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Seashore students glow A2

Island Trivia A6

Pirate Attacks in Port Aransas A10

Community Garden A9

The Island Moon Published by Island Moon Publishing, LLC 15201 S. Padre Island Drive Ste. 250 Corpus Christi, TX. 78418 editor@islandmoon.com (361) 949-7700

Fishin’ With Farah A11

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Island Area News ● Events ● Entertainment

April 5, 2012

Photo by Brent Rourke

The Only Island in Texas with 37 houses currently under construction

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com It’s been an exciting week Around The Island.

It started off when an Islander’s dog fell into the Main Canal and had to be fished out with a dip net. It reminds us that we should all have an emergency plan in mind in case old Fido decides to take an impromptu dip in the brine.

Then a few nights ago an intense wind hit that was so strong it shook roofs all over The Island.

It hit about 4:00 a.m. so many people walked outside the next morning and were puzzled to see their lawn furniture in the canal.

Cars and boats Then a couple of nights later yet another car driving down the beach ended up in Packery Channel. That’s the third or fourth in recent memory as the channel sneaks up on them and they go serpentine.

The next morning federal agents swooped down on a boat being loaded onto a trailer at the ramp over at Market 37. It seems they had been tracking the boat which they soon enough cut into little bitty pieces after testing a mysterious substance they found stored aboard and arresting the drivers of both the boat and the car.

Next Publication Date: 4/12/2012

How Many Cars Visited The Island During Spring Break?

Read this and find out Editor’s note: If you drove around The Island during the recent Spring Break you probably saw those black strips stretched across several roadways. They looked like the ones we used to see that dinged the bell at gas stations when we still had gas stations. These were counting cars during the Spring Break rush.

This is a copy of a memo from City Traffic Engineer Charlie Cardenas showing the vehicle counts.

By Charlie Cardenas P.E., City Traffic Engineer Due to recent development concerns on the Island, Traffic Engineering wanted to study the traffic patterns during peak holiday events.

This will give a perspective to concerns of developments on the island. During “spring break 2012” Traffic Engineering placed counters throughout the island to observe the traffic patterns. The locations and Average Daily Traffic (first number) and peak day counts (second number) were: South Bound Park Road 22 – 21518 / 27664 West Bound Aquarius at Keel – 2595 / 3770 West Bound Jackfish at Ambrosia – 1385 / 2656 West Bound Commodores – 2894 / 3965

Then on Tuesday the Columbus ships which sailed off for points south a little over a week ago returned to the docks near Doc’s and Snoopy’s and the locals turned out in good numbers to have their photos taken. When they headed out last time Captain Morgan told us the ships would travel back north by way of the open Gulf but it seems the local hospitality shown the crew by the locals routed the ships back up the Intracoastal.

Blue water The water in the bay has been exceptionally blue of late, all the way from Aransas Pass to The Island. The nice water has yet to make its way into our canal system though as the water here remains murky.

This reminds us why we need the Water Exchange Bridge along SPID to bring fresh water into our canals. A public hearing is set for Tuesday, April 10 from 5 to 8 PM at the Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada to explain the plans for the bridge and we’ll see you there.

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

Swap meet for boats, RV’s, fishing gear added

1st Annual Island Showcase Coming April 28-29 More than thirty homes have signed up to take part in the 1st Annual Island Showcase set for Saturday April 28 and Sunday April 29. The homes will be open for public viewing from 1-5 on both days.

The event is a celebration of the Island lifestyle and will feature tours of homes, both by land and water, and will also be a showcase for companies who work on Island homes, decks, and landscaping.

There will be a showcase for Island home improvement companies at the Seashore Learning Center gym on Encantada.

To take part in the Swap Meet for boats, recreational vehicles, and fishing gear show up at the parking lot at Brisco King Pavilion by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 28 and check in. The event is free and the idea is to trade and sell with other Islanders who have unused gear setting around.

The idea is to showcase the Island lifestyle in every form. The event is the first annual and all Islander are encouraged to participate by contacting Mary Lou White at 960-9460 or by e-mail at marylou. white@coldwellbanker.com. Boat tours of the homes can be arranged by calling ahead.

Just head to the Island and follow the signs. It’s a chance to get an inside look at the Island and the beautiful homes along the canals.

Year 15, Issue 417

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East Bound Commodores – 3086 / 3921 North Bound SH 361 past packery channel – 18192 / 22219 East Bound Access Road #3 – 3369 / 4086 West Bound Zahn Road – 3977 / 4643 Packery Channel Boat Ramp – 880 / 1183 West Bound Whitecap at Cruiser – 6134 / 7373 East Bound Whitecap at Cane Harbor – 4801 / 5584 West Bound Encantada at Palmira – 1984 / 2460 East Bound entrance to Balli Park – 1545 / 2052 East Bound Sea Pines at Palmira – 862 / 1011 West Bound Sea Pines at Palmira – 846 / 1008 South Bound Park Road 22 past Sea Pines – 1125 / 1338

Crews have begun putting in the limestone roadbed on Aquarius.

For details see story below

Update on Island Projects

Schlitterbahn, Aquarius Extension, Where did the sales tax money go?

By Dale Rankin Editor’s note: On Tuesday the City staff gave an update on Island projects to the Island Strategic Action Committee. Here is a summation.

Schlitterbahn. Developer Paul Schexnailder gave ISAC member and city staff an update on the plans to build the Schlitterbahn Resort and Island Walk. The City Council is currently discussing what type of tax incentives to offer for the project. At issue is whether to remove a portion of the existing Padre Isles County Club from the Island Tax Increment Financing Zone. Under state law the city cannot offer tax incentives to land located in a TIFF. The area in the TIFF zone which would need to be removed pays about $40,000 per year in Ad Valorem tax. Removing the area would not affect the amount of tax paid by the new park; rather it would place the money into the city’s general fund instead of the TIFF. However, estimates are that for every one dollar lost to the TIFF by removing the area, another $50 would be gained due to the new development.

Schexnailder told the ISAC the developers of the project provided the city with a list of tax incentives offered by the City of Cedar Park near Austin which is trying to persuade Schlitterbahn owners to locate the new park there. The new development planned for The Island would cover a total of about 525 acres

Conclusion Traffic Continued on A3

March 9-19, 2012 Spring Break 2012 Statistics from CCPD

Editor’s note: This is the official Spring Break wrap up from the Corpus Christi Police Department.

The Corpus Christi Police Department had several goals to promote a safe environment for Spring Breakers in 2012. The Emergency Operations Center was activated to serve as a central communications post for area emergency responders, there was an emphasis on the safe transit of motorists on the roadways, and there was an emphasis on beach safety.

The Corpus Christi Police occupied the Emergency Operations Center to employ the use of the video cameras that view the beach, the roadways, and certain areas of town. The police officers sent twitter and Facebook updates about the beach traffic and conditions.

The use of the Emergency Operations served as an exercise for regional emergency responders for familiarization and practice to prepare for any large emergent event.

The Corpus Christi Police Department emphasized the safe transit of motorists by providing increased traffic patrol on densely traveled roadways in the city.

The Corpus Christi Police issued 867 citations on Padre Island between March 9 and March 19 for this effort. Only 161 citations were issued for speeding. Most of the citations (282) were for an expired vehicle registration or expired inspection. The other citations were: 41 for Spring Break Continued on A3

There is currently $4.6 million in the TIFF fund which comes from a tax on new construction in the zone after 2003. The money is used for maintenance dredging of the Packery Channel and to fund projects located around the channel.

Schexnailder told the group the city must decide the total amount of money to be included in any tax incentives and from which type of taxes the money would come. He estimated that the value of the new development planned on the east side of SPID near Lake Padre would add at least $200 million to the tax rolls in the TIFF zone. He told the ISAC that the project includes 60% equity and financing plans are underway. Planners of the project say they would like to begin construction in June.

New FEMA maps for The Island.

FEMA has issued a new map designating certain areas of The Island as part of the COBRA zone. The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (COBRA) of 1982 made areas with COBRA zones ineligible for federal flood insurance. The new FEMA maps have removed some areas of land behind the berm that runs parallel to the beach from the COBRA zone making them

Projects Continued on A4

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Nesting Will Begin Soon

The results of the counts are during this event,

The aftermath

and besides the park would include lodging, a housing village, retail space, and a 3500-foot Island Walk along a new canal.

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 Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world and North Padre Island is their most important nesting beach in the U.S. Thanks to more than 30 years of conservation efforts, nesting is increasing.

In Texas, the Kemp’s ridley nesting season extends from April through mid-July. As of April 3, no nests have been documented on the Texas coast so far this year, but nesting will begin any day. We need your help to protect these beautiful sea turtles and their nests while they are on our local beaches.

A Kemp’s ridley nesting at Padre Island National Seashore in April 2007. Nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles can be difficult to see because their color blends with the sand and vegetation and Each year, Padre Island National they often become partially covered with sand during nesting.

Seashore conducts a program Kemp’s ridley turtles leave in the sand as they to find, document, and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their eggs on crawl up the beach, bury their eggs in the sand, North Padre Island. The nesting turtle provides and return to the sea. About half the time, the no monitoring or care for her eggs. Eggs from nesting females are still on the beach when all nests found on the Texas coast are removed patrollers find their tracks. When the nesters are from the beach for protected incubation, to present, we document and protect them until maximize their hatching success and ensure they safely re-enter the water. that the hatchlings safely enter the water during Watch for nesting release.

If you go to the beach during the nesting season, Efforts have already begun for the 2011 nesting season. Training has been completed and more you can help. Other people who recreate or work 100 volunteers from our local community are on the beach also play a vital role in the turtle helping with the project this year. Staff members recovery program because they are sometimes and volunteers are now busy patrolling North the first on the scene of nesting and report it to Padre Island during daytime hours each day. us. We greatly appreciate this help since it is

Turtle patrols underway

They are looking for the tracks that nesting

Turtles Continued on A2

A 2

Seashore News

Last Friday Seashore Middle Academy hosted a “Glow Dance, filling the gym with black lights and selling a variety of glowing merchandise the week prior. Proceeds from the dance will help fund the 8th grade trip fund. Pictured from top to bottom are: • 5th graders Satori Munoz, Ella Atherton, and Elizabeth Shaw dance at the school’s “Glow Dance.”

• 6th graders Ethan French, Brennan Carnley and Ashlynn Carnley strike a pose in the photo booth.

• 8th grader Miranda Stottlemyer draws on herself with a highlighter to add to her glowing decor.

• 7th grader Zane Ortega models his glowing merchandise & custom shirt he designed after school at the school’s “Glow Store.”

Island Moon

April 5, 2012

News From Your

By Maybeth Christensen

Don’t miss the annual Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 7. The event starts at 11 AM with a visit from Peter Cottontail, food and fun.

The hunt starts promptly at NOON. The POA office will be open during the activities.

Water Exchange Bridge hearing

Tuesday, April 10 from 5 to 8 PM at the Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada, there will be a public meeting regarding the Park Road 22 bridge and canal construction project. There will be materials for viewing and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the proposed improvements and the environmental process. We are looking forward to seeing that bridge completed and the canal system extended. It will certainly help with the water exchange in the “back” canals.

We have strange things thrown into our canals. This past week someone threw a washing machine into a canal and another person couldn’t fit all his furniture on the moving truck, so he decided the canal was a great place to dispose of the furniture. I am constantly amazed by what some folks do.

Boat ramps

The boat ramps have been very busy. Remember to purchase your 2012 trailer sticker and then put it on the trailer. It doesn’t do much good sitting on the kitchen counter at home. You also need to have a sticker on the vehicle which is towing the trailer.

Parks

The Community Garden project was able to be done under the Adopt-A-Park program the City of Corpus Christi operates. The POA is looking at what might be done under that program in some of the other parks. One possibility is to create a dog park.

If you are interested in helping with the project including helping to raise money, please give me a call – 949-7026, or send me an email at maybeth@pipoa.net.

Litter Critter

The Litter Critter program continues to be a huge success.

The bins are in the POA parking lot starting at 9 AM each last Saturday of the month. We have initiated hours of operation so that we have volunteers on hand both Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM. We “close” the parking lot after hours to stop folks from dumpster diving as well as dropping the material on the newly landscaped area in front of the office. We’ve put a little order into the chaos and it has been working well. The next dates for the Critter will be April 28 and 29.

Turtles Continued from A1

challenging for patrollers to find nesting Kemp’s ridleys due our large patrol area and nesting habits of this species.

These two-foot-long olive green colored turtles nest mostly during daylight hours. They take about 45 minutes to crawl up the beach, nest, and return to the sea. Kemp’s ridley is the smallest and lightest sea turtle species and they leave only a faint track in the sand. They often nest on windy days and during stormy weather, which cause their tracks to disappear quickly.

Also, Kemp’s ridleys often nest in synchronous emergences called arribadas, so while patrollers are busy at nesting sites that they find, they can miss other nests.

As during the last few years, our “nesting Kemp’s ridley alert” flag will be flown on flagpoles at the Padre Island National Seashore Entrance Station and Malaquite Pavilion each day that Kemp’s ridley nests are found on the Texas coast. The flag is rectangular, with a bright yellow background and black silhouette of a sea turtle. Smaller versions of this flag will also be flown on most of the turtle patrol vehicles on those days. These flags are intended to alert the public that the chances of finding additional nesting are elevated that day because of the tendency of Kemp’s ridleys to nest in arribadas.

Sonic Drive-In 14401 S.P.I.D. Corpus Christi (361) 949-7886

Signs and posters are again being used to alert beach users to watch for and immediately report nesting. Aluminum signs measuring 2 feet x 2 feet are located at most of the beach access points on Mustang and North Padre Island. The sign has a photograph of a nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle and the telephone number 1-866-TURTLE-5. This toll-free number is a recorded message that directs callers to the appropriate contact for their geographical area. For example, people wanting to report observations on North Padre Island are instructed to call me at (361)949-8173, ext. 226. My telephone number is also listed on the nesting posters that many stores, restaurants, and hotels on North Padre Island are displaying.

What to do if you see a nesting Kemp’s ridley or tracks

While you are on the beach, please watch for nesting and immediately report observations to a passing turtle patroller, law enforcement officer, or me at (361) 949-8173, ext. 226. It is essential that you report the nesting turtle or nester tracks as soon as you see them, so that biologists can try to get to the site to examine the nesting turtle before she enters the sea, and protect her until she swims away from shore. They also want to examine the tracks before they disappear, which is important in locating the nest.

If you find a nester, please do not rush up to her while she is crawling up the beach or you may frighten her back into the water. Things that you should also do to help include: 1. protect her and the nest from passing traffic and other people 2. allow her to nest undisturbed 3. photograph or video her from above after she has finished digging and started to lay the eggs, or when she is returning to the water

4. examine her to see if she has a metal tag on a front flipper, record the tag number, but do not remove the tag 5. mark where she nested (do not pierce sand) 6. allow her to re-enter the water, and 7. remain at the site until a biologist arrives, if possible.

If the nester is already gone and you find her tracks, please mark where they end or intersect on the beach. Walk to the side of the tracks so that you do not erase them and do not poke anything into the sand or you could pierce eggs. If possible, stay at the site until a biologist arrives.

Drive carefully

If you drive your vehicle on the beach during the nesting season, you can help protect nesting Kemp’s ridleys and their nests by being watchful and driving carefully and slowly. Kemp’s ridleys nest anywhere from the high tide lines into the dunes, and often nest in vehicle ruts. They cannot

move quickly to avoid an approaching vehicle. They are slow when crawling on the beach, and are nearly motionless and enter a trance-like state when they are actually laying eggs. Nesting Kemp’s ridleys blend in with the sand and vegetation and often become partially covered with sand during nesting.

If you spot tracks, approach carefully in case the nester is still on the beach. If you must drive past a track site, drive low on the beach on the hard packed sand if possible. This will reduce your chances of running over a nest and the amount of the tracks that are obliterated. To locate and protect the nest, we need as much of the track evidence as possible.

Thank you for your help to ensure the survival of these endangered sea turtles and their eggs on our local beaches.

April 5, 2012

Island Moon

Spring Break Cont. from A1

Traffic Cont. from A1

uninsured motorists, 24 for not having the proof of insurance available, 52 for disregarding a barricade, 61 for unlicensed drivers, 4 for driving with a suspended license, 122 Adults without seatbelts, 59 Children without seatbelts, 6 Minors in possession of alcohol, and 1 violation of curfew. There were 7 vehicle crashes reported on the beach and 24 vehicles were taken to the city impound lot.

most of the traffic was headed towards Port Aransas. JP Luby park did have moderate to heavy traffic. Traffic in the residential collectors were light to moderate. However, Whitecap did show heavy traffic throughout the week.

The police officers patrolled the crowds on the beach and effected arrests only when necessary in the matter of safety. The Corpus Christi police Department recorded 50 arrests on the beach which were: 23 for Public Intoxication; 11 for Possession of Marijuana; 9 for Warrants for arrest; 1 disorderly conduct; And 6 other arrests.

There were two individuals on two different days for the duration of this Spring Break that arrived at area hospitals for treatment of injuries they said originated on the beach. Police were not made aware of the injuries until the persons revealed themselves at the hospitals for treatment.

The Corpus Christi Police Department provided an added emphasis on safety on the public roadways by an increased effort to apprehend intoxicated drivers. The Corpus Christi Police made 25 arrests city-wide for the time period of March 9 through March 19. There were 19 arrests for a first Driving While Intoxicated offense; 2 arrests for Driving While Intoxicated as a 2nd offense (1 previous conviction for D.W.I.), 1 Driving While Intoxicated as a third offense (at least 2 previous convictions for D.W.I.). There were 3 drivers arrested for driving intoxicated while under the age of 21.

Art Center for The Islands Extends Deadline for ArtFest Due to the larger venue we still have room for more Artists Booths, so Old deadline was April 1 -New deadline is April 25.

May 19 & 20 -Port Aransas, 7th Annual ArtFest.

A fine array of Artists Fine Arts & Crafts for Sale will be held Saturday & Sunday includes live music, food available. Artist’s application deadline extended to April 25th. Robert’s Point Park 10am-5pm www.portaransasartcenter.org (361)-749-7334 Gulf Coast Region

Development Services Employee Terminated City Manager, Ron Olson, announced today that Stephen Draper, Director of Development Services has had his employment with the city terminated effective immediately. “An anonymous tip regarding the possibility of past criminal activity on the part of Mr. Draper was reported to my office. The information was then forwarded to the then newly created Public Integrity Team for an official investigation,” said City Manager Olson. “The team conducted an investigation and found that Mr. Draper had mislead the City about his background through the documents he provided the City in the application process. This new information results in an overall loss of confidence in his ability to lead the department”,” added Olson.

The City expects no disruption in services at the Development Services Department. “At this point, there has been no sign of wrong doing during Mr. Draper’s tenure with Development Services. We will begin recruitment for the vacancy as soon as possible,” further commented Olson.

To advertise in The Island Moon Newspaper, Email us at editor@islandmoon.com or call 361.949.7700

Did Ya Hear?

A3

By Mary Craft

There is more analysis to this study. A base line (normal traffic counts) needs to be established so that “spring break” traffic can be compared to. The time for the base line will be during the summer months. Furthermore, it is Traffic Engineering’s recommendation to continue “holiday season” analysis at these same locations. Holiday season will be Memorial Day and July 4th.

Finally, the 2012 spring break beach counts were compared to previous years. 2012 showed a 5% increase to 2011. However 2012 was 55% lower than 2010, 5% lower than 2009 and 15% lower than 2008.

Speed Limit on PINS Dropped to 15 mph for Summer Season

Editor’s note: The following is a statement from the Padre Island National Seashore announcing the reduction in speed limit after it was approved by the regional office of the National Park Service.

Finding of No Significant Impact signed for Padre Island National Seashore Beach Vehicle Environmental Assessment A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by John Wessels, Director of the Intermountain Region, National Park Service.

The FONSI allows for an annual reduction of the speed limit to 15 mph from March 1 through Labor Day on the Gulf of Mexico beach at Padre Island National Seashore. This action is scheduled for immediate implementation.

Lowering the beach speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph, will increase safety and provide a more enjoyable beach experience for visitors during the busy spring and summer months.

It will also improve protection for natural resources, including the increasing numbers of nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and decrease the risk of injury to those turtles.

In June 2011, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Padre Island National Seashore prepared the “Beach Vehicle Environmental Assessment”.

The study analyzed the impacts that would likely result from implementation of any changes to beach speed limits. Various alternatives for addressing the purpose and need for action to increase safety and protect natural resources were evaluated. The Environmental Assessment was available for a 30-day public comment period. Public comments that were received were used in preparation of the FONSI. After careful consideration, Alternative 3, Longer Seasonal Restrictions (the Preferred Alternative) was chosen.

If you would like to review the FONSI, Environmental Assessment, or other supporting documents for this project, please visit the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment site at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

Meeting to Discuss Land Use Survey Southside Business Council meeting will discuss the Joint Land Use Survey at a meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 12.

Guest speakers will include Robert Payne, with the City of Corpus Christi, and Donald Zimmerman, with NAS-CC. The location of the meeting is at Rudy’s BBQ, 6101 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78412.

For more information, please contact Desiree Castro at 881.1800.

email your business news to Mary Craft at mkay512@aol.com

New Advertisers None this issue but your business could be featured here next issue. Call Jan at 949-7700.

Business Briefs Farah’s has some new additions to its bar.

The indoor high tables with leather stools that were at Tequila Cove are now there as are the outdoor chairs.

Feldman’s Liquor in the Bluff is closed and Spec’s has opened in its’ place.

Grounded Coffee Shop is now closed at 5 pm daily.

Gulfstream Condominiums on the seawall are available for short term rentals.

The two bedroom, two bath suites each have a private balcony. They have a pool and also enjoy Padre Isles Country Club privileges.

Kody’s Restaurant on Hwy 361 serves their popular prime rib dinner with twice baked potato every Wednesday.

An Island Nursery with organic plants is opening next to Johnny D’s Restaurant where the Candle Scenter once was. More details next issue.

Mail n More will soon be having a change in its dining facility. More details next issue.

Public Hearing on Park Road 22 Bridge will be held Tuesday, April 10th at @5 – 8 pm at the Sea Shore Learning Center Gym on Encantada. Come show your support.

The 15th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at Billish Park on Gypsy Road Saturday, April 7th at 11 am. It is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Padre Island and other Island businesses. For more info call Signa at 774-0424.

The Back Porch in Port A has live music every weekend. Texas Country singer Bo Porter will be entertaining Friday, April 6th, and the popular local ten piece band Cruise Control on Saturday. Grammy nominee Randy McAllister will be playing Saturday, April 14th. Every week has Wacky Wednesday when all drinks are $2.

Scuttlebutt’s Bar & Grill will be closed Easter Sunday. On Tuesday, April 10th Hammerhead football players will be on hand for ticket giveaways.

Round Eyes: An American Nurse in Vietnam written by Islander Diane Klutz is now available for sale at Island Mail-nMore at a cost of $12.95. Diane served as an Army Nurse in Qui Nhon from 197071 and through this book many of her adventures, delivered in an often comical and frequently cynical style, come to life.

Diane will be at Mail-N-More on April 14th from 2-4 pm. Stop by to meet the author and enjoy a glass of wine while getting your copy signed.

Mike Shaw Toyota is hosting a FREE digital fingerprint and photo program for all children on Saturday, April 7th 10 am – 4 pm. The Keeping Kids Safe Project National Tour will be on hand with Easter baskets, a bounce house and hamburgers and hot dogs.

Game Warden Association Fishing Tournament Set for June 15 -16 For families looking for a weekend on the water and a great music event look no further than the 3rd Annual Texas Game Warden Association Fishing Tournament on Fathers Day Weekend (June 15th and 16th) in Port Aransas.

The Game Warden Association uses the tournament to raise money to put on fishing and outdoor events for kids throughout the year.

There are cash payouts for 1st,2nd, and 3rd place for Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Black Drum.

There will be divisions for Youth, Individuals, and Guided.

Entry fees are $60 per person and all tournament events will be held at Roberts Point Park in Port Aransas. There are several fishing spots and piers around the area where anglers can try their luck.

Live music will begin at 4 p.m. with Bri Bagwell, followed by Cody Johnson, Turnpike Troubadours, and at 10:30 headliner Pat Green will take the stage.

For more information see their website at http://tgwa.justgofishin.com/.

A 4

Projects Continued from A1

Island Moon

eligible for federal insurance. The final versions of the new maps should be made public in the next few weeks.

at the Whitecap intersection. FYI, the cameras mounted at the Whitecap/SPID intersection are not used for traffic enforcement.

Park Road 22 Water Exchange Bridge. City Engineers have submitted a design summary for the $8.1 million bridge to the Texas Department of Transportation who must approve them since the bridge is located on a state easement. The city-hired consultants on the project handed the plans over to the city several weeks ago and once city engineers approve them they will go to other necessary city departments for review. The City Council has said they will fund the project with money from the 2008 bond election.

Beach parking permits. The city staff is looking to record the home zip code of people buying beach parking permits. This will allow the city and Convention and Visitors Bureau to better track who is coming to area beaches.

Currently the permits are sold by one full-time city employee and the remainder by temporary employees. To track the zip codes would require adding another full-time employee but estimates are that the cost of the additional employee could be covered by the additional permits he/ she sells.

There will be a public hearing on the bridge and its design on Tuesday, April 10 from 5 to 8 PM at the Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada.

Currently about 120,000 permits are sold annually with the City of Corpus Christi getting 46% of the revenue and the rest split with the county and Port Aransas. An average of 18,900 are sold on Corpus Christ beaches each year, Strips stores sell just under 20,000, Nueces County sells 5000, HEB stores sell 5000, and Port Aransas sells 50,000.

Surge gates at the mouth of Lake Padre. City staff is checking to determine what, if anything, needs to be done to the flood gates located at the spot where Lake Padre meets the Packery Channel. The gates were built more than thirty years ago and were designed to be closed when a tide surge from a hurricane approached the Island. However, a later study determined that a) closing them only stemmed the incoming tide for less than ten minutes, and b) the sooner the bulkheads around Lake Padre are submerged during a high tide event the less damage they are likely to suffer. Schexnailder told the ISAC that the gates will likely have to be removed at some point in the future.

Aquarius Extension. Crews have begun putting down the limestone roadbed on the Aquarius Extension. The curbs are mostly complete and the asphalt is expected to be done by early June at the latest. The ISAC members pointed out to city staff that the original design for the project called for the surface to be concrete rather than asphalt. City staff said they will check to see if the budget will allow for the more expensive concrete to be used. The project’s schedule calls for it to take 150 days to complete which would place the completion date in late May. New Water Line to The Island. The city staff has submitted a potential route for a new water line from Flour Bluff to The Island to TxDot for approval. The new line would run parallel to the JFK Causeway near the route of the existing line which is the sole source of water for The Island and also the major supply for Port Aransas. There is no firm schedule for when the line may be installed.

Repair to Gypsy Bridge. About one year ago damage was discovered to the bridge over the canal on Gypsy Street. Since then a large metal plate has been used to cover a sinkhole which developed when the sand washed out from under the roadbed. Southbound cars often swerve into the oncoming northbound lane to avoid the plate causing a traffic hazard. The city staff told the ISAC they have found no structural damage to the bridge but repair “is not eminent.”

The traffic light at Whitecap and SPID uses cameras to determine when the light should change based on traffic flow. However, when conditions are too foggy for the cameras to see the oncoming traffic it shifts into “fog” mode and the light goes to a 50/50 ratio making the light green from each direction about the same amount of time. This has caused traffic to back up in both directions during heavy fog.

In contrast the light at Commodores and SPID uses radar to detect oncoming traffic and is not effected by fog. City staff says they will check to see if a radar system can be installed

Improvements to Briscoe King Pavilion.

Work to upgrade and air condition Briscoe King Pavilion was due to start earlier this year but has been delayed. The project was put out to bids by the county last month but due to the accelerated schedule designed to make up the lost time due to the delay the bids came in about $100,000 over the budget of $575,000. The project will be re-bid and now construction is estimated to begin next January and to be finished by Spring Break 2013.

Improvements to the area on the west side of the JFK Bridge. A plan is underway to add improvements to the areas located just west of the JFK Bridge – adjacent to Doc’s and Snoopy’s.

The area is currently served by a 3-inch waterline and the city is looking to increase that to an 8-inch line and add fire hydrants.

The current roads and waterline were installed privately more than twenty years ago. During heavy traffic the road often narrows to one way and plans call for it to be widened. The cost of the new roadway is estimated at $600,000. The city is looking into funding the improvements with grants.

Padre Island Business Association April Calendar Tuesday, April 10 @ 5 - 8pm

PUBLIC HEARING - on PARK RD 22 BRIDGE PROJECT

Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada St.

Come show your SUPPORT for the Bridge and the progress it will bring!

Thursday, April 5 @ 6 - 9pm

Thursday, April 12 @ Noon

Funky Tree Art Extravaganza Vino2VanGogh, 13919 SPID - Padre Island Benefit for Twelve for 2012, the City’s Tree Project Join Celebrity Painters to raise money for the project.

Painters include: Mayor Joe Adame, Pepe Serna, Darrell Coleman, Dr. Mark Escamilla (Del Mar), Foster Edwards (CC Chamber), Rosie Collin (CCHCC), Stan Hulse (PIBA), Gilbert Cantu, Nelda Martinez, Chris Adler, Clarissa Serna and many others. $50pp. For more information, call 960-TREE

Padre Island Business Association Luncheon Padre Isles Country Club

Speaker: Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President of TAMUCC Sponsored by Bay Area Quick Care $13 pp - includes lunch buffet Thursday, April 17 @ 5:30pm

Padre Island Business Assoc. Monthly Mixer

Hosted by Bay Area Title Services and Star Advantage Insurance - 15201 SPID

Saturday, April 7 @ 11am

Door Prizes! Refreshments! Food! Networking!

15th Annual Easter Egg Hunt - FREE

Don’t forget your business cards.

Billish Park on Gypsy Rd. - Padre Island Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Padre Island BRING THE KIDS FOR A GREAT TIME!!!

Other sponsors include: Keller Williams, Padre Island Baptist Church, Starkey Mortgage, PIBA, Padre Isles POA, Wells Fargo Mortgage, Farmers Ins., May Nardone, San Jacinto Title, Security Title, HEB Plus!, Nueces Title, Grove & Davis Ins. Agency, Holiday Inn - Padre Island, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Beverly Rogers CPA, Eagle Lock & Key, and many more!

For more information, call Signa @ 774-0424

(If you would like to donate a door prize, call Stan at 949-9498) Saturday & Sunday, April 28 & 29, 1 - 5pm Padre Island Showcase Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada

Come celebrate the Island lifetsyle, a parade of homes, and vendors for home improvement and services

For more info, Call Mary Lou White @ 9609460

Pirate’s Funky Country Music Festival

A recent study found that from 1960-1980 the Texas General Land Office and the City of Corpus Christi split the sales tax revenue from the area with 2/3 of the money going to the city.

City staff has yet to determine what happened to the money.

Port Aransas The Gaff’s Pirate’s Funky Country Music Festival, is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 7, 2012. This familyfriendly Silly, Texas Country Music event, fit for pirates and Spring Breakers alike will offer plenty of fun and activities.

Comptroller’s Office Offers Vital Resource for Business Owners Looking for Answers to Their State Tax Questions

Transistordale (San Antonio), HOBO (Corpus Christi), and The Newton Gang (Brooklyn NYC) are tentatively included in the lineup. The live music and fun games will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. The Gaff is known for delicious pizza, cold beer, and unique events, such as Pirate Pub Crawls and Beltsander Races.

During the month of April, the Comptroller’s office will conduct 16 free taxpayer seminars across the state. At these seminars, taxpayers can learn how to properly fill out tax forms, and file and pay taxes electronically. Information about e-services will also be available to help taxpayers manage their accounts online.

Comptroller representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance to attendees. The seminar in Corpus Christi will be on Tuesday, April 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Del Mar College Center for Economic Development Office, Room 106, 3209 South Staples Street. The number for the local office is 361-882-1234.

April 5, 2012

available at www.gotothegaff.com. Non-profit organizations, and other potential sponsors and vendors should email raeddrady@gmail.com or go to www.ewmediagroup.com or www.rae-oflight.com. Names of the primary sponsors, and more details will be released around March 23, 2012.

Free booth spaces for non-profit organizations will be available at this event. Vendor spaces and sponsorships are also available for the festival. Rae of Light, a business consulting and event planning company, is producing the event.

More

information

about The

Gaff

is

Johnny D’s

15605Johnny SPID nD’s 949-2500 15605 SPIDHours: n 949-2500 Hours:

Open TuesSat4:30 4:30 - 10 PM Open Tues- Sat - 10 PM Sunday 4:30 9 PM Sunday 4:30 - 9 PM Closed Monday Closed Monday

Happy Hour Happy Hour 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

$2.00 Pints 4:30 Full to 6:30 p.m.

Service Bar Located on Padre Island, Johnny D's offers Island dining at its best. Serving Corpus Christi with the freshest local

seafood and culinary masterpieces, order the rack of lamb and you'll be calling your friends from the table! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 10pm and Sunday 4:30 to 9pm

$2.00 Pints 15600 SPID On the Island 949-2500

Featuring 7 Draft Beers HOURS-Closed SUNDAYS & MONDAYS Located on Padre Island, Johnny D's offers Island dining at its best. Serving Corpus Christi with the Check our website forfreshest daily local specials seafood and culinary masterpieces, order the rack of lamb and you'll be calling your friends from the table! Hours of and more information TUES-SAT 4:30 till 10:00 on 4:30 Tap operation are Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 10pm and Sunday to 9pm www.letseat.at/johnnydsrestaurant Daily Features.15600 Fresh Fish.

SPID On the Island 949-2500 Great Daily Dinner Specials We will cook your catch.

Full Service Bar

April 5, 2012

Island Moon

Letters to the Editor Coming in April is CoastalBendLive.com.

CoastalBendLive.com will focus on “Your Life. Your Music” for women of The Coastal Bend.

CoastalBendLive.com will have its own online radio station that’s will play a wide mix of pop songs from the 90’s to Now. Artists you’ll hear on CoastalBendLive.com will include Adele, The Fray, Nickelback, John Mayer, Alanis Morrissette, Kings of Leon, Bruno Mars, Ma... tchbox 20, The Fray, Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Lifehouse, Pink and more. You’ll be able to listen online at work or home, on your I-Phone or Android, I-Pad, and anywhere you have access to the internet.

CoastalBendLive.com will be highly interactive. You’ll be able share ideas with other Coastal Bend women, share common experiences, comments on a wide variety of issues, and more.

You’ll get a ton of useful and fun content.

Lifestyle information, entertainment and pop culture news, important health and medical news for you and your family, and plenty of info on what’s happening in and around The Coastal Bend.

Look for CoastalBendLive.com late in April!

Scott Holt Island

Plant a Tree To All Community Members:

What is Twelve for 2012 about? It is about planting twelve thousand trees by 12/31/2012 and changing our city. It’s about bringing much needed shade, preventing soil erosion; trees can reduce your energy cost from 15-35%, increase property value up to 15% or more. Reducing carbon emissions, and providing oxygen

To accomplish this city-wide endeavor, we need you!

We believe when businesses, churches, and residents invest in landscaping (especially the planting of trees), it benefits the community as a whole by being aesthetically pleasing, reducing energy use and providing clean air to breathe.

A group met on July 9th and continue to meet monthly. The goal is to get as many as possible involved to plant 12 thousand trees by the end of 2012. Our city parks, schools and residents will need help with the purchase and maintenance of the trees, and it is the watering that will make this successful. It is a monumental task but we are up to the challenge!

We would like to include your organization’s name in our media campaign and events. We are seeking your a) financial support, b) promotion of this initiative to your employees and business associates, c) participation in events to promote and plant trees to help us reach this goal. We can do this!

If you have questions, please contact Sylvia Samaniego or attend a meeting. Visit us at “twelve thousand trees for 2012 campaign” on Facebook for meeting details.

Beautify Corpus Christi will be updating their website www.beautifycc.org to include 12 for 2012. Your tax deductible donation should be written to Beautify Corpus Christi with the notation *Twelve for 2012.*

We look forward to hearing from you and that you’ll be joining us in this campaign to plant Twelve for 2012!

Roadshow Reaction

Editor’s note: Last time we ran a mention that the Antique Roadshow from PBS is coming to town. The item we ran asked for anyone who wanted to volunteer and the reaction caught us a bit off guard. We got a gaggle (that’s right a gaggle) of responses. The problem is that the story said to contact us when it really should have said to contact KEDT which puts on the event.

For the uninitiated the Antique Roadshow is aired nationwide on PBS and the idea is for people to bring that pencil box that your Great Grandfather took off the desk of Keiser Wilhelm when he single-handedly won WWI and take it down to the Antique Roadshow and find out if it’s real and what it’s worth. We Moon Monkeys are taking our collection of Archie Comics down there which according to the guy at Comic World are worth “a real whole lot of money”.

Joe Adame

Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin

Thanks,

Questions About Operating Golf Carts On Island ?

I sometimes get flagged down while on patrol on the island. Some of the questions concern operating golf carts and All-terrian vehicles (ATV’s) on the island. First let’s talk about golf carts. The code for operation of golf carts on the island is contained in the city ordinance. Here it is: Sec. 53-109. - Operation of golf cart.

The person is employed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, and is performing a duty for the political subdivision that requires the operation of a golf cart owned by the political subdivision;

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW wants to get into your drawers!

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is coming to Corpus Christi on August 4, 2012 and NOW is the time to apply for tickets and submit pictures of your furniture!

You must have a ticket to attend ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. You can apply for tickets to the Corpus Christi event and view complete application rules by visiting pbs.org/antiques.

Only one application per household. No purchase is necessary.

Ticket recipients are selected by random drawing and tickets will not be available at the door. Each ticket holder may bring two objects for appraisal.

The deadline for online ticket applications is 11:59pm ET, Monday, April 16, 2012.

In addition, the ROADSHOW Furniture Roundup is seeking large pieces of furniture located within a 50-mile radius of Corpus Christi to be included in the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Corpus Christi event. If your furniture is selected you’ll get two tickets to the show, and the ROADSHOW team will make arrangements to transport the furniture to the event and back at no cost to you! The owner of the furniture must attend the event. For more information and complete furniture submission rules visit pbs.org/antiques.

Good luck! And we hope to see you on August 4, 2012 at ANTIQUES ROADSHOW in Corpus Christi!

LudieLitz@kedt.org

ALBRITTON CONSTRUCTION 361-480-3001 TOTAL REMODEL, RENOVATION, ADDITIONS, DECKS AND DOCKS Fully insured with W/C and General Liability

Member of Padre Island Business Association

Preferred Contractor Texas Veterans Home Improvement Association

www.albrittonconstruction.com

REFERENCES IN PADRE ISLAND, PORT ARANSAS AND CORPUS CHRISTI ACTIVE JOBS CAN BE VIEWED REFERENCE LIST UPON REQUESTA

A5

Mustang and Padre Island within the city limits that are south of Packery Channel.

(Ord. No. 028318, § 1, 9-22-2009; Ord. No. 028367, § 1, 10-20-2009; Ord. No. 028916, § 1, 1-11-2011) * Must have a valid drivers license.

Bill Palumbo

Antiques Roadshow

Who Are the Moon Monkeys

Distribution

Here’s something on golf carts. As you can see the city ordinance does not have much detail in it. I have seen some ATV’S on the roadways, so I also mentioned it. Please feel free to use part or all of this.

As authorized under Texas Transportation Code Section 551.404(a), a person who holds a valid driver’s license may operate a golf cart on a public highway with a posted speed limit of not more than thirty-five (35) miles per hour if:

Mayor

Mike Ellis, Founder

Dale,

Anyway, after we got the response from readers we called KEDT and never got a response.

Their phone number is 361 855-2213 and we found this on their website. We apologize for the confusion but here’s what we know. The following was taken directly from their website.

Notice there is an e-mail address at the bottom.

On Padre Island Homeowner Association General Contractors List

Sincerely,

Golf Carts

(1)

* May operate a golf cart on a roadway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less (the beach is a roadway, Gulf Beach Road).

* May cross a public highway at marked or designated crossings.

Additionally, the Texas Transportation Code, Section 551.404, which governs the use of golf carts on the roadways states golf carts must be equipped as follows: Headlamps,Taillamps,Re flectors,Parking brake,Mirrors, and a Orange triangle sign on back.

So you can operate within all residential areas, since our speed limits are now 35 MPH or less.

You can cross at designated or marked crossing to get to the beach. There is some confusion over Golf Carts and AVT’s. There are standard type’s of golf carts, and there are “ATV style” of golf carts. Both have side by side seating.

ATV style golf carts are just more heavy duty, generally have bigger tires, and appears a little more sporty. Both are authorized, as they are both golf carts. The key is both have side by side seating. Here’s a couple of pictures of golf carts: Now All-terrian vehicles or AVT’s are NOT

(2) The person is crossing a public highway at a marked or designated crossing that connects portions of the golf course separated by the public highway; (3) The person is employed by a restaurant, hotel, or tourist related business, and is transporting guests in a golf cart owned by the restaurant, hotel, or tourist related business, to and from the parking lots to the business; (4) The person is employed by a restaurant, hotel, or tourist related business, and is transporting supplies between two (2) facilities under common ownership in a golf cart owned by the restaurant, hotel, or tourist related business; (5) If the golf cart is operated on a highway within the city limits on Mustang Island east of S.H. 361 and north of Packery Channel; or

authorized on ANY city roadway, that includes the beach. The laws governing AVT’s are contained in the Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 663. AVT’s are termed as vehicles that have a “Saddle” type seat, like a motorcycle seat. Heres a picture of one:

Please don’t operate ATV’s on our roadways.

If you are operating an ATV on private property, make sure you have the property owners permission first.

The property leading down to the wetlands is privately owned.

Hope the above answers some questions you may have concerning operating golf carts. Enjoy and Be Safe!

(6)

Sgt. Bill Palumbo

If the golf cart is operated on portions of

“Just a Beat Officer”

Supreme Court kills Texas tradition of open beaches on West Galveston Open Beaches Act gutted, Constitutional amendment and centuries of tradition tossed aside

The Texas tradition of guaranteed public access to the beach died today for Galveston’s West End with the Supreme Court reaffirming their prior ruling in favor of a California divorce attorney who bought rental properties on the beach.

It seems that the Open beach Act — at least for Galveston’s West End — is dead, thanks to the Supreme Court. This is truly a sad day.

Justice Dale Wainwright delivered the court’s 5-3 opinion. Justices Debra H. Lehrmann, David Medina and Eva Guzman dissented.

Justice Wallace Jefferson did not participate.

The ruling ends any future possibility of muchneeded beach re-nourishment projects for Galveston island’s rapidly eroding west end and will make it impossible for the state to step in quickly to clear the beach of debris after the next hurricane demolishes the front row. After Hurricanes Ike and Dolly, the General Land Office spent $43 million to remove debris from the state’s beaches and bays.

This ruling is bad news for Galveston. It also gives a pretty big club to anyone who wants to challenge the Texas Open Beaches Act anywhere else along the coast.

In 2005, California resident Carole Severance purchased several houses on the beach in Galveston. After Hurricane Rita hit that summer, the General Land Office sent Severance a letter stating her property was on the public beach and subject to removal under

the Open Beaches Act. She was later offered up to $40,000 in public money to move each house off the beach. Instead, Severance sued, claiming the public’s right to access the beach violated her constitutional rights.

In 2010, the Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in the case that called into question the public beach easement, a key provision of the Texas Open Beaches Act. The Court ruled that despite centuries of the public use, a public beach easement does not exist on West Galveston Island because the original Republic of Texas land patent from 1840 failed to reserve the public’s right to use the beach.

The Court stated in today’s ruling that even for areas where a public beach easement could be proven by the State, that easement did not “roll” landward and would effectively be extinguished after each new storm event or hurricane that moved the line of vegetation.

The 2011 opinion threw the Texas tradition of public beach access into legal limbo and caused the GLO to cancel a much-needed $40 million beach re-nourishment project on West Galveston Island.

The opinion also triggered a robust response from Texans defending the Open Beaches Act that resulted in a rehearing that was ruled on today.

Jerry Patterson Texas Land Commissioner

Office Lisa Towns Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers (In no particular order) Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Dr. Tom Dorrell Jay Gardner Todd Hunter Mike (Murph) Murphy Ronnie Narmour Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Office Security/Spillage Control Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon The Island Moon is published every Wednesday, Dale Rankin, Editor.

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 15201 S P I D. Suite 250. For more information call 361-949-7700 or contact the Moon at 15201 S Padre Island Dr., Suite 250, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 or by e-mail to editor@islandmoon.com.

Patty brings a bright new smile to Michelle’s Salon. Patty, formerly of Sport Clips next to Lowes. Mention this ad and receive 25% off any chemical service and guys, you will receive a complimentary scalp massage on your first visit. If you are looking for a military cut or a super fade, Patty is your girl. As always, Walk-ins welcome

A 6

Texas Veterans Leadership Program Helps Returning Soldiers Find Jobs in Texas

By Tom Pauken After 10 years as an Army infantryman, Sgt. Anthony Weir had a difficult time finding a good job as he transitioned from service in Iraq to civilian life.

Although he remained in the National Guard, Anthony worked as a jail guard, security guard, carpet cleaner, and most recently a pizza delivery driver to support his wife and four children.

As reported by the Amarillo Globe-News, Anthony’s job as a pizza delivery driver landed him on the wrong side of a gun, when a teenage customer held a semiautomatic pistol to his stomach. Fortunately, the Army veteran of Iraq made his way out of that situation safely – but not without further discouragement regarding his civilian career prospects.

Little did he know at the time the Amarillo Globe-News article appeared that his luck was about to change.

Roger Williams, the CEO of Bell Helicopter (Bell) in Amarillo, shared the article about the Army veteran’s plight with Norm Bearden who heads up our Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP) in Amarillo. The TVLP is run by returning veterans and is designed to help those who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan make a successful transition to civilian life, with particular emphasis on getting good jobs upon their return home. Norm and Roger already had been working together as Bell had hired a number of returning veterans. To Roger’s credit, he wanted to give Anthony an opportunity to come and work for Bell. Norm already had Anthony’s information in the TVLP database, as he had been trying to help the soldier. It was an instant match.

Lab tour

Island Moon

Anthony is now working part-time for Bell and taking classes at Amarillo College to get the skills training that Bell requires.

“This couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Norm said. “This is the kind of man that, you might think, would only be in here to see me.

But he brought in other guys from his Guard unit to see how they also could be helped.”

TVLP was modeled after a similar program I started in my days with the Reagan Administration, called the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program, which helped our returning veterans from Vietnam who were unemployed, underemployed, or had lingering problems associated with their Vietnam experience.

Through our TVLP leaders stationed at Texas Workforce Commission facilities across the state, we’ve helped about 8,000 returning veterans start careers and access educational and health benefits.

Like Sgt. Anthony Weir, these young men and women have answered our country’s call under very difficult circumstances. They deserve our full support in making a successful transition to the civilian world. Let’s put their experience to work in the state of Texas.

To find out more about the Texas Veterans Leadership Program, visit our website at vets. texasworkforce.org, or call our toll-free number at 888-VET-TEX1.

Tom Pauken is the Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and author of Bringing America Home.

Port A Happenings

Want to find out about shrimp farming, food development for shrimp, sea urchin research and starfish? Sign up for a tour of the Texas A&M AgriLife Mariculture lab.

Another tour has been scheduled on Thursday, April 12, at 2 p.m.

Meet in the Civic Center parking lot at 1:50 pm, to carpool to the facility on Port Street in Port Aransas.

This working lab develops and commercializes shrimp and sea urchin farming industries for Texas and the US; develops sea urchin feed and production technology for biomedical and ecotoxicological research; develops starfish feed and production for regeneration and stem cell production; and evaluates fishery processing, biofuel/biodiesel, and grain crops as nutritional replacements in shrimp feeds.

FREE! Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Contact Pam at pamg@ cityofportaransas.org or 749-4158 to reserve space.

This tour is part of the H.E.L.P series by the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department on health, ecology, lifestyle and preparation.

Sunset Sounds concert

Andrew Blankenship: A native of Aransas Pass, Texas, Andrew started playing drums at the age of 14 on his brothers drum kit. He soon joined on with his church’s Praise and Worship Band for several years. This helped him expand his dynamic rhythms and back beat on the drums. He moved on to The Del Mar Jazz Band for several semesters. Currently, Andrew is playing drums for Aqua Vox and Tropical Punch.

The free series is held the second Friday of each month from April through October in the Patsy Jones Amphitheater in Roberts Point Park.

The 2012 schedule includes: May 11 - Alma & Luis June 8 - Aqua Vox - surf music July 13 - Latin Gypsy Combo - Latin Jazz August 10 - Samantha Aiken & the Rodeo Drive band - country and popular September 14 - David & Barbara Brown - Hill Country serenade October 12 - Rosewood

Yoga on the beach Treat yourself to a free yoga lesson held on the beach on Saturday, April 14.

Blues, country, classic rock and original songs are on tap for the first Sunset Sounds for 2012.

Meet instructor Nancy Myers at 8 a.m. near Horace Caldwell Pier at the end of Beach Street in Port A.

The concert on Friday, April 13, will feature the Tropical Punch Band.

Bring an old towel or yoga mat suitable for use on the beach.

Bring a chair, food, drinks, friends and family at 7 p.m. to enjoy open air music overlooking the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Beautiful sunsets, warm breezes, dolphins jumping and birds flying by add to the ambience as the music fills the air.

Open to everyone, this tutorial is offered the second Saturday of each month courtesy of the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.

Kids and (leashed) dogs are welcome. The playground is at a safe distance for children to play.

Residents of Port Aransas are encouraged to pick up, clean up and clear out junk on Saturday, April 14.

Perry Wing has gathered some of the best musicians on the island to form a smooth sounding yet entertaining band called Tropical Punch. The band members are L. Leon Sands on lead guitar and vocals, Woodie Lawson on bass guitar and vocals, Andrew Blankenship on drums and percussion, and Perry Wing on rhythm guitar and vocals. Their island blend of music will hit you like a tropical drink on a hot day. Smooth and cool.

Keep Port Aransas Beautiful (KPAB), the City of Port Aransas and Republic Services (Allied Waste) will partner for the annual spring cleaning.

Band Members include Perry Wing: Originally from Kansas City, Perry moved to Austin, Texas in 1986 where he played rhythm guitar and wrote songs for the last 25 years. His original band, Wingspann, played Austin’s 6th Street clubs and toured Canada in the 80’s and 90’s.

He has played three tours in Netherlands and Belgium with The Perry Wing Band, promoting the band’s three CD’s: Walking on Backstreets, Austin Bound, and Weather the Storm. After moving to Rockport last year, Perry brought together some of the islands best musicians and singers to form Tropical Punch.

L. Leon Sands: A native of San Antonio, L. Leon started playing guitar at the age of seven.

He has won several awards for writing and performing music jingles. His gigs in the 80’s and 90’s include playing clubs on the River Walk and touring the U.S for the Job Corps.

He also has played the music scene in Chicago before moving to Port Aransas last year. From his new studio on the island, L. Leon enjoys recording music and painting. He is currently playing lead guitar and singing vocals in two bands: Aqua Vox and Tropical Punch.

Woodie Ray Lawson: Raised in Stephenville, Texas, Woodie started playing bass on his dad’s electric guitar as a teenager. He co-founded his first band, Resurrection, in Stephenville and moved to Austin in the early 70’s. He played bass guitar in several bands in the 80’s. The most popular of those bands were Doak Snead Band, Dogs at Play, The Octave Doctors, Wingspann, and Old Number Seven. He moved to Port Aransas in 1990 and co-founded The Dynamics and Triggerfish, which released two CD’S. As an accomplished bass player and vocalist, Woodie is still active in the music scene on Port-A playing in three bands, The Ones, Aqua Vox and Tropical Punch.

Dunk your junk

From 9 a.m. to noon, residents may take their trash to the city transfer station to dispose of at no charge.

No construction materials, tires or hazardous waste will be accepted at the event. No sheet rock, drywall or roofing shingles will be accepted. Paint, freon, anti-freeze and other dangerous fluids also are excluded.

KPAB scheduled the event to participate as a part of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup, a program in which affiliates across the country hold cleanup and beautification projects from March to May each year.

KPAB is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote public interest to create a cleaner, more beautiful Port Aransas through volunteerism and education.

The organization focuses on litter reduction, beautification and community improvement, to reduce/reuse/ recycle/re-buy and provides environmental education.

Located in the Loma Alta Plaza 14254 SPID, Suite 109 949-4848

Offering Gourmet Take-Out Meals Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Hours: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Visit our website at www.AuntSissysKitchen.com For weekly menus Full Service Catering Available For Private Parties

Recipient of the People’s Choice Award 2011 Taste of the Island

April 5, 2012

Submit your HummerBird T-Shirt Design

This is a chance to have your artwork seen by thousands. Enter your artwork for the 2012 HummerBird Celebration T-Shirt Design.

Requirements for T-Shirt design are listed.

For more information contact: Sandy at the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce: 7296445 or email tourism@1rockport.org. The deadline for getting your entry to the Chamber office is May 1, 2012. For More information on the HummerBird Celebration visit www. rockport-fulton.org

Plant Species for 2011 H/B T-Shirt

• Cape Honeysuckle-Tecomaria capensis • Turk’s Cap-Malaviscus arboreus var. drummondii • Shrimp Plant-

Justicia brandegeana

• Scarlet Sage-

Salvia coccinea

• Firebush-Hamelia patens • Firecracker Bush-Russelia equisetiformis

Art Requirements Plants/Hummingbirds for 2012 HummerBird Celebration Artwork

• Autumn Sage-

The following are the preferred plants and hummingbirds we would like to see in any 2012 HummerBird Celebration artwork. These are the plants most likely to be found in our area and the ones most likely to be visited as a nectar source for the hummingbirds. The list of hummingbirds is also a list of hummingbirds normally found in our migration. The size of the artwork should be 10 inches wide by 8 inches tall so that it will fit on a t-shirt. Art with a full painted background will not be selected.

• Pride of Barbados-Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Hummer Species for 2011 H/B T-shirt

Salvia greggii

• Trumpet Creeper-Campsis radicans • Flame Acanthus-Anisacanthus wrightii • Texas Lantana-Lantana urticoides • Esperanza-Tecoma stans • Desert Willow-Chilopsis linearis • Coral Honeysuckle-Lonicera sempervirens • Cypress Vine-

Ipomoea quamoclit

• Red Yucca-Hesperaloe parviflora • Bottlebrush-Calllistemon rigidus

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird

• Powder Puff-Calliandra emarginata

• Black-chinned Hummingbird

• Egyptian Star Penta-Penta lanceolata

• Buff-bellied Hummingbird

• (preferably red)

• Rufous Hummingbird

• Indigo Spires Salvia-Salvia farinaceae

• Allen’s Hummingbird

• Cigar Plant-Cuphea ignea ‘David Verity’

Trivia Question of the Week

Who was the last of the old time Texas Rangers who lived on the King Ranch?

Trivia Question of the Week from last issue Did Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca pass through the Island?

One of the first real descriptions of South Texas comes down through history to us from Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, loosely translated the Head of a Cow, who was a Spanish explorer who set out as a ship’s treasurer with the Narváez expedition from Spain in 1527 to colonize Spanish Florida.

They landed near Tampa Bay and wandered around for a while thinking they were near other Spaniards when in fact the nearest Spaniards were 1500 miles away in Mexico..

The 300 members of the expedition landed in what is now downtown St. Petersburg and from there things started to go bad. There was no mass transit in Florida in those days and against de Vaca’s advice Narvaez split his land and sea troops after the local Indians got rid of the Spaniards by telling them there was gold somewhere else. They didn’t say exactly where, just that it was somewhere other than where they were. It was a common practice by Native Americans to get rid of unwanted guests and, in fact, still works pretty well today.

Eventually the group was pared down to 80 survivors when a hurricane dumped them, including de Vaca, on Galveston Island. It was there that the journey through Texas began.

By 1532 only three members of the expedition were still alive. Alonso del Castillo Maldonado, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, and Estevanico, a black slave from Africa and Cabeza de Vaca, they headed west and south hoping to reach the Spanish Empire’s outpost in Mexico. They were the first Europeans to see and record their observations of the Southwestern United States and Northwest Mexico. The problem is that one mesquite tree looks pretty much like the next so their exact route is a matter of often heated discussion amongst historians.

Why you might ask, would anyone argue over the route? Well, as a history professor once said while fist fighting with a colleague over how many smooth bore cannons Napoleon had at Waterloo, “The fights are so vicious because the stakes are so small.”

What is known is that in the late summer of 1533 the survivors were all living with various Indian tribes around the area near the coast just south of the Nueces River. The source for much of what follows comes from the book, Crossing the Continent 1527-1540 by author Robert Goodwin. It’s a great read for those interested in state and regional history.

It describes the hand to mouth existence of the Indian tribes who lived in this area whose daily life was dominated largely by the constant search for food. They munched on pods from mesquite trees, chased deer, and tried to spear fish, but the only time of year when they had plenty to eat was in the late summer and early fall. As we all know that’s the time of year when the cactus apples, or tunas as the Spaniards called them, ripened to a deep red on the prickly pear cactus ubiquities to the region.

“It was the best time of the year for these people,” Dorantes later said. “For, although they have almost nothing else to eat other than these prickly pears and a few snails they search for, they fill their bellies day and night. That makes them very happy, because for the rest of the year they waste away from hunger.”

When the men reached Texas they found the tribes treated them in various ways but it is accurate to say they were basically treated as slaves. They fetched wood, built fires, and did whatever menial labor the Indians didn’t want to do. The Indians sometimes would amuse themselves by pulling back their bowstrings and aiming their arrows at the Spaniards’ chests. Then they would slap them on the back and have a good laugh.

The men wandered along the Texas coast as prisoners of the Han and Capoque Native

Americans for two years, while Cabeza de Vaca observed the people, picking up on their ways of life and customs. He and Estevanico eventually ingratiated themselves with the natives by taking on the role of shamans and healers.

The Spaniards all lived through the year with different tribes and only saw one another during the tuna fest. Their attempt at escape in 1533 fell through when the Karankawas they were with began arguing over a woman and got into a huge fight. By the next year the men were prepared.

Again they met south of the Nueces along the coast but exactly where is not clear. De Vaca wrote his account after his return to Spain so his recollection of exact locations after nine years of wandering the American Southwest and Northern Mexico was a bit hazy.

It is known that some of the tribes did make regular foraging expeditions to the coast but exactly where and when de Vaca may have accompanied them is not certain.

He does not mention anything in his book that sounds like it could have only been The Island. It cannot be ruled out that he visited our Island, but most historians, ever skeptical in the absence of absolute proof will say he did not.

The natives of this area are known to have crossed the Laguna Madre in boats and even on foot during the low windblown tides of Winter via a route that roughly parallels the current route of the JFK Causeway and led all the way to the appropriately named Indian Point Pier. The same route was later used by ranchers to cross cattle but was interrupted by the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway.

What is known is that in the late summer of 1834 the Spaniards set out on their own. As one of the men later wrote, “And so, believing that it were better to do their duty as Christians and as noblemen…than to live like godless savages, they entrusted themselves to Our Lord” and fled. “And Jesus Christ in his infinite mercy guided them, showing them the paths they should follow, while God tamed the wild hearts of those indomitable savages.”

Whether that path led them to The Island or not has been lost to time. The men rushed into the night running from the Indians through the brush county of South Texas. They encountered a friendly tribe somewhere in this area but didn’t even know at the time exactly where they were.

Finally in July 1536, near Culiacán in present-day Sinaloa, the survivors encountered fellow Spaniards on a slavetaking expedition for New Spain. As Cabeza de Vaca wrote later, his countrymen were “dumbfounded at the sight of me, strangely dressed and in the company of Indians. They just stood staring for a long time.”

De Vaca published his account in 1542. It is an interesting read and a real insight into this area during the early part of the 16th century.

Dale Rankin

April 5, 2012

Island Moon

Legislative Update

March 29-April 4

Island Police Blotter

Todd Hunter, District 32

Hurricane Preparedness Put Your Plan in Place

Spring Break 2012 Safe and Successful

Hurricane season looms just around the corner.

Being prepared for hurricane season can help keep your family safe. The 2012 hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and will end on November 30, 2012. It is during this time that most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Basin and pose a threat to the United States.

in your roof or walls. Some people may want to find out about flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance is a pre-disaster flood program designed to reduce flood disasters.

The National Flood Insurance program can be called at 1-888-CALL-FLOOD, Extension 445.

All four counties in District 32-Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and Nueces-are included among the 14 Tier One counties along the Texas coast. This means that these counties are most likely to be affected if a hurricane makes landfall. It is important that our area, as well as all Texans, prepare for hurricanes by staying informed, creating a disaster plan and following necessary steps to keep their families safe.

In addition to getting your family, pets and homes safe and prepared, there are various state websites for hurricane preparedness and evacuation, including telephone numbers. Some important contacts include Statewide Road Conditions which can be called at 1-800-4529292 and going to Texas Online - The Official Portal of Texas at www.texasonline.com.

When hurricanes make landfall or get close to land, they can affect the lives of thousands of Texans along the coast and across the State of Texas. There are various tips on being prepared in case of a hurricane. Some of the tips include the preparation of a family disaster plan. A family disaster plan includes planning for hazards that could affect your family as well as home. Vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind should be reviewed. You should locate safe rooms or places in your house to store items if a hurricane hazard develops. It is important that families determine evacuation and escape routes from your home and places to meet in case of an emergency. Also, have an out-of-state friend as a family contact so that all family members have a place of contact. Don’t forget to plan for taking care of your pets in case of evacuation.

In addition, families need to create a disaster supply kit. A disaster supply kit includes gathering blankets, pillows, seasonal clothing and special items for infants and the elderly.

Please have flashlights, batteries, telephones, radios and sufficient tools in case of an emergency. It is important to have a good first aid kit with medicines and prescription drugs ready and organized.

Living along the coastline also means preparing for hurricanes by retrofitting your house. It is important to strengthen the outside of your home so wind and objects do not tear openings

You can also go to my website which will provide you links, websites to various sources for hurricane preparedness, planning for an evacuation, tips on hurricane preparedness as well as state and federal government resources.

Also, if you are elderly or disabled and need hurricane evacuation assistance, you can call 2-1-1. This service will assist you in hurricane evacuation.

Overall, being prepared for a hurricane and living in a coastal region is very important.

Please again feel free to check out the campaign website electtoddhunter.com as well as the information that we’ve provided in this article.

Hopefully, this will be a quiet season and a safe one.

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 Aransas, Calhoun, Nueces (Part) and San Patricio Counties. He can be contacted at todd. hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.

Register Now for Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off

If you Mess With Texas on April 14 you will be in for trouble. That’s the day of the great Texas Trash-Off.

The Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off is the states’ largest one-day litter cleanup event. It is a partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

In 2011, 75,872 volunteers participated in 848 Trash-Off events across the state, and more than 6,000 miles of highway were cleared of litter and debris, totaling nearly six million pounds of trash.

New Litter-Fighting Tool

Trash-Off volunteers are ambassadors for the Don’t Mess with Texas campaign. These volunteers, and many other Texans, will have a new tool to fight litter — a mobile app.

For years, the “Report A Litterer” program has allowed Texans to notify TxDOT via www. dontmesswithtexas.org when they witness trash being tossed out of vehicles. Now, there’s a new, free mobile app. For instance, with the single press of a button, the littering incident and type of trash are recorded via GPS.

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Balmy weather during Spring Break 2012 contributed to some of the largest crowds in recent memory on Corpus Christi City Beaches.

Despite the large number of beachgoers, Corpus Christi Police Department Officers patrolling the beach reported relatively few problems. The Police Department is pleased to report there were no alcohol related traffic fatalities during the eleven day Spring Break time period, and no serious incidents on our beaches.

The goal for the City of Corpus Christi during Spring Break 2012 was to ensure that everyone visiting our “Sparkling City by the Bay” enjoyed a safe and relaxing vacation. As a result of the planning, preparation, and hard work by the devoted employees of the Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation Departments, the City was able to accomplish that goal. To all of you who enjoyed your stay during Spring Break 2012, and to those of you who have yet to visit our fine city, the Corpus Christi Police Department invites you to join us for Spring Break 2013.

Suspect Encounters “Murphy’s Law” During Theft Occurred on 3/21/12, 6:08 p.m. Theft 4830 Everhart Officers responded to the First Cash Pawn at 4830 Everhart for a theft in which a customer and store employees were chasing a suspect. Store employees reported a male entered the store and asked to be shown a $1,200 necklace. The male grabbed the necklace and ran towards the locked side of the double doors and smacked his head onto the glass door. He was able to escape and a couple of employees along with a customer gave chase. The suspect reached his vehicle and as he struggled to unlock the car door, his pursuers were able to catch up to him.

Watch Out For These Scams Landlords and tenants should be wary because rental scams are on the rise as criminals move in to take advantage of the volatile housing market. Many people never consider how easy it is to take advantage of someone looking for a property to rent. Few give it a second thought.

Fewer still take the steps necessary to ensure the person they’re renting to or from isn’t a criminal until it’s too late. Avoiding rental scams begins with understanding how they work. Once you know what to look for, your chances of identifying one before you hand over your money increase enormously.

at the Speed Stop located at S. Staples and S. Padre Island Drive.

Still at large

The black Hummer involved in the pedestrian accident on the beach is still outstanding. Please call 888-TIPS if you have any information.

Police Calls 14200 block Almeria 9:48 p.m. April 2 Disturbance 15300 block Cruiser 10:06 a.m. April 2 Disturbance Cruiser & Whitecap 12:58 a.m. April 1 Noise Ordinance Violation 15100 block Aquarius 6:36 a.m. April 2 Alarm 13800 block Mizzen 10:45 p.m. April 1 Disturbance 14800 block Quarterdeck 3:42 a.m. April 2 Alarm 14500 block Cabana East 11:19 p.m. April 2 Noise Ordinance Violation 14200 block SPID 11:18 p.m. April 2 Alarm 13900 block SPID 4:09 p.m. April 1 DWI 13300 block SPID 10:42 a.m. April 1 Traffic Accident/Crash 15200 block Windward 3:29 p.m. March 30 Mental Disorder 15800 block SPID 3:38 p.m. March 29 Suspicious Person Encantada & SPID 6:33 p.m. March 30 Suspicious Person Eaglesnest Bay & Gypsy 6:44 p.m. March 29 Suspicious Person 15400 block Gun Cay 5;07 p.m. March 30 Unauthorized use of motor vehicle 15400 block SPID 5:28 p.m. March 30 Alarm 15400 block Fortuna Bay 4:43 a.m. April 1 Suspicious Person Leeward & Granada 8:32 p.m. March 30 Suspicious Person 100 block Zahn Road 3:13 a.m. April 1 Traffic Accident 14400 block Hwy. 361 6 p.m. March 31 Criminal Mischief

17 Year Old Arrested After Pulling On Door Handles

14300 block SPID 1:22 a.m. March 30 Disturbance

Occurred Thursday, March 29, 2012 8:18 pm 5488 S.P.I.D. Possession Of Marijuana. A 17-year-old was arrested Thursday night at the La Palmera Mall for possession of marijuana after an officer saw the man attempt to steal from cars in the parking lot. Patrol Officer Daniel Sotello watched the parking lot from an unmarked police vehicle and saw 17-yearold male walk through five rows of vehicles in the parking lot and pull on the door handles of multiple vehicles. Martinez talked on a cell phone as he checked the doors of vehicles. A blue Chevy Silverado truck responded to turn away as Officer Sotello approached Martinez.

14200 block SPID 10:59 a.m. March 30 Alarm 13300 block SPID 10:42 a.m. April 1 Traffic Accident 13900 block SPID 4:09 p.m. April 1 DWI 9300 block Hwy. 361 10:47 p.m. April 1 Disturbance

There are currently six registered sex offenders living on The Island, there are 37 in Flour Bluff.

DWI Driver Arrested After He Backs Into Police Car and Flees Occurred on 3/14/12, 11:41 p.m.

Hit & Run, Driving While Intoxicated & Public Intoxication 14400 Park Road 22. A Corpus Christi Police Department vehicle was struck while it was parked at Park Road 22 and SH 361. The driver of a black 2012 Toyota backed out of a parking space, struck the police car and then fled the scene. An on-duty Park Ranger witnessed the Hit & Run and followed the Toyota until Officers were able to catch up to the vehicle. Officers pulled the vehicle over

Look for Ponty Bone to headline the Swamp Romp at the Tarpon Ice House April 21st

Eat Well Live Happy Visit the Downtown Farmers Market Every Wednesday 5-7 pm in our courtyard

Huge Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Friendly Menu Fresh Non-veg stuff too.

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14433 SPID “On the Island” Corpus Christi, TX 78418 www.tmcpadre.com

Water Access Laguna Madre

361-949-1900

A 8

by Dale Rankin

By Dale Rankin As spring slides on into summer the seasonal question for 2012 is not about hurricane season nor bird migration, nor even how many turtle nests Donna and friends will find this year; No, it is a more man-made conundrum that sets our Tweets atwitter this year. The one question on everyone’s lips…

Is Schlitterbahn really going to happen?

The project has slid behind the curtain in the past few weeks as talks go on between developers and city staff with little in the way of public discourse. But just because the project’s movements have not been public does not mean that nothing is happening. Based on observation, talking to those involved, public record and background knowledge, here’s the way I piece things together.

Re-inventing the wheel Our City Council was handed a packet in preparation for their last meeting on March 27 containing background so that they could begin serious discussion of the tax incentive package for the project. One of the quirks of our city’s approach for dealing with new businesses that come to town and seek tax breaks is that it does not have a standard incentive package like every other city of its size. For reasons lost to the Byzantine nature of our oligarchy we like to re-invent the wheel each time out. It’s just more fun that way. If that seems like a slapdash and borderline irrational way to do business that is because it is.

Due to the Law of Unintended Consequences this ad hoc system turns each new development into a litmus test of whether our city is receptive to new development, or as has mostly been the case in the past, a Muddling Through approach which more often that not sends potential developers screaming into the night in search of more rational governance.

Unintended Consequences When the Crosstown Commons development had its moment in the sun about six years ago the previous Council cooked up an incentive plan that they thought to be worth about $40 million over twenty-five years, but alas, after accountants were called in the number swelled to somewhere north of $70 million but in the end it didn’t matter. Nothing got built.

Ironically, the only lasting impact the project had was to provoke the then named Padre Staples Mall to ask the very reasonable question; if you’re giving a $40 million tax break to a potential competitor who hasn’t paid any taxes yet, why don’t you give us a tax break so we can expand? That was done and the mall which has been a good tax-paying citizen for more than forty years expanded; the fortunate outcome of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

A standard tax incentive plan offered to all new businesses matched with a similar plan offered to similar existing businesses who want to expand would be looked upon favorably by developers and their risk-averse bankers to whom uncertainty is avoided when possible. If tax incentives from cities are a necessary evil – a discussion for another day – then a standard package would seem to be a good idea but then, that would take all the fun out of it so we don’t have one.

Occam’s razor Which brings us to Schlitterbahn. Based on what has happened so far here is what I believe to be our city’s decision making process based on Occam’s razor – the simplest explanation which covers all known facts is probably true.

Here are those facts as I see them.

About one year ago Paul Schexnailder who owns approximately 1500 acres of undeveloped land on Padre Island unveiled a plan to bring a Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort and Island Walk to The Island. Notice the title explicitly involves more than just a Waterpark. As Schlitterbahn owner Jeff Henry told the crowd at a public hearing, “We are not in the waterpark business, we are in the resort business.” Somehow that

Island Moon

April 5, 2012

Stuff I Heard on the Island Is Schlitterbahn Coming or Not?

message got lost along the way – more on that later. Public and political reaction was and is almost unanimously in favor of the project.

Schlitterbahn owners looked to The Island even as the city of Cedar Park north of Austin continued to heap their tax incentives on the table to get the park there. But The Island is clearly the first choice for Schlitterbahn owners.

months ago as a basis to start discussion here.

The first test of our city’s ability to deliver on the project was the change of the route for the Aquarius Extension. While this bond-approved project had little real effect on the Schlitterbahn project it still was the first stop along the litmus trail. So what happened?

But as the clock on the project kicks into overdrive – eight weeks from projected groundbreaking - the council has only now taken up the matter of what to include in the tax package. There is a quirk in state law – too involved to get into here – that complicates things to the point of absurdity even as the clock winds down. Once again, council members found out about this problem when the packet for their Tuesday meeting was sent to them on Saturday two weeks ago. Now potentially grievous limitations on their options must be solved with a gun to their collective heads.

What seemed like a common sense plan to reroute the street turned into a lawsuit that is still winding its way through the appellate courts even as the project is under construction.

Not a good way to start but the City Council to their credit found a way to get it done.

Rather than developers knowing what their tax incentive package would contain months ago so they could plan for it, they now face yet another potential deal killing crossroads while our city re-invents the tax plan wheel. It’s a heck of a way to run a railroad.

Water Exchange Bridge Then came the Water Exchange Bridge under SPID (Park Road 22) that would provide a conduit to allow the project to join its eastern and western components thereby achieving the economies of scale necessary to make the project’s numbers work. The cost of the bridge rose from $1.2 million when it was approved by voters in 2004 (as a bridge by the way, not merely underground pipes to allow water flow as some folks now say) to the current cost of $8.1 million.

This produced questions from downtown interests and their water carriers about whether the bridge was necessary for Schlitterbahn to be built. Jeff Henry has been reluctant to answer this question directly for fear of looking like he is offering our city an ultimatum; no bridge, no park. I’ll answer it for him; the answer is this – no bridge no Schlitterbahn (more on that later).

As I write this the council has said they will use money leftover from the 2008 bond issue to fund the bridge but so far no formal vote has been taken and no money actually appropriated even as the developers have at least one (that I know of) partner ready to sign off on a condo development on the Lake Padre side of SPID but are hamstrung because of one problem; no formal commitment from the city on funding even as design for the bridge is underway. The bridge will likely get built but while the ad hoc planning process goes on the bigger projects that hinge on it languish.

Miscommunication zone The next item for infighting was zoning.

Schexnailder presented his plans to the city months ago with the suggestion that Public Use Development zoning would likely work best.

City staff said no, CR-2 zoning was best and the city Planning Commission approved it and sent it to council. When Council members opened their packets on Saturday before the Tuesday council meeting it was the first they had heard of the change from a PUD to CR-2 and they threw a skunk in the room. Throwing skunks is a council prerogative but this stinker should have been flung long before the matter went before the Planning Commission – not twelve weeks before the stated deadline of June 1 to begin actual work on the Schlitterbahn park. The result was that council either had to approve the CR-2 zoning – which is not optimal – or go back through the zoning process which would have taken another two months and pushed the Schlitterbahn project back at least a year if not killed it outright.

So what with a little foresight could have been a rather smooth zoning process turned into an Eleventh Hour Nightmare which came within a hair’s breath of killing the entire enterprise and produced an outcome that will work but one that no one is really happy with. Again, the council to their credit found a way to get it done but only after last-minute hair pulling brought on by poor planning.

Taxing incentives Now comes the tax incentives. Our city apparatus was in fact provided with a copy of the tax incentives put on the table by Cedar Park

So now what?

Here’s the reality. Schexnailder owns the land under the entire project (with the exception of the planned marina on Lake Padre which he sold). He will include the land at Padre Isles Country Club in the Schlitterbahn deal only if he can build the surrounding developments.

Without the 3500-foot Beachwalk including its retail, commercial, and residential amenities, a marina on Lake Padre and the bridge to connect it all together he won’t include the land needed to build the Schlittebahn Waterpark. Without the amenities his numbers don’t work. To build the amenities he needs tax incentives.

So if the bridge is not built and if no tax incentives are offered to the development surrounding the waterpark the entire development could crash under its own weight and nothing will get built. It’s a giant jigsaw puzzle but in the end it’s just that simple.

So my message to the small portion of our City Council who seem bent on finding a way to have their cake and eat it too; you are playing with fire. It is no one’s fault but your own that these potentially deal killing cans have been continually kicked down the street until they have to be decided in the election-year pressure cooker you now stew in. You decided to bring it to a boil in November. Welcome to public service.

Here’s where we are. We now are faced with a City Council staring down the barrel of a reelection cycle culminating in November – a mess of their own making since the majority of them are the same souls who in a puzzling move shifted the city elections from May to November – in which they must protect their own political turf while trying to work through the details of one of the most complicated, intricate, and If we manage to run off a project that progressive development deals they every other city in our state would kill and their city will ever face.

to have then we deserve the Nuclear The filing deadline for their seats is not until August so one misstep Winter of development that will follow. between now and then could bring opposition. They must walk the trepidatious line between looking like they gave All I can say is that if I’m the developer(s) on too much to the developer and thus drawing this project I’m starting to wonder if I’m dealing an opponent, or on the other hand demanding with a rational player in our city. Why are we too much from the developer and killing what having these crucial decisions being made at is arguable the most popular new development the end of the process instead of the beginning our city has seen in more than a decade. which common sense would dictate? And why It reminds me of the old adage that failure to does every step along the way produce trouble? plan is a plan for failure. A mess, yes; but a If we manage to run off a project that every mess of their own making that could have been other city in our state would kill to have then avoided by leaving the election in the spring we deserve the Nuclear Winter of development where it belonged. that will follow. Crickets will chirp on Water Street. The next two weeks will tell the tale.

Public service If the council finds a way to blow this deal up The latest word from inside City Hall is that they should proceed directly to the Old Politicos our council is set to offer tax incentives only Tattoo Parlor and get a tattoo on their collective to the Schlitterbahn Waterpark and not to any forehead that says, “The people who killed of the surrounding developments. Here are the Schlitterbahn.” simple facts.

Public service indeed.

While waterparks are attractive and high My best guess is that yes, the park and the profile elements of resort developments they are almost loss leaders; they make money but surrounding amenities will get built. I think the both waterparks and marinas have long payback baby will be born with all its fingers and toes. timelines. It is the development around them But I got to say, the birthing process has been painful. that make this and similar projects work.

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Day And Night Boardwalk Shopping Center off Kenedy Bridge to the first right.

Pee Wee’s Animal Shelter

South Texas Grassroots Band Sundays 6:30-9:30

Peewee’s Animal Shelter is located at 1307 Saratoga and has been in operations since May, 1997. Peewee’s presently houses over 300 animals, including dogs, puppies, cats, kittens as well as, pigs, goats, rabbits and other barn animals.

Peewee’s relies on donations only for its operation.

Shelter operations are accomplished strictly by donations. Peewee’s does not get any government, city or federal funding. Peewee’s helps those animals no one else will - the sick and the stray. The volunteers at Peewee’s work tirelessly to rehabilitate poor orphaned pets in the hopes that they will find new, loving homes.

The dogs and cats are spayed/neutered, given regular heartworm preventative, and are on flea & tick prevention and medications as needed. Peewee’s does not discriminate due to age or health conditions of the pet. Please visit Peewee’s Pet Adoption World & Sanctuary at 1307 Saratoga Road. You can call them at 361888-4141 but they do not have staff to answer phones so please leave a message.

April 5, 2012

Island Moon

Spoil Island Cleanup Set for April 28 It’s a time to give something back

By Fred Edler The Spoil Island cleanup is just around the corner and is scheduled for Saturday, April 28, 2012.

We enjoy a wonderful island paradise.

Unfortunately due to careless individuals and strong winds our beautiful waterways and undeveloped “islands” become littered with debris. The Padre Island POA Beautification Trust in conjunction with the Padre Island Yacht Club, Sponsor and Host the “Spoil Island Clean Up” each year.

Volunteers are needed to patrol and clean the waterways and shores of the canal system that gives us so much beauty and enjoyment. If you’ve ever boated down the canals, fished the shore line or swam in the canal system, it’s time to give back a half day of your time to keep our island beautiful.

If you have a boat, we need you and your boat.

If you don’t have a boat we will find a skipper that needs a crew; but we really need you to come out and help.

Boats will begin loading up and forming crews at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28 at the Padre Island Yacht club. Water and trash bags will be provided. Dumpsters will be present at designated boat launch parks to dispose of the debris. The entire community is invited to participate.

A hamburger lunch will be provided at the Padre Island Yacht Club, for all volunteers, around noon.

Please complete the Spoil Island Cleanup Volunteer form and email to: 3rdcoastfred@att. net Let’s keep our Canal System clean and beautiful.

Spoil Island Clean-Up Volunteer

Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup set for April 28

10,000 Texans to tackle trash in nation’s biggest coastal cleanup Thousands of volunteers across the state are making plans now to take part in the AdoptA-Beach Spring Cleanup Saturday, April 28.

In the Coastal Bend, volunteers will hit 11 beaches..

The 26th GLO Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup will run from 9 a.m. until noon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at eleven sites in the Coastal Bend area.

Texas — home to the nation’s first all-volunteer beach cleanup in 1986 — boasts one of the biggest all-volunteer beach cleanups in the world. More than 10,000 Texans are expected to participate in the Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup coastwide.

Volunteers may register on-line for the Spring Cleanup at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or at 29 of the 30 check-in sites (advanced registration required for St. Jo Island) beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28th . Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.

Name:_______________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________

The Texas General Land Office Adopt-ABeach Cleanups are held rain or shine!

Email:_________________________________________________________________________

Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.

TexasAdoptABeach.org. There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort. Statewide coastal cleanups are held every spring and fall.

Phone: (home)____________________________ (cell)_________________________________ Will you bring your boat? Yes No How many people can you carry in your boat? __________ How many people in your party? ____________ How many will be staying for lunch? _____________

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To learn how you can participate, or for additional information on the AdoptA-Beach Program, please visit www.

TexasAdoptABeach.org or contact the GLO at 1-877-TX COAST. Those interested may also become a fan of the program at www.facebook. com/texasadoptabeach where event details and results will also be posted.

Coastal Bend Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup sites

North Padre Island, Corpus Christi—Kleberg County

Check-in: Padre Balli Park Office, 15820 Park Road 22 Contact: Jim Needham—Surfrider Foundation, 361-825-2708, james.needham@ texasadoptabeach.org; Todd Dwyer, 361853-9877, todd.dwyer@texasadoptabeach. org; Ilene Jantz, 361-563-4119, ilene.jantz@ texasadoptabeach.org

Padre Island National Seashore—Kleberg County

Check-in: Malaquite Visitor Center, 20420 Park Road 22

Contact: William “Buzz” Botts, 361-9498068, buzz.botts@texasadoptabeach.org Mustang Island State Park, Corpus Christi— Nueces County Check-in: 17047 State Highway 361 Baffin Bay, Rivera—Kleberg County Check-in: Kaufer-Hubert Park, FM 628 Contact: Susan Ivy, 361-595-8591, susan.ivy@ texasadoptabeach.org Port Aransas—Nueces County Check-in: Avenue G at the beach

Contact: Deno Fabrie, 361-749-0256, deno. fabrie@texasadoptabeach.org St. Jo Island/Port Aransas - Nueces County

Check-in: 8:00 a.m. – Fisherman’s Wharf, 900 Tarpon Street

Contact: Deno Fabrie, 361-749-0256, deno. fabrie@texasadoptabeach.org *Limited access – reservations required Rockport—Aransas County

Check-in: Rockport Beach Park beachfront pavilion

Contact: Tom Staley, 361-729-2213, ext. 226, tom.staley@texasadoptabeach. org

Aransas Pass/Redfish Bay— Nueces County Check-in: Lighthouse Lakes Park, 4 miles east of Aransas Pass on Highway 361

Contact: Richard Gonzales, 361-779-7351, richard. gonzales@texasadoptabeach. org Portland-San Patricio County

This 35 & 1/2 inch Red Snapper was caught in state waters at the oil rigs by Islander James Boswell.

Check-in: Sunset Lake Park, 201 Sunset Drive, adjacent to Highway 181

Contact: Aneita Ortiz-Cedano, 361-779-7351, aneita.cedano@ texasadoptabeach.org

Contact: Mike Mullenweg, 361-7495246, mike.mullenweg@ texasadoptabeach.org

Captain Dee Wallace has a new hobby, you can check one out at the Coast Club in Port Aransas.

Spring has sprung at the Island’s Community Garden as plants of various types have taken root. It is the first year for the new garden on Cobo de Bara and it has been a big success.

Roni Owner / Stylist

Hair Salon

Corpus Christi Nueces County Check-in: Aquarium

Texas

2710 North Boulevard

Beach—

State Shoreline

Contact: Kara Hahn, 361881-1259, kara.hahn@ texasadoptabeach.org

Denice Stylist

Cole Park (Kid’s Place), Corpus Christi—Nueces County

Amy Stylist

Check-in: 1526 Ocean Drive

Contact: Angela Gonzalez, 361-826-3673, angela. gonzalez@texasadoptabeach. org

Receive a complimentary gift certificate for a full service hair shaping / cut when you purchase $50 in AVEDA STYLING products.

Certificate can be used by the purchaser or given as a gift!

New location 15033 S.P.I.D.

Color Services starting at $65

Hair Cuts $25 with Color

949-0794

www.theislandsedgehairsalon.com

Authentic Crafts & Culture From Way Beyond the Border Just inside Port Aransas City Limits.

Handmade Arts, Glassware, Clothing, Jewelry.

And much more…

Come out & see us.

1726 State Hwy 361 In the Tower Center 749-1828

“Don’t worry–You have a place for it!”

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Tomb of Jesus

Relay for Life

Island Moon

Pirates of Port Aransas

April 5, 2012

Islander Anna Rose Jansen recently traveled with her church group to the Holy Land where she visited Jesus’ tomb and was baptized in the Jordon River. It is a fitting feature for the Easter season.

The VFW Hall in Port Aransas was gifted these two lovely lawn ornaments courtesy of Relay for Life

Garden tomb burial spot of Jesus

Selling raffles, bracelets, baked goods, Easter baskets and Love Boxes from Home to raise money to fight cancer for the Live Wires Relay for Life team.

Rolling stone at Tomb

Seasonal pirate attacks have begun in Port Aransas. Beware and cover your booty.

Photo by Ronnie Narmour

Artist and Island Moon Writer Betsy Bowen has an impromptu art show at the Tarpon Ice House.

Also- I Was Baptised In The Jordan River

Island Creations

Remember kids, look both ways before crossing the ship channel Photo by Miles Merwin

Remodeling

Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco

Landscaping Insured Member, Padre Island Business Association Member, Builders Association, Corpus Christi

960-0327

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

Concrete

Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Patio Overlays, Decorative Stamping & Staining, Decks, Bulkheads, Grouted Stone Walls & Patios, Decorative Stone Paver Driveways & Patios

Owned & Operated by Island Residents David & Katherine Pierce References Available Upon Request Commercial & Residential

Doing Everything a Home or Business Needs

Get the attention you deserve.

Postal Service • Packaging Supplies • Keys • Fax • Copies Join us for a book signing on Saturday, April 14th from 2 to 4. Islander Diane Klutz has published her book: Round Eyes; An American nurse in Vietnam and she will be on hand to sign copies and enjoy a glass of wine.

Phone: 361.949.9325 Fax: 361.949.9385

Pending

Selling a home?

Want results?

14813 Leeward #101

Isle Mail N More

14493 SPID, Ste. A Corpus Christi, TX 78418 hours: M-F 9-6 Sat. 10-2

Call 361-949-7281

Mary Melick Real Estate

$250,000

J-B BOUTIQUE Kenzi Mutzig, Laci Daniels, Katie Frazier and Audrey Edwards visiting from Oklahoma

Belinda Sanchez 830-328-7201

Open Monday- Sunday 8:00 am - 10:00 pm 2016 On the Beach Joe Sanchez III 210-844-9840

Easter Blessings from Gratitude He Came He Died He Arose He Ascended He’s Coming Back! www.portagratitude.com 316 N. Station St. Port A

Happy Easter!

Scuttlebutt’s will be closed on Easter Sunday and will reopen on Monday at 3:00 for Happy Hour. Come meet the Hammerhead football team on Tuesday, April 10th. Free tickets and fun!

14254 SPID 361-949-6769 www.scuttlebuttsbarandgrill.com