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Padre Island, Texas

Kemp’s ridley Turtles A7, A8

PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY site Plan

april 17, 2013

Babes on Baffin A9

Local Music A18

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Photo by Brent Rourk

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361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com The Island Newspaper since 1996 Facebook : The Island Moon Newspaper

June 6, 2013

The Island with the Newest Fireworks Show in Texas

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

It was a news emergency. We were OTB and starting to get itchy feet anyway to get back to The Island when we got the frantic call. ”Sheriff’s deputies south of Bob Hall,” came the news. “Lots of ‘em and maybe some helicopters and live trucks too!” We rushed back to The Island and there was no time to go get the beach truck. We headed south in the road car and hoped for the best. Soon enough we started to see Kleberg County Deputies. Still no helicopters or television live trucks. It was a busy weekend on the beach and we hoped for the best but prepared for the worst, a frantic search for a lost swimmer or an injury – something bigger than a jellyfish sting. The road started to get dicey and but we kept on; the News Gods must be fed. Finally just past the Sugar Bowl, the big opening in the dunes where the wind has produced a blowout that allows passage behind the dunes, the driving was getting tough. We got through to the Kleberg County Sheriff’s dispatcher.

Next Publication Date: 6/13/2013

A New Word Enters The Island Vernacular – Sailgaiting! Tailgate parties may are fine and dandy for nautically challenged Texans, but for the first time ever residents of Padre Island will have the chance to Sailgate IslandBlast! this 4th of July as the Fire in the sky on money is now in the the Fourth of July bank to put some Fire in the Sky on the 4th of July.

“No, Splash as in a Gay Pride event.” “Then why all the deputies?”

A little rain music The recent rains helped the water supply in the Nueces Watershed some raising the levels by 10 inches, 2% by adding 15,000 acre-feet of water which is enough to supply the city for 170 days. Crisis averted…well, at least for 170 days.

Fish kill in canals The Brown Tide has done its work on the Island fish population lately. It depletes the oxygen from the water and turns it the color of good Gumbo. We like Gumbo pretty good but we like it a lot better at Scuttlebutt’s than in our canals. For more information on the fish kill see Maybeth’s column in this issue.

Island Moon ArtWalk The next Island Moon ArtWalk is on for Saturday and Sunday June 15-16 at the seawall. It is free to vendors and the public. Sun Surf Medical Clinic will be on hand to do screenings and there will be live music. We’ll see you there. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

Cases of Infection Due to Bacteria Up in Nueces County Three cases of infection due to a bacteria called Vibrio Parahaemolyticus have been reported in Nueces County in the past three weeks, according to Dr. William Burgin, Jr. With the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District. The bacteria is found in salt water all along the Texas Coast but usually only about six cases of infection are reported each year. The bacteria flourishes in warm water and can be transmitted to humans either through an open wound or by consuming shellfish that is raw or undercooked from contaminated water.

Jerry and Sharon Watkins Less than six months after Islanders Jerry and Sharon Watkins hatched the idea for a 4th of July fireworks show on Padre Island it is a reality. Fireworks continued on A6

Update on Island Projects

Work at Schlitterbahn Kicks Into High Gear

Installation of speed calming devices begins on Aquarius Main Island sewer line “half full” of sand

He said crews will begin digging on more than 3000 feet of canals at the site within the next ten days. He said the underground irrigation and other lines have all been mapped so that work can begin on the nine holes of the existing golf course that will be the site of the park.

According to health officials, the ages of the 3 people who were reported ranged between 6-31 years of age. All three received treatment at local hospitals and are doing well at this time.

The cause in the rise of local cases of contamination is not yet known.

By Dale Rankin The 2013 Hurricane Season is now one week old and so far things have been quiet. But what is the likelihood that the Texas Coast, The Coastal Bend, or The Island will see hurricane activity in the month of June? Overall, the 2013 season is expected to be an active one. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said they expect to see 13 to 20 named storms. So this is expected to be an above normal and possibly an extremely active season, according to NOAA, with seven to 11 hurricanes expected (storms with sustained winds of at least 74 mph, or 119 km/h). Of these, three to six are likely to be major hurricanes of Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher. This is higher than the seasonal average of 12 named storms,

He said opening of the park will be no later than Memorial Day 2014 and may be as early as Spring Break 2014 depending on how the schools schedule the break next years.

Beach continued on A 13

six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, according to NOAA.

Gulf storms in June

The longest gap between storms on the Texas coast is 15 years from 1886 to 1902, and statistically Texas is not due for another major storm until 2015; after that we are on borrowed time.

But what about June storms in the Gulf of Mexico, and particularly along the Texas Coast? Texas’ storms have traditionally hit in the early or late part of the season with the most frequent months on the Texas Coast being August and September. But what about in June? Since 1960, only eight

Hurricanes continued on A18

Island History Settlement at Bird Island Wiped Out by Storm Editor’s note: Greg Smith is a descendant of the Dunn family that first came to Nueces County with General Zachary Taylor’s Army in 1845 and ranched the Island from 1879 to 1971. Smith went to Flour Bluff School. He is on several boards and committees including the Coastal Windstorm Task Force, the Island Strategic Action Committee, the Nueces County Beach Advisory Committee and the board of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce. Smith is the CEO of Pioneer Beach Resort in Port A.

Angels, Serpents and Frescoes

22 Steps to the Little Chapel on the Dunes Part 5 By Brent Rourk brentrourk@yahoo.com [This is part 5 of series of articles about The Little Chapel on the Dunes in Port Aransas, Texas. You can retrieve past copies of The Island Moon Newspaper on Facebook or by dropping by The Island Moon Newspaper office]

The Port Aransas Museum

By Greg Smith Over the past several years Dale and I have been swapping history stories and tales about South Texas and the Islands in particular. It so happens that my Granddaddy Burton Dunn was intimately involved with Padre Island from his birth in 1889 to his death in 1970. His great uncle Matthew arrived in Corpus with General Taylor in 1845 and Granddaddy’s grand parents Catherine & Thomas Dunn crossed the Aransas bar in 1849 from Ireland via New Orleans.

The beginnings of Island ranching Speed tables on Aquarius

It is a little-known fact that the seawall is

A History of Island Hurricanes for the Month of June

Schlitterbahn Beach County Resort. Crews have begun work in earnest at the Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort. The tennis building is under construction, crews are moving sand in the area adjacent to the Country Club headquarters and demolition work is underway on the headquarters building itself. Project Developer Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) on Tuesday that all the pumps for the waterpark have been delivered to the Schlitterbahn headquarters in New Braunfels. He said that within the next ten days crews will begin construction on the Country Club headquarters building to expand it from 9000 to 22,000 square feet to include a new kitchen, events center, and a landscaped private patio.

favorite of Islanders and OTBers alike. Without the beach re-nourishment Packery Channel would never have become a reality because the digging of the channel was made possible by funds to re-nourish the beach to protect the seawall from high tides so the seawall could protect the rest of The Island.

How Likely is a June Hurricane on The Island?

By Dale Rankin

Burgin said one of the local cases was from eating infected food, the other two from the water. The effects of contracting the bacteria by eating infected shellfish are diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea and fever. The effect of contracting it from water is an abscess that does not respond to antibiotics.

Dr. Burgin advises residents to take the following precautions: Take caution when eating raw seafood. Wear shoes when entering the coastal waters. Do not enter coastal waters if you have an open wound and cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly.

Re-nourished beach and seawall By Dale Rankin

But now eight years and 934,000 cubic yards of sand later that stretch of beach has become a

”A Splash, what’s that? You mean like a plane crash?”

So it turned out the big news was that there were Kleberg County Deputies on the beach. It’s the first time we have ever seen that, so that’s news of some sort.

Beach re-Nourishment Has Turned Seawall Beach Into Popular Destination

Before the digging of Packery Channel in 2005 the beach along the Michael J. Ellis Seawall on The Island was a tenuous strip of sand which regularly was inundated by tides and inaccessible by car and sparsely used by beachgoers.

“No it’s a Splash.”

”Oh.”

Year 16, Issue 477

Facebook: Island Moon Newspaper

4th of July fireworks show is on for Padre Island

“Is it a drowning, did a boat sink, a shooting maybe….did Mexico attack?”

“We like to head off trouble.

Tom took the fever and died in 1863 just as his unit, the Eighth battalion of Texas Volunteers prepared to ship out to Galveston leaving widow Catherine and three small children. The Dunns didn’t hit the Island until 1879 when Catherine and young sons Patrick and Tom formed a partnership to run Bird Island continued on A5

Pepper Pendzinski is the kind of person who nearly always has a wide and warm smile. Her sense of humor and positive outlook on life radiate from her as if it were a permanent aura. She sees events and situations as opportunities and blessings, an outlook that requires significant positive resolve, faith and confidence. Those qualities help make Pepper one of the effective Port Aransas Museum Board Members. They also make her an ideal tour guide of the Little Chapel on the Dunes which she does on the first and third Fridays and Saturdays of each month. History continued on A17

Island Moon

A 2

Romance Island Style

Veterans Work to Clean Ramps at the Seawall

By Sheila Allen

June

2013

The Travelling Moon Gets Around

Ann Marie Horvat Colosi and Nick Colosi got married on May 4 wedding aboard Jim and Marie Tipton’s boat, Sea Casa. The boat docked at the Yacht Club for the ceremony at 6:00 PM on the 4th. Congratulations you crazy kids! Seven veterans came to the beach ramp at 6 am Sunday, June 2, 2013, to clear sand mounded on the ramp from the parking lot, the seawall walkway, and the ramp to the beach. Six veterans are in the Nueces County Combat Veterans Team. All worked very hard, and refused to stop because of the rain. This group of combat veterans have offered to check the ramps on a weekly basis and have also agreed to clean up some glass which accumulates in the empty lot by the seawall, and on the beach past Bob Hall Pier. Thank you to the Padre Island Yacht Club for lending their shovels to the veterans, and to Surfriders for always supporting our veterans.

Sheri Hargrove owner of Port A Glass Studio and Art Gallery took the Island Moon Newspaper to Anderson creek on the Elk river in Alabama.

Kelly McGuire Kicks off Padre Island Yacht Club Music Series The Island’s newest music venue opened to a packed house Saturday night as Coastal and Western artist Kelly McGuire played the Padre Island Yacht Club. The first of its kind concert was the brain child of club member Fred Edler who met McGuire on a concert cruise and decided to bring him to the Yacht Club to kick off what promises to be a long-running series.

Johnny Ds •

“It’s the perfect place for a music concert,” Edler said, “A beautiful view and beautiful music.”

JOHNNY D’S

on the island

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Served nightly Tuesday thru Saturday 4:30pm-9:30pm

Featuring Fresh seafood, New Zealand lamb chops And much more

Sunday Brunch Menu Served 11:00am-2:00pm

McGuire’s album “Boat in Belize” won the Texas Music 2008 Album of the Year award. After years of playing gigs in the Midwest his music took a turn toward the nautical after he moved to Clear Lake near Houston and caught the sailing bug. He became a much sought after act for the sailing crowd with songs “Major Doubts About Water Spouts” and “Redfish Island” and now hosts his annual Labor Day Redfish Island Rendezvous from the deck of the 100-foot long boat Stargazer. He splits his time between Clear Lake and Belize, and now SUNDAY BRUNCH MENU SERVED 11:00AM-2:00PM our Island. Kelly travels for shows all over the United States, Mexico, Belize, Canada and Happy hour Costa Rica. THE ISLAND’S ONLY BLOODY MARY BAR

beginning at 4:30pm

I took the Island Moon with me on a sibling trip with my brother, Danny Dobson and sister, Denise Bushman, to Michigan in May. Here it is at Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan billed as the world’s largest Christmas store. I’m on the left, my sister, a Seguin fan of the Moon, is in the middle, and my cousins, the Spillanes, are on the right.

Paul & Nancy Tressa found this sign in Vegas. Appears there is a branch office here of our island “coconut telegraph.”

Casino Night

DINNER SERVED NIGHTLY TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY

The island’s only bloody Mary4:30PM-9:30PM bar $3.00 NEW 1/2 Price Wine Tuesdays NEW

HAPPY HOUR BEGINNING AT 4:30PM

Outdoor Banquet Space CUSTOM Available Parties MENUS FOR for PRIVATE PARTIES Catering INDOORAvailable AND OUTDOOR DINING AVAILABLE FOR 15 OR MORE Call for reservations at 361-949-2500 (WEATHER PERMITTING) Located 15605 SPID on the Island

CALLwebsite FOR RESERVATIONS AT 361-949-2500 View our full menu on our or Google www.letseat.at/johnnydsrestaurant LOCATED 15605 SPID ON THE ISLAND WWWLETSEAT.AT/JOHNNYDSRESTAURANT

Full Service Hospital

Saturday’s Casino Night put the Fireworks Fund over to top

Preventative & Wellness Medicine

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Flea & Tick Control Intestinal Parasite Control Heartworm Prevention Dental Cleaning & Polishing Allergy Testing & Medicine Hill’s Rx Science Diet Foods Senior Wellness Medicine

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Voted Best Veterinarian 2006 - 2012

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June 6, 2013

Letters to Riley P. Dog By Riley P. Dog

Hello Nilsole, I don’t know how I come up with my stories. My humans say when deadlines come something will always come out and so far so good. I do like going to the pool but last weekend I got my humans in trouble because I jumped in by myself right by the sign that says No Dogs In the Pool. I pretend I can’t read it and jump right in. I don’t know why they don’t let dogs in the pool. They let us in the ocean. It gets hot on our island and when I jump in the pool it cools my parts. I got my summer haircut last week and now I don’t have much hair and the cool water feels good. For you humans out there if you live near a pool make sure your dog knows where the steps are so that if your dog falls in while you’re not there he can climb out by himself otherwise he might drown and that’s not good. The same with the canal – make sure your dog knows how to get out of the canal if he falls in there. No Nilsole I don’t have a pet of my own. I don’t even have any fleas. I have two cats but if

you ask them they will tell you that I am their pet because they think they own me and I don’t argue with them. Stoopid cats. And yes I do like hot dogs…I eat them when I can get them. Do you have any hotdogs Nilsole? If you do send me one. if not how about a hamburger? Hey Cesar,

Stuff I Heard on the Island

I’m following up on a couple of previous columns this week. After a column a couple of issues back chronicling an increase in county taxes in recent years I’ve been doing some checking of the Nueces County Budget going back to the budget year 1993-1994 and what I have found is very surprising. The county’s own budget numbers show that in the twenty county budgets passed since the 1993-1994 budget year property taxes have been raised 16 times, cut 3 times, and remained the same once. The county budget shows an increase in county property taxes for the current fiscal year of 3.52%, and in the previous year an increase of 2% the previous year, after a decrease of 4.6% in the year before that – see the charts here which were taken directly from the Nueces County Auditor’s Budget. That means that in the last three years County Commissioners have raised taxes by just under 1%. So to say that county taxes have not gone up in the past three budgets is not correct according to their own numbers.

My life is pretty good Cesar. We island dogs have it pretty good. We get to go to the beach and ride in boats and bark at boats that go down the canal and lots of other good stuff. And pretty soon we’re getting a Dog Park. We have hurricanes sometimes and that means we get to go to the country where the rivers are and swim in those. Sometimes water falls from the sky and it confuses us but that doesn’t happen very often. We just stand out in the yard and bat our eyes until it stops. Onetime ice fell from the sky and I ate some. I like ice. I wish it would fall from the sky more often. Otherwise I have to eat it from the ice chest and that makes my humans yell.

The numbers don’t lie For decades when Texas was a one-party state there was an honor-among-thieves agreement that let Democrats say they were not increasing taxes when in fact they were. It was a smokeand mirrors approach in which the tax rate remained the same while property evaluations across the board went up. The result was that each year the city/county/school districts raised more tax revenue while taxpayers saw the same tax rate as the previous year on their tax statement and believed it when they were told taxes had remained the same.

And yes, Cesar, I can walk. I used to waddle but Dr. Christi gave me the Metabolic Diet food and I lost eight pounds and now I walk. The chart for my dog breed only goes up to 75 pounds and I was 93 pounds but now I’m down to 85 and still going. Can you help? Please send me a hotdog. Mail it to Riley P. Dog at the Island Moon and put “This is not a hotdog” on the outside and no one will know. Please send it soon as I am withering away. But with less weight I am a fast mover. Last weekend when my humans forgot to block the stairs I slipped up there and ate all the catfood and peed on the floor. I told my humans it was the cats but they didn’t believe me. I don’t know why. I think the cats may have ratted me out. It could have been the cats but somehow they knew it was me.

This process became so abused that a lawsuit forced new tax laws to be written in the early 1980s which required that governmental entities state in plain language whether or not they raised taxes. The tables you see on this page are a direct result of that requirement.

therefore more revenue is needed and voters have already approved bonds at the ballot box. Once both of those numbers are removed a calculation is done to determine what Tax Rate will raise the same amount of revenue as the previous year on property on the tax rolls in both years. This is the Effective Tax Rate. Again, look at the bottom line on these tables and it will tell you very concisely and definitively if your taxes went up or down. It’s just that simple. Here is the definition of the Effective Tax Rate as defined by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs: “The effective tax rate would provide the taxing unit with approximately the same amount of revenue it had the year before on properties taxed in both years. For example, if property values go up, the effective tax rate goes down. Comparing property tax revenues from one year to the next year tells you whether there will be a tax increase.” This applies to both city and county governments. So if a county official is telling you that your county taxes have not gone up in the last four years they are at best telling you half the truth; in one year they went down, in one year they remained the same, and the last two years they have gone up; but cumulatively the have gone up by just under 1% in the last four budgets, and they have gone up by a total of 5.52% in the last two budget years. In the 2008-2009 budget year they went up by 7.99% - just .01% below the 8% number which can trigger a tax rollback election - not a coincidence – and the year before that they went up by 5.19%. It’s not about the rate charged per $100 of taxable property, it’s about how much tax is collected for their budget across the entire tax base; and it’s not about what they say; it’s about what they do and according to their own numbers they have raised your taxes in each of the last two budget years. So now you know.

Effective Tax Rate The way this was done was by listing an Effective Tax Rate in their budget. This rate tells the taxpayer whether his/her taxes have increased. If the Effective Tax Rate goes up then the taxpayers have been handed a take hike no matter what the rate assessed on each $100 of property does. If you look at the tables listed here, which again, were taken directly from the current county budget they tell you all you need to know. Forget about the “tax rate” and all the other numbers; look at the bottom line in each table. If it is a positive number then it is a tax increase, if it is a negative number it is a tax cut – ETR is the Effective Tax Rate.

Red light cameras Last time I wrote about my frustration in dealing with the appeals process – or lack thereof – for tickets from red-light cameras at intersections in our city. One of the questions is how long the traffic lights stay yellow before they turn red. Since that column City Engineer Dan Biles, who overseas the lights but not the cameras, provided me with numbers. According to the Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TxMUTCD) the time a traffic light can stay yellow is based on speed limits but cannot be longer than 5 seconds or shorter than 3 seconds. So if a light remains yellow less than 3 seconds it does not meet the state standard.

The Effective Tax Rate is the rate applied to each $100 of taxable property that allows the taxing body to raise the same amount of revenue The next step is to time some lights where the this year as it raised last year on the property that was on the rolls both years. To calculate cameras are located and see if the yellow-light the Effective Tax Rate the tax levy on new times are a) 3 seconds or longer and b) if they construction since the previous year is removed differ from intersections with the same speed from the equation along with debt service and limit but without cameras. principal on bonds; the reasoning is that the new This is going to take a while. Nueces construction will require additional services soCounty Texas

Humans are funny that way.

Property Tax Rates Nueces County Texas General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate/General Fund Tax Rate Property Tax Rates October 1, 2012 General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate/General Fund Tax Rate

I do have friends Cesar but unfortunately some of them don’t have their own homes and have to live in pens. Go and adopt one of them if you can. They need your help. A lot of bad people drop off their dogs and leave them on the island because they know islanders will take care of them. But if I ever find out who they are I will bite them.

October 1, 2012

Fiscal Year

1993/1994

Tax YearYear Fiscal

1993 1993/1994

General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR) Tax Year General Fund Adopted Tax Rate General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR) Increase to Tax Rate from ETR General(Decrease) Fund Adopted Tax Rate %Increase Increase(Decrease) (Decrease)to over TaxETR Rate from ETR % Increase (Decrease) over ETR

I am a boy but I am missing some parts.

Fiscal Year

The end.

by Dale Rankin

of Belton put raisins in coleslaw. I eat stuff I find on the ground and it tastes just fine but I don’t like raisins in my coleslaw – yuck. When I get a raisin in my coleslaw I eat a dead seagull off the beach to get the taste out of my mouth. When I go north of Belton I don’t eat coleslaw. Don’t feed your dog raisins Cesar it’s not good for them. And don’t put raisins in your coleslaw even if you are a Texas Yankee. It’s not good for anybody. I hate vegetables yuck. Unless they are slathered in bacon grease. Do you have any bacon grease Cesar? Can you send me some?

Tax YearYear Fiscal 456 456

I have a lot of favorite things to do. I like to go to the beach and I like to dig holes. Sometimes I dig holes at the beach and that’s pretty good. I like to swim in the pool but I got Dog Banned. Dogfood is not my favorite thing to eat. I like hotdogs and Girl Scout Cookies and catfood and bacon. But I don’t like raisins in my coleslaw. My humans say only Texas Yankees from north

Island Moon

1994/1995

1995/1996

1994 1994/1995

1995 1995/1996

1996/1997 1996 1996/1997

0.294828 1993

0.289401 1994

0.289401 1995

0.301287 1996

0.290750 0.294828

0.290962 0.289401

0.308508 0.289401

(0.004078) 0.290750

0.001561 0.290962

0.019107 0.308508

-1.38% (0.004078)

0.54% 0.001561

6.60% 0.019107

4.50% 0.013565

-1.38%

0.54%

6.60%

2000/2001

2001/2002

2002/2003

2000 2000/2001

2001 2001/2002

2002 2002/2003

1997/1998 1997 1997/1998

1998/1999 1998 1998/1999

1999/2000 1999 1999/2000

0.315285 1997

0.313708 1998

0.307118 1999

0.314852 0.301287

0.314852 0.315285

0.316306 0.313708

0.326339 0.307118

0.013565 0.314852

(0.000433) 0.314852

0.002598 0.316306

0.019221 0.326339

-0.14% (0.000433)

0.83% 0.002598

6.26% 0.019221

4.50%

-0.14%

0.83%

6.26%

2003/2004

2004/2005

2005/2006

2006/2007

2003 2003/2004

2004 2004/2005

2005 2005/2006

2006 2006/2007

General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR) Tax Year

0.325748 2000

0.319794 2001

0.332809 2002

0.335418 2003

0.347376 2004

0.330521 2005

0.304467 2006

General Fund Adopted Tax Rate General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR)

0.334459 0.325748

0.332800 0.319794

0.343480 0.332809

0.362251 0.335418

0.350850 0.347376

0.331461 0.330521

0.304494 0.304467

Increase to Tax Rate from ETR General(Decrease) Fund Adopted Tax Rate

0.008711 0.334459

0.013006 0.332800

0.010671 0.343480

0.026833 0.362251

0.003474 0.350850

0.000940 0.331461

0.000027 0.304494

2.67% 0.008711

4.07% 0.013006

3.21% 0.010671

8.00% 0.026833

1.00% 0.003474

0.28% 0.000940

0.01% 0.000027

2.67%

4.07%

3.21%

8.00%

1.00%

0.28%

0.01%

2007/2008

2008/2009

2009/2010

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

%Increase Increase(Decrease) (Decrease)to over TaxETR Rate from ETR % Increase (Decrease) over ETR Fiscal Year Tax YearYear Fiscal

2007 2007/2008

2008 2008/2009

General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR) Tax Year

0.276656 2007

0.271173 2008

General Fund Adopted Tax Rate General Fund M&O Effective Tax Rate (ETR)

0.291007 0.276656

0.292866 0.271173

Increase to Tax Rate from ETR General(Decrease) Fund Adopted Tax Rate

0.014351 0.291007

0.021693 0.292866

%Increase Increase(Decrease) (Decrease)to over TaxETR Rate from ETR

5.19% 0.014351

2009 2009/2010 0.291536 2009

7.99% 0.021693 Nueces

2010 2010/2011

2011 2011/2012

2012 2012/2013

0.305595 2010

0.287049 2011

0.291536 0.291536

0.291536 0.305595

0.292786 0.287049

0.292786 0.282834

0.000000 0.291536

(0.014059) 0.291536

0.005737 0.292786

0.009952 0.292786

2.00% 0.005737

3.52% 0.009952

0.00% 0.000000 County Texas

-4.60% (0.014059)

0.282834 2012

7.99% 0.00% -4.60% 2.00% 3.52% Nueces County Texas Property Tax Rates Property Tax Rates General Fund & Debt Service Adopted Tax Rate/Effective Tax Rate October 1, 2012 Tax Rate/Effective Tax Rate General Fund & Debt Service Adopted

% Increase (Decrease) over ETR

5.19%

October 1, 2012

Fiscal Year Fiscal Tax YearYear

1994/1995 1994

1995/1996 1995/1996 1995

1996/1997 1996/1997 1996

1997/1998 1997/1998 1997

1998/1999 1998/1999 1998

1999/2000 1999/2000 1999

1993 0.290750

1994 0.290962

1995 0.308508

1996 0.314852

1997 0.314852

1998 0.316306

1999 0.326339

General Fund Adopted Rate Debt Service Adopted TaxTax Rate

0.290750 0.021008

0.290962 0.020788

0.308508 0.015102

0.314852 0.019733

0.316306 0.018279

0.326339 0.018283

Debt ServiceTax Adopted Total Adopted Rate Tax Rate

0.021008 0.311758

0.020788 0.311750

0.015102 0.323610

0.019733 0.334585

0.018279 0.334585

0.018283 0.344622

Total Adopted Tax Rate Effective Tax Rate (ETR)

0.311758 0.302340

0.311750 0.311422

0.323610 0.310049

0.334585 0.324767

0.334585 0.332172

0.334585 0.331928

0.344622 0.333237

Effective Tax Rate to (ETR) Increase (Decrease) Tax Rate from ETR

0.302340 0.009418

0.311422 0.000328

0.310049 0.013561

0.324767 0.009818

0.332172 0.002413

0.331928 0.002657

0.333237 0.011385

0.009418 3.02%

0.000328 0.11%

0.013561 4.19%

0.009818 2.93%

0.002413 0.72%

0.002657 0.79%

0.011385 3.42%

3.02%

0.11%

4.19%

2.93%

0.72%

0.79%

3.42%

2000/2001

2001/2002

2002/2003

2003/2004

2004/2005

2005/2006

2006/2007

% Increase (Decrease) over ETR Fiscal Year Fiscal Tax YearYear

457 457

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1993/1994 1993

1994/1995

Tax Year General Fund Adopted Tax Rate

TaxETR Rate from ETR % Increase Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) to over

LIVE MUSIC

1993/1994

2000/2001 2000

Tax Year General Fund Adopted Tax Rate

2000 0.334459

General Fund Adopted Rate Debt Service Adopted TaxTax Rate Debt ServiceTax Adopted Total Adopted Rate Tax Rate

2001/2002 2001

2002/2003 2002

2003/2004 2003

2004/2005 2004

2005/2006 2005

2006/2007 2006

2001 0.3328

2002 0.34348

2003 0.362251

2004 0.35085

2005 0.331461

2006 0.304494

0.334459 0.018283

0.3328 0.017442

0.34348 0.017442

0.362251 0.017442

0.35085 0.073385

0.331461 0.067468

0.304494 0.061438

0.018283 0.352742

0.017442 0.350242

0.017442 0.360922

0.017442 0.379693

0.073385 0.424235

0.067468 0.398929

0.061438 0.365932

Total Adopted Tax Rate Effective Tax Rate (ETR)

0.352742 0.342580

0.350242 0.337275

0.360922 0.350410

0.379693 0.352573

0.424235 0.364074

0.398929 0.399654

0.365932 0.366939

Effective Tax Rate to (ETR) Increase (Decrease) Tax Rate from ETR

0.342580 0.010162

0.337275 0.012967

0.350410 0.010512

0.352573 0.027120

0.364074 0.060161

0.399654 (0.000725)

0.366939 (0.001007)

0.010162 2.97%

0.012967 3.84%

0.010512 3.00%

0.027120 7.69%

0.060161 16.52%

2.97%

3.84%

3.00%

7.69%

2007/2008

2008/2009

2009/2010

2010/2011

TaxETR Rate from ETR % Increase Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) to over % Increase (Decrease) over ETR Fiscal Year Fiscal Tax YearYear

2007/2008 2007

2008/2009 2008

2009/2010 2009

2010/2011 2010

16.52% 2011/2012 2011/2012 2011

(0.000725) -0.18%

(0.001007) -0.27%

-0.18%

-0.27%

2012/2013 2012/2013 2012

Tax Year General Fund Adopted Tax Rate

2007 0.291007

2008 0.292866

2009 0.291536

2010 0.291536

2011 0.292786

2012 0.292786

General Fund Adopted Rate Debt Service Adopted TaxTax Rate

0.291007 0.060376

0.292866 0.058474

0.291536 0.059394

0.292786 0.058213

Debt ServiceTax Adopted Total Adopted Rate Tax Rate

0.060376 0.351383

0.058474 0.351340

0.059394 0.350930

0.058213 0.350999

Total Adopted Tax Rate Effective Tax Rate (ETR)

0.351383 0.333239

0.351340 0.328392

0.350930 0.350930

0.350930 0.364989

0.350999 0.345531

0.350999 0.339070

Effective Tax Rate to (ETR) Increase (Decrease) Tax Rate from ETR

0.333239 0.018144

0.328392 0.022948

0.350930 0.000000

0.364989 (0.014059)

0.345531 0.005468

0.339070 0.011929

0.018144 5.44%

0.022948 6.99%

0.000000 0.00%

(0.014059) -3.85%

0.005468 1.58%

0.011929 3.52%

5.44%

6.99%

0.00%

-3.85%

1.58%

3.52%

TaxETR Rate from ETR % Increase Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) to over % Increase (Decrease) over ETR

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Island Moon

A 4

June 6, 2013

whitecap Blvd

das Marinas

inn

views to the west

nemo Court

Hotel s. Padre island drive

5 min. walk

200

400

600

Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort

1 ac

Projects continued from A1 1" = 200' at full size (36 x 24") 0

1000

1400'

“If all or most of the schools around the state break the same week it makes no sense to open the park for Spring Break,” he said. “If they stagger their break over two or three weeks then it will make sense for us to open during that time. It all depends on scheduling.”

1/4 ac

Here is a complete list of plans as they now exist for the Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort. Keep in mind that these will certainly change between now and completion.

Lake Padr e viLLage

site Plan

Padre Island, Texas

The designs and concepts shown are the sole property of Hart Howerton. The drawings may not be used except with the expressed written consent of Hart Howerton.

april 17, 2013

Schexnailder said overnight lodging will be available at the park when it opens. For a look at the complete plans for the park see the maps in this issue. Aquarius speeders. City crews have begun installing “speed tables” on Aquarius to slow drivers on the stretch of old Aquarius between Whitecap and Dasmarinas. Two of the devices will be put in that area to slow down drivers. City Engineer Dan Biles told the ISAC that once the tables are in place a traffic survey will be done to determine if more need to be added. A petition is also being circulated by residents on Dasmarinas to install speed humps there. Clogged sewer line. Work continues along Whitecap to clean the 36-inch sewer line that runs for a quarter of a mile along Whitecap and connects the pump station at Cruiser to the Whitecap Wastewater Treatment Plant. A temporary line now runs along Whitecap to allow crews to work on the main line which according to city staffers has not been cleaned since its installation in the 1970’s. They said the sand in the line is hard packed and proving difficult to remove. They said that in many places the line is “half full” of sand. Once it is removed a camera will be run through the line to determine if there are leaks or breaks. The work is expected to take another “six weeks to two months.”

Work on Whitecap Gypsy/Whitecap traffic. A recently conducted traffic flow study by the city found that the average waiting time for making a left turn from Gypsy onto westbound Whitecap is 22 seconds during peak traffic at 5 pm. Average speed on Whitecap is “well over 40” mph in spite of the 35 mph speed limit. Given the results of the study the Gypsy/ Whitecap intersection is not eligible for a traffic light but may be eligible for a three way stop with signs. Biles told ISAC that the intersection will change greatly when the development planned for the north side of Whitecap is done which will include a new street. He said that at that time a four-way stop at the intersection is likely.

Construction continues at Bob Hall Pier Bob `Hall Pier. Work continues at the pier house on Bob Hall Pier. A new restaurant/bar is scheduled to be open there in July.

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June 6, 2013

Island Moon

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BeaCH waLK VILL aGe Padre Island, Texas

© 2013 H a rt How erton Ltd. © 2013 H a rt How erton Pa rt ner s Ltd. The designs and concepts shown are the sole property of Hart Howerton. The drawings may not be used except with the expressed written consent of Hart Howerton.

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Island Moon

A 6

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

What is in our canal? Looks Like Red Tide

Letters to the Editor Found Dog Female Boston Terrier found on Aquarius on Saturday, June 1st. Couple taking to Dr. Kresser today to try and find owner. Here she is. Surely someone is looking for this girl.

June 6, 2013

News from your

Call Derrick at 713-208-2167.

By Maybeth Christiansen Dredging of the canals on the north side of the Island will finish this week. They will be working in the spoil site area as it needs grading and lowering. I haven’t received the final number of cubic yards, but it will be over 30,000.

Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery

Canal fences – what are the rules?

Coldwell Banker

There has been some concern and confusion about a recent fence which was installed at Whitecap and Isabella. There are some properties where the property owner owns 50’ into the water, i.e. beyond the bulkhead. They pay taxes on that land as well as association fees.

Advertising Jan Park Rankin Office Lisa Towns Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout

Photo by Nancy Ludlow

Jeff Craft Contributing Writers

Some folks have said they were sold a “water view” lot. Unfortunately, there is nothing in our covenants which defines any of the lots that way. The term is often used by real estate sales people, but it does not have a legal basis.

Joey Farah Devorah Fox

Groceries!

Mary Craft

Moon,

Maybeth Christiansen

Great News from IGIC owner opening near the Subway. Well we did open the cafe section today, at 3 pm to be precise. Of course, until that light turned on, I wasn’t sure whether we will make it or not, but we did. We have had a few customers, especially our friendly neighbors on the strip. The grocery section will take a few more weeks to open, but we are welcoming suggestions on what people on the island want to see here .We will definitely be bringing in fresh fruits and veggies this weekend, meats and dairy to follow...organic foods are also a part of our plan in the future. A lot is going to depend on space! Thanks for your support thus far, and hope to meet you someday soon!

Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Danniece Bobeché Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft

As is the case for all fences, this owner brought the plans for the fence along with a permit application to the office. The plans were reviewed by the architectural control committee and a permit for construction was approved.

Christine N. Udeani, JD

As our Island continues to build out, I am sure many folks are going to lose the “view” they had simply because there will be a home built on a vacant lot, or someone will decide to fence their property. Our Island is filling up. Some folks reminisce about being able to hunt any place they wanted “back in the day.” Well, that is not possible any longer.

Canal lights

Photo by Cynthia Roberts Traynor

$99 Spa Packages Spa Package Retreat

Lighting continues to be an issue. Folks install bright lights on the canal side of their homes and that light shines across the canal into their neighbor’s house or on to the property next door. Or, they leave their lights on all night. Please check to see the direction of your lights. They should only light up your yard. Shields are an option as well as lower wattage bulbs. We also suggest using motion sensors on the lights so they do not shine from dusk to dawn.

Dog park Some folks who attended the dog park forum asked why not do something for the children?

Office Security/Spillage Control Riley P. Dog

Billish park is the designated community park and plans are underway to make improvements.

Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon

If you would like to volunteer to be a part of the committee to improve the park and raise the money to do it, just give me a call – 949-7025.

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.

Beached Whale Found on PINS

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

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

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Snoopy’s Pier

Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks

Isle Mail N More Ace Hardware Holiday Inn

Party Supply Liquor Store

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Port A Business Center

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And all Moon retail advertisers

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Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center

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Fire Station

Giggity’s

Police Station

Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

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Floyd’s

Keepers Pier House

Bert’s Feed

A baby pygmy sperm whale beached itself about 50 miles down the National Seashore after which the Texas Mammal Stranding Network was called to investigate, the youth which was just seven feet long and 200 pounds was taken for a necropsy.

Fireworks cont. from A1

CVS

Island Italian

Have you ever walked down the beach only to see a whale which has beached itself on the shore? Unless you are a biologist chances are you haven’t, but that’s exactly what a Padre Island National Seashore ranger found on routine patrol May 13th.

Unfortunately the whale would not have survived in captivity and had to be euthanized, which raises the concern of whether the incident was a natural occurrence. Biologists say there is no worry for concern, and as sad as it was to see the whale go it was a random occurrence.

Wild Horse Saloon

All Stripes Stores

Island Moon Staff

“It was the smallest beached whale the investigators had seen in twenty years.” said National Seashore Ranger William ‘Buzz’ Botts. It was ill, had a heavy parasite load, and had a wound to the face.”

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Inspired by similar shows in downtown Corpus Christi and in Port Aransas Jerry contacted the fireworks company which does those shows and with an estimated cost of $15,000 set to work raising money. With the help of Islanders William Goldston, Stan Hultz, and Denise and Dwayne Hebert that goal was reached as more than two dozen Islanders chipped in to raise more than $1000. Any money raised over the $15,000 will be applied to this or a future fireworks show.

The Heberts organized a casino night last Saturday at Padre Isles Country Club which raised more than $1000 and put the final touches on the fundraising efforts.

Jerry has procured the necessary city permits and with the help of Council Member and Islander Colleen McIntyre city crews helped in preparing the site for the staging of the show which is located adjacent to the Padre Island Yacht Club at the end of Whitecap.

The location will mean the show is visible from anywhere on The Island with ringside seats anywhere from a west-facing deck and anywhere in the canal system.

So start making plans Islanders, the United States will celebrate its 237th birthday Annual 4th of July Boat Parade punctuated with some fire in the sky.

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Big Catch

June 6, 2013

Island Moon

Angler’s Alley

Endangered Sea Turtle Feeding Grounds Discovered in Gulf Turtles dine in waters affected by oil spills, fishing and oxygen depletion Editor’s note: This is an article which Dr. Donna Shaver co-authored with several colleagues which was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution. It presents results from their long-term satellite tracking studies of Kemp’s ridley females after they nested at Padre Island National Seashore and Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.

beach at Padre Island National Seashore offers a “first glimpse” of how and when the turtles feed, said Kristen Hart, a research ecologist for the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center. “We were able to decipher Kemp’s ridleys foraging behavior in space and time using a combination of satellite telemetry and new statistical techniques.”

The favored feeding grounds of the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle coincide with some Gulf of Mexico waters that are subject to oil spills, extensive commercial fishing and oxygen depletion.

Previous tracking studies generally showed Kemp’s ridley migration from nesting beaches along the Gulf of Mexico coastline to northern Texas and Louisiana with some turtles migrating as far as peninsular Florida. Until the current study, it was not known whether turtles displayed movement behavior indicative of foraging or migration at a particular location. The modeling done as part of the study has allowed scientists to pinpoint where these turtles may be feeding, a key finding in terms of identifying important at-sea habitats for these imperiled turtles.

These first-of-their kind details on foraging locations and migration patterns of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle are from a new National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey study, providing resource managers new information on how best to manage the species. Scientists do not know why the turtles feed where they do, how human influences may affect turtle health or behavior, or whether human impacts on their chosen feeding areas might change their future foraging behavior. The researchers identified the feeding grounds of the Kemp’s ridley, considered the most endangered and smallest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world, by analyzing 13 years of satellite-tracking data. The researchers tagged turtles at nesting sites between 1998 and 2011 and tracked them as they went on to foraging locations throughout the Gulf. Turtles from two major nesting sites in the study fed at specific locations off the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi and at other locations in the Gulf. Donna Shaver, chief of the National Park Service’s Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Division at Padre Island National Seashore, said, “Protecting feeding grounds for adult female sea turtles is important for the recovery of the species and this new information is important for future planning and restoration decisions.” Cooperative efforts between Mexico and several U.S. agencies have helped increase the population of this species of sea turtle. Species support includes protection of nesting turtles and their eggs on nesting beaches and reducing threats from fishing. The number of Kemp’s ridleys nesting in the region has increased from 702 nests in 1985 to about 22,000 in 2012. The research, in which dozens of adult female sea turtles were tagged after they nested on the

In addition to tagging turtles at Padre Island, Shaver said the researchers tagged turtles at nesting sites in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, about 200 miles south of Padre Island. Shaver added, “This is the first time we’ve tracked the Mexican turtles to habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.”

“We have a lot more to learn about how and why Kemp’s ridleys use their foraging sites,” Hart said. “We don’t know enough about individual turtles yet to draw conclusions about their behavioral responses to conditions at foraging grounds, and we are just beginning to understand differences among different sea turtles species. For example, Kemp’s ridleys appear to migrate, then feed, and then migrate to a final feeding destination. Loggerheads, in contrast, seem to head straight for feeding hotspots.” Hart added, “We plan to continue fleshing out the major scientific gaps that managers need addressed in order to develop long-term survival and recovery plans for Kemp’s ridleys.”

On the Rocks

By Jay Gardner As I was driving across the bridge today on the way to work today, I really felt like I was driving the wrong way. The lagoon was a sheet of glass, as was the Oso, and the beach was looking great when I left it last evening. Yup, that ever-growing feeling “you’re going the wrong way, man” kind of sits in your stomach, but hopefully will steel my resolve to get some of these “fires” needing to be put out and maybe go play at some point. BUT, only if I get my chores and homework done, LOL. Guess we never grow old enough to get out of that stuff. I’m stuck in this office and the boyz are out on the Nyati on a three-day fishing spree, and about the time I can get out this weekend the weather is going to take a dump with the first Gulf storm of the season.

Updates on progress will be given by Jace Tunnell, Scott Murray and others. Stakeholders and researchers from TAMUCC, UTMSI, TPWD, TAMUK, and Kleberg County Schools will all be in attendance. If you’re interested in attending, which is free and open to anyone concerned, the meeting will be held at TAMUCC at the Natural Resources Center Building (NRC – the second building on the right as you take the first entrance into TAMUCC) this next Wednesday (June 12th) from 10:00am- 12:30pm. I would suggest stopping at the entrance station and getting a Visitors Pass (tell them where you’re going). You might also consider parking in the parking garage just to make things a little more simple. If you’d like additional details, please contact Jace Tunnell at the CBBEP at jtunnell@ cbbep.org

But it’s not all that bad folks, the weather has finally slipped into a summer pattern, and I actually got out with Bizzy and Brice this past Sunday on the skiff. If you haven’t noticed, the water in the lagoon is a nice coffee color lately, due to what appears to be brown tide. It affects light attenuation (which causes the seagrasses to slough off more than normal) which is why there’s a little more floating grass than normal. The fish are still there, but it’s a little harder to catch them. You may have to change up your style just a bit. Hence, we ran the skiff up north and finally found some decent water in Redfish Bay. We poled around for a while, and then hopped out and went after them the oldfashioned way; wading and sight casting. This time of year if you can find a sandy flat around knee-deep, there’s plenty of drum cruising around.

Well, at least I made it out to the Rocks the other day after the ISAC meeting for a few casts. The water clarity still has some to be desired, and the Sargassum is still coming in thick. This isn’t stopping the fishing however, as there have been a lot of trout and redfish caught off the rocks and in the surf all over the place. Our buddy Jeff Wolda down the beach also reports a lot of trout finally coming into the surf, as well as jacks and other fun stuff. We’re poised to have a great summer, just need to get out and enjoy it! (see a theme here, lol). Even Baxter and little Sagan made it out to join us for a few minutes to see what was shaking.

Speaking of brown tide and dirty water, this next week the CBBEP will be hosting an open-forum meeting regarding the Baffin Bay Working Group. This is a group of concerned citizens and scientists that are meeting about and studying Baffin Bay water quality and its’ effects on our favorite bay. There will be a fair amount of discussion about brown tide as well. In addition, they will also be discussing the Emaciated Black Drum Report that was completed by TPWD and other recently regarding some jelly-like flesh of the drum caught from down south this past season. The feeding habitat discovery came when scientists differentiated time the sea turtles spent in feeding or breeding mode from the time spent migrating. Once scientists located when and where the turtles were feeding, they were also able to coarsely profile what type of habitat offered the best feeding grounds for Kemp’s ridleys.

As summer starts and school ends, our Island and beaches will be crowded with a whole bunch of people going nowhere fast. Have patience when trying to get somewhere, make sure everything is locked up (crime ALWAYS goes up during the summer), and make some time to get out and enjoy it. Shoot me an email at jaygardner@scientist.com if you have any questions about anything. We’ll see you out there!

Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests documented on the Texas coast during 2013

Location Number of nests Location Bolivar Peninsula 3 Matagorda Peninsula

Number of nests 3

Galveston Island

Matagorda Island

Brazoria County, N. of Surfside

San Jose Island

Surfside Beach

Mustang Island

Quintana Beach

Corpus Christi Bay

Bryan Beach

North Padre Island, N. of PAIS

Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach 0

Padre Island National Seashore

Sargent Beach

South Padre Island

Boca Chica Beach

Total Kemp’s ridley nests documented this year:

105

Upcoming Fishing Tournaments Hooked on Youth, Inc. June 7th - 8th, 2013 Powderpuff Tournament June 14th - 15th, 2013 Game Warden Association Fishing Tournament — June 14th - 15th, 2013

20th Annual Fishing Break June 21st - 22nd, 2013 Casting for a Cause June 27th - 28th, 2013

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2013 Sea Hunt BX 22 BR

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90 HP Yamaha

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Gunwale Rod Storage

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10 Gallon Built in Console Cooler

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Leaning Post / Helm Seat

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6 Cup Holders

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Rear Pop Up Jump Seats

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High Presure Washdown

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Bay Star Hydraulic Steering

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Leaning Post w/ Backrest

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Insulated Bow Storage

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JBL Waterproof Stereo w/ 4 Speakers & Ipod Connect

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“Ritchie” Compass

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Hich Speed Livewell Pick Up

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Vision Steering Wheel w/ Knob

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Teleﬂex Seastar Hydraulic Steering

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Swim Platform w/ Ladder

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Large Walk-In Console “Porta-Potti”

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Call Roy at 361-854-0875

Island Moon

A 8

Bird Island continued from A1 livestock on the Island and South Texas. With this bit of history and Dale always looking to fill up space in the Moon, he has been bugging me to write a bit of Island History for the paper. I warned him that when if I wasn’t sleeping in Miss Aven’s class forty sum odd years ago at Flour Bluff School it was only because we were skipping school so don’t expect much in the writing department. He did say if I had some of my history speeches written up he’d do the writing for me. Well heck, if I’d written my yakking down writing it wouldn’t have been a problem. Dale does hale from Austin though so I’ll give him a pass.

Anyway I did agree to give it a stab. If anyone has a beef with the prose complain to Dale better yet line the bird cage with the paper cause I’m telling up front I wouldn’t know a dangling participle from one that’s been properly attached. Dale did say to write anything but did “suggest” some storm stuff since the season is just starting and I’ve spent the last year trying to convince the fine folks in Amarillo and other points inlands that we’ve got a problem paying half again as much for windstorm insurance as our coastal brothers in Florida, North Carolina and other such spots. Been about as successful as staying awake in Miss Aven’s class.

probably from flooding. All in all not much in the first 78 years since the founding of Kinney’s Trading post. In fact the folks in Austin said in 1908 “this Island has never suffered much from storms and floods. It is in the west or outer edge of the storm current” as they were trying to peddle lots on Mustang. The local paper wrote in 1886 “Corpus Christi as the only really safe place on the Texas coast.” An article in 1909 continued to sing praises as “the oldest inhabitants cannot recall a storm of sufficient severity to alarm even a timid woman” and “nine-tenths of the area of Corpus Christi is on a bluff 30 feet high, probably the safest point in saltwater America,” . That changed on August 18, 1916 but your going to have to buy another free copy of the Moon because Dale’s out of space and I’m ready to skip.

Settlement at Bird Island Back to storms, the Island was pretty immune from Storms from Corpus’s founding in 1838 till 1916. There were a few blows, the biggest being the 1880 storm that hit Point Isabel in August. The Corpus paper guessed the

Next time, the 1916 storm, trapped on the Island and we’ve got no ranch house no more.

Business Briefs by Mary Craft

New Advertisers

A Community Rummage Sale will be at the Padre Isles POA office parking lot on Saturday, June 8th 8 am until noon. The sale is to benefit the Southern Coast gymnastics team.

Island Kewl-Air has new and used parts and equipment available. An outside unit installed is just $1500, coil cleaning is $175 and checkup $35. Free estimates for Island residents call 765-0273.

Mrs. Woody’s Jr., Inc Automotive & Wrecker Service offers complete auto repair, oil changes and air conditioning service. They are an official vehicle inspection station and provide 24 hour towing. They also carry new tires including Michelin and Goodrich. Marine repair work is also available for your boats, motors and trailers. They are located at 422 W Ave G in Port A. Call 749-4290 or visit mrswoodys.com for more info.

Cotter has dinner cruises ever Friday catered by Fins Grill. They offer daily 5, 8 or 12 hour fishing trips and daily sunset cruises. They have live music under the Palapa every Friday and Saturday. Book now to watch the fireworks on board for the 4th. Call 749-5597. Fins Grill & Icehouse serves breakfast every on weekends at 8 am. They are located next door to the Deep Sea Headquarters.

Business Briefs The Island Grocery Internet Café near Subway is now open. The grocery shelves will start to be filled with fresh fruits and vegetables this weekend and meats and dairy to follow. Yes, really – there is a grocery store on the Island at last! Scuttlebutt’s is opening another restaurant/bar next door where the surf shop was. One of the names being considered is The Overflow. The Pelican Lounge will be bringing down the wall well before the end of the year. This comes straight from the “at’s” mouth (that’s Turkish for horse) who promises it will be spectacular.

Deep Sea Headquarters in Port A at 440

Costa Sur Peruvian Restaurant is now open next to the Office Lounge. For now it is BYOB until they get their license. The hours are 11 am – 2 pm and 5 pm – 10 pm. They are closed on Tuesdays. Stan Hulse is leaving his position as executive director of the Padre Island Business Association later this summer to fill the local manager spot for Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort.

Christine welcomes all Islanders to her new Island Grocery Internet Cafe (IGIC). She serves paninnis, soups Find out what’s going on as and desserts in the cafe and the grocery will carry produce it happens at The Island Moon starting this weekend with meats and dairy to follow. Newspaper Facebook page.

June 6, 2013

Hatchling Releases Begin This Month

The Curry Settlement which was located close to where Bird Island basin is today took a bit of a hit in first 1874 and then from the 1875 storm that devastated Indianola.

1950 Padre House and pens on the Dunn Ranch on The Island.

Kemp’s Ridley Nesting Continues

“damage to buildings and lots will not fall far short of $6,000.”

They lost a couple of thousand barrels of salt and told stories of the fish swimming under the houses (houses then were built on wood pilings). What we called the head of the Island (Padre Isles) didn’t have much in the way of building at the time, some Packery operations and a few houses. Some of those were lost,

By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore e-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov The 2013 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nesting season is underway. Since my last article, several more nests have been found. Through June 3, 105 Kemp’s ridley nests have been located on the Texas coast this year. Our local nests from this endangered species include 63 from Padre Island National Seashore, 3 from North Padre Island north of the National Seashore, and 2 from Mustang Island. Hopefully many more nests will be found before the nesting season ends in mid-July. Searches to find and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their eggs along the Texas coast will continue through midJuly. National Seashore volunteers and staff are patrolling North Padre Island, and 5 other groups administer patrols elsewhere on the Texas coast. We want to find the nesting turtles and eggs so that they can be protected from human-related and natural threats. However, it can be very challenging since these turtles are only on the beach for about 45 minutes during nesting and the signs of their nesting are difficult to find. They are the smallest and lightest sea turtle species. They are about two feet long, weigh about 80-100 pounds, and leave a faint track that typically disappears quickly since they tend to nest on windy days. And it is difficult to see the nesting turtles since they are olive green in color and blend with the sand and vegetation. They become partially covered with sand during nesting and are motionless for about 15 minutes when they are laying eggs in the nest chamber. If you travel to the beach during the nesting season, please watch for nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles. Drive slowly and watch carefully since they often nest in the ruts of the beach vehicular roadway. Please immediately report any nesting that you see to a passing turtle patroller or by calling 1-866-TURTLE5. If you see a nesting turtle, do not rush up to her as she crawls up the beach or you can frighten her back into the water without nesting. After she has crawled up the beach and excavated a nest chamber using her rear flippers she will deposit her eggs in the nest cavity. At that time she will enter a trance-like state and be oblivious to what is going on around her. You should then take photos, examine her flippers for tags and record any tag numbers, and place a distinguishing marker next to the nest site. You should protect her from traffic and other people until biologists arrive or the turtle returns to the sea.

Egg care and hatchling releases Eggs from most nests found at the National Seashore and northward on the Texas coast are collected and brought to our incubation facility for protected care. Eggs from some of the nests found at the southern end of the park are brought to a large protective screen enclosure called a corral. Eggs from South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach are brought to a corral on South Padre Island. Eggs are closely cared for in the incubation facility and corrals. They incubate for about 4553 days and the length of their incubation period is influenced by temperature. When hatchlings are fully emerged from their eggshells we release them on the beach and protect them during release. Hatchlings must be released when they are physically ready for release and enter their “frenzy”. We cannot retain them past that for viewing because they would expend their energy necessary to swim through the surf and would be too weak for release. Fortunately, hatchlings are often ready for release during the early morning when the public can be invited to view their release. Each year, we hold 1530 hatchling releases at Padre Island National Seashore that are open to the public, free-ofcharge. These releases are very popular with the public and in 2012 collectively more than 12,000 people attended our releases. Many people have requested information about when our public releases will be held this year. Now that we have some clutches in our

incubation facility we can provide estimates of when our first releases will be held. We cannot predict when the later releases will be held because those eggs have not yet been laid. As eggs are placed into the incubation facility, the projected hatchling release dates for the eggs are 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.

Although hatchings from the first clutch are due to be released sometime between June 11 and 17, we may not be able to hold a public release for this first clutch. There is just one clutch hatching at this time and based on its incubation temperature it may not have a good hatching success. However, we should be able to hold at least 1 public release sometime between June 18 and 24 for the next eggs that will be hatching since 7 clutches will be hatching then. Hatchlings from other groups of clutches will be released sometime between July 1 and 7 (5 clutches), July 5 and 15 (5 clutches), and July 11 and 23 (34 clutches). Barring a severe weather event, we should be able to hold at least 1 or 2 public releases sometime during each of those date ranges. We should continue to find nests for a few more weeks and when they are found we will post additional potential public release dates.

Satellite transmitters

We have affixed satellite transmitters to 10 of the turtles found nesting at the northern end of the National Seashore this year. You can view their movements on www.seaturtle.org. When on that page click on the satellite tracking link and look for the Padre Island National Seashore Kemp’s Ridley Tracking Program 2013. Since 1997, we have tracked several females that nested at the National Seashore. We aim to gather information on where the turtles go within a nesting season and after they are done nesting for the year. In recent years, we have collaborated with partners in Mexico to help deploy transmitters on females that nested in Mexico. Last week, the National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey distributed a national press release about a publication that I co-authored in the journal Ecology and Evolution about our satellite tracking efforts. We identified foraging areas used by turtles that nested in Texas and Mexico. The publication received coverage in the LA Times, Huffington Post, and other media outlets, and there is additional information about the publication in this issue of the Island Moon.

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June 6, 2013

Island Moon

Backwater Adventures