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The Kinta S. becomes part of the Near Shore Reef

Issue 544

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The Island Moon

September 25, 2014 Around The Island

By Dale Rankin

editor@islandmoon.com Autumn snuck in on Tuesday under barely cloudy skies and disguised as Chamber of Commerce Weather.

We’ve hit the sweet spot of the season folks so get out there and enjoy your Island.

Garden Club Speaking of weather…the first week of Autumn means it’s time for fall planting and on Saturday, October, 18 the Island Garden Club is holding an opening of twenty new garden plots over at Douden Park followed by a tour of Island gardens. What began as twenty plots at the park a few years ago by the Island Beautification Trust has grown sprouted into a plethora of growing spots with a waiting list for more.

So mark your calendars and go by and see what’s going on.

Park Road 22 Bridge Permitting for the Park Road 22/ SPID Water Exchange Bridge is entering the final stages. The bridge will connect the existing Island canal system with the Gulf of Mexico through Lake Padre with a water passage under the roadway near Nemo Court.

City staffers told the Island Strategic Action Committee earlier this month they have received preliminary drawings for the bridge and are scheduled to release them to the committee at its next meeting on Tuesday, October 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Comfort Suites on Windward. The public is invited to attend.

Plans call for the bridge to have fourteen feet of boat clearance above a waterway dredged to fourteen feet. The forty-foot wide canal is to be flanked by two forty-foot wide pedestrian and cart paths on either side. On the current permitting schedule construction of the bridge could begin in the first quarter of next year.

Whitecap Wastewater The city's Whitecap Wastewater Treatment Plant at the west end of Whitecap may soon be no more; if you define five years as “soon.”

The Only Island in Texas with 6553 Registered Voters!

Flour Bluff ISD Races Most Contested in Several Years

A Trip Through Time

Islander Tracks his Brother's Memory to WII Museum in Germany

Budget accounts for half the tax bill but almost half Island voters skip the race

By Dale Rankin The last time there was a hotly contested race for the Flour Bluff Independent School Board almost half of the Islanders who went to the polls to vote in other races on the ballot didn’t vote in it.

For reasons known only to them 2207 Island voters who went to the polls in November, 2012 voted for

Flour Bluff continued on A13

Island PAC Endorses Incumbents Martinez and McIntyre

Battle of Hurtgen Forrest on Cover of Life

By Carroll “Blackie” Pitzer

Endorsement in At-Large Races Set for Thursday, September 25

By Dale Rankin The Island Political Action Committee has endorsed incumbents Nelda Martinez for Mayor and District 4 Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre for re-election in the November 4 election.

The second round of endorsements which will be for At-Large City Council candidates will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, September 25 at the Holiday Inn on Windward Drive.

PAC continued on A13

Years ago, in November 1944 I was walking home from school with a friend of mine when I noticed a number of cars gathered around our house. I thought maybe my mother’s Sunday school class was meeting at the house but it turned out to be the day the War Department notified my Mom and Dad that my brother “Rex” had been shot down over Germany and was MIA (later changed to KIA).

Reginald “Rex” Pitzer joined the Army Air Corps and became a P-38 pilot when he was 19 and was 20 years old when he was shot down and killed. His body was never recovered although it was seen outside the crash by locals (they tried to get to the plane but the artillery fire was so intense that one of them was killed). The battle of Hurtgen Forrest raged through that area for three months killing or wounding 33,000 Americans. It was fought along the Siegfried Line and is

the longest single battle in the history of the United States Army.

After the war in 1949, an investigation was conducted of the crash and it concluded that some US troops must have come through and buried the body.

Time passes but memories remain and I always wondered what happened to his body and how best to memorialize him. About three years ago my family decided to install a headstone in the family plot in the Bayside Cemetery in honor of him. Within a few weeks I received correspondence from JPAC (recovery team for MIAs) that Rex’s crash site had been excavated and no remains were found. Some pictures of the excavation were sent to me and I began to wonder what that area (Strass, Germany) looked like.

Taste of the Island A reminder that the Taste of the Island at Port Royal is coming up on Wednesday, October 8, from 6-9 p.m.

Port Royal hosted the event last year at the great pool. Visitors can sample food from 25 area restaurants and there will be live music, and auction items. Tickets are $30 in advance ($35 at door) - Buy tickets at any bank on Padre Island, American Bank in Port Aransas, the POA office or any PIBA Board member. We’ll see you there.

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

Adopt-A-Beach This Saturday A14

Blackie with photo of Rex

Inside the Moon

First Friday A4

On September 3rd I made that trip to Germany and while driving to the

History continued on A4

Chicago Tribune Lists Corpus Christi on Most Livable Cities On the Rocks A6

Current plans, tentative at this point, call for the land to be sold off to private control to the highest bidder.

But five years is a long time in City Years and plenty of time to find a way to turn the land into public space; especially given that the city/citizens already own the land.

Don’t forget that Halloween is just around the corner so it’s time to start digging around in the closet for that Giant Chicken Suit.

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A consolidation of the city’s sewer system into a few large plants rather than several smaller ones, including the Whitecap plant, may mean the prime real estate there would be unoccupied. The vacant site next door, also owned by the city, is the launching pad for the 4th of July Fireworks each year and combined with the site of the current plant constitutes the front door of The Island from the water side at the confluence of the Island canal system, the terminal of Whitecap, and the Laguna Madre.

Hopefully, at some point before a firm decision is made Islanders will be given the opportunity to make their collective voices heard.

Photos by Earl Nottingham

Captain Silverton A7

Photo from last Sunday's Chicago Tribune Editor’s note: The Chicago Tribune last Sunday ran a story about the most affordable and livable places across the country. Corpus Christi was listed at number seven along with the photo seen above. Here is the portion of the story which pertains to our city.

By Andrea N. Browne,, Kiplinger Consumer News Service The cheapest places to live aren't necessarily the best places to live.

Cities with super-low living costs can suffer from high unemployment, poverty and a lack of services. So while cost of living is an important consideration in choosing where you settle down, it's equally important to gauge the strength of the local economy and the job market.

With this in mind, we set out to identify inexpensive cities where you would actually want to live, based on economic health and affordability. We started with the 100 cheapest cities in the U.S., based on cost of living, and

Tribune continued on A3

Island Legends

Why You Should Never Get too Close to a Drunk Monkey

Dee-Scoveries A12

By Jackie Bales “Hey, look what I found” it was Gary Dreyer holding a bottle of whiskey that he Hijacked from his dad’s liquor locker. Knowing that Captain Lloyd Dreyer might be suspicious, we filled the level with water. What could go wrong? The year was 1965 and we were 14 years old. Lloyd, and the family, lived in a house on 9th street (behind where Moby Dick’s is now).

Dos Nixon had a monkey in his back yard (just across the back fence). They called him MONKEY DOO. It was the Nixon Courts on Avenue F. The spider monkey had a little house on a pole and a tethered leash. We were in full party mode by then and decided to share our

Election 2014 Sample Ballot A13

bounty with this cute little monkey.

The monkey held his leash by a little loop at the end of his tail. He led himself around his perimeter in expert fashion along a well-defined path. We soaked a few pieces of

Legends continued on A4

Live Music A18

A2

September 25, 2014

Island Moon

Billish Reborn!

Since its inception more than two decades ago Billish Park on The Island has been renowned for one thing; its world class crop of sticker burs. That looks like it may finally be coming to an end with a makeover thanks to the City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department.

Plans for the revamping of Billish Park are nearing completion. The innovative plan first proposed by Islander David Dunseth for using fresh groundwater to fill a one-acre pond at the park for use in irrigation of the surrounding grounds has the potential to become a model for other parks on The Island.

According to the plan water from the pond will be used to nurture turf on a new soccer field as well as a baseball field along with gardens, and a stand of citrus trees. Ground water would also be stored in underground cisterns for use in especially dry seasons.

The work is funded with $550,000 from the 2012 bond issue and is scheduled to begin in April.

- Dale Rankin

Corpus Christi Realty Group 15217 South Padre Island Drive Suite 108

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September 25, 2014

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Letters to the Editor

Tribune continued from A1 then whittled the list down. We required that each city have below-average living costs, high household incomes relative to the cost of living and an unemployment rate below the national average. We also looked for places that offer residents access to fun, low-cost things to do.

Cities with populations below 50,000 didn't make the cut.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Distribution

FBISD

Pete Alsop

Island Moon,

Island Delivery Coldwell Banker

Thank you for the free advertising last week about our signs. The photo was great, but the article was boring.

Advertising Jan Park Rankin

Not what I would consider journalism. But, oh well!!

Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah

Your island candidates are never going to win this election. We have all grown up here and we will win. You might as well tell your people to pick up their signs and go get involved in serving somewhere else.

Grunberg, Morgan and Thornton are going to win. Leave us alone.

Andy Purvis Devorah Fox

Tonya Mathews

Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner

Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)

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

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

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

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

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

Where to Find The Island Moon

Lisabella’s Restaurant

Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors Port A Arts

Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

North Padre

A Mano

All Stripes Stores

Coffee Waves

CVS

Moby Dicks

Whataburger

Spanky’sLiquor

Doc’s Restaurant

IGA Grocery Store

Isle Mail N More

Carter Pharmacy

Island Italian

San Juan’s Taqueria

Ace Hardware

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Texas Star (Shell)

Pioneer RV Park

Port A Parks and Rec Public Library

For some, renewal may be a mere formality, but that process could be tricky with consumers unsure of what to expect. For others, the process of cancellation in order to select another health plan must be done carefully to ensure there is no lapse in coverage.

Because there is no uniform renewal process, the steps to renew may vary among insurers.

This could create confusion with canceling coverage from one company in order to select a plan with another.

If coverage is not purchased during open enrollment, consumers will be unable to purchase an ACA-compliant plan until the next enrollment period in late 2015 unless they experience a “qualifying event,” such as a divorce, marriage or change in job status that results in a loss of coverage.

“Twelve months into this process, consumers have had a chance to reflect on the decisions they made regarding their coverage for 2014,” said Jacqueline St. Hilaire, president of the Texas Association of Health Underwriters.

“Many found out for the first time that they are not able to purchase ACA-compliant coverage beyond the open enrollment period. Many discovered that their coverage required them to pay higher deductibles than they had anticipated or that their doctor wasn’t in-network. Many are now accepting the fact that they could face increasing fines without coverage.”

According to St. Hilaire, questions about the process for renewal or cancellation, uncertainty about the enrollment timeline, and confusion about the transitional period allowing consumers to maintain noncompliant plans are among the growing questions being asked by consumers as they enter year two of life with a federal health coverage mandate.

Those who received subsidies may be hit by a financial aftershock that can reduce the amount of any tax subsidy used to offset the insurance premiums. These aftershocks could even include asking insured people to pay the IRS back for the subsidies they’ve received. The subsidies are based strictly on income; so as someone’s income goes up or down, so will their actual subsidy. If someone has had an increase in income, their subsidy will be recalculated to go down. If that person received a larger subsidy than he should have, after it’s all recalculated, the IRS may be asking for some of it back.

The 14th Annual South Texas Music Festival and Chili/BBQ Cook-Off will be held at Sharkey’s Beach Club in Port A on Saturday, October 4th starting at noon. There will be cooks from all over Texas serving samples to the public. There will be live music all day outside and in the evening there will be a concert inside with a cover charge. They are located on Hwy 361.

Island in the Son is having their “Fabulous Fall Arts & Crafts Sale” on Saturday, September 27th 9 am – 3 pm. There will be jewelry, Tervis products, home décor, woodcraft and more. They are located at 10650 Hwy 361.

Business Briefs An Island watering hole will soon be changing hands. Details next issue.

Creative Referral Network has a local branch called Padre Island Business Branding whose slogan is “Put your brand in the Sand.” They hold their weekly meetings at the Boathouse Bar & Grill every Friday 8:15 – 9:30 am. People from all businesses are welcome to join the group that has been increasing each week. Stop by and don’t forget to bring some business cards.

Ruth Anna Daugherty Cornett Gregorczyk is stepping out of her first century and into her second one. A big Happy 100th Birthday from the Moon Monkeys!

An Island Meet & Greet for Colleen McIntyre and Carol Scott will be held at Doc’s Seafood & Steaks on Monday, September 29th 5:30 pm – 7 pm. Colleen is running for re-election for District 4 and Carol is running for Del Mar College Regent at Large.

The Fall 2014 Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup will be held September 27th 9 am – noon but you should arrive before 9 am to pick up cleaning supplies. The cleanups here will be in Port A at Avenue G on the beach, Padre Balli Park Office and Island National Seashore Malaquite Visitor Center. Registration forms are available at http://www.glo.texas.gov/ adopt-a-beach.

Padre Island National Seashore has Fee Free Day on Saturday, September 27th.

For employers, year two brings questions, obligations and possible fines of up to $3,000 per employee, depending on the size of the company.

The Annual Jewelry & Gifts Show will be held September 26 -28 at the American Bank Center. You can purchase unique items from a wide selection at a good price.

“Many employers are facing new requirements for the first time. The complexity of their options can be overwhelming and the cost of a wrong decision could be significant for their businesses,” stated St. Hilaire. “Employers would be especially wise to seek the counsel of a professional benefits adviser in order to make the best choices for their company and employees.”

Schlitterbahn Resort will have the last day of the public area open on Sunday, October 12th. The Veranda Restaurant and the members’ area with the swim up bar will be open all year.

She added, “Whether you’re an individual or an employer, utilizing the services of a professional benefit adviser does not add to the cost of coverage. You essentially receive a free service that provides professional advice, guidance and peace of mind.”

Texas Association of Health Underwriters

An Awake & Aware Event will be held at the Boathouse Bar & Grill Friday, September 26th 9:30 am – noon to benefit the Women’s Shelter of South Texas. For a donation of $25 enjoy a lunch buffet and peruse items from vendors that include jewelry, candles, purses, household items and much more.

Isla Mexican Restaurant should be open in about two weeks according to a waitress at La Palma. The owners of the two restaurants are cousins.

Construction has started on the new nail place next to the Office Lounge.

It’s a CHAIR-I-TEE! If you care– Buy a Chair.

Subway

Back Porch

WB Liquor

Shorty’s Place

Flour Bluff

Giggity’s

H.E.B.

Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Liquid Town

The Gaff

Year two of open enrollment begins on November 15, 2014, and continues through February 15, 2015. You must enroll by December 15, 2014, in order for your coverage to be effective January 1, 2015. If you purchased coverage for 2014 and you want to change your insurance plan for 2015, you must also enroll in the new plan by December 15, 2014, for it to be effective January 1, 2015.

An Aflac study of the 2013 enrollment process suggests that many didn’t approach the purchase of their health plan as they might for that of a car or vacation. The study found that 41 percent said they spent less than 15 minutes researching their health insurance plan options in 2013.

New Advertisers Padre Pizzeria now has ordering and payment online for super-fast delivery. You can order any item from their menu for delivery including their pans of lasagna, subs, calzones, gluten free pizzas and take and bake pizza. Stop by at lunch for their soup and salad bar. Call 949-0787 or visit padrepizzeria.com.

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

And all Moon retail advertisers

Port A Glass Studio

St. Hilaire added, “Until last year, a very high percentage of individuals have never had to make choices about deductibles, co-pays and levels of coverage. Many now realize the importance of taking the time to closely review their options and to seek guidance in order to make the right choices for their families, budgets and their future.”

mkay512@aol.com

Jesse’s Liquor

Duckworth Antiques

Keepers Pier House

While year two of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be absent the computer glitches and confusion that reigned in year one, consumers will face uncertainty about the process and questions regarding what many believe is the most important purchase they will make during the year. For some, the approaching open enrollment period may present the opportunity to change the choices they made, good or bad, about their coverage in year one. For individuals that didn’t purchase coverage and many employers, unfamiliarity with the new law will raise questions about coverage options and requirements that must be now confronted.

by Mary Craft

Holiday Inn

Island Tire

Gratitude Gift Shop

Why you'll like living here: Sitting beside the Gulf of Mexico in South Texas, Corpus Christi is sometimes referred to as the "Sparkling City by the Sea." The nearby Padre Island National Seashore offers miles of shoreline that are ripe for camping, fishing, birding and beachcombing. In town, the Bay Trail skirts the waterfront and connects many of the city's attractions. Affordable housing is a big selling point. The median home value is $112,700.

The city government runs a program to help qualifying homebuyers with down payments and closing costs. Military facilities provide plenty of jobs, including jobs for civilians, as do hospitals, schools and city agencies. And given the proximity to the Gulf as well as Houston, it's no surprise there are ample employment opportunities in the offshore-drilling and petroleum-refining industries.

Did Ya Hear?

Snoopy’s Pier

Chamber of Commerce

Woody’s Sports Center

Cost of living: 7.9% below U.S. average Median household income: $47,029

Affordable Care Act Enrollment

Chad Peters Todd Hunter

Port Aransas

A3

Island Moon

Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

Wooden Café Chairs that have been painted by artists will be up for Silent Auction starting Monday 9/29 and ending at 7 pm at the First Friday Reception October 3rd. The chairs have been painted by Narice Hopp, Beth Alexander, Nancy Buskey, Arlene Hughes, Patti Yoachum, Sarah Searight and a Special Collector’s item– one painted by the late Art Center Musician & Artist-Tiddle Caylor. Support the Art Center’s important Fundraising Projects, like the Building Fund. Art Center hours are Mon-Sat 11am-5pm and 12-4 on Sunday First Friday reception time is 5:30-7:30, Reminder Auction ends at 7pm on October 3rd and you must be able to take the chair with you or pick it up later.

We will not ship it.Port Aransas Art Center is a 501 ( C) (3) Non Profit Celebrating over 18 years of Art & Art Education Island Style since 1996.

A4

Legends continued from A1

History continued from A1

bread with the Kentucky spirits and MONKEY DOO accepted our contribution with a nod and bow as if to say thank you. Soon, the monkey was doing back flips and running around his “well-defined perimeter”. I set at the edge laughing boorishly. As I went down, slapping my knee hysterically, MONKEY DOO made a move that would put Jackie Chan to shame.

Spinning around, he grabbed my head with all four legs. His little fingers dug in behind my ears and he pulled me into his domain. He started ripping the hair out of my head and chewing my scalp until the blood was flowing down my face.

crash site we passed through the small town of Vossenack which I had read supported a good little museum, mostly about the battle of Hurtgen Forrest. It only opens on Sunday but this was Sunday so we stopped in. The curator of the museum asked why we were touring this area and I told him I had a brother who had been shot down not far from here. The curator told us there was an aircraft section upstairs.

We spent a good hour or so in the lower section before we went upstairs. When we got upstairs I noticed some of the pictures looked like that area around Strass. All of a sudden my daughter said “Dad, Dad look behind you!” and there on the wall was a picture of my brother and his plane with a short write-up about him as well as pictures of the excavation site. I immediately ran down to the curator and told him “That’s my brother up there.” I don’t know who was more excited, the curator or me. He immediately took pictures of me holding Rex’s picture and asked if I had more info (which I did). We exchanged email addresses and I gave him a copy of the 1949 report.

Just as I broke free of this “drunk monkey”, the fire whistle went off down at the old community center. Back in the day, the fire department was manned by boys. Fire Chief Andy Dallas was in charge and the only other adult was Dennis Hendrix, he was 19 years old. Gary Dreyer and I ran for our bikes and headed to the community center (trying to keep it between the ditches).

We had to catch the fire truck.

Now we are hanging off the side of a fire truck (monkey drunk teenagers), screaming down the park road with the sirens blaring and the lights flashing. Mickey Curry was staring back at me wondering why I had blood running down my face and patches of my hair missing. “Hey… I was just attacked by a drunk monkey”, I shouted over the roar… Well, he didn’t get it.

What’s to get? How often does that happen?

Dennis Hendrix was driving while Chief, Andy Dallas, rode shotgun. Andy was drinking out of that seven-up bottle he always carried. Half of the labeling was worn off from continuous use (I wondered how long it took to drink a 7-up).

I manned the water backpack and Gary Dreyer was on the front lines, slapin’ that fire with a wet burlap “Tote Sack”… I looked like I just came from a near sighted barber. Andy Dallas shouted orders like General Patton on the battlefield while we put the grass fire out as we always did. Little did anyone know back then… It was a controlled burn and Andy Dallas would send some of us out to set the fire.

“Boys” he paused for effect as he eyed us every one… “If you don’t have fires you don’t need a fire department”, he would rationalize.

I will always remember… you can learn a lot from a “drunk monkey”… MONKEY DOO was another Island legend.

Same time next time.

September 25, 2014

Island Moon

First Friday at Port Aransas Art Center First Friday Reception at the Art Center of Port Aransas will be on October 3rd 5:30-7:30 at the Art Center at 323 N. Alister.

This month’s event features the Rockport Plein Air Group with June AinsworthFrances Iles, Betty Irey, and Brenda Staresnick.

Their exhibits will remain up at the art center through the end of the month.

After we left and went to the crash site it seemed a little anticlimactic but what more could you ask for..........a memorial for my brother in a museum! That beats a tombstone any day.

“Star Wars Reads Day” Program at Harte Library Janet F. Harte Public Library hosts free program on Saturday, October 11th at 2:00 p.m.

Best Pizza in the Coastal Bend

Corpus Christi, TX— Children as well as adults are invited to join us as we celebrate Star Wars and reading, with various crafts for the kids, followed by a movie about a beloved American superhero. Everyone is invited to come in costume, Star Wars –style or not. Since we are also celebrating reading, storybook characters are very welcome. Free and open to all. The library is located at 2629 Waldron Rd. in Flour Bluff. For more information call 9376569.

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September 25, 2014

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin It only hurts when I hit the “A” key; when the left pinky finger has to do its stuff.

You don’t realize how many words have an “A” in them unless you are an avid Wheel of Fortune watcher or each “A” sends a shooting pain up through your elbow, up through your shoulder and down through your back to the nether regions that feels something like a couple thousand acupuncture needles finding home all at the same time; my sacroiliac tells me there are 31 “A”s in this paragraph. Oh why did I have to use “sa – ouch! croilia ouch! c!?

Listing to Port Photo by Earl Nottingham

For the last week I’ve been listing to port. As a lifelong landlubber I should have known better but the chance to see the sinking of the Kinta S was not to be missed. The photos of the sinking of the 155-foot freighter for a reef last week are included in this issue; but I didn’t take them.

The event was held on our deadline day and a delay in the proceedings meant Jerry and I had to return to port before the ship went down.

Ten miles offshore is a drop in the bucket for fisherpersons who routinely go thirty miles or more out to rigs. It didn’t sound far when Jerry and I talked about it while sitting comfortably on terra firma nursing decision juice. Ten miles and 2-3 foot seas is nothing, we said, we can be out there in forty-five minutes. Easy as pie.

So we set off at 9 a.m. in perfectly calm water under clear skies and a beautiful morning it was.

We cruised through the Packery, past the large number of fisherpersons stuck on the shoreline and under the Packery Bridge. The first sign of trouble was when we hit the shallows at the end of the jetties and the first swells showed up.

Oh well, it’ll calm down after we get into open water. Didn’t work out that way.

We call this a sporty sea “We call this a sporty sea,” Jerry said. “After a trip out in this kind of water when someone asks how it was we say “sporty.”

For the record, as best I can tell a sporty sea consists of swells between five and six feet high with enough wind to blow the tops off them and into your face. “The forecast said 2-3 foot seas,” I said.

Which led to the second sign of trouble which was when Jerry said, “You know that means the average wave height is 2-3 feet right?

“I thought it meant the Big Ones were 2-3 but I don’t see any 2-3 footers hereabouts.”

“No, that’s the average so the Big Ones are

A5

Island Moon

The Real Story - Not Just the Scuttlebutt

By Mary Craft

4-6.”

“I can see that,” I said. “I would have come out anyway but for some reason I would kind of liked to know that beforehand. I ‘m not really sure why.”

“Well, we would come out to fish in this kind of sea,” Jerry said, as he pushed his thirty-foot center- console boat through the chop. “It’s not worth it because you don’t want to go too far out in these waves. But we’re not going to miss this.”

Flying balls of smoldering carbon Jerry has plenty of offshore experience and the sea legs that go with it. The last time I was more than a mile offshore was in 2001 when I went out on the maiden voyage of the gambling ship that used to run out of Port Aransas. That one had three engines which apparently had not been run up to full throttle in a while and when we left port with a full complement of people they poured on the power and it showered us at the bar on the Poop Deck with marble-sized balls of smoldering carbon one of which found its way down the back of Jan’s dress and I snuffed out with my bare hand leaving a smoking hole which I didn’t mention.

When we headed back toward shore we were bucking currents and two of the engines went out and by the time we limped home on the one that was still working it was three o’clock in the morning. The image of a few dozen people calling in the buffalo over the side in the middle of the night came back to me when Jerry mentioned “sporty.”

David and Kimberly Parlasca, owners of the popular Surfside Sandwich Shoppe and Scuttlebutt’s Seafood Bar & Grill on the Island, have an interesting story about how they and their businesses ended up here.

It was a rather circuitous route that brought them to the Corpus area. When David got out of the Navy about thirty years ago he first worked as a bar back at his favorite watering hole in Jacksonville, Florida. He would soon move up to bartender and worked in many towns along the east coast including Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach and Ocean City in Baltimore.

David went on from bartender to food and beverage manager for major restaurant groups where he would open new locations. He learned every aspect of the business including food preparation.

A good friend convinced him to move to Albuquerque and that is where he met his wife Kimberly who grew up in Hobbs, New Mexico.

In 1994, the two took over a family owned restaurant/bar there. During the years there they acquired grocery stores, gas stations and real estate. A Hobbs banker friend told them they might want to look into investing in Rockport where they were told the fishing was great and the real estate market incredible.

they had to pick a location on the Island. While they were looking, Tsunami Bar & Grill closed its doors and that site became available. It was the right size but would need major renovations including renovating the kitchen and hooking up a gas line to the building. It was important to the couple to make a complete transformation from a bar with loud music to a family friendly restaurant. The former large dance floor was converted to the “Drop Off Zone” for kids with a wall of arcade games, foosball and pool tables. The secluded dining area was separated from the bar with an attractive partition of wine barrels, wine racks and wine crates. New tables and chairs and brightly colored leather stools were added.

A sushi bar was built in a corner of the restaurant with stools so you can watch your food art being made. David built it before he actually had a sushi chef but his “Build it and he will come” worked for him. He Island noticedMoon that Christopher Adams' application listed 25 years experience in Hawaii that included sushi. Chris became his sushi chef and many of the rolls were his own and had a Hawaiian twist.

The couple took a trip to Rockport to investigate but it was peak season and there were no hotel A6 But there was no turning back now. To turn rooms available so it was suggested they try Port Aransas. to Riley back now just because of some sporty seas Letters would invite the kind of ridicule that real “Port Aransas reminded me of Florida thirty boaters could never endure. The nose of the years ago so instead of going to Rockport we boat shot skyward as we went up the high side sat on the beach and then wandered around the Once they knew the location and type of Riley were P. Dog“hooked” and then when held on as it dipped into the troughs town,” David said.ByThey restaurant they had to decide on a name. and pancaked at the bottom.

Foundation, International Falls, Minnesota. went back, sold their businesses returned It was a goodandweek My friends there will send them to me. to open Hooks Restaurant/ Bar across from the “We wanted to find a nameDon’t that didn'tThere say a for we Island dogs. I Six guys in a Jon boat forget…hotdogs…International Falls.

Tarpon In 2005, went to Inn. Stingrays up inthey Portopened AransasHooks wherein the nightclub but instead something nautical,” Island th We arrived at the site right on time and I was my old friend ValueDeb Bank building. converted Don’tDavid send anything slipped me a They good supply of the said. to the cats. Stoopid cats chagrined to notice that out there among the pizza bones.

There were a lot of four lane drive thru to an outside bar area with Scuttlebutt is a nautical term for the cask used twenty or so boats that came to watch were two humans yelling at aused littleassquare the old lane curbs bar foot rests. Some of Drivers to serve water. Later the term became slang for on the wall with people all Jon boats that couldn’t have been more than thing the menu items that were a hit were the Cuban notice gossip which is what one does around the water th dressed alike running around on fifteen feet long, one of them had six people in pressed sandwich and the blackened Ahi tuna place. C come it.

Humans funny. it! Dang! I’m such a landlubber! which theyare still serve. They sold Hooks a couple cooler. It did not take long for David topersisten up with the name since that was the name of his of years later and it has changed hands and I got kicked out of two other But there was a delay. A fellow on the boat but that names several timeswas sinceokay and is now Giggity’s first establishment. towing the ship threw an anchor over the side places because my humans left with Corpus Restaurant/Bar. “I had a place on the water in Baltimore called and the nylon strap wrapped around one of me. Sometimes dogs get in and hole “Scuttlebutt's” more than twenty years ago soinI t the screws which left the vessel adrift with sometimes They next we opened Surfside don’t.

I can’tSandwich Shoppe resurrected the name,” he proudly stated. canals w one engine in sporty seas dragging the anchor figure whichit out. took off from the get-go. The daily Commit seventy feet down. What we thought would specials, if they became popular, got on the Scuttlebutt's offers a wide range of seafood have the My humans left me and the Little be about an hour on scene turned into two, menu. Because of so many delicious specials that includes Alaskan King crab legs, oysters, sooner o Yappy Dog home two nights in a then three, and finally four and we could wait they now have about 80 menu items. The Shoppe mussels, flounder and craw fish. Chicken breasts told the row but we got even. I peed the no longer. As we headed in Jerry mentioned it floor police celebrated its Little fifth anniversary usedst and the Yappy Dog this year. In less and steaks are all hand-cut and all products looking would be a bit less sporty if we headed toward pooped than a year Surfside such a success the are fresh, not processed. The soups, sides and the back porch.became We dogs volun Port A with the wind to our back but would take got couple thought they would open a second one desserts are all made in their kitchen withfortheir our ways. is to ultim a bit longer. What he really was asking was in town. They scoped out different sites in town own recipes.

I tried to blame the wet spot on main pol whether the landlubber on board could stand before realizing really did not want to leave the cat but the catthey ratted me out.

The beverage department is extensive with the ride in or needed to take the bunny slope. I Stoopid the Island He also Cat!so they had to figure out what type of more than seventy wines and twenty taps of figured half an hour of up and down was better eatery to open here. cameras premium draft beer.

I got to go back and see Dr. departm than months of ridicule so I held on.

In the meantime, they met someone who helped Christi again because I found should David, Kim and Sam (who has since moved on) b If I ever met the fellow who came up with another them put a plan for an even larger onetogether of the pounds I lost. succeeded in their goal of providing great food the alphabet I would ask him to leave out the Ienterprise. think it might been theto open Surfside Whilehave preparing and fun in a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere.

“A”. And if met Christopher Latham Sholes pizza bones.

Or it could have there was someone opening a health club next Simpso will been the stuff I found when I I would ask him to leave the key you hit with door. Everyone kept saying David needed to That is why when there is no hostess you taken ov not see a “seat yourself” sign but rather one that diving in who the office your left pinky blank. I can only say I thank the went meet trash Sam Calloway was opening the Padre now can says “make yourself at home”. last week.

Boy did I get in trouble alphabetic stars there aren’t that many words Island Executive Fitness Center. When they non-poli for that.met Butout I scored piece oflot Sam noticed a top of th with a “Z” ouch! finally in theaparking an old hamburger that made my trailer with New Mexico plates and asked who On the bright side at least I’m not writing stomach feel funny.

New Mexico. anything this week about Wa dang! rren Z dang! isI from And s got to stop writing now my evon.

“I am fromtoa throb little from town you would not Trespass nose is but starting know about called answered David. He property the space bar.Hobbs,” Please send Mike says he’s already working on getting hitting was surprised to hear Sam answer “I am too!” now gon me some hotdogs.

Just put them another ship to sink at the reef. If he does me sign here box with Not Hotdogs and Jerry will be there. But hopefully in less inIt aturned out that in that town of 27,000 they a flock o on the outside and send them This is my nice human friend Deb. sporty seas. had heard of each other but never met. Their two to the Save Riley P. Dog businesses ended up opening on the same day.

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September 25, 2014

Island Moon

On the Rocks

Seashore Visits the Blue Ghost

By Jay Gardner Man I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. They don’t let me outside, and if they do, it’s only to work on a vehicle, boat, garage door, or to mow the lawn. I’m not complaining too much though, last time I was outside for any extended period of time there were a lot of mosquitos. If you haven’t gotten your case of Off! already this season, then you may be out of luck. I fired up a citronella torch the other day when we were installing Patrick S’s new rod rock on the front of his ‘burb, and I swear I saw several mosquitos bathing in the smoke and oil They’re tough out there.

Speaking of tough, there is going to have to be some tough shark fishermen out there this weekend for Sharkathon. The water is going to be rough, with 3-4 foot seas predicted. This will put the water about halfway to the dunes, robbing us of our “low-road.” Driving with be either in the middle road (which likely most people will block with their camps because they don’t know any better), or gasp! The “high road”. The high road, while it may be the oldest road on the beach, it sure isn’t the best road.

The sand is powdery soft, and will overheat most normal 4WD vehicles. Add a metric ton of additional and extra equipment that most shark fishermen take down the beach, and there will be incidents for sure. Hope everyone makes it down and back off the beach safely.

Speaking of the beach, construction continues on Cedar Bayou up the beach between San Jose and Matagorda Islands. They are very near completion, and any day now, they should pop the “plug” and water will once again flow between Aransas and Mesquite Bays, and

the Gulf of Mexico. CCA was a partner in this project, along with Aransas County (the sponsor) and TPWD. This will open the only “natural” pass along the Texas coast. The pass is oriented in a south-east and north-west direction. This is along the predominant spring, summer and fall winds (SE) and the winter coldfront winds (NW) that drive the system. Some folks don’t believe that the pass will stay open that long; however I disagree. After the IXTOC spill, man bulldozed the pass (and Vincent’s Slough) shut in 1979 in order to prevent oil from entering the bay system. Since then, dredging efforts have only included Cedar Bayou without doing the adjacent Vincent’s slough. As a part of this project, both sections of the pass will be opened, and I expect them to flow a little more naturally, and for a longer period of time.

Besides riding up there in Rockstar Bob’s skiff to tarpon fish a few years back, I haven’t been into Cedar Bayou since 1995, when I was working for USFWS and tagging redfish in the area after the most recent dredging. Several of the fish I tagged were caught within a week all the way down at Bob Hall pier (migration was underway and they were headed south). So I have seen the benefits to having a pass in that location first-hand.

In addition, Aransas County has ponied up funds every year for dredging, which should help if it tries to close due to drought. CCA has ponied up funds for the Fisheries Team at HRI to study the before and after effects of opening the pass. They have been studying the pass for over a year now, and after it’s been open a year or two, we’ll have what may be the first complete study results from whether or not Cedar Bayou has a positive or no effect on fisheries. I, of course, believe that it will indeed have a positive effect, but the science will tell for sure or not. Based on that, we’ll all know definitely whether or not digging the pass was a worthy project, or if we should turn our attention to other projects.

Dani with a large bull shark tagged Photo courtesy of James Clark

Speaking of people that haven’t turned their attention, James and Dani continue to reel in the sharks (well, at least Dani).

We’ll see how many sharks get reeled in this weekend, and if the driving isn’t too terrible, I’m going to head south all the way to the Mansfield Channel, and if you’re there, I’ll see you On the Rocks.

Fishing Tournament Set for Marker 37 The 3rd Annual Dismas Charities Fishing Tournament benefiting the American Diabetes Foundation will take to the water on Saturday, October 4 at Marker 37 Marina.

The event will pay cash awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in three categories: Heaviest Redfish, Heaviest Speckled Trout, and Heaviest Black Drum.

The bulls have spread out with the high tides but reds like this one are still all over the Upper Lagoon. Drift with small pin perch under a popping cork. Photo by Farah

Carla with one of her limit of nice trout this week along Laguna Shores with live piggies. Photo by Joey Farah

The weigh-in will be from 1-4p.m.and sign up is $30 and entry fee may be mailed to Dismnas Charities, C/O Michael Corona, 1023 Mestina, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, late registration can be done on the day of the tournament between 5-6a.m. For questions call Michael at 361 463-3753 or e-mail at mcorona@dismas.com.

Fee Free Day at Padre Island National Seashore, September 27th, 2014

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Save the Date! October 30, 2014 Thursday 5 to 9PM Superintendent Mark Spier announced today that on Saturday, September 27, 2014, Padre Island National Seashore will celebrate National Public Lands Day by offering free admission to park visitors. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest, hands-on volunteer effort in the United States designed to improve and enhance public lands for all Americans to enjoy. NPLD is supported by several Federal land management agencies and is supported nationally and locally by agency partner organizations.

To learn more about National Public Lands Day you can visit their website at www.publiclandsday.org.

If you come out to the seashore on September 27, the fee free day, you will see lots of volunteers working with one of our partners, the Texas General Land Office, for the Adopt –A-Beach clean-up. To learn more check out their website www.

Texasadoptabeach.org.

The staff at Padre Island National Seashore encourages the park’s friends, neighbors and visitors to get reacquainted with their local national park on National Public Lands Day. Entrance fees for passengers in both private and commercial vehicles will be waived at Padre Island National Seashore on September 27th, 2014, while recreation “user fees” such as camping fees and use of Bird Island Basin are not covered under this waiver.

For general information on visiting Padre Island National Seashore, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/pais.

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September 25, 2014

A7

Island Moon

Captain Silverton By Sail Offcourse Captain Silverton came back with word there was no one on the Base to fix his boat and that the Base Commander would not allow anyone from outside the base in to fix the boat. I talked with him and asked if he would like me to take a look at his boat to see if I could help him out. We walked down to where the walkway went out to the pilings that his boat was moored to. We got on the boat and I opened the engine hatches. I had him crank the engines over and both rotated just fine. Happy he had not blown up his engines I took the Spark Arrestors off the tops of the Carburetors on the Chryslers that were his the boats power plants. I disconnected the throttle linkage and moved the throttle and nothing, no gas came out of the accelerator pumps.

Satisfied I could fix his problem we buttoned the engine bays up and sat down to discuss what his engines needed and what my fee was. I told him I would fix his carburetors for a tow down the river to the Chesapeake Bay as I was going to see family at Virginia Beach. He was happy to trade a tow for mechanical labor and besides that meant he had a mechanic on board for the trip down the river. Little did I know that I would end up Piloting his yacht while he drank his booze and smoked my cigarettes? As far as we were concerned we had a deal and told the gentlemen ashore that all was worked out and I would overhaul his carburetors in the morning.

I got up and made coffee and an egg sandwich early so I could get the boat going. With the new day I headed over with my tools to remove the tops to the carburetors. When I got the bowls off they were full of hardened Sulfates and I had to scrape it out. Then I used a torch tip cleaning tool to clean the orifices and jets.

This done I used carburetor cleaner to wash all the parts off. In the bilge was a bucket with extra oil and gas filters.

I replaced the filters and buttoned the carbs back up.

We cranked the motors over and I then checked to see if both motors had gas by seeing that the accelerator pumps shot fuel, both did so had him fire up the port motor.

The engine ran fine and we got the starboard motor fired up. I looked to make sure no leaks were visible and found none. With a big smile on my face I headed to my boat to get tied on for the tow down river.

have taken me a week was going to take two days of motoring. The thing I had not counted on was that the Silverton’s captain had not bought cigarettes while he was out looking for a mechanic, and found myself sharing cigs with a two pack a day smoker! What terrible planning this guy had as there were very few places that a vessel could call on going down the river. It is not like he was without money just had very bad planning.

He had not even came to D.C. to buy a boat but when he found this boat for sale by a wealthy Countess from Russia that was tired of her husband using the yacht as a place to stash his girlfriends. He had looked at the boat and bought it for $10,000 because he wanted the antiques that were inside. The interior had been removed and all the walls were lined with very old and exotic antique furniture. It was like being given the boat to buy the antiques at a discounted rate in his mind. I looked at the household furniture and wondered if they would survive the journey to Georgia down the intercostal waterway.

There would be many crossings that were very open and subject to bad weather all along the trip. Well that was his problem I thought, and was just glad to have the trip time cut in half.

The first day we made it down to Herring Creek and headed for the stone jetties that mark the entrance to at Tall Timbers Marina. We spent

the night here and got going the next morning headed down river.

St. George Island is hard to miss, even in the Land of No Distinguishing Characteristics, known as the lower Potomac. St. George juts out into the river so far that on a clear day you can see it from as far away as Point Lookout.

The Island has been used to guard access up and down the Potomac throughout its history.

It originally (in the European settler times) in 1639 as part of a 3,000-acre land grant to the Jesuits, who settled in and turned their cattle out to graze. The British ruled the roost on the island during both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. When they left for good, they chopped down the island's trees and set fire to all of its houses. At that point, many of its residents packed up and moved to Kentucky. The island is separated from the mainland to the north by St. George Creek and to the west by a low fixed bridge. Armed with a sandbar that juts out half a mile off its eastern shore, the island guards the upriver entrance to the lovely St. Marys River.

After the Civil War, the island and nearby Piney Point became a popular place for presidents to while away a few winter days.

Nice trout in the flats along Laguna Shores and the Naval Base live piggy perch. Photo by Joey Farah

High-rise buildings and a giant loading crane sprout out of Henderson Point thoroughly out of place here among the workboats and cottages. This is the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, home of the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship.

The school trains merchant seamen for U.S. flagged vessels. We motored by the lighthouse examining the shoreline of the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and the little park that surrounds it. The Piney Point Light is the oldest on the Potomac, built in 1836 and operating until 1964.

Trout limits are at five fish now but it is still catch and release when you are into the fish. Photo by Joey Farah

Tides of the Week

Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) September 25- October 1, 2014

We took off waving to the guys on the Jetties headed south my sailboat following like an obedient dog. This was a blessing as what would

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Day

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Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

Th

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High

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25

Low

10:04 AM

0.8

7:22 PM Set 8:17 PM

25

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5:11 PM

1.8

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11:25 PM

1.4

F

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High

3:42 AM

1.6

7:19 AM Rise 9:23 AM

26

Low

10:29 AM

0.7

7:21 PM Set 8:56 PM

26

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6:08 PM

1.9

Sa

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12:23 AM

1.5

7:20 AM Rise 10:19 AM

27

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3:41 AM

1.6

7:20 PM Set 9:39 PM

27

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11:00 AM

0.5

27

High

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1.9

Su

28

Low

11:38 AM

0.4

7:20 AM Rise 11:15 AM

28

High

8:21 PM

2.0

7:18 PM Set 10:25 PM

M

29

Low

12:25 PM

0.4

7:21 AM Rise 12:11 PM

29

High

9:40 PM

2.1

7:17 PM Set 11:15 PM

Tu

30

Low

1:21 PM

0.3

7:21 AM Rise 1:07 PM

30

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11:03 PM

2.1

7:16 PM

W

1

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2:28 PM

0.4

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A8

September 25, 2014

Island Moon

SPORTS AL MVP-Just Maybe

Don Maynard

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon

By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s note: While reading recent reports of this season’s NFL games, I read “Antonio Gates displayed why he is one of the NFL's alltime greatest tight ends,” so I read on. “There is no doubting that Antonio Gates is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL History. At 34 years old and in his 12th NFL season, number 85 is showing no signs of slowing down, evidenced by his Hat Trick on White Hot Sunday. Gates caught all three of the Chargers touchdowns that day, and it was his first three-touchdown game since Oct. 30, 2005. He caught all seven of his targets to pace the club in catches and receiving yards (96). Gates also had a number of key third down conversions, playing a pivotal role in the Chargers’ big win.” As I read on, I got to thinking about an old friend of mine, Don Maynard, who was in my opinion the best pass receiver who had ever played the game.

So I continued reading about Antonio Gates…

“In the process of leading the Chargers to their upset win, Gates surpassed Larry Fitzgerald as well as Hall of Famers Andre Reed and Don Maynard for 11th all-time with 90 career TD receptions”…Whoa! Reed had just passed Don’s NFL record of 88 touchdown receptions!

I decided that you Moon Monkeys would be interested in meeting who many still consider the greatest pass receiver of all time.

attack when he swerved, dashed up to him and yelled “Don what in the “blank” were you doing swerving like?”

Maynard very calmly replied, “Coach there was a big mud puddle there and I didn’t want to get my shoes muddy.”

Maynard was drafted by the New York Giants in 1957, in time to take part in the Championship Game the Giants played against the Baltimore Colts in 1958. But 1958 was the only season Maynard played with the Giants; he was let go from the team after just one season. It was an event he had trouble understanding. As he later told Ira Berkow in the New York Times, "I couldn't understand some of the guys they kept.

I could run faster backwards than they could run forwards." And as he told Mickey Herskowitz in the Houston Chronicle, "I kept a little bitterness in me. Who wouldn't? I knew I could play. And ten years later I had a chance to show them."

After a year in the Canadian Football League, Maynard became the first player signed to the new American Football League's New York Titans in 1960. The Titans became the Jets in 1962, and Maynard remained with the team until 1972. In 1968, the best year of his career, Maynard averaged 22.8 yards per catch, the best in the American Football League.

It’s Friday the 19th and I’m casting my vote now; I’ve seen enough. This guy blew past his team record like it was just another day at the park; and the record holder was sitting about forty feet away, behind home plate, with the Texas legend, Nolan Ryan.

Normally, when a player approaches a record; his biggest obstacle lies within his own mind.

One of the secrets of this great game of baseball is that you get to play every day, so over-thinking sometimes becomes easier. It happened at 8:32 PM on Tuesday night, September 16, 2014. In the fifth inning, against the Cleveland Indians pitcher, Corey Kluber, (16-9) at Minute Maid Park, José Altuve lined a double, down the left field line, for his 210th hit of the season, and tied former Astro and future Hall-of-Famer, Craig Biggio, for the Astros’ all time, singleseason record for hits. In his next at-bat in the seventh inning, Altuve broke the record with a single, back up the middle of the diamond.

Congratulations and keep swinging Now, in order to put this feat in the proper perspective, you need to know that Hall-ofFame players like Ted Williams, Yogi Berra,

and the odds of failure are enormous. We don’t know any more about what will happen than we know about life. Even the very best in the game fail seven out of ten times in baseball. It’s a game of democracy, you can be any size or color or nationality. It’s a fair game and no matter how hard players and owners try to screw it up, it just keeps going on and on.

Rather be working During Wednesday night’s game, Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco (8-5) struck out 12 Astros and only gave up two hits in a 2-0 win for Cleveland. Guess who made the two hits?

You got it. José led off the fourth inning with a single, and then hit another single with two outs in the ninth inning, to reach 213 hits. There’s nothing slow about Altuve.

When you can be voted AL MVP at 5’7” like Yankee shortstop, Phil Rizzuto, or 5’8” second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, who was voted AL MVP in 2008; that says something about the opportunity in baseball.

During off seasons, Maynard returned to El Paso, Texas to work regular jobs. He started as a plumber, and then moved on to become math and industrial arts teacher in high school. At times he had trouble believing his success in football. As he later told Berkow, "Sometimes I'd be in a huddle in Shea Stadium, and I'd look up in the stands at 63,000 people screaming, and it was thrilling. I'd kinda think, 'What am I doing here? I oughta be gettin' autographs in the huddle.'"

Maynard & Namath at the 40th Anniversary of the 1958 NFL Championship Former New York Jets wide receiver Don Maynard is best known for playing a crucial role in winning the 1968 Super Bowl for the Jets. Maynard began his career with the New York Giants in 1958. He played only one season with that team before being let go. After a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, he joined the New York Titans in 1960. The Titans became the Jets in 1962, and Maynard stayed on the team until 1972. His shining moment came in the 1968 AFL Championship Game, in which the Jets defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-23. During the game, Maynard caught six passes, traveling 118 yards for two touchdowns.

His first touchdown was off a 14-yard catch in the first period. Maynard won the game for the Jets in the fourth period with a 6-yard catch, allowing the team to go on to the Super Bowl.

He ended his fifteen-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973, with a career total of 633 receptions for 11,834 yards, a 18.7-yard average. He made 88 touchdowns during his career, scoring 530 points.

Maynard's strength as a receiver came not from running complex, preplanned patterns, but in improvising in the heat of the moment. He was named to the American Football League's AllTime Team in 1969, played in three American Football League All-Star Games, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Donald Maynard was born in 1935 in Crosbyton, Texas. He grew up in southwest Texas in a succession of towns, including Denver City, Colorado City, and El Paso. His father worked in these towns as a cotton ginner, helping to process cotton for commercial use.

After starting out at Rice University, Maynard attended college at Texas Western University, where he was a star on the track team. He also played on the school football team as a halfback on offense and a safety on defense. Don was a true “hippie” and did things his own way. He often drove his coach, Ben Collins, “up a wall.”

In his senior year, playing in a crucial game and wearing his white shoes, he received a pass on the 50 yard line. It had been raining during the game and there were a few mud puddles on the field, as he was being closely pursued by three very fast opponents, suddenly at about 15 yards from a touchdown, he swerved to his left for a few yards, narrowly avoiding being tackled, then he finally scored the game winning TD. Coach Collins, who had almost had a heart

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Maynard's finest moment came during the 1968 American League Championship. The Jets were losing to the Oakland Raiders 23-20 in the final quarter when Joe Namath passed Maynard the ball. Maynard later described the play to Berkow in the New York Times. "The wind took the ball one way, and then another and I reached around about 180 degrees and caught it. My momentum took me to the sixyard line. It was a 52-yard pass play. On the next play, Joe hit me in the end zone for the winning touchdown." Looking back on it years later, Maynard recalled the play that set up the touchdown as the best of his career, a million dollar reception. The touchdown took the Jets to the Super bowl, which the team also won.

Maynard was 37 years old in 1972, and his yardages falling off, when he was let go by the Jets. It was the most painful moment of Maynard's career. "It was hard to deal with," Maynard admitted to the San Antonio ExpressNews's Tom Orsborn many years later. "I wanted to quit as a Jet. I climbed the walls. I got to the point where I couldn't talk about it.

I was emotional to the point of crying…. I was devastated."

But Maynard's career was not quite yet over.

He immediately signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, for which he played two games in 1973 before retiring. In 1987, Maynard was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Following his NFL career, Don lived in El Paso for a number of years and participated in many charity sponsored events. He also participated in the coin toss in Super Bowl XXXIII along with his former teammates, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the 1958 NFL Championship, which is also known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played". He was also once named the Grand Marshall in the annual El Paso Thanksgiving Parade that is held every Thanksgiving Day. He currently lives in Ruidoso, New Mexico and has kept in touch with his former colleagues in the NFL. As he told Todd Hveem in the Houston Chronicle, "As time goes on, you keep up with players. You get closer and closer throughout the years." One way in which Maynard has kept up with other former football stars is by playing in celebrity golf tournaments whose proceeds are donated to charities and scholarship funds.

"I play about once per month whether I need to or not," Maynard told Hveem. "I love playing in these things. We always have a great time” If you have comments/questions regarding “Sports Talk” articles, please call the Benchwarmers 560-5397 Weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 4-6 PM or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

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Jose Altuve Mickey Mantle, Ernie Banks, Carl Yastrzemski, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Joe Morgan and Eddie Murray never got 200 hits in a season.

In fact, I was shocked to find out the Mike Schmidt, Willie McCovey, Harmon Killebrew and Reggie Jackson never even got to 160 hits in a season.

Altuve shook Craig Biggio and Nolan Ryan’s hands after the game. “Biggio said, ‘Congratulations and keep swinging,’” said José. “I really appreciated that.” You can’t find two better guys than Biggio and Altuve.

The only thing dirty about these two was their uniforms.

At 24, José Altuve looks more like the batboy.

I’ve got cats older than this guy. He’s also short in stature, 5’6” if he’s lucky. Altuve’s so small, that if he came in a box you’d put it in water before opening, in hopes that he would grow.

When he crouches over in the batter’s box, his strike zone looks like the size of a cigar box.

This guy can motor, one of the most exciting guys on the base path. They say he once ran the 40-yard dash in 4.1 seconds, backwards. I’m just kidding, but he is fast.

Hit his way out of jury duty I love hearing the crack of José Altuve’s bat, on the radio. We are all stuck with the radio until Comcast, Drayton McLane and the Astros solve their issues in court. José is a savage hitter who can blister a fastball. This guy can hit his way out of anything except jury duty. The only way to stop this guy from hitting is to lock the clubhouse door before he comes out. I get a lump in my throat watching him hit. He can hit the skin off of a baseball and loves showing off that arm.

In baseball you need to relax to play well, but not be too comfortable. Comfortable gets you beat. So, how do you focus and relax at the same time? That’s called discipline. One of the secrets of baseball is wondering what’s next. The pauses permit conversation and imagination. It’s a game of limitless possibilities

There are stars and superstars, and then there is José Altuve. This two-time All-Star currently leads the American League in batting average (.340), hits and steals. He is also second in doubles. I can make a case that he has helped his team win an extra 20-25 games this year.

During this remarkable stretch of hitting, Altuve has also become the first Astro to record multiple hits in seven straight games, passing former Hooks’ outfielder, Hunter Pence, who held the record with six. Altuve also hold the Major League record of 65 multi-hit games in the 2014 season and is the first Major League player to have at least 213 hits, 43 doubles and 53 stolen bases in one season, since Ty Cobb in 1917. Now that’s MVP “stuff”!

I find it interesting that both Mike Trout and José Altuve wear the #27. Mike Trout, the odds on favorite to win the AL MVP, has never recorded 200 hits and has 46 less hits than Altuve at this time. He is no doubt a great player but he has lots of help up and down his line-up. If I had a vote, I would vote for José Altuve for the American League MVP. Dan Rather was once asked how one should go about becoming successful. He answered, “Get up early, work hard in between and stay late.” It worked for Rather and it is working for José Altuve right now.

Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” in now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon, Google Books, Bookamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three of his latest books at the local Barnes & Noble Book store in Moore Plaza. All three books are also available in e-book format, Kindle, Nook, Apple I Pad and Kobo. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for more info and leave a message in the guest section. You may also contact him at purvis. andy@mygrande.net and don’t forget to listen to Story Time with Uncle Andy on Tuesdays 5-6 PM and Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.

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Island Moon

Palmilla Beach Breaks Ground on Seagate Condominiums

San Antonio based Koontz McCombs has broken ground on the Seagate Condominiums at Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Club in Port Aransas. The condos are situated in the first phase of development, Village North, which is located on 50 acres with access to the golf course, beach, and marina at Island Moorings.

The condominium project is still in early phases of construction, but 50 percent of the units have already been sold. The fourstory development will feature 18 units ranging from 1,040 to 2,817 square feet. Units start in the $300’s.

Koontz McCombs has partnered with Condominium Consulting Management and Services, Inc. (CCMS, Inc.) on the project.

Catching bait fish near Bob Hall Pier Photo by Brent Rourk

Pictured from left: Tom Reeder, Superintendent with

The units will be available to Koontz McCombs Construction, Jerry Turman, President of Koontz McCombs Construction, Tiffany Pritchard, the public through a rental pool.

Sales Director of Palmilla Beach Resort, Barry Vyvlecka,

“The Texas Gulf Coast is an Senior Project Manager with Koontz McCombs extremely hot market right now,” Construction. said Bart Koontz, President & CEO of Koontz McCombs. the Santolina Dune Crossover will open which “Between the overall state of the economy and will allow residents private access to the beach the Eagle Ford Shale that has been booming via golf cart or foot, as well as the Pool and in Texas, Port Aransas is seeing exponential Amenities Center. Other features of the resort growth. We’re delighted to be a part of it, and include the 18-hole, 222-acre Arnold Palmer to bring the first true Texas resort to the area.”

Signature links-style golf course, and planned marina access and a grand lawn available for events.

As of September of 2014, 130 residential building permits have been issued in Port Aransas, compared to 116 residential permits issued throughout the year during 2013. Last year, The Island hosted over 5 million visitors, according to the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau.

The development also includes Village North and Village South, along with mixed-use properties, hotel properties, on 349 acres of bay-front property for future use. Visit www. palmillabeach.com or call 361-749-3628 for more information.

The Black Marlin Bar & Grill has been open at the site for several months, and this summer

Enjoying a summer stroll on the island Photo by Brent Rourk

A Painted Lady gathers energy near Bob Hall Pier Photo by Brent Rourk

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Golf course lots, homes & condos now available for sale.

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Island Moon

September 25, 2014