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December 5, 2013

The Island where cold stunned turtles come to get warm

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

There was no panic in the voice, not yet anyway. But there was urgency in the holiday air. The Backup Santa had gone missing. That’s right. Santa… gone; disappeared in a blaze of crimson glory with nary hide nor hair of a reindeer left behind. The phone at the North Pole just kept ringing. On Dasher, on Dancer, on Donner and Blitzen…but on to where?

Santa’s gone missing!

The #2 Santa had a prior commitment so the call went out for Santa #3. If anyone knows where to find Santa #3 by this weekend let us know.

There’s no not yet anyway.

panic

in

the

voice…

The La Posada season is upon us. The 3rd Annual La Posada Kickoff Party was Tuesday over at Scuttlebutt’s and raised over $10,000 for Toys for Tots. Islanders always step up and make a La Posada the largest event in the state for Toys for Tots. Congratulations to Fred and Vic and all the folks at the Padre Island Yacht Club who make this event such a successful Island tradition. We have all the information you need to plan your Island holiday in this issue.

Weather Wonkery If the Weather Wonks are correct by the time you read this we will be hit by another cold front. This will be number 7 for the season by our count so we’ll name it Heathcliff because we will be Weathering his Heights for a few days here.

Keep an eye out for cold stunned turtles as you move about. If you see one get him warmed up and call Donna. Turtles don’t like the cold very much and need our help this time of year.

Next Publication Date: 12/12/2013

Schlitterbahn Building Taking Shape Schlitterwork

By Dale Rankin The size of the main building at Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort has now expanded to over 35,000 square feet and will include a third story observation deck. Work on the building, the former clubhouse for Padre Island Country Club, is moving quickly as the newly expanded top floor is finished out and the support structure is in place for the outdoor area on the south side of the building.

Site work is continuing and Developer Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee in its meeting Tuesday night that the park is on schedule to be open by the beginning of the summer season in 2014.

Water Exchange Bridge. City Engineer Dan Biles told the ISAC he plans to have bids for the water exchange bridge under SPID ready to go to bid by early summer of 2014. Biles said final design details are being worked out with state and federal regulators and the final permits will be filed with the U.S. Corps of Engineers this week.

Plans call for the bridge to have 14 feet of clearance between the bridge and the waterline with a 40-foot wide water passage that will allow for the movement of water and boats between the existing Island canal system on the west side of the roadway into Lake Padre and on into the Gulf of Mexico.

Schexnailder said the bridge is expected to be completed by mid-2015.

La Posada Kicks Off

Open City

Duck n’ Flounder The duck season has taken a couple of weeks off but the flounder season is in full swing.

Lighthouse Rick reports that the seekers of Flat Fish have been keeping the waters churned and the air full of motor noise along the Lydia Ann.

Breakfast With Santa Don’t forget Breakfast With Santa this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. at St. Andrew By the Sea Catholic Church, 14235 Encantada. Santa and the Mrs. will be there and it is free but bring an unwrapped toy if you can. For information call 816-1243. The event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Padre Island.

In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

La Posada Parade Routes and Boat Registration on page A4

The new clubhouse at the Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort worksite is moving quickly. Plans for the building have changed several times during construction and the building will now include more than 30,000 square-feet of indoor space, including a rooftop bar and observation deck.

Most of the canals on the west side of SPID have now been excavated and the swimming pool has been redesigned to include a swim-up bar.

The area in the south end of the site is a wave pool.

Island Police Boat. Islander Bryan Gulley told the ISAC this week that $22,000 has been raised so far to fund half of the cost for a CCPD boat to patrol Island canals. Gulley said the goal is to raise $40,000 and ask the City of Corpus Christi to match that to reach the estimated $80,000 needed.

New Island waterline. Bids are being opened this week for a second $7.1 million waterline to The Island. Construction on the 18-inch PVC line is expected to begin in February 2014 and with completion by August. The project also includes an 8-inch steel gas line and 4-inch PVC MIS conduit. The existing waterline, the sole source of water for The Island, also supplies most of the water to the City of Port Aransas and has been in use since the 1960s.

We’re having some trouble with one (actually two) of the television stations in town taking stories off our Facebook page and forgetting where they got them. They are a bit lax when it comes to fact checking so it may be time for a Giant Earthworm story; or in this case a Giant Squid story. So if you see a story about a giant squid washed up on Kleberg Beach on our Facebook page ignore it; but look for it on The News at 10.

Being an open city is good for business.

Year 16, Issue 503

Update on Island Projects

Television copycats

We’ve had quite a few celebrity sightings on our sandbar of late; and of course we use the term loosely (are fugitives celebrities? A question to ponder…). But it may be time to declare The Island an open city; open city as in open to celebrity visitors who won’t get mobbed when they come to town. We’ve had some high profile visitors of late looking for a little down time and not wishing to be hounded for autographs or pictures. There’s not much we can do about the tourists, they flock like seagulls on a Cheeto, but if you see a famous person (or a fugitive) hanging out resist the urge to run over and tell them what a big fan you are or, how much you can’t stand them. Just leave them be.

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

By Brent Rourk Nobody caught fire except for the celebrity auctioneer who auctioned off dozens of incredible items at holiday bargain prices. Food and drink passed by quickly as Scuttlebutt’s servers flew from table to table. La Posada committee members and volunteers from the Padre Island Yacht Club enthusiastically welcomed islanders who brought bag after bag of toys for Toys for Tots. Melodic tunes filled the rooms at Scuttlebutts, making crowds tap their feet and sing along. Shoppers with a keen eye surveyed the mountain of items on the Silent Auction table, swiftly writing their bids.

La posada continued on A4

Dozens of Cold Stunned Green Turtles Found

By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore Donna_Shaver@nps.gov Cold weather during Thanksgiving week caused dozens of green sea turtles to become “cold stunned” on the Texas coast. Instead of thinking about a nice cozy turkey dinner, many Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network participants were busy trying to help save these cold, helpless turtles. Thanks to the hard work

Turtles continued on A14

GLO land sale. Negotiations for the sale of 3860 acres of land owned by Texas General Land Office in Kleberg County are moving forward. Meetings between the GLO in Austin, Kleberg County, and the Nueces County Coastal Parks Board were held last week. Current plans call for Nueces County to manage the property with public access to remain as is.

ATVs on the beach. On September 1 it became

legal to drive an All Terrain Vehicle on the beach. Whether access and/or operation should have limitations will be the subject of discussion at the next ISAC meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Comfort Suites Windward Drive on Tuesday, December 7. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. ISAC is an advisory committee to the Corpus Christi City Council and all meetings are open to the public.

Here is the patio roof being built over the back of the entry building (formerly the Padre Isles Country Club clubhouse). There will be an outside bar serving this area as well as a great view of the waterpark.

Photo by Patrick Kelliher

A Little Island History

Duck Hunting Before the Island was a no-tie zone

It’s that time of the year for the weekend morning alarm clock on the Island, the sound of a small war out in the Laguna. It brings to mind one of my favorite Island family pictures, Pat Dunn with four duck hunters about a hundred years ago. It seems that the hunters didn’t get the message that the Island was a no tie zone with their hunting outfits of coat, tie and waders.

Don’t think they discussed the advantages of two cycle vs. four cycle outboards either, their boat looks to be four oared powered.

Although in the picture Pat was greeting the hunting party on the bank of the Packery, he Pat Dunn, left, & duck hunters on Padre one was more of a conservationist hundred years ago. Greg Smith collection than a hunter. Being Irish he had a lot of politician in him. his district but the feathered variety also. At He was Chairman of the Nueces County that time there was a big market in feathers, Democratic Party before being elected to with birds of color being slaughtered at an State Representative for Nueces County alarming rate to decorate the hats of East in 1911. Even though he was a rookie in Coast fashionites, to keep them up with the the legislature he was a political veteran, latest styles. Pat’s first order of business having supported such political luminaries was carrying a bill to outlaw the sale of as future Vice President John “Cactus Roseate Spoonbill feathers, stopping the Jack” Garner. Arriving in Austin he was shooting of those beautiful magenta birds. appointed to the Game and Fish committee In 1913 he was appointed Chairman of the on Game and Fisheries. There Pat was able Game and Fisheries Committee with the to represent not only the two legged folks of History continued on A7

A 2

Island Moon

December 5, 2013

The Travelling Moon Gets Around

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Winter Weather Takes a Break

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Beach conditions north of Packery Channel are leaving little room for driving lanes.

‘Christmas Around the World’ Features a Seashore Learning Center Christmas Tree

By Brent Rourk Among several exhibits art this week, the Art Museum of South Texas, along with co-sponsors H-E-B and the Junior League of Corpus Christi, is featuring ‘Christmas Around the World’ 2013, a fabulous collection of Christmas Trees decorated as they might look in 30 different countries. The exhibit is an attractive eyeful as lights, trees, and decorations that reflect important cultural elements all vie for the viewer’s attention.

The Christmas Tree Forest features gorgeous decorations hand-made by students from 30 different Corpus Christi schools.

Seashore Learning Center decorated a very attractive tree in Scottish style, including flags, custom ornaments, lights, ribbons and bulbs. Students researched their country, created their decorations, and then trimmed their trees.

Running through December 18th at the Art Museum of South Texas, the Christmas Tree Forest is sure to delight viewers of all ages. After the exhibit concludes, all of the festively decorated trees will be donated to needy families to enjoy during the holiday season.

Be sure to catch the Mexican Folk Art Exhibit while you are there; a collection of 52 pieces spanning decades and including a broad variety of works in metal, wood, paper maché, glass and clay. The TAMU-CC Art Faculty Exhibition in the Upper Gallery features a blend of diverse media.

December 5, 2013

Island Moon

A3

Backwater Adventures Cold Clear Water

On the Rocks

By Joey Farah

By Jay Gardner I awoke in the pre-dawn light in the comfort of my Tent-cot to the soothing sounds of the surf. I was wrapped up like a bug in a rug, despite the chill of the weather on Thanksgiving morning. I had slept restlessly through the night, partly because of the raccoon fight that had occurred under my truck next to me during the night over a piece of found bait, and partially because of the excitement of the pending fishing. I laid there for a bit, wanting to hear the usual sound of Kevin also stirring and beginning his usual ritual of making coffee, but I heard nothing but the surf. The call of nature eventually forced me out into the chilly morning, and I immediately dressed for a North Pole expedition instead of the typical fishing garb.

Welcome to America I was the first one up, and started getting ready for the trek out to the end of the rocks to chase some tarpon. We were all anxious to get going due to the inclement weather that pounded us early in the week, as the first part of the break yielded nothing but 44 degree temps and relentless winds that kept us at bay. Eventually Kevin, Oz, James, Brad and Beth stirred as well, and we all formed our respective game plans. Most were going to shark fish, and I happily loped out to the granite by myself to see what was going on. Which was a big pile of “not much”.

beachcombing are also excellent with the lower water levels, but there are tons of plastic and other flotsam that have been washed up towards the dunes in a nice, tight zone. I sure wish we could do the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Clean Up during this time of year; the driving is excellent and the trash is all lined up right above the road.

Cold water sharks I wish I had an epic fishing report for you, but alas, I don’t. However, the boys that were shark fishing all landed sandbar sharks, which is a sign that cold water may be here to stay this season.

Congrats to James and Brad, who landed and released the same shark for the first time I can recall. James tagged a sandbar recently, and it was recaptured by Brad a few miles away. Goes to show that tagging is not futile, and we need to step up international efforts to curb all of our sharks going on a one way vacation into the longliner nets and markets to the south.

The second and third day brought slightly cleaner water and smaller waves, but it still wasn’t ideal for what we were trying to do.

Curtis and I moved up the beach to Brad’s position and tried the long rods, but nothing but hard heads and a few whiting were what we caught. I managed an oversized red somewhere in there, but of course it wasn’t my intended catch (thanks for the picture Oz). Most everyone up and down the beach was catching over-sized redfish and upper slot black drum.

Not fit for fin nor man

Beachgiving Thanks again to Brad, Beth, Brad’s mom, and Kevin for organizing the Thanksgiving dinner(s) for everyone. The boys go over the top and fry a turkey and have mashed potatoes on the beach every year, and they even stepped it up this year and did it two nights in a row! The food was delicious, and thanks to Brad’s mom for the homemade cranberry sauce to go with it.

The cold weather also brought the water temperatures down Well, the Christmas parties and caused the currents to are popping up all over the change, which caused the surf Mansfield North Jetty place, and we all have so to become very muddy. Bad much going on I’ll probably conditions not fit for fin or man, but we all gave have to shop during stops at Stripes stores when it a shot. The morning warmed up with the day I get gas.

They could make a lot of money with down at the jetties at Mansfield, all the way a few gifts there wedged between the gum and down the National Seashore. Driving has been candy bars.

Anyhoo, thanks for tuning in loyal really excellent, which allows you to take a little more time headed down the sand. Shelling and readers, and if the motor doesn’t start on the boat this weekend I’ll see you on the rocks.

Member Padre Island Business Association

Member Padre Island Rotary Club

Farah’s Fishing Adventures The resent cold weather has brought some relief of the Brown Tide in the Upper Laguna Madre’. The lower water temperatures knock out the algae blooms, especially in the upper reaches of our area where there is significant tidal movements. As one moves south towards Baffin and beyond the reality of the seriousness of the conditions of the bay waters here become evident, Baffin still has some of the brown tide, even with the cold conditions. This might change and the few months we have of winter left may clear the yuck out, but if not it will stand as a platform for an early spring explosion of the Brown Tide.

Researchers from the state are fairly tight lipped about their exact findings about the hybrid strains of the algae outbreaks this year. In June we had a one month period that the classic Brown tide moved north and turned rust colored brown and moved most all fish out of the Upper Laguna Madre’ as well as killing millions of Sheephead are hard to clean but some of small sand eels and “who knows what else”. the best eating fish we have in our area.

We are too far away from the Back of Baffin to hear and experience the waves of whispers deeper flats. The King Ranch Shoreline is full of the sport and commercial fishermen from of trout of good size but one has to catch them Rivera that claim to have seen mass fish kills on a major feeding time, there is so much bait in and fishless waters. These conditions are all the deepest reaches of the Emmort’s Hole area stemmed from a fairly closed delicate ecosystem that they are gorging themselves then sitting for crippled by big money farming that drains one to two days before feeding again. Again, fertilizer into the system, and the continued slow presentation is the key. I have seen some dredging of the Intracoastal Canal and dumping beautiful redfish out in the shallow flats along the Flour Bluff shoreline, make long dredge material freely drifts with big gold spoons to hook into the bay instead of up with the reds on days with strong on spoil islands. The southeast winds. coastal islands created along the Intracoastal The short and sweet trips in the are leased by bird boat or along the back are primed protection groups so as of now. Local anglers can access big money pay offs over good fishing from their cars or boats power common sense. with just a short run. The Packery Right now fishing is area is full of fish, that doesn’t mean good and so is most of it’s easy all the time. The presence the water in our area of large pin perch is the biggest but perhaps the recent problem. These perch will take success of the public apart a shrimp in seconds. Use small turning to our LOCAL hooks and shrimp pieces when perch REPRESENTATIVES are steeling your bait. The perch are to stop the annexing the best cut bait for croaker, sand of public beaches will trout, and whiting. Cut the perch move us to take care of Here is a great triple drum hook- filets into small squares on a very this problem as well. small hook. Chumming the water up with Fitzsimmans family Just keep it all in mind. can bring in schools of sand trout and croaker.

The small fish fight harder than Good time to go fishing speckled trout and are great when crispy fried.

The fishing is really good right now with lots There is no limit on size or number of these of big boxes coming in from down south with three species, just make sure that they are sand drum, reds, sheep head, and trout. The live bait trout and not specks. The surf is also a great situation is good with most of the bait houses spot to fish these next few weeks. The first two having plenty. The winter season can hand guts are full of these three box fillers along with us some tough conditions but the ride down pompano. The jetties at Port A and Packery are and back in my BIG BLAZER BAY makes it starting to fill up on Sheep head and Pompano. smooth and enjoyable. The days that you are The best way to keep out of the rocks is to use a saying, wow this is beautiful, you are missing cork and a very long leader, or a long surf pole some awesome fishing. The windy colder days to reach out over the edge of the rocks. Ghost are even better. With the holiday season coming shrimp are the king of bait, but live shrimp around and friends and family coming in, treat works well as well. yourself to a great adventure and give me Clear water conditions in the area can create a call. Throw on a coat and jump in the boat for a trip to the Land Cut. We are smoking big a need to change some of your tackle from boxes of BLACK DRUM and Reds, and once the normal summertime set-ups. Try a longer you are there all the fishing is in protected leader of FLOROCARBON monofilament. waters blocked form the wind. For the next This line is stiff and is not meant to be used as few weeks through the New Year I’ll be giving a main line, but its invisible character is very Island Moon Readers a $200 discount on these important in catching fish in crystal clear water MEAT HAWLER TRIPS! THIS INCLUDES conditions. The use of added scent is also a good CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATES. It’s a lot idea. Various flavors and brands are around, of fun, we often pull over for lunch and cook experiment with a few as well as adding a little fresh fried fish on the dock while we are there piece of FISH BITES to your hook. I always and this time of year we have the whole bay to chum a small amount of bait when I approach a spot to fish with bait. Grab the larger shrimp ourselves. I make it easy for you to fish hard. from the well and trim it into tiny pieces with a pair of scissors, I usually only do one or two Where to go and what to use every ten minutes. The enzymes and proteins The local fishing scene is on fire. I have seen float down current and bring in any schools of lots of boats out with local anglers enjoying the fish, many times bringing dormant fish up to cooler weather. The trout bite has been slow feed. because of the drop in temperatures. Trout In the next few weeks take some time and get are feeding in the late afternoon when water temperatures are warmest. Look for drop-offs out on the water and be thankful of the great where water is flowing off of the shallow flats lives we live here in our beachfront community. into the channel. Areas south of the Whitecap The season is ours with pleasant weather, lack of Canals are perfect, as warm currents flow out summer crowds, and great fishing. Research the of Night Hawk Bay and into the Intracoastal. lunar feeding times and plan your outings along Fish the edge of the channel with soft plastics those peaks. Give me a call if you would like to very slowly. The fish are suspended in 6 to 10 schedule an adventure with friends and family feet of water along the edge. When they are this holiday break or perhaps a gift certificate for active they will move to the edge of the grass a fishing trip for that special person or family. line to hunt small minnows along the warm Guided fishing trips can be great times catching edge. Winter colors that have been best have fish, or a learning experience for even the most been bright colors along with naturals such as accomplished fishermen. Get into the SPIRIT! pumpkinseed/chart. I’ve been using a 1/4ounce KEEP THOSE LINES TIGHT, AND YOUR head for the deeper water and 1/8ounce for the HOOKS SHARP, Joey Farah 442-8145.v

Tides of the Week

Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) December 5-11, 2013

W illiam a. T hau iii, P.C. “F ormer U.S. N avy L awyer ”

l Divorce and Separation l Child Custody and Support l Adoption/Guardianship l Paternity Cases l Wills and Probate

l Auto Accidents l Personal Injury l DWI l Criminal Justice l Military Law

ConvenienT Flour BluFF loCaTion 9708 S.P.I.D., Suite A-101 s C orPus C hrisTi (361) 937-5513 s T oll F ree 1-877-888-1369 Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Former President of the Corpus Christi Family Law Association (1999-2000) Selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in November 2003, October 2004 and October 2005 Issues of Texas Monthly

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Th

5

Low

5

High

F

6

6

Sa

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

% Moon Visible

10:01 AM 0.5

7:05 AM Rise 9:33 AM

4

7:02 PM 2.0

5:34 PM Set 8:48 PM

Low

10:55 AM -0.3

7:06 AM Rise 10:24 AM

High

7:39 PM 1.8

5:34 PM Set 9:53 PM

7

Low

11:52 AM -0.1

7:07 AM Rise 11:10 AM

7

High

8:08 PM 1.6

5:34 PM Set 10:57 PM

Su

8

Low

3:06 AM 1.1

7:07 AM Rise 11:53 AM

8

High

5:15 AM 1.2

5:35 PM Set 11:58 PM

8

Low

12:54 PM 0.2

8

High

8:29 PM 1.5

M

9

Low

3:26 AM 0.8

7:08 AM Rise 12:32 PM

9

High

7:34 AM 1.1

5:35 PM

9

Low

2:08 PM 0.6

9

High

8:44 PM 1.3

Tu

10

Low

4:01 AM 0.5

7:09 AM Set 12:58 AM

10

High

10:01 AM 1.1

5:35 PM Rise 1:11 PM

10

Low

3:44 PM 0.9

10

High

8:57 PM 1.3

W

11

Low

4:40 AM 0.3

7:09 AM Set 1:55 AM

11

High

12:32 PM 1.3

5:35 PM Rise 1:49 PM

11

Low

5:34 PM 1.1

11

High

9:06 PM 1.2

11 20 30

41

52

63

A 4 2013 LA POSADA BOAT PARADE REGISTRATION The following information is required. Please print legibly: NAME___________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS________________________________________________________________

Island Moon

December 5, 2013

La Posada continued from A1

Another La Posada Kick-off Party came to a successful conclusion at 11:00 PM after hundreds of partiers had their fill of fun while contributing generously to Toys for Tots coffers, either through donations or through the silent and live auctions that ran during the course of the evening.

parking lot in front of the crowd. Ryan Brannan and his dancing group danced with fire and then ate and breathed fire. A fire-up crowd then went back inside to continue wining, dining, and bidding on Live Auction items.

PHONE with area code_______________________ CELL_________________________ E MAIL ADDRESS________________________________________________________ POWER________ SAIL________ BOAT NAME_________________________________ BOAT DESCRIPTION______________________________________________________ STATE REGISTRATION #___________________________LENGTH_______________ NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANY_________________________________________ Additional requirements: 

CAPTAINS OR A VESSEL REPRESENTATIVE MUST ATTEND THE CAPTAINS' MEETING DECEMBER 12, 2013 AT THE PADRE ISLAND YACHT CLUB AT 7 PM.

 ALL VESSELS MUST MEET STATE & FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.  ALL VESSELS MUST HAVE A WORKING VHF RADIO.  CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE AND PRUDENT OPERATION OF THEIR VESSELS.  ONLY ENGINE-POWERED VESSELS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.  PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE PARADE ROUTE FOR WHICH THEY ENTER.

A huge thanks to the generous partiers who attended the La Posada Kick-off, to Scuttlebutt’s, to countless volunteers, and to the United States Marines who will deliver toys to children during Christmas.

Indicate Parade Area(s) in which you will participate: ______FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013. GALLEON BAY/COMMODORES COVE Marshalling area at the entrance to Commodores Canal by 6:30 PM. Parade begins at 7 PM. ______SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013. NORTH & SOUTH OF WHITECAP BLVD Marshalling area by the Caravel Drive boat ramp (north of Whitecap) by 5:30 PM. Parade begins at 6 PM. Instructions: Return this completed registration form to PADRE ISLAND MAIL PLUS, the PHARMACY at CVS or NORTH PADRE ISLAND ACE HARDWARE. Electronically to brentrourk@yahoo.com or trawlergenesis@yahoo.com. You will receive a confirmation after your registration form is received.

La Posada Parade Routes

La Posada Committee Members were very pleased with the outcome as Fred Edler noted, “It was a spectacular success raising thousands of dollars for the United States Marines Toys for Tots program.”

Bags of toys filled Committee member Jim Weatherill’s van and will be added to the toys collected through local businesses during the next two weeks and through the toy drive during the La Posada Boat Parades. Volunteers

La Posada Schedule of Events

By Fred Edler Commodore, Padre Island Yacht Club The Padre Island Yacht Club's LaPosada Committee is very excited and pleased to announce another event, the "Christmas Tree Lighting at Port Royal" has been added to the official LaPosada Calendar.

Over the last three years LaPosada has expanded from its signature events, the Lighted Boat Parades, to include the Pre-Parade Party at Scuttlebutt's and now the Tree Lighting at Port Royal. Our partnership with Scuttlebutt's has allowed us to greatly increase our toys and donations to the "Toys for Tots" program. We are confident the Tree Lighting at Port Royal will also have a significant impact.

are optimistic that this year will reap a record number of toys for less fortunate children across South Texas. Jim offered, “The night was a huge success and the Marines in attendance loved it”.

The auctioneer from Storage Wars Texas quickly led the charge during the Live Auction, using his unending charm and humor to help get the crowd into the holiday spirit.

We firmly believe the Port Royal tree lighting event will be a great addition to the existing LaPosada activities and significantly add to our community's enjoyment of the Christmas Season.

Please come out and support this new fun event.

Our success each year depends on the generosity of our friends, neighbors, partners, volunteers and the Island Moon Newspaper's support. Thank you to all who help.

The Official LaPosada Calendar of Events (open to the public) December 9th, 10th & 11th Christmas Decorations judging of residential/commercial both from on/off water.

December 13th La Posada Light Boat ParadeNorth Side He auctioned off guided fishing trips, hunting trips, condo stays, Houston Rockets tickets, a nice fishing boat, resort trips, and more. But he was not the only person firing up the crowd.

Showing no fear, the dancing troupe from Tribal Funk exhibited their flair for fire when they performed in the

Port A Boat Lighting Contest

Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the Port Aransas City Marina Entry Deadline is Monday, December 2 at Noon Please return entry form to the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce 403 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, TX78373 - Phone (361) 749-5919 or Fax (361) 749-6272

Please check your entry category: ONE ONLY!!

Prizes guaranteed by the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc. ______ Nonprofit Organization: any size vessel 1st Place $200 donated by South Jetty Newspaper 2nd Place $100 donated by Linda & Charlie Zahn ______ Private Vessel: 30 feet or less in length 1st Place $200 donated by Island Dunes 2nd Place $100 donated by Fisherman’s Wharf ______ Private Vessel: 31 feet or more in length 1st Place $200 donated by Woody’s SportsCenter 2nd Place $100 donated by Virginia’s on the Bay _______ Commercial Vessel: any length 1st Place $200 donated by La Mirage Condominiums 2nd Place $100 donated by Family Center IGA A $200 “Most Original” award will be donated by The Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce

Rules: 1. Captain’s meeting, Saturday, December 7 at 5:30pm at the Harbor Master’s Office 2. A boat may enter only one classification.

3. A classification must be designated at the time of entry.

4. A boat may not win both first and second place, however, a boat may win a first or second place, and most original.

5. Entry deadline is Monday, December 2, 2013 at noon.

6. The judge’s decision will be final.

Registration Form – Please return to Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce Name: __________________________________________ Boat Name:______________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________ Classification: ___________________________________ Mailing Address: _________________________________ City_______________

State_____

Zip_______

Email Address:___________________________________

December 14th La Posada Lighted Boat ParadeSouth Side Please remember our underlying reason for the La Posada Events is to place a smile on every child's face by providing the United States Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" program with as many toys as we possibly can. Please bring a toy or several to every event you attend.

Celebrate the Holidays ~ Island Style Annual ‘Port A’ Holiday Shop Around & Carolers Afloat & Boat Lighting Parade Port Aransas has expanded its traditional holiday island style weekend kicking off the season with two exciting events. The ‘Port A’ Holiday Shop Around is slated for Friday and Saturday, December 6 & 7, 2013 in conjunction with the always popular Carolers Afloat and Boat Lighting Parade on Saturday evening, December 7.

“We are so pleased that 29 of our Chamber member merchants will open their doors and offer a 15% discount on most merchandise to encourage local Port Aransas residents as well as tourists to take advantage of shopping LOCAL and SAVING”, stated Ann Bracher Vaughan, president and CEO of the chamber! Shops will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6th and all day on Saturday, Dec. 7th for shoppers to enjoy discounts at these participating merchants: Beach Cart Rentals, Board House, C & G Sisters Island Boutique, Casa Bella Salon, Chilla’s Storage & Gift Shop, Coastal Ed’s Coastal Cruisers & More, Deep Sea Headquarters, Everything Beach Boutique, Fish on the Line Boutique, Fishtales, Gratitude, Inside Out LLC, Island Home Center, Island Made Art, Island Surf Rentals, Island Woman Boutique, Jo D’s Etc., Port A Glass, Port Aransas Art Center, Port Aransas South Jetty, Raggdoll Boutique, Salt Grass Boutique, Sirena Water Wear, Stephanie’s Stuff, Susan Castor Collection, The Cypress Tree, The Silver King, Stephanie’s Stuff, Tim Burdick Photography & Fine Art Gallery, and Woody’s Sports Center.

The sights and sounds of Christmas will ring throughout the City Harbor area of Port Aransas once again as island residents and visitors board boats and participate in the Annual Carolers Afloat and Boat Lighting Contest

and Parade. The event is scheduled at dark-thirty on Saturday, December 7th, at Roberts Point Park Marina.

Cash prizes will be awarded courtesy of local businesses to the best-decorated boats in four categories as well as a “most original” prize. Categories include both small and large private craft, non-profit organizations, and commercial. Loan of a boat and captain for nonprofit organizations interested in participating are also available.

Carolers are asked to arrive at Roberts Point Park Pavilion (near the Ferry Landing) by 6 p.m. and the boats will depart promptly at 6:30 p.m. Participants and spectators will be treated to the traditional menu of hot cocoa, tamales and cookies upon their return to shore.

And, of course, the feature attraction of the evening will be Santa Claus making his appearance via his own private water craft courtesy of the U. S. Coast Guard to visit with the children at the Pavilion after the parade.

For further information on any of the weekend activities, call the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau at 361-749-5919 or toll-free at 800-45-COAST. Come help us celebrate the season ~ Island Style!

WHOOPEE! They’re here! Whooping Cranes have begun their migration with over half the flock already in the area.

Make plans now to attend the 18th Annual Whooping Crane Festival February 20th – 23rd 2014.

For more information on the Whooping Crane festival or great accommodation rates, visit www.portaransas. org or call 1-800-45-COAST.

Port Aransas Tree Lighting Set for Roberts Point on December 5 The City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation will sponsor “A Christmas Tree Lighting” ceremony in Roberts Point Park on December 5.

The ceremony will begin at 6:30 with a special message from Mayor Keith McMullin who will then lead the countdown to the tree lighting. Following the ceremony those in attendance can enjoy a hot chocolate bar, cookies and hayrides that include Christmas carols and Holiday music.

Everyone is invited to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and stay for the holiday film, “The Polar Express”. The movie will start around 7 p.m. and anyone with a golf cart will be allowed to park in the field and watch the film from the comfort of their carts.

Along with all of the activities, there is also a special feature to this years’ event that you should pay attention to “The Random Acts of Kindness Tree”.

“The Kindness Tree” features special ornaments with

over 100 random acts of kindness written on them.

Visitors can go to the tree and pick an ornament, and then are asked to perform that random act of kindness sometime over the next three weeks.

Random acts could include, paying for someone’s coffee, holding the door open for someone, allowing another car to have the parking spot you wanted, making a donation to EMS toy drive, paying a small amount on someone’s past due water bill or even leaving a random prepaid gas card on someone’s windshield.

So that you remember this special night, make certain that you receive your FREE family keepsake photo. A special photo booth will be set up on the point by the lighted Christmas Tree. Photos are free, however please limit one per family.

All of the events are FREE. There is no charge for any of the activities at this event. This event is being cosponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Port Aransas.

December 5, 2013

Moon Monkeys

Guardians

We (Guardians Rescue) are in desperate need of warm blankets, sheets, towels, etc. we do outside events at CVS on the island 1-5 on Saturdays and Sundays. We try to make our furbabies more comfortable than we humans are! In the summer we have ice packs under their sheets and fans for them. this is our first winter, so we are scrambling to get warm things together for our babies! the ice packs are able to be microwaved and stay warm for a little while. We have little space heaters. Warm blankets would be a godsend!

Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising

Office Classifieds

Rebecca Hunter Payne

Arlene Ritley

Take your lunch or breakfast and go to Robert's Point Park. Nice park and you can watch them in front of the ships and they usually put on a show.

Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah

Annetta Adams

Devorah Fox

Ducks

Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen

Somebody is cleaning ducks and throwing the skin, innerds, and wings into the canals between Royal Fifth and Isabella! They are just floating around and and making an unsightly mess.

Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Danniece Bobeché

Bob Shirley

Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk

Party Thanks

Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft

Office Security/Spillage Control Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon

The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher.

Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses.

News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.

The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Where to Find The Island Moon

Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

Port A Glass Studio The Gaff Wild Horse Saloon Tarpon Ice House

North Padre

Miss K’s Catering & Bistro

All Stripes Stores

Amano

Whataburger

Felder Gallery

Doc’s Restaurant

Island Woman Boutique

Snoopy’s Pier

Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy

CVS

Isle Mail N More Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club

San Juan’s Taqueria

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Subway

Port A Parks and Rec Public Library Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station

No one from the Port Authority showed up at the City Council meeting to speak or answer our questions.

The Port Authority then met, during a minimally noticed meeting, where Port Commissioners “authorized their staff and attorneys to take any action necessary to protect the port’s interests should Port Aransas decide to change zoning on the island.”

The City’s published future Land Use Plan designates Harbor Island for tourist and recreational development, with possible light industry in certain areas. The Port Authority is fully aware of that plan and may be seeking an agreement that would doom Harbor Island to forever be limited to heavy industry uses only.

The Port Authority’s conduct makes a mockery of its claimed mission to conduct its affairs “in a positive, open, and cooperative manner.” Its effort to perpetuate pollution of Harbor Island is also directly contrary to its mission to “be a positive and proactive force in the protection of the region’s marine and water related resources.”

Dear KPAB members,

Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers WB Liquor

Our first annual Footprints on the Island Art Show was a success! We had an enthusiastic crowd, who all enjoyed the food and drink, artwork and live music. We sold artwork, had a silent auction, and sold raffle tickets.

Many thanks to the people who made this possible, especially Greg Villasana, who opened up La Playa Mexican Grille for us, and shared his wonderful cooking. Greg also donated a portion of the bar sales to KPAB. Thanks also to Bobbie White and Georgia Teller, who volunteered their services, and to all the KPAB volunteers who manned tables, kept dishes picked up, and sold tickets. Thanks to the generous donors who provided items for the silent auction and gift sales. Most of all, thanks to Kaitlyn Van Zandt-Flood, who conceived the idea, organized the artists and set up the displays. We appreciate her willingness to include KPAB in the event and support our mission! Muchisimo gracias, mi amiga!

I will share more details at the Christmas party, and we will draw the winners of the raffles then. Join us on Monday, Dec. 9, at 5:30 at the Community Center. Bring a "white elephant" gift (nothing fancy!!) if you want to participate in the gift exchange. See you there!

Christmas tree lighting this Thursday at 6:30 at Roberts Point Park, and Boat Parade on Saturday. Tis the season....

Your chair, Julie

Stray Does anyone on the Island have a medium size trap to try and capture a dog that has been running around the Island for several days? If so please call Belinda at 361-5105980.

Editor’s note: Several people have tried to catch this dog but she’s a slippery one. We even sent Riley P. Dog to talk to her and she was friendly but wouldn’t follow him back to his humans. She’s been hanging out around the Schlitterbahn worksite. If anyone can help catch her before more cold weather hits it would be great.

My pat answer is age ten with exceptions. The parent’s major concern is “I don’t know if he/ she is responsible enough to take care of their contacts.” Nowadays that is no longer a concern because there is no care involved. For young kids I recommend the lenses you toss daily.

There is no cleaning, disinfecting or contact lens case involved.

The other concern is will they be able to insert the lenses. Usually the whole issue is brought about by the child so they are obviously motivated. Trust me, they will learn the unnatural prospect of putting something in their eye.

No more broken glasses

Flour Bluff H.E.B. Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station

Gratitude Gift Shop

Police Station

Keepers Pier House

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

With its threats of legal action, the Port Authority is attempting to intimidate the Port Aransas city council and prevent it from protecting its residents and visitors from the pollution and other harmful effects of a refinery within its city limits.

Contrary to public statements by Port officials, cities like Port Aransas have clear authority under Texas law to adopt zoning and other ordinances to regulate incompatible land uses within city limits. The city has full power to make zoning changes to protect its citizens and prevent a refinery, petrochemical or similar plant from being constructed within Port Aransas.

The Port Authority is a public entity with responsibilities to consider and protect citizens and communities along the bays and waterways of this area.

Ben Frishman Spokesman Friends of Port Aransas

Boat Ramp

Wearing contacts is ideal for children involved in sports especially those with more contact like soccer and basketball. For pre-teen girls I especially recommend contacts because, I know that for most, the glasses are in their backpack or purse during the school day. Those girls love me for convincing their parents they should have them. Of course, they are not the only ones that are known to not wear their glasses at school. In fact, often the teacher does not even know the student has glasses.

mkay512@aol.com

New Advertisers

Pioneer Beach RV Resort will have a craft bazaar on Saturday, December 7th from 8 a.m. until noon. There will be a large selection of hand crafted items from award wining crafters. A raffle drawing will be held every thirty minutes with prizes awarded from the crafters. Pioneer Beach Resort is located at 120 Gulfwind off of Highway 361.

Baypoint Remodeling and Construction is ready to handle all of your remodeling needs.

They do bathrooms and kitchens as well as decks, tile and patio covering. They are VA Builder approved and licensed in plumbing and electric.

Business Briefs Islander Stan Hulse has announced he is leaving the General Manager’s job at Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort to return full time to Toucan Graphics.

“My family business needs my full attention as it goes through some changes and I will be returning to it full time. I am still working with Schlitterbahn on various issues and they have my full support going forward on the project.”

No announcement has been made on his replacement at the park.

Lorena Schmidt, owner of Padre Pizzeria, hosted an annual feed the homeless Thanksgiving Day feast in the parking lot of City Hall. Volunteers helped staff the food line where dozens of people with nowhere else to go had a nice meal and a smile.

The Kiwanis Club of Padre Island will have Breakfast with Santa this Saturday, December 7th from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at St. Andrews by the Sea Catholic Church. There is no charge for the event but each child is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to give to a less fortunate child. If you would like more information you can call 361-816-1243.

Construction on the new CVS Pharmacy in Port Aransas has begun. The old building that was Jay’s Seafood and Spaghetti Works was demolished and removed. The store should be open in the spring/summer of 2014.

Padre Pizzeria Owner Feeds the Homeless on Thanksgiving

Anyone have any idea of what's going on in the canal of Gypsy right off of the boat ramp?

Search boats, bright lights, and divers in the water?

Kristin Goodwin Editor’s note: CCPD usually does their water training in the port area but has been unable to go there for the last few months. Instead they are using the Gypsy boat ramp. They will be coming and going there for a while.

Rusty Fire Hydrant of the Week Dear Santa's elves... please come clean and paint this tired hydrant on Topsail. Mark Esposito

At What Age Do You Fit Children with Contacts?

By Dr. Mary Craft, Optometrist

by Mary Craft

Port Aransas Shop Around kicks off this weekend on Friday December 6th from 5 to 8 and will go on all day on Saturday December 7th. Participating businesses are offering a 15 percent discount on merchandise. You can scan the code in their ad in this issue of The Island Moon to find out which Port Aransas businesses are participating. The boat lighting parade in Port Aransas will also be on that Saturday and there will be Carolers afloat.

When is the best time to see the dolphins by the ferry in port A?

Lisa Towns

Port Aransas

Friends of Port Aransas, has submitted a request under the Texas Public Information Act to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority for all information regarding existing environmental hazards on Harbor Island and the proposed refinery deal.

Dolphin Viewing

Patrick Kelliher

Did Ya Hear?

Request for Information from the Port of Corpus Christi

Belinda Chambers

Jan Park Rankin

A5

Letters to the editor

Mike Ellis, Founder

Distribution

Island Moon

age when kids can be brutal. Again the child is motivated and I will only fit them if they are the ones requesting not the parent. Besides appearance, with thicker prescriptions the patient actually sees better with contacts because it gives them more natural vision being right on the eye.

Seeing makes learning easier Eighty per cent of what is learned is through the visual system and even more so nowadays with the smart boards and visual effects. While on the subject of learning and seeing, parents should not take comfort in the fact that their child passed the screening test at school. It is just that, a “screening” test that catches major discrepancies. Far-sightedness and astigmatism, for example, are difficult to detect and cause eye strain and discomfort while reading. There may be a good reason your child does not like to read.

Lorena Shmitt, owner of Padre Pizzeria, has been giving to the less fortunate on Thanksgiving for the past five years from a parking lot near City Hall. Lorena, owner of Padre Pizzeria, serves a hot turkey meal to people who are living day to day, often sleeping outdoors. Shmitt said it's a labor of love that takes just a few hours of preparation on her part, but knowing that she helps people who are truly in need gives her reason to keep doing it eery year. . Some of the folks who enjoyed the parking lot meal have been doing so since she began the tradition.

While it may only be one meal, it's a gesture of hope and goodwill from a person who says she's been blessed.

Kids do not know how they are supposed to see because that is how the world has always looked to them so do not wait for them to tell you they have an issue. Well, heck, I get adults every day who tell me they just cannot see up close but they also need a prescription for distance. It is because the near is so blurry after age 40ish they think their distance vision is still good.

Contacts at age 8?!!

Long story short

I fit children at around age eight if they have very high prescriptions. Those thick glasses cause a stigma for the child especially at that

All of you out there, get an eye exam. It’s alot cheaper than buying a bigger TV. That reminds me, I don’t hear anymore “I can’t see the TV.”

Sonic Drive-In 14401 South Padre Island Drive (361) 949-7886

Island Moon

A 6 Sto

Cat

opid

s!

Dog Holiday

By Riley P. Dog

My holiday was a big disappointment. My humans decided to fry a turkey and the last time they tried that it blew up in a beautiful giant fireball that leaked grease all over the patio. I lapped it up. Every bit. Boy was my stomach a mess. But it sure was good.

My stoopid humans mixed two kinds of cooking oil that caught fire at different temperatures so when they dropped that bird in there it shot flames up so high it burned the eyebrows off one of the humans named Mel.

are all powdery and then he hits them into the wind with his nine iron. My human told him he would get more distance with a three iron but he said he needs the loft to get ‘em up in the air so the breeze can take ‘em.

But he didn’t let one sit in the sun long enough and when he hit it with the nine iron it hit his neighbor’s car. Boy was he mad.

Humans are funny.

Then he tried to put the fire out with a garden hose and all that did was spread the grease and the fire to the grass and the yard caught on fire.

It was beautiful. While the humans ran around trying to put the yard out I started lapping up that grease like nobody’s business and I was looking forward to another grease feast this time but nothing blew up. The gas in the can ran out so the bird didn’t get cooked just right but nothing blew up or even caught fire. How’s a dog supposed to get at the grease if it stays in the pot? Stoopid humans!

We met a human who says instead of picking up the droppings his dog leaves behind he lets them bake in the sun for a few days until they

Every since that nice man from Hong Kong tried to give me $364 million dollars a while back I’ve been getting all kinds of letters from nice people who want to give me stuff. I got this one last week. All I have to do to get my $2.2 million is cash the check they sent me. I haven’t decided how to spend my $2.2 million yet. That’s a lot of hotdogs. A nice man by the name of Benjamin James who works in the Accounts Payable Office says if I send him my $20 confirmation fee he’ll send me my checks for $15,751 and $2.2 million.

All these people want to give me money all of a sudden. I don’t think they know I’m a dog.

I’m losing weight again after my humans hid the cat food. Dr Christi says my diet dog food is working pretty good. I’m going to stop writing now. My nose is getting sore from hitting the space bar.

Duck Season is Closed Until December 14th Mathew Farah on his first duck hunt helped with this big redhead drake. Duck season is closed until December 14th.

December 5, 2013

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin

Bell was six and still learning about cars. She was out in front of her house on Dasmarinas this week minding her own business when she was hit and killed by a speeding cement truck.

The driver didn’t even slow down. Dave and Beth Zilar were in the front yard and saw the whole thing. While they were dealing with the reality of what just happened their friend jumped in his car and followed the cement truck going 70-plus miles an hour over the JFK headed back to the yard for another load.

The leering driver was not happy to have been followed but in the end there isn’t much that can be done. It will take a speeding cement truck hitting a child for anything to happen. When wet cement is involved the truck drivers are in a hurry; just ask Dave and Beth. This post turned up on our Facebook page on Tuesday: “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SPEED BUMPS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED ON DASMARINAS?

Witnesses said the cement truck that hit Bell was going 40-45 mph. This is getting out of hand. We understand that the huge number of houses being built on The Island comes with traffic; but a cement truck going 40 mph down a street where people and dogs are walking; residents are backing out of their driveways, kids are riding skateboards Bell and people are riding bicycles is insane.

Keep in mind this is an area where there are no sidewalks.

It’s time for this to stop. Gypsy isn’t much better; no sidewalks there either. Joggers are out in traffic. Forget about Whitecap where golf carts (legally) going twenty miles per hour are sideswiped by drivers going sixty. We’ve all seen it.

Too late for Bell

Yesterday a speeding cement truck ran over our neighbor's dog and killed it. Our neighbor was in his yard and witnessed the accident. The driver never slowed down.

These cement truck drivers speed up and down our street almost every day. Do they not realize this is a residential street with children and cars backing out of their drive ways and people riding bikes and walking on this street? I have called the cement companies and the police but nothing happens. Is there anything we can do to speed things up before they run over some one's child?”

Average speed 38 mph Dave has been trying to get speed humps installed on Dasmarinas for months. A speed monitor system placed there by the city several months ago found the average speed to be 38 mph. That’s average; 38 mph doesn’t sound like much until you consider that it means half the drivers are going faster than that in a 30 mph zone. A neighbor with a radar gun found numerous drivers at the north end of the street where it begins to curve toward Aquarius going 63 to 65 mph – on a residential Island street.

Think about that.

City Engineer Dan Biles said this week that the speed humps for Dasmarinas are pre-fabricated and have been ordered and should be in place in about two months.

Too late for Bell.

It’s time for some real action, not just on Dasmarinas, but all over the main arteries on The Island where speeding drivers are a ubiquitous and dangerous problem. If it means our PD running radar everyday to change behavior so be it. It took a pedestrian death to get a sidewalk on Whitecap but we’re not waiting for that anymore. That was before we Islanders were organized and wise to the footdragging that we find ourselves confronted with out here.

We’re at the point now where if something isn’t done soon it’s going to be time for guerrilla tactics – paintball guns come to mind.

It’s too late to help our friend Bell, but not too late to help the kid who will be next.

This needs attention and it needs it now.

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LIVE MUSIC

South Texas Grassroots Bluegrass Band Starting Nov. 24th 6-9pm

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December 5, 2013

History continued from A1

next battle being the “Oyster Interests” Oyster fishing was big business then and what is now Parks and Wildlife was then the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission. The Oyster lobby felt that the brown pelicans were eating just too many oysters and their solution was to wipe them out. Luckily the pelicans had a champion in Chairman Dunn. Quoted from the State Topic in April 1913, “Col. Bill Sterett, Fish, Game and Oyster Commissioner, and Mr. Gibson, the Corpus Christi fish and oyster shipper, didn’t succeed at the late session of the Legislature in putting the pelican off the face of the earth, but they gave the “beauteous bird” with the “dainty feet” a scare that will make him confine his depredations to Padre Island for many a day to come, where he will at least have a friend in the Hon. P. F. Dunn, the noble Duke of Padre.”

After serving three terms in Austin representing Nueces and surrounding counties Pat chose not to run for another term, rather concentrating his time on the Dunn Ranch whose herd and camps had just been devastated by the 1916 hurricane.

One legacy that was not to be for Pat was Dunn County, named for him but dissolved before it became official in those rough and tumble days of South Texas politics.

Back to today’s times for those that enjoyed the pitter-patter of shot gun shot falling on houses and yards by hunters that ignored the 1000 foot shooting ban, catholic Pat had a saying for those few ignoramuses that give all hunters a bad name, “Put the Pope in a hunting jacket and you will turn him into a son of a b****.”

Brent Chesney Announces for Precinct 4 County Commissioners Seat

Editor’s note: Former Corpus Christi City Councilman and current County Court Judge Brent Chesney announced this week he will seek the Nueces County Precinct 4 Commissioners Seat currently held by Joe McComb. Both Chesney and McComb are Republicans. Islander Norm Baker, Republican, has also announced for the seat.

The main issue in the race will likely be property taxes as the current Nueces County Commissioners Court has raised property taxes by 10% during their three years in office. In the last race for the seat in 2010 no Democrat filed to run so the race was determined in the Republican Primary.

Cheney released the following statement: “I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Nueces County Commissioner Precinct 4 and ask you for your vote. As a judge, I have gotten children into permanent and safe homes, put accountability back into the juvenile justice system, saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of tax dollars and closed over a thousand old files.

My decision to run Commissioner Precinct that I can do the job in and proactive manner taxes.

for Nueces County 4 is simply my belief a much more efficient without raising your

Below are some of my positions: 1.

I WILL NOT RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES!

Custom Built Furniture, Remodeling, Cabinets, Doors, Custom Pull-Out Shelves, Dry-Wall, Tile, Quality Carpentry, Exterior Mold Removal, Power Washing, Faucets-Disposals

2.

I will open at least one part time satellite office in the precinct to meet regularly and proactively with constituents.

3.

I will continue to be proactive and visible in the community year round.

4.

I will work to improve our county beaches and roads without raising your taxes.

5.

I will work closely and proactively with city leaders in all cities in Nueces County to promote a spirit of cooperation.”

Wine

Beer

On North Padre Island..... near the Beach

361 949-9289

By Todd Hunter, District 32 The Holiday Season is here and many of us are looking forward to a Christmas and holiday season spent with family and friends.

Unfortunately, there are many in our community who will not be so blessed as to be surrounded by loved ones, gifts and the simple pleasures that make Christmas and the holidays so special.

This year we should focus on being charitable and helping those who are less fortunate and in need. Over the next two weeks, I will use this column to point out different ways in which you can make this Christmas and holiday season a little brighter for those who need it the most.

Toys for Tots The “Toys for Tots” Program has been a mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve since it first began in 1947. The program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children in the community. In its first year, founder Major Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to children. Over the past 65 years, the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has distributed well over 452 million toys to more than 209 million needy children. Many of those toys have been distributed in our Coastal Bend region.

In the Coastal Bend region, boat parades are used as part of the Toys for Tots campaign. The lighted boats in the parades are accompanied by “pick-up” boats with Marines on board that stop along the route at boat docks and collect toys. Our area ranks as one of the top areas in the country in the amount of toys collected every year. It is important to note that there are more than 50 drop-off locations for unwrapped toys located throughout the Coastal Bend. For more information on how and where to make a donation, please visit www.toysfortots.org.

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It is important to remember that many of the citizens being served by DFPS are children in foster care. These are children in need of a loving home, but many are also in need of something much simpler this Christmas and holiday season -- the joy that comes with the receipt of a thoughtful gift.

DFPS has partners across the state called Rainbow Rooms, who accept donations on behalf of the children and families with whom they service. These donations can be items such as toys and even basic essentials. It is important to remember that toy donations should be new and unwrapped. If you are unable to find a Rainbow Room near you these items can also be taken to the DFPS local offices. You can find out more about how you can help as well as locate the nearest DFPS office by visiting the agency’s Web site at www.dfps.state.tx.us.

If you have questions regarding the giving opportunities mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

Rep. Hunter currently represents Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd. hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.

Dr. Jennifer Pollack Mexico is widely considered as the last, best hope for re-establishing sustainable oyster populations.”

In Texas, oysters represent a $30 million dollar a year industry and restoration efforts will benefit more than the restaurant industry.

Restoration of Half Moon Reef will provide a natural barrier to protect the shoreline from storms and serve as the foundation for a healthy ecosystem.

“Oysters play an important role in the health of the estuary by improving water quality through filtration,” said Pollack. “Once the reef is completed, the structure will encourage small fish and other marine organisms to call the reef their home.”

She says that the presence of small fish will provide food for larger sport fish, leading to robust commercial and recreational fisheries.

Pollack and her team of researchers will monitor the reef and its progress for the next five years, paying special attention to the abundance and diversity of reef residents and how salinity levels in the bay are affecting the organisms. Success will be measured against historic and natural oyster reef populations.

Restoration of Half Moon Oyster Reef began in October as 93,600 tons of limestone floated down the Mississippi River. This limestone will be used to build a 40-acre complex structure in November and December, and will be an ideal habitat for oysters to attach to. In the project’s second phase, the U.S. Army Corps will aid in the restoration by adding 12 acres to the reef structure.

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Many of our state’s most vulnerable citizens are currently under the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The agency has a broad charge which in part includes protecting children as well as adults who are elderly or have disabilities that are living at home or in state facilities. There are approximately 249 offices across the state with roughly 6,800 DFPS employees assisting Texas citizens in need.

A South Texas researcher is providing science support for a project led by The Nature Conservancy to rebuild and restore oyster populations at the historic Half Moon Reef, located in Matagorda Bay along the Texas Gulf Coast.

“Today 85 percent of the world's oyster reefs have disappeared, making oysters among the most imperiled marine species on earth,” said Pollack. “The good news is that the Gulf of

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Historic Half Moon Oyster Reef Under Reconstruction

Matagorda Bay is one of the largest estuaries in Texas and supports productive fisheries for blue crabs, oysters, and shrimp. However, several factors have had a devastating effect on the reef, including changes in freshwater inflow, the rerouting of the Intracoastal Waterway, and impacts from Hurricane Carla in 1961.

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“Half Moon Reef was once one of the largest reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and it is almost gone,” said Pollack. “This restoration project will provide new habitat for oysters as well as fish, crabs, and other important marine life. We expect to observe ecosystem benefits within months of completion.”

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The scientific aspect of the project will be directed by Dr. Jennifer Pollack, Coordinator of the Fisheries and Mariculture Program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The Nature Conservancy project is being funded by a $1.2 million cost share agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a critical phase of a larger $5.4 million project to restore upwards of 50 acres of the reef.

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On Saturday, December 7 a total of 115 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be auctioned at the Corpus Christi Police Department Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive during our monthly auction. The site has four paved acres for an auction lot.

Approximately 35 of these vehicles are “No Insurance” impounds. On Friday, December 6, 2013, the general public will be allowed to register and view the vehicles to be auctioned from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no registration fee.

On the day of the auction, the general public can continue to register and view the vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The auction will commence promptly at 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 2013.

The vehicles to be auctioned can be viewed at www.siskauction. com. An auction list may also be downloaded from the same website.

The department’s strong stand and enforcement of this “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative” will continue and all vehicles involved in accidents will be impounded and the driver cited if they are unable to provide financial proof of insurance.

Driver’s license and proof of financial responsibility checkpoints will continue to be conducted at the Shift Captains’ authorization.

During November 2013, Officers issued 402 citations for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility and impounded 76 vehicles for the same charge.

Burglary on Isabella November 25 12:36 p.m. 15200 Isabella Court Burglary of a Habitation (Penal Code Section 30.02) 2nd Degree Felony Corpus Christi Police took two juveniles into custody for burglary of a habitation Monday at the 15200 block of Isabella Court.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a call for a burglary in progress at 12:36 p.m. Officers went inside the home and found two boys ages 12 and 13 who were in the house without permission attempting to commit theft. Corpus Christi Police delivered the two boys to the Nueces County Juvenile Detention Center and dropped off the bikes the boys left in the front yard to the parents.

Island Police Calls 13800 block Doubloon Nov. 30 8:30 a.m.

Theft $50-$500 14500 block SPID Nov. 28 4:40 a.m. Assault with injury-weapon 13900 block Suntan 5:37 p.m. Nov. 30 Reckless damage or destruction 14000 block SPID Dec. 2 4 p.m. Assault by contact

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Under the Padre Palms: Notes from The Island

Five Decades Ago

It was a Friday, I remember, along about lunchtime. A senior in college, I was spooning my soup in the small

By Arlan Andrews, Sr. kitchen of a rented, pastel green cinderarlan@thingsto.com block house in the married student housing section of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. And filling out an application form to take with me to my first interview that afternoon; the North American Rockwell aircraft company was going to talk to me about coming to work for them in Downey, California, in a dream job – as a thermodynamics engineer on the Apollo Command Module that would take men to the Moon.

for some reason to install Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House. Beyond that, I hated the fact that bullets, not ballots, had decided our next president, and that we might be in danger of becoming yet another violent banana republic.

The baby sitter of our two children had just walked to the back bedroom to take care of the little ones, leaving the soap opera on the TV set loud enough to hear throughout the little four-room house. Suddenly I heard the words, “Stand by for a special bulletin from Dallas, Texas!” Puzzled, I put down the spoon and went in to see what was going on. The voice returned, interrupting “As the World Turns” again: “The President has been shot, perhaps fatally, in Dallas.” Then the soap opera came back on, and the TV reported nothing else for a long time.

That’s When a Sport Was a Sport

In shock, I walked back and asked the babysitter if she had heard the announcement on TV. No, she hadn’t, and neither had the man mowing the grass outside. Open-jawed, he was openly angry at the suggestion. Finally, I called my wife at work and asked her. Knowing my intense dislike for the Kennedy Administration ever since the Bay of Pigs, the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis, she said with a laugh, “You are just imaging things.” I sat back down and dabbled with the vegetable soup. For fully five confused minutes, I wondered if I were indeed crazy.

Then, of course, the extent of the tragedy finally struck home to us all, and those days of history and mystery began.

A First Taste of Terror For most people older than their early 20s, the Arab terror attack of 9/11/2001 is one of those unforgettably horrible moments seared into their memories. But for those of us of adult age in 1963, the assassination of John F. Kennedy marked a sudden end of innocence, when we first realized that the democratic will of the nation could be thwarted by rifle shots.

Like the traumatic events of 9/11, every one of us who remembers 11/22/63 recalls exactly where we were, what we were doing, how we felt – a shared moment in time, frozen in bloody amber, a watershed between a peaceful past and a turbulent era to come.

An hour later I went to my first interview for a real engineering job, and asked the North American reps if we should go postpone the appointment, put it off until a better time. To my surprise, they were calm and business-like, seemingly unperturbed by the national tragedy over in Dallas. I went through the motions somewhat dazed by the circumstances, and never did quite remember what all was said.

(I received a generous employment offer from them two months later, but turned it down for a Bell Labs job, luckily. Less than a year later, that Downey plant closed, with over 1200 engineers laid off.)

That Friday evening of 11/22/63, along with hundreds of millions of others around the world, I sat glued to the TV set, hanging on every word from Walter Cronkite and the other pundits. However, nothing was going to stop the New Mexico State Aggies from playing football on schedule, so that very night the bands played and the crowds roared as though nothing else mattered, their cheering and the goal-celebrating cannonfire noise booming all across campus, reverberating through our housing area. I couldn’t believe it was going on, but that was college football in the 1960s.

Warren Reports, You Decide In high school, I had read and reported on the book, The Day Lincoln Was Assassinated. The day JFK was shot, I told my wife and others that I expected similar mysteries would arise about that dark deed, too. But I certainly didn’t expect that fifty years later the truth would still not be known to all.

In 1996, my business partner at the time -- a former Commander of Seal Team Six-volunteered that he had taken his Seal sniper team to the Texas Schoolbook Depository Building to attempt to re-create the official version of Oswald’s three shots. “My guys were the best in the world,” he said. “But they couldn’t do it.” I was not surprised; thirty-one years earlier, when the Warren Commission report on the assassination had come out, I read it, studied it, and put it up on a shelf along with my other science fiction and fantasy books.

December 5, 2013

Real Estate Roundup

Another Year is Racing to the Finish Line

By Mary Lou White 361-960-9460 marylou@baxterbrooks.com I am convinced that the world spins faster in December. The demands on your time increase exponentially. In real estate, the pressure is to get the homes under contract closed before the end of the year, at the same time offices are closing for holidays, employees are out of the office for personal time off and parties take precedence over work. Home buying tends to recede in the minds of Buyers and the rigors of Home Selling keeps many clients from listing during the holidays. In Corpus Christi, we are at least spared the added element of inclement weather.

The Balance Sheet for 2013 After many years in the real estate business, I have come to the conclusion that the general public does not understand the income figures for real estate agents. If you watch HGTV or look at cars around real estate office parking lots, you would assume that it is a well paid career choice and for a small percentage it truly is that. However, to be a licensed agent, you must be at least 18 years old and pass the “state” licensing exam. Close to one half of all licensed agents in the United States are members of the National Association of Realtors. All information that I used for this article has come from their website. In 2012, their membership stood at 999,824. Therefore, that would put the real total for ALL licensed real estate agents in the United States, at close to 2 million. The NAR statistics show that 56% of their total membership are Sales Agents who work for a Broker. Within that group, 83% are employed by the Broker as “Independent Contractors”.

Which means no salary, no expense accounts and no fringe benefits. All agents who work under this arrangement , have a “ private” commission split agreement with the Broker.

The ”median” income for Sales Associates in 2012 was $34,000, the highest figure since 2006. According to NAR, those who earn the most have more than 16 years experience and work more than 60 hours a week. Which may be the determining factor in why only 2% of Realtors are under 30. The “median” age is 57.

High income Realtors get almost half of their business from referrals and repeat customers.

94% of their communication is done by email and phone, with text messages coming in at third place. 90% of Realtors are homeowners and 94% voted in the last National election. Just as location matters in real estate, per se, it also matters in where an agent lives. Obviously, agents that work in high paying metro areas, earn higher commissions.

Fees , continuing education, transportation, communication costs and advertising can be deducted before the income tax is applied.

However, independent contractor status means you must pay the full 15% self employment tax on your earned income. Salaried employees pay only half that amount and the employer pays the other half. With an average of 12 closings per year, many agent s are lucky to get paid once a month.

The Future The 2013 figures will not be available for many weeks yet. A recent NAR survey stated the greatest obstacle to closings came from the Buyer’s inability to obtain financing. I have not yet heard the exact details of the new financing guidelines set to start in 2014, but all lenders are talking about tighter percentages. It would appear that even fewer Buyers will be able to qualify for loans in the near future. Fewer Closings translates into fewer Paydays. At the same time, media accounts of an upswing in real estate has led to more agents entering the real estate career path. 2014 should prove to be very interesting…..being informed is a good thing.

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Multi Family Units For Sale From $329,900 to $1,100,000

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Commercial Properties For Sale From $150,000 to $4,557,465

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Padre Island Lots and Land For Sale

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Parcels on a canal or water From $120,000 to $1,200,000

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Parcels not on the water From $32,000 to $899,000

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As a Sales Associate, your paycheck only arrives after closing and funding.

You can ONLY by paid by your Broker. All commissions paid at closing, go to the Broker that listed the home. Then, that Broker pays the “co-operating” Broker his portion based on the MLS agreement. The employment agreement between the Broker and Sales Associate determines how much the agent receives. Think of a “pumpkin pie” that is being sliced in smaller wedges. The more people involved, the smaller the portions. I cannot tell you the number of emails that I receive stating the many laws that cover payment to agents. Any “benefit” that an agent receives from someone other than their Broker, is probably illegal. Once that income is tallied at the end of the year, you may deduct all expenses, which can be extensive. All Dues,

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Commercial Properties For Sale From $125,000 to $3,000,000

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December 5, 2013

Pink Peas & Pasta

Port Aransas Art Center has received a major work by sculptor Ron Piercy, on display now at the Art Center.

Pink Peas and Pasta is hand-carved from alabaster, and is donated in association with Felder Gallery, to be raffled as a fundraiser for the Art Center’s expansion. “I like what the Art Center does for the community,” Mr. Piercy says, “and happy as an artist to be able to give something back.

A sculpture of this scope would typically sell for $10,000 but I would love it if they can realize much more.”

Ron Piercy is a self-taught career artist, and has been working with stone for many years, in southern California, and for the last fourteen years in the Coastal Bend. His provocative abstract pieces are in many private and corporate collections. Pink Peas and Pasta, finished in 2006, is one of his last large hand-carved works.

Dimensions are 14 x 14 x 52 inches, including the granite base. That’s what I have always

done,” Mr. Piercy states, “take big pieces of rock and turn them into stuff. That was my livelihood.“ The hand sculpting process involves moving stone weighing hundreds of pounds, such as alabaster from Utah and New Mexico, or limestone from the Texas Hill Country, working for hours with hammers and hand-chisels, and many rounds of polishing the shapes by hand until the final surface is silky smooth.

Another piece from this body of work, Two Scrolls, alabaster, 2006, can be seen at Felder Gallery. Currently he is working on constructions, using the naturally occurring stones in the northern Lake Superior region, in combination with organic materials and silver.

Watch for details on the raffle as they are announced by Art Center, www. portaransasartcenter.org, or call director Mary Rose at (361) 749-7334.

Island Moon

Black Drum and Big Flounder

I don't know if I am shooting myself in the foot giving more ammo to extend closing but I am sure glad the first day of gigging was met with calm winds.

Three flounder over five pounds, wow! Two were five pounds 13 ounces, another at five pounds two ounces, and the last four pounds 1 ounce, plus a couple of smaller ones. Ended up with ten pounds eight ounces of fillets. Paul Slobojan and Carrie Crank, December.

1. The black drum was from Saturday at Packery jetties. I caught him but didn't really catch him. As you can see from the photo my bait is laying beside him, he already had a hook and weight attached to him. He lassoed himself on my line; must be a Texas thing. I didn't throw him back but invited him home for supper and boy those black drum are tasty.

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December 5, 2013