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The Island Moon The voice of The Island since 1996
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com Beach driving is getting tough this week as the natural beach south of Bob Hall Pier and the beach in front of the seawall are assessable only to the most hardy of four-wheel-drive rigs and the seaweed is piling up all over.
Opening Day at Schlitterbahn Set for May 31 The answer came this week from park developers Paul Schexnailder and Jeff Henry who said the park's soft opening will be Saturday, May 31, with the bottom two floors of the main park building open, the old Padre Island Country Club, which includes two restaurants, and the adjacent swim up bar. It is not known how many, if any, water rides will be open by June 1.
If you are heading down there you might want to take a rake to clear out a sitting spot.
Water line The long-planned second water line to The Island is becoming a reality. The project marks the end to a decades-long attempt to provide a redundant line to supplement the existing line which has been in place for four decades and is the sole water source for The Island and primary source for Port Aransas.
Lighthouse Rick By Dale Rankin Since the Schlitterbahn water park began rising up out of the ground late last year Islanders have had one overriding question: Will it be open by June 1?
Weekly May 1, 2014 Year 17, Issue 524
Inside the Moon...
Fish Stories A4
The May 31 open is in keeping with projections from park officials when work began for a scheduled soft open at the beginning of June with work continuing into the summer.
Schlitterbahn continued on A3
So Long Riley P. Dog
First Ridleys of the Season A8
Live Music A16
New Island Water Line on the Way We say so long this week to Rick Reichenbach the lighthouse keeper at the 158 year-old Aransas Pass Light Station, formerly known as the Lydia Ann Lighthouse. Rick has been the lighthouse keeper there for the past decade but is now heading for points south as he makes a move to Nicaragua and a new keeper takes over. Prior to the current Rick, the previous Lighthouse Keepers were Rick Pratt and his wife Cameron. The lighthouse was built in 1856 and is owned by Charles Butt, President of the HEB grocery chain who bought the structure in 1973 and hired the Pratts to refurbish it in 1984. The spiral staircase in the 70-foot lighthouse leads to the “biggest porch light on the coast.” Rick R. says the main duty of a Lighthouse Keeper is pretty simple; Dark, turn light on – Day – turn light off. Something tells us Rick will be making a few trips back to visit Port A.
Turtle season The turtle nesting season has begun with the first nests found last week. Keep an eye out as you drive down the beach, especially on windy days.
Billish Park A proposal to use groundwater to build a pond in Billish Park is moving forward with a meeting late last week with city planners. The idea is to tap the water table just below the surface and use the water supply to choke out the stickers. There is currently $500,000 in bond money available for improvements at the site.
By the time you read this I’ll be in Dog Heaven. I hit a bad patch last week and my humans are doing everything they can but I know it’s my time. We dogs know when it’s our time and this is mine.
By Bob Algeo The fire started about 3:30 pm, Sunday afternoon. Somebody drove a truck past the "No Trespassing" signs at the end of Sea Pines. The driver got it stuck in soft sand and dry brush when attempting a U-turn back to the dirt path (created by trespassers), just about 50 yards from the west end of Sea Pines. The truck exhaust system contacted dry grass and brush and set it on fire. Catalytic converters in exhaust systems are designed to get very hot, between 700-1000 degrees Fahrenheit, to work efficiently. Blades of dry grass should burn by 451 Fahrenheit, right? Remember Ray Bradbury's book?
Local Beaches Get a Makeover
Adopt-A-Beach Volunteers Sparkle
By Brent Rourk
Fire continued on A7
The project includes an 18-inch PVC water line, an 8-inch galvanized utility line, and a 4-inch line for fiber optic. The project is expected to be complete by the end of summer.
A Little Island History
How The Island Almost Escaped Annexation by the City of Corpus Christi The year is 1961 in a land far far away…that is to say OTB.
Tough week for Moon dogs
Say hello if you see us Around The Island.
There was plenty of thick dry brush where it was stuck, and it kept burning under the truck while it spread out in the strong winds. The truck was a Chevy Silverado, or GMC Sierra 1500, approximately model year 2000, and they
After decades of planning the installing of a second water line to The Island is moving quickly. Crews working from the Island-side of the Laguna Madre have already put in more than 800 feet of line which runs under the Intracoastal Canal. Crews are currently working from the Flour Bluff shoreline working toward The Island.
By Dale Rankin
For the second time in five months a trespassing car caused a massive brush fire across the main canal. Requests by the landowners to block the passage into the land at the end of Sea Pines have been stymied by city staff. The trespassers are accessing the land by way of a trail at the end of Sea Pines and attempts to keep them out have gone nowhere.
We’re going to miss our friends.
Riley P. Dog continued on A11
Tresspassing Car Ignites Massive Brush Fire
Brush fire
It’s been a tough week for Island Moon dogs as Ronnie Narmour lost Peanut and we lost Riley P. Dog. We want to thank everyone for their outpouring of support in this sad time. Riley was doing fine until last Friday and looked like he would survive a serious operation until Monday morning when he took a quick turn for the worse.
Unlike our human friends we dogs don’t have the gene that makes us dread death. We just go off gently into that good night.
What did a high heel shoe, a car mat, a golf club, 3 toothbrushes and a tire have in common last Saturday? Together with thousands of pieces of plastic bottles and bottle caps, Styrofoam, fishing line, cigarette butts, plastic utensils, and beverage cans they were all bagged, counted and placed in areas where the city or county picked them up and took them to the local landfill. Add in linoleum flooring, fishing nets and dead
Cleanup continued on A4
It started off when the 4002 residents of Flour Bluff, fearing annexation by the City of Corpus Christi, decided to circulate a petition calling for incorporation. They would fend off annexation by becoming their own city. This did not set well with the powers that be in Corpus Christi who believed that Flour Bluff’s future lay not in the hands of Flour Bluff residents alone but decisions on Flour Bluff’s fate should be made my wiser heads in Corpus Christi. The citizens of Flour Bluff turned in a petition signed by 132 Flour Bluff residents calling for an election to form the City of Flour Bluff. The City of Corpus Christi countered by urging Flour Bluffians to circulate a petition requesting a vote on
annexation of Flour Bluff into the City of Corpus Christi. Then barely one month before the scheduled August election the city passed an emergency measure placing a vote on whether to annex Flour Bluff on the same ballot after a petition to that effect was handed in containing 105 signatures of purported registered Flour Bluff voters.
History continued on A6
A 2
New Listing! 15922 Palo Seco Dr.
Island Moon
May
The Travelling Moon Gets Around
1,
2014
TerriÞc Family Home! Slice of Paradise! $473,000
By Ralf Heckenbach Bavaria Heckenbach (left) taking her Open Water Scuba Certification at Mammoth Lake by Houston and of course passed as Britney’s Star Student. The Moon had to travel with us and was a witness on this great weekend. Bavaria (11) is now a certified Level 1 Open Water Diver – very exciting! Congratulations to Bavaria from her very proud Daddy!!!
Light hail fell in Port Aransas Wednesday morning.
Palmia Golf resort, formerly Newport Dunes offers for 18 holes and a great menu
Donna Mesmer enjoying the full moon at Michael J. Ellis Beach. Free seaweed scrub available at all Island beaches
Lyft is now available in Corpus Christi
Www.padrevet.com
RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR Marketing Operations Public Relations
361-949-8200
Island picnic tables
First Friday at Port Aransas Art Center Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
CHRISTI KRESSER VETERINARIAN Cats & Dogs
14802 Compass Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78418
VOTED BEST
Veterinarian 2006-2013
Cat -Dog *SAVE up to $75.00 On 1 Year Supply Friendly $50.00 REBATE $25.00 Discount Facility per Dr. Kresser
Well-Behaved Cats, Dogs & Owners Always Welcome
Pelicans, Kathryn Lein The Art Center of Port Aransas will get a jump on Cinco de Mayo with its First Friday on May 2 featuring its Art’e de Mayo Group Show with- Kay BarnebeyRockport, Katherine Lein-Santa Fe NM and Port Aransas, Sarah Searight-Austin and Port Aransas, Nancy ThyreRockport. The event is May 2nd 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the public is invited for light refreshments, live music, great art and artists at the Port Aransas Art Center 323 N. Alister Port A; phone 361-749-7334.remain up for show and sale through the end of May.
Experts Claim Flea, Tick, Mosquito Infestations Will Hit Record Numbers In 2014
Trifexis - Cheristin - NexGard Give Your Pets The Protection They Deserve! Dr. Kresser Recommended Manufacture Guaranteed
Fish, Kay Barnebey
May 1, 2014
Moon Monkeys
Island Moon
Letters to the Editor On Tuesday, in the Caller Times, was a large insert about solid waste pickup and a map -- copied below. It's a very interesting map showing something that many in the City seem to not understand. Padre Island does not exist North of the Packery Channel! It does on your map. That island, North of the Packery is Mustang Island -- all the way to the Jetty. Why would the state have named the state part Mustang Island State Park if it was in Padre?
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker
And, interestingly, your folks seem to know it sometimes. Some of the maps on your website do acknowledge the existence of Mustang Island. Not this map, published in the Caller Times.
Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah
Please, we have the Tourist Bureau renaming Padre Island, and extending Padre Island all the way to Port A, as well. It seems we have to raise the awareness of this with too many folks.
Devorah Fox
mkay512@aol.com
New Advertisers Huge Garage Sale at 13958 Man O War Court Saturday only 7 am – noon. Many unique items including Coca-Cola collectibles, 1930s era tenor Gibson banjo, a variety of musical gear, elephant hide cowboy boots and many Coach purses. Also furniture items including a bedroom suite, solid wood rocking chair and wardrobe.
Business Briefs Please, do not publish a map with this error again. Maybe whoever is responsible for putting in the details on maps in the future might want to check with someone who knows the local geography. Ray Rose
Thank You!
Huge shout out to Ray and the great folks at the Animal Hospital of Padre Island for generously helping us with our little Scuttlecat (Kiki's) care. She's about the nicest little kitty ever! It's very heartwarming to know that there are amazing people in the world who will help the very meekest of us when we need it. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Animal Hospital of Padre Island. You guys are the best!
Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk
The Padre Island Rotary club would like to thank the island community as well as the following businesses for helping to make our second annual rubber duck race a success. The proceeds from our race will help fund our community service projects as well as allow us to participate in service projects throughout the world through our partnership with Rotary International.
Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Office Security/Spillage Control
Riley Hi Jan, Dale,
Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
Port A Glass Studio The Gaff Wild Horse Saloon Tarpon Ice House
North Padre
Miss K’s Catering & Bistro
All Stripes Stores
Amano
Whataburger
Felder Gallery
Doc’s Restaurant
Island Woman Boutique Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy
CVS
Snoopy’s Pier Isle Mail N More Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club
San Juan’s Taqueria
Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Subway
Port A Parks and Rec Public Library Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge
Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers WB Liquor
Flour Bluff H.E.B. Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron
Let me say my heart goes out to you and Dale for the loss of Riley P Dog. My lab recently died after 11 years of great times together….it hurt. My thoughts are with you. Sincerely, Mike
Farenthold v. Ortiz Moon, Recent comments about the credibility of Rep. Blake Farenthold verses the past credibility of rep. Solomon Ortiz brings out some interesting facts. Ortiz, as a politician is just the opposite of Farenthold. Ortiz was the best friend a Republican president could ever have in that he voted for the value of how a bill helps the American people as a whole. He did not vote discriminately against a bill just because it was a Republican bill. Farenthold is the worst enemy a Democratic president could ever have. He voted against every Democratic bill that came up with no concern as to the merits of how it affects the average American. Farenthold votes only to the 1%ers, who are all $billionaires, which, and it is a fact, is slowly eliminating the middle class, which in the end result, it will be two classes only, the rich and the poor. Farenthold’s backing of the Liquid Petroleum Gas enterprise will create jobs in the short run, making already billionaires more $billions and in the long run, a few decades into the future, after the gas is depleted, no fossil fuel for our offspring. Farenthold and the Tea Partiers, backed Sarah Palin’s comments: “Put all Democrats in your crosshairs and eliminate as many of the as possible,” which, eliminated Rep. Gabby Giffords as a Rep. A suggestion to all Republican voters is to lay down you assault weapons and vote Farenthold out of office if you want to remain in the middle class. Bobbie Kimbrell
Brooks Sheehan and the Sheehan company Cheri Sperling and Coastline Properties Kim Erwin and Keller Williams Realtors Stan Hulse and Toucan graphics Flour Bluff Interact Club who went way over the top with their duck ticket sales and participation the day of the event. These young people are our future and we couldn't be more proud of them. Thank you, Debbie Loven, Padre Island Rotary
Construction Dear Editor, Someone should write something about, why Corpus Christi gives large money jobs to like the road construction (Flour Bluff to The Island) to Companies like Clark Construction of San Antonio Texas and does not try to keep them in town. Who makes those choices? Does anyone get a reward to send a large construction job to Clark Construction? Why are those large jobs given to out of town companies? Thank you, Ralf Editor’s note: The SPID job is a state project and the bidding was done through state, rather than city channels, The job goes the lowest qualified bidder, with some exceptions for certain types of businesses. If anyone gets a “reward” for picking a certain company it would most likely be in the form of political contributions.
SPID Construction Schedule No work Saturday, May 3; Saturday work resumes May 10 Waldron Road through the JFK Causeway Crews will continue with striping and cleanup work on this newly resurfaced section of roadway with single lane closures eastbound and westbound on Park Road 22. Motorists should expect intermittent ramp closures. To accommodate the majority of commuter traffic, eastbound PR 22 lane closure will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Westbound PR 22 lane closure will be from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
JFK Causeway to SH 361 Crews will be resurfacing the roadway, making edge repairs, striping and repairing bridge joints. This work will require single lane closures eastbound and westbound on Park Road 22 with intermittent ramp and crossover closures. Eastbound lane closure will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and westbound lane closure will be from about 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Note: If crossovers are closed, traffic will have to use the PR 22 / SH 361 intersection for westbound PR 22 access and the westbound to eastbound turnaround at the JFK bridge for eastbound PR 22 access.
PR 22 / SH 361 intersection Crews will be resurfacing this intersection, striping and making edge repairs.
Gratitude Gift Shop
Police Station
This work will require single lane closures eastbound and westbound on PR 22; single lane/right lane closure on SH 361 from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and single lane and left-turn lane closure on Commodores Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Keepers Pier House
Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Police will assist with traffic control at the intersection and motorists should expect delays.
Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station
The Lyft Service that connects passengers with private drivers has come to Corpus Christi. They launched the service in 24 cities on April 24th. Passengers can log into the app on their smartphone, request a ride with tap of a button, see a picture of their car and driver, and be on their way within minutes. Besides making rides convenient with cashless payments, typically Lyft is more affordable than traditional taxis. The cars are recognizable by their large fuzzy pink mustache on the front of the vehicle. Schlitterbahn owner Jeff Henry announced there will be a soft opening on Saturday, May 31st with a good part of the water park open and the first two floors of the main building. The workers are putting in 13 hour days to accomplish this. Concrete trucks arrive at 5 am daily as they have for months according to one of the drivers I spoke with.
Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers
A3
by Mary Craft
Scuttlecat
Andy Purvis
Did Ya Hear?
Mustang Island
Mike Ellis, Founder
Gulf Coast Race Track is the place to be this Saturday to watch and bet on the Kentucky Derby. Do not be surprised to see one of your neighbors there because this is a popular event for Islanders with some wearing traditional big hats. There are many TV screens throughout with horse and dog tracks from across the country on simulcast. There are no longer live races at the track. The track is located at 5302 Leopard Street and the hours Saturday are 9 am – midnight. Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening at the La Palmera Shoppes next to Dick's Sporting Goods. The first restaurant opened in 1993 in Denver and there are now about 1500 of these popular fresh, organic ingredients only eateries. I am looking forward to trying the low carb burrito bowl that has no tortilla. Mother's Day Restaurant update/ corrections – Scuttlebutt's is not taking reservations and Dragonfly Restaurant will be closed. The Flour Bluff NJROTC will be departing for Daytona Beach, Florida on Friday, May 2 to attend the All Service Grand National competition. They have won 11 national championships. As tradition goes, Judge Loyd Neal will be at the high school cafetorium Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m to give them a send-off message. A Boating Safety Class will be given by the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday, May 10th 7:30 am – 6 pm. The cost for the class is $45 and includes lunch. This class is mandatory for those age 13 – 17 who wish to operate a vessel. Call Roy Pell at 361-438-2667 or e-mail him at sailorroy@sbcglobal.net to reserve a space or for more information. The class will be held at CBRAC at 1201 Laguna Shores. The American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Class will be held at the Port Aransas Community Pool June 2nd - 6th will be 9 am - 5 pm. The class if for age 15 and over and the cost is $175. Contact Bonney Maurer at 361-749-2416 to register while space is available. TGSA is proud to announce the Cinco de Mayo Longboard Pro will be held on Saturday, May 3. This year’s event will be held at the North Packery Channel Jetties in Corpus Christi, TX. The event will kick off with the signup/check-in and welcome event on May 2, 2014 at the Boathouse Bar & Grill at 6pm on North Padre Island and capped off Saturday night with the awards ceremony back at the Boathouse Bar & Grill. This is a Pro event with a cash purse of $4,000. If you need more info or are interested in becoming a sponsor or volunteer contact us at 832-596-5891 or greer-k@att.net. Proceeds from this event will benefit the TGSA and the James Greer Surfer Scholarship Fund.
Schlitterbahn cont. from A1 "We've lost twenty eight construction days to weather since we began work," Schexnailder said. "Without that we would be much further along." Crews have now begun working longer hours, six days per week as the sprint to May 31 begins. The fourth floor of the main building which will house the clubhouse for members and for park guests, will not be ready by June 1. Park officials said they are currently at work putting together membership packages.
Creating Dreams for Island Homeowners since 1987
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New Homes Remodels Additions Repairs No job too big or too small
Call 774-7043 for estimate www.billgoinhomes.com
Island Moon
A 4
Backwater Adventures
Sponsored by Marker 37 Marina
On the Rocks
Coming Home
By Jay Gardner My buddy Roy was surfing the other day at north packery, and got run over by a fellow surfer. He got dinged up pretty good, and was in a bad way, but the guys got him out of the water and headed towards the hospital. Thankfully he’s going to be ok, after a bunch of stitches and staples, but this was a wake up call. I know there’s a small window of good break out there, but y’all please be extra careful and watch out for each other. Please be aware of who’s in front of you and who’s behind you, and especially if someone wipes out, don’t go near them. The first reaction after getting worked is to come up for air, and you don’t want to give them a flat-top when they surface. Get better soon buddy. I’d comment on the weather, but I don’t know what to say. It’s been a weird one folks, and it reminds me of the summer of ’99 when we had these kind of fronts all the way into June, spaced by some of the hottest temps I can recall. At least these fronts are causing some bird fallouts, and the back yard continues to host a wide array of migratory species, with highlights including Baltimore orioles, yellow warblers, grosbeaks, and just yesterday I got my first Blackburnian warbler for this season. Very cool birds. Baxter snapped a pic of a redbreasted grosbeak on my waterfall the other day during the heavy north winds (thanks for the photo Aaron). And of course there’s no shortage of sargassum, which is good (that was a joke readers). The sargassum onslaught basically owns the beach down on the Seashore, making driving a nightmare. The Friends of Padre crew headed south a couple of days ago and it took them almost 5 hours to get off the beach. For those paying attention, that’s 10 hours to drive down, turn around, and drive back. No fishing or stopping, just driving. And the Sargassum Early Warning system says that there’s even more stacked up nearshore that is about to hit us with another wave. The National Marine Fisheries Dis-Service continues to punish the recreational fishermen with even crazier limits. They announced because of overages and the lawsuit (brought on by commercial fishermen nonetheless) that we will only get a whopping 11 days for the federal snapper season. Two weekends. And I’m betting one or maybe both of them will
be blown out. The NMFS will also likely claim that we went over the allocation in that short window too, mark my words. After the announcement, Louisiana immediately went non-compliant and announced a 9-month season. Florida waited a day or two, but they also announced a 50-day season in defiance of the Feds. Way to go neighbors! Thankfully here in the coastal bend we have a few rigs left and also the 40-acre reef out of Packery in State Waters, so we will continue to thumb our noses at the Feds with our 365-day state water season. At least for now. They also closed the grey triggerfish season, claiming that recreational fishermen have already reached the quota this year. We haven’t
even been offshore yet this season! I mean, it’s triggerfish, so not too many people are really kicking up a lot of dust, but come on. Don’t be silly. So no keeping any triggerfish this season folks. In addition, NMFS also reduced the quota of greater amberjack to less than 900,000 lbs for the entire Gulf. This will result in something like an 8-day season for AJ’s around here. Things are going to get worse, much worse, before they get better on this one folks. Stay tuned. Thanks for the call Brent regarding the “paint store incident.” Hope you can indeed get some traction and there’s no more half hour waits for customers standing in line to ask a question. I appreciate the follow up. Rest in peach Riley P. Dog; I’ll see you out there on those golden rocks at some point. I’ll bring some hotdogs buddy. My condolences to my fellow Moon Monkeys on Riley’s passing.
Beach Cleanup continued from A1 found by a cub scout at Quintana Beach, a used pregnancy test kit on Cameron County beaches, false teeth in Galveston and a burned up purse and wallet at Boggy Creek Nature Park in Calhoun County.
160 Local Volunteers Answered the Call For 28 years under the banner of the Texas General Land Office, Adopt-ABeach has continued to effectively harness the energy, strength and compassion of over 450,000 volunteers to rid our beaches of trash and dangerous materials, 121 tons of trash removed from Texas beaches Saturday as a total of 7,334 volunteers hit the beach across the state and hauled more than 121 tons of trash off Texas . Saturday over 160 volunteers descended on the building next to the Balli Park Offices to pick up their cleaning kit and to scour the beaches from the shoreline to the base of the first dune. They came as individuals, couples, businesses, and schools to create cleaner and safer beaches. This was just one of 31 Adopt-A-Beach locations along the Texas coast.
Trash Counts from Local Beaches Tabulated trash counts give us an idea of what locals collected at only one of the 31 Coastal Bend sites: 437 plastic bottles, 479 beverage cans, 441 food wrappers, 732 plastic bottle caps, 200 plastic lids, 310 grocery plastic bags, 253 other plastic bags, 148 plastic cups, 145 glass beverage bottles, 75 fishing nets, 25 cigarette lighters, 69 construction materials, 151 foam cups, 30 strapping bands, 77 tobacco packages, 76 balloons, 118 utensils, 800 cigarette butts, 130 plastic takeout containers, and 110 foam takeout containers. There was much more. Aside from the usual cigarette butts, beer cans and diapers, some pretty odd and interesting items were found, including a lost or discarded love letter on South Padre Island, a $100 bill
Equally alarming were other types of material found on the local beaches: six appliances, seven syringes, four pallets, 90 pieces of clothing, 139 ropes, and the usual smattering of condoms, tampons, and diapers. Locals collected 118 bags of trash with an estimated weight of 3,200 pounds. Obviously, much of the plastic and wood are guests deposited by currents, and yet a good portion of the overall trash is also from local beach goers who leave their trash, do not fetch it when the wind carries it, or do not properly dispose of it.
Time and Volunteers One of the most precious gifts that people can give to one another and our world is time. Each of us arguably has a finite amount of time to give, so it is remarkably refreshing when people give their time to make our world (our beaches) a better place to live. In time our beaches become foul. In time they become unsafe. In time they become pocked with debris. It takes time and compassion from locals to counteract the damages done over time. Thanks to the volunteers who gave time to give our beaches a makeover. Forgotten heroes? In the meantime, we should also thank a dedicated group of volunteers from the local Padre Island Kiwanis Club who again gave hours of time to help organize, supply, greet, register, cook for, and thank the many volunteers who did the actual cleaning. These are the volunteers who help the volunteers. Thanks to all of the volunteers as well as Adopt-A-Beach and the Texas General Land Office. Enjoy the beautiful beaches and please continue to help us keep them clean and safe.
Tides of the Week
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) May 1-7, 2014
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
1 High 7:05 AM 1.9 1 Low 11:03 PM 0.0 2 High 7:55 AM 1.9 2 Low 11:41 PM 0.0 3 High 8:44 AM 1.8 3 4 Low 12:21 AM 0.1 4 High 9:29 AM 1.7 5 Low 1:04 AM 0.3 5 High 10:08 AM 1.7 6 Low 1:52 AM 0.4 6 High 10:40 AM 1.6 7 Low 2:51 AM 0.6 7 High 11:06 AM 1.5 7 Low 6:50 PM 1.0 7 High 9:36 PM 1.1
By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures Well every time I leave our little piece of paradise I am excited to see new places, yet I have grown to know that upon my arrival home I will see and appreciate the place we call home more and more. I just got back from the Mountains of New Mexico and Colorado and walked the stairs to heaven, the Rocky Mountains. Me and Leah bathed in the Hot Springs along the San Juan River, hiked into the snow topped peaks of the Rockies and walked the desert plains of adventurous settlers and Old West Characters. As we sat along the headwaters of the Rio Grande I watched the waters rush by on their way home to the Texas Gulf Coast. This land that we have settled down in is a place that is a melting pot of souls from many places. So many people have come south to the sea from lives they lead far away, creating the colorful lifestyle here on the Beaches of Padre’ Island. The lure of the Ocean captivates many and provides a steady flow of wellness and wealth for those who live close to it. Fishing and all that comes from it are a vital part of the blessings from our home. Locally the fishing has been GOING OFF! and I am This monster 31 inch trout came from within one excited to back home and on the water. mile of the JFK the first weekend in may last year.
Land Cut
Red Breasted Grosbeak
birds and they were all captives from the local spring Adopt-A-Beach clean-up organized near the Balli Park Office.
May 1, 2014
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Moon Visible
6:49 AM 8:03 PM 6:49 AM 8:03 PM 6:48 AM 8:04 PM 6:47 AM 8:04 PM 6:46 AM 8:05 PM 6:46 AM 8:05 PM 6:45 AM 8:06 PM
Rise 8:43 AM Set 10:32 PM Rise 9:33 AM Set 11:22 PM Rise 10:23 AM
2
Set 12:08 AM Rise 11:14 AM Set 12:51 AM Rise 12:05 PM Set 1:30 AM Rise 12:57 PM Set 2:08 AM Rise 1:48 PM
20
7 13
28 37 47
Great trout action is here now along the Flour Bluff Shoreline
The biggest story on the line is the Land Cut, the rush anglers south to get in on some of the year’s best fishing made for a very crowded weekend last week. The best times to fish the Land Cut are when the Southeast winds have been blowing for at least two full days. Current is the key to success there. The back and forth winds from the persistent cold fronts
more time to hear and smell the bait and cork and strike the hook. These special casting corks are available at Academy, and by contacting them personally at www.midcoastproducts. com, tell them I sent you.
Spread your Corks
When working a drift with multiple anglers spreading out the corks is very important, the sound of a wall of popping corks will push away as many fish as you may catch. Alternate casts with your fellow anglers so that you cast as their corks are halfway in. Always use a small pinch weight within 4in of the hook to keep the shrimp down under the water and in the strike zone. I like to keep a fairly long leader of at least three feet when drifting flats of 3to8ft. When I am in shallow water or when the water is turned over and very muddy I use a shorter leader. The shorter leader will keep fish The Year of the drum has kept everyone hooked up and on your bait as they approach the sound of the cork in dirty water. smiling. The ICW and the mouth Baffin are still hot! The best length is normally just a few inches above the bottom in shallow water. Do not get into a rhythm with have played havoc on Land Cut success. When your popping, just as a fish comes up to the cork this happens look for good fishing along the repeated blasts can spook them. Let the cork set Yarborough Pass area where fish come out of after your initial popping as you keep the speed the Land Cut and settle along the shallow grass of the drifting boat with your retrieve. Using a flats to the east. The bottom here is solid along smaller circle will eliminate the need to set the the eastern drop-off and new stands of grass hook and most often the fish sets the hook itself are growing along the edge. Walking along the when the resistance of the float tightens the shallows with top water lures and soft plastics line on the strike. The other options are a small is a sure bet for a heart stopping explosion #2-4 wide gap hook or a small treble hook. or a thump and bend of the rod. Drifting the The treble hook works great but can get deep edges in a boat will bring good boxes of both into the trout’s mouth and is very hard to get trout and redfish. The flow of fish has and will out. Sometimes colored beads help in adding move north towards and into Baffin Bay. Catch some flash. I sometimes use glow, red, white, groups of fish along the South Shoreline and in or yellow beads close to the hook especially in the Meadows. stained water. The fun of fishing with popping corks is a classic year round Texas tradition, Good Bait and the most productive style at this time. The The best way to ensure a good day is to use LIVE CROAKER are a bit too small right now live shrimp under a popping cork. In weeks last with the late season cold weather. They will we touched on some good strategies for drift become more available in the weeks to come. fishing with corks. Experiment with various Live shrimp is the way to go now and will bring types of corks, and lengths of leaders under variety and consistency to your catching. them. The cork that has been working the best Artifical bait this week is the MIDCOAST PRODUCT’S, OUTCAST CORK AND THE INTICER. The use of artificial right now is also very These corks are designed to get out away from good, the clean water in the Upper Lagoon the boat and catch fish. I met these folks in is just right for a day of lure fishing with the Houston at the fishing show in March and have highlight being some very big trophy trout. The seen their product hold up for months. The one simplicity of jumping out and fishing without cork I have been using myself has been catching any stops at the store or noisy aerators is nice. fish without fail two to one over all others on Not having to run back and rebait with every my boat, and I mean the same one without any few casts lets the mind wander and release change out. The unique feature about these stress. The art of sensing the movements of the corks are their weight forward design. I can and lure under the water with every stroke of the do cast twice as far as I can with other corks. rod and the thought of actually fooling the fish This is important when drift fishing in that your with your immediate actions, fuels the mind, bait has more time in the water and the fish have body, and soul. Start off your lure fishing career with something simple like using a DOA SHRIMP under an OUTCAST Cork. This will let you cast repeatedly without having to rebait, and give you both a visual target that is just as good as the real thing along with sound. The other bait that has been catching fish on my boat since I’ve been back is the DOA CAL series soft plastic paddle tail. This smaller sized swimming bait is just the right size for what the fish are feeding on right now. With all the small bait out there this spring large baits are large meals, eaten when the major feed is on. The CAL baits come in MANY colors but my favorite right now is the chartreuse/ pearl and the natural colors. I have also been using the small 2” shrimp with a very small jig head to catch fish in the lights behind the house and out in the flats when they want a smaller bait. The little snack sized shrimp has been producing some giant sized fish. The time is perfect to get out and learn bay and enjoy the carefree fun in using artificial baits. If you want to get a boost, call me for a fun afternoon all artificial trip around in local waters. It is a lot of knowledge packed into an afternoon of catching fish. The sun hits the horizon later and later now and we have a long afternoon to use several different styles and techniques of successfully catching fish on lures, as well as learning the in’s and outs of the bay and some new places to fish. Capt. Joey Farah. KEEP THOSE Uncle Leo with a nice redfish from a secret hole LINES TIGHT AND YOUR HOOKS SHARP! just south of the Whitecap subdivision.
Capt Jim Harmon.
May 1, 2014
Island Moon
Senior Moments
Do You Remember? The Great Depression-Part Two By Dotson Lewis, dlewis1@stx.rr.com Special to the Island Moon
Riding the Rails During the Great Depression, millions of people were out of work across the United States. Unable to find another job locally, many unemployed people hit the road, traveling from place to place, hoping to find some work. A few of these people had cars, but most hitchhiked or "rode the rails."
During the 1932 presidential election, Hoover did not stand a chance at reelection and Franklin D. Roosevelt won in a landslide. People of the United States had high hopes that President Roosevelt would be able to solve all their woes. As soon as Roosevelt took office, he closed all the banks and only let them reopen once they were stabilized. Next, Roosevelt began to establish programs that became known as the New Deal. These New Deal programs were most commonly known by their initials, which reminded some people of alphabet soup. Some of these programs were aimed at helping farmers, like the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration). While other programs, such as the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Progress Administration), attempted to help curb unemployment by hiring people for various projects.
The End of the Great Depression A large portion of the people who rode the rails (also called “riding the rods”) were teenagers, but there were also older men, women, and entire families who traveled in this manner. They would board freight trains and crisscross the country, hoping to find a job in one of the towns along the way. Between 1934 and 1938 many of my older friends (15-18 years old) rode the rods. When I was 9 I went down to the railroad tracks and walked the tracks, but never summoned the courage to grab onto slowly moving freight trains going through Ralls, Texas. Also I knew that if I did, my Dad (who rode the rails in his youth) would have worn his razor strap out on my rear-end. When there was a job opening, there were often literally a thousand people applying for the same job. Those who weren't lucky enough to get the job would perhaps stay in a shantytown (known as "Hoovervilles") outside of town. Housing in the shantytown was built out of any material that could be found freely, like driftwood, cardboard, or even newspapers.
To many at the time, President Roosevelt was a hero. They believed that he cared deeply for the common man and that he was doing his best to end the Great Depression. Looking back, however, it is uncertain as to how much Roosevelt's New Deal programs helped to end the Great Depression. By all accounts, the New Deal programs eased the hardships of the Great
The farmers who had lost their homes and land usually headed west to California, where they heard rumors of agricultural jobs. Unfortunately, although there was some seasonal work, the conditions for these families were transient and hostile. Since many of these farmers came from Oklahoma and Arkansas, they were called the derogatory names of "Okies" and "Arkies." (The stories of these migrants to California were immortalized in the fictional book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.)
Roosevelt and the New Deal The U.S. economy broke down and entered the Great Depression during the presidency of Herbert Hoover. Although President Hoover repeatedly spoke of optimism, the people blamed him for the Great Depression. Just as the shantytowns were named Hoovervilles after him, newspapers became known as "Hoover blankets," pockets of pants turned inside out (to show they were empty) were called "Hoover flags," and broken-down cars pulled by horses were known as "Hoover wagons."
The major turn-around for the U.S. economy occurred after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the United States into World War II. Once the U.S. was involved in the war, both people and industry became essential to the war effort. Weapons, artillery, ships, and airplanes were needed quickly. Men were trained to become soldiers and the women were kept on the home front to keep the factories going. Food needed to be grown for both the home front and to send overseas. It was ultimately the entrance of the U.S. into World War II (December 7, 1941) that ended the Great Depression in the United States. Dotson’s note: What do you remember of the Great Depression? Please share your memories with us. Questions and/or comments are welcome. Please snail mail or Email The Island Moon or call Dotson at 361-949-768 or 530748-8475 or Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
Serving: Padre Island, Flour Bluff, Port Aransas, Mustang Island and Rockport. 9 9 9 9 9 9
by Dale Rankin
When you walk into the clubhouse of any professional sport it doesn’t take long to figure out who holds the cards.
In an NFL Clubhouse the coach makes the rules... in baseball locker rooms the press is king NFL In an NFL clubhouse the coach makes the rules. I was surprised at the Superbowl in Miami how easy it was to come and go, without any noticeable security – keep in mind this was pre-911. If you had the right credentials you just wandered around at will. Those with lesser access were stuck waiting under the stands where podiums and lights had been set up, but generally, as locker rooms go, there was great ease of access. The coaches made the rules, the players followed them and whether they liked it or not they had to talk to the press. There was also a gift bag with various NFL/Superbowl souvenirs to take home.
Major League Baseball In professional baseball locker rooms The Press was king. The Baseball Writers Association has been around since 1908 and they decide who gets into the Baseball Hall of Fame. There was a time, before television and radio, when newspapers could make or break a sport and that is when the rules defining the relationship between teams, players and writers took shape. The result is that baseball writers have pretty much all the access they want – some might disagree; but at least compared to other major sports the writers rule the roost. When I attended the Daytona 500 I was working for the CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach which is right up the road from the race and as a result we had pit and driver area passes. A NASCAR event is essentially a traveling circus that sets ups and moves every week during the season.
Depression; however, the U.S. economy was still extremely bad by the end of the 1930s.
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A5
Stuff I Heard on the Island
Daytona 500
Civilian Conservation Corps workers
The motorcycle circuit moves about the world in eighteen-wheelers driven into huge surplus Russian airplanes; NASCAR moves by eighteen wheelers on the highways of America. When I got to Daytona I went straight to the pits because I figured that was where the action was; and on race day it was. But in the days leading up to the race and in the hours after, the drivers’ area was the place to be. The crowd there is huge and tightly controlled, but, again, with the proper credentials once you’re in the gate there are pretty much no rules. When our crew walked up and knocked on the door of Dale Earnhardt’s trailer I hung back because I had heard he was tough with the press. But it turned out he kept a boat on Singer Island and knew one of the crew. The interviews were done right out in the open outside the trailers. Even without a press credential each driver sold merchandize and was often behind the counter greeting fans. NASCAR was in its growth stage and press was welcome.
NBA This all came back to mind this week in light of the trouble with the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. I covered the San Antonio Spurs home games for Associated Press way back when Cotton Fitzsimmons was the coach and George Gervin was still playing.
We showed up early under the stands and were fed Bill Miller Barbeque, free Lone Star beer, then sat courtside at mid-court through the games; these days the press is several rows up behind the baseline. At each timeout or end of quarter a Spurs staffer would come by and hand us a stat sheet with everything we needed to write a complete story. After the game we would crowd around Fitzsimmons, who didn’t mind talking to the press, and the staff would then bring out a quote sheet with quotes from players. Only regular beat writers and local television crews were allowed in the player’s area, where generally, they requested that a particular player come for interviews. There was a rule in place then that said media had to be allowed into the locker room within a certain amount of time after the game but the rule was unpopular with players and coaches and was not enforced. The unwritten rule was that if the players came out, the reporters didn’t go in. Back then the NBA was just a few years removed from having its championship games broadcast on tape delay after the 10 o’clock local news; the league wanted the press. The players only wanted the press when they wanted the press; which was usually when they were looking for a new contract. Which leads me back to the Clippers. Even way back then the players were starting to assert control. Kareem Abdul Jabbar simply refused to do interviews. He didn’t even dress in the locker room. After the game he would grab his bag and walk right out through the front gates of the old Convention Center Arena to the Marriott across the street where the team stayed, right though the crowd with his eyes on the ground and not looking at anyone. Magic Johnson by contrast would hold court with reporters just about anywhere. Now this week the players threatened to not play in playoff games if the Clippers’ owner was not punished to their satisfaction. In this case it was an owner who certainly had it coming who brought solidarity to the players union. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the league’s relationship with the press.
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14457S.S.P.I.D. 14225 P. I. D.,Suite Suite109 7 Corpus Christi, TX 78418
A 6
STATE
Island Moon
By Todd Hunter, District 32 It is important that we recognize the service of our men and women in the armed services. Their commitment to our country and this state is truly admirable. One of the things that the Texas Legislature does to help honor those who feel the calling to serve their country was to establish the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. This program establishes a mechanism for those looking to serve as well as the resources to help assist them in obtaining their college degree.
• Ranked in the top third of their graduating class.
The purpose of the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program is to encourage high school seniors and freshmen college students to participate in a civilian college Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program while in college. A student must meet specific eligibility criteria in order to receive an initial scholarship award. In addition to the eligibility criteria, a student must enter into an agreement requiring a four-year commitment as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, member of the Texas Air Force National Guard, or a commissioned officer in any branch of the armed services of the United States.
No later than six months after graduation from college, the selected student must provide the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with verification of a four-year commitment to be a member of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Merchant Marines; or a contract to serve as a commissioned officer in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. A selected student must meet all prescreening requirements of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, Texas State Guard, U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Merchant Marines, or the appropriate branch of the armed services. The student must repay the scholarship if the student fails to meet the requirements for receiving the scholarship.
My office is accepting scholarship applications from students who reside in House District 32. Each state representative has been asked to nominate one student to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for overseeing the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program.
Eligibility for Nomination In order to be considered for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship, a student must meet two of the following four academic criteria at the time of the application: • Graduate or have graduated high school with the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) or the International Baccalaureate Program (IB); • Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; • Achieve a college readiness score on the SAT (1590) or ACT (23);
Once a student receives the nomination, then a number of criteria must be met for the nominated student to be eligible for receipt of an initial scholarship. The student must enroll in an ROTC program. A selected student must also enter into a written agreement with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board agreeing to complete four years of ROTC training and graduate no later than six years after the date the student first registers at an institution of higher education.
Headed for a showdown The campaign got hot and on July 27 gunfire broke out in the Tropical Isles subdivision after a woman who favored annexation allegedly tried to remove a yard sign backing incorporation from a man’s yard and the man sought conflict resolution though gunsmoke. He squeezed off a single round sending the woman running for cover and Constable John Hays was called to investigate. No charges were filed but Constable Hays called for all parties to “just cool off and don’t shoot each other.” It turned out that Flour Bluff was very popular on Election Day. Corpus Christi voters approved
May 1, 2014
By Captain Sail Offcourse Having completed the search of Columbus’s landing spot we set our goal of the British West Indies. Out here you are really in the “Bermuda Triangle” and strange things happen from compasses spinning, White-water foaming about (your boat has no floatation avoid these gas releases) to large waterspouts forming on top of you. I have seen all these things happen to me out there. The goal was to make Sappadilla Bay, Providenciales (Provo) on the south west end of the Cacios Islands just north of West Cacios Island. The traditional anchorage for clearance in and out of TCI for transient vessels is Sapodilla Bay, a moderately well protected bay, except from the south. Sapodilla Bay 021-44.54N 072-17.30W can be approached from the west by the Sandbore Channel or from the south via the Caicos Banks and the White Sand Road. The Sandbore Channel is half a mile wide so during daylight is easy to navigate into the bay. White Sand Road is named that because it is straight and flat 15 feet of water on the east side of West Cacios and is the choice if entering in at night as there are no reported obstructions. The protective barrier reef which surrounds the Turks and Caicos Islands offers some of the best scuba experiences in the world. This reef also breaks the incoming surf to create the calm,
all of the artifacts were returned to the Turks and Caicos Islands and placed in a new National Museum, opened in 1991, housing displays about the wreck
A Caravel
The ship was about 19 meters long with a beam of five to six meters and a draft of two meters. The ship had at least three masts; metal parts of rigging found indicate that both square-rigged and lateen sails were used on the ship. The surviving parts of the hull showed construction techniques typical of 15th- and 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish ships, indicating this
If you would like any additional information on the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program, please don't hesitate to contact my Capitol or District office (512-463-0672; 361949-4603). The scholarship is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Questions can also be directed to the board's Office of External Relations which can be reached at 512-427-6111. 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 (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house. state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
annexation and Flour Bluff residents approved incorporation. What to do? It went to the courts with the City of Corpus Christi claiming that under Texas home rule laws an area of nine square miles must contain at least 5,000 citizens in order to become its own town and Flour Bluff had only 4002. Flour Bluff residents countered by saying that of the 105 signers of the petition favoring annexation there were not the required 69 registered voters.
U.S. Supreme Court As the case wound its way through the state appeals court and headed for the U.S. Supreme Court the courts continued to side with the Flour Bluff residents who wanted to form their own city and the City of Corpus Christi continued to appeal. As the facts emerged it turned out that only 29 of the signatures on the pro-annexation petition belonged to registered Flour Bluff voters. The appellate courts ruled that the vote to annex Flour Bluff should never have been placed on the ballot in the first place. In the written ruling, without a hearing, the U.S. Supreme Court in effect said that, yes, the petition allowing annexation in fact did lack the required signatures for the vote to have been held and therefore the election was technically illegal. However, in a mind-bending piece of legal fiction they ruled in favor of the city’s decision to annex on the grounds that in the three-plus years it took for the case to be decided in the courts that city services had already been extended to parts of Flour Bluff and that was a de facto acceptance of annexation.
Promises made It is fair to note that at the time of annexation the City of Corpus Christi promised to extend water and sewer lines to all Flour Bluff residents within ten years. That will come as welcome news to some current Flour Bluff residents as they write the next check to have their septic tanks purged lo these fifty years later.
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This is an exciting opportunity for any student seeking to enter the armed forces by way of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at a civilian college. If you are a student who would like to be nominated for this scholarship program, please submit a cover letter along with proof that you have met the required academic criteria to either my Capitol office in Austin or my District office in Corpus Christi.
History continued from A1 The paradoxical election was called for August 5, 1961 in which voters citywide would vote on whether to annex Flour Bluff into the city, and at the same time a separate vote on the same ballot would ask Flour Bluff residents if they wished to become their own city.
Turks and Cacios Islands
Scholarship Opportunity for Future Service Members
Annually, the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students, and each state senator and each state representative may appoint one student to receive a conditional Texas Armed Services Scholarship. A maximum of 185 students may be appointed statewide. A student may receive up to $10,000 dependent on funding availability. Students may receive continued scholarship awards.
361-949-1900
iridescent turquoise waters that edge the white sand beaches. The Turks and Caicos Islands have some of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Shipwrecked Spaniards Up on the hill overlooking the bay are Spanish shipwrecked sailors 'engravings on rocks up on Sapodilla Hill at the entrance to Chalk Sound. Only when they could distinguish human figures on the bridge arms waving in salute did the shipwrecked sailors feel they were saved. In this area, hundreds of merchant ships loaded with cargoes of porcelain and amphorae, galleons carrying jewels or warships with artillery were shipwrecked or attacked by enemy fire, both along coastlines and in high seas. The Molasses Reef Wreck happened early in the 16th century. It is the oldest wreck of a European ship in the Americas to have been found. The treasure hunters, who were looking for Spanish treasure ships, recognized that the ordnance in the wreck was from the 1490s or early 1500s, too early for a treasure ship. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government invited the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University to survey the wreck site. The Government of TCI invited the Institute of Nautical Archaeology to excavate the Molasses Reef Wreck in 1980. The Texas team, led by Dr. Donald H. Keith, began work in 1981, but not before a team of rogue treasure seekers dynamited the wreck on the assumption that old shipwrecks must carry treasure. The A&M Team shipped more than ten tons of artifacts to Texas for cleaning, stabilization and study. Responsibility for the wreck and artifacts was transferred to “Ships of Exploration and Discovery Research”, which was set up by the archaeologists working on the project. In 1990
ship was a caravel. A large number of arms, including cannons and small arms, bowls and storage jars, surgical and carpentry tools, as well as wooden pieces of the hull and metal pieces from the rigging, have been recovered from the wreck. This evidence indicates that the ship probably wrecked within a few years of 1513, making it the earliest wreck of a European ship in the Americas that has been scientifically excavated. The only islands visible from Molasses Reef are French Cay and West Caicos. French Cay is little more than a sand dune. West Caicos, located about to the west-northwest downwind and down current from Molasses Reef, is much more likely to have attracted survivors. Even if the ship’s boats were lost during the wreck, the crew could have drifted to West Caicos in a few hours using only makeshift rafts. With only brief exceptions, West Caicos has been uninhabited for most of the last five centuries. On West Cacios are names carved into the rocks around the pools of fresh water. they would be able to go across the island to the north tip and swim or raft to Provo to be on a larger island. Here I meet Captain Bill who runs Island Outback and does Pirate Tours of the west end of Provo. There is a Cave at the corner of the island rumored to be a Pirate hangout. While there he tells stories of known pirates of the area, one of these being “One Ball Paul” referring to his eye patch. Once a lady busted up laughing and she explained her husband’s name was Paul and he had one testicle! During this outbreak her husband was convinced she had this all arranged beforehand. So now he has a disclaimer as no one’s wife called and arranged to have a joke placed on their husbands.
ABS Boating Safety Class Date Set Get Certified Before Summer Begins By Brent Rourk As our coastal weather begins to climb to months of summer highs, we dream about getting our boats ready for all of our favorite water activities. For seasoned boaters, that is not a major problem. For new boat owners and boaters new to these waters taking a boating safety class would be the ideal way to ensure a safe boating experience. Smart boaters wear a pfd. Children must wear one For children 13-17 who want to pilot a boat or PWC, having a certificate of registered with the state of Texas is the law. You completion for a boating safety class and being are in luck. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary local Flotilla 7-11 will teach a boating safety class on Saturday, May 10th from 7:30 am-6:00 pm. Some of the main topics will be: Introduction to Boating, Boating Law, Boat Safety Equipment, Safe Boating, Navigation, Boating Problems, Trailering, and Storing and Protecting Your Boat.
Boating accidents are more likely to occur when boaters are untrained
The course will be held at CBRAC at 1201 Laguna Shores Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418. Call Roy Pell at 361-438-2667 or e-mail him at sailorroy@sbcglobal.net to reserve a space or for more information. Cost for the course $45.00 and includes coffee, donuts and lunch.
May 1, 2014
Island Moon
Eagle Scout Project Benefits Sea Shore Middle Academy By Kunal Patel I, Kunal Patel, with Troop 949, was able to finish my Eagles Scout project in two days after over 200 hours of labor work. All these hours were put in with the help of scouts from Troop 949, friends from school, and family. This is the highest level in Boy Scouts and it is required to do a project that will require the scout candidate to plan, develop and lead a service project. My project was an 80ft deck pathway that is along the backside of Sea Shore Middle Academy Gym. The previous settings was filled with stickers, sand, and unleveled ground preventing students to easily walk, bike, or skate through. With a sidewalk connected to the gym already, students can access the school from the street Ecantada
and use the deck pathway to reach the school. The deck consisted of many 2x6’s that are bolted to concrete and screwed together into 4x4 posts. Along the deck is another scout is Eagle project, Luke Howell, who built four garden beds with and irrigation system.
Flour Bluff Intermediate Winds Environment Award The Oceans Program at Flour Bluff Intermediate School of Corpus Christi is among the winners of the 22nd annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced this week. These prestigious awards bring attention to the most innovative and effective projects that prevent pollution and preserve natural resources in Texas. Cliff Strain, a teacher at Flour Bluff Intermediate School in Corpus Christi, figured out a way for students to go fishing and still get class credit! Strain started the Oceans Program for sixth graders in 1990 as an elective. Students engage in large-net fishing to identify species and populate the tanks and pools in Strain’s classroom, while learning about marine science in an up close, hands-on way. The program has expanded to include fifthgraders as well. In 2006, 57 acres of saltwater wetlands, located just a short walk from the school, were donated to the district. The students learn to measure salinity and assess coastal erosion.
Some 15,000 students have a personal connection to and better understanding of their environment after going through the Oceans Program course. “I commend all of this year’s winners for their commitment to improving the environment by thinking creatively and acting decisively,” says TCEQ Chairman Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., P.E. “It is a great pleasure to join with my fellow commissioners in congratulating these honorees whose environmental stewardship serves as an example to Texans everywhere,” says TCEQ Commissioner Toby Baker. “The 2014 award recipients show the rest of us some of the many ways we all can take care of Texas by protecting and improving our environment,” says TCEQ Commissioner Zak Covar. This year’s winners will be recognized at a banquet held in their honor on May 7, 2014, as part of the TCEQ’s Environmental Trade Fair and Conference at the Austin Convention Center,
Club News The Island Moon provides this space for Island organizations. If you are a member of a club and want to get the word out about your events and/or projects send them along and we will get them in.
by promoting and supporting, by the endorsement process, proactive and unified voting in non-partisan races and other issues and referendums put to public vote.
Be sure to include a brief description of what your organization does and a contact person for those interested in joining.
Contact Persons: President – Linda A Walsh lawalshva@yahoo.com 361445-7999. Secondary Contact Person: Member – Brent Hess, bhess0604@ gmail.com. 361-774-0089. Meetings: Open to the public, meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month.
Send the info to editor@islandmoon. com and we will include it. Or call us at 949-7700. Rotary Club of Padre Island – The Rotary Club of Padre Island is always looking for new members seeking to put “service above self”. If you are interested, please come join us and see what we are all about. The Padre Island Rotary usually meets every Tuesday at noon at the Boathouse Bar and Grill (upstairs), 15241 Leeward Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418. This Tuesday May 6th, Mark Scott will be our guest speaker – so please come out and join us. For more information contact Jacqueline Carlson at 361-331-8618 or jcarlson@jmcarchitecture.com. Padre Island Uke Club – Would YOU like to learn to play the ukulele? We can teach you to play 5 songs in 60 minutes! No musical experience necessary. We meet every Tuesday at the Island Italian Restaurant at 15370 Park Rd 22. Beginners meet from 6-7 PM and more advanced players from 7-8 PM. Everyone is welcome. $3/ person donation is requested. Loaner ukuleles available. Need more info? Call: Joe Sexton at 361-500-8955 Or email: PadreIslandUkeClub@gmail.com P.I.E. Padre Island Enrichment Club, Inc,P.I.E. strives to enrich the lives of Padre Island women through social activities and community involvement. Full membership luncheon meetings are held the second Friday of each month at the Holiday Inn. Members may also participant in special interest clubs (bunco, bridge, spades, books, etc) that meet throughout the month. For more information about PIE, please contact Katherine Pierce, President, at 361 9600327 or Sandy Leber, Membership Chair, at 361 949-7145. KIWANIS Club of Padre Island. The Kiwanis Club of Padre is wrapping up their annual nut sale. All Proceeds Help Children! They will also host their annual Easter Egg Hunt in Billish Park. The Kiwanis meet at noon each Wednesday at Black Sheep Restaurant. For more information contact Karen Wilson at 361-446-4626. e-mail at karenwilson61@gmail.com. PI Dog Group (PI Dog). Meets monthly for dog and owner activities, training and education. Next activity Saturday, April 5. Meet at 9:00 am at the parking lot at Bristol Pavilion at Padre Bali Park for a beach walk. Bring leash, water for your dog & you, poop bags, etc. Free to join! To join visit padreislanddogpark.com or contact Bev (bevhoffman@aol.com) or Lyn (lyn.edler@gmail.com). IUPAC (Island United Political Action Committee): Maximize representation of Corpus Christi residents on Padre and Mustang Islands in area government
Parrot Heads of Port Aransas – A notfor-profit organization whose purpose is to assist in community and environmental concerns and provide a variety of social activities for people who wish to volunteer. Founded in 2009 the club motto is “Partying With a Purpose.” To join go to portaransasparrotheads. com or call Donnie Simpson 210 3672674. Padre Island Yacht Club - A members only Club, however we invite all Island residents to visit us. The PIYC is about boating, friendship and enjoying living on Padre Island. We collect more toys than any other organization in the area for the US Marines “Toys for Tots” program with La Posada events, including the Lighted Boat Parades. To schedule a visit or find out more information please contact John Diggins Phone 361-867-1313 as the Rear Commodore/Membership for 2014. POA - Padre Isles Owners Association. The Association’s primary responsibility is to maintain the Common Areas, assess and collect the annual fees and provide information and assistance to property owners. .. Membership in PIPOA is automatic for anyone acquiring record legal title to any property within Padre Isles. Their office is located at 14015 Fortuna Bay Drive on The Island. (361) 949-7025, padreisles@pipoa.net
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have plastic gas tanks. Yes, plastic gas tanks. I have one myself, and I can attest to that. While the fire was spreading fast and far beyond the stuck truck, the fire under the truck melted enough of the plastic gas tank to allow gasoline to drip onto the fire. Then guess what happened? Residents in the west Sea Pines area heard the explosions as various amounts of the fuel escaped the tank. The fire under the truck got hot enough to bend the truck at its midsection, as shown in the picture. It was hot enough to melt all of the truck's glass, also as shown. The Fire Department arrived in force, but the fire had already spread far beyond the truck and into the undeveloped soft sand and the no-man's land of tall, dry grass and mesquite bushes. Sunday afternoon was a day of record heat, with a high of 103 in town and steady winds of about 35 mph on the Island. The high winds blew the fire all the way from the west end of Sea Pines, to the Main Canal in the center of the Island. Flames as high as about 10 feet pushed to the shoreline of the entrance of the ski basin. Note the picture taken from the tip of Isabella Street, across the Main Canal. By 7 PM, there were two CCFD 4-wheel drive, "Brush Trucks," moving through the burned out fields, putting out scattered spot fires, some of which were still substantial fires with 10-foot flames. By around 9 PM, there were hardly any flames remaining, but smoke still came from the fields.
in danger by such criminal trespassing. The property manager for that undeveloped area will again be trying to get permission from the City of Corpus Christi to put barricades or cables to physically block trespassers from that private property. He will be presenting his case at the next ISAC meeting, on the first Tuesday in May. Previous attempts to physically block trespassers have been stymied by City officials. The City's stance is that there are platted roads for future development on the maps, which include that area of private, undeveloped land. Somehow, the fact that roads are platted there, even if not built, allows the City to preclude barriers to that area, legally posted as, No Trespassing." How that concept is interpreted by the City, relative to safety for the residents of that area vulnerable to brushfire, will be a topic for discussion at the next ISAC meeting.
CC Police have the name of the registered owner of the stuck truck that started the fire. The property manager has stated that they will be pursuing criminal charges against that person. Fortunately, no homes were damaged in this fire. However, if the winds had been in a little different direction, or if a truck got stuck farther to the southeast, homes and people could be put
Port A Happenings
Earth Day Plant Swap
Family Dance Night
Keep Port Aransas Beautiful (KPAB) and the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate a belated Earth Day with a plant swap set for Saturday, May 3.
Thursday, May 15, bring your dancing shoes for a free Dance Night to the Fred Rhodes Memorial Pavilion in Roberts Point Park near the ferry in Port Aransas. The whole family can enjoy learning dance moves and dance from 6:30-8:30 pm.
The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon, offers several different ways to will include book swapping and receiving print cartridges and old eyeglasses. It will take place at the parks and recreation department front yard, 739 W. Ave. A on the corner of Cut Off Road. Master gardeners and Parks and Recreation employees Mike McClure and Colleen Foreman will be on site to help and answer questions. Residents can clean up their yards and bring plants, trees, cuttings, bulbs or seeds to share with others in the community. Don’t have anything to share? Come get some anyway and help beautify your part of Port Aransas.
No talent or rhythm is required to have a good time, but maybe you can learn some as you have fun and get exercise. We don’t judge! Refreshments will be provided, but the public may bring own beverages. Music provided by DJ Ken Yarbrough with sometimes live musicians as well. Bring the family or come alone; no partner required.
Imagination Summer Camps This summer solution for parents is filling fast, so REGISTER NOW.
Clean bookshelves of all those books gathering dust and find a new one to read and leave the old ones for someone else. Books not taken during the book swap will be given to the library for its annual book sale.
The weekly camps are available for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Used eyeglasses will be collected and donated to the Lion’s Club for its re-use program.
Each camp will have a different theme, but all will include activities like art projects, music and movies to enhance that week’s theme. Many will be indoors, but campers will have outdoor time too. Camps will include field trips such as swimming, bowling, hiking at Nature Preserve, Texas State Aquarium, Lexington, Port Aransas Community Theatre and much more.
KPAB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to promote public interest to create a more beautiful Port Aransas through volunteerism and education. It also is an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.
Sunset Sounds Concert Listen to some tunes as you watch the sun set over the Corpus Christi Ship Channel at the next Port Aransas Parks and Recreation free concert. On Friday, May 9, The Krystals will play country, rock, blues and maybe some Tejano from 7 to 9 pm. The band consists of Mark Zepeda on vocals and guitar, Justin Ramirez on drums, Sonny Ramirez on percussion, Emilio Licerio on bass, Steve Solis on lead guitar, George Cavazos on keyboards and vocals, and Michael Licerio with sound production. Bring a chair or blanket or use the few benches or picnic table. Invite friends and family to join you. Attendees are welcome to bring any food or drink and come enjoy an evening of musical entertainment.
Tony Amos is the Director. 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas. 361 749-6793, 361 442-7638. afamos@mail.utexas.edu.
Take advantage of the early morning for a free yoga lesson by yoga expert Nancy Myers.
Island’s PIPPs Chapter of Corpus Christi Red Hat Society. In 2004 a group of Island ladies got together under a Palapa and founded the Padre Island Palapa Pals (PIPPs). Our only rule is that there are no rules! We are all about fun and friendship. We meet once a month for lunch and various fun outings from cupcake making to CPR.
Fire continued from A1
ARK – Animal Rehabilitation Keep. Located in Port Aransas the ARK is affiliate with the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Center. They handle the rehabilitation of most species of wildlife in the area with an emphasis on marine animals. They care for abut 1300 animals each year, including about 300 sea turtles and more than 100 species of birds. If you find an animal in peril they can help
Island Strategic Action Committee. Is a 14-member committee which meets (usually) at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Comfort Suites on Windward Drive. The committee’s purpose is to advise the Corpus Christi City Council on matters pertaining to The Island.
The series runs monthly April through October at Patsy Jones Amphitheater in Roberts Point Park near the ferry. Next month, Aloha Dave and the Tourists will play from 6:30-8:30pm on June 20.
Yoga on the Beach
This month’s session will be held Saturday, May 10, starting at 8 am, next to Horace Caldwell Pier at end of Beach St. Bring a blanket, towel or mat suitable for use on the beach. This event is held the second Saturday of each month, courtesy of the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department. Be on time, as leader will take class to an inside location if weather is bad.
Moms Swim Free Get your mom and take her to the Port Aransas Community Pool to enjoy a wet Mother’s day. Moms swim free when accompanied by a child on Sunday, May 11 The pool will be open from 1 to 6 pm for open swim. Lap swim only is from 12-1 pm.
They will be 8:30 am-5:30 pm, with early and late drop-off for an extra fee
Cost is $65 for each camp with a $65 deposit to register for one/multiple camps [to be applied to last class]. Limited spaces are available. Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 361-749-4158 or visit for more information. registration forms and
Lifeguard Class Registration is open now for the next lifeguard class at the Port Aransas Community Pool. The class will be Monday through Friday, June 2-6. The Lifeguard American Red Cross Lifeguard Training will be 9 am - 5 pm for ages 15+. Learn lifesaving skills to help keep people safe in, on and around the water. The cost is $175 for the complete course. Contact Bonney Maurer at 361-749-2416 to register while space is available.
Birding on the Boardwalk A guided birding tour for anyone, novice to expert is held year round in Port Aransas. Every Wednesday at 9 am at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at end of Ross Ave, local guide Nan Dietert leads the free tour on the boardwalk. See birds, gators and flora and fauna in their natural setting.
Port Aransas Triathlon Port A Parks and Recreation is bringing the first event in the Tri the Beach Triathlon Series to town, and registration is open now. The 600 meter ocean swim, 12 mile bike course and 2 mile beach run for all ages will be held on Saturday, June 21. The Parks and Recreation Tri and the Beach sponsored race has distances for the newest or inexperienced triathlete can participate yet course is unique and challenging enough for an experienced triathlete. The swim will be an “out & back” open water swim in the ocean starting at Horace Caldwell Pier swimming roughly 600 meters in the ocean. Bike race will be on Port A streets. Run includes an “out & back” run starting at the pier. Event will start promptly at 8 am. Register at www.trithebeach.com, click on Port Aransas Triathlon. For more info contact Parks and Recreation at 361-749-4158.
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Island Moon
Kemp’s Ridley Nesting Season Begins By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Chief, Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore e-mail donna_shaver@nps.gov The 2014 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nesting season has begun in Texas. On Sunday April 27, Padre Island National Seashore Biological Technician Jaime Fisher found the first Kemp’s ridley nest confirmed on the Texas coast this year. She was conducting a nesting turtle patrol when she spotted the female laying eggs in the middle of the low road, near the 34 mile marker at the National Seashore. Kemp’s ridleys typically nest when it is windy, and on April 27 the winds blew strongly along the south Texas coast. Jaime also found another set of Kemp’s ridley tracks near the National Seashore 17 mile marker on April 27, but on a nest could not be located that day since the tracks were highly wind-blown. National Seashore biologists returned to that site the next morning and found that second nest! The first nest contained 85 eggs and the second contained 101 eggs. Eggs from both nests were retrieved from the beach and transported to the Incubation Facility in the Turtle Laboratory at the National Seashore. The eggs will incubate for about 48-53 days before the hatchlings are ready for release. Hatchlings will likely be ready for release from this nest sometime between June 13 and June 18. The Kemp’s ridley nesting season could extend until mid-July, but most nesting is expected to occur in May and June. During 2013, 153 Kemp’s ridley nests were confirmed in Texas, including 87 at Padre Island National Seashore. Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world. For more than three decades, multi-agency efforts have been underway to help recover this species and form a secondary nesting colony of this native species at the National Seashore. Padre Island National Seashore is the most important Kemp’s ridley nesting beach in the U.S. for this species, with more Kemp’s ridley nests documented at the National Seashore than at any other location in the U.S.
Seashore and northward on the Texas coast will be collected and brought to our Incubation Facility for protected care. Eggs from some of the nests found at the southern end of the park will be brought to a protective screen enclosure called a corral located near our Turtle Patrol Base Camp. Eggs from South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach will be brought to a corral on South Padre Island. Eggs are closely cared for at the Incubation Facility and in the corrals. When the hatchlings
are fully emerged from their eggshells we will release them on the beach and protect them during release. Each year, we hold 2030 hatchling releases at the National Seashore that are open to the public. In 2012, collectively more than 10,000 people attended these releases. As eggs are placed into the incubation facility, the projected hatchling release dates for the eggs from each nest will be placed on the National Seashore website at www.nps.gov/ pais. When the eggs begin to hatch we are able to more closely pinpoint when the release will occur. We then place the latest information about the releases on our recorded Hatchling Hotline (tel. 361-949-7163) and our Facebook page titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery. It typically only takes about 45 minutes for
Coastal communities will have another tool to understand the impact of opening tidal inlets in terms of the abundance of marine life and tourist dollars with the latest data from Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. “There are areas all along the Gulf Coast experiencing this problem of closed tidal inlets due to development, decreased freshwater inflow or hurricanes,” said Quentin Hall, a researcher with Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies. “While there is a lot of interest in opening closed inlets, the costs are often high. If we can look at the ecosystem services, show the tourism and the recreational and commercial fishing that will come from this, it will put a dollar value on these inlets and provide a cost-benefit analysis to opening inlets.”
Hall, a Master’s student working with Dr. Greg Stunz at the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation, will lead a team of researchers surveying and studying 14 spots between Matagorda Island and Port Aransas for the next two years. Hall said data collected will help researchers see if there is a change in what types of marine life are found there before and after the opening. Cedar Bayou is currently in the beginning stages of dredging. Closed inlets are almost like if the freeway exit to your home was closed and you had to go out of your way to get home, Hall said. “Now juvenile fish have to travel 100 miles around the barrier islands to get into the safe habitat of the estuary as opposed to traveling three miles through Cedar Bayou,” he said. Researchers wonder if the extra energy for that additional travel impacts fish spawning and reproduction rates, and the effects of key habitats going unused because of inaccessibility. Estuaries, where freshwater from rivers meet salt water from oceans and gulfs, are the nursery grounds for young fish, shrimp and crabs, a vital stop in their life cycle that begins when adult species gather on the gulf side of an inlet for
The Texas Master Naturalist Program is among the winners of the 22nd annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today. These prestigious awards bring attention to the most innovative and effective projects that prevent pollution and preserve natural resources in Texas. Kemp’s ridleys to nest, and signs of nesting disappear quickly. Although turtle patrollers are canvasing Gulf beaches in the state, this is a very large area to cover. Sometimes nesters come in soon after patrollers have passed by and beachgoers are the first on the scene. Each year, several nests are located by beachgoers and other people that work on the beach, especially in developed areas of the Texas coast. You can help with recovery efforts for this species by watching for nesting while you are on the beach and immediately reporting it to a passing turtle patroller or to me by calling 361-949-8173, ext. 226.
More than 8,000 dedicated volunteers serve throughout Texas to better manage natural resources in their communities. This cadre of volunteers in the Texas Master Naturalist Program, work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and 320 local partners across the state. To become certified as a master, 40 hours of specialized field and classroom training, and eight hours of advanced training in an area of interest, is required. Instruction is focused on the local native ecosystem. In exchange for this training, certified TMNs perform at least 40 hours of volunteer work per year—many do even more. Since the program started in 1997, these skilled masters have given more than two million hours of service,
Volunteers are needed for Saturday Restoration Event on May 10
The project is co-coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Pollack of the University’s Life Sciences Department and Gail Sutton, Assistant Director of the Harte Research Institute. Pollack, along with Sutton and Dr. Paul Montagna, developed the first oyster shell recycling program for the Texas Coastal Bend in November 2009. “We are very excited to partner with Goose Island State Park again this year to create new oyster habitat using recycled oyster shells,” said Pollack, Assistant Professor of Marine Biology. “In Texas, there is no mechanism to return these
Bringing economics to environmental decision-making by placing a value on what an ecosystem provides is a key goal at HRI. Hall said benefits of re-connecting an inlet between the Gulf of Mexico and Mesquite Bay are measured not only in dollars, but in numbers of fish and other marine life that rely on tidal movement through such passes, Hall said. Previous HRI studies have shown that the amount and variety of fish increases by opening tidal inlets to the Gulf, including at nearby Packery Channel between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. Cedar Bayou was closed to the Gulf in the 1979, in an attempt to protect the area from an oil spill, Hall said. Dredging and re-opening the bayou has been the subject of much community discussion and planning. After the bayou is opened to the gulf, Hall and researchers will continue to take samples and compare to pre-opening samples. Hall said he’ll be paying particular interest to red drum, a recreationally important fish, and a big draw for fishermen. Hall will also be watching for increases in the population of blue crabs, the main food source of another big tourist draw, wintering whooping cranes that bring in birders for boat trips to islands in the area. Hall’s research has received funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Coastal Conservation Association.
valued at more than $40.6 million dollars. In communities around the state, nature trails are designed and maintained, parks are enhanced, wildflowers are planted, wetlands are being restored and visitors are educated, as a result of this program. “I commend all of this year’s winners for their commitment to improving the environment by thinking creatively and acting decisively,” says TCEQ Chairman Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., P.E. “It is a great pleasure to join with my fellow commissioners in congratulating these honorees whose environmental stewardship serves as an example to Texans everywhere,” says TCEQ Commissioner Toby Baker. “The 2014 award recipients show the rest of us some of the many ways we all can take care of Texas by protecting and improving our environment,” says TCEQ Commissioner Zak Covar. This year’s winners will be recognized at a banquet held in their honor on May 7, 2014, as part of the TCEQ’s Environmental Trade Fair and Conference at the Austin Convention Center,
You can learn more about what to do if you see a nesting turtle by visiting the Padre Island National Seashore website at www.nps.gov/pais. The website also contains information on nest totals in Texas and our hatchling releases. We also post updates about nesting and hatchling releases (including photos and video clips) on our Facebook page (titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery).
Oyster Reef Restoration Event at Goose Island State Park
Volunteers will bag up reclaimed oyster shells and carry those bags to the water to build an educational oyster reef. This innovative project recycles oyster shells back into the Gulf of Mexico waters and creates a habitat where young oysters can attach and grow, ensuring an abundance of the mollusks for future commercial harvests.
Quentin Hall, Harte Research Institute spawning. The eggs and larvae travel into inlets on the current, and spend two to three years maturing in the safety of the estuary. Then the head back to the gulf and the cycle begins again.
We now have Gluten Free Pizza!
Eggs from most nests found at the National
The Department of Life Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies are looking for volunteers to help restore an oyster reef habitat on Saturday, May 10, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Goose Island State Park, 202 Palmetto St. in Rockport, Texas.
May 1, 2014
Texas Naturalists Win Excellence Awards
Also, if you drive on the beach during the nesting season please watch closely for nesting turtles that could cross in front of your path or be stationary there. The first nest was located in a rut in the beach vehicular roadway. Kemp’s ridleys often nest in the beach roadway where there is less seaweed and the sand is soft.
still transmitting. This includes four from 2013 that can be viewed on www.seaturtle.org at the link for the 2013 program, two from 2012 that can be viewed on the link for the 2012 program, and one from 2011 that can be viewed on the link for the 2011 program.
New Research to Show Effects of Opening Channels on Marine Life
HRI scientists at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi are turning to Cedar Bayou near Rockport to provide data on fish populations as community efforts to reopen the channel gain momentum.
We want to find Kemp’s ridley turtles that nest here and their eggs, so that we can document them and protect them from human related and natural threats. Hundreds of people have been trained to aid with nesting detection efforts on the Texas coast, from the Bolivar Peninsula to Boca Chica Beach, and turtle patrols are underway. Like last year, we plan to affix satellite transmitters to 10 of the turtles found nesting at the northern end of the National Seashore this year. After they are done laying eggs and covering the nest, the females will be transported to our Turtle Laboratory for attachment of a satellite transmitter. You will be able to view their movements on www.seaturtle. org. After we begin deploying transmitters, go to the satellite tracking link and look for the Padre Island National Seashore Kemp’s Ridley Tracking Program 2014. Seven transmitters that we put out on nesting females in past years are
important reef building blocks to local bays, so these volunteer events are an important way that we can improve oyster reefs in our own backyard.” This program is the first in Texas to reclaim more than 300,000 pounds of shucked oyster shells from Water Street Restaurant, Niko’s Steakhouse, and Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant and return them to our local waters, providing both substrate to form new reefs and habitat for fish, crabs, and other organisms. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes (old tennis shoes are perfect), clothes that can get wet and dirty, sunscreen, and a hat. Work gloves and shovels will be provided. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt for signing up. Drinks and snacks will be provided. To RSVP, call the Harte Research Institute at 361.825.2020. For more information, go to http://www.oysterrecycling.org/.
LIVE MUSIC
Thursday John Eric, Friday Brian Winfrey Friday Ruben Limas
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Lunch Specials
Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Unlimited Spaghetti Salad 9 inch Sub for 6 inch Price Pasta Menu Full Order for 1/2 order price
6.50 6.50
Thursday Friday
Salad with a 6-inch Sandwich & Drink Unlimited Dinner Salad
6.50 5.99
Hours: Mon- Thurs 11 AM - 9:30 PM Fri - Sat 11 AM - 10 PM Sun 5-9:30 PM 15370 SPID (Just south of Whitecap) 949-7737
De luxe Nails
Mon - Sat 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m - 5 p.m.
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361 949-1794 14493 S. Padre Island Dr., Unit B Appt. or Walk-in Corpus Christi, TX Welcome Next to Padre Pizzeria
78418
May 1, 2014
Island Moon
A9
SMA 5th and 6th Grade Tracksters Show Flashes Young Team Performs Well at Beginners Meet By Brent Rourk Bolstered by a group of speedy girls and a few blazing boys, the Seashore Middle Academy 5th and 6th grade track team performed well last Saturday at a Parochial Sports League meet at King High School. A total of ten students represented SMA in the meet, intended to be an introductory meet for 5th and 6th grade students. The tracksters gained several first and second place finishes in individual events as well as relays. They are going to be fun to watch the rest of this season and in years to come.
5th Grade Girls Maya Vagades- Alexis Cardon- Emily Clark- Kennedy Dugan photo by Marsha Burkett
5th Grade Girls Maya Vagades- Alexis Cardon- Emily Clark- Kennedy Dugan photo by Marsha Burkett
Mixed 6th Grade Julia Cole- Cassidy Soward - Parker Burkett- Noah Fuller photo by Marsha Burkett
Island Creations Remodeling
Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco
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Design work, Yard Maintenance, Decks, Pergolas, Installation of Rock, Grass, Plants, Trees, Walkways, Paths, Tree Trimming, Container Planting, Vacant Lot Mowing & Shade Covers. All Kinds of Fencing, Pressure Washing & Deck Staining & Sealing
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Join us this weekend as we continue our brand new series on Heaven! What is Heaven going to be like? Is it real? How can you get in? Are there rewards in Heaven? Join us as we discover what Heaven is really like.
PASTOR BIL AND JESSICA
Series Continues April 18th - May 4th Join us on Sundays at: 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM
Bay Area Fellowship Padre Island Campus 15201 SPID Ste. 200 • Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361.993.5900 • bayareafellowship.com
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Island Moon
May 1, 2014