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Island of the Future A9 Padre Island, Texas

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Overall Master Plan September 17, 2013

Photo by Miles Merwin

Weekly

361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com The Island Newspaper since 1996 Facebook : The Island Moon Newspaper

November 27, 2013

The only peopled Island in Texas where you can’t buy long pants.

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

Our seventh Cold Front of the season roared through this week and it was a whopper. We’re going to name this one Grande because it was a Big One. It has been a while since a Blue Norther blew the north side of our palm trees flat for three days running. It reminded us there is no place on The Island to buy long pants.

The only thing worse than having to go OTB is having to go OTB to buy long pants. Oh the humanity! Here’s hoping for balmier climes soon. There’s a lot going on around our little sandbar so let’s go.

Island Peckerwoods The sound you are hearing right after sunup each morning is not an infestation of Island Woodpeckers, nor even Island Peckerwoods; no, it’s the sound of nails pounding into the 51 new houses currently under construction on water-access lots on The Island, along with 19 waterfront lots, one waterfront duplex, one water-access duplex, and two large multifamily complexes. A preacher friend once told us that the new buildings are not homes, they’re houses; that it takes people to build homes and we’ll go along with that. But those houses are soon enough going to be filled with “homes” and the best estimates are that since the 2010 census when Island population was pegged at 9012 that number has increased substantially because since early 2011 there has been a house building boom here that continues unabated until this day.

Corpus Christi was just named one of the ten fastest growing cities in America (boy that sounds strange to say doesn’t it) and The Island is leading the charge. The challenge for us in the next decade is in managing growth and we only get one chance to get it right so let’s get with it.

Early morning fireworks The other sound you might notice in the early morning hours, even before the hammering starts, is the thud, thud, thud of shotguns. Duck season is upon us and this year the season is different from previous years in that the city has a new rule in place that codifies and allows for enforcement of the prohibition of firing a weapon within 1000 feet of a house.

In previous years the confusion over what the rules for hunting were and how they applied meant little or no enforcement by the PD. Thanks to a push by the Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) that has now changed and both homeowners and duck hunters seem fine with the new order. Complaints from both parties which in previous years kept the phones ringing here at the Word Factory have fallen silent on the subject. We thank the Lord for small favors and hope it continues.

ATVs on the beach The folks up Austin way snuck one by the Coastal Goalie and passed a law that allows All Terrain Vehicles on Texas Beaches. Previously, because Texas Beaches are considered roadways, all vehicles on the beach had to be street legal. No more. The new law makes an exception for ATVs. Whether that is a good idea remains an unknown at this time. The cities of Port Aransas and Corpus Christi have the ability to override the state law if they so chose. So far there is no word from Port A that any change is contemplated, but in Corpus Christi District 4 City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre has asked the ISAC, Surfriders Association, and the Beach Advisory Committee to weigh in on the subject.

Next Publication Date: 12/5/2013

Seashore Charter Schools Announce Expansion Projects

An analysis

What’s Going to Happen on Harbor Island?

Seashore Charter Schools have announced plans for improvement to facilities at all three of their Island campuses.

Plans call for the addition of classroom space at Seashore Learning Center, adding a cafeteria at Seashore Middle Academy, and moving Seashore Early Childhood Center from its current location to the Learning Center Campus.

All the additions are expected to be in place by the start of the 2015 school year. The first phase of the plan – construction of a 2000 square-foot cafeteria at the Middle Academy is scheduled to be open by the beginning of the school year in August, 2014.

Seashore continued on A6

Plans for Sale of 3680 Acres Land in Kleberg County Entering Final Stages

By Dale Rankin A general agreement has been reached to sell 3,680 acres of land owned by the Texas General Land Office in Kleberg County and keep it open as is to the beach-going public.

Plans to sell the land to the National Park Service and add it to Padre Island National Seashore were put on hold by Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson two months ago amid concerns about how public access would be handled once the five miles of beach that are part of the plat became part of the national seashore.

Anti-refinery booth in front of the Port Aransas City Council Meeting

By Dale Rankin The rhetoric was flying. “Don’t let them kick the front teeth out of the beauty queen; Don’t let them poison my grandchildren” The packed house at Port Aransas City Hall for the council meeting last Thursday was a clear indicator of the emotions that a proposed gas processing and exporting facility on Harbor

It’s Time to La Posada!

Events kick off Monday

By Brent Rourk

La Posada Schedule of Events & Parade Routes on Page A4

GLO continued on A4

Reminder to Those Who Want to Help Save Cold Stunned Sea Turtles

By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. and Rosalie Rossi Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery

3-11 p.m. which will include live auctions, games, music, and a gift basket to be raffled by the Padre Island Dog Group, a sky diving package, weekend away packages, a condo on South Padre Island for two nights, a guided fishing package, dinner with Marines, space for two on the La Posada Command Boat and lots more . The public is invited to both events and everyone is encouraged to bring a toy to donate La Posada continued on A4

National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore e-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps. gov The first cold front of the season whipped into south Texas last week and was just the thing to get us excited about the snuggly comforts of the upcoming holiday season. The three day dip into the low 40s (°F) drove most of us deep into the recesses of our closets for long forgotten winter apparel.

The First “Thanksgiving” in America was Celebrated on the South Texas Plains in 1534 It wasn’t an official Thanksgiving as there was no such thing yet. It was two years before changes in church policy in Europe gave rise to the holiday we now call Thanksgiving and it would be another 86 years before the Mayflower reached the New World. But the four shipwrecked Spanish wanderers who gathered on the South Texas plains in November, 1534 while making their way among the scattered indigenous Indian tribes finally had something to be thankful for. After years of captivity among the Indians the four were now free men, with the promise of returning to Mexico and eventually their homes in Spain; their fortunes were finally beginning to change.

A Moorish prediction

Hopefully sea turtles in our area have headed for warmer, deeper waters. Those that have not could be in peril. Sea turtles cannot regulate their body temperature and at water temperatures below 50°F they become Turtles continued on A3

Harbor Island continued on A8

Junior Padre Bluff Football Team Goes Undefeated

The Junior Padre Bluff Football team that plays in the South Texas Youth Football League had an undefeated season.. They won the Super Bowl Championship on Saturday November 23 Left to Right Front row: Aaron Trevino, Logan Townsend, Andrew Ocanas, Eli Roach, Valentin Casas, Rayden Campbell, Josh Guajardo, Sean Grigsby, Cooper Dorrell Middle Row: AJ Rozzell, James Wohlschlegel, Cole Andrus, Nick Lopez, Julian Gallardo, Diego Delgado, Wade Avery, Jacob Roach, Lane Melvin. Back Row: Head Coach Shawn Campbell, Coach Tom Dorrell, Coach Jacob Guajardo, Coach Ken Grigsby, Coach David Melvin.

Thanksgiving Island Style

By Dale Rankin

You might want to slow your roll as you drive Around The Island as there have been a lot of PD officers hereabouts of late. That’s okay though because their presence has staved off the Island Burglary Season which is usually in full bloom by now.

Island has wrought. As we first reported here in August a company called Martin Midstream had a deal with the Port of Corpus Christi to bring $550 million gas processing plant to a 254 acre site on a portion of Harbor Island which lies inside the Port Aransas City Limits.

In September the Port Commission approved the sale of a the land to Martin Operating

The 39th annual La Posada Boat Parade season kicks off Monday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. with the new addition to festivities, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Port Royal followed the next evening by the official La Posada Kickoff Party at Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant on, Tuesday, December 3, from

Since then State Representative Todd Hunter has initiated talks between the GLO, Nueces County and Kleberg County to decide the future

Don’t forget

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

Year 16, Issue 502

By Dale Rankin

If you have a preference now is the time to be heard. The next ISAC meeting is December 3, 5:30 p.m. at Comfort Suites. As our Uncle Austin used to say, “He who tooteth not his horn, the same shall not be tooted.” We think he may have stolen that from the Bible but we’re not sure. At any rate, let your voice be heard or you shall be tooted not.

Don’t forget the La Posada Kickoff Party at Scuttlebutt’s is Tuesday, December 3. And sometime in early January we’re going to have the Moon Accent Party so tell all your friends from north of Swinney Switch to polish up their accents and get ready to switch their swinney.

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Before 1536 there were 95 Church holidays, plus 52 Sundays, when people were required to attend church and forego work and sometimes pay for expensive celebrations. In 1536 reforms reduced the number of Church holidays to 27 and the Thanksgiving holiday as we now know it began to take shape. Days of Fasting were called for after the drought of 1611, and for History continued on A7

Home for the Holidays

Editor’s note: Our friend and long-time Islander Mindy Niles passed away this year. In spite of a life-long battle with heart disease Mindy never lost her optimism, love of life, and most of all her sense of humor.

Mindy was a great friend of Mike Ellis and his Island Moon and she left us this story of a Thanksgiving long ago which we are proud to publish here in her memory.

We miss our friend.

By Mindy J. Niles Thanksgiving. Ok, ok, ok, I suppose I should begin to categorize all that I am thankful for which, I might mention, is no slight undertaking.

Having exactly nine days to complete the task I better get started.

Not wishing to bore the Reader anymore than usual I am not going to list either alphabetically or chronologically all the blessings bestowed on me in the past year or worse, in my life. Instead, a single momentous memory.

While pondering a subject suitable to write about, something that might include at the least an insinuation of Thanksgiving, a vivid memory popped into my cavernous cranium that just won’t let go.

Green, dark, and gelatinous It was green, slick, and gelatinous, like moss on a Kansas farm pond in August. That would have been an excellent alternative locale; however I found this less than delightful Thanksgiving continued on A8

A 2

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Island Moon

Seashore News

November 27, 2013

Mermaid Kisses Boutique

Open 5-10pm on Thanksgiving Day and open Regular hours rest of week.

25 - 40% off select merchandise.

Located near Scuttlebutt’s Monday-Saturday 10-8 Sunday 12-6 14254 SPID Suite 103 On Padre Island

Seashore Middle Academy students gorged on their last day before the holiday break, enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal and potluck on Nov. 22.

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SMA art students stop to read what students are thankful for as they affix “thankful leaves” to a tree. Every student and faculty member wrote what he or she was thankful for on a construction-paper leaf, and the leaves were added to a decorative tree.

Under New Management

Seashore Learning Center kindergarteners created Native American and pilgrim attire, which they wore at their Thanksgiving Spelling Bee Winner: Congratulations to our 2014 feast on Nov. 21.

Spelling Bee winner, Sarah Illausky (on the left)! Her

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Open All Winter Season, Weather Permitting

winning word was “bulbous”. Runner up in this close competition was Olivia Meza. Both of these girls are students in Shari Matula’s Mod III classroom. We are very proud of both of these girls and all of our participants this year.

The Sandbar, On the beach!

A special thanks to Mr. Andrews, Mrs. Matula and Mrs. White for sponsoring the Afterschool Spelling Bee club, Sunshine Moore, our pronouncer, Barbara Osgood and Cheryll Carroll, our recorders, Gabe Fernandez for setting up the gym, Theresa Dorsey for helping with the practice and the event, and Shayla Fortenberry for helping Mr. Andrews and with practice.

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November 27, 2013

Island Moon

A3

Backwater Adventures Saving Terrapins from Death in Crab Traps Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi researchers are working to keep diamondback terrapins out of crab traps without reducing crab catch rates. The curious terrapins find their way into crab traps, lured by the same bait the crabs are, said Aaron Baxter, a research specialist with the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. But terrapins can’t come up for air once inside the submerged traps. A simple plastic device, called a bycatch reduction device, or BRD, installed on crab traps has shown to reduce terrapin deaths in traps in other areas of the terrapins range. A study in Nueces Bay is ongoing, and similar results are expected. Baxter and his crew are placing modified crab traps in areas where terrapins are

found. Each spot gets two types of crab traps; one with a bycatch reduction device, and one without.

Farah’s Fishing Adventures

The traps are also modified with a mesh chimney that sticks out of the water, allowing terrapins to surface to breathe. With funding from the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and the Center for Coastal Studies, the crews began trapping in September, setting traps three days a month, through August 2013, with a break for the winter months. Baxter is seeking additional funding to expand to Aransas Bay, with a study from March to November. The bycatch reduction devices are small rectangular inserts placed at the funnel of the crab trap.

“Terrapins can’t pull their way in and crabs can still get in,” Baxter said. Baxter said the goal is to reduce the rate of terrapin mortality in crab traps without impacting the catch rate of crabs. Other states have enacted legislation requiring such devices based on these types of studies. New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware currently have regulations for bycatch reduction devices in crab traps, Baxter said.

Rosario Martinez, a CBBEP project manager, said a local study is the fi rst step to helping the terrapin population.

“These traps are having a negative impact on the terrapin population,” she said. “Using these devices would really make a difference for the terrapins in Texas bays.” Baxter said they’ve caught terrapins in traps without the devices, but none in traps with the bycatch reduction device in the fi rst two months of trapping.

Crabbing is an economic driver in the Coastal Bend, and Baxter said the study doesn’t want to limit crab catches or impact the livelihood of crabbers. Similar studies in other areas have shown that bycatch reduction devices have no impact on crab counts.

Turtles continued from A1 immobilized. These “cold stunned” turtles float to the water’s surface or wash ashore and if not located and protected quickly, often succumb to the elements. Cold stunned turtles are found primarily along the central and south Texas coast in inshore areas (canals, bays, estuaries, passes). However, occasionally we also find cold stunned sea turtles on Texas Gulf of Mexico beaches.

Fortunately, if cold stunned turtles are found and taken to a rehabilitation facility quickly, they can be saved and released when temperatures increase. Cold stunned turtles are found by the public while they are recreating in these areas, as well as by agency employees and volunteers that conduct systematic searches during cold stunning events. The potential area where these turtles might be found is vast and help from both the public and volunteers is vital during these events so that we can save these helpless turtles.

want to volunteer with the Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Program as well as to the general public. Employees and volunteers from other agencies and rehabilitation facilities that aid in our area will also be in attendance.

You do not need to sign up in advance to attend. If you have questions about this training or our volunteer program, you can contact one of our staff members by calling 361-9498173, ext. 268 or sending us an e-mail at pais_ seaturtlevolunteer@nps.gov. We will post a reminder about this training on our Facebook page titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery.

Report Cold Stunned Turtles If you find a cold stunned sea turtle, please immediately report it to us by calling 361-9498173, ext. 226. If there is no answer, please

Although it has been almost three years since there has been a massive cold stunning event in south Texas, we prepare for potential cold stunning every year. In 2011, over 1,600 sea turtles cold stunned on the Texas coast, but with the help of many people, we were able to save many of them. This year we will once again provide training to the public and people that would like to volunteer so they can help us find and protect stranded sea turtles during these difficult events. For those of you who have attended cold stunned training in the past, we would love to see you again and revisit all the important information we have to share. People who have never participated before are encouraged to attend, as we love to see new faces and appreciate all of the help we can get!

Training Date and Time From 10:00 am to noon on Saturday December 7, we will hold a training session to inform people how they can help if cold stunning occurs this winter. The training will be held at the Seashore Learning Center Gymnasium. The gymnasium is the large building located on Encantada, near South Padre Island Drive and St. Andrews by the Sea Church. The session will be open to people who

call our after-hours cell phone at 361-8768462. Please call even if you think that the cold stunned turtle is dead. At cold temperatures the activity of these turtles can be so negligible that they may appear to be dead.

Tides of the Week

Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) Nov. 27- December 4, 2013

Height in Feet

Banner Days

By Joey Farah

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

% Moon Visible

W

27

Low

27

High

5:08 AM 0.8

6:59 AM Rise 1:31 AM

40

10:58 AM 1.2

5:34 PM Set 1:47 PM

27

Low

3:27 PM 1.1

27

High

9:42 PM 1.4

Th

28

Low

5:22 AM 0.5

7:00 AM Rise 2:26 AM

28

High

12:38 PM 1.4

5:34 PM Set 2:24 PM

28

Low

5:50 PM 1.3

28

High

9:53 PM 1.4

F

29

Low

5:44 AM 0.3

7:01 AM

29

High

1:50 PM 1.6

5:34 PM Set 3:05 PM

Sa

30

Low

6:15 AM 0.0

7:02 AM Rise 4:25 AM

30

High

2:49 PM 1.8

5:34 PM Set 3:49 PM

Su

1

Low

6:52 AM -0.2

7:02 AM Rise 5:28 AM

1

High

3:42 PM 2.0

5:34 PM Set 4:40 PM

M

2

Low

7:34 AM -0.4

7:03 AM Rise 6:33 AM

2

High

4:35 PM 2.1

5:34 PM Set 5:35 PM

Tu

3

Low

8:20 AM -0.6

3

High

5:26 PM 2.1

5:34 PM Set 6:37 PM

W

4

Low

9:09 AM -0.6

7:05 AM Rise 8:37 AM

4

High

6:16 PM 2.1

5:34 PM Set 7:41 PM

Rise 3:24 AM

7:04 AM Rise 7:36 AM

30

21 13 6 1 0 1

I’ve been in hiding for a few weeks and enjoyed it I must say. In the last few weeks I’ve been so busy preparing for an out of state hunting trip, kids, duck season, and fishing. Sounds like fun stuff, and it is but it is work at the same time. When we took off for the great north woods Joey IV and I were so excited to get out of here we were shaking.

When we got to Michigan and stepped off the plane we were shaking with the winter slap that chilled the air. Now a few months later we are finally getting some of the winter season.

The fishing will really kick off now that this strong northwest wind is pushing some of the water out of the bay, and duck hunting will also improve moving water out of all the back waters and marshes. The change to winter has my soul on fire! I feel the chill and long to be outside, I feel the call of the wild and enjoy bundling up and getting out to hunt and fish.

Around the Island we stand primed and ready for you to get out and make some memories and Banner Days of your own.

bait, small pieces. The Pompano will be moving in towards the first and second guts along the beach and beach prowlers will hunt them with ghost shrimp and fish bites. These hard fighting flat fish are very good eating and easy to get to without any more than a pair of rubber boots and the ability to cast out into the second gut.

Again use small circle hooks and small pieces of bait so that the fish can suck the bait in and get hooked instead of nibbling away at a larger bait.

This was a “banner day” that I will never

The fishing around close has been sporadic but good. Finding concentrations of game fish in a forget. My dad Joe, Michael, myself, and Pat pattern for more than one day has been tough. a great friend in my boat the first day I got a motor. Good by paddles.

With the high tides both bait and game fish are spread out. Now with the drop in both water On our recent trip up north we enjoyed a nontemperatures and water level things will all drop into the same holes. Look for fishing this week stop adventure with great friends. We always to be great as areas along the Intracoastal canal count our blessings and return home with an are flooded with trout, reds, and drum moving enlightened sense of appreciation of what out of the flats into the deeper water. Moving we have and where we are at. This trip was water can be cold, so look for small pockets especially memorable in that Joey took his first of irregular formations along the edge of the deer with bow and arrow. I too was gifted to find drop-off. Pitching soft plastics and working the red arrow and harvested some fine animals. the bottom slowly will pay off with soft strikes The chance to be in the beautiful north woods from cold fish. As the sun comes out and warms during the fall is unspeakable. The great colors the flats I will be looking for water flowing off drift down from the trees as squirrels bark and of the shallows into the deep water. Here is play. The sounds of footsteps in the leaves brings where game fish will sit with the warm current hunters to the highest point of excitement. We flowing into their face. The best selection of soft sat one evening and said a prayer over a nice plastics will be light, dark, or natural colors. fire for our dear late friend Mr. Jim Bosworth Mixing it up between a very light jig head and to please come and join us in spirit on the next a heavier ¼ ounce head. The marked channels morning’s hunt. The next morning I had a great in the Humble area and the boat hole are going encounter with a beautiful buck and Joey’s to be full of fish as well as tides bring bait from arrow found its mark. That afternoon I too the south and deposit it around close to the JFK. called in and arrowed a deer. The day could not When water temperatures move up back into have been better with a wonderful lunch feast the upper sixties look for some movement out at the Birtchfield’s home in between hunts. The of the channels and into the deep flats. This is next morning we awoke with a phone invitation when drifting the King Ranch shoreline will get to come shoot some giant Canadian geese. We good and fishing will be at some of the highest snuck up and got the best of five monster birds.

We sat snapping pictures as Mr. McVey the land levels of the year. owner said some things that I will never live to Our trips down south have been amazing with forget. “Son, this is a Banner Day. Take a lot large boxes of drum, reds, sheep head, and of pictures and remember everything about it. some trout on live shrimp. This is definitely As you get older they come around less and the MEAT HAWL days down in Baffin and the less. Take the moments to capture everything Land Cut. If you are looking to put up some fish in your mind and heart. Yes, these are Banner for the holidays and family dinners, give me a Days.” I hugged him for the opportunity to call it is on fire. We are fishing the sandy gravel come hunt his pond with my son and friend but bottoms where the drum are eating small bay I left there that day with a life lesson that I will clams. The use of scent additives will greatly never forget. For the next few days me, Joey, help you this time of year. Do not set the hook, and Ron all cheered the quote “Banner Days!!”, slow moving fish will suck up the bait gently and lived them with a bit more appreciation. and a quick hook set will only snatch it away Life is so short and we should all take our from feeding fish. Roll into a tight line and set little adventures and capture them in the photo the hook by reeling the line tight. Small circle albums in our hearts and minds. These fishing hooks are the best way to go, a quality hook like trips, hunting adventures, perfect days on the an OWNER or GAMAGATZU will be as sharp beach, peaceful strolls on the sand staring out as a needle, strong, and light. I usually prefer a into the sea, they are all small parts of our lives ½ to ¾ ounce weight so I can cast my sliding that one day we will be able to look back on the weight rig very far away from the boat. Schools Banner Days of our Lives. The secret I suppose of drum are very sensitive to boat noise and is to be able to realize this when we are there. vibration. The sand trout, croaker, and whiting Prayers for my father this week, for he is ill. Joe are thick in the Packery area now and will offer Farah is and always has been the greatest hero anglers young and old lots of fast pace action in me and Michael’s lives. HAVE A GREAT and some great little fillets. There is no size THANKSGIVING AND GOD BLESS YOU limit or number limit so you can fill the box. AND YOUR FAMILY. Keep those lines tight, Shrimp will catch them fine but when big pin and your hooks sharp! perch invade your fishing move towards cut

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

Island Moon

Schedule of La Posada 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.

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 1st - Christmas Tree Lighting at Port Royal

December 9th, 10th & 11th Christmas Decorations judging of residential/commercial both from on/off water.

December 14th La Posada Lighted Boat Parade-South 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.

Following is the agenda for the Christmas Tree lighting.

Christmas Tree Lighting at Port Royal: Date: Sunday, December 1, 2013 Time: 5:00pm - 7:00PM Location: Port Royal Ocean Resort & Conference Center 6317 State Highway 361

Schedule of Events 5:00PM - Port Royal Open to Public with Toy Donation for Toys for Tots Cookies, Punch & Hot Chocolate to be served in Port Royal Lobby - Continuous till end of event.

5:15PM - Marine Corps to Present Color Guard / National Anthem (Local Singer - TBD) 5:30PM - 6:15PM - Live Christmas Music (Choir, Band or Acoustic Guitar - Christmas Carols) 6:15PM - Santa Arrives (tentative Limo Sleigh) 6:30PM - Santa Lights the Port Royal Christmas Tree 6:30PM - 7:00PM - Pictures with Santa Claus

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:___________________________________

La Posada continued from A1

at the door.

The Padre Island Yacht Club (PIYC) La Posada Committee reminds us that purpose for La Posada remains the same – to place a smile on a less fortunate child’s face by working with the United States Marine Corp to gather and give toys to children in South Texas.

Next on December 8th, 10th, and 11th Christmas decorations will be judged from both the land and water side.

Then on Friday, December 13th and Saturday 14th the La Posada Lighted Boat Parade takes to the water. The North side parade will be held on December 13th and will begin at 7:00 p.m. The longer South side parade will be on December 14th and will begin at 6:00 p.m. when Marines will pick up toys from docks all over The Island.

La Posada T-shirts are now for sale for $15.00.

Boaters who want to be part of the parade can fill out the registration form included in this issue and drop it off at the La Posada Kickoff Party at Scuttlebutt’s or send it to Brent Rourk – 15606 Gypsy Street, CC, TX 78418. Keep a copy for yourself. You can also e-mail a copy to Brent at brentrourk@yahoo.com.

The event collects toys for the Marines Toys for Tots program each year provides the most amount of toys from any single event in Texas. Last year with the generous help of many local businesses and individuals, the PIYC collected over 4200 toys and over $8000 for Toys for Tots. All of the toys and monetary proceeds go directly to Toys for Tots them for $15.00 each from Padre Island Mail Plus. Make checks payable to Padre Island Yacht Club.

December 3rd - Pre- La Posada Lighted Boat Parade Party and auction at Scuttlebutt's Bar & Grill

December 13th La Posada Light Boat Parade-North Side

Port A Boat Lighting Contest

November 27, 2013

GLO continued from A1 of the land which abuts the national seashore on the park’s northern boundary and stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Laguna Madre.

A source familiar with the negotiations said that under the current plan a local foundation would put up the approximately $3 million to buy the land which would then become the property of Kleberg County and would be managed under contract by Nueces County.

The Nueces County Coastal Parks Board in its monthly meeting last week went into Executive Session to discuss their part in the deal. If Nueces County takes over management of the land the Parks Board would be the political subdivision with direct supervision.

The same source said that if Nueces County takes over management of the land law enforcement would be provided by Nueces County Constables and the main focus of the current talks is to make sure the beaches as well as the remainder of the land remains readily accessible to the public. Currently there is little law enforcement presence on the beaches in Kleberg County due to the distance between them and the Kleberg County seat in Kingsville nearly sixty miles away by car.

The property north of Padre Island National Seashore was purchased with federal transportation funds in 1995 by former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro. Under terms of the agreement, the property was purchased to preserve the view of Padre Island National Seashore and could not be developed. The GLO has said they lack the staff to manage the land and want to sell it to another entity that can operate it.

Currently, several sites on the GLO land have become dumping grounds for trash and are often frequented, legally, by hunters.

There is no timetable for completion of the sale but a new management plan is expected to be in place no later than the first quarter of next year.

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.

November 27, 2013

Moon Monkeys

Letters to the editor

Mike Ellis, Founder

Loyalty of Japanese Americans Mr. Lewis, Great article, I wish I could have supplied you this info prior to the publication. I think it would have reflected the loyalty of these folks to the US. I joined the USN in 1971 and my first cruise was aboard Enterprise in an E2 squadron from 72-73. During a night launch there was an A6 spotted next to our plane. I watched the preflight and man up the A6.

Distribution Pete Alsop

The B/N was the XO of VA 196, his name was CDR Gordon Nakagawa, he was shot down and taken as a POW. One of the last shot down in Vietnam. He was released along with the rest of our guys in 73. He met the ship in Hawaii with his two sons and did the tiger cruise to the states.

Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Patrick Kelliher Office

He was in the internment camps as a child. It is an easy google for more detailed info.

Lisa Towns Classifieds

Sorry to take your time but thought you might be interested.

Arlene Ritley Design/Layout

Thanks

Jeff Craft

Roy Kelsey

Contributing Writers

Roy,

Joey Farah

Thank you very much for your interest and the information.

Devorah Fox Mary Craft

I believe a follow-up article of where those who were in the camps, perhaps with a lead about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team ("Go for Broke").

Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Danniece Bobeché

Do you live in Corpus Christi? If so, perhaps we could get together one day soon. Thanks again, I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver

Regards...Dotson

Photographers Miles Merwin

Ebby

Jeff Dolan Mary Craft

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 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Where to Find The Island Moon

Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

Well we have done it again! The story and photo of Ebby was seen by an island resident who knew that his sister and brother in law were relocating to this area and have always had Manx cats. They contacted us this past Friday and they came to the house yesterday and adopted Ebby. They are a wonderful couple from Vermont. They will be living here and in Vermont. Ebby will travel with them all the time. Ebby took right to them and loved the attention.

1

So with your help we have found another lost little guy a wonderful forever home! Thank you and your staff for getting the word out there. I really appreciate your help.

Until next time.

Thank you! John and Karen

361-949-7700

Lisabella’s Restaurant

Good morning Jan:

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

North Padre

Pancakes, Coffee and A Talk with Santa Breakfast with Santa December 7

By Brent Rourk The morning of December 7 will be the day Santa will make his first appearance on The Island as he turns up for the Padre Island Kiwanis Club’s Breakfast with Santa.

Rumor has it that Mrs. Claus will also be there with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Andrew by the Sea Family Life Center. The visit will include a free breakfast (pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee) and a visit with Santa.

Miss K’s Catering & Bistro

All Stripes Stores

Amano

Whataburger

Felder Gallery

Doc’s Restaurant

Island Woman Boutique

Recent conversations with Padre Island Kiwanis Club officials reveal that Santa will definitely attend and will be happy to chat with local island children. There is no charge for this event; however, everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for a less fortunate child.

Snoopy’s Pier

Have you been good…or not? Let Santa know.

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

Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers

by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com

New Advertisers

Hey, Y’all – Watch This!

Last year a few days before Thanksgiving, the better half and I considered buying one of those turkey fryers you see

By Arlan Andrews, Sr. everywhere. So I was happy to see an arlan@thingsto.com ad for one of them in a Sunday insert in the One Big Local Paper. Complete with long tongs, a turkey hanger, and a “how-to video.”

Video? How hard could it be to fry a turkey, anyhow?

As an engineer, I like to envision ahead of time how I will use new appliances and tools. So I could see that this turkey fryer, an upright cylinder about a foot and a half in diameter and two and a half feet high, would do well on the concrete slab of my back porch next to the canal.

Tips for Turkeys But the “Fried Turkey Safety Tips” printed alongside the ad said, “Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings…” OK, then, I would put it out on the deck over the canal. Nope: “Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks…” In my garage, then? Huh-uh: “…or in garages.” So the fryer goes out front in my driveway? “Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface…” I think they actually meant “level”, but have they seen my driveway? Three different slabs tilted in four different directions? There is just one small horizontal part, maybe big enough for the fryer stand to balance on by itself. (This was starting to get complicated – maybe it should just go out in the street? No – that’s not either flat or level.)

With the ultimate location of the turkey fryer more or less firmly established, I read more: “To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.”

Hmm; I’d have to adjust the cooking oil level.

Big deal; what’s the worse that could happen?

WB Liquor

Flour Bluff H.E.B.

A Mano home furnishings and decor is having their 4th annual Black Friday Sale that will last all weekend long. Take 20% off everything in the store on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They are located at the Tower Center on Hwy 361 in Port A.

Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station

Gratitude Gift Shop

Police Station

Keepers Pier House

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

The instructions went on: “Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles.” I could see myself now, out on the small flat spot on my driveway in full view of the neighbors, wearing big oven mitts, holding a big turkey on a hanger, trying to drop it in just right so as not to spill anything. But the tips kept on coming: “If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from splatter.”

Whoa! Big mitts and safety goggles, wrestling a big ol’ frozen turkey on a hanger into a can of boiling oil, out where the world could see me?

Getting ridiculous now.

Padre Pizzeria now has gluten free pizza.

You can order take out and bake or delivery.

They are also feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving Day in the parking lot of City Hall. If you would like to volunteer from

Fire in the Whole My better half points out a video on the Underwriters Laboratories (UL – the safety folks) website -- a guy in an asbestos suit (!) drops a partially thawed frozen turkey into a fryer just like I plan to buy. What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll tell you the worst that can happen --the fryer erupts like Mount St. Helens, flames shooting up the nearby wall (!) like a Marine flame thrower in full action. Hmm; I think I will thaw my turkey for a whole week first. And use those real long tongs on that turkey hanger when I drop that so-not-frozen bird into that dangerously boiling oil in that scheming fryer.

The last turkey tip was: “Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.” Wait a dad-gummed minute! Here I am, asbestos suit, goggles, oven mitts, everything precariously balanced on the one square flat foot of my multi-tilted driveway, carefully immersing with long tongs and a turkey hanger, one fully-thawed, no-longerfrozen dead turkey into my very particular and dangerously deceptive turkey fryer, into that boiling, life-threatening oil, two days after Thanksgiving – all the time hoping that the neighbors won’t notice. And now I need a fire extinguisher?

Oil in All, No Thanks.

On her computer screen, my wife points out the final judgment of Underwriters Labs: “… as a result of these tests, UL has decided not to certify any turkey fryers with our trusted UL Mark.” This from the same people who safetymark garbage disposals, toasters, hair dryers, soldering irons and, presumably, electric chairs.

In my mind’s eye I put away my fire extinguisher, the garden hose, the turkey hanger, the long tongs, the goggles, the mitts, the asbestos suits and all the other gear, and clear the driveway of that dangerous and unpredictable bird-burning device. In my imagination, we get dressed and go out to the Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving turkey.

The Department of Music at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will present the 13th Annual Holiday Gala Concert on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

semester and have an enjoyable evening of favorite holiday songs, performed by our choirs, bands, orchestra, and other ensembles. The concert always includes a few surprises.”

Children and families are invited to the preconcert festivities in the lobby, which begin at 6:30 p.m., and will include Christmas carols, a coloring station, and pictures with Frosty the Snowman.

The concert will feature students and faculty in a wide variety of holiday favorites for the whole family, including familiar Christmas carols and new classics.

“Every year, the students and faculty in the Music Department at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi look forward to the Holiday Gala,” said Dr. Matthew McClung, Associate Professor of Music. “After months of serious study, it’s wonderful to kick back at the end of the

32nd Harbor Lights Festival is Old Fashion Holiday

On Saturday, December 7th, 2013, the 32nd Annual Harbor Lights Festival rings in the beginning of the Christmas holiday season by transforming the beautiful Bayfront Marina into an Old Fashion Holiday.

The fun begins with the AEP Texas Children’s parade and continues with the Optimist Club children’s activity area, inflatable games, cookie decorating, live entertainment, food and gift vendors, and enjoyable family activities throughout the evening. We hope you enjoy our Old Fashioned Holiday as we wish everyone a peaceful and loving holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 10 and younger. All proceeds from the concert will benefit Music Department scholarships. To purchase tickets, call 361.825.2787, click HERE, or purchase at the door the night of the event. For more information, call 361.825.3756.

Ebbie Scrooge Coming to PACT

By Brent Rourk Loosely based on the Charles Dickens spectacular Christmas Play “A Christmas Carol”, the play “Ebby Scrooge” is coming soon to the Port Aransas Community Theatre soon. An energetic and excited cast is putting finishing touches to their presentation that will run on December 5th, 6th, and 7th starting at 7:30 PM and on December 8th at 2:30 PM. The Port Aransas Community Theatre is located at 2327 State Highway 361. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Tickets can be purchased by going online to Brown Paper Tickets or by visiting Everything Beach Boutique at 600 Cut Off Rd. Suite 10 in Port Aransas on Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Did Ya Hear?

11:30 to 1:30 or for any amount of time call Lorena at Padre Pizzeria 848-0787. They will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Arkansas White River fishing trip, jewelry and much more.Don’t forget to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots donation and remember to bring toys for older children and teens.

They are closed for Thanksgiving.

Port Royal will have Santa arriving at 6:30 to light the Christmas tree on Sunday, December 1st and will pose for photos with kiddos until 7. There will be live Christmas music 5:30 - 6:15. There will cookies, punch and hot chocolate in the lobby. The Marine Corps will be on hand to collect Toys for Tots. This event is open to the public. La Posada t-shirts will be for sale at both of these events for $15 with profits going to Toys for Tots.

The Port A Christmas Boat Parade will be Saturday, December 7th at the Port A Marina.

Deadline for entry to be given to the Chamber of Commerce is at noon December 2nd. Cash prizes will be awarded for several categories.

Gratitude in Port Aransas will be open on Black Friday for all you shopping junkies.

Go by and shop some of the most unique gift items in the Coastal Bend.

Business Briefs

Another tip: “Make sure the turkey is completely thawed.” OK, sounds reasonable.

But then: “The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed…” Just a minute, friend – our 15 pound turkey is going to take three days to thaw out? I don’t have three days left until Thanksgiving. So what if it is still a bit frozen when I drop it into the boiling oil? Who’s gonna notice?

Annual Holiday Gala Concert Celebrates the Season, Raises Money for Department of Music Scholarships

Cafe Fresca inside Mail and More is taking orders for Christmas baked goods and also has a $1.00 off coupon good toward a menu item or a Winter Texan special for a free coffee with the purchase of a baked good.

Place order at 361-949-9325 Island Auto Shine will put up your holiday lights for you. Call Michelle now at 361-5007146 as they get booked up early.

A5

Under the Padre Palms: Notes from The Island

Put Up Your Mitts

Office Security/Spillage Control

Port Aransas

Island Moon

Amano 20% off Sale this weekend Scuttlebutt’s Pre LaPosada Party will be held Tuesday, December 3rd with silent and live auctions starting at 5 pm and entertainment at 6. Auction items include sky diving, private charter fishing trips, a weekend in South Padre,

Port A Tree Lighting at Robert Point Park is set for Thursday, December 5th starting at 6:30. Following the ceremony will be cookies, hot chocolate bar and hayrides with Christmas carols and holiday music.

To spread the word about your event or business info in Business Briefs email me at mkay512@aol.com. People really do say “Did ya’ hear” in fact I get it often and it’s stuff I wrote about.

Island Moon

A 6

opid

s!

Giant Frozen Bird

Island.

There won’t be any hotdogs if it’s cold out. For some reason humans eat hotdogs when it’s hot. I don’t know why.

Don’t eat the wishbone. Cooked turkey bones will splinter and get stuck in your dog gullet. Don’t eat the wishbone.

Find the person who is drinking the most from their sippy cup and loiter around his/ her feet. For some reason people who drink the most from their sippy cups make the best marks for begging. I don’t know why but it works.

Work the kids’ table. Kids are suckers for the Sad Eyes.

Keep the cats out of the room. They get in the way of good begging and anyway they are cats! Stoopid Cats!

Keep an eye on the guy carving the turkey.

He has giblets and he might drop one. One time my human dropped the whole turkey! I didn’t get all of it but I cleaned up after and there were some good giblets there.

Don’t be afraid of vegetables. They’re not as good as turkey but if they got close enough to one some of the turkey may have rubbed off and that makes for good eating.

If nothing else works start barking. Don’t overdo it or they will put you outside but chances are someone will throw you a morsel to shut you up. It’s worth a try.

There won’t be any hotdogs when it’s cold out. For some reason humans eat hotdogs when it’s hot. I don’t know why.

And try to get some of that brown stuff they pour over everything. I don’t know what it is but it even makes dog food taste good.

And finally, keep you eye out for a turducken. Oh baby! If you see one of those babies come out of the kitchen don’t wait for your humans to share. Attack! Whatever your punishment is it will be worth it.

I hope that helps and remember, stay on your humans’ good side because when it gets cold they bring a tree in the house and there is another big meal.

Cafe Fresca $1.00 off

Café Fresca is now accepting pre-orders for the holidays. Home made breads, pies, cookies and cupcakes. All orders must be in before Monday Dec 23 for Christmas. Fill out order forms at the café counter inside Isle Mail and More.

Get ready ‘cause here they come A group of economic forecasters just named Corpus Christi as the tenth fastest growing city in the country. We didn’t make Forbes list of fasting growing cities because they only include cities over 1 million population but San Antonio was nine, Dallas three, Houston two, and Austin one.

There are now 26 million people in Texas and four of the fasting growing metropolitan areas in the country are within driving distance of our beaches and sooner or later all those newcomers eventually find their way here. Our challenge is to figure out what to do with them when they get here and how to keep them coming back.

Statistics from the Convention and Visitors Bureau show that 80% of them are here for the beaches and we all know what that means for traffic. Managing growth is the challenge before us.

County commissioner’s race The race for Precinct 4 Nueces County Commissioner is heating up and it is an important one for The Island. Traditionally we have been on the short end of the stick when it comes to county funding for Island parks and facilities. That sounds misleading when you look at the new addition to Bob Hall Pier which has been a huge success and was funded by county money. But the new budget for the Nueces County Parks Board was finalized last week and while there is some good stuff in it, 80% of the funds come from money generated by the county facilities on The Island; only twenty percent comes from other county sources and given the amount of money The Island generates in fees and parking permits for the county that’s not much.

Incumbent Joe McComb will have two challengers in the Republican primary: Islander Norm Baker who has already announced; and Nueces County Court at Law Number 5 Judge Brent Chesney who will announce soon. It is a Republican district so whoever wins the primary will be the next commissioner. As I have written before Island voters, both in North Padre and Port Aransas will be the deciding factor if we turn out in numbers and get behind one candidate. The park board does a great job

Winter Texan Special: Free 12 oz. cup of coffee with purchase of one or more baked items.

361-949-9325

These are heady times in our little corner of Texas. In no particular order here is the stuff I’ve been hearing on The

The county facilities in Robstown had their best year ever but still require millions in subsidies from county tax payers to keep the lights on (more on that in later issues). It’s time for county leaders to stop looking at us as a cash register and that begins with this county commissioner’s race.

any salad or sandwich

14493 S.P.I.D. Ste. A

November 27, 2013

by Dale Rankin

By Riley P. Dog

Something’s going on. My humans are acting funny. I think there is some kind of big holiday coming up because I saw my humans loading a giant frozen bird out of the car. I like the looks of that. So I know it’s the time of year to polish up your Sad Eyes, or if your humans are hard cases your Stink Eye to get them to send some food down your way.

With that in mind here are the Ten Things Island Dogs Need to Know for the Holiday Season.

Stuff I Heard on the Island

Sto

Cat

working with what they have but it’s time for the county to hear from us in their support. This race is a chance to do that.

Water Exchange Bridge I am constantly asked about the status of the plan to build the water exchange bridge under SPID. The more cynical people who have been on The Island for a while keep waiting to hear that it isn’t going to happen. The latest official reports from the city are that it will go to bids in January of next year. I doubt it. I’m hearing there are some complications with design and June is a more realistic time frame.

But I’m also hearing some troubling news that somehow about $3 million of the bond money to be used for the projected $8 million of the project has gone missing. Big surprise. That’s how city bond projects work; the money gets moved around and no one seems to know how or where.

All I can say is this; if this project isn’t bid and underway by the time city elections roll around next November Island voters are going to be heard from. By then canals to the bridge will be in place on both sides of the roadway. The prospect of having canals leading up to both sides of SPID and no bridge is not going to go down well.

Let’s not forget that there is already $500 million in new development going on out here and more on the way and the 9000-plus people on The Island were promised a bridge by our city.

Find the money and build the bridge.

Can of worms I know I’m opening a can of worms here but those of you who know me understand that stirring worms is on my agenda so here goes.

Half of the ad valorem taxes paid by Islanders go to the Flour Bluff Independent School District. In May voters approved a $48 million bond issue for FBISD and only 456 people voted. It passed by just 82 votes. This is not to say whether it was a good or bad idea; only that it was decided by only a handful of the people who are going to pay for it.

There aren’t many things more important than education and all seven of the FBISD board seats are At-Large which means Islanders can vote in all seven races. If the Island Political Action Committee were to make endorsements in these non-partisan races and Islanders voted as a block, with low turnouts like the bond vote - or for that matter even with a higher turnout The Island vote could control that board and in controlling the board would control half of the Island tax burden.

It is certainly something to consider.

That’s the stuff I’ve been hearing on The Island.

Seashore continued from A1 “This is something we have been planning for a long time,” said Lisa Scheerer, President of Island Foundation which is the Board of Directors for Seashore Early Childhood Development Center, Seashore Early Learning Center and Seashore Middle Academy.

The new cafeteria space will allow the current cafeteria space to be turned into classrooms that will allow Middle Academy enrollment to increase from the current 200 students to 240. Scheerer said, the classroom expansion at the Middle Academy will be in place by the beginning of the 2014 school year.

“Six years ago we expanded the number of students entering the Seashore Early Childhood Center,” she said. “Those students are now in sixth grade and we are expanding the Middle School to be able to handle the increased numbers next year in seventh grade.”

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All of the improvements are being funded through private commercial sources, Scheerer said.

The second phase of the improvements will be to Seashore Learning Center which includes 1st though 6th grades. That will include the addition of nine new classrooms and the addition of a new cafeteria space. The addition of the new classrooms will allow the re-location of the Seashore Early Childhood Development Center to the campus of Seashore

Early Learning Center from its current location in rented space in Padre Professional Plaza.

That work will include three classrooms for the Learning Center and will not be complete until the 2015 school year.

Sheerer said when all the new work is complete total enrollment in Seashore Charter Schools will increase from the current 400 to about 450.

“This is the end of our latest long-term planning cycle,” Scheerer said. “As we complete these improvements we will go back to the drawing board to decide what we will do in our next long-term plan.”

Scheerer said she believes the expansion to 450 students will be the total enrollment going forward.

“I believe in the next phase of planning the emphasis will be on improving facilities and not on increasing enrollment.”

She said one thing that is not on the horizon for the charter schools is an Island High School. ”A high school is just not realistic,” she said, “the state requirements for things such as laboratories and other facilities such as sport facilities just make it unrealistic.”

Construction on the new building at Seashore Middle Academy is expected to begin in spring, 2014.

November 27, 2013

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for including living on this great Island!

alongside the bin. Hang on to it until the last Saturday of every month and bring it to the Litter Critter.

No brush pick up

All of the stuff which Dale covered in the last MOON could have been brought to the Litter Critter instead of just dumping it at Packery Channel. We started the Litter Critter in order to eliminate the dumping and it has worked pretty well. But, it seems we will always have a few folks who either don’t or can’t read the paper to know how really easy it is to dispose of unwanted stuff legally.

The Litter Critter will be in the POA parking lot this weekend starting at 9 AM on Saturday morning. Load up your trash and bring it over.

Recycle at Fortuna Bay ramp The recycle bin in the Fortuna Bay boat ramp is another option if you have cardboard boxes.

But, please cut them up and put them in the bin. The material can be placed in any slot as we have single stream recycling in Corpus Christi which means the material is sorted at the recycling center.

Don’t know if you have seen any of the news coverage about what has been showing up at the recycling center, but everything from used syringes to chainsaws have been put in the recycling bins. Obviously, those things are not recyclable. Also, DO NOT LEAVE items

Pinching veggies Although the gardens at Douden are called “community gardens,” it doesn’t mean anyone can just help themselves to the vegetables. The plots belong to individuals who spend their time and money to plant the seeds so that they can harvest their own vegetables. If you have been one of the culprits, STOP!

Bloodmobile The Bloodmobile will be in the Island Presbyterian Church parking lot at Ports O’Call and Gypsy this Sunday, December 1 from 8 AM to Noon. Anyone can stop by and donate blood.

Blood is always needed and especially at this time of year. So, take a few minutes Sunday morning and give blood.

History continued from A1 relief from the plagues of 1604 and 1622; in 1588 it was the defeat of the Spanish Armada and in 1705 the deliverance of Queen Anne, then the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

These were Protestant celebrations that were foreign and probably unknown to the four Catholic Spaniards who had found themselves washed upon what is now the Alabama shoreline on November 4, 1528. The men had set out from Spain in 1527 to seek their fortune in the New World. On their voyage to Florida by way of Santo Domingo a Moorish woman had predicted that few of the men who went ashore would survive and anyone who did survive would be blessed by God who would perform great miracles through them. By November of 1534 the four survivors had arrived on the Isle of Misfortune and had little to be thankful for other than their simple and unlikely survival.

They talked with a “click” On the blustery night of November 4, 1528 a group of Karankawa Indians were huddled around the hearths of their open-sided wigwams on the Isle of Misfortune sheltering from the violent storm which was upon them. As they had always done they migrated to the Texas Coast each fall, leaving behind the long hot summers of the upland river valleys where they ate fruits and seeds and hunted the bison.

They came to the barrier Islands, now called Galveston, Mustang, and Padre, where fish and cattail roots would keep them fed through the season of the Blue Norther. The Karankawas had seen passing Spanish ships on the horizon but they were now about to come face to face with the Spaniards for the first time.

The Karankawas were later described by the Europeans as tall and angular people, unlike the builds of the squat, thicker Indians they would later encounter inland. Little is known of the Karankawa culture as they left little behind in the way of structures or writings. Their unusual appearance and the peculiar “click” which was part of their language and was also peculiar to the tribes of the African shore has lead modern

primitive coastal peoples. Cabeza de Vaca’s account of his journey, Shipwrecks, would later fascinate Europe. It told stories of shamanism, miracles, and how the four survivors became the first celebrities of the New Word, celebrated from the Indian campfires of the Texas plains to the court of the Spanish King. How it came to be should be regarded as cause for the first Thanksgiving story of the New World.

The season of the tunas Castillo and Esteban, who were kept together among the Iguace band of the Tonkawa Indians, began to work as “doctors” among the Indians as early as 1533. De Vaca did the same among the Karankawas with whom he lived. The American Indians, unlike their Spanish visitors who were fresh off the Inquisition, were tolerant of other belief systems and were inclined to incorporate other religious practices into their own. The Indians found comfort in the incantations and rituals which the Spaniards brought with them from their training in the Catholic Church.

Their acceptance as shamans was helped by the long blonde beards of the Spaniards and the “sunburned” skin of Esteban which made them mysterious to the Indians.

Each year in the late summer the scattered bands of the Karankawas gathered in the area just south of the Nueces River. Their daily wanderings took them from the mainland to the island in search of food, but as the days grew shorter they migrated to the inland prairies in search of the ubiquitous prickly pear cactus which grew there. It was during this time of year when the tunas fruit of the prickly pear ripened to a bright red and became the staple of the Indian diet.

“It was the best time of year for these people,” Dorantes later told the Mexican Audiencia.

“For, although they have almost nothing else to eat other than these prickly pears and a few snails they search for, they fill their bellies day and night. That makes them very happy, because for the rest of the year they waste away from hunger.”

By Todd Hunter, District 32 As many of you are aware, the Texas Legislature is not currently in session.

The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every odd numbered year, which makes the next official session for the Texas Legislature to meet, January 2015.

This does not mean that the Texas Legislature stops working. In fact, the period in between sessions, often referred to as the interim, is when the Texas Legislature identifies and studies the important issues facing the State of Texas in preparation for the next legislative session. This is the reason I filed and passed House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 59. HCR 59 requests that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor create a joint interim committee to study water desalination in Texas.

Water desalination has been a topic of discussion in our area for many years. There are multiple types of desalination such as, brackish ground water, brackish surface water, to seawater desalination. Below are some interesting facts about water desalination in Texas according to the Texas Water Development Board: • Texas currently has an estimated total municipal desalination capacity of about 123 million gallons per day (about 137,760 acre-feet per year) which includes 73 million gallons per day (about 81,760 acre-feet per year) of brackish groundwater desalination and 50 million gallons per day (about 56,000 acre-feet per year) of brackish surface water desalination.

• In addition to municipal desalination, industrial desalination capacity in the state is estimated to be about 60 to 100 million gallons per day (about 67,000 to 112,000 acre-feet per year) mainly in the power and semi-conductor industries.

• The largest inland municipal desalination plant in Texas, the Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination plant in El Paso, has a design capacity of approximately 27.5 million gallons per day (30,800 acre-feet per year) and went into production in August 2007.

• Texas does not yet have a seawater desalination plant. However, on May 14, 2011, voters in Laguna Madre Water District approved a bond proposition to build a

As the storm abated the Karankawas set about their business; the men inspected fishing traps set along the Laguna Madre, others waded out with their bows ready to shoot the large black drum and sheepshead that came to shelter in the calm shallows. The women searched for fresh water and uprooted the tubers which the tribe ate for their starch, and searched the beach for driftwood for fires. It was there they first sighted something rising and falling with the sea as it came closer to them and their shore. It was a boat much larger than the canoes they knew and the children were dispatched to tell the men of the approaching boat which by now they had realized was filled with men, four of whom would celebrate the first “Thanksgiving” in the New World.

The survivors Now, six years later, in November of 1534 only four of the original shipload of men had survived to make their way to South Texas. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, Alonso del Castillo Maldonado, and a black Moroccan Berber slave named Esteban (later called Estevanico) who had made the Atlantic crossing in bondage, had seen much hardship and suffering at the hands of the elements and the cannibalistic Karankawa. They were trying to get to the Spanish settlements in Mexico.

The four had survived thus far by making themselves valuable to the Karankawas along the coast by gathering wood and performing whatever task they could find to stay in the good graces of their captors. Six years of living among the Indians left them little but their survival to be thankful for but had taught them a few things about life among the Karankawas and their roles had eventually evolved to that of shamans whose charms were valuable to the

The first Thanksgiving It was also the only time of year when the four Spaniards who lived apart, got to see each other and in the Prickly Pear Season of 1533 they had begun to plan their escape. Now in autumn of 1534 it was now time to move. As the new September moon waxed they bided their time until its full face would shine its light on the trails they would follow to the place of rendezvous they had agreed on. The tunas season was winding down but would provide sustenance for the four as they fled their captors. As the four men gathered they made their decision.

“And so, Oviendo recorded, “believing that it were better to do their duty as Christians and as noblemen, which each of them was, than to live like godless savages, they entrusted themselves to Our Lord” and fled. “And Jesus Christ in his infinite mercy guided them, showing them the paths they should follow, while God tamed the wild hearts of the indomitable savages.”

As so it was they rushed headlong into the brush country of South Texas with no idea of where they were going or how they would get there. With fear driving them forward at the end of the first day of their journey Oviedo later recorded, “It pleased the Mother of God that the very same day at sunset, they came upon some Indians of the kind they had hoped for. They were very gentle and although they had heard something of the Christians, they know nothing of how badly we had been treated. This was a very good thing from the point of view from a bunch of sinners.”

By now the end of November was approaching and the three Spaniards and the former slave were free of their captors and headed out across the South Texas flatlands. They had plenty to be thankful for in what was in fact, the first Thanksgiving in North America – if not in record at least in deed.

1-million-gallon-per-day seawater desalination plant on South Padre Island.

• The average cost to produce 1 acre-foot of desalinated water from brackish groundwater ranges from approximately $357 to $782.

• The average cost to produce 1 acre-foot of desalinated water from seawater is projected to range from approximately $800 to about $1,400.

If you are interested in learning more about water desalination in Texas, I invite you to check the Texas Water Development Board's website at http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/ desal/.

Time of Giving For this Thanksgiving season, I ask that you give back by being charitable to and helping those who are less fortunate and very much in need this year. District 32 is served by the Food Bank of Corpus Christi, which serves eleven coastal counties including Nueces, Aransas, and San Patricio. This food bank is one of the nineteen food banks located throughout the state that make up the Texas Food Bank Network.

The network provides food to charities and services organizations in all 254 counties in Texas.

If you would like to donate food, the food banks are always in need of nutritious, nonperishable foods such as: meals in a can (stew, chili, soup), tuna / canned meat, peanut butter, canned foods with pop-top lids, low sugar cereals, 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes, canned fruit packed in juice, and canned vegetables (low salt). The Food Bank of Corpus Christi can be found at: Food Bank of Corpus Christi, 826 Krill Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78408, 361-887-6291.

If you have questions regarding any of the information or 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, 361-9494603).

Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County.

He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house. state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.

Texas Game Wardens Receive National Maritime Accreditation

AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife’s game warden force has become only the fourth state conservation law enforcement agency to be accredited by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program.

“As the Texas Navy, our game wardens and the vessels they operate have an important role in maintaining the state’s maritime security, in addition to their day-to-day work in enforcing our conservation laws,” said TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith. “The training the wardens willreceive by way of this accreditation will make these men and women and our coastwide fleet even more effective.”

Though the Republic of Texas had a battlehardened navy in the 1830s and 1840s, it was former Gov. George W. Bush who first referred to TPWD’s modern fleet as the “Texas Navy.”

Since then, the department’s fleet has grown to include 564 vessels, including two 65-foot Gulf of Mexico patrol vessels, 26 Safeboats (a highspeed boat with an enclosed cabin that can be used in bays or the open Gulf) and a myriad of specialized vessels including 5 gun boats equipped with .30 caliber machine guns.

“For over 100 years, the TPWD game wardens have patrolled the land and waterways of our great state, protecting public safety and preserving our natural resources,” Gov. Rick Perry said. “They have set the gold standard for maritime operations, and this accreditation affirms their role as one of the nation’s elite law enforcement and emergency response operations.”

linguists to speculate that their origins may have been from that part of the world. Their origin is still the subject of speculation.

A7

Capitol News And Notes

By Maybeth Christiansen

Litter Critter

STATE

News from your

The last brush pickup for the year has just been completed. So, please, do not put any more tree trimmings out at the curb or on a vacant lot on your street. City setout will not happen again until February!

Island Moon

In addition to the game wardens who operate patrol vessels on the state’s public waters, TPWD’s Maritime Tactical Operations Group is a specialized unit made up of specially

trained and equipped game wardens who can respond to critical waterborne incidents or other unique maritime operations. “Now that our tactical maritime team has this prestigious accreditation, we will be working even more closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies with a maritime focus to protect the Texas coast for any contingency,” Smith said.

In preparation for their accreditation, the Law Enforcement Division developed strict training andpolicies to facilitate training in a wide range of maritime functions, including boat crew member training, boat operator search and rescue, boating accident investigation, boating under the influence enforcement, officer water survival, tactical boat operations, pursuit and stop techniques and small vessel radiationnuclear device detection operations.

“Effective partnering at multiple levels of government is the key to Homeland Security," said Rear Admiral Kevin Cook, Commander, 8thCoast Guard District. "Our relationship with Texas Parks and Wildlife is based on mutual concern for the safety and security of port operators and the maritime public. This accreditation further assures common standards of training and seamless integration between our organizations, which increases both organizations' overall readiness to respond."

The NASBLA accreditation is based on U.S. Coast Guard-recognized national standards for the training, qualification, credentialing and typing of maritime law enforcement and emergency first responders. The only other state law enforcement agencies with NASBLA accreditation are the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Police Blotter

Home invasion in Flour Bluff

Wednesday, November 20, 10:16 a.m. 3300 Celon Drive Burglary of a Habitation A 26-year-old woman reported to Corpus Christi Police that some unknown person entered her home on the 3300 block of Celon Drive without permission while she was at the home Wednesday. The 26-year-old woman told Officers she was in the home alone when she happened to see a man she does not know inside her living room by the front door. The 26-year-old woman told Officers she screamed and the man left the home without having taken anything or caused any injury. The 26-year-old woman described the man to Officers as a white male about 20 years in age, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 170 pounds, with brown hair and wore a black hoodie and jeans.

Driver hits police car on JFK Wednesday, November 20 2:48 a.m. 13300 South Padre Island Drive Driving While Intoxicated A Corpus Christi Police Officer was transported to the hospital by ambulance after his patrol unit was struck by a vehicle driven by a 20-year-old man on the JFK Causeway Wednesday morning.

The 46-year-old Officer was in the Chevy Tahoe patrol unit when the unit was hit from behind by a white 2000 Ford Ranger driven by a 20-yearold man. Both the Officer and the 20-year-old man were transported to the hospital for what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

Crash Investigators detected evidence that the 20-year-old man had consumed alcoholic

beverages which they believe may have contributed to the crash. The Officer and the 20-year-old man remained at the hospital for treatment at the time of this post. The road was partially closed while emergency crews worked the crash scene from 2:48 a.m. until 4:09 a.m. The 20-year-old operator of the Ford Ranger was released from the hospital and identified as Austin Roberts who was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and delivered to the city detention center.

Island Police Calls 13300 block SPID 2:46 a.m. Nov. 20 DWI 14000 block Jackfish 10:37 a.m. Nov. 19 Unauthorized use of motor vehicle 14500 block SPID 4:24 p.m. Nov. 21 Gasoline theft 13900 block Windjammer 7:15 p.m. Nov. 20 Theft $500-$1500 14100 block Bounty 10 p.m. Nov. 18 Burglary of motor vehicle 15400 block Dyna 10:05 a.m. Nov. 19 Theft $50-$500 15200 block Leeward 11:07 p.m. Nov. 22 Theft $1500-$20,000 15200 block Windward 1:37 p.m. Nov. 18 Theft from building $50-$5600 Beach Marker 203 7 p.m. Nov. 21 Vehicle impound Beach north of Zahn Road 1:25 a.m. Nov. 23 Assault with injury

A 8

Island Moon

November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving continued from A1

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vision on the dining table. On Thanksgiving, at a friend’s grandparents home. Folks kind enough, generous enough to include me in their celebration of the season. I guess it was a celebration.

Gross. That was the only word to describe it, and at the time, that was the expletive of choice of the “in crowd”. I wasn’t even sure what it was, but I was soon to discover it was dressing (stuffing) AND it was supposed to look like that.

At first thinking that someone made a major faux pas`, it didn’t cross my mind that I would be forced to mind my manners and EAT some of it.

It did come to pass, and what appeared to be awful sludge from the bottom of some old witch’s cauldron found its way onto my plate. (I should turn Fear Factor onto that stuff, it would rank right up there with live slugs or blood worms.)

Worse, I had thought it so “cool” to go somewhere besides my own family’s home for the feast. Nobody got out of that command performance, and I don’t know how I pulled it off that time. Never asked again.

Broken thermostats I admit it was the boyfriend of the week whose family I enjoyed that year. The house was about 110 degrees inside, as they were older and their body thermostats were most likely broken.

That’s what I deduced at the age of 19. Now, my house is about 100 degrees, and I know my thermostat is assuredly deteriorating just as theirs was those many years ago.

The green sludge tasted just as bad as it looked, but it slid down like an oyster on the half shell.

No chewing, didn’t dare. The green I discovered was sage, which I also discovered, I don’t like.

There was ham and a small turkey, and some mashed up orange mush which I had never experienced. Sweet potatoes, but mashed, and no marshmallows on top. At my house they were having marshmallows. There were no bread plates, and no salad forks, no centerpiece and no flowers, and no real whipped cream either.

Tupperware trouble After the family ate, the men retired to a den that was lighted by lamps, while the windows were covered with air raid curtains. They read the paper and drank coffee in the hot, close room, and spoke not a word to each other.

Partnership, LP, for a price of $34,853.847.95 Subsequent to a lawsuit by a third party the Port Board cancelled the deal but the project stirred up opposition to the idea of having a facility of that nature just across the channel from the city of Port Aransas and it was that opposition that filled city hall last week. The Port Aransas City Council placed a sixty-one day moratorium on any deal for the site effectively taking a prime piece of $34 million property off the market and, given their ability to renew the stoppage with a simple majority vote of the council reducing its value to zero. No business is likely to push forward on a deal for the land or the 185 acre McDermott site directly across the road, which was valued at between $20-$40 million dollars in 2009, with the uncertainty of a council action hanging in the air. The port has been actively marketing both sites as demand for land inside the port’s boundaries has outstripped supply with the drilling in of the Eagle Ford Shale play.

It is easy to let emotions run away with us when we picture smoke stacks belching black smoke and the odor of gas wafting across the channel. But what is/was the plan and now that it has been stopped, at least temporarily, what are the city’s options? And what was the Martin group actually planning for the site. To answer the last question all that is needed is to look at the application they submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Its introduction reads: “Martin Partnership has certified the emissions associated with the operation of a 7000 BPD (barrels per day) Natural Gas Liquids Fractionator.” Basically the plan is/was to take natural gas, separate out the liquids and export the various products that result through five docks which would accommodate ocean-going barges. What couldn’t be sold would be burned in a flare. The application reads: “The flare will be utilized to control any unused Refinery Fuel Gas…some excess is expected by the ground flare…the main (gas) being propane…ethane and methane will be going to the flare but are not considered VOC (volatile organic compounds).”

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According to the permit the plant would emit 1144 grams per hour of VOC; that sounds like a lot until you consider that it is less than the amount emitted by the engine from the stack of a single ferry boat in the same time.

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That’s the long and the short of it. It’s not a refinery. It would not turn Harbor Island into Texas City; but it is heavy industry. So the question now before the council, and indeed the city, is whether to let this project go forward, and if not then what takes its place? In short, what do citizens want there, and what are the city’s realistic options? The city council directed city staff “to further define allowable uses.”

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Deed restrictions

HOURS

Deed restrictions prohibit the land, as is, from being zoned for anything but industrial. Eightyplus years of heavy industry at the site has left the alluvial sand soaked in petroleum, lead paint, and compounds best left to the imagination.

Monday, Thursday, Friday 4 pm - 10 pm Saturday Noon - 10 pm Sunday 11 am - 10 pm Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

My Mother always believed that “travel was the best education”….. better than school even, which often resulted in exciting adventures in other cities, and exposure to other cultures. This trip however, was within 30 miles of home and was one of the most educational experiences of my youth.

Blessings found How I missed my Grandparent’s home that day, and the family that gathered round the beautiful Duncan Phyfe table set for fourteen. There would be silver candlesticks with long white tapers, flowers and linen napkins and sometimes individual salt servers. A gorgeous turkey brimming with dressing (that I recognized as such) along with Waldorf salad and too many pies to count.

How I had taken for granted the wonderful environment I had been fortunate enough to enjoy all of my life. It wasn’t the ornamentation that made the difference. (Although I must admit it added to the ambience.) I think it was in the genes.

The heredity factor. People like me. Family.

Folks around our table chatted and laughed, told jokes and planned summer family trips, swapped fishing stories, pulled pranks and practical jokes, and just flat enjoyed one another’s company.

I have no doubt that some of you are thinking I must be a real spoiled brat, and some would probably agree with you. (There is no age limit to being a brat!) BUT, I will tell you that I just didn’t realize how well I had it.

The fact that my family didn’t argue, there was no fighting and that we laughed, a lot, had way more to do with the enjoyment of the day than the accoutrements. Well, and the dressing.

I was and still am so VERY thankful for the family I have been given (which now consists of as many friends as it does those genetically associated.) This year I wouldn’t care if I ate on the front porch, as long as I had the company of my friends and family. Well, at least as long as they don’t serve green sludge.

Gobble Gobble,

Harbor Island continued from A1

The plan

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Women folk retired to the kitchen where they argued over which Tupperware to use for leftovers, each speaking over the other using volume for leverage. It was a tiny room with metal cabinets and a small aluminum breakfast set with a bright red top. It was a trip, as they say.

Port Aransas resident, attorney Aldo Dyer believes some form of residential development may be possible through the use of a Planned Unit Development District (PUD).

“Current Port Aransas zoning regulations provide for establishment of PUDs in the Harbor Island district, which could include residential use as part of a mixed use development. Also, this is in keeping with the current Port Aaransas land use plan as set by the city government.

So no rezoning would be required to permit this,” Dyer said. “In my mind, mixed use development is probably the highest value use of the property in terms of increasing the tax base. I'm not suggesting rezoning the district

as residential or commercial exclusively- what I'm suggesting is defining "industrial" to restrict the most offensive industrial uses which would preclude higher value uses. This is well within the authority of the city of Port Aransas to do.”

But Frank C. Brogan, Managing Director of the Port of Corpus Christ, says while that may be legally possible it comes with a very time consuming and very expensive cleanup which would have to be born either by the City of Port Aransas, or any future developer who bought the site. The exact cost is only a guess at this point but it would be astronomical.

“We cleaned up the site so it could continue to be used as industrial,” Brogan said. “But to rezone it for anything else would require it to be cleaned up.”

When the port bought the site in the 1990s they cleaned it up to the point that TCEQ granted what is called a “brown field assessment.” It is a literally descriptive term; as opposed to a “green field assessment” a “brown field” allows it to be used as is solely for heavy industry. Anything else would require the cleanup that realistically is cost prohibitive.

The options For the City of Port Aransas to buy the site at the value fixed on it by the Martin deal, and also to buy the McDermott site would require about $60 million which if financed with bonds over a twenty year period would require an annual payment of around $5 million. The current total annual ad valorem assessment for the city is about $4 million. So buying the site would essentially double the tax burden on Port Aransas property owners; an option but an expensive one; and that doesn’t include the cost of cleanup.

So what is left? Dyer suggests a new type of industrial zoning. Current city ordinances essentially lump all “heavy industrial” development into one zoning category. Most cities have several; heavy industry, light industry, etc. The trick is to do it with a light enough touch to avoid a seven-figure lawsuit between the city and the port. A down zoning of the land could be considered a legal taking – there is a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the subject – and if done would almost certainly result in a protracted, seven-figure court fight.

The Port board fired the first volley. In the past week they issued instructions to the staff to “take whatever actions are necessary to protect the interest of the Port of Corpus Christi.” That includes the hiring of outside council. The legal guns on the Port side are loaded and considering what is at stake the coffers are open.

“If the City of Port Aransas can stop development on Harbor Island what message does that send to the other cities that have land inside the port boundaries?” said Port Board member and Port Aransas resident Charlie Zahn. “That is a dangerous precedent. The City of Port Aransas and the Port need to sit down and talk. If the city will tell the Port what they want and don’t want we can work together.”

That sounds like sage advice.

So that’s where we are. No one is trying to kick in the teeth of the beauty queen or turn Harbor Island into Texas City. But the fact is that unless a huge, and currently unknown, amount of money is found to clean up the site it will remain industrial. What kind of “industrial” is the question now at hand.

This is important and there is only going to be one chance to get it right. It’s time for the shouting to stop and the talking to begin.

Ronnie Narmour contributed to this report.

November 27, 2013

Island Moon

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November 27, 2013