Inside the Moon
Moon on a Spoon A7
Rock the Dog A2
Traveling Moon A9
The
Issue 679
Island Moon
The voice of The Island since 1996
April 20, 2017
Around The Island
Live Music A18
Free
Weekly
FREE Island Eggstravaganza!
By Dale Rankin They lined up behind the tape by the thousands before noon on Saturday, baskets in hand ready to harvest the eggs and goodies that taunted them from the short grass. With a blast from the siren of Constable Bobby Sherwood’s patrol car – the only thing missing was a booming voice saying, “Gentlemen, start your children!” and they were off…the Great Annual Island Easter Egg Hunt at Billish Park was underway.
Photo by Bruce Bair
10th year running!
Seashore Middle Academy Students Advance to State in Science Olympiad By Avica Burrill Student Reporter This weekend, a team of Seashore Middle Academy students will once again head to College Station to represent our region at the Texas State Science Olympiad.
With Easter in the rearview it’s now safe to wear white pants and break out the seersucker jackets and jump back in the pool without feeling like a polar bear. We’ve hit the sweet spot of the Island calendar and life is good on our little sandbar.
SMA has been open 10 years, and every year the school has advanced to the state competition. However, when it comes to Science Olympiad, SMA does not have the advantage. The other competing schools have
The Trula B. has left The Island
...and they're off! By Brent Rourk
We’ve had questions about what happened to the beautiful blue and white boat that has been an Island landmark alongside the JFK Causeway for about two decades. It is named the Trula B and belonged to Islander Norm Baker but has now set a course for Tampa Bay where it will be a charter. A number of we Islanders have celebrated big days on the Trula B over the years, marriages, sprinkling of ashes at sea, birthdays, and even a few divorces. The new owners brought in the Pros from Destin to deliver the boat to Florida but they encountered many difficulties including overheating the engine, running out of fuel in one engine near Lake Pontchartrain , and getting lost in the Lydia Ann Channel. We told Norm that the crack Moon Boat Captain Team could have done all that and probably run it aground at no extra charge! So long Trula B, you will be missed.
Packery Channel restrooms and showers approved The Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday approved $422,000 for portable air-conditioned restrooms and showers for the beach on both sides of Packery Channel. Funds for the project will come from the Island Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2. City staff said earlier this month the restrooms, which will be on skids so they can be removed in case of an approaching storm, should be in place for the summer season 2017. It only took fourteen years to get done, but would never have happened without the persistence of the Island Strategic Action Committee which over the course of the last six years reduced the cost from $3 million to under half a million. No more sweating it out in the portable sweatboxes or heading for the dunes. We have entered the era of indoor plumbing everybody!
KIII Island Report Every Wednesday, the Island Moon Newspaper and KIII television will team up to produce a weekly Island Report featuring stories about all things Island. The first story is about the artists that make SandFest in Port Aransas this weekend come to life. The Island Report is scheduled to air each Thursday at 10 p.m. on KIII. If you have a story or person on The Island you think would make a good subject for the series please let us know at editor@islandmoon.com. Don’t forget the big beach cleanup this weekend and get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.
They gathered around the barriers at Don and Sandy Billish Park Saturday waiting for the horn that would signal the start of the 20th Annual Island Easter Egg Hunt and affiliated festivities. Families turned out to enjoy what some might call an egg hunt but others more appropriately term an egg gathering since there was no place for the eggs to hide in the thin ground cover at the park.
Lots of Activities Whatever the name, it was another great hit for kids who enjoyed the resident park playground equipment, several children’s rides and slides, hot
SandFest 2017 This Weekend How do they do that?! How to get there
Dale Rankin
When the 300,000-plus visitors descend on Port Aransas this weekend for SandFest 2017 at some point in the event they will turn to the person next to them and say, “How do they do that?” The artists who work in beach sand pile up and carve sand in ways that often seem to defy gravity. So what is the process and how do they get it to stay put? First it is the sand. The fine sand on area beaches that finds its way down
SandFest cont. on A4
A little Island history After our story a few weeks back about plans to put air conditioned restrooms around Packery Channel we got several inquiries about the history of the channel and when it was opened. The channel separates Mustang Island on the north to Padre Island on the south. The channel gets its name from a meatpacking plant which was located along its shores in the 1870s. The channel was part of several channels which cut through The Island referred to collectively as Corpus Christi Pass. Historically, and especially at times of high water
dogs and cotton candy, face painting, a visit with the Easter Bunny (surprisingly large and soft spoken), socializing with their friends, and for the grand finale the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The expansive park grass did not hide the eggs but rather by virtue of its short height and contrasting green color made the eggs quite visible to eager youths who clutched their Easter baskets and waited somewhat patiently for the high noon siren to liberate them from the plastic restraining strips set up to mark the starting line. Kids, along with a sizable smattering of accompanying parents in all age
groups, dashed to their favorite spots and began to fill their baskets with eggs, hoping for the special numbered eggs that would give the ‘finder’ a special gift. The older kids ran and collected in record time, clearing their section of the field in what seemed like a minute. They swarmed the field leaving it bare in no time, like a swarm of grasshoppers devastating a tender crop - in this case a crop of Easter Eggs. Younger kids still ran but took longer to clear their sections, taking perhaps two minutes, while the toddlers and their parents took their time. Little tykes stopped, bent
Three-year Science Olympiad veteran Marlena Osgood shows 5th grader Alex Smith a paper chromatography test.
Eggs cont. on A2
Hearing on Zoning Variance for Portion of Schlitterbahn Property Set for Wednesday Special ISAC meeting Monday
As we went to press Wednesday afternoon we received word there will be a public hearing before the city’s Board of Adjustment next week on a petition by Upper Padre Partners. L.P. the owners of the Schlitterbahn waterpark and surrounding land to “consider a “variance to eliminate the zoning district buffer yard requirement between the “CR-2” Commercial Resort District and the “RS-6” Single-Family 6 District on the property described below:
The land in question is zoned CR-2 Commercial Resort District and is the site of a portion of the golf course. The residential land to the west of the property, along Dasmarinas Dr. is residential and zoned RS-6 Single Family.
Island Fairway Estates, Lot 27C, located along the west side of Compass Street, west of Park Road 22, south of Commodores Drive, and north of Whitecap Boulevard.”
After learning of the request late Wednesday Libby Edwards, Chairperson of the Island Strategic Action Committee said she will call a special meeting of the ISAC Committee at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 24, at the Veranda to discuss the request. That meeting will be open to the public.
(See the complete notice on A4).
BIG Beach Clean-Up This Saturday!
See Page A7 For Details!
City officials said late Wednesday they are unsure of the exact scope and nature of the request. The hearing will be in City Council Chambers at City Hall, at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 26.
If there are changes in the meeting time or site we will post them on our Facebook page theislandmoonnewspaper.
Packery Channel Jetties
7th grader Ashton Haney and partner Davis Spivey won first place at the regional event. Seashore cont. on A4
Early Voting Starts Monday, April 24
Voting in the May 6 Special Election for Mayor of Corpus Christi will begin Monday, April 24. On The Island ballots can be cast at Schlitterbahn from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. through Friday, and on Saturday April 29th from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., May 1st and 2nd 7:00 a.m. — 7 p.m., and on Election Day, Saturday, May 6 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Voters do not have to vote in the
Voting cont. on A4
events, the channel cut through what is now Lake Padre and emptied into the Gulf of Mexico at the end of where Whitecap is now located. The area where the seawall is now located was a separate Island often referred to on early maps as The Middle Ground. With the dredging of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in the 1920s water flow through Packery Channel was reduced and over the years the channel silted shut and was completely closed by the 1940s. Then in 2000-2001 an effort was
Packery groundbreaking
History cont. on A4
A2
"Rock the Dog" a Lofty Affair
April 20, 2017
Island Moon
Eggs cont. from A1 Pictured on page 1: Michael (age 4) and Julia (age 6) Kinkle pose with Ladder 15 firefighters. over, picked up the egg and inspected it while their parents urged them to hurry and get more eggs. All of the kids walked away with eggs and many collected valuable prizes. After the hunt kids and parents found a comfortable spot away from annoying red ant mounds and uncomfortable sticker burrs to
Cody and Shawn Espelend, age 4, show off their battle spoils. Photo by Bruce Bair
friendly warren.The petting zoo attracted scores of smaller children who wanted to pet a duck or other peaceful animal. There seemed to be a ring of people circling the petting zoo during
take an inventory of their cache. Many children found numbers on the outside of their eggs which entitled them to a great prize distributed by volunteers at the large white tent.
Ray Herrera, Noe Silva, Robert Pruski Jr. raced to the top. Robert won with Ray a close second
Hanging out at the Animal Hospital of Padre Island's "Rock the Dog" event last Thursday. Jack (left) with Ray Herrera and Mckenna the Golden Retriever
Yellow spindly Big Bird and the snow-white Easter Bunny were big hits again, the focus of many cellular cameras aimed at capturing a memory of their child with those two larger than life figures. Most kids seemed to easily accept a snapshot with the Easter Bunny, a slow, peaceful creature most likely from a
The line-up
Brian Kirkwood carried his grateful dog Rex to avoid the sandburs. the entire party. Two young children became detached from their parents but with the help from Kim Erwiin, her able driver, and the official Easter Egg golf cart, the children and parents were soon reunited. No tears and no acute panic as everybody was safe.
One family with about five children stopped to chat on the large field. After a minute the kids let out horrendous screams as the ants from the mounds the kids standing on decided to crawl up their legs. The screeching children jumped and moved their body as if they were engaging in some fast club dance while slapping at their legs and clothes. Eventually, they became ‘ant free’ and quickly moved to safer park grounds.
The Easter Egg Hunt does not happen in a vacuum and again tremendous thanks goes to Keller Williams, Kiwanis Club of Padre Island, and a host of other sponsors, contributors, and volunteers. The planning and preparing is yearlong for a fantastic party that lasts a few hours.
Isabella Phillips, 4 (left) and Lola Blair, 2 are fast friends prior to the hunt.
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April 20, 2017
A3
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Letters to the Editor
is about 100 miles further south and can only be reached by driving south on 77. After leaving the Crosstown Expressway on SPID, driving south you will, after about ten miles reach North Padre Island. In other words you have to drive south to reach North Padre Island, although Padre Island is as one, cities and communities are the only difference. If you are now confused, take the bus, as I do! Bobbie Kimbrell -- Flour Bluff
A New Agenda Dear POA Members,
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker
Boat Works!
Advertising Jan Park Rankin
Hello!
Classifieds Arlene Ritley Production Manager Abigail Bair Contributing Writers
Thanks for printing the Farley Boat Works article! My husband is the guy that built the Bayou Teche pirogue. His name is Mike
Joey Farah Andy Purvis Mary Craft MayBeth Christiansen
Below are three items I have requested be placed on the April 25, 2017 Board Meeting Agenda. You, the POA Members, told me you would like to see these items implemented to enhance the Transparency of the POA. Please come to the Board Meeting and make your views know to the Board. 1. The Board Meetings (excluding Executive Session) shall be video/audio recorded and made available to Members on the POA website. This can be done by placing a link on the POA website to a YouTube channel. Each Board meeting, beginning with the May 2017 meeting, shall be kept on YouTube for 2 years. Thereafter, the video shall be stored in an appropriate data storage media for an additional 5 years. 2. The Board shall hold the Executive Session at the beginning of the Board Meeting at 5:00 PM. Then start the open meeting at 6:00 PM. This will allow members to have full access to all the open meeting. During the open meeting, (to extent allowed by law) the Board shall report to the members the results of the Executive Session. This procedure should begin with the May 2017 meeting.
Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Photographers Miles Merwin Debbie Noble
3. The Board shall create a link on the POA website for POA members only (passcode protected) where by the POA check book registers will be placed. Thus, allowing all members to view the check and cash disbursements. Each month’s registers shall be online by the 7th day of each month. This procedure shall start June 7, 2017.
Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus) Riley P. Dog
Thank you- Marvin Jones-New POA Board Member Tomblin. He volunteers at the boat works and decided after seeing the original boat that he wanted to build it. I thought you might be interested in seeing the boat. Everyone that sees it says it's too pretty to put in the water! Not bad for a guy with one arm! Tina Tomblin
Publisher 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 14646 Compass, Suite 3 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas
Sand Piper Condos Sea Gull Condos Gulf Breeze RV Pioneer RV La Palmilla Golf Club Stripes (1A) Kody’s Restaurant
Trinity By the Sea Episcopal
North Padre All Stripes Stores Black Sheep/ Barrel CVS Whataburger
Amano
Doc’s Restaurant
WB Liquor
Snoopy’s Pier
361 Bar
Isle Mail N More
Moby Dicks
Island Italian
Spanky’s Liquor
Brooklyn Pie Co.
IGA Grocery Store
Ace Hardware
Port A Glass Studio
Holiday Inn
San Juan’s Mexican Restaurant
Texas Star (Shell)
Wash Board Laundry Mat Drop Anchor Bar & Grill
Jesse’s Liquor Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant Subway
Port A Parks & Rec
Island Tire
Public Library
Padre Pizzeria
Chamber of Commerce/ Visitor’s Center
And all Moon retail advertisers
Woody’s Sports Center
WB Liquor
Back Porch
Flour Bluff
Shorty’s Place
H.E.B.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Whataburger on Waldron
Giggity’s Tarpon Inn Gratitude’s The Gaff Wild Horse Treasure Island
Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
For the Dogs April 23rd is National Lost Dog Awareness Day. The purpose is to remind the public that many so-called stray dogs are lost dogs. They don’t need a home, they need to find their home. We Island residents are fortunate. If we lose or find a dog, we have a tremendous resource in the dog-friendly Island Moon Newspaper Facebook page, which is quick to post photos of misplaced dogs. NextDoor.com also makes it easy to get the word out when you need a dog publicized. HelpingLostPets.com will provide a free flyer for any lost or found animal and those dogs are posted on the Lost Dogs of Texas Facebook page. With almost 60,000 followers, many people will see your beloved dog is missing. One of the best ways to ensure your missing dog makes his way home is to have had him microchipped. But it is not enough to microchip your dog, you must also call the microchip company and verify the contact information on your microchip. There are many ways information might be incorrect. Did you move? Did you drop your landline? Did a clerk type in your phone number incorrectly? These possibilities are really probabilities. Many microchipped dogs never go home because it is not possible to contact the owner. Your vet can tell you your dog’s microchip number, and who to call, if you do not have that information. Five Things to Do if You have Lost a Dog 1. Immediately, put out food, water and your dog’s bed or an article of your clothing at the location where your dog was last seen. There is a good chance your dog may return. 2. Get the word out by using flyers and signs (like yard sale signs) with a picture of your dog and your phone number. Go doorto-door with your flyers in the area where your dog was last seen. 3. Contact your local animal shelter, vet clinics and police departments to report your dog missing. Fax or email them a photo of your dog and your contact information. 4. Instruct everyone who is helping you to NOT call or chase your dog. This will prolong your search. If they see your dog, tell them to sit or lay down (no eye contact) and gently toss out tasty treats to lure your dog in. 5. Post your dog on your local Craigs List, in your local paper, and on other lost and found Internet/Facebook sites. Good luck! Marilyn Knapp Litt
Sprout Answers I posed a series of questions to the candidates for our POA board and now as a write-in candidate it is only fair that I answer those questions. The POA’s primary mission is to maintain common areas, communicate with owners, collect dues, honor their fiduciary responsibility to use those funds as promised, and maintain the integrity of our bulkheads. Our top priorities need to include building trust and a positive relationship with property owners through transparency and communication. Of course, owners should have more of a voice. This is your association. Our bookkeeping must live up to proper accounting standards and IRS regulations. A qualified and competent bookkeeper for an operation of our size is an absolute requirement. With my ties to the police department, I know that security is an important part of our safety and peace of mind. I have begun working on some solutions with the PD’s VIPs division and the Crime Prevention Team. Additionally, conflicts of interest, violations of law, giving our money away, and self-serving agendas need to stop. Our over -zealous compliance officers have created a deep undercurrent of outrage in our community. I would cut the number of compliance officers from three to one and repurpose those funds for security and a better bookkeeping system. Our compliance people must also approach owners respectfully on valid issues only, not nit-picking. Of course we want our neighborhoods to look nice, but there is a vast difference between justifiable issues like derelict homes and that of bullying responsible owners over extremely trivial matters. A new owners’ welcome to our community should not be a violation letter, especially when it is perfectly obvious she is actively in the process of fixing up the property. If these types of compliance demands were to be applied uniformly, every owner on this island would get a violation letter. This heavy handed tactic illustrates that the POA has a skewed sense of priorities when they obsess over palm fronds while ignoring property owners who have waited years for repairs to their crumbling bulkheads. It is time that the POA treat our property owners with respect and do what is right for our whole community. Best wishes, Marta Sprout
Response to Citation We offer the following response to your letter dated April 12, 2017 regarding alleged violations of the POA landscaping rules: This is what the POA indicated in the Fall, 2016 Newsletter is a rock yard needing attention.
Editor’s note: If you lose you dog on The Island it is also a good idea to put a notice on the Island Moon Facebook page.
These are pictures of our rock yard. It was cited this past week by the POA as being in violation of the the following POA rules (paraphrased):
S.P.I.D.?
1. Accumulation of trash, rubbish, or other unsightly articles on the premises, the easement, or in the street abutting same.
In response to Craig Woldridge’s letter 4/6/17, why isn’t SPID just called PID? The most logical answer that I can give is because there is a NPID as well as a SPID. NPID starts a Highway 37 and ends at the Crosstown Expressway. SPID starts at the Crosstown Expressway and ends on Padre Island. The same scenario is Staples Street. North Staples starts about three blocks north of Leopard Street, South Staples starts at Leopard and ends at the Chapman Ranch Road. Although both street are as one a sense of direction is implied and yes it can be confusing. IE, you are coming into Corpus Christi on I 37, you turn right at NPID and now you are heading south. After a few miles you are now on SPID, still heading south, but that does not put you on South Padre Island because South Padre Island
were trimmed, and fresh flowers were planted. We have tried numerous times to remedy the torn gravel barrier at the hydrant and weeds growing in our street over the past 10 years that we have lived on Padre Island. However, because our house and the fire hydrant are located at the “end of the line”, the city often uses our hydrant to flush the lines in order to assure that the water in our system contains adequate chlorine and is safe to consume. We all know what happens if the water lines are not properly flushed and I do not advocate that the city stop flushing the lines. The only reason the barrier is showing and the weeds are growing is because the city employees trampled on our property to flush the hydrant which damaged the gravel barrier. The water released washed out the gravel and has opened up a break between the street and the curb which allows weeds to grow. The water released also opened up several small potholes in front of our house that support weed growth. Each time it rains, the weeds come out in full force. Obviously, the city employees have never repaired the barrier material or replaced the gravel that they washed away! They also have made no attempt to repair the cracks between the curb and the street or the potholes that have opened up during hydrant flushing to prevent weed growth, nor do they make any effort to remove the weeds that grow in the street due to their hydrant flushing or after a rain. Our landscapers do an excellent job of maintaining our yard, in spite of the damage done by the city workers to the rock yard and the street in front of our house, as illustrated by the picture of our side yard, but the weeds sometimes take hold in the street before they can return. In addition, once a gravel barrier is damaged, it is difficult to maintain the gravel cover - the torn plastic just keeps popping through new gravel. When the city first started flushing the hydrant, we installed a splash guard to keep the gravel from washing away. The city removed the splash guard because it interfered with their operation. Paving the area around the hydrant is not an option - this would further limit the city’s access and would undoubtedly end up being torn out at my expense the next time the city replaces the hydrant. Any attempt to replace the barrier will be in vain - it will be torn up again the next time the city workers flush out that hydrant. We also frequently spray the weeds in the street. However, the recent rains caused the weeds to grow excessively within the short time since our landscaping service trimmed our yard. If somehow our actions were to blame for the holes in the street, I wouldn’t mind removing the weeds. But the holes in the street are the city crew’s fault! Rest assured we take pride in our property and want it to look good. We also understand that is it the interest of Padre Isles to allow the city to flush water lines in order to assure the quality of our water. We will attempt to remedy this situation within the 15 days as requested. But as long as the city keeps flushing their hydrant, we will continue to have issues near that hydrant. Please have some understanding of our situation. We can have a perfect yard, or have clean water for all our neighborhood. I think a few weeds and slight amount of visible plastic are a small price to pay to assure that we all have good water quality here on the island. Sincerely, Cathy and Ron Barnard 15889 El Soccorro Loop
Mystery Person of the Week!
2. Barrier showing in gravel. The letter suggested that we add more rock to the area near the hydrant or replace the rock with another material such as asphalt, concrete, or grass, and that we remove the weeds in the street. While I admit there is a very slight amount of barrier showing in the gravel near the fire hydrant and that there are some weeds growing on the street, in no way could the weeds be considered an “accumulation of rubbish" or my rock yard considered an eyesore that needs immediate attention, such as the yard that was featured in the Fall 2016 newsletter. Doing so is certainly not in the spirit of the rules. In fact, the yard was just trimmed and weeded within the past two weeks. The palm trees and bushes
Last week's person of the week was Islander Cheri Sperling pictured above. Did you recognize her?
Send letters and photos to editor@islandmoon.com
April 20, 2017
History cont. from A1
A4
Island Moon
SandFest Cont. from A1
Seashore cont. from A1
the rivers from the nation’s heartland makes good material for sand sculptures. “It sticks together much better than sand on the east and west coasts,” said Abe Waterman who traveled from Prince Edward Island in Canada to create on the beach in Port Aransas. “Snow works well because you can create more overhang, but you have to work in the cold weather.”
Under construction. Photo by Mary Craft begun to reopen the pass and voters approved the city’s matching funds of $10 million to pay for jetties to keep the pass open permanently. Work began in 2003 and in 2005 was construction
After sand the next important ingredient is water. The wetter the sand the better it sticks together and the better it stays put. As the week wears on and the top notch sand sculptors get busy the need for wet beach sand gets greater and workers at the site use large water containers to soak the sand and get it ready for use. The serious work gets underway after noon on Thursday when large piles of sand are made ready for the delicate sculpting work to begin. That work is done with everyday tools which can be found at any hardware store, from cement trowels to rollers, to knives, to picks. As the work proceeds the tools get smaller and smaller, until the final tool, a plastic straw used to blow loose sand from the carved product. They start at the top of the sand pile and work their way down.
Packery. Some blocks have tumbled loose about two-thirds of the way out the jetties.
Then comes the secret sauce….water mixed with wood glue, or in some case Elmer’s Glue – which holds the sand in place. Once the glue is dry it must be a hard rain’s gonna fall before
Science Olympiad team members include: (back) Annika Harl, Emily Palacios, Marlena Osgood, Nikolai Ortiz, Colleen Osgood, Rachel Huang, Dylan Trial, Andres Barreda; (middle) Coach Katie Crysup, Kyra Kaiser, Vishal Patel; (front) Alex Smith, Shane Ciardelli, Davis Spivey, Ashton Haney, and Morgan Owen. Not pictured: Adeline Sowles 7th and 8th graders contending, and a larger selection because of their student body size, but SMA relies on 5th-8th graders gathered from their smaller student body size, which means fewer choices. Yet, every year since the opening of the school, SMA has advanced to State Competition. Ms. Katie Crysup, the team’s
Science Olympiad was “the engineering of it, the building of things.” Trial recently built a hovercraft for the state competition. 8th grader Nikoli Ortiz has participated in Science Olympiad since 6th grade. He says that “by doing Science Olympiad, I’ve learned a lot
any real damage is done to the work. Then some wire on the top to keep the gulls away and you’ve got yourself a sand sculpture.
Placing the blocks of the jetties was almost complete a hurricane washed away the final “sand plug” that was being used to transverse the channel by work crews and the channel opened and has remained so ever since. When the channel was designed and planned it was thought that annual dredging would be required to keep it open, however, since its original opening only three major dredging projects have been done, the last after Hurricane Ike left large sand deposits in the channel in 2008. Maintenance of the channel and improvements to the surrounding area are funded by the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2 which collects property tax on improvements after 2003 on land surrounding the channel.
That’s the process, but even after you know how it works you will still find yourself asking someone, “How do they do that?”
How to get there It has been said that you can’t build the church for Easter Sunday and the roads in Port Aransas are no exception, make no mistake the streets leading to the beach will be packed. Buses run from various locations – see the map in this issue – and are a good way to go. But they, like golf carts, still must negotiate the heavy traffic heading to the beach. Bottlenecks on Beach Access Roads can be locked up meaning drivers arriving at peak hours can face a wait of up to two hours to get to the beach. One alternative for those arriving from State Highway 361 is to exit at Beach Access Road 1A (adjacent to Mustang Beach Airport) and turn toward the beach to the
Voting cont. from A1 precinct where they are registered either for Early Voting nor on Election Day. Regardless of their home precinct voters can cast their ballot at any of the voting sites around the city. The Island United Political Action Committee last week voted to endorse current At-Large City Council member Joe McComb in the mayor’s race. Some convenient Early Voting sites are: SCHLITTERBAHN 14353 Commodores Dr., ETHEL EYERLY SENIOR CENTER 654 Graham Rd., Corpus Christi, Texas 78418 CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL (1st Floor Utility Section) 1201 Leopard Street
next main road which is Eleventh Street, go left, then right on Anchor Street which will take you to the dune side of Beach Lodge where a short walk will get you to the heart of the action. Parking on the beach during peak hours is restricted and the chances of finding a good spot in the middle of the day are small. Walking or biking is the quickest way to get there. If you take your bicycle along you will be glad you did when you get there. Or, of course, you can go to Skydive South Texas and see if Jason will parachute you right into the action, or, weather permitting, run your boat out through the pass and beach up at the event. Anyway you get there you will leave amazed at what artists can do with a pile of sand.
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CENTER 5151 McArdle Rd. NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE 901 Leopard Street
Turtle Nest Updates KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 5 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state): 0 Bolivar Peninsula 0 Galveston Island 0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside 0 Surfside Beach 0 Quintana Beach 0 Bryan Beach 0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach 0 Sargent Beach 0 Matagorda Peninsula 0 Matagorda Island 0 San Jose Island 1 Mustang Island 0 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore 1 Padre Island National Seashore 2 South Padre Island 1 Boca Chica Beach LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 0 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast. GREEN SEA TURTLE So far this year, 0 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast
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Eighth graders Nikolai Ortiz and Anthony Ciardelli work on an early prototype of their Roller Coaster in March in preparation for state. The event requires that they roll a "spherical vehicle" through a course, making adjustments to the course to achieve a given time coach, says that going to the state competition is “Never expected, but always an excitement.” Science Olympiad is composed of two competitions: State Competition and Regional Competition. The regional competition consists of 15 events, some of which require studying a given topic. Others are lab-based or engineering events. The team has to get 1st or 2nd place in Regional Competition in order to proceed to State Competition. At the state level, the team competes in 23 events. The SMA students participating in Science Olympiad spend months in preparation. “This year, with ACED [advisory] period, they’ve had more time during the school day than most years, which had been a benefit. However, most preparation for the events happens at home, at night, on weekends… and every waking minute they have!” Crysup said. Science Olympiad has many benefits for the students as well. “It helps then gain confidence in their scientific skills and abilities, and gives them a focus or interest for high school. And it’s just plain fun, because it’s what they’re interested in,” Crysup said. She proceeded to describe how the students pick their event(s) that they want to participate in. 7th grader Dylan Trial said that his favorite part of
of new material, I’ve made a lot of friends, and I’ve really had a good time doing it. I was really happy to be able to help my team do so well overall.” The SMA Science Olympiad team will relinquish many of its team members to high school as they progress to 9th grade next year, and it’s more than likely that these Science Olympiad members will continue to excel and gather more recognition for themselves and their campus.
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Appeal No. ZBA 0417-01 Upper Padre Partners, LP. has petitioned the Board of Adjustment to consider a variance to eliminate the zoning district buffer yard requirement between the “CR-2” Commercial Resort District and the “RS6” Single-Family 6 District on the property described below: Island Fairway Estates, Lot 27C, located along the west side of Compass Street, west of Park Road 22, south of Commodores Drive, and north of Whitecap Boulevard. The Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on this item during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 1201 Leopard Street, to discuss and act on the above petition. All interested parties are invited to attend this public hearing. For more information, please call (361) 826-3240. Disabled persons planning to attend this meeting, who may require special services, are requested to contact the Development Services Department at least 48 hours in advance. NOTE: In fairness to the appellant, this petition should not be discussed with individual members of the Board of Adjustment prior to the hearing. IN ORDER TO BE ON RECORD, THIS FORM MAY BE FILLED OUT, SIGNED BY CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER, AND MAILED IN ITS ENTIRETY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, P. O. BOX 9277, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 78469-9277. (ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW BECOMES PUBLIC RECORD.)
Case No. ZBA 0417-01
Project Manager: Andrew Dimas
Rezoning map of area. ISAC will hold a special meeting to discuss re-zoning on Monday, April 24th at 5:30 p.m. at the Veranda. Notifications of changes will be posted on our Facebook page: theislandmoonnewspaper.
April 20, 2017
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Island Moon
Stuff I Heard on the Island By Dale Rankin I was on the beach taking photos when the frantic call came in. “Head for the house I’m over here trying to get a dog out of the canal before she drowns.” My dog-in-distress-magnet wife was on the back deck when she saw one of the three dogs that lives on the deck of the mostly empty house across the canal swimming for her dog life. When I arrived more than a few minutes later the dog was still swimming around in circles barking and trying to bite anyone who tried to pull her out. It is not an uncommon scene on our Island as many Island dogowners don’t perceive of the threat of dogs falling into a canal and drowning until it happens.
Tides of the Week Tides for Bob Hall Pier April 20 - April 27
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Th
20
Low
3:41 AM
20
High
12:36 PM
F
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
0.3
6:59 AM
Rise 3:00 AM
1.7
7:57 PM
Set
21
Low
4:58 AM
0.4
6:58 AM
Rise 3:43 AM
21
High 1:04 PM
1.6
7:57 PM
Set
21
Low
8:08 PM
1.1
21
High
11:11 PM
22
Low
6:14 AM
0.5
6:57 AM
Rise 4:25 AM
22
High 1:27 PM
1.5
7:58 PM
Set 4:13 PM
22
Low
8:00 PM
1.0
Su
23
High
12:45 AM
1.3
6:56 AM
Rise 5:05 AM
23
Low
7:26 AM
0.6
7:58 PM
Set
23
High 1:47 PM
1.4
23
Low
0.8
M
24
High 2:03 AM
1.5
6:55 AM
Rise 5:47 AM
24
Low
8:37 AM
0.8
7:59 PM
Set 6:16 PM
24
High
2:05 PM
1.3
8:06 PM
1.2 26
17
5:14 PM
24
Low
8:25 PM
0.5
Tu
25
High
3:13 AM
1.7
6:54 AM
Rise 6:29 AM
25
Low
9:48 AM
0.9
7:59 PM
Set
25
High
2:20 PM
1.3
9
4
7:21 PM
25
Low
8:54 PM
0.3
W
26
High
4:21 AM
1.8
6:53 AM
Rise 7:14 AM
26
Low
11:06 AM
1.1
8:00 PM
Set
26
High
2:30 PM
1.3
36
3:14 PM
Sa
46
2:16 PM
Moon Visible
0
8:27 PM
26
Low
9:31 PM
0.0
Th
27
High
5:28 AM
2.0
6:52 AM
Rise 8:02 AM
27
Low
10:14 PM
-0.1
8:00 PM
Set 9:34 PM
0
No amount of coaxing, rope throwing, or anything else will usually get a dog to paddle to a human on the bank unless that human is their own human, and even then it’s not a slam dunk. There are only two things certain about getting a dog out of canal; first, they won’t swim to a stranger until they get to the point that they are about to go under for the last time. When they figure out they are in mortal danger they will swim your way looking for help. Which leads to the second thing – when the dog is desperate and you jump in after them they will try to climb on your head. Even my own dog Riley P. did this to me once when I went in after him. Dogs are wired for survival and if that means climbing on a human’s head then that’s what they will do. We called Animal Control who arrived with empty pockets and ready to go in if need be but by that time Jan had managed to grab the dog and haul her up on the bank and was waiting for them in the street as a neighbor shouted threats and orders from the boundary line of his own yard. Thanks a lot for that bud, screaming at us really helped a lot.
Dog Park Speaking of the wife…and dogs…see how that goes…she is heading up the effort to place a dog park on The Island but a plan to put it in the new and improved Billish Park, however, barring some change doesn’t look like that will happen. The plans for Billish Park are in the hands of the POA and moving forward without a dog park included. That doesn’t mean we won’t get a dog park, just that it doesn’t appear it will be in Billish Park. The other proposed site next to the water tower on the south end of The Island has some issues but may still be possible. Stay tuned on this one.
Big doings in small town My hometown of Portland got big news this week when petroleum giant ExxonMobil Corp. announced it will build the world's largest ethylene cracker plant there, I’ve never eaten an ethylene cracker but I guess with enough honey anything tastes good. Company officials said the pipeline and railway infrastructure already in place made it the best location out of three scouted for the $10 billion with a B plant. Exxon plans to file for its permits with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality this month and the permitting process is expected to last at least a year. Construction will run about three years.
Schlitterbahn land foreclosure Thursday afternoon two weeks ago found me pouring over legal notices posted on the wall at the Nueces County Courthouse. I found what I was looking for. AXYS Capital Credit Fund, Inc. had filed a foreclose notice against Upper Padre Partners, LP, on about 250 acres of land surrounding, but not including, the Schlitterbahn waterpark. The obvious question was what, if anything, does this mean for the park’s future. The answer I found was not much, if anything. The land was used as collateral for part of the second round of financing for the park and AXYS, quite understandably, wants their money. None of the land is actually under the park. However, it could become a problem if the land is auctioned off as scheduled in early May on the courthouse steps as it would then, presumably, belong to someone other than the park’s owners/ developers. The park and the land are both part of private business between the owners and therefore the contracts, etc. are not open for public reading. The best I can piece together the park has not been generating enough operating funds to pay the debt service on the loan. I will be very surprised if the auction ever takes place, I believe the foreclosure is a move to push by the lender for a resolution of the dispute between the park/ land’s owners over problems at the park. That dispute is now in a binding arbitration process that is far from being resolved. The park, as it was explained to me, has never been turned over to Upper Padre Partners on its completion as called for in the agreement between its developers due to a disagreement over what constitutes “completion.” In spite of the best efforts of a local television station this week to tie the foreclosure to the future of the waterpark they could produce no evidence in that direction but still managed to kick up some dust with hyperbole and flashy graphics. The only danger I can see is that the portion of the new canal yet to be dug is on the land south of the park that is part of the foreclosure and if the canal is not dug, or a firm agreement in place to dig it, it could impact funding for the Park Road 22 Water Exchange Bridge. The Corpus Christi City Council a week ago listed an Executive Session item on the tax abatement agreement for the park and surrounding development, but, since it was in Executive Session there is no record of what was discussed. The dispute over who is responsible for problems at the park, and more importantly who is going to pay for them, has been ongoing for over a year. There are two things I can say, one, the foreclosure filing should have no impact on the park’s short-term operation and it will be open for the summer season. Second. there is a lot of noise in the system with the bridge funding hanging fire at city hall and now creditors knocking on the door there is a lot of pressure to get the problems between the ownership group ironed out and I believe a final solution is not far away. Stay tuned on this one too
By my count that places the value of improvements in and around the port between Portland and Aransas Pass upwards of $40 billion. That is more than the current value of all appraised property in Nueces County. At the groundbreaking of the Chinese-owned plant in Gregory officials said by 2022 GPISD will have a larger budget than CCISD.
Police Blotter Island Police Calls 14500 block SPID Midnight April 9 Criminal mischief $750-$2500 13900 block Longbow Midnight April 7 Assault 15200 block Windward 6 p.m. April 6 Assault 15300 block SPID 5 p.m. April 16 Theft $100-$750 15000 block Leeward 9 p.m. April 15 Criminal mischief $100-$750 100 block Zahn Road 6 p.m. April 15 Assault 14500 block SPID Noon April 12 Theft under $100 14700 block Whitecap Midnight April 11 Burglary of a motor vehicle 15200 block SPID 10 a.m. April 10 Theft by check 16200 block Gulf Beach 8 a.m. April 10 Assault
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First American Woman to Become Combat Qualified in the F16 By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon She received her pilot wings in 1981, later Dotson’s Note: Twenty-four years becoming the first female T-38 instructor there. ago, U.S. Defense Secretary Les Aspin ordered Between 1983 and 1985, she was named "Most the chiefs of the military to drop the prohibition Outstanding T-38 Academic Instructor" five on women flying in combat missions. As times. Jackie transitioned to C-141 transport with desegregating the military or allowing aircraft and was assigned to the 76th Military homosexuals to openly serve, the situation Airlift Squadron as an instructor pilot and called for an order from the top. The Air Force squadron executive officer. chief of staff agreed to allow women to fly in In 1989 she graduated from the Air Force combat if Congress passed it into law, but he Flight Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force made his discomfort known. "Personally, I am Base as the first female test pilot in the history not eager to increase exposure of our women to of the United States Air Force. She is twice the additional risk," Gen. Merrill McPeak, the Air recipient of the prestigious "Kitty Hawk" Award Force chief of staff, was quoted as saying. Lt. for achievements in the field of aviation. Major Col. Jacquelyn Susan "Jackie" Parker became Parker is currently in training as an F-16 fighter the first American woman to become combat pilot at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, qualified in the Air Force Fighter Aircraft F16. Kansas Eric Hehs, David Brown and the Baltimore Sun, contributed to this report. Jackie Parker - Fighter Pilot
The Story of Captain Jacquelyn Susan “Jackie” Parker
Soon after Defense Secretary Les Aspin announced in 1993 that women could be placed in US military combat roles, the New York Air National Guard offered Maj. Jackie Parker an F-16 assignment. Throughout her Air Force career, she had been the first female in a number of traditionally male assignments. She was Reese AFB's first T-38 instructor pilot and the first female graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School. Parker will tell you that being first has not always been pleasant. The opportunity to fly the world's best fighter, however, was too good to pass up. Parker is the first woman in the United States to be assigned to an F-16 fighter squadron.
Jackie Parker It was a proud moment in July 1988 when Capt. Jacquelyn S. "Jackie" Parker became the first woman Air Force pilot to attend U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. Those who knew her, however, were not surprised - Jackie had learned to fly an airplane even before she drove a car. Jackie Parker not only became first in many fields, but she started out as the youngest. At age 14 Jackie was the youngest student to attend the University of Central Florida; and at 17, the youngest to graduate. She saved up enough money to get her private pilot's license but was too young to join the Air Force. However, with tenacity, persistence, and a bachelor's degree in computer science, Jackie was selected as an intern at NASA and by 18 she became the agency's youngest full-fledged mission controller. Wanting to be a pilot since she was a small child, Jackie had accumulated more than 3,000 flying hours in more than 25 types of aircraft, from the F-16, F-111, F-4, C-141 and KC-135 to the T-38 and UH-60 Blackhawk.
Award to Col. Jackie Parker Gulf War Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf presented Jackie with a distinguished award, "Gathering of the Greats" at the American Academy of Achievement where she spoke to young people and invited guests at Nellis AFB, Nevada. In a letter from Secretary of Defense Les Aspin in 1993, he wrote Jackie to say, "Your accomplishments as an aviator have been no less than exemplary. Now as the first Air National Guard woman in F-16 training you are setting goals and standards for other women to emulate. I commend you for the years of hard work you have dedicated to this effort..." In June 1994, she was presented with the "Ground Breaker Award" by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, on behalf of Women In Military Service For America (WIMSA) for her achievements in military aviation. Major Parker was one of the first female fighter pilots assigned to an F-16 Viper squadron.
First Female Air Force Test Pilot Jackie (also Jacquelin, Jacqueline, Jacquelyn) Parker attended the University of Central Florida, majoring in mathematics and computer science. She graduated from college at age 17, the youngest graduate in the school's history. Jackie became an intern at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and was responsible for analysis of onboard computer systems. She was the youngest flight controller in NASA's history. After completing Officer Training School in 1980, she entered pilot training at Reese Air Force Base.
Before setting out on a career of female firsts, Parker spent her earlier years being the youngest. This designation goes back to her birth as the youngest of five sisters. At age fourteen, she was the youngest student to attend the University of Central Florida and then, at seventeen, the youngest graduate. She took her bachelor's degree in computer science to NASA where she became the agency's youngest space flight controller. She was the Air Force's youngest instructor pilot for the T-38 and for the C-141. Parker has accumulated over 3,000 flying hours in over twenty-five types of aircraft, including the F-16, F-111, F-4, A-7, C-130, C-141, KC-135, T-38, OH-58, and UH-60. After KC-135 Aircraft Commander School at Castle AFB, California, she was assigned to the 4952nd Test Squadron of the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where she was program manager and test pilot for the T-38 head-up display program. She was also program manager and test pilot for the testing of the C-27. She was elected as outstanding T-38 academic instructor at Reese five times. She received the Air Force Commendation Medal in 1985 and 1988 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1993. Parker doesn't relish media attention. The fact that one photo of her gets extended play in the media, however, often creates the opposite impression. In reality, she accepts very few interview requests and usually only after she has established credibility at an assignment. Dotson’s Other Note: In military terms, according to many, “Pilot Jacquelyn Parker was a water-walking blue-flamer, with a resume that would quicken the heart of any service flack.” She was born on the Fourth of July, had a genius IQ, and was flying solo before getting her driver's license. In 1989, she became the first woman to graduate from the legendary test-pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base. In 1994, she joined one of the nation's premier fighter wings; the New York Air National Guard's 174th, expecting to become the Air National Guard's first female F-16 pilot. She was a veritable Pentagon poster child for women in combat, appearing on CNN and Oprah and receiving awards from generals, Air Force secretaries, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. In doing research for this story, I discovered a story behind the story which is unbelievable. It is a report about Jackie Parker which is 180 degrees from the story which you just read. Your thoughts regarding this or any articles appearing in The Island Moon are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading and commenting on Senior Moments. I can be reached at: dlewis1@stx.rr.com and/or Land Line: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475. Please Note: The next Veterans Round Table Meeting will be Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 9-11 AM, 3209 S. Staples. All Veterans, their families and anyone interested in Veterans affairs, are invited. Coffee & doughnuts are provided. Hope to see you there. Also our Veterans Radio Round Table is on the air on KEYS AM 1440, 8 – 9 AM, Saturdays. The next will air April 22, 2017. Please listen and call in. The listener/text line is: 361-560-5397…It’s your show. Hang in there/Have fun!
Anecdotingly
Garage Sailin'
By Abigail Bair
Several weeks ago, Jan Rankin and I decided to have a garage sale. Jan really wanted to be able to get more than half of a car in her two-car garage, and I needed to downsize my collection of enormous black t-shirts. Like most ideas Jan and I have together, this one was 1) not very well thought out and 2) forgotten directly after we placed an ad in the Moon classifieds. Mary “Scoop” Craft reminded us last Wednesday when she started talking about putting a garage sale in her briefs (business, not underpants). Cue immediate panic. “OMG is that Friday already?!?” I shrieked. “$#*T” said Jan. Since Jan and I have commitment issues (in that we should be committed for thinking that a garage sale was a good idea), we had decided to have the sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Good Friday. That was about all I could take solo. Jan insisted that she was going to hide in her house with a pick ax and a bottle of wine until all the interlopers were gone. Thursday I hauled clothing out and optimistically priced it – carefully making tags on string and safety pinning them to the washing instructions. It took hours. About 3 that afternoon, I hauled my junk out to Jan’s with Stadler precariously perched atop the pile in the back seat like Granny Clampett. Pro-tip: doggie paw prints and fluff do not add to resale value even if the dog in question is “Island infamous.” I met Jan at the Boathouse, and after a little lubricating chardonnay, we headed off to her garage to price Jan’s items and carve paths through our combined mountainous junk. The process took a couple more hours, largely due to dog interference. Finally, despite Stadler and Lizzy’s best efforts to send one or both of us to the emergency room, Jan and I forged a narrow path, making plans to haul the larger items out into the driveway in the morning.
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“They’re the undead, Jan. I swear. It’s some kind of garage sale induced apocalypse. We should probably run.” “Ab, shut up,” said “No Coffee” Rankin and opened the doors. As the garage sale undead stormed through the slowly opening portals, not even waiting for the doors to rise all the way, Jan’s eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped in amazement. “Holy….” Jan might have finished the cuss if a guy hadn’t stopped her by trying to maneuver a 48 bottle wine rack and a large table lamp in a path that can only be described as “through her spinal column.” Trapped in no man’s land, protected only by a stray end table from a pitched battle over a sheet set, I was no help. The zombies made short work of Jan. Demands that she accept $4 for items priced at $50 drove her into the house quickly. I eventually managed to escape my end table prison by scaling the Matterhorn of Jan’s garage furniture. The first horde dwindled after about an hour. Stadler sat outside with me, making new friends by sticking her nose directly into every stranger’s crotch. “Oh….isn’t she friendly” they would exclaim, while my dog minutely examined their no-no zones. Jan hid inside, stress cleaning her house, and occasionally popping her head out, prairie dog style. Dale loaded up Lizzy and left in his truck, figuring it would be easier to sleep on the beach. Dale is pretty smart. After hours of steady sales, traffic slowed to the point that Dr. Stadler fell asleep in the sun. I started selling all my junk for a dollar. It’s amazing how much you detach from your possessions when faced with hauling them back to your house. At the end of the day, Jan emerged and helped me close up shop. “How did it go?” she asked.
The scene on the Rankin driveway on Friday morning resembled a zombie attack from George A. Romero's horror classic "Night of the Living Dead," but with significantly less emphasis on formal attire. “You’ll be here at 8:15, right?” Jan asked nervously.
“You did great,” I replied, handing her a bank envelope bursting with cash.
“Yup. No Problem. We get up at 6:01,” I replied.
“Well,” she said, “looks like I’m going to be paying for everything with one dollar bills for the next month. Dale’s going to think I’ve taken up stripping. How did you do?”
When I showed up at 8:45 the next morning, trucks, vans and cars lined Jan’s street. I (incorrectly) supposed that people were off work for Good Friday. A harried Jan answered her front door, and flagged us in, racing back to the garage.
“Okay,” I replied. I made $14, but I didn’t get eaten by zombies. I’m calling it a win.
“They’ve been here since 7:45 this morning! KNOCKING ON THE DOOR. They want in! I haven’t even had coffee. I’m skipping straight to wine.” We were almost ready to open the big doors at 8:57. As I ran out to Boris (my car) to retrieve my forgotten notepad, I realized that the people crowding Jan’s driveway looked exactly like zombies from Night of the Living Dead. “Jan, where’s your camera? We’ve got to get a picture of the garage sale zombies. It’s crazy out there. I think they might eat us!” “Just let them in. They’re going to start knocking again!” Jan hollered, holding a Sharpie in front of her like a sword.
BBB offers tips to avoid buying “greenwashed” products By Kelly Trevino Regional Director, Corpus Christi Better Business Bureau Considering “going green” and buying environmentally safe products? In recognition of Earth Day this Saturday, April 22, Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas encourages consumers to watch out for green marketing claims that sound great but may be misleading. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many marketers use “greenwashing”— the act of misleading consumers regarding environmental benefits of a product— to convince consumers their products are environmentally friendly. The FTC advises consumers look for specific information on packages and products that explain why the product is green. So, how do you differentiate real “green” products from those claiming to be ecofriendly? BBB and the FTC advises consumers seeking green products to watch out for the following red flags:
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April 20, 2017
Island Moon
Senior Moments
Products advertised as “Free Of.” Companies that use claims such as, “free of,” “non-toxic” or “ozone-friendly” may be a concern. Products that are “free of” a chemical or ingredient should be able to prove that the product doesn’t have any more than a harmless trace amount of it—and that the product is free of any other ingredient that poses the same kind of risk. If a product states that it is “non-toxic,” the product should have proof that it’s safe for both humans and the environment, or should specifically state which one the claim applies to. Products that claim to use less waste. A company stating their product produces less
waste should have an example, statistic or comparison to back up their claim. The label should use language like “package is made from 85 percent post-consumer recycled material.” Biodegradable or compostable material. Lots of products claim to be “degradable” or “biodegradable,” which means they break down into elements found in nature when exposed to light, air and moisture. Others claim to be compostable, which means they should break down in a home compost pile. If a product says it’s degradable or compostable, the company should have proof that it will break down completely. Made with renewable materials, renewable energy or carbon offsets. Manufacturers should be able to tell you what percentage of the product or packaging was made using renewable materials or renewable energy. Official-looking seals and certifications. Some products may contain official-looking seals and certifications with words like “Earth Smart.” But what does that mean? Look for information on packaging that indicates connections the company has to the organization behind the seal. Consider doing some research of the seal and organization online. Kelly Trevino is the regional director for the Corpus Christi/Victoria area of Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas. Kelly is available for media interviews and speaking engagements. You can reach her by phone: (361) 945-7352 or email: ktrevino@ corpuschristi.bbb.org.
April 20, 2017
Saturday, April 22nd
31st Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup
Volunteers are needed for the nation's biggest all-volunteer coastal cleanup Saturday, April 22nd. The 2017 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Coast-wide Spring Cleanup takes place at 29 of Texas' most popular tourist beaches. Volunteers can sign up at one of the locations online at www.texasadoptabeach. org to take part in a fun-filled day at the beach that makes a difference. Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water. The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine! Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., clean up will be from 9 a.m. to noon. Everyone who signs up online and checks in at their cleanup location will be entered to win a RTIC 20 Soft Pack cooler or one of five Sony Portable Wireless Speakers (Bluetooth + Waterproof). The random drawing will take place after the cleanup. Winners will be contacted directly. Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www. TexasAdoptABeach.org. There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort.
The cleanup sites are: Padre Island National Seashore Check-in: Malaquite Visitor Center, 20420 Park Rd 22 Contact: William “Buzz” Botts 361-949-8068 361-949-8069 buzz.botts@texasadoptabeach.org Mustang Island State Park Check-in: Park Headquarters Parking Lot, 17047 State Hwy 361 Contact: Eric Ehrlich 361-749-5246 eric.ehrlich@texasadoptabeach.org North Padre Island/Padre Balli Park
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Island Moon
Check-in: Padre Balli Park Office, 15820 Park Road 22 Contact: John Vaughn 361-779-0477 john.vaughn@texasadoptabeach.org Jim Needham—Surfrider Foundation james.needham@texasadoptabeach.org Baffin Bay Check-in: Kaufer-Hubert Park, FM 628 Contact: Susan Ivy 361-595-8591 susan.ivy@texasadoptabeach.org
North Beach Corpus Christi Check-in: Texas State Aquarium, 2710 North Shoreline Blvd. Contact: Rosanna Gossett 361-881-1204 rosanna.gossett@texasadoptabeach.org
Island Moon on a Spoon
A La Parmigiana By Chef Vita Jarrin Happy Mid April readers! Grab a glass of wine and let’s travel! This week I wanted to find a delicious, yet easy recipe for you to make so that you’re not stuck in the kitchen for hours. Using simple ingredients and a few savvy techniques, will allow you to transport yourself to a trattoria in Sicily. Sicilians are well known for their tomato sauce.
Packery Flats Check-in: Parking lot off Hwy 361, on Mustang Island near the Packery Channel Contact: Coastal Bays Foundation 361-882-3439 cbbf@baysfoundation.org Aransas Pass/Redfish Bay Check-in: Lighthouse Lakes Park, 4 miles east of Aransas Pass on Hwy 361 Contact: Richard Gonzales 361-779-7351 richard.gonzales@texasadoptabeach.org Cole Park/Corpus Christi Check-in: 1526 Ocean Drive Contact: Celina Ybarbo-Pulcher 361-826-1655 chelsea.craig@texasadoptabeach.org Magnolia Beach/Port Lavaca Check-in: Crabbin' Bridge Contact: Rhonda Cummins 361-552-9747 rhonda.cummins@texasadoptabeach.org
Due to warm coastal weather and volcanic soil, they grow droves of tomato plants that produce this sweet versatile fruit for daily consumption. They’re used in salads, topping day old bread with bruschetta and by cooking them and making their beloved sauce. Yes I said sauce… not Gravy ;) Most of us associate authentic tomato sauce to be tossed with pasta or layering lasagna. However, we’ve also made use of this fresh sauce and topped off fried chicken, breaded sandwich steaks, and even eggplants, zucchini and so much more. The meat or veggies, are coated with a three step breading; flour, eggs, and bread crumbs, tossed with parmesan cheese. Then fried lightly in hot oil and topped with the tomato sauce, more parmesan cheese and another melting cheese such as mozzarella, or fresh mozzarella. It is then baked and voila! You’ve just created a meal “A La Parmigiana”! My quick version for this recipe is made with two pints of fresh cherry tomatoes. By cooking the cherry tomatoes, over high heat and allowing the olive oil and garlic to seep into the tomato juices, creates a fresh sauce. Add basil and Voila! You just made an authentic tomato sauce right in your own kitchen… avoiding the ever so “NO NO” Jar of sauce in your cupboard.
Recipe: 2 pints of cherry tomatoes (ripe) 3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic minced 1 medium onion small dice ¼ C White wine (optional) 2 tsp sugar
Is the type of elected leader our Island needs.
Fresh basil Salt & Pepper to taste Chili flakes (optional) Heat a 4 inch deep sauté pan or use a sauce pan, add oil. Add garlic, onion and cook until onions are translucent. Splash in the wine and cook off the alcohol for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and fresh basil and cover. Let the tomatoes, cook over medium heat until they burst open. Add salt, pepper and sugar. If you like a spice add the chili flakes as well. Cook sauce for about 30 minutes and low heat, allowing the sauce to form. Adjust seasoning and set aside.
Ingredients for Three Step Breading 1 C flour
Worked tirelessly to get Packery Channel open and built. Was instrumental in getting Nueces County to help fund raising the JFK Causeway. Spearheaded securing 3,680 acres of land for public use at no cost to taxpayers by working with the Ed Rachal Foundation to get a grant for the property. Pushed construction of new beach access roads including Newport Pass Road.
2 C Bread Crumbs 1 C Parmesan Cheese 3-4 eggs beaten Oil for frying (varies depending on how much you’re making) Salt & Pepper to taste *** For Baking*** 4 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese Extra parmesan for topping pieces before baking Heat Oven to 375. For the main dish, whether you’re cooking chicken, sandwich steaks or veggies, you follow the same process. Dip ingredient in flour, then egg and then bread
I Made It!
Took on state agencies to keep our beaches open to the public.
Paid For By The Joe McComb Campaign Committee, P. O. Box 1689, Corpus Christi, TX 78403
crumb. Lay the chicken or veg on a sheet pan and once done breading… heat oil in a 3 to 4 deep frying pan or deep fryer. Fry each piece on both sides until golden. Set in another sheet pan covered in paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Quickly sprinkle with salt. I like to add salt after frying so the breading stays on. Salt brings out moisture therefore, it would make breading moist and peel off. Layer a baking dish or pan with a ladle or two of sauce, add the fried meat or veg and when dish or pan is full, top everything with sauce, add parmesan cheese and then shredded or fresh mozzarella. Bake until cooked and cheese is bubbly. ***Caution*** If cooking chicken make sure the thermometer reads no less than 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Veggies such as eggplant can be fork tender and golden brown.
Tip of the week! You can use other tomatoes for this sauce as well. As our gardens blossom this summer, feel free to try other varieties. The importance is that they are ripe for sweetness and they will have more liquid to form a sauce. Another tip : you don’t have to eat this with a side of pasta, you can eat anything A La Parmigiana as a sandwich or with a salad. Lastly… I do realize frying isn’t always the best option for healthy eating, therefore, you can bake you ingredient after the breading process on a baking sheet, coated with oil and then drizzle some on top. If you don’t it will be dry. Do not cover, or the breading will be soggy ;) The important thing is to Have Fun! Try New Things! Happy Eats… Enjoy!
Did Ya Hear?
By Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers The Shoe Drive is raising funds to support our police officers to purchase items needed that are not provided by the Department. Last year they helped purchase Harry, a K-9 who has shown remarkable skill and assisted in arrests. Your gently worn shoes will be sent to Haiti and Ghana where micro-entrepreneurs clean and sell them to support their families and community. Their drop off box is at the POA office.
Business Briefs The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department is offering a four- week AMRAP (as many repetitions as possible) Fitness Class on the beach in front of the seawall on Saturdays from 9–9:50 am June 3–23. This training style allows participants to exercise at their own pace and is beneficial to all fitness levels. REGISTER ONLINE at www.ccparkandrec.com from April 21– June 2, 2017 for $30/person. The Riley P. Dog Park aka Padre Island Dog Park is recruiting new board members to help re-organize and move forward with the project. Email editor@islandmoon.com or call 949-7700. Early Voting for the mayor will run April 24 – May 2. Schlitterbahn is the Island location. Summer Youth Basketball League registration begins April 23rd for girls and boys ages 6 – 17. The eight game season starts June 5th. Register online at www. ccparkandrec.com . Cost is $65/person. Mission Pawsible is having a Rummage Sale Fundraiser at Sunrise Mall April 21 – 22. PAAC (People Assisting Animal Control) will be there on Saturday doing nail trims and microchips. Swim 2 Survive Aquatics Academy will be offering lessons for children 6 months – 6 years of age at the Port Aransas Community Pool 700 Clark Parkway. Lessons will be offered Tuesday-Friday, 9am - 1pm, April 18 through summer 2017 The 31st Annual Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup is set up for Earth Day Saturday, April 22nd. Registration is at 8:30 am and cleanup will run 9 am – noon. The three sites are the Padre Balli Park office, Mustang State Park and PINS Malaquite Visitor Center. 18 interior lots sold the last two weeks of March at an average price of $50,972. There are currently 53 lots for sale. That is the most sold in that time frame I can remember and the least number for sale I can remember.
Vita, I made your potatoes Dauphinoise recipe featured in last week’s Island Moon for my Easter dinner. I followed your recipe exactly and it turned out wonderful. I was initially concerned because when I first took it out of the oven it was kind of soupy but when I put it back in the oven uncovered for 20 minutes it firmed up nicely an was a big hit. I even served the leftovers with my Easter brunch of Eggs Benedict and asparagus. Thanks and keep them coming. J.P.
Pink Beach Boutique near Subway has closed. It has been closed for a while I just kept forgetting to write about it. If anyone knows of a contemporary house for rent with a pool that is available July 1st please email me at mkay512@aol.com.
Island History Tidbit:In 1989, world
renowned sculptor and Islander Kent Ullberg donated the marlin statue you see as you come onto the Island. Architect Ro Wickham, who founded Island Architects in 1984, designed the wave and sun that make up the backdrop. Former POA Executive Coordinator Nick Nikolaric spearheaded the effort and Islanders raised funds to offset the cost.
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April 20, 2017
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk Special to The Island Moon
Before They Became Stars
Have You Ever Played Corkball?
By Dotson Lewis
Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: I had never heard of “corkball” until 1958 when a friend of mine told me about the game. He was Master Sergeant Joseph Failla, a native of St. Louis Missouri, who had grown up on “The Hill” in St. Louis. A couple of Joe’s boyhood friends with whom he played corkball were Lawrence (Yogi) Berra & Joe Garagiola. He told many very interesting stories about playing the game in the alleys of St. Louis. His story included the fact that every bar in St. Louis hosted games in the alley behind their establishments.
bases loaded. If batter # 3 would have gotten a base hit, all runners would have advanced one base and there would have been a first and third situation with a run scored. St. Louis corkball is a fast-pitch game. The distance from home plate to the pitching rubber is 55 ft. (it’s 60’6” in baseball). Pitchers throw overhand, from a mound, and feature fastballs, curveballs, knuckleballs, changeups, and, in some leagues, are even allowed to add substance to the ball.
Corkball Is a Mini Baseball Game Corkball features a 1.6-ounce ball, which is stitched and resembles a miniature baseball. The bat has a barrel that measures 1.5 inches in diameter. Originally played on the streets and alleys of St. Louis, Missouri as early as 1890, today the game has leagues formed around the country as a result of St. Louis servicemen introducing the game to their buddies during World War II and the Korean War. It has many of the features of baseball, yet can be played in a very small area because there is no baserunning.
About The St. Louis Game There is no pastime more native to St. Louis than the game of corkball. While experts disagree on the date and precise location of the first game; one thing is certain; it was played right there on the banks of the Mississippi River sometime around the turn of the century. Fortyfive years ago, journalistic accounts estimate the game’s disciples in the thousands. As noted by the Late Don “Mr. Corkball” Young, there are several hundred players in a number of leagues around St. Louis, and corkball flourishes as far away as California, New Jersey, and Florida.
World War II did much to disseminate the game. Howard Rackley, of the 66-year-old South St. Louis Corkball League (formerly Grupp Corkball League) located at Jefferson Barracks Park, introduced the game to nonSt. Louisans on the deck of the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill during the war. But basically, the games remain a local pastime passed down from father to son. In fact, the South St. Louis Corkball club currently has two grandsons and one great grandson of the founders playing. You are required only two players per team. This is what makes the game so great; you can play with just two players, or, as many as you wish. The same goes for the field. You can play on an open field, or, in an alley or, as in the old days, a cage. There is only one distributor of corkballs and corkball bats in the country and that is Markwort Sporting Goods located in St. Louis, Missouri. There are three outs per inning, as in baseball, but unlike baseball, just one swinging strike is an out, if the catcher does not drop the ball. Two called strikes constitute an out, again, if the catcher “holds” the ball. Five called balls is considered a walk. Foul balls and any fly ball caught are outs. Any ground ball is a hit, provided it travels 15 feet and remains in fair territory. There are no base-runners (an aspect of the game which makes it well suited for the hot St. Louis summers) hence, all hits are singles unless otherwise designated in the league rules as at Jefferson Barracks Park (home of the South St. Louis Corkball League) where chalk lines designate distances from home plate that represent double, triple, and home run zones. A batter hit by a pitch is given a base. Base runners are kept track of on paper and advance as many bases as the hit. For example, batter # 1 gets a base hit and is on first. Batter # 2 hits a double. The man on first advances two bases and you now have a man on second (batter # 2) and third (batter # 1). Batter # 3 walks. Since there was an open base, batter # 3 did not “force” the runners, and you now have
So you like Hooks baseball; who doesn’t? Maybe you retired here or like some of us, moved here for your job. Maybe you just like the sound of the ball coming off the bat, the ocean in the background and the smell of the salty air. Either way, did you know that Minor League baseball has been a part of Corpus Christi since the early 1900’s? The Corpus Christi Pelicans, a Class-D team of the Southwest Texas League, existed in 1910 and 1911, but did not have affiliation with any Major League club. Their manager was Harry Hunt. Two of the Pelican stars were Joe Pate from Alice, Texas, an outfielder for the Philadelphia A’s, and Denney Wilie, also an outfielder, for the Cardinals and Indians.
1926-1938
Yogi Berra Because of the miniscule size of the bat and ball, hits are relatively rare, and runs even more so. The late Don “Mr. Corkball” Young claims to have set the record for the lowest score ever recorded in a corkball game. “I hit a ball one time that split down the middle. One half of it went for a home run, but the other half was caught by Butch Stege for the out. After some debate it was decided to give my team a half run, and we wound up winning the game onehalf to nothing.” There has never been a St. Louisan found willing to contradict this story; but then again no St. Louisan has ever denied that “Hammering” Hank Stoverink once hit a ball over the road at Jefferson Barracks, down a long LONG hill into the Mississippi river where it floated down to the gulf of Mexico and out into the Caribbean and eventually lost in the Bermuda Triangle…….. Talk about the long ball! Corkball fanatics are absolutely addicted to tales like these, and there was no one better, or, who had the stories to tell than Don Young. No one has put more energy into tracing the origin of corkball than Don. Don told us the game originated from a game brewery workers and tavern goers used to play. At that time, beer was packaged in wooden barrels plugged with a cork called a “Bung”. Players would use the bung for a ball, and a mop handle for a bat. Others maintain the game evolved from another St. Louis game called bottle caps in which a batter tries to make contact with a pitched bottle cap. As time goes on it only becomes more of a mystery. The mystery of corkball is exciting. You can have twenty guys in a discussion about corkball, and you might come up with 15 stories on its origin. As stated before, no one has put as much time and effort trying to trace the game of corkball than Don Young. He had rulebooks and articles right at his fingertips. He had a photo album dating back to the early 1930’s. Don had stacks of articles on corkball, and even a catalog from Rawlings Sporting Goods store from 1903. He once used this to prove to a reporter that there was electrical tape in those days used to tape up a cork.
Joe Garagiola
By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon
The Corpus Christi Seahawks, a Class-D team, played in the Texas Valley League from 19261928. They were not affiliated with any Major League club at the time and were managed by “Chick” Brandon in 1926, whose team finished fourth and Jim Payton in 1927 and 1928. Payton’s 1927 club finished as league champs. South Texas was the destination for many clubs in the early days, as the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers regularly played spring training games in San Antonio and Austin. Both Dick Esrey and Lee Stebbins became stars of the hometown Seahawks, but neither was good enough to make it to the “Show.”
Playing the Game Playing fields are traditionally 30 feet in width and 250 feet in length. Different measurements are paced off to determine hits. A batter must hit the ball at least 15 feet in order to register a hit. Any hit between 15 feet and 150 feet is a single, up to 200 feet is a double, up to 250 feet is a triple and beyond 250 feet is a home run. Measurements can be modified based on available conditions. Base running is nonexistent due to the measured hits. Teams have a minimum of two players (pitcher and catcher) and a maximum of five players on the field at a time. Fielders may wear baseball gloves but they are not required. The catcher must wear a catcher's mask while behind the plate. Pitching rubber and home plate are the same as used in baseball. "Runners" advance as many bases as the batter gets on the hit. If a runner is on first and the batter hits a double, then the resulting runners will be on second and third. If a runner is on first and the batter hits a single, then it will be first and second
A History of Corpus Christi Baseball
Additionally, there were a couple more whimsical explanations of corkball origin stated by Don. It is claimed that the early Spanish explorers played a similar game with small wooden balls and long poles, before Pierre Laclede Liguest founded the city of St. Louis in 1763. Don Young has always maintained that might be so, but what about the Indians along the northern border of the U.S. that used tree branches and gum-balls made from the bark of the trees? Maybe - - just maybe - - that was the start????? Needless to say, corkball aficionados just eat up this sort of stuff. When a reporter once mentioned to Don about the 6,000 year old fertility rites involving hitting stones with sticks, Don responded: “Yeah? Hey, that’s great.” Nobody knows exactly when the game started. When interviewing an old gentleman who played the game as a young boy in 1910, the reporter was told that his father played before him. It may have started much earlier than this, and, you know if I could tell you exactly when and where, I’m not sure I would; a little mystery is good for people.” Dotson’s Other Note: We think Alexander Cartwright invented baseball, and that the newspaperman Henery Chadwick, through his coverage of it, became known as the “Father of Baseball.” But, we shall never know who invented the game of corkball, and perhaps that’s as it should be. I played corkball for about 6 years while assigned to Ft. Bliss Texas. I am now trying to locate the corkball bats and balls I used to have. If I can’t find them, I will order some from St. Louis and we will start a league. Are any of you Moon Monkeys up to it? I challenge you to join us. Your comments, suggestions, questions and concerns regarding Sports Talk articles are greatly appreciated, please call the Benchwarmers at 361-560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 5-7 PM, or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com Have fun -30-
winning the division. The Seagulls left at the end of the season.
1994-1995 The Corpus Christi Barracudas operated in Corpus from 1994 to 1995. Several one-time Major League players joined the team in an effort to work their way back to a big league club. They were Tony Mack, Randy O’Neal, Gary Eave, and Mike Felder. They were known as a Class-Independent operating in the TexasLouisiana League. Their manager was Mark Wasinger. The announcer for the Barracudas was a fellow by the name of Dave Schultz. He asked me several times to sit in with him and do the color commentary. The Barracudas played their home games at Cabaniss Field and one night we got into a 19-inning game against Jose Cruz and his San Antonio Tejanos. I tried to leave several times, but Dave persuaded me to stay. We were both pretty much out of things to say. The Barracudas finally won around 12:45 or so. We figured the team coming in, the Harlingen White Wings, were already in town and in their hotel before our game ended. The next night, the Barracudas surprised us by hitting three grand slams, two by Gary Hagy and one by the league’s leading home-run hitter, Ron Reams, to beat the White Wings 15-4.
In 1938, Rod Whitney was managing the new team in Corpus known as the “Spudders.” This Class-D team from the Texas Valley League would post a 92-44 win-loss record to win first place, but lose to the Harlingen Hubs in the playoffs. Pitcher “Ox” Miller from George West, Texas, and George Hausmann, from Boerne, were the stars of this club. Miller would become a pitcher for the Senators, Browns, and Cubs, while Hausmann was a second baseman for the N.Y. Giants. The Spudders lasted just one year. It would be another twelve years before pro baseball returned to Corpus.
1952-1959 By 1952, the new Class-B Gulf Coast League team in town called themselves the Corpus Christi Aces. This team would be managed through the 1954 season by Jack Trench and eventually “Showboat” Fisher. Three players from this club made the Major League rosters. Tommy Warren was a pitcher and hurled for the Dodgers. Heinz Becker was a fine first baseman for the Indians, and catcher Joe Kracher from San Angelo spent his time with the Phillies. The Aces were replaced by the Clippers in 1955. That year, Skipper Billy Capps would lead his team to an 87-60 win-loss record, well enough for a third-place finish in the Class-B Big State League, affiliated with the Milwaukee Braves. Connie Ryan managed the 1955 club as the Clippers became the League champs. Sibby Sisti and Jack Wilkinson were playermanagers with the club though 1957. Other stars who made it to the Majors were Leo Posada, an uncle of Jorge Posada, former New York Yankee catcher, who played for the Kansas City A’s, and Sibby Sisti himself who played for the Milwaukee Braves and starred in the movie “The Natural.” Most of the players for the Aces and Clippers had their careers interrupted by WWII. The Corpus Christi Giants moved from Oklahoma City in time for the 1958 season. They also changed affiliations from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants. They were a Class-Double A team in the Texas League attached to the San Francisco club. This team played at the Giants’ Field also once referred to as Clippers Field. On Friday, April 18, 1958, the Giants entertained the San Antonio Missions and won their first game. They would finish third with a 77-75 record and face the Houston Buffs in the playoffs. Pitchers Eddie Fisher, who would later pitch for the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox, and soon to become a Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry, who seemed to have pitched for everyone, closed out the Buffs and moved on to play the Austin Senators, led by playermanager “Peanuts” Lowrey. The Giants beat the Senators four games to three and won the Texas League and would now face the winner of the Southern Association in the Dixie Series. Birmingham had defeated Mobile for the right to play the Giants. A total of fifteen players for the Giants played in the Major Leagues. In 1959, the Giants won 66 and lost 79 games.
1976-1977 Corpus Christi’s fifth Minor League team started in 1976. They were called the Seagulls, a Class-A team of the Gulf States League. Their player-manager was Leo Mazzone, the famed future pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves. I have a photo of a young Leo and Mickey Mantle taken here in Corpus. His team recorded a 50-27 record and they won both halves of the Western Division. They led their league in offense and attendance. The following year, 1977, the Seagulls played in the Lone Star League and again they were a powerhouse,
Altuve & Correa Enter the Hooks Our Corpus Christi Hooks are the Class-Double A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Nolan Ryan and Don Sanders formed the ownership group of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, with Nolan’s oldest son Reid as the CEO. Nolan Ryan and his group purchased the Jackson Generals, located in Mississippi in 1998, and moved them to Round Rock, Texas, just outside of Austin. They were moved again to Corpus after the 2004 season ended. They began play at Whataburger Field in 2005. In 2006, under Manager Dave Clark, the Hooks won the Texas League Championship, defeating the Wichita Wranglers. This marked the first time a Corpus Christi franchise had won a league championship since the 1958 Corpus Christi Giants. In October of 2013, the Ryan-Sanders Baseball group sold their rights to Houston Astro’s new owner, Jim Crane. Crane then hired Reid Ryan to be the President of the Astros, while the Hooks elevated former all-star pitcher and Hooks executive, Ken Schrom, to be their Club President. Schrom has spent 13 seasons with the Hooks since their inception. Do the names, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel and George Springer ring a bell? I thought so. These are just some of the players that have joined the list of former Hooks who now play at the Major League level. The Hooks have sent nearly 100 players thus far to the Major League level, including Hunter Pence. Pence became the first former Hooks player to win a World Series title with the 2012 San Francisco Giants. Ben Zobrist has joined him with the K.C. Royals in 2015. Hooks Skipper, Rodney Linares, is back to lead the 2017 Hooks again this season. This year will be the 13th anniversary of Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball. With a new stadium lease in place that will insure Minor League baseball in Corpus Christi until 2034, the Hooks opened their season Thursday, April 13th at home. There are lots of great players in the Hooks Minor League system, and no doubt we will witness several this coming season. So grab your mitt and come check them out, before they become stars. See you at the park! Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. Please visit www.purvisbooks. com for all the latest info on his books or to listen to the new radio podcast. Andy’s books are available online and can be found in the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. Andy can be contacted at purvis.andy@mygrande.net. Also listen to sports talk radio on Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session from 6-8 PM on Sportsradiocc.com 1230 AM, 96.1 FM and 103.3 FM. The home of the Houston Astros.
April 20, 2017
A9
Island Moon
The Traveling Moon Gets Around
Look who has been to Naples Florida with the Island Moon…Mary and Carlos Melick with daughter Emily and grandchildren Claire and Thomas Raymor! Mary Melick
John and Sheila Allen took the Moon to her home town of Manhattan. Thank you! Love the Moon!
Brent Chesney took the Island Moon to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where he visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art with his son Gabriel
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Pirate Scott Hille with kids and grandkids in Ritzville, Washington
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April 20, 2017
Island Moon
COLDWELL BANKER ISLAND, REALTORS 14945 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Chris�, TX 78418
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ISLAND, REALTORS
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
15958 Punta Espada 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 car garage. 2,575 sq. ft. Upgraded granite, lots of lighting. Double oven. $379,900. Charlie Knoll 361443-2499.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
Beach Haven #703 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 1 car garage townhome. Walking distance to the beach. All bedrooms up with loft area. Covered patio and covered balcony. $199,900. Terry 549-7703.
15101 Cane Harbor 3/2.5/2 waterfront home located at the end of Cane Harbor. 2,615 sq. ft. Outstanding backyard with pool. Amazing views. $885,000. Call Charlie Rouzer 949-3015.
Beachfront! Corner Unit. 2/2 Spectacular views. Floor to ceiling windows. Private balcony. Elevators. Sparkling heated pool. Gated. Carrie 361-949-5200.
14745 Quarterdeck 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage located on a corner lot. 1,888 sq. ft. Granite counters, split bedroom arrangement. $229,900. Charlie Knoll 443-2499.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
Mayan Princess 2 bedroom/2.5 bath condo w/fantastic Gulf and beach views. Beautiful hardwood floors. $249,900. Call Shonna today. 361-510-3445.
15821 Punta Espada 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 car garage. 2,500 sq. ft. Room for a pool. East facing backyard. Upgraded granite, lots of lighting. $369,900. Charlie Knoll 361-443-2499.
2301 Beta Great Flour Bluff location. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage w/1,480 sq. ft. Split bedrooms. All located on a corner lot. $184,900. Charlie Knoll 361-443-2499.
Nicely updated Village on the Greens townhome. Now allows short term rentals. 3-2.5-2 + loft. Master down. Walk out your door to the pool. Call Cheryl 361-5630444.
New Construction by R.T. Bryant. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage. 1,854 sq. ft. of living area. Close to beach. Quiet area. $269,000. Call Terry 549-7703.
Condos, Condos, Condos
Check Out these Condos available in Wonderful Complexes allowing Short Term Rentals! Walking Distance to Schlitterbahn!
Compass Condo 2-2-1 on water. Being sold unfurnished. 2nd floor unit, elevator. Move in ready. Call Cheryl 563-0444 for an appointment. $219,900.
13641 Camino De Oro Luxurious one story 4/2.5/2 3,210 sq. ft. waterfront home with 2 living, 2 dining, 2 fireplaces, boat lift. $650,000. Cindy Molnar 5495557.
13953 Blackbeard 3/2/2 waterfront home with 1,589 sq. ft. North facing exposure. Open airy floorplan. Deck and dock set up for sailboat. $314,900. Charlie Knoll 361-443-2499.
15350 Yardarm 3/2.5/2 waterfront home with two living and two dining areas. Boat dock. Tile roof, stucco construction. New tile downstairs. $399,000. Terry 549-7703.
13866 Hawksnest Bay Spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bath, stucco/ tile waterfront with boat lift, 2 car garage plus golf cart garage, $424,900. Call Cindy Molnar 549-5557.
14901 Canadian Mist 4/2.5/2 with 2,342 sq. ft. of living space. Backs up to a pond and the golf course. Two stories with master located down. $270,000. Charlie 443-2499.
Marquesas #401 2/2 unit Great complex $184,900
Beach Club Condos #375 2/2 unit close to beach $159,900
Anchor Resort #196 1/1.5 remodeled unit $139,900
#394 Studio Pool, hot tub, and more $99,000
Palm Bay Village #905 2/2.5/2 poolside unit, open floor plan $234,900
Call Charlie 443-2499 or Terry 549-7703 to view!
Lot 9 Block 218 Cruiser Great waterfront lot perfect for multifamily construction. 80x120. $160,000. Call Shonna Soderqvist 510-3445.
14945 S. Padre Island Dr. Corpus Chris�, TX 78418 (361) 949‐2131 (877) 269‐2131
13830 Hawksnest Bay completely updated inside/out 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 dining, 3 living, over 4500 sq. ft., $699,900. Cindy Molnar 549-5557 to preview.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
www.rentpadreisland.com Superior Service, Outstanding Reputa�on since 1999 Looking for Professional Long Term Property Management Services? Our services include: Tenant Qualifying Collec�ons of Rents Coordina�ng Repairs & Maintenance Professional Itemized Monthly Statements Marke�ng/Adver�sing
13722 A La Entrada 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 car garage w/3,769 sq. ft. located on a wide canal. Gourmet kitchen, dramatic fireplace, cathedral ceilings, office & more! $1,150,000. Charlie 443-2499.
Open Sunday 4/23 1‐3 p.m.
Great Mustang Island 2/2 condo, updated, covered veranda, pool/spa, private beach access, short term rentals apply, potential+ $176,000. Call Dorothy 361-5638486.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
Looking for Long Term Rental Property? Below are some of our available rentals:
14861 SPID #113 3/2.5/2 $1650
15125 Leeward #24 2/2 $1150
14910 Leeward #302 3/3.5/2 $2200
13953 Fortuna Bay 5 & 7 2/2 ea. $1200 ea.
15205 Dasmarinas 3/2/2 $1650
14521 Cabana #407 2/2 $1400
Leeward Isles #308 1/1 furnished $975
14205 Jacksh A 3/2/1 $1425
214 Las Palmas St. 3/2 $1300
13817 Halyard 3/2/2. Open floor plan. Lots of tile. Great light. Lots of decking. 1,654 sq. ft. Separate laundry. Call Cheryl for a viewing. 563-0444.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
Open Sunday 4/23 2‐5 p.m.
Great Investment! Duplex with oversized RV garage. 12’x75’x15’ full hook ups. Each unit has: 3B/2B/1. Open floor plan. Tile. Boat Parking. Carrie 949-5200.
14021 Rudder New Golf Course construction. Enjoy incredible views from this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage home with 2,315 sq. ft. Tile throughout. Call Cheryl.
13914 Mingo Cay 1 bedroom, 1 bath waterfront condo with boat slip, covered patio and washer/ dryer hook up in unit, $115,000. Call Cindy Molnar 549-5557.
Portofino #407 4th floor corner unit w/3 bed., 2 baths, 1,406 sq. ft. of living space. Wonderful beachfront complex, great pool. $190,000. Cheryl 563-0444.
El Constante #217 Great views of the Gulf from this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo with 1,060 sq. ft. of living area. Fully furnished. $194,900. Call Terry 549-7703.
Looking for Vaca�on Rental Services you can trust? Call Padre Escapes, Padre Island’s Premier Vaca�on Rental Company at 361‐949‐0430 Visit us online at www.padreescapes.com email at vaca�on@padreescapes.com
13901 Hawksnest Bay Wonderful 4-2.5-3 new construction. Corner lot. Room for a pool. 2254 sq. ft. Tile floors. Mudroom and butler’s pantry & more. Cheryl.