Inside the Moon
Port A Huge Flag A2-A3
Grand Opening A2
Celebration of Life A2
The
Issue 690
Island Moon
The voice of The Island since 1996
July 6, 2017
Big Swim at 'Bahn A7
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Photo by Steve Coons
Blowing Island Sand Catches Attention of City and State Authorities
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin What a long strange week it’s been on our little sandbar. Monday turned into Friday and Tuesday turned into Saturday, and Wednesday turned into Monday! The big Island crowd was (the real) Saturday and when traffic backed up all the way across the JFK Causeway and even past Flour Bluff at peak. While local beaches were full they were not jammed to capacity like some holidays. All in all we came through unscathed and have hit the midpoint of the tourist season and are heading straight into the Big Fishing Tournament Season this weekend.
Cue the brushfire The Annual 4th of July Brush Fire in Kleberg County went off right on schedule Sunday night when someone not as bright as the fireworks they shot up over dry dune grass set fire to about 300 acres of land. It took firefighters until almost noon on Monday to put out the last of the flames which they were able to stop at Park Road 22. The firemen reported that the knuckleheads who started the fire continued to shoot up fireworks even as the firemen battled the flames.
A spokesperson for the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office said that shooting fireworks on the Kleberg beaches is legal unless there is a burn ban in effect, which currently there is not. So look for the Annual 4th of July Brush Fire in Kleberg County to continue…maybe it’s legal for the firemen to turn their hoses on the cause of the fire rather than the result. Now that would be an Island tradition we could get behind!
PINS entry station moving north
Windblown sand emanating from the development site around Lake Padre has drawn the attention of city and state regulators.
Fire in the Sky on the 4th of July
The canals around the Padre Island Yacht Club were lined with boats Tuesday night as the fifth annual Island Blast Fireworks Show hit the sky at the end of Whitecap.
The show began with an idea by Jerry and Sharon Watkins who decide to launch the event after attending a similar show in the Rio Grande Valley. The show is paid for entirely with donations and has become the largest boating event on The Island as
boaters have turned it into a day-long party on the water. Jerry is already collecting for next year’s show and donations can be made to Island Blast, addressed to 14890 Granada Dr. #205, or drop them here at the Island Moon office, 14646 Compass. All the money goes directly to the show. A complete list of donors is on page A15 We thank everyone who helped out.
Work to Resume at Balli Park
several months due to problems with the design and contractors on the project.
The new entry station at Padre Island National Seashore is north of the first Beach Access Road into the park. Previously the northern end of the park could be reached via the road without passing the entry shack and paying the fee, which will no longer be the case. That access road, known for years as Smuggler’s Ally after federal agents from two different agencies, unbeknownst to each other, got in a shootout there many years ago, leads to the northern end of pedestrian only Malaquite Beach.
Nueces County Coastal Parks Director Scott Cross told the park board last week that the “hard-pack sand” which the original design of the $1.3 million Phase I improvements called for did not meet standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act and would have to be upgraded to hot mix asphalt. Also, a new water line to use during construction will have to been installed at a cost of $18,000 and an additional $55,846 for improved irrigation. The landscaping at the site will have to be redone. Work crews are scheduled to return to Balli Park next week to begin a reworking of the improvements at the site which have been stalled for
The City of Corpus Christi said this week it has issued 72 code violations regarding the blowing sand with fines totaling almost $62,000. District 4 City Councilman Greg Smith said this week he is monitoring the situation and working closely with city staff to look for a solution to the problem. (See Letters to Editor in this issue).
The work is part of what will eventually be more than $4 million improvements to the park, some of the money will come from $7.5
Balli cont. on A4
Meanwhile the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues the following statement this week.
From TCEQ
Christensen Resigns POA Post
After eight years as Executive Coordinator of the Padre Isles Property Owners Association Maybeth Christensen has tendered her resignation effective September 29. “I have loved working for the residents of The Island,” Christensen said, “But I would like to do some traveling while I still can!” She said LK Jordan has been contracted to find a replacement and all resumes will be done through them – not the PIPOA office. The job description will be complete in a few weeks and we will keep you updated as things progress.
Since March 27, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has received 21 complaints regarding sand blowing and traffic hazard conditions emanating from a development currently under construction. The investigation is addressing multiple complaints and is currently ongoing. The investigation report will be available upon completion. The city of Corpus Christi is also investigating this matter. If the TCEQ documents any violations during its investigation, the TCEQ will follow its enforcement initiation criteria to determine the appropriate course of action to pursue. To promote consistency in
Blowing Sand cont. on A4
Active Burglars
There were eleven car burglaries on The Island last week and two vehicle thefts. Lock your vehicle and take the keys!
A little Island history
Beachgoers can still drive the eight miles down the beach from Bob Hall Pier as long as their vehicles can squeeze through opening at the sticks that run across the beach at the north end of the park, rather than have to turn around and go back down the beach to get back to Park Road 22. The Deep Sea Roundup is this weekend and the weather looks like it will continue to be too hot for snakes, so at least we got that going for us. Stay cool everybody, we’ll see you at the Ski Basin, and say hello if you see us Around The Island.
July ISAC Meeting
Wednesday, July 12 5:30 p.m. At the Veranda Restaurant at Schlitterbahn. The meetings are open to the public.
Dunn Ranching Dynasty on The Island Began in 1879 Editor’s note: Islander Greg Smith is a descendent of the Dunn family which operated a ranch on The Island for many decades beginning in 1879. He is currently the Corpus Christi City Councilman from District which includes The Island. By Greg Smith Last article I left off with storms of the 19th century and promised to tell tales of the 1916 storm. After chewing the fat with Dale the other day he wants to celebrate these tales of devastation on their anniversaries, so the number six storm of 1916 is gonna have to wait till August.
Island by another name With this respite in time I am going to back up a bit and start a
century or two before. Over History Padre Island has been called several names. In early Spanish times it was referred to as la Isla Blanca (White Island) or sometimes Isla de los Malaguitas after a band of Coahuiltecan Indians that lived on the southern portion of the Island. By the time Padre Balli purchased the Island from the Spanish Crown it was called Isla Corpus Christi. When the good Padre had his title reaffirmed by the Mexican Government in 1828 the name Padre Island took root. Thank goodness the next major owner’s name didn’t stick, Nicholas Grisante. Who would want to say they lived on Grisante Island?
the Dunn Ranch along with Padre Island. With tourism dollars in mind Col. Robertson in 1927 and then his successor Bertie Jones went back to promoting the name Padre Island. The Great Western folks came around and wanted a fancier name, Padre Isles. That not being uppity enough, the Corpus Christi Tourist Bureau uses the moniker “Upper Padre Island.” Just one last thing to confuse our out of town visitors we have them take our highway South Padre Island Drive to; North Padre, Padre Isles, Upper Padre and Padre Island National Seashore. The only place that South Padre Island Drive doesn’t go is to South Padre Island.
When the Dunn clan started ranching the Island in 1879 some folks started calling the Island
It’s the name Dunn Ranch from beginning in the 1870’s and ending with the last cow shipped off in 1971,
History cont. on A4
July 6, 2017
A2
Island Moon
First Community Mortgage Opens New Island Location
Celebration of Life
Friends and family of long-time Islander Gladys Choyke gathered at the Waterline Café downstairs at Doc’s Saturday to remember her and her time on The Island. She passed away several weeks ago due to natural causes and is missed by her many Island friends.
Island Creations Remodeling
Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco
Landscaping Insured Member, Padre Island Business Association Member, Builders Association, Corpus Christi
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Design work, Yard Maintenance, Decks, Pergolas, Installation of Rock, Grass, Plants, Trees, Walkways, Paths, Tree Trimming, Container Planting, Vacant Lot Mowing & Shade Covers. All Kinds of Fencing, Pressure Washing & Deck Staining & Sealing
Concrete
Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Patio Overlays, Decorative Stamping & Staining, Decks, Bulkheads, Grouted Stone Walls & Patios, Decorative Stone Paver Driveways & Patios
Owned & Operated by Island Residents David & Katherine Pierce References Available Upon Request Commercial & Residential
Doing Everything a Home or Business Needs
Melissa Brooke Band
Bad Buoys
Phil Marshall
Trisum
Open Mic Night
Oddfellas
Red Giant 1-5pm Beach Stone Rise 6-10pm
Karaoke every Thursday 6-10pm
DJ Dave
Sunday afternoons Dave’s Duo
GORGEOUS!
15721 FINISTERE
PRICE DROP $232,500! •2 garages for him! •Remodeled kitchen •Enclosed rv parking
July 6, 2017
A3
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Letters to the Editor
enduring on North Padre Island. Developers on the Island appear to do whatever they wish without any consequences. Schlitterbahn still has weed covered debris along Park Road 22 and the sand storm from the undeveloped area across the street has become a health hazard, a traffic risk, a business detriment for Park Road 22 businesses and is clogging the air and cabin filters in our vehicles causing residents increased maintenance costs. How much more of a public danger and nuisance is needed before you start to engage our concerns and defend the very people who elected you?
Distribution
Please surface Councilman Smith and help us,
Pete Alsop
Like Sands Across the Parking Lot...
Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin
Dear Council Smith:
Classifieds Arlene Ritley Production Manager Abigail Bair Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Mary Craft MayBeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Photographers Miles Merwin Debbie Noble Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus) Riley P. Dog
Thank you for your prompt response to my email regarding what is now referred to as the "Sahara Desert" by the Islanders. I had heard a report about the fines which is good news. However, considering the Developer's financial well being $62,000 is a mere drop in the bucket. Perhaps, if a fine in the amount of $5,000 per day were assessed that might get his attention. Further, you say the Developer "has been fined" $62,000. So, has the Developer paid any of the fines or were they issued just to appease the Island residents? The City can assess fines all day long however, if there is no weight behind that hammer (i.e. no direct consequences), then what reason would the Developer have to pay. I would venture to say...none! We appreciate your and the City's involvement, but this cannot continue. Other than fining the Developer and holding his feet to the fire what immediate solution do you have to offer us? We need something done NOW not in two weeks or six weeks, but today! I realize the beaurecratic wheels of justice turn slowly. However, I believe you have the ability to make THAT ONE phone call that will and can put an immediate end to this travesty. I urge you Councilman Smith to pick up the phone and make THAT call. If one call doesn't take care of it, then make another one and another one until you find someone that can and will stop the Developer dead cold in his tracks so that he fixes the problem that he created.
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
Thank you again for your email Councilman Smith. I will be watching to see exactly how tall your stance really will be for the Island residents. Kind regards, Sue Stockton El Soccorro Loop Dear Ms. Stockton Currently the City has issued 72 code violations regarding the blowing sand with fines totaling almost $62,000. I have been working closely with staff for several months on the issue and keeping them informed of the concerns of Islanders. Please feel free to call me at 361 500 9735. I would be happy to meet about the issue. Best Regards,
editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Greg Smith Subject: RE: Island Shame Dear Mr. Smith,
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
As a resident of the Island, I, along with many Island residents, supported you in the recent Council election. Your obvious lack of concern about the visibility and the constant "sand storm" we are enduring on the Island is utterly ridiculous. We stood in support of you when you asked; now, why are you not standing up and speaking out for us? It is quite obvious that Developers on the Island do whatever they wish without any real consequences. Schlitterbahn, still covered in weeds and debris along Park Road 22. Oh yes, the Developer filed for bankruptcy so what happen to the requirement to keep that area clean? Now, we have the "Sarah Desert" and a constant sand storm from the undeveloped area along Park Road 22. Another project started by a Developer which so far has only left Island residents holding the bag....again. Unfortunately, this time the Developer has put the health and safety of the Island residents at risk along with, that of those who visit the Island. For those businesses located across Park Road 22, it is definitely a business detriment. Each time their door is opened sand is allowed to blow in covering everything in its path. Restaurants, convenience stores, hair salons and the list goes on. The sand serves as an automatic "sandblaster" to our vehicles and those vehicles parked at the Businesses along Park Road 22 all day...every day. They receive a free daily sandblasting all courtesy of the Developer. The mere $60K in fines is nothing more than a slap on the hand to the Developer. On the other hand resident's not only incur increased maintenance fees due to clogged air filters in their vehicles, residences and businesses, they also incur costs for permanent damages to their personal property. Sound fair to you? How much more of a public nuisance and danger is needed before you, start to engage our concerns and defend the very people who elected you?
Back Porch
Flour Bluff
Shorty’s Place
H.E.B.
Did you only need us to get elected? YOU ask US to stand up and vote for you....we did! Now, WE are asking YOU to stand up for us.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Whataburger on Waldron
Stand up Councilman Smith and help us like we did when you needed us!!
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
Best Regards, Sue Stockton El Soccorro Loop Dear Mr. Smith, While I supported you in the Council election I very concerned about your lack of visibility regarding the constant "sand storm" we are
Best Regards, Fred Edler Isabella Court Dear Dale, We are developers on the island and our sand is not flying! We put a layer of clean land fill ( DIRT) on top of sand to keep moisture in and it grows the vegatation quicker! Paul has got to do this on the North end of his property! Regards, Lori Rasheed
Just a Thought Just finished reading the June 29, 2017 issue of "Letters to the Editor." In it I read Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa's commentary on SB4 "Sanctuary Cities." Though I admit that I do not share the same view as Mr. Hinojosa and would love to respond, I also feel that the Island Moon "letter's to the editor" section is not the right forum. My thoughts and requests would be, could we please just publish actual letters that are written and not statements of political commentary? Thank you, Annie Hoefel Editor’s note: Senator Hinojosa wrote the letter as an Op-Ed piece, however, The Island Moon does not have an Editorial Page and therefore, no Op-Ed Page. We thought it was important that Islanders know the Senator’s position since he represents us in Austin. We are happy to run opposing viewpoints from readers.
Rumble Road The intersection on Whitecap and Park Road 22 is for a better word like rumble strips at a major intersection/highway this needs to be repaired. They laid new asphalt all the way from the JFK to the intersection of Park Road 22 to where it turns left to 361 going to Mustang Island and right to Schlitterbust but stopped there??? Thanks enjoy reading the Moon McCree Hennessee USCG RETIRED (SEMPER PARATUS)
New Moon Great to see The Moon on line that I can easily read Frank - CIAO Editor's note: The Island Moon's new webpage is up and running at www.islandmoon.com. If you're on your mobile phone, be sure to click on the button at the top of the page that says, "mobile users click here."
Island Obituary
Clarence Haveman Clarence Otto Haveman, l o n g t i m e resident of Karnes County, passed away on June 20th, 2017 at the age of 97 years. He and his wife Nadine Cross Haveman had moved to The Island only a few months prior to his death. He was born in Oakland, TX on November 17, 1919. In his younger years, Clarence lived in Corpus Christi where he worked as a city bus driver. In 1942 he met and married Barbara Jean Mauer of Cuero, TX and they made their home in Kenedy, TX. He was active as a “Pink Lady” to the Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital and helped with the tamale sale and other duties. He was a rancher in Runge and Karnes City. He was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School department, a parish shepherd and board member. Clarence and Barbara had two sons, Carl Wayne (Karen) of Canyon Lake, and Curtis Lynn (Lynda) of Abilene, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. In 2006, Clarence married his longtime friend and second love of his life, Dee Yeater. Clarence is survived by his children, grandchildren Craig (Meridith), Shannon (Jeffery), Kevin (Jennifer), Audra (Brad) and Curt (Meghan), 6 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Dee’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. Visitation will be at Eckols Funeral Home Sunday, June 25 from 3:00P.M. to 5:00P.M.. Funeral Services will held Monday, June 26 at 10:30am at Eckols Funeral Home with Rev. Wally Schievelbein officiating. Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery, Kenedy, TX. Donations to Clarence’s memory may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Building Fund or the charity of choice.
Did Ya Hear? By Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers Island Presbyterian Church is offering a vacation bible school for ages 4 – 6th grade July 17th – 21at 9 am – noon. They are located at 14030 Fortuna Bay Drive. Call 9498770 for more info. The Gun Show at the Aransas Pass Civic Center at 700 W. Wheeler will be on Jul15th and 16th. You can buy trade and sell guns, ammo, coins and militaria. There are tables available call Jimmy at 432-438-1090.
Business Briefs
Achtung! Happy to announce Angela is back at The Barrel after spending three weeks in Germany visiting family. The place just wasn’t the same without her. Major Oops – I read sign at Bluffalo Wings Company as Buffalo Wings and googled it and gave out totally wrong information. My bad especially since I am an optometrist. It will be a locally owned business and I will follow up with the owner for more details in a later issue. It is located at the HEB Plaza. The 82nd Deep Sea Roundup in Port A will be held this weekend. It started as the Tarpon Roundup to the current one that attracts around 800 contestants. The Island Strategic Action Committee will have their July meeting on Wednesday, July 12th 5:30 pm at the second floor of Schlitterbahn. A variety of Island issues will be discussed and the public is welcome to make comments. Swim 2 Survive Aquatics Academy is offering a unique one-on-one program for children 6 months – 6 years at the Port A Community Pool. Lessons are offered Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 1 pm through the summer. For more info contact Michele Seymour at 571-228-4552or email Swim2SurviveAA@yahoo. com. The 2017L2 Fall Kickball in the Bluff is accepting teams peewee – teens and adult coed teams for $40/player. For more info call Gina Rodriguez at 876-5923 or Stacey Lewis at 558-5932. The Back Porch in Port A will feature Charlie Robison on Friday, July 7th and Max Stalling on Saturday. Miko’s is a new clothing and home décor store that has opened at the Tower Center in Port A. They are open daily 10 am – 6 pm. Proud mom moment - My son, Alex Craft, completed his musculoskeletal radiology fellowship at Duke University and has joined Radiology Associates. He has moved his family to the Island which makes me one ecstatic grandma.
Attention
Boat Owners!
Do you own a boat with a cabin and would you like to make some money with it? We have slips and are looking for boats to use for charters. If you have a boat and are interested in an entrepreneurial opportunity call 361 332-9978.
July 6, 2017
A4
Island Moon
History cont. from A1 that I’ll be earning my next few free copies of the Island Moon writing about.
The Dunns Some background on the Dunn’s, Corpus Christi was founded by Col. Henry Kinney in 1839. Col Kinney, twenty-five at the time was an adventurer, land promoter and somewhat of a rapscallion. When the United States decided to annex Texas in 1845 Kinney convinced the Powers That Be to come to his little settlement on Corpus Bay. One of the civilian’s attached to Taylor’s army was Matthew Dunn, an Irishman who came to the US in 1835. Kinney being the good land promoter he was and of Irish decent befriended Matthew. After the Mexican campaign was over Matthew returned to Corpus and bought 160 acres from Kinney along Nueces Bay. To Matthew coming from Ireland where to own a one acre farm was a wish, to have 160 acres was a dream come true. For Kinney to sell land for two dollars an acre that he paid four cents an acre for was a good “friend” to have. Matthew had four brothers still in Ireland and wrote to them to come to Texas for cheap land and opportunity. Ireland at that time was a land of oppression for Irish Catholic’s being only a generation since the repeal of the Penal Laws that prevented Catholic’s from owning property and going to school among other hardships. To add to their misery the potato blight brought hunger and starvation to the Eire people beginning in 1847. When the four Irish Dunn brothers heard of Matthew’s land of Eden (He forgot to mention heat, droughts, rattlesnakes, Indians and outlaws) they started saving for the passage to Texas. First to arrive was Thomas and Catherine Dunn in 1849 who would help start the Padre Island dynasty, brothers John in 1851, Peter in 1852 and Uncle Patrick in 1868. Left behind were their Parents, Lawrence and Ellen, never to see their sons or the twenty-two grand children born in far away Nueces County, Texas.
Police Blotter Drowning victim found at Padre Island National Seashore.
Pair sought in Island burglaries Police have arrested Sandra Lee Vasquez, 09/03/1975, at an address on Padre Island, and we have arrest warrants for Nicholas Ryan Stevick, 01/05/1991, and Philip Michael Sanders, 07/19/1988. The arrest warrants are for PC32.31 Credit Card Abuse, a State Jail Felony. We suspect that these three people are
3 Bolivar Peninsula 5 Galveston Island 0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside 3 Surfside Beach 1 Quintana Beach
Island Police Calls 13000 block SPID 6 p.m. July 3 Burglary of a vehicle
0 Sargent Beach
1200 block Gulf Beach 3 p.m. July 1 Child locked in a vehicle
0 Matagorda Island
13500 block SPID 9 p.m. July 1 Public intoxication
Blowing Sand cont. from A1 addressing air, water and waste violations, the criteria specified in this document are used to determine the appropriate level of enforcement action. Documented violations are addressed by an enforcement action, either through the issuance of a notice of violation or the issuance of a notice of enforcement. An NOV documents the violations discovered during the investigation, specifies a time frame to respond, and requires documentation of compliance. Most violations are quickly corrected in response to notices of violation. If an entity receives a NOV and fails to achieve compliance within a specified timeframe, the matter may be referred for formal enforcement. An NOV does not contain fines/ penalties but does become part of a regulated entity’s compliance history calculation. For more serious or continuing violations identified during an investigation, the TCEQ initiates formal enforcement and the business or individual investigated receives an NOE. The issuance of an NOE begins formal enforcement, which is a process that usually results in an order and a fine/penalty. The NOE documents violations and puts the recipient on notice that a violation(s) have been referred to the TCEQ. The notice also provides information on the appeal process if violations are believed to be in error/or if new information is available.
7 Matagorda Peninsula (area record) 2 San Jose Island 11 Mustang Island (area record)
13300 block SPID 11 p.m. July 3 Burglary of a vehicle
8 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore
13300 SPID 4 p.m. June 29 Boat rescue
217 Padre Island National Seashore (area record)
10900 block Gulf Beach 8 p.m. July 1 Alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle 14300 block San Dollar 6 p.m. June 30 Burglary of a vehicle 14400 block Compass 2 a.m. June 28 Vehicle theft 11800 block State Highway 361 1 a.m. July 4 Assault
70 South Padre Island (area record) 23 Boca Chica Beach (area record) LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 6 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state): 1 Surfside Beach 1 North Padre Island, north of Padre Island National Seashore 3 Padre Island National Seashore 1 South Padre Island GREEN SEA TURTLE
Balli cont. from A1
Cross said the county will try to get the improvements in place to be ready for the arrival of Winter Texans in early 2018.
0 Bryan Beach 0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
So far this year, 5 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
million granted to the parks department in the settlement of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Precinct 4 County Commissioner Brent Chesney and Nueces County Judge Lloyd Neal raised $320,000 needed to finish Phase I of the project which was begun over a year ago. That includes new sites for recreational vehicles, with water and power hookups, new restrooms, and campsites also with power and water hookups.
Kemp’s Ridley Turtle Count
So far this year, 350 Kemp’s ridley nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
At approximately 2:30 pm on July 1, the body of a deceased female was located near the surf’s edge in the portion of Malaquite beach that is closed to vehicles. She was found approximately two miles north of the Malaquite Visitor Center. She has been identified as 59 yearold San Antonio resident Julianne Elizabeth Shaw who was a volunteer who helped STEM students at Northeast Independent School District. Family members have been notified. The Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation.
Count Your Turtles
4 Padre Island National Seashore 1 South Padre Island
responsible for numerous auto burglaries on Padre Island and other parts of town. They have used credit cards that were stolen in burglaries. Please call police at 886-2600 if you know the whereabouts of Stevick or Sanders. Vasquez has already been arrested. If you have any information about this crime and want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 888-tips or submit the information online at http://www.888tips. com . If the information you provide leads to an arrest, you could earn a cash reward.
14300 block SPID 2 a.m. July 28 Burglary of a vehicle 14300 block SPID 2 a.m. June 28 Burglary of a vehicle 14800 block Quarterdeck 2 a.m. June 29 Burglary of a vehicle 15300 block Key Largo 5 p.m. June 28 Burglary of a vehicle 13900 block Dasmarinas 9 p.m. July 2 Burglary of a vehicle 13900 block Dasmarinas 4 p.m. July 2 Burglary of a vehicle 14100 block Atascadera 9 p.m. July 2 Vehicle theft 8200 block Tango Circle 10 p.m. July 1 Burglary of a habitation (Breaking and Entering) 14700 block Whitecap 11 p.m. June 30 Child locked in vehicle 15200 block Gulf Beach 2 p.m. July 4 Child locked in vehicle 13900 block Socorro Loop 1 a.m. July 1 Overdose
Sand is composed of particles of varying sizes, but are typically too large to enter the deep airways of the lungs. Sand particles can become trapped in the nose and throat and are usually coughed or sneezed out of the body. Sand can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, but these symptoms typically resolve after exposure has stopped. If the violation(s) meet the criteria for formal enforcement, the amount of the penalty is dependent on the violation cited and the applicable statutory authority. There are a number of statutes that provide direction to the Commission in determining a penalty amount, including Texas Water Code Chapters 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, and 28A; Texas Health & Safety Code Chapters 341 and 371, and Texas Transportation Code Chapter 548, which are incorporated into the commission’s penalty policy. Copies of this regulatory guidance document are available on the TCEQ’s website at http://www.tceq.texas. gov/publications/rg/rg-253.html. The developer of the property, Paul Schexnailder, said this week he is in compliance with all applicable state rules and expects to have crews at the site next week to begin installation of a sprinkler system to keep the sand from blowing off the property. The TECQ will issue a comprehensive report by the end of July.
Attention
Boat Owners!
Do you own a boat with a cabin and would you like to make some money with it? We have slips and are looking for boats to use for charters. If you have a boat and are interested in an entrepreneurial About 40 miles down the Padre Island National Seashore, the National Park Service pays tribute to the fallen San Antonio police officer as well as to the Fourth of July with a big flag.
opportunity call 361 332-9978.
July 6, 2017
Island Moon
Stuff I Heard on the Island
A5
By Dale Rankin When it comes to big holidays holiday around here we seem to be a bit snakebit on the publicity side. It started at Spring Break 2016 when the City of Port Aransas took steps to control drinking on the beaches and the story that went out was that drinking had been banned on beaches there. Then on the Fourth of July last year it was reported in the markets that feed our tourist crowd that a man had contracted the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio “while visiting Port Aransas” and the stories were accompanied by a photo of the man’s leg, which was eventually amputated. A closer examination of the facts found that the man had been wade fishing in the water near Rockport in the morning before going to the beach in the afternoon. No matter that Rockport is not on a Gulf beach, the damage was done, and another round of stories made the news in June of this year under the headline “Man dies from vibrio after going into the Gulf with a fresh tattoo.” The story referenced the case from a year ago and said that man had taken “a trip to the beach in Port Aransas.”
Tides of the Week Tides for Bob Hall Pier July 6 - July 13
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In early July, 2015 another round of stories hit the news of man who contracted Vibrio after wade fishing in Rockport. The stories are all clustered around the July 4 holiday when viewers are considering traveling to The Coast and newsrooms check to see if there is a story the there. There were 35 documented cases of Vibrio vulnificus reported in Texas last year and invariably the reports say it was contracted “at the beach” when often, as was reported in the case again this year, the victim went to the beach after wading in the Laguna, then went to the beach later. But that distinction gets left out of stories in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston. We get regular inquiries from friends there asking if it is safe to swim in the water at the beach. We tell them it’s the rip currents they need to watch out for but when the idea is planted that the water around here is full of flesh eating bacteria a drive to the Frio River starts sounding like a better idea. Add in the fact that during Memorial Day weekend last year we were under a citywide water boil order and we start looking like a swimsuit model with missing teeth.
Beach Watch The Texas Beach Watch website, maintained by the Texas General Land Office shows the latest count of bacteria and fecal matter in Gulf waters – none currently report any levels of Vibrio. But even if the level is low reports of elevated levels of fecal matter in the water don’t help much. A check of the site this week put the advisory level for fecal matter at Medium at Bob Hall Pier, which is better than High but a lot worse than None. But still Medium fecal matter in the water doesn’t exactly encourage people to get in their cars and drive to the beach. The site tests water up and down the Texas
Coast and currently shows fecal matter levels to be low at all but seven of the testing sites in this immediate area, five of which are around Bob Hall Pier, one in Rockport, and one in Corpus Christi Bay. The cause of the problem around Bob Hall Pier seems to be a mystery at this point but when reporters check the website prior to the holiday and find even slightly elevated levels it makes for a very disturbing headline. Nobody wants to swim in a toilet bowl. Nine sites near Galveston are currently cited as having elevated levels of fecal matter and they are clustered together much like the ones around Bob Hall Pier. Of fifteen sites checked in the Rio Grande Valley four are reporting higher levels of fecal matter.
Sloppy writing Just prior to Memorial Day this year two television stations in San Antonio, both owned by the same company and operating out of the same newsroom, ran a story with a headline… ”Thinking About Going to the Texas beach? There’s poo in them waters.” “Hey, honey let’s take the kids and go swim in the poo water at The Coast, what do you say?” One problem is sloppy writing. When the stories were written under the headline of Poo in the Water the dateline was Galveston, but we got tarred with the same brush. And the reports about higher levels of fecal matter get lumped together with stories about the flesh eating virus and make both seem to be end-of-the-worldish. The website for one of the San Antonio stations has three related stories under the Poo headline which read, “Texas Man Infected with Flesh Eating Bacteria After Visiting Port Aransas Beach, Man Contacts Flesh-Eating Bacteria at Galveston Beach, and Florida Swimmer Dies After Contracting Rare Flesh-Eating Bacteria.” It fits the old tabloid model of scaring the most people possible with the fewest facts allowable. File them all under the heading of Plague on The Coast – Run for Your Very Lives! and it leaves the impression that we are venting raw sewage into the Gulf and if that doesn’t get you the bacteria will. It’s the stuff of horror films. What I’m saying here is that a pattern is emerging and it’s not a good one. My suggestion is that the Convention and Visitors bureaus on The Coast get together and pay visits to the newsrooms in our four major feeder markets and explain to them that their language matters. There is a pattern here and it needs to be addressed. In the meantime we probably need to find out who is putting the poo in the water and see if we can get them to stop. How about this headline, “Who is Putting the Poo in the Bob Hall Slough?” I have an idea but I’m not going to state it here until I can do some checking. Stay tuned.
87
Nice melons! Photo by Steve Coons
Colonel Almonte & The Smoking Gun By the early 1830s the Mexican government was beginning to worry about Texas.
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So in 1833 they sent Colonel Juan Almonte on an inspection tour to find out what was going on. Upon his return, in late 1834, he wrote a secret report laying out what it would take to hold on to Texas.
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With his report he included this map by cartographer David H. Burr, showing all the lands granted to empresarios in the colonization scheme.
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To Almonte it was exhibit A, the smoking gun, the reason to panic. It showed that nearly all of Texas had been given over to American speculators.
The BACK PORCH
Scarecrow People July 6 Charlie Robinson July 7 Max Stalling July 8 Jesse Stratton July 13 Parker McCollum July 14 Dirty River Boys July 15 Bart Crow July 22
The BACK PORCH Bar ON THE WATERFRONT
132 W. Cotter St. The
The plan to colonize that big, empty territory with industrious Norte Americanos was working a little too well, and high officials were wondering if the whole thing might backfire.
PortA
A little over a year later, when Santa Anna set out to crush the rebellious Tejanos and Texians, General Vicente Filisola carried a copy of this map with him to plan the route of his army. Burr's map of Texas is considered one of the two most important maps of Texas produced before independence. It documents the explosion of immigration into Texas, showing the seventeen huge empresario land grants. The map includes a vignette of Galveston Bay produced by Lieutenant Alexander Thompson of the Mexican Navy in 1828. At the upper left corner of this vignette is the piece of ground that would soon be known as the Field of San Jacinto. There Colonel Almonte would be captured by the victorious Texian Army on April 21, 1836, and his worst nightmares about Texas realized.
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July 6, 2017
Island Moon
Senior Moments
1929-1941 Independence Day Celebrations Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: I have always been interested Legislature convene their meeting by tossing in July 4th celebrations, so I went back to firecrackers at each other's feet; the Liberty Bell my first (which of course I do not remember) in Philadelphia is rung by a hammer "guided and stopped with the last before the attack on by an electrical impulse transmitted from Rear Pearl Harbor. Some of those below I remember Admiral Richard E. Byrd's base in Antarctica"; hearing about and some I never heard of; the very first fireworks display in the Antarctica but to me it was a great trip, hopefully many occurs on when explorer Richard E. Byrd and of you Moon Monkeys will enjoy it also. You his men set off firecrackers during a storm with may notice that many of the celebrations of the temperature at 33 degrees below zero. our Independence Day occurred in foreign 1935- Near Tuscumbia, Ala., 30,000 persons countries! attend Tennessee Valley Authority appreciation day event; in Rockport, Ind., the Lincoln Pioneer Here We Go Village is dedicated; Herbert Hoover gives an 1929- The first Fourth celebration headed address in Grass Valley, Calif., before a crowd by an American General Consulate (Paul of 6,000; in Paris, a plaque in honor of John Paul Knabenshue) takes place in Jerusalem. The Jones is unveiled at the Rue des Ecluses, the site Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park near where the Admiral was buried until 1905, while Hillsboro, West Virginia, is dedicated. another plaque in honor of Benjamin Franklin 1930- Gutzon Borgium's 60-foot face and King Louis XVI of France, both of whom of George Washington carved on Mount signed the Treaty of Friendship on 6 Feb. 1778, Rushmore's granite cliff in South Dakota is is unveiled at the Hotel de Coislin, the building unveiled; John H. Finley, associate editor of where the event took place. the New York Times, presents a speech on 1936- Near Boonsboro, Md., on South interdependence among nations at a convention Mountain, a "109 year-old monument, believed of the National Education Association in to be the first erected [on July 4, 1827] to the Columbus, Ohio; in New Brunswick, N.J., the memory of George Washington" is rededicated; birthplace of poet Joyce Kilmer is dedicated in New York, Harry W. Laidler, Socialist as a national shrine to his memory; documents candidate for Governor of New York, calls for illustrating the development of the Declaration a new Declaration of Independence against of Independence are put on display at the "judicial tyranny and industrial autocracy"; Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. the Long Island Tercentenary Celebration in Suffolk County, N.Y., begins; at Hastings-onHudson, N.Y., Farragut Day (135th anniversary of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut's birth) is celebrated in tandem with the Fourth event; in New York, the Tammany Hall celebration marks its 150th anniversary.
1932- Ernest Lee Jahncke, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, presents a speech at Independence Hall, Philadelphia; a group of Mexicans present a plaque honoring Dwight W. Morrow to the United States, in Mexico City; at the Bronx, N.Y., a marble monument to Gouverneur Morris, a signer and contributor to the Constitution, is unveiled at St. Ann's Protestant Episcopal Church. 1933- 150 United States warships decorated in multicolor signal bunting give a simultaneous 21-gun salute at 30 ports along the Pacific coast; 3,000 voices sing "My Old Kentucky Home" and other melodies of Stephen Collins Foster in a tribute to the composer at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown, Kentucky; Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey is dedicated; in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Marine Bugle Corps sounds reveille in front of the U.S. embassy in honor
of the Fourth. 1934- U.S. cruiser Houston on its way towards Panama gives a 21-gun salute as a Navy tribute to President Roosevelt who is vacationing in the Bahamas. At Arlington Cemetery, a plaque in memory of the Unknown Soldier is added to the permanent collection of memorial trophies there; the first annual historical pageant of Southwestern Virginia takes place in Roanoke, Va., before a crowd of 50,000; Takoma Park, Md., presents a pageant depicting the tercentenary of Maryland and its history; fireworks set off cause a fire on the grounds of the Statue of Liberty in New York; in Baton Rouge, La., members of the Louisiana
The De-Evolution of Man By Abigail Bair
By Dotson Lewis
1931- James Grafton Rogers, Assistant Secretary of State, gives a "debt moratorium" speech at the Sylvan Theater, on the Monument grounds in Washington, D.C.; Independence Hall Bell in Philadelphia tolls 155 times, each representing a year of American independence; the "Amizade" or friendship monument, presented by the people of the United States to Brazil, is dedicated in Rio de Janeiro; in Greensboro, N.C., the sesquicentennial of the battle of Guilford Court House is observed; at Stratford Hall, Stratford, Va., two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, are honored by the Society of Colonial Dames of Virginia and the Lee Foundation; the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Washington monument in Budapest, Hungary, occurs; renown Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski gives a memorial statue, designed by Gutzon Borgium, of President Wilson to the people of Poland; the Monroe Centennial Celebration, on the 10th anniversary of the death of James Monroe, is broadcast by WJZ radio from the University of Virginia campus, and William R. Castle, under-Secretary of State gives a speech, "Aspects of the Monroe Doctrine."
Anecdotingly
1937- The Boy Scouts of America participate in a torchlight procession on the Washington Monument Grounds as part of that organization's National Jamboree event; at Rebild National Park in north Jutland, Denmark, Danes blow "lurs," great ancestral horns, for the opening of the Fourth of July celebration held there. 1939- In Andover, N.J., the Ordnungadienst, an American-Nazi group, marched in uniform ignoring a New Jersey law prohibiting the
wearing of foreign uniforms and giving alien salutes; on the eve of Independence Day, officials in Buffalo decided that Buffalo's 175foot Liberty Pole must come down after 45 years. 1940- President Roosevelt officially turns over the library bearing his name to the Federal Government. 1941- Chief Justice Harland Fiske Stone leads the nation in a live radio broadcast of the "Pledge of Allegiance" from Estes Park, Colorado; Attorney General Robert H. Jackson broadcasts a radio speech; the government of Australia officially recognizes the Fourth of July for the first time in that country's history and orders the American flag to be flown on all government buildings.Dotson’s Other Note: Hopefully you enjoyed the 2017 glorious 4th and attended at least one event that was dedicated to remembering those who have sacrificed their all for our freedom and independence. 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, July 11, 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 July 8, 2017. Please listen and call in. The listener/text line is: 361-560-5397…It’s your show. Hang in there/Have fun!
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about some fruit and yogurt?”
In nature, every mama bird must at some point allow her fledglings an attempt at flight. Whether the impetus to release her young comes from nurturing or annoyance, it is still a biological compulsion – although one that occasionally results in full-bellied felines. I’m not sure what made the Rev decide that my father and I were capable of providing care for my small nephews for three days, but I’d wager it was pure irritation combined with the bitter algebra of necessity. There may have also been just a soupcon of “I’ll teach those jerks to appreciate me” thrown in, too. Dad and I are convinced that she rearranges her kitchen once a fortnight because if no one but Mom can ever find anything, we’ll probably be forced to keep her. In any case, the Rev unceremoniously left us to fend for ourselves while she went to what Dad called “some preacher concert in San Antonio.” I know you’re worried, so I’ll just tell you right now: NO ONE DIED.
Day 1: Homo Sapiens I spent the day with the family getting sunburned while chasing children with sunscreen at Schlitterbahn. After hauling ourselves and our arsenal of kid-specific water junk back to my parents’ house, I cooked a couple of pizzas for dinner. The G.P. thought I had made way too much, and yelled at me. I snuck a piece to Stadler (my dog) in the interest of proving him wrong. After dinner the evening pretty much went as follows: Chase Avery (age 6) into shower. Kid starts yelling for help. He has broken the cold water knob. Rescue child from certain death as he is not smart enough to just get out of the shower. Excavate pajamas from the Jabba-the-Hut sized pile of clothing that had grown fungus-like on the floor of the boys’ room after somehow sensing the Rev’s absence. Insert kid in pajamas. Put kid in bed. Yell at other kid to take shower. Avery is missing. Find him in the great room playing with Dad’s pool table. Put Avery back in bed. Give him a book. Continue to scream at Jovanni to take shower. Chase Jovanni into shower with shouting and threats of no more waterparks. Avery is not in bed. Locate Avery at dining room table making “animals” out of
pipe cleaners. Physically carry Avery back to his bunk. Exhort him to “STAY!” Frustration caused me to resort to commands that work on the dog. Repeat pajama excavation for Jovanni while Avery shouts helpful archeological advice from the top bunk. Run around behind naked Jovanni with pajamas. Tackle kid. Insert second kid in pajamas. Put Jovanni in bed. Avery has vanished again. Find him trying to lasso dog with an extension cord. Haul kid back to bed. Jovanni has stayed in his bunk. MIRACLE! Screaming/panic ensues because Avery can’t find a stuffed giraffe which turns out to be the size of a contact lens after we tear apart the bedroom looking for it. Both children finally in bed. Say goodnight, go to close door, “WE WANT A STORY.” Give up. Yell for G.P. Let Dad finish putting the wee heathens to bed. Clean kitchen. Go home. Collapse.
Day 2: Homo Neanderthalensis The next morning, I arrived at my parents’ house early. I let myself in the front door, and headed to the kitchen. It was already wiped out. Dishes and peanut butter encrusted knives were stuck to every inch of available counter space, with entire constellations made of bread crumbs between them. All of the cabinet doors were open, with the exception of the one that concealed the trashcan. I sighed, grabbed a fresh dishcloth and got to work. The children hadn’t yet awoken. Avery emerged, shirtless and ruffled. “What do you want for breakfast, Avox? How
“No.” he muttered, eyes narrowing for a fight. “How about eggies and bacon?” I suggested. “NO, AB!” he yelled, still a slumber-fuss. “What about PIZZA then?!?!” Hoping against hope that he’d eat a couple of pieces (there was still a 12 inch brick of pizza slices preserved in plastic wrap on the bottom shelf of the fridge). “YEAH, PIZZA!” Avery shouted, excited to get an unusual breakfast. I heated two slices up for him, and snuck Stadler a third. At about 2 p.m., the G.P. texted to ask me if I could help him take the children to a place called “Get Air.” I was finishing the Island Moon’s new website (www.islandmoon.com) and couldn’t leave. “That’s ok,” said the G.P.’s final message. “What could go wrong?” A few hours later, Dad and the kids returned home bruised and battered. Evidently, the best thing to do at “Get Air” is play dodgeball. Unfortunately, some of the kids playing the game were prodigies trained since birth in the art of viciously beaning other people with red rubber death balls. Avery had a black eye, and Jovanni sported a big bruise on his jawline. Dad bought them fried chicken, mashed potatoes (which looked more like Elmer’s glue with pepper), and biscuits for dinner. The kids picked at their food, claiming to be “too sore” to eat it. I brought them some ice cream – a miraculous cure.
Day Three: Homo Erectus On the third and final morning of the Rev’s absence, I arrived shortly after dawn. The gentle morning light slipping tenderly between the blue and white floral curtains revealed that the house was in a state of near total disrepair. Detritus was strewn thick as seaweed -- I counted at least four pairs of tiny (and quite dirty) tighty whities in the living room alone. The oak dining table was covered in crayons, half colored copier paper, pipe cleaners and something sticky that might have been either glue or melted popsicles. There were glasses half full of goopy and mysterious liquids stacked haphazardly on every available surface. Sofa cushions littered the floor – the only marker designating the once great “Fort Brat” that tragically appeared to have been nuked from space. Forlorn, fluffy
dog hair tumbleweeds drifted languorously across the slate floors. Sanitation had taken a real nose dive. The men emerged soon after my arrival. They communicated almost entirely in grunts and shoves, lapsing briefly into pigeon English to answer my questions. They had devolved into itchy, sticky, proud farters. They were extremely happy. Stadler and I backed slowly out the front door, not wanting to witness what came next. I feared they would start spitting on the floor and marking territory. That night, Mom returned from her liturgical journey. By the time she arrived, the welltrained G.P. had whipped the house into shape and forced the children into mismatched but modest clothing. I think that the boys had a lot of fun being boys. Still, it’s probably good that it was only short term. Otherwise, property values would plummet, neighbors would move, the CDC and the EPA would get involved, and Canada would start gently suggesting ways to solve the global health crisis generated by my family. “Fire is cleansing, eh.” “Grunt,” the G.P. would respond. At least I got rid of all the pizza.
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July 6, 2017
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Island Moon
Island Moon on a Spoon
Get to Know Your Eggplant
Schlitterbahn Hosts World's Largest Swimming Lesson
By Chef Vita Jarrin This purple glossy teardrop is often overlooked at the supermarket. Eggplants are known as aubergines in other parts of the world, where they're much more popular. India, for one, is said to be the native country of this strangelooking fruit - because that's what it is, rather than a vegetable. They also come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Some are white, white and purple and they vary in sizes as well. Some eggplants are as small as an egg. Wonder if that’s why it’s named eggplant?
marinara sauce with more cheese and baked in the oven. Since your mouth should be watering by now… let me share this last recipe with you.
Eggplant Roll Ups 2 medium eggplants, sliced lengthwise into 1/4”-thick strips Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper 1 1/2 c. marinara sauce 1 Egg, lightly beaten
For those of you who have never tried eggplants, they are quite tasty and can be made in various ways. It’s a wonderful fruit to add to your menu whether cooking an appetizer or main dish.
1 1/2 c. ricotta
When choosing an eggplant, make sure you look for tight, shiny skin and firm flesh. When preparing it, depending on the recipe, you peel off the skin with a potato peeler or leave it on. If you peel the skin off be prepared to enjoy a softer, creamier eggplant flesh. If you leave it on, it holds the flesh together, so if you’re dicing it… it won’t fall apart.
1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
Although I would love to share more than one recipe with you on eggplants, for this article I can only share one. However, I can mention other ways of cooking an eggplant so that you too can check recipes on line, should you want to try others. Baba Ganoush, is a delicious way to prepare eggplant… you drizzle it with olive oil, season and roast it in the oven until flesh is cooked. You then scoop it into a food processor and make it like you would hummus. Eggplant
2 Tbsp. minced parsley ½ tsp. granulated garlic 1/2 c. finely grated Parmesan Small handful of basil, torn into pieces
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lay eggplant slices on a paper towellined pan. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture. Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels and transfer eggplant to a large baking sheet. Drizzle the eggplant with olive oil and bake until the eggplant is pliable, about 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, make filling. Combine ricotta, parsley, egg, garlic, 1/4 c. Parmesan and 1/4 c. mozzarella in a medium bowl. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. When the eggplant is still warm, but cool enough to handle, spread about 1 tbsp. of the filling onto each eggplant slice. Sprinkle with torn basil and roll the eggplant. Spread a thin layer of marinara into a casserole dish. Lay the roll-ups in the dish seam side-down. Spoon more marinara over the roll-ups. Sprinkle remaining cheeses on top.
A La Parmigiana is layers of fried eggplant slices, topped with fresh tomato sauce, basil and Parmigiano cheese. Pepperonata is mixture of vegetables that are largely diced and sautéed or baked and then cooked in tomato sauce. It makes a great sandwich, or a crostini topping, side dish or main dish. Another delicious way is to eat them is stuffed with ricotta cheese and mozzarella and then rolled up, covered in
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is cooked through and the eggplant is tender. Top with more basil and serve warm.
Tip of the week! You can make this dish with zucchini or cooked lasagna pasta sheets. You can also make this dish ahead of time and re heat before serving. The important thing is to Have Fun! Try New Things! Happy Eats… Enjoy!
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July 6, 2017
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk Special to The Island Moon
World’s Fastest Man-Women By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: When I was about 6 years old, I discovered that I was a faster runner than any other kid, boy or girl, around. As I got older, I got faster and was convinced that one day I would be known as “The World’s Fastest Man,” whatever that meant. Please note that the first recorded world’s record was clocked on July 6, 1912, only one-hundred five years ago.
A Little History
Many former record holders have a complicated relationship with the fame, particularly those for whom the record came without global championships. Leroy Burrell, who set World records in 1991 and 1994, told ESPN reporter Mike Fish in 2009, "I don't think athletes sit around [saying], 'Well, I am the world's fastest man.' … I never really looked at it as the world's fastest. I looked at it as, I broke the World record. That is the standard out there. That is my PR. And I'm going to try and do it again." Lippincott, the frustrated Olympic bronze medalist, might have said the same. Maurice Greene, on the other hand, believed in the power of the record, saying, "The biggest event in track and field is the 100 meters. [...] at some point in time, everybody in their life always argued about who could get from this point to this point the fastest. And it is always a short distance. So a lot of people can relate to it."
The Natural By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon Outfielder Tori Hunter once said, “This is the kind of player that dads need to tell their kids, ‘Son, remember this guy. He’s going to be in your mind now, forever.’” The player he was talking about has a big head, piano white teeth, a smile as wide as the Mississippi River and a back so broad you could serve breakfast on it. He walks like his feet were sunburned, but he runs like Secretariat. This mild-mannered Mickey Mantle look alike was born in a family town. That means everyone knew everyone else in Millville, New Jersey, population 28,000. If you were given the opportunity to build your own baseball player, for your team, by using the parts of any other players, you would just point at Mike Trout and say, “I’ll just take that guy.” He was born to play. Some said that he wore his baseball uniform to bed the night before the opening day game in Little League.
American sportswriter Chuck Klosterman agreed, arguing, "Sprinting has represented half of the 'fight or flight’ instinct for the totality of human existence, yet we still have no idea of our true limitations… which explains why athletics will always matter."
Records And Medals Today the record, the medals, and the glamour are all tied up in the same man: Usain St. Leo "Lightning" Bolt, defending Olympic champion, 2009 World champion, and threetime World record setter with clockings of 9.72, 9.69 and 9.58.
Don Lippincott-1912 Olympics The title of "World’s Fastest Man" might have been small comfort to Donald Lippincott, the first holder of the 100m* World record, as he left Stockholm without Olympic gold. On 6 July 1912 Lippincott ran a time of 10.6 in the 100m qualifying rounds, but was defeated in the final by Ralph Craig and Alvah Meyer, both his teammates on the USA squad. Returning for the 200m, he was bested again by Craig, but this time took silver. Despite four Germans having recorded 10.5 times in the year leading up to the Stockholm Games, however, Lippincott left Sweden as the World record holder, and would keep that title for eight years without peers. In 1920 Jackson Scholz gained a share of the record, and finally in 1921 Charlie Paddock knocked the record down to 10.4.
"The World record means nothing without gold medals in the World Championships or the Olympics," said Bolt on the occasion of his first record. "If you are the Olympic champion, they have to wait four years to try to beat you." Four years later, challengers are nearing the end of waiting to challenge Bolt the Olympic champion. In the past Olympiad, only Tyson Gay has joined Bolt under 9.70, with a 9.69 in Shanghai in 2009; should Bolt’s record survive into 2013, he may find himself the longestreigning World’s Fastest Man since Jim Hines’ 9.95.
Michael Nelson Trout was born in Millville, New Jersey, on August 7, 1991. Mike Trout not only donned a Yankee’s cap, but he also wore the #3 (Babe Ruth), while playing Little League Baseball. Trout wore #1 for the New Jersey, Millville High School Thunderbolts, where he earned the nickname, the ‘Millville Meteor.” He now wears #27 for the Los Angeles Angels. I think that’s interesting, since his and my two favorite players, Derek Jeter and Mickey Mantle wore #2 and #7 for the New York Yankees. Add the two together and you get #27. Mike Trout’s dad, Jeff Trout, was drafted in
On June 27, 2012, Trout made a tremendous catch in Baltimore to steal away a sure home run. “I try to catch everything in the outfield,” said Trout. “I think it’s better to rob a home run than hit one.” Since joining the big club in 2011, Trout has won two American League MVP Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards and has been chosen five times for the All-Star Game. He also received the American League Rookie-of-the-Year Award, in 2012. Mike Trout is the first player to win back-to-back All-Star Game MVP’s. In his five All-Star Game appearances he has hit for the cycle in his first at-bat in each game. In the 2012 All-Star Game, his first hit was single. In 2013, Trout doubled his first time up. In 2014, Mike hit a triple and then he hit a home run in his first plate appearance in the 2015 All-Star Game. What did he do last year? He started over with a single in the 2016 game. At the time of this writing, Trout has become the youngest player in Major League history to record 150 home runs and 150 stolen bases. All I ask is that if you are a sports fan; please appreciate what you are seeing. If Mike Trout played in the 1950’s, he would be Mickey Mantle. It’s a shame he plays on the West Coast where most of us can’t see him on a regular basis. Mike Trout turns 26 in August. All he needs now is the big stage (World Series) to take the next step into greatness. Mike Trout has been out more than a month from a thumb injury. He underwent successful thumb surgery and is beginning to hit off a tee. His return is expected shortly. Is Mike Trout a “Natural” or is it just plain oldfashioned hard work? I think Mike gets it. He once said, “You put the work in and you put yourself in great situations, and good things will happen.” Wow, that’s pretty special for a guy
Speculation continues about the ultimate limits of human performance, but as long as the possibility exists that even Bolt may improve his own record–and no sprinter has ever admitted to running a race they could not improve somewhere–one of those limits remains just out of sight, with the World Record just a mark along our road toward it. The current men's world record is 9.58 seconds, set by Jamaica's Usain Bolt in 2009, while the women's world record of 10.49 seconds set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988 remains unbroken.
Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith-Joyner)
Ties, Timing And Consolidation The next fifty years of ratified records looked very similar, with hand-timed tenths of a second coming off the best performances in the world, then those performances being equaled, perhaps repeatedly, before another tenth finally came off. As many as ten men officially shared the ratified World record at times, with as many as twelve ratified performances, although as wind readings became widely available those numbers were sometimes available to compare otherwise-identical times.
1983 by the Minnesota Twins organization. Jeff left the game after four years, to start a family. The East Coast scout for the Los Angeles Angels, Greg Morehardt, played baseball with Jeff Trout in the Minor Leagues. After watching Mike play in high school, Greg wrote, “Mike Trout has a chance to be a Hallof-Fame player.” Who writes that about a kid at age 17? Some scouts are just better than others. Morehardt had played against Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and many others.
In the second half of the twentieth century, competition to become the World’s Fastest Man got tougher as automatic timing became widely available and, starting in 1977, required for World record ratification. Records could now be sliced to hundredths of seconds. Jim Hines, whose 9.95 Olympic record in Mexico City had given him a share of the World record at 9.9, now became the sole holder of the record.
Flo-Jo
Usain St. Leo "Lightning" Bolt At the same time, in the United States, a drive toward wider use of international measurement meant more sprinters were competing at 100m and fewer at the imperial distances of 100y and 110y. Since Lippincott’s first ratified World Record, forty-four men have held or shared the record with 67 ratified marks; twenty-six of those men represented the USA. (Of other countries, Canada, Jamaica and Germany have all had three record-holders. Since the shift to automatic timing, seven men have held the record, four from the USA, two from Jamaica, and one from Canada.) Aiding the revolution in speed was the transition from dirt tracks to synthetic surfaces, which offered more regular footing and returned more energy to sprinters, allowing them to turn more of their raw power into speed. Bob Hayes’ 10.0 in Tokyo, 1964 (automatically timed as 10.05) was on a soft, chewed-up lane 1; four years later on a synthetic track in Mexico City, benefiting from altitude as much as the improved footing, Jim Hines ran 9.95.
The Records and The Romance Numbers are one thing, but the magic of the 100m comes from the men on the track. The winners at this iconic distance often became folk heroes like the near-legendary Jesse Owens. They are known by nicknames, like "Bullet" Bob Hayes (Owens was also known as "the Buckeye Bullet") and or "King" Carl Lewis. Hayes, who went on to a successful career in NFL football, was a celebrity in his day, as was Owens.
Florence Griffith-Joyner is unquestionably the fastest women’s sprinter of all time. There is some question, however, about exactly how fast she was. The woman known as Flo-Jo was a successful runner in the early to mid-1980s, winning 200-meter silver medals at the 1984 Olympics and the 1987 World Championships. In 1988, however, she became a record-breaker. Griffith-Joyner opened the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials with a wind-aided 10.60 clocking in the first heat. Her best time and still the world record is 10.49 seconds. *m= Meters: A meter is 39.3701 inches and 100m is equal to 109.361 yards
Remarkably, on June 9, 2009, the day of the MLB Draft, Trout slipped down to pick #25 of the Los Angeles Angels. Pitcher Steven Strasburg was picked first by the Washington Nationals. He was followed by players I would bet most of you have never heard of: Dustin Ackley, Donovan Tate, Tony Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Matt Hobgood, to name a few. Trout debuted for the Angels on July 8, 2011. He batted eighth in his first Major League game. He went 0 for 3 but made a spectacular catch in centerfield that received a standing ovation from the Angeles crowd. He did not get a hit in his second game, either. Baseball has always been a game of failure. The question has always been, how do you handle the failure and then move forward. His first full season with Angels occurred in 2012. Playing every day, Trout started the year fast, hitting triples and home runs and catching balls above the fence.
who is just 25 years old. They will not retire Trout’s #1 at Millville High School. They will simple pass it on to some other kid who shows the promise of playing the game the right way. 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.
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Dotson’s Other Note: The World’s Fastest Man or the World’s Fastest Woman isn’t a title granted as formally as "The World’s Greatest Athlete," but it is much simpler to explain. For the last 100 years, the World record holder in the 100m has been, by definition, the fastest man and woman in history, finishing their race with the highest average speed. The history of the record is interesting in itself, with the shortest classical distance highlighting technical advances in timing and surfaces. 100m record holders, however, represent the current summit of human achievement in an elemental feat understood by children as easily as scientists. My best speed was at 30 yards. I was very fast to 1st base, but in sprint races, the good sprinters started passing me around the 40 yard mark. I haven’t been clocked lately, but I would guess my 30 yard speed at around 9 to 10 seconds. Slow, but I can get there. 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: 530748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com Have fun -30-
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The Traveling Moon Gets Around
Carter Tate and Lynn Westfall took the Island Moon to Carter Lake in Colorado
Dave and Kay Plut traveled to Alaska via an Inside Passage cruise, then visited interior Alaska including Denali National Park. This photo is from the lodge at the end of the park road, as far as the bus goes! June 9-23, 2017.
Just returned from Estes Park, Colorado. Perrin, Elam and Cox family with the Island Moon. Many moons were represented in Omaha last week when Kathleen Cullinan visited her mother, Ellie Wingender, as she celebrated her 95th birthday with family. Her lifetime has spanned a remarkable 1,175 lunar cycles ... so far.
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