Island moon 3 13 14 section a

Flipping for Spring Break!

Inside the Moon...

11 year old boy rescued A4

Spring Break 2014 A9,A11

Fish Stories A5

The

Island Moon Weekly

FREE

March 13, 2014

The only Island in Texas with four-wheel-drive taxicabs

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

Spring Breakers just haven’t been able to catch a break this year. The first weekend of Spring Break was more like Spring Broke as the rain swept the beaches clean of revelers over the weekend and through Monday; The beaches began to fill Tuesday afternoon until a cool, damp fog bank sent people scurrying for their cars and headed to local watering holes. The fog was so thick in Port Aransas that only one ferry could cross at a time for fear of collision.

Then on Wednesday morning the north wind blew only a few hardy souls beachward. By Spring Break Standards our BPM (Bikinis Per Mile) quotient has been on the low side. You know it’s slow when there is but one Lobster Tan on the NoPac Beach.

But as of this writing on Wednesday afternoon it looks like things will pick up weather wise, Lobster Tanwise, and BPMwise. So fellow Islanders, get set for a lively weekend hereabouts. The easiest guage of how many people are on The Island is how much cell phone service slows down and how much reception drops. If your cell phone only has one bar take the Aquarius Extension; if you can’t get service stay home.

Schlitterbahn Update Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee last week that there were then eighty-seven days left before the Schlitterbahn park’s scheduled opening and it would take only about thirty of those to finish pouring the concrete. Crews this week were busy putting yet another story on the old Padre Isles Clubhouse and the view from the top is without a doubt the best on The Island stretching from downtown on the north to the King Ranch on the south.

Then on Monday the park’s owner/designer Jeff Henry told a radio audience that the scheduled opening date is still June 1. Henry also said there is a new addition to the park of a “ship” which will be used to house live music, a workout room, a restaurant, and other attractions to be named later.

GLO land sale The sale of 3860 acres of land owned by the Texas General Land Office to a local trust looks to be a done deal. Sources say terms of the deal were worked out a few weeks ago and the Nueces County Coastal Parks Board at its last meeting discussed a plan for management of the land, which is located in Kleberg County but will be managed by Nueces County. The final agreement between the two counties was delayed until after the recent election to avoid it becoming a political football in Kleberg County.

The sale happened quickly, by government standards, after local officials discovered late last year, by reading the Island Moon, that the National Park Service was negotiating to buy the land and bollard off six miles of beach in Kleberg County. It was feared that move would push more people onto the already crowded beaches in Nueces County and state and county officials stepped in.

County officials say the land will be kept as a natural area with the beach open to the public.

It is unknown at this point if a Beach Parking Permit will be required there.

Hang in there So fold out the roll-away bed and pump up the air mattresses because this is the weekend we Islanders find out we have friends we never knew; and even if we get slammed for a few days that’s okay. Resist the urge to make fun of visitors sporting a lobster tan because, hey, that’s what keeps the Island economy jumping.

Just remember that April and its Chamber of Commerce Weather is just around the corner.

We’ll see you on the other side. In the meantime, say hello if you see us Around The Island.

.

Capt. Sail Offcourse Caught by a Cuda

Free

Photo by Matthew A. Perez

Next Publication Date: 3/20/2014

New Fines, Possible Community Center, $7.4 Million in Cash Highlight Annual POA Meeting

Schlitterbahn A16

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Year 17, Issue 517

By Dale Rankin The Padre Island Property Owners Association, the largest property owners association in Texas, held its annual meeting on Saturday, March 8 with about one hundred people in attendance.

Here are some of the highlights: 2006 Covenant Change: In 2006 23 of the 26 subdivisions in the POA Passed an increase in dues on property bought after January 1, 2007.

Properties bought prior to that date retained the old dues of two cents per square foot for waterfront homes, one cent per square foot for dry lots.

POA continued on A7

Where Be the Treasure, Matey?

All sorts of pirate swag is supposedly hidden in the Coastal Bend area just waiting to be discovered

By Dale Rankin This month marks the birthday of our dear friend and Moon founder Moon Mike Ellis. We celebrate his time with us by digging through a treasure he left us: his collection of Island history books one of which is a 1972 book, "A Guide to Treasures in Texas," by author Thomas Penfield who unearthed hundreds of buriedtreasure stories, legends dealing with sunken treasures, stolen payrolls and life savings buried and never recovered by their owners. Some of them might even be true. As Jimmy Stewart said in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance when the legend becomes fact, print the legend. We think our friend Mike would like this story.

Treasure continued on A3

Island Foundation Schools ‘Whoop It Up’ Fundraiser is March 30th Largest fundraiser of the year

By Brent Rourk Get your stompin’ and dancin’ boots and best western duds ready so that you can support and attend the Island Foundation School’s large annual fundraiser, ‘Whoop It Up’, on Sunday, March 30th at Whiskey River in Corpus Christi.

Doors open at 6:00 PM and exhausted and happy dancers and auction winners will be leaving at 10:00 PM. As in past years, a dedicated fundraiser committee promises to provide a memorable evening of dancing, mouth-watering BBQ, and both live and silent auctions. There will be several valuable and fun auction items for the live auction and many fun silent auction items that will elicit lots of interest.

Lisa Scheerer, Island Board President, stated, “This is a super fun party and we hope that everybody can join us. We really need this to be a big fundraiser for construction goals that are designed to improve our foundation.”

Whoop it Up continued on A8

Spring break invasion! Photo by Ronnie Narmour. More on A9 & A11

Training Underway for Upcoming Sea Turtle Nesting Season By: Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore E-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov This has been a relatively cold winter and for the last few months we have been very busy with the second largest cold stunning event recorded in Texas since the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network was established in 1980. Despite this, the Kemp’s ridley nesting season is rapidly approaching, and with no time to spare we have turned our attention from dealing with cold stunned turtles to preparing for this upcoming sea turtle nesting season.

Nesting and egg protection Kemp’s ridleys nest in Texas from April through mid-July. Females nest one to four times during the nesting season, at intervals of 14 to 28 days, laying an average of 100 eggs in each nest. Females provide no maternal care for their eggs, which face many human related and natural threats if left unprotected on the beach.

A little Island history

It is thought that under natural conditions, only about one in 400 eggs will produce an individual that survives to adulthood. Many people are working in the U.S. and Mexico to try to increase those odds.

Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world and bi-national recovery efforts have been underway since 1978 to help Turtles continued on A7

How Peace Came to the Karankawas

By Dale Rankin The Karankawa Indians carried out one of the earliest treaties between Native Americans and settlers in Texas, and also one of the few which both sides kept too.

In 1824 a settler named John White, not the same John White who lives on The Island today, and two others had settled in the Austin Colony near the Colorado River. A group of settlers traveled by yawl to the mouth of the river with the intention of purchasing some corn and on the trip they were captured by Karankawa Indians. To save his life White told the Indians he would go up river and purchase some corn there, then return to trade with the Karankawas and rescue his companions.

The Indians consented and White set out in his yawl. The agreement was that when White returned back downstream he would set the prairie grass ablaze ten miles inland so they would know it was him returning.

White returned to the settlement and told the others what had happened and a Captain Jesse Burnham raised a company of thirty militiamen who History continued on A7

Island Moon

A 2

March

13,

2014

The Travelling Moon Gets Around

A four wheel drive taxi took Spring Breakers to and from their favorite party spots on the beach

This is from Dave and Sharon Kitchie and their Labradoodle Abby from Fulton New York. We vacationed on North Padre Island January through the end of February 2014 and arrived home early March. Here's a picture in the backyard of Dave with Island Moon and dog Abby. A wonderful morning when it was two above zero.

We miss Joe Sextons ukulele group, the walks on the beach, and volunteer work at the National Seashore.

Wishing everyone well. And will be back in 2015.

Spring breakers took advantage of warm weather while they could this week. Photo by Miles Merwin

The Island Red HattersTreated Like Royalty!

On March 6th, the ladies of the Island's Red Hat Society were treated with royalty by the Staff of the Port Royal 361 Restaurant. They opened the restaurant just for our lucheon! After lunch, the gals went to the "Fashions and Flip-Flops...a Glimpse of Island Style" fashion show sponsored by the Port Aransas Garden Club. Our gals were stylin' in their Red Hat attire.

Pictured back row left to right: Clara Mosley (winner of LRC game money), Katie Clark, Mikki Garrow, Debbie Adams, Pearl Benoit, Dianne Hanelt (hostess) & Judy Johnson. Middle row: Lauret Bridgford, Alida Jordan, Meli Dingle (guest), Dawn Baker (guest), Pat Ward (original member), Ginger Daugherty & Roseanne Milroy. Front row: Nancy Horsley, Judy Marsyla (hostess) & Trude Ferguson.

SMA Celebrates Greek Week

By Brent Rourk

RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR

Public Relations Operations Marketing

PadreVet.com

361-949-8200

Spay / Neuter Expo March 15, 2014 2-5pm

CHRISTI KRESSER VETERINARIAN

Voted The Best Veterinarian 2006 - 2013

Well Behaved Dogs & Owners Welcome!

*Customer Appreciation *8 Margarita Flavors *Award Winning BBQ *Door Prizes & Games *Obedience Competition

*Q & A With Dr. Christi Kresser

Izabella and Jesse in their chariot As students last week excitedly focused on the joys of Spring Break, they also celebrated Greek Week, an annual celebration, piloted by instructor Shannon Trial and supported by the amazing staff at Seashore Middle Academy. Students researched Greek history and mythology as the foundation for the week’s events.

Hallways were covered with student created myths borrowed from Greek Mythology. A door decoration contest added to the color and spirit of the week, leading up to Friday’s grand finale.

Students happily filed into SMA as usual on Friday morning, but most of them entered in Greek costume. The toga clad middleschoolers went from class to class until the end of the day when a school-wide Greek celebration began in the gymnasium.

A chariot race livened up the students just as chariot races entertained cultures thousands of years ago. Students presented Greek Mythology projects, offered a Greek toga fashion show, and engaged in the popular ‘Minute to Win it’ SMA Olympic Games, featuring students competing against one another in a myriad brutal contests like solving the puzzle, grabbing pencils, holding dice on a stick in their mouth without dropping them, and then the blood curdling balloon contest, where students had to keep three balloons in the air for one minute.

Perhaps the favorite activity during Greek Week at SMA was ‘pieing’ the teachers in honor of Pi Day. Students bought tickets during the week for the chance to be chosen to throw a whipped cream pie in a teachers face (it was actually tasty and a shame to waste by tossing it onto faces and heads). All of the staff members were generously ‘pied’ to the roaring delight of the student body.

Every staff member walked away with at least a little pie on their face or hair as a reminder of Pi Day. As students filed out of the school, they could be heard laughing about which teacher took more of a direct hit during the pie throwing contest. And thus began Spring Break.

March 13, 2014

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Island Moon

Letters to the Editor To all that it concerns and pet lovers!!!!!

I read your paper from cover to cover and I am a loving dog (child) owner. I walk my dog about 4 times a day and always, always have him on a leash and carry my pooper scooper with me to clean up after him. I also clean up after other dogs that their owners do not. I do love my dog and do not want him to get diseases or parasites that the poop attracts, fleas, ticks, and worms that can harm dogs and humans. I do not understand how any dog owner, (lover) can't clean up after there pet when taking them on a walk and say they are a responsible pet owners. How can some one let there dog poop in some ones yard and think it is ok. By the way it is also against the law to let your dog out with out a leash and not clean up after them as it contaminates the canals when it rains and flushes it in to them.

Same thing at the beach.(do you want to swim in that or let a child play in the sand full of dogie doo?). I still clean up after my boy (Dog) every time, even if someone else takes him for a walk for me when I can't because I have a bad back.

They will let me know were he went and I will clean it up next time I take him. I also keep my back yard clean of it, as required by law, so we don't step in it and to keep out unwanted bugs and canal pollution. I put it in the bag and then the trash where it belongs (not just shovel under the bushes or wash it in the canal like one of my neighbors does). I have never wrote to y'all before but I am tired of cleaning up after other dog owners not taking proper care of the Island that we should love and respect ,as I do, and my dog does also. I love living here on the Island, but really wish pet owners would clean up after there pets, after all they choose to have the pets.

Put them on a leash, so they won't run out in the street and get run over, or trash someone’s yard or give others dog a sickness.

Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Office Security/Spillage Control

I really hope people follow what should be done by the law and for the sake of the island, people and the pets they say they love. This is good for all of the above. Love the island and the land we walk on( with out poop!!!!)

Ms. C. Slobojan P.S. My dog is now 11 years old so I have been doing this for a while

Speed sign 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.

Within the past two weeks, someone vandalized the radar speed warning sign on Whitecap by disconnecting and cutting the exposed wiring. I assume they thought it would disable the warning sign. The sign runs on an internal battery and was not affected. This sign was relocated to Whitecap to give drivers a warning of their excess speed. It does not take pictures and does not report speed violations to the cops. It is just a warning to convince people to slow down. The POA does NOT plan on adding Speed Bumps to Whitecap at this time, as it is a major feeder road. Maybe it was one of the midnight drag racers that infest Whitecap on late weekend nights? All they did was cost the POA more money in repairs, as it is POA property.

• Payroll for Spanish soldiers buried on St. Joseph Island's southern end.

mkay512@aol.com

• A treasure chest buried on the west bank of the Nueces River where the old Laredo-toGoliad road once crossed.

New Advertisers

• Treasure belonging to a member of the Russian nobility hidden on the western side of Mustang Island. Treasure buried in sand dunes on Mustang and Padre Islands.

• A chest of gold and other valuables buried along the Nueces River on the Riverside Ranch.

• Money, jewels and gold plates belonging to Maximilian, former emperor of Mexico, dumped in Laguna Madre just off Flour Bluff Peninsula.

• A Laffite fortune buried under a millstone on the northern tip of Padre Island. Gold, silver and jewels hidden by Hernando Cortez, later unearthed and reburied by Jesse James, near Three Rivers.

• Gold buried in Kleberg County from a Spanish ship stranded 20 miles south of Padre Island's northern tip.

PACT to Sponsor Director’s Workshop For New and Experienced Play Directors March 29

By Brent Rourk The Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT) proudly presents a Director’s Workshop on Saturday, March 29th at PACT. The workshop is intended for both those who want to become play directors as well as seasoned directors.

Larry Stotts, an experienced director for many years who has directed 5 plays at PACT including recent hit Steel Magnolias, and Ken Yarbrough, who just received The Best Director at PACT for the 2013 play Shrek the Musical, will collaboratively present this informative workshop.

The morning class is designed for anyone interested in becoming a play director. It will run from 9:00 AM until 12:00. Cost is $10.00 for materials and lunch. Stotts and Yarbrough plan to help the novice learn how to direct; from the basics to the next level. They will answer all of your questions and ask many of their own. Some of the specific areas that will be taught will be the purpose of the director, theatre terminology, blocking, walking and talking, how to deliver lines, and how to work with others.

Where to Find The Island Moon

Dave Vann

Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com

Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

Port A Glass Studio The Gaff

North Padre All Stripes Stores

Amano

Whataburger

Felder Gallery

Doc’s Restaurant

Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy

Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Subway

Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station

l Divorce and Separation l Child Custody and Support l Adoption/Guardianship l Paternity Cases l Wills and Probate

Snoopy’s Pier Isle Mail N More

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Public Library

“F ormer U.S. N avy L awyer ”

CVS

San Juan’s Taqueria

Port A Parks and Rec

W illiam a. T hau iii, P.C.

Tarpon Ice House

Miss K’s Catering & Bistro

Island Woman Boutique

Island Italian Now has Hysterical Marker

Wild Horse Saloon

by Mary Craft

• Gold and ornaments for a Vera Cruz cathedral buried on St. Joseph's Island opposite Rockport.

RSVP pactdarlene@yahoo.com on or before March 22nd. Novices are welcome to stay for the next class at no charge. The Port Aransas Community Theatre is located at 2327 Hwy 361, Port Aransas, TX. Call 361-749-6036 if you have additional questions about the Director’s Workshop.

15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250

A3

Did Ya Hear?

Among the treasures supposedly hidden in the Coastal Bend are:

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

The Island Moon Newspaper

Treasure continued from A1

The afternoon class for advanced or experienced directors will start with at noon lunch. The class, also $10.00, will run from 1:00-4:00. The advanced class is for those directors having directed at least 1 play in any theater, not just at PACT. This workshop will help sharpen several critical directing skills.

It will be a chance to discuss and exchange formats, discuss scripts, share personal work, brainstorm how to help resolve cast problems, probe financial components of putting on a play, and more. Bring your questions and list of chief concerns.

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

l Auto Accidents l Personal Injury l DWI l Criminal Justice l Military Law

ConvenienT Flour BluFF loCaTion 9708 S.P.I.D., Suite A-101 s C orPus C hrisTi (361) 937-5513 s T oll F ree 1-877-888-1369 Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Former President of the Corpus Christi Family Law Association (1999-2000) Selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in November 2003, October 2004 and October 2005 Issues of Texas Monthly

Did Ya’ Hear?

By Mary Craft Padre Station welcomes new owners at the Mesquite Barbeque with an all new menu. The Donut Palace bakes fresh daily and is open 7 am – 2 pm. Lyco's Nails 2 is a relaxing place for your manicures, pedicures or facials and they accept walkins. Vintage Furniture & Home Decor has unique items and have just stocked new spring beachy items. Sweet Swirl is a self serve frozen yogurt shop with a large choice of toppings. WB Liqours has great Spring Break specials that include 12/12 oz Shiner Bock or Dos Equis beers for $14.99 and $1 187 ml assorted Gallo wines. They also have a location in Port A on Hwy 361.

Business Briefs Schlitterbahn's Jeff Henry described the main building on Lago last Monday morning. Each of the four floors will have floor to ceiling glass and large patios. They will have doors that open to allow it to be open air when weather allows. The first floor will have 25 such doors. The first floor will be for family dining, the second floor for locals, the third floor for meetings, dancing or conference rooms and the fourth floor for fine dining overlooking the entire island.

Boathouse Bar and Grill has welcomed Chef Nick who promises his fish and chips are the best in Texas. He brings his recipe down from the Northeast and it features a 7 – 9 ounce piece of quality fish with a thick Shiner bock batter. Thai curry is one of his favorite spices so there will be some dishes using it. All sauces are made in house. On Monday St. Patrick's Day the special will be corned beef and cabbage and the traditional Irish bacon and cabbage.

The upstairs bar will have DJ action and food can be ordered from the restaurant and served upstairs. The kitchen is open until 11 pm on weekends.

Mikel May's Beachside Bar & Grill at Bob Hall Pier is celebrating Spring Break this weekend with Shakedown and Violet Crush bands on Friday the 14th and Cathouse on Saturday. They have a full bar and tasty appetizers and entrees.

Black Marlin Bar & Grill at La Palmilla Beach Resort and Golf Club in Port A is now open and serving breakfast and lunch daily and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dinner entrees include braised lamb shank, grass fed petit filet mignon and seared Atlantic salmon. For lunch they serve soup, sandwiches, burgers and salads.

Jesse's Liquor has Spring Break specials that include 1.75 L Captain Morgan Rum for $19.99, Fireball Whiskey.750 ml for $13.99 and .750 ml Jagermeister liquer for $13.99.

They also have a large selection of vapor products (electronic cigarettes).

Whoop It Up fundraiser for Seashore Schools will be at Whiskey River on Sunday, March 30th 6 – 10 pm. Kick up your feet and help raise money for our Island schools, that is, if you are 21 or older. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the schools for $25 or $35 at the door.

The National Park Service is beginning a two-part project to repair the facilities and rebuild the eroded shoreline in the Bird Island Basin Campground. Minor disruptions of various activities in the immediate area may occur. None of the work should affect the use of the nearby Bird Island Basin boat ramp.

Many of the campsite shade structures need to be rehabilitated and moved back from the water’s edge. Work will start after Spring Break.

New Moon T-shirts will be out in about three weeks. The first features Riley P. Dog on the front with the “Stoopid cats” bubble and was designed by Padre Animal Hospital Director Ray Herrera. To pre-order email editor@islandmoon.com.

New Sound Hearing Aid Center can help you hear clearly again. They invite you to come in for a free ear canal exam to determine if wax is causing voices to sound muffled. For hearing loss they have comfortable, invisible when worn hearing aids for just $750 each. They are located at 3061 S. Staples and can be reached at 2883830.

The above Brief was in the last issue but I put vision loss instead of hearing loss so this is the corrected version. I am an optometrist so my fingers automatically typed vision. I know nothing about ears but if you need an eye exam call 985-0985 for an appointment.

Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers

How They Find Us

WB Liquor

Here are the number of web searches for each of these terms in the past year by people curious about the Coastal Bend and/ or the Texas Coast, according to the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitor Bureau.

Flour Bluff H.E.B.

Corpus Christi South Padre Island

Liquid Town

Port Aransas

Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station

Gratitude Gift Shop

Police Station

Keepers Pier House

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

110,000

Member Padre Island Business Association

Member Padre Island Rotary Club

74,000

40,000

Padre Island

14,800

Mustang Island

5,400

North Padre Island

2,400

Upper Padre Island

50

A 4

Island Moon

Senior Moments

Police Blotter 2014 Spring Break Public Safety Plan

Get Paid $250 in Cash by Reporting Underage Drinking Violations

Spring Break Beach Patrols begin on March 7th and continue through March 18th. The first shift will begin patrolling each day at 11 AM and continue until 9 PM. A second shift will begin at 4 PM and patrol the beach until 2 AM. Contingencies are in place for additional officers to respond to the beach if needed.

The Fire Department will have an additional ambulance available at Station 16 over the weekend of March 15 & 16. Lifeguards will be patrolling the beach from 12:00 am to 6:00 pm to respond to minor incidents and beach rescues. Packery Patrol will be operational from 11:30am-2pm and 4pm-6:30pm. CCFD will also have a jet ski stationed at the Packery Boat ramp and Windward Parking lot.

The CCPD will have a mobile police substation at the corner of SH361 and Park Road 22 located in the American Bank parking lot from March 8th to the 18th. Operating hours will be from 11 am until dark each night. The substation will be staffed by CCPD volunteers. Citizens will be able to get general tourist information and file minor police reports. Units with the Crime Prevention, Auto Theft and Family Violence division will have presentations scheduled throughout the Spring Break period. The CCPD Mounted Patrol will be operational during Spring Break.

On most days, beach goers will be directed to enter the beach at Access Road 3 and exit at Zahn Road. Beach traffic will be one way from Access Road 3 to Zahn Road. Traffic officers will control traffic with a portable signal at Zahn Road and SH 361. Please be on the lookout for Officers and safety personnel.

Beach goers are encouraged to leave early and expect delays due to heavy traffic on the Island. The Texas Department of Transportation project on Park Road 22 and SH 361 will be suspended, between March 7th through the 23rd, so not to interfere with the beach traffic.

In what could be an Island Retirement Plan the Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers is offering a $250 dollar reward to anyone who reports underage drinking violations in Corpus Christi and law enforcement action is taken during the month of March in 2014.

The tip line is open for the public to call 8888477 (888-TIPS) at any time, day or night, to provide tips about consumption of alcohol by minors. No one will ever ask for the caller’s name and the caller keeps their identity secret.

The caller will be given a tip number and a second phone number. The caller uses the tip number to check on the status of the tip at a later time and if enforcement action was taken on their tip, they will be given instructions how to collect their $250 reward. The caller keeps their identity secret the whole time and never has to give their name.

The effort is to promote a safer Spring Break in Corpus Christi by reducing the ability for children to become intoxicated. The Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers initiated the project in March 2013 and received 65 tips. The Corpus Christi Police Department had a reduction in alcoholic beverage code violations while the tip line was open to report underage drinking last year as compared to the previous three years.

This project is a method for the Corpus Christi Police Department to work as an equal partner with the community to reduce crime and enhance public safety. Report underage drinking violations to the Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers this March; it could earn you $250 dollars in cash.

Police Calls 7400 block SH 361 7:18 March 8 Building fire 14600 block Beach Access Road 3 2:16 March 8 Transport of prisoner 14700 block Gulf Beach 5:52 p.m. March 7 Public intoxication Beach Marker 199 4:04 p.m. March 9 Possession of drug paraphernalia Beach Marker 207 5:21 p.m. March 7 Disorderly conduct Beach Marker 206 4:32 p.m. March 7 Public intoxication Beach Marker 216 (Seawall) 4:39 p.m.

March 8 Disorderly conduct

While the City of Corpus Christi encourages everyone to have a good time and enjoy the beach, officers will be on the lookout for alcohol related crimes such as DWI, public intoxication and underage drinking. All vehicles will be required to have a “beach parking permit”.

15200 bock Leeward Midnight March 9 Public intoxication (two arrests)

Beach goers are reminded that the following are prohibited at the beach by city ordinance:

13900 block Flintlock 7:15 p.m. March 6 Assault with bodily injury

•No glass containers (City Ord 10-65) •No littering (City Ord 10-57)

15600 block Cuttysark 4 p.m. March 6 Assault with injury 15300 block Mutiny 2 p.m. March 7 Aggravated Robbery

13900 block Skysail 8:30 a.m. March 8 Illegal dumping 5-500 pounds 14800 block SPID 4:05 p.m. March 9 Driving while license suspended 13300 block SPID 6:02 p.m. March 9 No driver’s license Commodores/SPID 11:32 a.m. March 9 No insurance (vehicle impound and four people transported) 14300 block Emerald 8 a.m. March 11 Theft $50-$500 14600 block Zahn Road 6:33 p.m. March 11 Theft under $50 14000 block SPID 4:31 p.m. March 9 No insurance, car impound, two people transported 15200 block Leeward Midnight March 9 Failure to identify 15800 block SPID 8 p.m. March 9 Burglary of a building

Health District Advises to Learn the Facts about Murine Typhus.

•Dogs are prohibited on the beach from Access Road 3 to Zahn Road (during Spring Break by Special Order of the City Manager City Ord 10-59) Due to safety concerns, the City of Corpus Christi strongly requests pallets not be taken to the beach. Burning of pallets is prohibited as the nails leave dangerous litter. Fires on the beach also have to comply with City Ordinance 10-67. Most importantly open fires in a fire pit or on the ground cannot be any larger than three (3) feet in any dimension.

Beach rescue Emergency crews pulled an 11 year-old boy from the surf early Wednesday afternoon after he was unable to swim back to shore. The boy, from Kansas City, was taken to the hospital for a check but was not seriously hurt.

Spring Break Patrol Report – Saturday March 8 Beach Patrol Officers reported light traffic for the day and shut down the Beach Operations around 10:00 p.m.

What gestures would have been appropriate?

At 2:39 p.m. Saturday, Units were flagged down near Beach Marker 216 by parents regarding a man who was in the ladies restroom making inappropriate gestures and comments to young females. Several witnesses came forward and spoke to the Officers. The Officers were able to locate and arrest Gary Bovee, 70, for “Disorderly Conduct.”

Are You Being Dragged, Kicking & Screaming into the Age of Modern Technology?--Part II

Warrant arrest At 7:15 p.m., Officers contacted Andrew Saenz, 23, near Beach Marker 198 during a traffic stop. He was arrested for a Warrant for Arrest. During the arrest Officers located marijuana on Saenz. He was additionally charged.

The City of Corpus Christi wants everyone visiting our Sparkling City by the Bay during Spring Break 2014 to enjoy a safe and relaxing vacation. For months, the Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation Departments have been conducting planning sessions and making preparations to accomplish that goal.

March 13, 2014

The Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District is advising residents to learn the facts about murine typhus.

Murine typhus, also called typhus or endemic typhus, is a rickettsial disease caused by the organism Rickettsia typhi. Most of the murine typhus cases in Texas occur in South Texas from Nueces County southward to the Rio Grande Valley, but a few cases are reported in other parts of the state each year.

By Dotson Lewis, dlewis1@stx.rr.com Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s note: I have heard from many of my friends and others since I got back in the swing of things with computing in 1980 (I had abstained from computers from 1964-1980).

I have compiled their and others’ remarks/ writings regarding their dislikes and downright distrust of these newfangled machines. With some, a “love-hate” relationship has developed.

I hate computers. No, really, I hate them. I love the communications they facilitate, I love the conveniences they provide to my life, and I love the escapism they sometimes afford; but I actually hate the computers themselves.

Computers are fragile, unintuitive things — a hodge-podge of brittle, hardware and opaque, restrictive software. Why?

“Computers are evil. It's as plain as that. If you want to argue with me, I'll wipe the psychic floor with you. There really are no ifs, ands or buts about it. What do you think E in E-mail stands for anyway? EVIL. Must I turn on the computer, sap a nuclear power plant, mine the mountains, hurt my back, strain my eyes and sift through a bunch of junk just so you can say ‘howdy’? Get a life. Get a stamp.”

I provide computer support all day every day to “users”. I am not one of these snotty IT guys who looks with scorn and derision on people who don’t know what an IRQ is. I recognize that users don’t care about computers. The computer is a means to an end for them: a presentation to solicit more grant money, or a program to investigate a new computational method, or just simply sending a nice note to their family. They don’t want to “use the computer” so much as do something that the computer itself facilitates.

I’m the same with cars: I don’t want to know how an internal combustion engine works or know how to change my oil or in any other way become an automotive expert — I just want to drive to the grocery store!

Technology is not benign. Things are designed with intent by men (usually) with a wide variety of self-serving motives. Moreover, the very fabric of the items we design and build have their own vibrational characteristics. Characteristics that often become malevolent after these precious minerals, elements and resources are ripped from the earth to provide us with the luxury items we pretend are our "needs." We attribute all kinds powers to crystals, precious metals, and stones. Do we not realize that once alchemized into some hideous form, they can turn on us?”

For example, Silicon Valley once boasted orange groves and a lovely suburban lifestyle that not so long ago attracted people to California in the first place. Now it's a toxic dump. The process involved in manufacturing computers is toxic.

The landfills created by never-ending march of obsolete, discarded computers are toxic. The products manufactured by computerized robots and machinery are toxic. The perfectly fine, long lasting machinery discarded and replaced by computers is often toxic. The radiation coming out of the color screens into your face is toxic. The cyberworld mindset is toxic by its very definition. The majority of computer use by the military, FBI, CIA, local law enforcement, and industrial manufacturers is toxic. The unbelievable unemployment (which began in the early 1960's) created by these labor saving devices is toxic. In short, computers suck.

They suck your brain, your time, your jobs, your children, your environment, your life. And yes, I own a computer. As a matter of fact, I own five computers.!!! I own a car and a van, too.

Doesn't mean I like them. Doesn't mean they're not hurting me. Doesn't mean they're not hurting you.

Now yes, I know that the internet is a giant brain that will come together and save humanity.

I have not only heard that from dozens of my friends, I figured it out all by myself. But that doesn't mean that computers are not evil.

The very nature of technology is to "save" us from our work and our connection to the planet. And computers constitute the ultimate in technology. We have created an artificial brain, an artificial intelligence, and an artificial self. That's what the cyberworld is. An artificial world. We no longer watch TV. We have become our own TV. We have invited Big Brother into our houses, plugged him into our walls, and rationalized it all away. Nineteen-eighty-four is here, and we not only gave up without a fight, we merrily invited it into our homes. We have embraced the ultimate evil.

But this artificial world is not unreal. Au contraire. It is most real, to be sure. It sits on our desks, runs our drinking water systems, our medical records, and our nuclear arsenals.

Nothing can go wrong.

Actually that's a joke. Everything can and most likely will go wrong. And that's where the computer will save humanity from itself.

Because for all its clever little tricks, the computer is vulnerable. Very, very vulnerable.

Just ask any hacker who's poured through bank records or military secrets. Just ask any policeman or secretary who's had the whole damn system crash. Ask the giant brains who forgot to program the year 2000 into every computer on the planet so that they'd all potentially crash. Now that's evil. And it will be our own evil that delivers us from same. It is our own arrogance, our own false-god sense, our own pretty inventions that will do us in., bring us to our knees, reduce our population, destroy the corporations, plaster us to our seats and weaken our very ability to survive on a planet we no longer understand.

In India there are examples that the most beautiful things can and often do emerge from the squalor. But that doesn't change the fact that it’s squalor. And that doesn't change the fact that computers are evil.

Apple mac computer monitor old version apple Desktop Wallpaper But the darned computers get in the way of all the things the computers help us do. There’s this whole artificial paradigm about administrator accounts, and security, and permissions, and all other manner of things that people don’t care about. A host of ancillary software is required just to keep your computer running, but that software introduces more complexity and more points of failure, and ends up causing as much grief as it’s intended to resolve.”

Dotson’s note: The foregoing is discounting the good computers do. They are simply a tool. The good and bad are in the user, not the technology. I believe the haters have an “IDTENT” problem. We would like to hear your thoughts/concerns regarding these simple/ complicated machines. Please snail mail or Email The Island Moon or call or write Dotson at 361-949-768; 530-748-8475 of Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

Ethel Eyerly Community Center Monday Silver Haired Fitness 10-11 AM ($8/month-Ladies Only) Computer Interest Group 12:30-2 PM Wii Bowling 12:30 PM Ping Pong (Table Tennis) Class each Monday 5-9 pm For Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced Players $3 per session or $10 per month or $40 a month for a family of four

Tuesday Zumba Gold (Co-Ed) 10:30-11:30 AM ($20/month or $4/session) Table Tennis & Table Games-12 PM

Wednesday Silver Haired Fitness 10-11 AM ($8/month-Ladies Only) AARP Chapter 4181 Meeting @ 1 PM (2nd & 4th Wednesdays)

Thursday Zumba Gold (Co-Ed) 10:30 AM ($20/month, or $4/session) Wii Bowling & Chair Volleyball - 12:30-4:45 PM Quilting 2nd Thursday of the Month

Friday Silver Haired Fitness 10-11 AM ($8/month – Ladies Only) Table Tennis – 11 AM Bingo -12:30 PM ($.50 Cards) Del Mar College Spring 2014

Del Mar College Senior Education Classes Open for Registration Call 361-698-1328 to Register Introduction to Microsoft Excel 8:30-11:30 AM-April 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 (21 Hours)* *The starting date of this class has been changed from March 3rd to April 7th.

We now have Gluten Free Pizza!

According to William Burgin, Jr., M.D., Local Healthy Authority, “Rats and their fleas are the natural reservoirs, and other animals such as opossums and domestic cats, may also be reservoirs for fleas that can transmit typhus.”

Health officials advise that fleas, such as the rat flea and the cat flea are the most common vectors (animals that transfer the disease from one host to another) of typhus.

“Typhus is easily treatable,” states Dr. Burgin. “And you can only get typhus once in your lifetime.”

Symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, nausea, and body aches. Five or six days after the initial symptoms, you may get a rash that starts on the trunk of your body and spreads to your arms and legs. If left untreated, the disease may last for several months. A doctor can conduct tests to tell you if you have typhus.

If you suspect that you have murine typhus, see a doctor. Typhus is easily treated with certain antibiotics.

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March 13, 2014

Island Moon

A5

Backwater Adventures Never Say Never

On the Rocks

By Jay Gardner Hi. My name is Jay. (support group: Hello Jay!) I’m here today to admit that I have a problem. (group: What’s your problem?) My problem is that I have a fishing tackle addiction (group gasps oh no!). I have more rods, reels, and tackle than a Wal-Mart, and no time to use any of it.

I don’t manage my tackle; it manages me. This is a result of two-fold changes and conditions in my life; one, I used to be a poor high school/ college kid who couldn’t afford to buy tackle willy-nilly although I had time to use it, and two, now that I’m a cubicle-dwelling office worker, I don’t have time to use tackle so I fill the void with purchasing tackle. Many of you will understand where I’m coming from. Some of you may be just like me, although with boats or other sports equipment. Everyone at least knows someone like this.

By Joey Farah hoarding and purchasing instincts, my family is tough on rods, so I wind up with a couple extra every year. I guess it doesn’t help that I buy them new rods every year either. Mom always gets a new rod for Christmas despite the fact that she hasn’t fished since ’08.

There’s a stack of rods in the corner next to the couch that needs fixing, and the pile next to the bookshelf are the ones that have been fixed and waiting duty. There’s a fair stack of rods in the guest bathroom. Seems like a convenient place to store them, right? The coffee table serves as the general worktable, where the rod repair occur, leaders get made, offshore trolling lures are rigged, and reels are repaired. I mean, what do YOU do with your coffee table? I bet mine is much more interesting. I gave it a once over a couple months back and found an entire box full of reels buried in there in various stages, a

Gone are the days where I used one pack of Norton bull minnows and three gold spoons per season of fishing.

Now I have a five-gallon bucket full of soft plastics somewhere in my barn that I haven’t seen in three years. I have enough plastic worms to last someone a lifetime, and I don’t even bass fish. I have enough monofilament, braid, backing, and leader line to circumnavigate the globe three times. I have tackle bags and boxes tossed aside that I haven’t opened in years. I shudder to think what I might find in some of them, remembering that I still have some slimy tarpon scales and some snook fin-clip collection vials in one of the bags that has likely spilled or eaten their way out of their containers by now.

Fellow Moon writer Joey gave me a couple of logic lures last year that I used with some success, and the harness is draped over my railing on the porch after the trout teeth rendered them inoperable. I’m sure I’ll come home one day and one of the squirrels will be trailing them around in the yard. Or maybe that’s a secret wish (using my “inside-voice” again.) Sorry loyal readers who are squirrel lovers. Its’ frustrating, and you know you’ve let the squirrels take over the place a little too much when you come home and they’re throwing a block party on your porch, complete with a disco ball. Maybe I need to get into falconry or something.

One of my greatest mistakes was learning how to repair guides on a fishing rod. I say mistake, because although I can now keep my own stuff up and running, I suddenly inherited a bunch of rods from friends and family that needed work.

People are willing to flat out trade me two broken rods if they could get one of them back and working. It should have been the other way around now, in retrospect. Besides my own

Spring break here on North Padre’ Island is more of an event for the under aged and a spectacle for the local population. It does get the funk out of many of us as the excitement that has been brewing inside all those young people flows out into the party style atmosphere of the local convenience stores, car washes, and beaches. Suddenly the quiet waters of the Laguna Madre and Baffin are alive with boats and fishermen. Fishing has been right on time with lots of good action for those of us that are feeling the blanket of winter just coming off of us as well as those of us that are looking to get the kids out of the house and find a small adventure.

Trout Tournament

Lost and found couple brand new. Sure sign of an addiction. I guess a serious lack of adult supervision in my life may have something to do with it as well.

Anyhoo, you know you’ve been cooped up too long when thoughts like these go through your head. With a recent seven-round-heavyweight bout with the flu-bug topped with a dose of spring-break-stay-at-home thrown on top of it, I guess I’m feeling a little land-locked. Or maybe it’s the delirium from the low-grade fever I’m running. In any event, Emily will be out again from FL this weekend, my family will all be around, and hopefully we’ll get that skiff in the water and cruise it around on “another” maiden voyage. Shoot me an email at jaygardner@scientist.com and tell me about your tackle addictions.

Tides of the Week

Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) Mar 13-19, 2014

Farah’s Fishing Adventures

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

Moon Visible

Th

13

High

12:16 AM

1.1

7:40 AM Set 5:36 AM

86

13

Low

8:07 AM

0.1

7:36 PM Rise 5:14 PM

13

High

3:29 PM

1.2

13

Low

9:15 PM

0.9

F

14

High

1:25 AM

1.1

7:39 AM Set 6:12 AM

14

Low

8:50 AM

0.2

7:37 PM Rise 6:06 PM

14

High

3:36 PM

1.2

Sa

Su

M

Tu

W

14 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19

Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low

9:30 PM 2:26 AM 9:30 AM 3:45 PM 9:44 PM 3:23 AM 10:08 AM 3:56 PM 10:00 PM 4:18 AM 10:48 AM 4:08 PM 10:21 PM 5:15 AM 11:30 AM 4:18 PM 10:48 PM 6:15 AM 12:22 PM 4:23 PM 11:23 PM

0.8 1.2 0.3 1.1 0.7 1.2 0.5 1.1 0.5 1.3 0.6 1.1 0.4 1.3 0.8 1.1 0.2 1.4 1.0 1.1 0.1

92

7:38 AM Set 6:48 AM 7:37 PM Rise 6:59 PM

96

7:37 AM Set 7:23 AM 7:38 PM Rise 7:52 PM

99

This week we are hosting the Rudy’s Barbecue Texas Trout Series at Marker 37 Marina.

Saturday between 2pm and 4pm there will be a live weigh in at the dock at Marker 37. Some of the This picture made waves all over Texas with the rumors largest trout you have ever seen of a 40inch trout caught in Baffin Bay. It even was shown will be in the tank as two man teams cover the bays in search on a local news station. The trout was not even close to 40 inches nor the state record. This fish was caught in of big speckled trout. This will be a great opportunity to come Galveston Bay and measured 32inches and was a very by and see all the improvements heavy trout weighing in at ten pounds. I have seen some to Marker 37 and see some of trout that I know would push the 36inch mark but when the best boats and get yourself they get that big they become mystical visions that are too pumped up about YOUR spring smart and powerful for the likes of fishermen. The power fishing season. I will be helping of Facebook strikes again! out and hanging out with my family, if you just want to come We headed south in my small 16ft skiff with talk fishing and pick my brain stop by and ask some canned goods and cokes, a few poles, around for me. The opportunity to listen to each a small tent, and a portable tape player. The team talk about how they caught their fish and spring breaks back then surely seem to have what they were successful with will open your been warmer, downright hot. We fished our eyes to the way they plan their day around the way down to Baffin and explored the back of lunar bite as well as the fishing pressure on the Island and made camp at the boat ramp at tournament day. Walking around you can see Yarborough Pass. There was one picnic table the types of lures hanging on the rods and learn and a stinky portable toilet. But it was a beautiful quite a lot from just observing. See you there beach and we settled in for the night. We used on Sat. the cast net to get a bunch of finger mullet and set out the sail line as the sun dipped below the horizon. The fire sparkled and brought golden embers up into the sky. We woke up to roaring winds and the sail line was bent against the wind. We gathered up our stuff and set out to see what we had. As we closed the distance on the floats, splashes of fighting redfish brought cheers from the small boat. We ate some for breakfast and went out in search of more fishing Capt Farah with a nice 29.5 inch trout from the King adventures. The small boat fit Ranch shoreline this week. between the big swells in the open waters of Baffin and as we got closer to the Intacoastal Canal we saw Take the Kids out flocks of birds diving and twisting over schools The fishing on the beach this week is amazing of trout and popping shrimp. We could hardly for whiting. This is the best kid friendly fishing stand up in the boat with the rolling seas but trip you can ever do. The beach itself is a perfect we spent all day following those birds casting babysitter. Dig a big hole in the sand, cast out at boiling fish and jamming to the one tape we small hooks with a good weight and bait up had brought with us. To this day every time I with small pieces of peeled shrimp or FISH hear the Jimmy Hendrix Experience it brings BITES and you are pretty much guaranteed to land some whiting. There is no limit or size restrictions with these fish and they are great to fry up for supper. When the tide is out and most of the fish draw back out farther than you can cast get up on Bob Hall or Horace Coldwell piers and you can get out far into the surf. A great day can be catching a few then making a water channel to the big hole so that the kids get to play and wrestle the fish in the hole.

Water temperatures have finally come up and the white live shrimp flags are flying. This gives anglers a new option in their fishing.

Live shrimp and popping corks will be very successful in Baffin Bay this week. Drift over the large rock piles and shorelines with a fairly deep drop. The distance between the cork and the bait should be about three feet. The longer drop will catch more fish especially if you pinch a small split shot above the hook. There are lots of different styles of corks out there and next week we will go over many different brands and techniques for fishing with corks.

A little behind schedule

7:36 AM Set 7:59 AM 7:38 PM Rise 8:47 PM

99

7:35 AM Set 8:37 AM 7:39 PM Rise 9:43 PM

98

7:34 AM Set 9:17 AM 7:40 PM Rise 10:41 PM

95

With the coldest winter in a few years hopefully behind us I can’t help but think that the migrations of shrimp and fish will be a few weeks later than normal. Look for the flood of tide runners to come in starting with this full moon or the next new moon later in the month.

The shrimp like to move under a dark night so they are not eaten with such ease. I remember years ago spring break marked a time when friends came home from school and adventures were made. Longtime friend Marcos was going to school at A&M and came down for the week.

Spring break drum fishing is off the hook!

Great stingers of mixed boxes of trout reds and drum this week on live shrimp. me back to a spring break many years ago, when my poor mom thought I was just spending the night down the street. Not camping out in the back reaches of Baffin Bay in a small Jon boat. The shrimp are on the move and this next week I think the mesquite trees will finally start to bud out some green and tell us that winter is over and spring has popped. Give me a call if you are planning an adventure for your family or friends, or perhaps just want to learn more about fishing and boating our area. Come see me and some big trout this Sat. at Marker 37.

Joey Farah (361)442-8145.

Khloe Farah: cold water or not, ITS SURFING SEASON!

A 6

Island Moon

Letters to Riley

A Dog by Any Other Name

By Riley P. Dog

always have a lot of treats around. I don’t know why. Hippies are funny.

Some humans I know got a new dog and couldn’t figure out what to name her so I got me a list of the most popular dog names for the last years. Some of them are okay, some not so okay.

The most popular names for dogs are Dexter and Penny. I don’t know a Dexter, I know a Poindexter and he’s a yapper. I know a Penny and she’s a little yapper too. She’s named after a lady in a show on television.

Next most popular are Thor and Layla. I knew a Thor, his human is named Blue. Thor was a good boy, I think Blue is too. I’m not sure about Layla. That sounds more like a name for a cat. Stoopid Cats!

Next are Gunner and Piper. I like Gunner.

That’s a good name for a dog. I could be a Gunner. I’d prefer to be a Begger but Gunner is okay. I wouldn’t want to be a Piper. I’m more of a Tailpiper. All dogs are Tailpipers.

It’s in our dog genes.

Then it’s Bentley and Nala. I thought a Bentley was a car. I rode in one once and it had air conditioners in the seat. Boy was that cool! I don’t know what a Nala is but I bet if I rolled in it I would get in trouble.

Jax and Stella are popular too. I don’t know a Jax but if I met one I bet I would like him. I already know a Stella. She’s my friend. Ace and Willow are next. I like Ace. I could be an Ace. “Hey Ace, fetch boy.” “Get it yourself you stoopid human, you threw it.” Yea, I could be an Ace. Willow would be okay too if I was a lady dog because then I would belong to Hippies. I like Hippies, they smell like good and they’re soft touches for begging. They

Wine, Whine and Design The Art Center of Port Aransas will hold a Wine, Whine & Design – Painting Island Style Workshop on Sunday, March, 23 from 5-8 p.m. The cost is a $40 Donation to the Art Center Land/Building Fund.

Leo and Maya are next. I don’t think dogs should be named Leo. That’s for lions. You don’t want to make a lion mad. Maya is good. I like Maya. It sounds a lot better than Youra. Then it’s King and Athena. I knew a King once but he was a human. I like Athena okay, the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. That’s all pretty good stuff but I can’t see my humans standing out in the backyard yelling, “Here Athena, here Athena!” I would act like I didn’t know them.

Simba and Charlie. One of my humans used to have a giant Simba. It was hanging from a tree in the backyard in San Antonio when I was a puppy we would go out there at night and he would hit it with a big stick and it would make a ringing noise for a long time and I would bark. It was a lot of fun until my other human said, “If you don’t get rid of that Simba and the drums that go with it you’re going to get hit with a stick” and the Simba went away. I miss it.

I don’t know why humans would name a lady dog Charlie. Humans are funny. Milo and Ella. I like Ella but I thought Milo was a grain sorghum. I can’t keep up.

Send me some hotdogs. Save the Riley P. Dog Foundation, International Falls, Minnesota.

I thank you in advance. Be sure to put on enough stamps. My human says some Uncle !*%^#! Sam just raised the price. I got to go.

My nose is sore from hitting the space bar and a cat is eyeing my food bowl.

Stoopid Cats!

Dog Park Meeting Monday, March 17

By Sara Russell

The Instructor is Arlene Little Chapel on Hughes.

BYOB, and the Hill snacks and we provide all the rest. Stress free, fun & creative!

A public forum will be held to discuss the planned dog park on The Island. The forum will take place promptly at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 17th at the Seashore Gymnasium on Encantada. We look forward to sharing in more detail our progress and next steps. Please direct questions or concerns ahead of time to Sara Russell so they can be addressed (sara.justbe@ yahoo.com).

March 13, 2014

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin

We were The Kids then. The whippersnappers who were dispatched when a railroad car caught fire, a plane crashed, or someone was shot dead. We covered the stuff the Old Guys knew to stay away from.

earth and we were the foot soldiers. Most of our peers from Journalism School were slogging out press releases for some heartless corporation, or asking the most common question mouthed by recent J School grads, “Would you like fries with that?”

We were sure that the next assignment would be the one that came with a Pulitzer

Not so for The Kids. We were on the front lines and glad to be there. Twenty-five hundred words a day was the norm and there were no second acts. One screw up and it was a PR job for you boy; a fate that inevitably led to Law School and dying at your desk. We were the fighter pilots of the Word Factory.

“It’s hot out there,” the Old Guys would say, and then the City Editor, a retired police officer himself, would say, “Okay, I’ll send one of The Kids.” Off we would go with our notepad and walkie-talkie marching to the sound of the guns.

It was all in front of us then. We were sure that the next assignment would be the one that came with a Pulitzer. The perfect mix of facts, personalities, and storyline that would touch the heartstrings of a nation and bring that call from the New York Times. For a few that call, or some version of it, did come; others still soldier on.

Writer’s Dodge But back then we were still trying to find our way in the Writer’s Dodge, each in our own way.

Over time we came to understand the different ways that reporters used to chase stories. There were the feature writers whose command of the language made up for their lack of fact gathering; Like Neal L. who was fired from the Sports Department for asking the wrong questions of Spurs owner Angelo Drossos and as he was walking out of the newsroom got hired by the City Editor to cover the police beat.

“We don’t usually hire you guys from the Toy Department,” the City Editor said. “But I know why you got fired and it stinks so you’re one of us now.” Two weeks later Neal L. was again fired from the police beat for writing a story saying police were searching for Larry “Big Hands” Davis for choking his girlfriend. Fired from the same newspaper twice in two weeks, that’s got to be some kind of a journalistic record.

There were the Hallsitters. These were the bottom feeders of the reporting trade. They got their stories by following their peers around and waiting in the hall until they left an interview, then questioning the interviewee to get their stories. We ditched the Hallsitters in the fourth floor men’s room which had a window that opened to the fire escape then bet the over/under on how long they would sit out there waiting for us to come out. The record was over an hour.

“What in the world did she think I was doing in there for an hour?”

Paint the gorgeous Little Chapel on the Hillone step at a time. Trace patterns and paint in simple steps guided by an artist. The Art Center provides all materials. 16X20 canvas, brushes, paint and wine glasses! Call and sign up & Prepay to save your spot, it fills up quickly.

When newspapers ruled the world We were all earning our bones in those heady Salad Days when newspapers still ruled the

We made fun of those who bailed along the way; lightweights that couldn’t cut the mustard and had to go get a real job, or worse, take a job on the Copy Desk.

Some of us stayed right with it. My path ended up taking me through television and finally back to print. Others took the smart route into sales; they’re the Publishers now and the writers work for them.

The Old Guys But we’re not The Kids anymore. Now we’re the Old Guys who are scattered from California to the East Coast and gather on the rare occasions to remember the old days when we were The Kids. The stories are worn and familiar now and grow with each telling. The triple shooting over a parking place morphs together with the one involving the mayor of some little town no one can remember the name of. The three-alarm fire that sent the airplane engine factory up in a mushroom cloud of fire now almost burned down the entire city. The Old Guys have their stories and now we tell them to The Kids who pretend to be interested some times; but it’s the telling not the listening that matter for the Old Guys who used to be The Kids.

They’ll be down on The Island this weekend; the publishers from the Hill Country who were college roommates and now drive the foreign cars; the News Director of the big operation in Austin who lunches with the Governor; the Capitol Hill reporter from D.C. who did get the call and now is hoping The Kids can bail water long enough to keep the newspaper ship afloat long enough for him to make retirement age; the head of the Editorial Department at the Big Daily who stuck it out for thirty years and now only leaves the building for lunches with important people; Neal L who ended up getting arrested for making book in Kentucky, an honorable rap in The Kids’ world.

They’ll all come to The Island and we’ll sit around on the beach and swap stores; some of which will even be true.

“Do you remember the time, what was his name, got arrested for indecent exposure while he was covering the Battle of Flowers Parade?

Some people just enjoy a parade more than others.” And the Old Guys will laugh and remember the time when we were The Kids.

It was all in front of us then.

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March 13, 2014

Island Moon

Turtles continued from A1

recover the population. Kemp’s ridleys nest almost exclusively on western Gulf of Mexico shorelines and hundreds of people will work diligently this spring and summer to find and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their eggs in Mexico and Texas. Our local program has a long history in the conservation of this species. Since 1978, efforts have been on-going to form a secondary nesting colony of Kemp’s ridley turtles at Padre Island National Seashore as a safeguard against extinction for this native species. Most Kemp’s ridleys nest in Mexico, but more Kemp’s ridley nests are found at the National Seashore than at any other location in the U.S.

signs of nesting to watch for, importance of reporting nesting immediately, and how to avoid inadvertently harming the nesting turtle or nests.

National Seashore volunteers Padre Island National Seashore runs the nest detection program on North Padre Island.

This includes the National Seashore and the remainder of North Padre Island north of the National Seashore. Most of this nearly 80 mile long area is patrolled using utility-transportvehicles (UTVs), but the developed area is monitored by walking patrols. The county and city will also have personnel that we have trained that will be watching for nesting in the developed areas on North Padre and Mustang Island.

This year we will train more than 100 volunteers that will help with our nest detection program on North Padre Island, and volunteer participation is essential to our success. Most of our volunteers are local residents, but some travel here each week from San Antonio, Houston, Austin, or elsewhere just to help.

Each year, eggs from most nests found on North Padre Island and northward on the Texas coast are transferred to the Padre Island National Seashore incubation facility for protected care.

Eggs found in some nests from the southern end of the National Seashore and all nests on South Padre and Boca Chica beaches are brought to “corrals” (large screen enclosures) for protected incubation. Moving the eggs to the incubation facility and corrals allows us not only to protect the eggs, but also to protect the resulting hatchlings as we release them on the beach and allow them to crawl into the Gulf of Mexico.

On March 1, we welcomed back nearly 50 “returning volunteers” for a one-day refresher course covering patrol procedures, safety, and UTV operation. We are thrilled that these experienced volunteers are going to help us again this year. On March 8 and 9 we held classroom and field training sessions for “new volunteers” that will help us for their first time this year. A second group of new volunteers will attend these same training classes on March 20 and 21. The classes for the new volunteers include an overview of the program’s history, a description of the tasks that

Proper purchased after that date is assessed at the new, higher rate of ten cents per square foot on waterfront homes, two cents per square foot on dry lots.

Bulkhead Cap Repair: POA spent $462,992 in the past year to replace 7033 place 97 patch screens to prevent sand from escaping through bulkheads.

New Homes: Since June 30, 2012 there have been 56 new homes built on The Island and 16 Multi-family and duplexes.

Short-term rentals: Short term rentals, rental for less than thirty days, is not allowed in any residential areas under POA covenants.

Budget: In 2013 POA collected $2 million in revenues; in 2012 that number was $1.9 million.

Revenue from those years from Assessment Fees was $1.4 million and $1.3 million respectively.

Dredging: POA spent $550,000 last year on dredging. POA is researching costs to open the three culverts, currently clogged, which would allow water flow under the roadway at on Encantada. The city has declined to fund the work on the grounds that the culverts are part of the canal system and therefore the property and responsibility of the POA.

In 2013 it collected $490,419 more than is spent; in 2012 that number was $821,479.

Billish Park: POA is working with the city to allocated $500,000 in bond money for improvements to Billish Park which include removal of grass burs and gophers, and the planting of grass.

At the end of 2012 the POA had $7 million in assets on hand; at the end of 2013 it had $7.4 million in assets.

Golf carts may only be driven on city streets with a speed limit under 35 mph and only by licensed drivers.

Community Center: The POA Board of Directors is considering the building of a community center on land adjacent to the POA office and is soliciting input from members.

Fines for non-compliance: The POA has instituted a new policy for fining property owners who fail to meet POA rules. The rules allow the board to assess fines in excess of the fines listed below on a case by case basis. Here is the policy in its entirety.

New Enforcement Rules for POA ENFORCEMENT AND FINE POLICY PADRE ISLES PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION POLICY NUMBER XXVII 2013 The Board of Directors adopts the following policy for addressing violations of the governing documents:

We are also training beach maintenance crews, law enforcement officials, and other personnel that will work on the beach during the nesting season and might encounter nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles or sea turtle nests during the course of their work. We teach them the

This policy applies to all violations of the Declaration, Covenants, Bylaws, and recorded rules and regulations of the Association (collectively, a Violation). The Board of Directors may respond to a Violation with any of the remedies listed below. The belowlisted remedies shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by the Declaration, Covenants, Bylaws, State statute, or other law: volunteers can help with, safety information, and other related information. Most new volunteers also attend a full day of UTV safety and operations training.

Most of our volunteers will participate in turtle patrols that will be conducted daily, during daylight hours, from April 2 through mid-July. However, several of our volunteers will also help with radio dispatch, egg transport, hatchling release, and other activities that are integral to the project. We are very proud and thankful for everyone that has signed on help during the 2014 nesting season. In less than a month our first nests for 2014 could be found!

headed back downriver.

They found White’s two companions sitting in a boat on the river who reported that the Indians were either at the mouth of the river or across the bay on a peninsula. Burnham divided his men into two groups, one half of the men marched about a mile further down the riverbank, while the other remained where they were. That group set the prairie on fire and in a short time a large canoe filled with Indians was seen coming up the river. As they disembarked on the riverbank they were all killed.

A short time later the same tribe of Karankawas approached the settlers. They said they had grown tired of the war and that their numbers were diminishing in the face of Austin’s settlement and they wanted peace.

They proposed to meet Austin at La Bahia to make a treaty. Austin collected one hundred volunteers and met them at a creek four miles east of La Bahia where a treaty was signed by which the Indians promised not to go east of the San Antonio River and the Indians were as good as their word.

Comanche attack in Corpus The treaty however, did not stop the Comanche Indians from raiding the early settlements along Corpus Christi Bay. When Colonel H.L. Kinney settled his ranch on Corpus Christi Bay it was on the extreme frontier of the southwest settlements of Texas and as such was exposed to regular raids by the Comanches.

In late 1844 seventeen Comanches under the command of a chief named Santa Anna attacked some houses on Kinney’s ranch and after killing or driving off the inhabitants retreated into the brush. Colonel Kinney with eleven men gave pursuit and after a few miles overtook the Indians on the open prairie. The men dismounted and the fight was on.

a. Levy a damage assessment against an owner; b. Record a notice of non-compliance in the County Official Public Records; c. Impose costs of collection of enforcement (including attorney’s charges) against an owner; and d. Assess a fine against the owner and the owner’s property.

2. Vicarious Liability.

Property owners are responsible for all Violations of their tenants, Guests, invitees, or occupants.

3. Administrative Fee.

History continued from A1

The Association may charge an administrative fee of not more than $35 per notice to defray the time and cost of processing violation notices.

4. Non-Exclusivity.

These remedies are cumulative, and may be imposed in combination with each other. For example, the Board may, for the same Violation, improve a fine, and charge attorney’s fees incurred incident to enforcement.

5. Imposition of Fines.

Karankawa settlement During the fight Santa Anna suddenly ran out in front of the Texian's line holding his shield of hard buffalo hide up for protection. The Texians all fired at him but their lead rifle balls only rattled off the shield. It quickly became obvious why Santa Anna had done this. The Texans now all had to reload their rifles and while they did this the Comanches charged. Colonel Kinney alone among the combatants managed to mount his horse. Immediately one of Kinney’s men was killed, another speared with and shot in several places with arrows. A young clerk of Kinney’s was speared and his horse killed. The colonel dragged the man up behind him on his horse at the same instant an Indian’s spear went completely through the rider spearing Kinney in the back. At the same time an arrow went through both sleeves of his buckskin hunting shirt.

While trying to get free of the spear another Indian drove a spear though Kinney’s rider killing him instantly. Kinney drew his pistol and shot the Indian dead on the spot. The Indians could not compete with handguns in a close in fight and retreated leaving seven dead on the field with ten more severely wounded.

The fight was the first in a long line of skirmishes between Kinney and the Comanches during the early years of the Corpus Christi settlement. We will have more on Colonel Kinney in our next issue.

A7

Speed limit on SPID: The POA Board has not asked Texas Department of Transportation or the City of Corpus Christi to lower the speed limit on SPID on The Island. TxDot will conduct speed tests to determine current traffic speed; TxDot officials said they typically set the speed limit at the “85 percentile” of the prevailing traffic speed.

1. Remedies.

Padre Island National Seashore biologists are in the midst of providing training to people that will help find, document, and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and sea turtle nests in Texas this year. We will deliver nearly 20 training sessions in Texas during February and March.

This will include training to the staff members and volunteers from the six nesting patrol projects conducted along the Texas coast.

Staff and volunteers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea Turtle, Inc., University of Texas, ARK, Texas A&M UniversityGalveston, NOAA Fisheries, and Sea Turtle Restoration Project will attend.

POA continued from A1

A. Remedies for Violations:

Training

The Board gives standing orders to the Executive Coordinator to apply this procedure and, if the Violation is not timely cured, impose finds according to the Rules and Regulations and the fine schedule set forth below. If the fine for the Violation is neither specified in the Rules nor within one of the categories shown on the schedule, the Board will set the fine in its reasonable discretion.

In setting the fine, the Board may consider all factors it deems relevant, including the nature of the Violation, the frequency, and effect on neighboring owners and properties.

6. Repeat Violations.

The fine for a repeat Violation within 12 months will be higher than for the previous violation(s).

7. Fine Period.

As a general rule, fines for a discrete incident will be imposed on a per occurrence basis.

Fines will be imposed on a daily or weekly basis if the Violation is of a continuous or ongoing nature.

8. Exceptions. The Board may depart from these guidelines and impose a fine at a greater rate, provided that the owner is notified in advance of the amount of the fine and given a reasonable opportunity to avoid it.

B. Enforcement Procedure The following outlines the general enforcement procedure for Violations. Strict compliance is not necessary, as long as the Owner is given fair notice and all statutory conditions for enforcement have been met.

1. Courtesy First Notice.

The Association shall mail a courtesy notice letter to the Owner involved that identifies the alleged Violation, requests that it be corrected within a specified time, and advises of the remedies the Association can impose if non-compliance continues.

This step shall not apply for repeat/ recurrent Violations for which a notice was sent within the preceding 12 months.

1. Formal Notice.

In the event the Violation is not corrected within the specified time, or recurs within 12 months, the Association shall give the Owner written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested that: a. Describes the Violation and states the remedy to be imposed, including amount and beginning date of the proposed fine; b. Allows the Owner a reasonable time, by a specified date (which date may be shorter than the cure period allowed in the letter sent pursuant to step 1), to cure the Violationand avoid imposition of the remedy; provided, this provision shall not apply if the Owner was given certified mail notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure a similar Violation within the preceding 12 months; c. States that not later than the 30th day after the date of the notice of Violation, the Owner may request a hearing before the Board to contest the matter; d. Advises that the request for hearing must be in writing and delivered to the Association. e. States that attorney’s fees and costs will be charged if the Violation is upheld.

3. Hearing.

Upon receipt of a request for a hearing, the Board shall promptly schedule the hearing and give the owner at least ten (10) days’ advance notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

4. Delivery of Notice.

A certified mail letter that is returned to the Association due to the owner’s failure or refusal to claim the letter shall be deemed received by the owner on the 5th day after the postmark date of the letter.

5. Notice of Fine.

If a fine is imposed, the Association shall notify the owner of the levied fine within 30 days of imposition of the fine. This notice need not be sent by certified mail.

6. Exemptions.

The foregoing procedures do not apply to a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order or temporary injunctive relief, or to the collection of regularly scheduled assessments and late fees.

C. Fine Schedule.

Except as provided in the Rules and Regulations, or as modified by the Board, the fine schedule will be as follows: 1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense

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A 8

STATE

Island Moon

Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:

House Committee on Environmental Regulation • Study the environmental permitting processes at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), specifically the contestedcase hearing process at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and the timelines associated with the process. Study the economic impact that the state's permitting processes have on Texas manufacturing sectors and how neighboring states' and the federal permitting processes and timelines compare to those in Texas.

House Committee on Government Efficiency and Reform • Examine current restrictions on state and local governmental entities relating to the construction of critical infrastructure, including transportation and water projects, and make recommendations for expediting and creating more cost-effective and efficient methods for the construction of such projects.

• Review the application of the Public Information Act to requests for large amounts of electronic data. Examine whether the procedures and deadlines imposed by the Act give governmental bodies enough time to

identify and protect confidential information in such requests.

• Study the feasibility of having all state agencies use the Texas Workforce Commission's "Work in Texas" website for a more standardized applications process. Determine the interest of municipal, county, and other jurisdictions in boosting their utilization of the website.

House Committee on Higher Education • Study the potential of recent technologyenabled innovations for dramatically increasing the number and diversity of students who may access, participate and succeed in quality higher education, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), Synchronous Massive Online Courses (SMOCs), blended courses that combine online and classroom instruction, and other innovations with potential to personalize the learning experience, reduce costs, and transcend the physical limitations of traditional campuses. Consider challenges and opportunities for leveraging new technologies to increase the educational attainment of traditionally underserved populations including adult learners.

• Study new strategies for funding General Academic institutions to accelerate educational innovation and increase focus on improving student learning and success rather than seat time. Consider approaches that encourage new and more productive business models that incorporate affordable, lower-cost academic delivery models and expand the state's capacity to deliver high-quality education.

• Study how state resources might be better used to support the success of the rapidly growing numbers of state residents who need postsecondary degrees. Evaluate current programs and policies related to financial aid, tuition assistance, waivers, and work study, and evaluate their relative impact and return on investment with regard to student enrollment, persistence, and completion. Consider how state dollars might be better used in combination with federal financial aid to promote and accelerate student success. Explore strategies and best practices for reducing student loan default rates in Texas.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office.

As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

Rep. Hunter represents Nueces County (Part).

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

By Mary Lou White marylou@baxterbrooks.com 361-960-9460

This year’s funds are earmarked for construction projects at all three schools: SMA is getting a new cafeteria. SLC is getting a new classroom building. SECA will have a new facility on the SLC campus. This is a multimillion dollar project, so funds raised now mean less debt to carry. Call Kim Evaristo at 361-779-4888 to make a tax deductible donation or contribution.

These projects at the three schools are much larger projects than in past years and they should provide needed classroom space and facilities as the three campuses continue to expand. Seashore Middle Academy opened its doors at the old Dairy Queen building located at SLC over 7 years ago with about 40 students. In its present location, SMA has been expanding by about 20 students per year and continues to need more instructional space. Likewise SLC needs the new classroom building.

This year’s funds are earmarked for construction projects at all three schools: SMA is getting a new cafeteria. SLC is getting a new classroom building. SECA will have a new facility on the SLC campus.

There are several ways that islanders can help support this important fundraiser: • Donate a service, art, craft, or gift for the auctions • Provide a fishing or hunting trip • Provide a vacation (3 to 7 day stay) • Ask a friend, family member or neighbor for a donation • Donation of airline miles • Donation of a weekend at a condo • Gift card donations • Re-gift of a nice gift that is not your style

Recent History Factors that led to this increase can be traced to one common theme. Lack of funds and geography. The available land around Corpus Christi, not covered by water, is limited, making growth patterns predictable. However, lack of investment dollars, both private and governmental, in recent years has led to a shortage of available lots and almost no infrastructure extensions, as in sewer, water and streets. The typical source of development funds, in the past, have been banks, but due to regulation changes and more restrictive guidelines, private investors are now offering funds for subdivision development, however the terms usually reflect the high risk factor. Even with funds available, time takes it’s toll. From inception to buildable lots, the physical process takes months. Surveying, platting, permits and legal issues combined with weather delays and locating companies able to perform the actual installation of streets and utilities requires careful logistics and scheduling. Supply and demand equations have been at work and lot prices are escalating daily. I have two out of town clients looking for buildable land and one young client that has been searching diligently for weeks. After ruling out older homes, due to foundation and electrical issues, the decision has been made to build, but so far the lot selection process has proved daunting.

Builder Bind The common lament from Builders, who need and want to build homes for customers, is having to pay top dollar for a lot, then after construction, having a sales price that is not supported by salaries in the Corpus Christi area and leaving few buyers, who can qualify for loans to purchase the new homes. The Homebuilders Association of Corpus Christi has had to extend the date for their annual Parade of Homes based on extreme difficulty in buying a lot for their Showcase Home. Construction of this special house is due to begin next week in Flour Bluff, many weeks past the original start date. I have spoken to Builders and Clients, alike, who have literally started driving for hours trying to find an acceptable lot for their new home.

After attending the PIPOA annual meeting, I managed to write down the totals given for vacant lots within the PIPOA. 1,139 buildable lots, consisting of 188 Water Lots and 951 Water Access Lots. These lots are ready for homes immediately, with complete infrastructure in place. However, homes built on The Island will require three insurance policies, if a loan was needed to purchase the home and travel time

OTB on a daily basis, can be a factor for many people. In addition, our lot prices have also been rising and that translates into higher Sales Prices. It is pushing new home prices well over the $200K mark. The scenario that follows, once it is determined that a buyer cannot afford a New Home, is to go back to the existing home market and begin looking for the best fit. As prime properties slip away, buyers are left with fewer choices, at ever higher prices.

One Last Note On 4 March, the House of Representatives, voted 306-91 to approve Flood Insurance relief from the legislation they had enacted in 2012.

Now the Senate must pass the amended version, before the law can be changed. It would appear that constituent harassment has actually paid off, at least in the short term. Unfortunately, our Texas Windstorm situation is much more dire, despite the presence of hundreds of residents at the Windstorm Hearing last Wednesday at Texas A & M Corpus Christi campus, no one seems to be listening, or care what we have to say……Being informed is a good thing….

Padre Island Real Estate Ticker 1

Multi Family Unit For Sale For $329,900

12

Commercial Properties For Sale From $150,000 to $4,557,465

171

Lots and Land For Sale From $32,500 to $1,200,000

208

Residences For Sale on Padre Island

94

Attached Homes For Sale From $72,000 to $509,000

74

Detached Homes on a Canal or Water From $266,000 to $2,200,000

40

Detached Homes not on the Water From $179,000 to $329,000

392

Total Properties For Sale on Padre Island Listed on the MLS system

Mustang Island Real Estate Ticker

1

Multi Family Unit For Sale For $449,000

10

Commercial Properties For Sale From $364,000 to $3,000,000

185

Lots and Land For Sale From $40,800 to $5,650,000

186

Residences For Sale on Mustang Island

120

Attached Homes For Sale From $82,900 to $1,250,000

66

Detached Homes For Sale From $220,000 to $2,400,000

382

Total Properties For Sale on Mustang Island Listed on the MLS sytem

• Donate large baskets (for making silent auction gift baskets) • Donate a full gift basket – food, bath items, beverages, be creative • Donate your service ($50,$100,$200,$500) • Donate baked items • Donate baby-sitting or tutoring services • Donate lawn care, landscaping, or remodeling services

What You Can Do

That short sentence marks the beginning of the Preamble for the Association of Realtors, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Those five small words make a profound statement. This past week, I attended so many meetings, I lost track of the number.

However, the common theme in each one was the impact of growth on our area. Not only was this topic discussed, but I had actual experience to back up the reality. The truth is: Land Prices in the Coastal Bend have increased dramatically.

Island Implications

Whoop it up continued from A1 Funds Needed For Construction

March 13, 2014

Under All is the Land.

By Todd Hunter, District 32

The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit The Texas House of Representatives at http://www.house.state. tx.us/.

Island Real Estate

Interim Committee Assignments for Texas Legislature As mentioned in the previous week's article, the Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim committee charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These committee charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study.

Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2014) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues.

At the end of the interim, each committee will have the opportunity to submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with their recommendations on possible future legislation to be handled by the next Texas Legislature.

• Make a cash donation • Attend ‘Whoop It Up’ and bring your friends – and BID on the silent and live auction items • Volunteer to help our fundraising committee or at ‘Whoop It Up’ Island Foundation Schools is hoping that the 2014 ‘Whoop It Up’ fundraiser will be the largest yet. All donations (cash, certificates for service, gifts, and auction items) can be dropped off at any of our campuses. Tickets are $25.00 at the door – includes dinner. There will be $10.00 raffle tickets for a host of nice gifts and, of course, the silent and live auctions. Whiskey River is located at Holly and Staples in Corpus Christi. Get those dancin’ boots ready!

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A9

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A 10

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March 13, 2014