B2
North Padre Island Moon
LESSONS FROM IKE continued from B1 like the Maginot Line all over again, so, we can’t rely on our dunes, or our limited seawall to stop flooding. They would help minimize the wave erosion seen at Crystal Beach, but they would not limit surge flooding. I hope they took out flood insurance, as it appears that all homes on the peninsula took water, and the homes within 3000 ft. of the beach suffered damaging impact from waves on the gulf. What does this mean for us? We have few buildings of the kind that suffered the publicized damage from the waves at Crystal Beach. Ours are typically built on a “mound” with a concrete slab, and are not built as close to the gulf beaches, as they were in Crystal Beach. Further, we have significant dunes to mitigate the pummeling of the waves, at least in the period before the dunes are eroded. The wind damage should have been minimal, as it was on Crystal Beach and on South Padre Island when Category 2 Hurricane Dolly hit. Our homes should be able to withstand the wind velocities of a Category 2 hurricane, however, in the future we can expect stronger storms, and wind damage would escalate. Our bay in Corpus Christi showed a maximum tide surge of 6 ft. when Ike was demolishing
Crystal Beach with a reported 14 ft. surge. Math majors will note that 14 - 6 exceeds the 64” measured above. Had Ike not deviated from his earlier course, there is little doubt that most of our homes on our island would have been flooded inside to a depth of at least a foot, but probably 3-4 ft. due to the surge, plus the wave action on the Laguna Madre. Perhaps the wave action would not have been strong enough to demolish our homes, but the surge would certainly have flooded them. Imagine your home after salt water had been 3 ft deep inside. Electricity would likely be cut for a week or two, so how do you dry out? Interior sheetrock, insulation, carpets, furniture, appliances and exterior AC units, would all have to be scrapped and replaced. Freezers would be full of food spoiling in 90˚ F temperatures, adding to the aroma of rotting sea grass on your prized area rug. More importantly, we should also note that the Bolivar surge preceded the landfall of Ike, and many people who intended to leave were trapped. Our streets are much lower than our homes, so we too could be trapped by the quietly rising water. Park Road 22 would already be impassable by heavy truck by the time water started to enter our homes, so don’t delay evacuation. And this was a mere Category 2.
This is the same area as pictured in the photo on page B1 after the storm. The words denote the names of the people who lived in the houses that were destroyed.
Hornets Beat Alice Volleyball Team 3-0 The Hornet volleyball team disposed of visiting district rival Alice in three straight in a district 314A matchup held on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Hornet sophomore Kendall Stephens had 3 of the team’s 5 aces, 20 of 30 FB assists and 5 blocks to help her team to the win. Hornet Kristin Carden had 9 digs. K Bowman made 15 kills for the Hornets.
Headlines We Wish We Had Written
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says ....... Ya think??
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers ........ Now that’s taking things a bit far!
Hornets Beat King 40-28 In Game Postponed By Ike
The possible threat of Hurricane Ike caused last week’s games to be postponed. That delay didn’t seem to hurt the Hornets,who hosted the King Mustangs on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Riding the momentum of two victories in the young season the Hornets, once again led by stellar running back Michael Gowens and his 208 yards, outdid the Mustangs 40-28. The Hornets trailed at the end of the first quarter 7-6, but they came back against a tough, stubborn King squad. Michael Gowens led all rushers with his 208 yards and he made three TDs as well. For the Hornets, success was found in the ground game. They had 352 yards total offense; only 62 of those were from the passing game. King had a more balanced offense with 188 yards on the ground and 169 yards passing for a total offense of 357 yards. Jackson Bonnette scored two Hornet rushing TDs, and Corbin Plumlee covered a blocked Mustang punt in their end zone for a TD.
September 26, 2008
Photo by Mary Craft
Downtown Naples, Italy NAPOLITAN CAMEO continued from page B2 ride. We passed through derelict neighborhoods filled with trash and graffiti. We got out at a stop in front of a huge fortress. The scenery changed almost immediately. We started our walk into downtown where the nicer shops, restaurants and historical sites are. Along the way I met a man named Victor outside a cafe he frequents. He is a gentleman who learned English from the American soldiers stationed there during World War II. During the conversation his family’s cameo factory business came up, and he took me and my friends up the nearby cable car to visit it. Once we got off the cable car at the top of the hill it was a short walk down a beautiful street to a corner shop. The cameo art is displayed as well as crafted there. The business was started by their father in 1932. The family had the honor of having the Italian government commission a cameo bust of President Eisenhower, which was presented to him in 1958. Cameo art has been around for centuries but creations made from seashells instead of stone started in Italy about 1805 and were made popular by Queen Victoria of England. Since that time, cameos have predominantly showcased women’s profiles. Today almost all hand carved shell cameos are made around the Bay of Naples. Victor’s brother was working on a piece when we arrived. His worktable was placed next to a window in traditional fashion, to take advantage of the natural light. The art form was born before the invention of electricity, and the natural outdoor light allowed the craftsmen to visualize the fine detailing required. He showed me how the cameo art is made from start to finish. I never realized that it was made from seashells, I had thought it came from coral.
A piece is cut out of a large conch shell. The inside of the shell is darker than the outside. No dyes are used; the different layers of shell provide the different colors. If the carving starts from the outer surface down, it is called a relief. The bust of the woman is cream-colored and the background dark. This is the more common form. If it is done in reverse with the subject dark and background light it is called Intaglio. According to Victor’s brother Vincenzo De Paulo, the most popular shell used is the peach/ ivory colored Corinthian shell which they purchase from shops in Madagascar and Zanzibar. The bluish gray/white Mother of Pearl shells are bought from Japan where the family also opened a business. I could see the holes in the shell where the Japanese removed the pearls to sell separately before shipping the conch to cameo artists. A picture is first sketched by pencil onto the piece of shell and then etched by hand using tools which look like tiny ice picks. These tools are called bulinos and they purchase them from Switzerland. The tips of the tools are either flat faced, round or three-cornered. The piece of shell selected is placed on the end of a thick stick topped with hot wax to give support. When the etching is done the art is simply removed with a tap. Vincenzo brought out the large more expensive cameo pieces that were wrapped in a roll of velvet. He held one up to the light to show the translucent quality. The price started at $1500. I bought a ring of a bust made from a Mother of Pearl shell in a silver setting. The settings are made by Vincenzo’s nephew who is a jeweler and has a working area in a corner of the shop. The ring will be a reminder of my visit to Naples and the artist who made it.
Police Shoot-A-Round The Corpus Christi Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is hosting a Golf Tournament on Sat., Oct. 4th. All proceeds will benefit the CC PD. The $240 team entry fee ($60 per individual) includes 18 holes of golf, cart at Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course, admission to competitions, and meal with soft drink. The tournament is a 4-person scramble with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and tournament play beginning at 9 a.m. Each player has a shot at the hole-in-one grand prize, a 2008 Cadillac Sedan. Prizes will also be awarded for teams that place 1st, 2nd, & 3rd and for individuals who win the contests. Golf attire required. For more information & entry blank call (361) 949-1093.
FB Volleyball Schedule 9/27/08 10/11/12:00 PM Calallen* Away 9/30/08 5/6/7:00 PM Tuloso-Midway* Home 10/4/08 10/11/12:00 PM Kingsville* Away 10/7/08 5/6/7:00 PM Laredo Nixon* Away 10/11/08 12/1/2:00 PM Laredo Cigarroa* Home