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December 12, 2013Corpus Christi, TX - Google Maps
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
It’s starting to feel like winter on our little sandbar. Our eighth cold front of the season blew through with a furry last weekend. We’ll name this one Inza after Inza’s Lonesome Coyote Saloon. According to the Weather Wonks another one will try to spoil the Friday night La Posada Boat Parade but by Saturday the temps are predicted to be in the 70s. Here’s hoping the Weather Wonks get this one right.
Next Publication Date: 12/12/2013
Santa Kicks off LaPosada at Port Royal!
Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Vehicle Ban Proposed for South Packery Beach
To see all the screen, use th
The Tree Lighting at Port Royal officially kicked off the La Posada Season.
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La Posada
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Bo By Dale Rankin
A plan unveiled last week by the City of Corpus between the north end of the seawall and the Christi would ban vehicles from all or part of south jetty. DigitalGlobe, Texas General Land Office, Texas Orthoimagery Program, U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Farm Servic the beach between the north end ofImagery the ©2013 Michael Biles confirmed the plan this week to place J. Ellis Seawall and the South Packery Jetty. bollards on the beach to block traffic in the area City Engineer Dan Biles confirmed the plan as but said he is not sure exactly where they would part of Phase 7 of the beach amenities around go. Packery Channel. The plan calls for a parking “In general yes, although I don’t think we lot just south of the jetty with a single road know where the line would be where we would leading to it which would be the only area propose bollarding and close to traffic,” Biles where vehicles would be allowed on the beach
Kaafab sighting
Beach continued on A6
By Brent Rourk
Rescue at Sea(gull)
Events started at 5:00PM with the United States Marines Color Guard presenting the Colors as Russell Edge sang the National Anthem. The presentation of the Flag by a Marine Color Guard always makes a strong impression and reminds us of the sense of duty and honor these brave warriors carry with them. It’s true! It’s true! For the first time in recorded history there has been a Kaabaf sighting. Moon Mike always claimed he had seen one of the mystical creatures who, according to local lore, live under the bottom of the Laguna Madre and only come out during the Winter Solstice. We weren’t sure if he was pulling our leg or not but apparently he wasn’t as these guys were walking along Aquarius last week. They were a little early since the solstice isn’t until December 21st but maybe it’s because the early Kaafab gets the…whatever it is that Kaafabs eat. And you all know what this means; if there is a Kaafab there must be a Santa Clause – as if there was ever any doubt.
Theislandmoonnewspaper We mentioned awhile back that one of the local television news organizations is using our newspaper Facebook page to mine stories. In fact they are using our Facebook page the way the Indians used the buffalo. In one way we are flattered but we would be even more flattered if they would occasionally mention where they got their stories. Once we called them on it they stopped calling us and started calling our readers directly. So if you get a call from a TV hairdo ask them if they got the story from the Island Moon and thank them for reading. Or something.
Dog friendly Island And speaking of the Facebook page, we want to send a Moon Atta Boy out to all the many Islanders who go out of their way every week to help the stray dogs that thoughtless people abandon on our Island. They know, correctly, that we Islanders won’t let them go hungry. Every week we get numerous hits from people who have rescued dogs and are looking for the owners. Many belong to Islanders who are looking for them, but unfortunately many are also dumped here. This week we had one hit by a car that rescuers had been trying for weeks to catch. (See Letters to the Editor).
After the Color Guard, Russell led us with Christmas Carols. The crowd joined in and sang heartily. At the break, cookies, punch and hot chocolate were served to all and door prizes were awarded. La Posada continued on A4
La Posada Calendar: Friday, December 13: LaPosada Lighted Boat Parade-North Side Saturday, December 14: LaPosada Lighted Boat Parade-South Side Please remember the underlying reason for the LaPosada is to place a smile on a needy 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.
1 of 1 Santa Made It to the Island By Brent Rourk The rumors were true. In spite harsh and freezing weather, Santa (and Mrs. Claus) made a quick stop on the island last Saturday to visit with local children during the annual Kiwanis Club sponsored ‘Breakfast With Santa’ at the Saint Andrews By the Sea Catholic Church. After filling up on hot pancakes, sausage, juice, and milk, about two hundred children patiently waited for their turn with the rotund, red-clad jolly fellow.
We figure that just like there is a special place in purgatory for the people who think it’s okay to dump a dog and leave it to fend for itself, there is a special place in heaven for the people who try to help the strays. As you think of a charity to donate to in this season of giving, consider Guardians Rescue and the other organizations who devote huge amounts of time, energy, and money to helping these most helpless among us. Theirs is the true Island spirit. Enjoy the Island Holiday Season, get out there and jump into the Mother of All Deck Parties this weekend; and say hello if you see us Around The Island.
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And speaking of La Posada this is the weekend for the Mother of all Deck Parties as the boats make the rounds Friday and Saturday. This year’s Saturday night parade will be a little different as the judging has been moved from the Padre Island Yacht Club to a house at the start of the route. The reason is that boats making their promenades in front of the yacht club were holding up traffic causing the boats to straggle as they entered the Main Canal. This year with the judging at the starting line the procession should maintain good spacing as they make their way through the route. This will make it easier for the collecting boats to pick up toys from decks and keep things moving along. Remember the boats with the yellow flashing lights and/or those with Marines on board are the collection boats so get your toys ready!
Photo by Miles Merwin ht Year 16, Issue 504
A to rea o b f veh e clo bea icle sed ch tra to ffic
Light 'em up! It's time to La Posada everybody!
Facing more smiles and wide eyes than cries, Santa bellowed his characteristic ‘HoHo-Ho’ as children approached his large and comfortable chair. Mrs. Claus and local elves from the Seashore Middle School Builders’ Club assisted while a busy photographer rapidly snapped keepsake photos of every child’s meeting with Santa. Santa continued on A3
By Dale Rankin After it was all over they named him Lucky. But Lucky’s day didn’t start out so lucky. He/she was flying along over SPID near the JFK Causeway when all of a sudden a fish hooking hanging from a piece of fishing line that was wrapped around a power line snagged Lucky in mid-flight.
So there hung Lucky, fifteen feet over the water hanging upside down within sight of the speeding traffic lanes. This is where the lucky part comes in. Maureen and Phil Magasich were driving around looking for cold-stunned sea turtles Rescue continued on A9
170 Cold Stunned Turtles Found In Texas
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 stunned turtles have 118 cold stunned turtles have been found in been found at a rapid pace on Texas. the south Texas coast during Most of these turtles are being found in south the last few days. As I start Texas bays and passes, or washed ashore on to report on findings for this article, numbers the shorelines of these bays and passes there. increase before I can finish. From November However, some have also been found elsewhere 25 through 11:00 am on December 10, 170 in the state. Slightly more than half have been cold stunned green turtles have been recorded located in our area. in Texas. Of the 170 turtles found since November 25, Cold weather during Thanksgiving week 150 were found alive and survived through caused several green sea turtles to become immobilized and found cold stunned on the Texas coast. Thanks to the hard work of Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network participants and several citizens, 62 cold stunned turtles were found state-wide from November 2530. Temperatures then increased and no additional cold stunned turtles were found for a few days, but two successive cold fronts Biological Technician Rosalie Rossi carrying a cold caused cold stunning stunned turtle to our vehicle for rehabilitation. to resume. Since December 7, another Turtles continued on A5