port Aransas. The beach has been cleared. The SandFest, held in the last weekend of April was a great success. Many of the businesses and attractions enjoyed the almost 50,000 visitors and much needed tourism in the community.

Rebuilding continues and more businesses are reopening. A list is maintained at www.portaransas.org.

The ferry from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas is open.

ROCKPORT

The Rockport Center for the Arts was the first attraction to reopen after the hurricane. They never canceled a single program or event. Under the leadership of Executive Director Luis Puron, the Center was able to move a major exhibit to a major museum that opened 33 days after the hurricane.

The Center has a full schedule of activities that can be viewed in this edition in the Calendar of Events.

Rockport Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art main gallery, was destroyed but they have moved to Austin Street in downtown Rockport.

The Texas Maritime Museum, designated as the Maritime Museum of the State of Texas featuring Texas history from exploration and settlement to boatbuilding and shipbuilding to sports and commercial fishing is now open.

The History Center for Aransas County focuses on the history of those men and women, who founded,

Fall 2018

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settled, and developed Aransas County. The Center is now open and operating fully. In the days following the storm, the GT kids at the schools collected debris and turned them into art projects. The collaboration between the History Center and the public schools has been valuable for the community.

Fulton Mansion and Education and History Center – The mansion sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey when the roof peeled away taking the chimneys.

The mansion sustained major water damage. Most of the contents in the mansion had been secured and removed prior to the hurricane. The mansion will be closed until further notice. Expectations are to have repairs completed by January 2019.

The Education and History Center is open and free to the public. Call 361-7290386 for hours of operation.

Goose Island State Park and The Big Tree are only minutes north of Rockport-Fulton in historic Lamar. The park is open to the public now and the staff is working. It is possible the boat ramp and some areas of ROCKPORT the park may open for day use by the end of the year.

The “Big Tree” is still standing. It is available for viewing.

The “Big Tree” at Goose Island State Park was named the State Champion Coastal Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in 1969, and is thought to be one of the largest in the nation. The “Big Tree” statistics: • Trunk Circumference: 35 feet 1 and 3/4 inches or 10.71 meters • Average Trunk Diameter: 11 feet 2 and 1/4 inch or 3.41 meters • Crown Spread: 89 feet or 27.1 meters • Height: 44 feet or 13.4 meters • Age: In excess of 1,000 years Aquarium at Rockport Harbor overlooks Aransas Bay and the harbor. The Aquarium building was destroyed. Plans are to rebuild.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest in the United States and is the winter home of the Whooping Cranes. The park is open. Visitors should bring their own water. The auto tour is open sunrise to sunset daily. The pier is open. The Visitor Center is closed until further notice, including the lobby and restrooms.

The Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to get away. Hiking and biking trails are open in addition to viewing lots of birds and animals. Take your time and spend the entire day. The campgrounds are not open yet but you can still launch a kayak.

1265 Hwy 35 N | Aransas Pass, TX 28

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❖ Fall 2018

E V E NTS

AR AN S AS PA SS - FULT ON - I NGL E S I DE - PO RT A R A NS A S - R O CKPORT

SE PTEMBER 20 1 8

O CT O B ER 2 0 1 8

Sept. 1 Farmers’ Market at Aransas Pass Chamber parking lot

Oct. 2 National Night Out at N.O. Simmons Park in Ingleside Starting at 6:00 p.m.,

9:00 a.m. to noon -- Free Admission

National Night Out is a family fun night to bring awareness to the community and to thank First Responders.

Sept. 7-23 Rialto Theater in Aransas Pass presents “Deathtrap” A vintage thriller written

by Ira Levin produced by the Rialto. This ingeniously constructed play offers a rare and skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients: gasp-inducing thrills and spontaneous laughter. rialtotheater.org

Sept. 8 IFR Fishing Tournament in Ingleside Proceeds benefit Ingleside Fire Rescue.

Cash Prizes for multiple events.

Call Miguel Munoz (361) 425-2479 or Jacob Atcher (361) 332-9301 for more information. www.facebook.com/IFRfishingtourny

Oct. 6 Farmers’ Market at Aransas Pass Chamber parking lot 9:00 a.m. to noon -- Free Admission

Oct. 6 Coastal Bend Classic & Custom Car Show & Swap Meet at 322 Huff Street in Aransas Pass. Food Trucks, Door Prizes, Raffles, $500 Cash Giveaway. Proceeds Benefit Local Wounded Warriors. www.aransaspass.org/coastal-bend-classic-andcustom-car-show-and-swap-meet/

Sept. 13-16 HummerBird Celebration in rockport Celebrating the spectacular fall migration of hummingbirds as they pass through the Rockport-Fulton area on their way south to their winter homes in Mexico and beyond. www.rockport-fulton.org/HB

Sept. 15 Beer & Wine Festival at Ingleside’s N.O. Simmons Park Complimentary beer tasting cup, food trucks, live music and more. www.facebook.com/inglesidetxchamber

THE CIVIC CENTER: Small, Medium, Or Large Groups | Conferences

Sept. 20-21 Casting for a Cause Fishing Tournament in Port Aransas 11th Annual

THE EXHIBITION HALL: Stock Shows | Animal Stalls | Dances

Business Meetings | Social Events | Quinceanera | Weddings | Proms | Fundraisers | Banquets | “You Name It”

Casting for a Cause nonprofit fishing tournament. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Haven for Hope, Heroes on the Water, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other local charities. www.castingforacause.org

Sept. 22 Hook ‘Em & Book ‘Em Fishing Tournament in Port Aransas Port Aransas Police Foundation fundraiser.

Participate in one of four divisions-Men’s, Women’s, Junior and First Responders. www.portapf.org/event/papf-fishing-tournamentseptember-22-2018

Fall 2018

San Patricio County Fairground & Event Center is the newest State-of-the-art facility of its kind in south texas Offering an upscale venue to rent for your next event.

Craft Shows | Trade Shows | Sports Camps | Car Shows | Tractor Shows | Boat Shows | “You Name It”

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Contact Us To Schedule A Personalized Tour Of Our Beautiful Facility

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Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

29

EVENTS

A R A N S A S PA S S - F U LT O N - I N G L E S I D E - P O RT A R A N S A S - R O C K P O RT

OC TO BER 20 1 8

O CT O B ER 2 0 1 8

Oct. 11-14 Rockport Seafair

Oct. 20 Rockport-Fulton Shopping Tournament Experience “shop ’til you drop” shopping

This 44th annual event has something for everyone.

(See story page 10) www.rockportseafair.com

Oct. 13 IFR pink Tournament in Ingleside Proceeds go to Frist Friday CC: A local non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness, detection, education and community outreach.

Contact Miguel Munoz at (361) 425-2479 or mmunoz@ inglesidetx.gov for more information. www.facebook.com/ IFR-Softball-Tournament-191556205038668

Oct. 13 Baconfest Texas at Redffiish Bay Boathouse in Aransas pass A salty, seaside FONTS USED

celebration benefitting the Aransas Pass Police & Fire PROMINENT COLORS Departments. Join us for this family friendly celebration of C=100 M=80 Y=14 K=21 all things related toB=122 bacon!

R=13 G=62 HEX = 0D3E7A www.facebook.com/baconfesttexas C=17.08 M=100 Y=87.12 K=7.53

with discounts, costumes, prizes, food and zany fun all while benefitting the ACISD Education Foundation. For more information call Suzanne Ransleben at 361-729-6934 or email sransleben@acisd.org. www.shoprockportfulton.com/

Oct. 27 Beach Pumpkin Hustle 5K/Fun Run Lace up your running shoes for Port A’s inaugural 5K fun run. Enjoy the scenic route through one of America’s toprated beach towns. Wear your favorite Halloween costume— medals will be awarded for overall winners and best costumes. The fun continues into the afternoon and evening with the Port A Brew ‘N Que. runsignup.com/Race/TX/PortAransas/BeachPumpkinHustle5k

R=191 G=32 B=50 HEX = BF2032

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Fall 2018

EVENTS

A R A N S A S PA S S - F U LT O N - I N G L E S I D E - P O RT A R A N S A S - R O C K P O RT

OC TO BER 20 1 8

N O VEM B ER 2 0 1 8

Oct. 27 St. Mary, Star of the Sea 10th Annual Fall Festival at 342 S. Rife in Aransas Pass Free admission, free entertainment, kids games and contests.

www.stmaryss.org

NOV EM BER 2 0 1 8 Nov. 3 Farmers’ Market at Aransas Pass Chamber parking lot 9:00 a.m. to noon -- Free Admission

Nov. 10 Let’s Dance! Join us for an exciting evening of incredible music and dancing at the majestic TAMUCC Performing Arts Center. Featuring cellist Amit Peled and dancers from the Corpus Christi Ballet. Maestro, Hector Guzman and your Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra

will perform, Cuban Overture, G. Gershwin, La Boda de Luis Alonso, G. Gimenez, Sabre Dance, A. Khachaturian, Die Fledermaus Overture, J. Strauss, “Saltarello” (from Symphony No. 4 “Italian”), F. Mendelssohn, Por Una Cabeza (Tango), Gardel/Williams and Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, A. Dvorak. Call 361-883-6683 now to reserve your seats! www.ccsymphony.org

Nov. 10-11 Christmas By The Bay Our 7th Annual Christmas By The Bay! This show has become one of our premier shows! Local shoppers and vendors agree that it’s great to have such a quality show presented on the coast of Texas! Join us for a beautiful array of items for your Holiday shopping pleasure. Many unique, one of a kind items! Clothing and Accessories, Handmade Jewelry, Candles, Gifts for all Ages (men’s gifts, too!), Gourmet Foods and much, much more!

Don’t miss this one! www.TexasMarketGuide.com

Check out our upcoming events: – 71st Annual Shrimporee June 7 – 9, 2019 – Hotties on the Harbor – Taste of Aransas Pass – Art Walk Sat., Sept. 1st

Fall 2018

Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

31

The Little Things...

BY

“ESPERANZA”

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

“GROVER & MARIGOLD”

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

CHRISTY TINSLEY-ILFREY

32

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love all three of my dogs equally.

There’s Daisy, the growly Rat Terrier; Grover, the goofy explorer Terrier mix; and Marigold, the cuddly Chihuahua.

Marigold is the most cheerful and loving of the pack. But she is also the most resilient. She was wandering around our neighborhood, lost and searching for someone or someplace familiar, when my husband stopped to try to help her. Alltoo-eagerly she jumped into his truck, smiling.

Attempts to locate her family were fruitless so we decided to make her part of ours. Poor Marigold, we learned, was heartworm-positive.

Immediately we scheduled her for treatment and created a sedentary environment to ease her into the recovery phase. A few months later she was screened again. Sadly, the treatment had failed, and she had to endure another round. Despite being the smallest and weakest, Marigold faces all of her challenges with quiet strength and a contagious smile.

Texas is known for its “bigger is better” attitude.

Whether homes or hair, we have a panache for the flashy and flaunting. This holds true in our approach to gardening, as well. We easily succumb to “eye candy”, the oversized and bright blooms of plants that almost immediately melt in our South Texas heat, humidity, salty air and deep sandy soil.

Even our native plants can be blinding this time of year, the Season of Yellow; various sunflowers, Coreopsis and Esperanza, aka Yellow Bells, mimic that brilliant orb in the sky. Camphorweed to Camphor Daisy and Dune Sunflower to Silverleaf Sunflower: these smiling faces greet beachcombers from their dune dwellings. Along the bays, we find sunny Sea Oxe-Eye Daisy (Borrichia frutescens); at the edge of forested areas, look for both Seaside and Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens and S. odora, respectively); in coastal prairies, any of these may make an appearance alongside grasses such as Coastal, Silver or Brushy Bluestems.

Beyond the glitz are some of the tiniest blooms.

Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis) is in season every season. Tiny yellow blooms add golden polka dots

Scene

Fall 2018

“FLEABANE”

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

“INDIAN BLANKET”

to shady and partly shady spaces, especially beneath the canopies of live oaks and other trees. This lovely, lasting groundcover is a smart alternative to turfgrass lawns, in that it tolerates some foot traffic and flourishes with minimal care. Horseherb attracts a variety of skipper and sulfur butterflies.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

Another surprising showstopper is Frogfruit, or Phyla nodiflora. Like Horseherb, the blooms of Frogfruit are often overlooked. Tiny alabaster globes emerge on slender stems above this versatile and tenacious groundcover. Also like Horseherb, this plant provides interest year-round in our area, but is more robust during

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WWW.RANDYRUSSELLINS.COM Fall 2018

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Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

33

“HORSEHERB”

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

“FROGFRUIT”

PHOTO BY CHRISTY TINSLEY_ILFREY

other gardens, should expand abundantly as the water dissipates.

Although not as tiny as the others, Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) shares their plight as a frequently overlooked wallflower.

Vibrant disks of red, orange and yellow perch atop evergreen rosettes during the most brutal of summers; this plant thrives in hot and dry conditions. Indian Blanket may be found in prairies and meadows, and it attracts a variety of butterflies.

Our culture tends to value power and stunning good looks. We prefer fast food and getting rich quick, and all means of instant gratification. Simplicity. Quiet strength.

Cheerfulness. These shy native plants are misunderstood. They are not boring or bland; like my Marigold, they are resilient. They smile and pack a lot of strength and beauty into their tiny packages. Like details in a well-written story, it’s the little things that matter most.

years defined by warm winters. Frogfruit may also be used in lieu of turfgrass in various soil and lighting conditions. Butterflies – such as the Buckeye, Phaon Crescent and White Peacock, as well as assorted other pollinator insects – rely on Frogfruit as their gracious larval host.

Corpus Christi Fleabane (erigeron procumbens) is one of my favorite demure native plants. Its delicate pink-to-white flowers with lemony centers sway in the sultry coastal breeze. Turgid, sawtooth-like foliage forms in rosettes and spreads easily. This species of fleabane prefers moist spots in beach, prairie and roadside environments. A healthy stand of Corpus Christi Fleabane established itself in one of my gardens after approximately four feet of floodwater rushed through my property after Hurricane Harvey. As I write this, we are flooded again after approximately twenty inches of rain fell in June 2018. The stand of fleabane, as well as the horseherb and frogfruit we had planted in

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34

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Fall 2018

SEAFAIR continued from page 11

conclude with a performance by Hilda Lamas of Corpus Christi.

In addition to great music, there will be lots of food, including a chili and gumbo cookoff as well as dessert and salsa competitions. Applications are available online at www.rockport-fulton.org/Seafair.

There will be prizes and bragging rights. Vendors will have all the favorite fair food.

Other competitions include Battle of the Bands, Cardboard Boat Races, Crab Races and more.

There will be a car show and plenty of boat dealers.

Information for all contests can be found on the website.

Shoppers will have access to vendors with a variety of arts and crafts and merchandise.

No Seafair event would be complete without water activities.

“This year we are adding a kayak race,” Jumper said. “The details are still in the works, but it should be a fun addition.” There also will be water sports for the kids and a Kids’ Tent.

The annual parade will be Saturday. Time and parade route will be posted to the website soon, Jumper said.

Though not an official part of Seafair, the carnival will be adjacent the Seafair area and open for business.

Ticket prices were not available at press time but should be comparable to last year. Information will be available THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11TH on the website, - Elida Reyna Y Avante www.rockportfulton.org/Seafair.

Tickets will be FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12TH available for each - Asleep at the Wheel day or a weekend wristband may be purchased.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH Seafair began - The Spazmatics 44 years ago as a fall event to fill the lull between the summer tourist season and the arrival of winter tourists. It began with a parade, arts and crafts, bands, water entertainment and a gumbo cook-off.

All of which remain major attractions of the event today.

Rockport resident Bill Christian is credited with the creation of Seafair. He formed a board of directions and established a non-profit organization. In 2000, the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce assumed responsibilities for Seafair and has continued the annual tradition.

2018 SEAFAIR ENTERTAINMENT:

Fall 2018

• ReseRvations accepted •

The Big Fisherman’s Tradition continues at The Fisherman’s Daughter

DAILY LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS FULL BAR & HAPPY HOUR

361-226-3736

❖

3714 FM 1069 • Between Aransas Pass & Ingleside www.thefishermansdaughter.net

Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

35

Coastal Bend Redbook Directories 38,000 telephone directories with your message printed and delivered to homes and businesses

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TERRY continued from page 9

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRY FISHER

the choir. I played the guitar and wanted to play with the church worship team. Larry Stewart, the choir director agreed that I could play guitar, but he said, ‘You have to join the choir, too.’”

It was at Coastal Oaks Church in Rockport that Coastal Scene publisher Debbie Aylesworth heard Terry bring the house down with his beautiful tenor voice.

In school, Terry was interested in music.

“It started in junior high where I played trumpet in the band. I wasn’t good at it. I never really learned to read music well. There was some sort of block. If I ever heard the The Fisher family outside their hurricane-damaged home in music, though, I could play it. In Rockport last August. high school, I played the tuba in marching band. I learned to play a note in mail box telling us if we ever bass guitar in the jazz band and wanted to sell, she was interested,” Terry said with a we played gigs in jazz clubs and people’s parties in San laugh.

Antonio. I played guitar in 7-8th grade and would play Jordan is a stay at home mom now with Camden, 7, during break time during college. and Grayson, now 14. She homeschools the boys and “In 1991 I was asked to audition for the San Antonio they are thriving.

Symphony master singers. I sang with them for two “She’s incredible,” Terry said. “Jordan did years. I could hear what I was supposed to hear and with marketing for the zoo and public relations and, before enough practicing, I could figure it out, even though I still that, she worked for the Spurs as events promoter. She couldn’t read music. We were invited to sing at Carnegie would run out on the court every break. She took the Hall. Catherine Comet conducted Vaure’s Requiem Spurs on road trips.

She even had substantial career and we sang on Jan. 11, 1992. It was a neat, neat, neat marketing for the American Cancer Society and was experience. director for a while.

She is a lot more accomplished than “Almost three months after we moved here, my I am.

During that time, she was working for Outside the dad passed away. It was an easy passing and we were Box Events.

They did some phenomenal, cool stuff with thankful. Mom lasted a couple of years and died from George Strait and Clint Black for the ‘Love of Kids and congestive heart failure. She was also blessed with easy Harleys.,” passing.”

Terry was the grandson of a Church of Christ minister Today, Terry is the District Health Safety Environment and he had a relationship with God, but during his Human Resources Agent for MMR. MMR is an industrial college years wasn’t attending church. electrical and instrumentation company with broad “I just fell away,” Terry said. “When I started dating construction, maintenance.

Jordan, she said we had to begin to attend church again.

“I love what I do,” Terry said. “I get to help people stay She was a Christian and she roped me back in,” Terry safe on the job to be able to go home to their families. As said.

“I knew the Lord, but I fell away in college. I worked with any HR job, I sometimes have to fire people. weekends and skipped church. Jordan insisted we “I am also a training manager. We help our employees started going to church.

We found a great church in San improve themselves with some really good training Antonio, Oak Hills, loved that. After Grayson was born, I in a number of areas of personal and professional understood the unconditional, sacrificial love that God development.” has for us.

I fi nally got baptized at Oak Hills.”

After the move to Rockport, Terry said they developed The most important thing Terry would want people a hobby of buying houses, fixing them up and selling to know about him is, “That I care.

Unfortunately, I’m a them. disciplinarian and terminate people.

It’s not out of spite.

“I can paint and I can change out light fixtures but I genuinely care that people do their jobs and take care of Jordan is the one with the vision to make things look their family.

Violate a safety rule and you might get fi red. good. She is the driving force in decorating. For one I’d rather send them home to their families than send reason or the other we would decide to move and start them home in a pine box.” over. In one home we were in, a lady drove by and left

❖

Fall 2018

Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

37

GLASS

RENTALS

Evins Glass Service 101 NPID @ Bear Ln, CC 361-884-3995

Miss Kitty’s Fishing Getaways 361-727-0312

(See ad Page 2)

ADVERTISING

COFFEE SHOP

Coastal Bend Redbook Directories Coastal Scene Magazine Digital Billboard 361 S Commercial, Aransas Pass 361-790-7106

Bella La Brew 2818 Hwy 35 N, Rockport 361-205-1833

(See ad page 36)

BEADS & MORE The Bead Studio 812 Henderson St., Rockport 361-450-1400 (See ad page 33)

BED & BREAKFAST Anthony’s By the Sea 732 S Pearl, Rockport 361-729-6100 (See ad page 10)

BOAT SALES & SERVICE Waypoint Marine Rockport, 361-727-2628 CC, 361-651-2628 (See ad page 14)

BOUTIQUE Bella La Rue 2816 Bus 35 N, Rockport 361-729-2355

(See ad page 16)

CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING

(See ad page 9)

CONVENTION & EVENT CENTERS San Patricio Fairgrounds 219 W 5th Street, Sinton 361-364-9580

Alliance Carpet Service 3314 Hwy 35 N, Aransas Pass 361-758-0770 (See ad page 17)

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Aransas Pass Chamber 130 W Goodnight, Aransas Pass 361-758-2750

38

(See ad page 35)

HEATING & A/C

Our Family Kitchen 324 Hwy 35 S, Rockport 361-727-1111

Airboss Texas 361 S Commercial, Aransas Pass 361-851-4444

INSURANCE Russell Insurance Portland • 643-2600 Corpus Christi • 885-0800 Corpus Christi • 654-2060 (See ad page 33)

LUMBERYARD Fowler Lumber 1265 Hwy 35 N, Aransas Pass 361-758-5345

(See ad page 7)

Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill 165 Cove Harbor North, Rockport 361-729-6000 (See ad page 11)

ROOFING R R Roofing & Remodeling 361-360-9015 (See ad page 27)

RV RESORT/PARK

B & R Electric 401 S Church St, Rockport 361-729-4499

PAINTING SERVICES Soto Painting Service 302 N 7th Street Aransas Pass 361-816-3074

SHUTTERS & WINDOW COVERINGS

(See ad page 22)

Underwater Green Fishing Lights 402 S Commercial, Aransas Pass 361-708-2020 (See ad page 15)

EMERGENCY ROOM & URGENT CARE CTR Code 3 ER 400 Enterprise Blvd, Rockport 361-529-9400 (See ad page 19)

EVENTS Baconfest Texas 322 Huff Street • Aransas Pass 361-758-9000 (See ad page 26)

Ingleside Chamber 2867 Ave J, Ingleside 361-776-2906

Aransas Flower Company 2106 W Wheeler, Aransas Pass 361-758-9191

(See ad page 12)

(See ad page 6)

(See ad page 28)

FLOWERS & PLANTS

Rockport-Fulton Chamber 319 Broadway, Rockport 361-729-6445

Smitty’s Golf Carts 1540 W Wheeler, Aransas Pass 361-226-1478

ELECTRICAL/LIGHTING

(See ad page 31)

(See ad page 25)

RESTAURANTS The Fisherman’s Daughter 3714 FM 1069, Aransas Pass 361-226-3736

Southern Oaks Luxury RV Resort 1850 Highway 35 Bypass, Aransas Pass 361-758-1249

(See ad page 29)

(See ad page 16)

CARPET CLEANING

GOLF CARTS

(See ad page 34)

Coastal Cabin & Windstorm Construction 361-557-7691

(See ad page 15)

(See ad page 18)

(See ad page 23)

PRINTERS Shweiki Media 4954 Space Center Dr, San Antonio 210-804-0390 (See ad page 39)

REAL ESTATE Coldwell Banker The Ron Brown Company Darcy Zaricor 361-332-9683 (See ad page 21)

Dream Team Realtors Sandy Riggs 361-222-1134 (See ad page 22)

Eling Corp Coastal Real Estate 1602 Hwy 35 N, Rockport 361-729-3424 (See ad Back Page)

FURNISHINGS & DECOR OH MY! Rockport, 361-727-2123 Corpus Christi, 361-867-8050

Spears & Co Real Estate Sarah Solis Rockport 361-729-1144 (See ad page 23)

(See ad page 13)

oastal

Scene

(See ad page 8)

Academy Window Coverings 4303 S.P.I.D., Corpus Christi 361-852-6088 (See ad page 5 )

Texs Storm Shutters 361 Commercial St, Aransas Pass 361-861-5325 (See ad page 30)

STEEL Industrial Piping & Steel 333 45th St, Corpus Christi 361-884-1677 (See ad page 3)

THEATER Rialto Theater 327 S. Commercial, Aransas Pass 361-758-0383 (See ad page 24)

TITLE COMPANIES Northshore Title Portland … 361-643-7566 Sinton … 361-364-4390 Ingleside … 361-776-0650 (See ad page 20)

Fall 2018

LIFE IS BET TER IN COLOR let us take care of all your printing needs MAGAZINES CATALOGS POSTCARDS CALENDARS & BROCHURES

4954 Space Center Dr., San Antonio, TX 78218 210.804.0390 | www.shweiki.com Fall 2018

Living & Leisure in the Coastal Bend

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1602 Hwy. 35 N.

www.ElingCoastal.com 361-729-3424 361-729-3424

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We have many more MELISSA DIAZ ELIZABETH MARTIN We have many more beautiful properties available.

Managing Broker (361) 386-0707 beautiful properties available.

(361)by 205-4442 mdiaz@elingcoastal.com Please stop our office and visit with one of our agents emartin@elingcoastal.com Please stop by our office and visit ELIZABETH MARTIN MELISSA DIAZ KEITH HAMILTON JENNIFER BRADSHAW with one of our agents.

(361) 386-0707 215-3028 (361) Managing Broker

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2002 White Pine Log Home on 1.93 tree filled acres in Rockport!

Three bedroom/ two bath, 2000 sq ft., with open concept kitchen/ dining/living areas.

Beautifully landscaped corner lot 4/2 In-ground pool, home.

New paintown throughout, new carpet spa, Fish in your private pond!

Includes a huge unattached 2+ car Beautifully landscaped corner lot 4/2 in bedrooms.

Enjoyand eating breakfast while garage/workshop a oversized driveway.

Kitchen getting a remodel home. paint throughout, new carpet lookingNew out the bay windows.

Large livingand backsplash. including new countertops

area with fireplace, separate dining room in bedrooms.

Enjoy eating breakfast while /another area.

Kitchen Large has new looking outliving the bay windows. living $ dishwasher, 6 burner gas cook top, double area with fireplace, separate dining room electric ovens, refrigerator, movable island ROCKPORT, TX 78382 /another living area. Kitchen has new ROCKPORT, TX 78382 and eating bar. With over 2400 square feet dishwasher, 6 burner gas cook top, double of living area, backyard with garden area, electric ovens, with refrigerator, movable islandis Margaret A. “Missi” Thomas, Broker two car garage workbench.

This home Elizabeth Martin, Managing Broker and eatingwell bar.priced.

With over 2400 square feet $204,000.

Margaret A. “Missi” Thomas, Broker

1602 Hwy. 35 N. ROCKPORT, TX 78382 1602 Hwy. 35 N. 361-729-3424

www.ElingCoastal.com

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146 Wehring SPRING LANE • $309,000 128 128 Wehring

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Luxurious coastal custom home featuring ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX feet of trophy Beautiful Copano CopanoBay Baywaterfront waterfronthome. home.

Beautiful trout yielding Amazing views, views, completely completelyremodeled remodeled Amazing premium canal throughout.Master throughout.Mastersuite suiteplus plus22additional additional front. Bahia Bay bedrooms.All high end finishes with bedrooms.All high end finishes withstunning stunning backyard living kitchen,2 kitchen,2 car car garage, garage,downstairsutility/laundry downstairsutility/laundry in this fisherman’s room deck for room with with half half bath.Huge bath.Huge deckCoastal forwatching watching paradise; a gem fish. in the Bend. 3 Bedroom, 5 bath, sunsets and catching $457,000.

Also sunsets and catching fish. $457,000.

Also feetseparately. with two Master Suites. vacant lot next3200 door square is available

Martin, Managing Broker We haveElizabeth many more beautiful properties Margaret A. “Missi” Thomas, Broker available.

Martin, Managing Please stop Elizabeth by our office and visit withBroker one of our agents

(713)205-4442 269-7942 khamilton@elingcoastal.com (361) mdiaz@elingcoastal.com ELIZABETH MARTIN jbradshaw@elingcoastal.com emartin@elingcoastal.com LAUER Managing Broker MARK HAMILTON DAVE FOUNTAIN(361) 205-4442KEITH (361) 463-8305 JENNIFER BRADSHAW (361) 215-3028 (361) 205-1867 mrlauer@aol.com emartin@elingcoastal.com (713) 269-7942 khamilton@elingcoastal.com dfountain@elingcoastal.com

jbradshaw@elingcoastal.com JENNIFER BRADSHAW KEITH HAMILTON ANNA ROBERTSON MARK LAUER (713) 269-7942 (361) 790-6457 (361) 215-3028 DAVE FOUNTAIN (361) 463-8305 arobertson@elingcoastal.com jbradshaw@elingcoastal.com khamilton@elingcoastal.com (361) 205-1867 mrlauer@aol.com dfountain@elingcoastal.com DAVE FOUNTAIN ANNA ROBERTSON ANNA ROBERTSON (361) 205-1867 (361) 790-6457 (361) 790-6457 dfountain@elingcoastal.com arobertson@elingcoastal.com arobertson@elingcoastal.com MELISSA DIAZ DYANNA RUTLEDGE (361) 386-0707 361-400-8340 mdiaz@elingcoastal.com drutledge@elingcoastal.com

402 AUGUSTA • 275,000

New Listing!

Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath home located in the Rockport of living area, backyard with garden area, Country Club. two car garage with workbench. This home is New roof and new well priced. $204,000. privacy fence.

Just a short drive to Memorial Park, The City Pool, and The ACISD Middle and High School.

241 Coastal Wildwood Drive

241 Coastal Wildwood Drive• $395,000 3205 TRAYLOR

SPLASH INTO YOUR OWN POOL!!!

Beautiful 3 Bedroom, STUNNING NEW CONSTRUCTION! combination rock 4 bedroom + study or 5th bedroom and siding home, 3.5 bathrooms. Large 2 car garage.

2 1/2 Bath, 2 Living 17.69 secluded acres of beautiful Areas, 2 Dining oaks. 2 Private PONDS $799,000 Areas, Spacious STUNNING NEW CONSTRUCTION! kitchen.

Vaulted living room with fireplace, Bar Area, Laundry 4 bedroom + study or 5thceiling bedroom with storage, 2 HVAC and Nice Garage. Fenced 3.5Room bathrooms.

Large 2 carsystems garage. backyard with pool acres and patio, excellent location located on the #10 17.69 secluded of beautiful Tee Box,2overlooking the 10th$799,000 Fairway. New Roof, New condensing oaks.

Private PONDS unit, new Sprinkler system and many other updates since Harvey.

Fall 2018