Section A 420

Inside the Moon...

Where to fish A6

Girl Scouts A2

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

Seashore goes greek A 10

It’s a Small World A7

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Local Music Scene A11

The

Island Moon The Island Newspaper since 1996

Island Area News ● Events ● Entertainment

March 22, 2012

Photo by Miles Merwin

The Island With More Gorillas than Grocery Stores

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

This is the time of year we live for on our Island. The Spring Breakers have nursed their lobster tans OTB, the weather is beautiful, the beaches are wide open, the Sargasso weed has yet to make an appearance, huge drum and specs are biting in Baffin Bay and life is good.

We covered our Spring Break experience in a separate article in this issue so all we will say about Spring Break traffic is this; while we here at the Moon would never condone the flaunting of our city’s very reasonable traffic laws, some Islanders took advantage of the advanced stage of construction on the Aquarius Extension and used it to snake their way across The Island without having to weave their way through the backstreets (the Whitecap Switchback).

That, and the fact that it is over, are the two best things that can be said for Spring Break 2012.

Dawning of the age Speaking of Aquarius, progress continues at a brisk pace. It may have taken thirty years to get the project underway but once it started it moved quickly. Drive by and take a look. It looks like an anthill over there with men and equipment going everywhere.

Hail to the Chief The city’s new Police Chief Floyd Simpson spoke to the Island Kiwanis Club on Wednesday and was asked when/if The Island will get its own police station. The Chief was diplomatic and wouldn’t commit to a firm answer but the good news is that he didn’t say absolutely not.

In the past year The Island has added a Mexican food restaurant, a barbeque place, and a mini grocery store is set to open soon. Can a police station be far behind?

Speaking of barbeque While we’re on the subject of barbeque, mmm…barbeque…Ray Herrera’s No Excuses Barbeque Cookoff was a smashing success.

Many Islanders, including we Moon Monkeys, volunteered as judges. We judged the chicken wings and boy were they messy. We ended up with faces numb from the hot sauce and greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes but it sure was fun.

Charlie Robison rocked the house Friday night and the big crowds continued throughout the weekend. It’s turned into a great event and we saw many Islanders who went OTB for the fun.

Schlitterbahn update This just in from the Moon No News is Good News Department…negotiations between developers and the city on the Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort and Beachwalk are continuing. The next action will be a vote by the city council on an incentive package and no date has been set for that.

Next Publication Date: 3/29/2012

City Approves Zoning Extension for 1200 Acre Development in Kleberg County

The City Council on Tuesday extended zoning on a proposed 1,282 acre development in Kleberg County, straddling SPID and running from the Gulf of Mexico across The Island to the Laguna Madre.

According to documents provided to the city, the development would include two golf courses, surrounded by two subdivisions and would include a marina and other amenities.

According to the city documents, developers of the project, Vista de Mar Irrigation Company, originally made the request for a special permit to develop the land in December, 2001 when the land was annexed by the city. That zoning request was granted for ten years and expired in December 2011. On Tuesday the council voted at the request of the developers to extend the special zoning for two more years. The extension was approved by the council without dissent.

The original plans, submitted in 2001, called for two eighteen hole golf courses on two separate sections of land facing each other on opposite sides of SPID just south of the county line near Sea Pines. It also called for a desalination plant to provide water for the development, however, city staff told the council during their presentation on Tuesday that the plant likely would not be needed now since water could be provided by a water main built since the original 2001 plans were drafted.

One of the tracts called the Jose Maria Tovar Subdivision consists of 476 acres, (approximately) on the east side of SPID between the road and the Gulf, and the second tract also called the Jose Maria Tovar Subdivision which consists of 754 acres between SPID and the Laguna Madre.

The listed agent for the Vista del Mar Irrigation Company in the city documents is David Coover. Phone calls to him were not returned by press time.

Around the Island Continued on A4

Development Continued on A4

Requiem for a Spring Break The Island exhales

It’s been my experience over the years that the only way to really find out what’s going on

during the Spring Break madness is to go see for yourself. So that’s what I did. Here are some of the things I heard and saw On The Island.

Columbus Ships Reach the New World!

By Dale Rankin

We do hear that the Schlitterbahn folks have leased some condos and homes on The Island

Spring Break 2012 has come and gone but not without leaving its mark on The Island.

When 150,000 partiers descend on twenty miles of a barrier Island accessed by a four lane bridge and road you know it’s going to be crowded and some strange things are likely to happen.

Year 15, Issue 415

Proposal includes two golf courses, housing, but no timetable

According to the documents put before the council prior to Tuesday’s vote, both the tracts are in a designated COBRA zone, (Coastal Barrier Resources Area) which means “federal loans or grants for development, insurance, or emergency relief funds for repairs or reconstruction are not permitted.”

By Dale Rankin

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Wednesday

Things started off with a bang early when on Wednesday, March 12, the weather cleared and the rush was on. Two officers were cruising the beach during an evening fog just after dark when suddenly a man jumped in front of their patrol car and began dancing. The officers were driving slow enough they were able to stop and when they did the 21-year old man continued his dance in front of their car blocking its way.

Soon enough the man, instead of being merely intoxicated was both intoxicated and arrested. On his way downtown the man decided his best option for justice was to curse and threaten the officers from the back seat of the patrol car and when that didn’t work he began to kick at the car’s Plexi glass petition and spit through it at the officers. Turns out that was a bad idea.

Instead of a mere Public Intoxication charge he got an added charge of assaulting a person in a correctional facility. He went to jail.

Requiem Continued on A4

The Island played host to two Columbus ships this week when two of the ships were sent to port during high winds Monday night. Captain Morgan (his real name) told us the Nina and Pinta got about twenty-five miles down the Intracoastal on their way to Port Isabel but when they reached a point where the ditch narrows to only about one hundred feet wide the wind picked up blew the Pinta into the side of the channel where it refused to budge. A rescue boat pulled them free and they turned around and made for Snoopy’s and Doc’s on The Island.

When we heard they were coming we stood around on the dock like a bunch of Native Americans waiting for the Europeans to bring horses to the New World. They arrived around 9 p.m. and after a great meal at Doc’s enjoyed some Island hospitality. The next morning Ernie treated them to breakfast at Snoopy’s and then they set off for points south.

They work the east coast and Gulf of Mexico ten months out of the year and pass this way on a regular basis but this is the first time they have spent the night on The Island.

Blake Farenthold to Speak at Island Tea Party

On Wednesday, April 4th, Blake Farenthold, our Congressman, will speak at Padre Isles Country Club at 6:00 p.m. He will inform everyone what is going on in Washington D.C. as well as the redistricting situation in Texas.

Notice we will meet on Wednesday because of Blake’s schedule, not our usual Thursday meeting. Come and bring your friends.

CCA Texas Reefing Program Builds on Success Organization’s commitment to marine habitat continues to grow CCA Texas recently committed $100,000 to a new 160-acre nearshore reefing site located out of Packery Channel near Corpus Christi.

This reef will be built in approximately 70-feet of water and will provide vital structure and easy angler access from popular offshore ports including Port Aransas and Corpus Christi.

“CCA Texas is proud to partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and others on this project to create this habitat and provide much-needed recreational offshore fishing opportunities,” said Jay Gardner, chairman of CCA Texas’ Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow program. “CCA Texas has already committed $400,000 to Texas reef projects along the coast, and that number will continue to grow.”

This new mid-coast reefing site will have all necessary permits in place in the coming months and TPWD is initiating the bidding process to begin the first phase of placing reef material. Once materials are placed, they will provide the valuable structure needed to sustain

and enhance Gulf reef fish species, including red snapper.

“CCA Texas has long been known for successful efforts in advocating for marine conservation along the Texas coast and in our state’s capitol,” said Mark Ray, CCA Texas chairman. “But, thanks to the thousands of volunteers and tens of thousands of members, CCA Texas’ habitat efforts are taking the organization’s positive impact on our shared coastal resources to a new level.”

CCA Texas’ Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow program (HTFT) provides much-needed funding for the restoration and enhancement of coastal marine habitats. The program has funded marsh grass enhancement projects, inshore and offshore reef creation and vital estuary restoration that span from Port Mansfield to Sabine. Through CCA Texas’ successful fundraising and membership efforts, HTFT has grown to become one of the largest programs of its kind.

1st Annual Island Showcase Set for April Still time to enter homes, vendors, volunteers needed The First Annual Island Showcase is barely one month away and the slots for showcase homes are filling up quickly. 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.

It will run from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday April, 28 and 29. Organizers are looking for more homes to show and there are still a few vendor spots available for the showcase at the Seashore Learning Center gym on Encantada.

They are also looking for Islanders with antique cars for display, as well as Islanders with golf carts who wish to participate.

They also are asking if anyone with a boat can provide canal tours for Island visitors.

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.

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Beach Taxi

Island Moon

Yard of the Month

March 22, 2012

Happy 23rd anniversary to this couple.

We wrote their names down but lost the notebook... but they know who they are.

The beach taxi made the rounds during spring break

The Port Aransas Art Center  323 N. Alister port Aransas TX 78373 361-749-7334  held a Spring Break Art Camp for youth 3/12-3/16. (above) Photo of Students and Ms Cook.

(Below) Students, parents and instructor-Marilyn Cook at their Closing Art Show on Friday.

The Island Gardeners recently presented Larry, Caren & Chase Childers with the Yard of Month Award for their beautifully landscaped yard at 14330 Bluefish.

Indian hawthorne, papaya, mature palm trees and red geraniums in pots, just to mention a few! Perfect setting. Hope you will drive by and enjoy this little piece of paradise!

PIBA Mixer

The Padre Island Business Association mixer was at Frost Bank this month and the place was full. A rumor went about that the bank was going to give out free samples but that turned out to be bad information.

Bluebonnets are back!

Photos by Tamay Tipton

March 22, 2012

Gone Fishin’

Island Moon

Spring Explosion Capt. Joey Farah Jfarah72@yahoo.com (361) 442-8145 FACEBOOK@ Farah’s Backwater Fishing Adventures We are in the middle of a SPRING EXPLOSION in fishing. The Black Drum are spawning in the deeper channels and flats, the redfish are gorging themselves on shrimp, small crabs, and sand eels. Speckled Trout are preparing for their second spawn before the full moon coming up in April. Although all of these exciting things are in full swing at times it may seem difficult to get the hook on solid catches. “At times” is the secret to that statement, anglers have some tough competition right now and a quick glace around the dock will expose your biggest or rather smallest competition.

Did Ya Hear?

By Mary Craft

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

New Advertisers

Business Briefs

B&S Watercraft & Marine specializes in all makes of personal boat repairs. They now offer new trailer and boat sales including alumacraft boats at a low price. They have more than 28 years of trusted service. Call 937-5511, visit www.bnswatercraftand marine.com or stop by 1109 Cline Street near SPID in the Bluff.

The 47 Annual Brandeis Book Sale is at the Sunrise Mall until Monday, March 26th. Hours are 10 am – 9 pm weekdays and noon – 6pm on the weekend.

The Vienna Piano Trio has been performing worldwide for almost 20 years. They will be performing here Saturday, March 31st at 7:30 pm in the Wolfe Recital Hall at Del Mar College. Tickets are $25. Call 884-5775 or visit www.corpuschritichambermusic.org for more info.

The Mercer Logs is a local history book is available at thr Port Aransas Museum gift shop.

The Robert Mercer family kept a daily log for 11 years in the 1800s of their life on Mustang Island.

Part of the diverse “menu” on the plate for local gamefish right now.

Every night Shippers work the Intracoastal Canal as a river of bait enters the local bay system. Shrimp is the most desired catch for shrimpers and anglers alike but for game fish there is a virtual buffet available to satisfy. Mullet, shad, ballyhoo, crabs, shrimp, eels, squid, killy fish, mud minnows, chubs, needle fish, mud worms, and at least a dozen other types of small minnows are riding the tide and feeding game fish before you hit the water each day. Look under the edge of the dock and you will see thousands of small fish. I’ve seen big 30-plus inch trout approach small grass patches and slurp up multiple minnows one by one then ignore my perfectly placed lure time and time again only to slowly move away. One thing to remember is that each of these natural baits have a distinct smell, profile, and action that mature game fish identify. During these times anglers should adjust their lure and bait selections to mimic the diversity of the natural selection in the areas we are fishing in. Keep an arsenal of varied lures. Small silver spoons of different actions and weights are a really good choice right now. Fluttered along the edges of channels, fished under popping corks, and especially behind the house under the lights at night. Norton Sand Eel Jrs are a great way to downsize and catch fish effectively when they don’t seem to want a larger lure. Pumkinseed/ chartruse is a good color to start with then move to other combinations of natural and bright colors. Stop bye Roy’s Bait and Tackle to really get an Idea of what is out their. Roy’s is famous for carrying the newest baits hitting the market. Rocky is really in touch with the local fishermen and fishing and can explain how any of the new lures work, or make some

Following The Trout Spawn

I’ve been chasing some schools of spawning trout with good success and looking forward to the weeks ahead and the BEST BIG TROUT HUNTING OF THE YEAR. As the waters warm and floods of fish migrate in with every bull tide, Speckled Trout are gathering in small groups in middepth flats of varied bottom. Larger sand pockets with gravely sand surrounded by thick grass is where you will find large females with aggressive males close bye. Picking through these areas with plastics by wadeing and drifting in the boat has brought Mr. Winigham with Wensday’s MONSTER TROUT migrateing some quality fish to our boat. Look for the week into the spawning grounds of Baffin Bay. before the full moon to be an unbelievable time for landing Trophy Trout in the weeks to come. solid suggestions. Look for hard baits with Try throwing some varied lures and natural excellent detail and action. LIVE TARGET hard baits have been some of my favorite, the baits in your next few fishing quests, especially small shad and lipped mullet wake baits have when catching gets tough. Just like us they are worked well for me while sight casting to small not always in the mood for a big heavy meal. sand pockets for spawning trout. D.O.A makes Work and perfect your presentation with any a perfectly small sized paddle tail soft plastic new lure you acquire behind the house or in that is the exact size of a mud minnow, one of short distances so that you can see how each rod the most overlooked natural baits that game fish stroke moves the bait. I’d like to invite you all feed on here year round. Too many times I see to LOOK, LIKE, AND FOLLOW our fishing fishermen with large collections of the same on FACEBOOK at “FARAH’S BACKWATER type, style, and size of lures in every color on FISHING ADVENTURES”. I’m new to earth. Vary your size and action to adjust to this, but have been posting daily pictures and what game fish are feeding on for consistent information where, when, and how we are catching fish. KEEP THOSE LINES TIGHT success.

AND YOUR HOOKS SHARP!

78th birthday fish for Momma Dornack Sat. 25th drum she caught 10 of them.

th

Back on the Road Benefit for Ray T will be held at the Flats Lounge in Port A Saturday, March 24th starting at 2 pm. There will be a $6/plate fish fry and live music provided by JT Coldfire, John Cortez and Ray’s City Crew Band.

The Curacao Bar next to Dragonfly has raised their bar stools for more comfortable seating.

Enjoy $3 Tappas during 4-6 pm happy hour weekdays. The menu includes lamb ravioli, pork meatballs, pasta bravas and more. The drink specials are $2.50 draft beer and well drinks and $5 house wine.

The Island Moon Newspaper Facebook now has people in 15 countries reading the Moon online. The countries are India, Senegal, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Nigeria, Aruba, China, South Korea, Philippines, Peru, Sweden and Jordan.

The Most Expensive waterfront lots are adjacent to Leeward just south of Granada. The selling price is $1.3 million for each of the two lots.

How Do I Know What They Are Eating???

I’m on the water all the time and usually cleaning my own fish and seeing everyone else’s fish cleaned as well as watching what the shrimpers are catching too. This gives me a great opportunity to learn what they are eating , as well as where and at what times. Lately I’ve found trout in the Intracoastal within 5 miles of the JFK “pooping orange” this is a good indication of nightly shrimp feast. Along the Flour Bluff shoreline trout are “pooping” darker junk and stomachs show fish there are still feeding on small pin perch. Paddle tails are still catching best most days. Along the KING RANCH shoreline larger trout have been pooping dark stinky stuff and digested bones of mullet. Smaller keeper fish have been full of small minnows from the deeper flats in 4to5ft of water. Baffin Bay is having a big hatch of baby crabs, infesting all the rock piles in the bay. Redfish are loving them, but the stomachs of many nice trout have shown that crab is on the menu for them as well. The Black Drum are full of small clam shells and crushed crabs, gravelly sand bottoms in Baffin Bay and the Land Cut are seasonal gathering places for these big drum. I’ve seen a very distinct pattern of Big Trout hanging close to the edge of the grass in the Land Cut feeding on small mullet and baitfish, mainly on the lunar peaks and when tides are moving the fastest.

A3

The Island Car Wash in Port A next to Whataburger has started construction and should be open for business by the busy summer season. The one on North Padre services more than 200 vehicles on the weekend days.

Downtown Farmer’s Market has locally grown produce, as well as, farm fresh eggs and fresh goat cheese. The weekly market is every Wednesday 5 pm – 7 pm outside the Tango Tea Room 505 South Water Street.

Meet Riley!

This sweet little lamb is as cute as can be! He has a soft white curly coat and golden brown eyes. He was found last month in pretty bad shape. He was underweight, had mange, and was totally terrified. Despite this rough beginning, he has a gentle, yet silly personality.

He loves just being with people. We think that Riley is a two year old, 20 lbs, poodlebassette hound mix male (a poodassette!). He is currently neutered, utd on shots, and is on heartworm preventative. Riley gets along great with other dogs, but is not sure around cats. He has done well with potty training and currently sleeps in a crate. This little guy needs a loving, forever home. If you would like to meet Riley, please contact John or Karen @ 361-877-8521.

Islanders Joe and Amy Gazin recently took a cruise and William got to swim with the dolphins.

A 4

Island Moon

Development Continued from A1

Requiem Continued from A1

The documents also say “significant portions” of the tracts are wetlands with “limited development potential. However, they go on to say “at least 50% of the total land is available for development.” They also say the developer of the land presented to the City Planning Commission a Concept Plan and Intensity Table for development of the entire 1200 acres.

representatives from Vista del Mar spoke to the council during the meeting.

High tides through Wednesday afternoon and evening sent the crowds heading for higher ground as the beach road filled with water in many areas and even with the sparse crowd parking spots were at a premium.

Uses indicated by those documents are “executive housing, village residential uses, condominiums, research/office/commercial, resort/conference, village commercial, desalination plant, two 18-hole golf courses, and a marina.” The city documents go on to say the “density proposed by the owner in the Concept Plan and the intensity Table is less than what would be allowed” by the zoning approved by the city council on Tuesday. In the words of city staff, the proposed plan fits within the approved zoning parameters.

The zoning extension was enacted retroactively by the council to take effect in December 2011, ten years from the original effective date of the zoning in 2001.

Specifically, the approved zoning allows for “single family with a Special Permit to allow for mixed use development.”

The land use for the proposed 1200 acres breaks down as follows:

No information was provided to the council during the presentation about why the extension was for only two years or when/how/ if the developers plan to move forward with the project. No

Thursday By sunup the next morning the rush was on. By mid-afternoon Thursday cars were backed up to the base of the JFK Causeway and police officers had their hands full with traffic. The drive/wait time from SPID to Zahn Road was about forty five minutes and the beach drive from Access Road 3, the only way onto that section of the beach, back to Zahn Road, was right at an hour.

The road was one lane and parking on the beach side was crowded to the point of there not being any. The crowd was mixed with families settled in next to groups of tattooed and bandana clad kids with a few actual college kids mixed in.

Locals who made the mistake of going OTB for an errand found themselves having to cut through at Aquarius and weave their way through the neighborhoods until they could cut to Commodores and then on to Compass to SPID to get to Whitecap. The hope is that by next year Aquarius will go all the way through and eliminate the Whitecap Switchback.

Friday

The Tarpon Ice House Presents

The Louisiana Swamp Romp & Gumbo Cook-Off Sponsored by the Island Moon Newspaper It’s Cajun! It’s Zydeco! The Louisiana Swamp Romp & Gumbo Cookoff is all about the music and the food!

The Swamp Romp is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2012 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Tarpon Ice House in Downtown Port Aransas, Texas. It’s all about the music and food. All are invited to join in the Coastal Bend’s largest celebration of everything from the bayou.

Gumbo Cook-Off:

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Gumbo Cook-Off Tasting/Judgin

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Gumbo Cook-Off Awards

6:00 p.m.

Swamp Romp Music Opening Act TBA Headline Act: Ponty Bone & The Squeezetones

7:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

Admission to event:

That evening in Port Aransas police got a report of a stabbing but after scouring the beach for almost an hour they found no victim and no suspect.

$10.00

(Children under 12 years FREE)

Applications for entry in the Gumbo Cook-Off will be accepted through April 1, 2012. A limit of 20 entries are available. Entry fee for Gumbo Cook-Off is $25.00. Each Gumbo Cook-Off participant must supply their own tables, chairs, propane, equipment, serving instruments signage, trash cans, and all necessary food. Gumbo Cook-Off participants will be supplied with a 10x10 foot space for set up. Additional space is available for an additional fee.

Crawfish, crawfish and more crawfish. Crawdads will be available for sale at the Tarpon Ice House from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. or until they run out.

Arts & Crafts booths will be available on a limited basis. Application deadline is March 22, 2012. Booth spaces are limited to a 10x10 foot area. Booth fee is $75.00. All items sold must be approved in advance at the time of application and payment. All items must be in good taste. Preference will be given to Cajun, Louisiana, and Mardi Gras items.

www.PortAransasLive.com

Things hit with full force on Friday. By 2:30 Friday afternoon news of the good weather had spread through the Hill Country and traffic backed up well onto the bridge and for a short time all the way to Laguna Shores. Firemen took advantage of the traffic jam to pass the boot at Commodores and SH 361 for charity and police officers went down the waiting line writing seatbelt tickets.

It was a good warm-up for Saturday.

Saturday By noon Saturday it was clear it would be a long afternoon. Traffic was backed up from the temporary traffic light at Zahn Road all afternoon and eventually as far inland as Gun Club Road. The drive/wait from there to Commodores was over an hour. In midafternoon the police department put out a tweet urging people to avoid The Island and head for Corpus Christi Beach near downtown.

Islanders already on the south side of Commodores could readily head south to Kleberg County and/or Mike Ellis Beach south of the Packery where beaches were crowded but not packed with locals. A check of that section of beach on Sunday after the crowds cleared found it to be mostly free of litter as locals showed proper beach etiquette and didn’t Mess With Texas Beaches.

We headed into the SH 361 northbound parking lot and as we approached the spot near the 361 Bridge where two lanes merge into one noticed a lot of drivers who took to the bar ditch to get around the line and as they approached the pinch point forced their way into the line of people who had been waiting their turn which produced the response of many words not heard in the Bible along with gestures not appropriate for mixed company.

By the time we reached Access Road three where beach access was allowed it was closed off by police. There was no room left on the beach for driving or parking; in fact they were one in the same as the line of cars that snaked from Access Road 3 back to Zahn was no longer moving.

Police were stopping people from parking on the east side of 361 and walking across moving traffic to the beach, which has happened in the past two years. The only exception was the parking lot near Access Road 3 which was full and pedestrians crossed the highway under the direction of police.

Out on the beach the crowd was packed into the driving lanes and there was no room for more people or cars. Sometime in the afternoon a Black Hummer 2 hit a pedestrian near Beach Marker 98 and somehow managed to get through the line of cars and onto SPID without being stopped. It was last seen heading over the JFK and as of this writing has not been located.

Meanwhile, police in Port Aransas reported that as the beaches on the Corpus end were closed the rush headed north up the landing strip. A drive down the beach access road that runs through Newport Dunes Golf Course led to a sight that is seldom seen on area beaches. Police forced all beach traffic to turn south because the crowd north from the access road all the way to Avenue G on the southside of Port Aransas was so packed between the dunes and the wooden beach bollards was so thick there was no traffic lane.

March 22, 2012

a free run of the beach and it was the favorite of the Spring Break crowd made up primarily of college students. Cars moved at 5 mph and parking spaces were non-existent. As far as the eye could see there was a scrum of teens and twenty-somethings doing what spring breakers do; walking around, consuming mass quantities of their drink of choice, painting their faces and bodies bright colors, working on their lobster tans, and occasionally letting out Rebel yells.

Confederate and pirate flags were everywhere and the beach was littered with discarded beer cans and plastic bags.

We turned around, the only choice, and headed back out to 361 the way we came in where things had become so congested that the people directing traffic were overwhelmed. At one point we sat in the middle of a honking throng as they had traffic stopped in all directions.

Noone was moving and the traffic directors were walking to windows asking for patience.

We all sat there looking around and wondering why we came.

But as we made our way on into Port Aransas everything cleared up. By the time we got to the light at Avenue G we could turn right and head to the beach without any problems. We turned north toward the jetty and found that while there were few head-in parking spots along the bollards the beach was barely peopled. By some invisible logarithmic law it turns out that on a section of the beach with bollards it is not possible to deliver enough people with the parking spaces available to fill the beach with people; and beaches jammed with people were what brought most of the Spring Breakers to The Island in the first place.

The scene from Avenue G north to Beach Street was completely different than that from Avenue G south. To the south was a mass of humanity that at any moment could have broken out in full riot mode, to the north were families in tents with smoking grills outside and kids making sand castles.

The streets of Port Aransas were no more full than any average summer weekend. The action was on the beach where by the end of the day five different agencies had made a total of 245 arrests but made only two emergency medical pick ups. Later that night there were reports of a woman calling in from the beach to say she was pinned between two cars exchanging gunfire but when police searched the area they found no victims and no suspects. There was also an unconfirmed report of someone hitting a police officer in the head with a shovel.

Estimates are that there were 100,000 people on Port Aransas beaches and just over 50,000 on Corpus beaches. Traffic counters on roads on the Padre end will eventually produce an exact count of cars but as of this writing are still deployed and no figures are available.

Sunday

Early Sunday afternoon we drove the beach from the Port A jetty all the way to the Kleberg County line. The beaches in Port A were nearly empty except for the ground covering of empty cans, bottles, and other litter. Tents had been abandoned but we found none worth taking down and keeping. Spring Break is rough on tents.

Access Road 3 on Mustang was still a parking lot with traffic backed all the way up to the highway but at least the access road was open.

By this time people were making one last cruise down the beach to Zahn Road before heading OTB and on to points north. South of the Packery the locals were enjoying the great weather and looked like just another day at the beach.

Lessons learned

We did learn a few things. First, if you are going to the area around Newport Pass, between Access Road 3 and Zahn Road, get there by mid-morning and plan to stay. Any other plan is just not worth the trouble.

If you want to go to the beach do so at Whitecap. It will be crowded but bearable.

The Aquarius Extension which will be open by next year will make a huge difference as it will allow passage from the base of the JFK Bridge all the way to the far south end of The Island without ever getting on SPID and allow Islander to avoid the Whitecap Switchback. It seems like a small thing, except on the busiest day of Spring Break on The Island.

The crowd to the south was not much lighter. This is the spot where the beach bollards end and vehicles have

Johnny D’s

15605 SPID n 949-2500 Hours:

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

Happy Hour 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. $2.00 Pints

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

Full Service Bar Featuring 7 Draft Beers Daily Features. Fresh Fish. on Tap

15600 SPID On the Island 949-2500 HOURS-Closed MONDAYS Check our website for daily specials TUES-SAT 4:30 till 10:00 and more information SUNDAY 4:30 till 9:00 www.letseat.at/johnnydsrestaurant

We will cook your catch.

Great Daily Dinner Specials

Live music most Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays

March 22, 2012

Island Moon

Letters to the Editor Be Proud, Texas

Riley P. Dog

At a holiday party a woman who knew my experience in education approached me to make conversation. She began, “I think it’s just awful that the dropout rate in Texas is 35%.” I was stunned. I knew her number was not correct, but I didn’t have information to counter, so I simply said, “I know that isn’t right. I’ll find out the real number and get back to you.”

Editor’s note: We got this missive from a nice lady up Canada way who found Riley P. Dog’s facebook page. She too has a dog named Riley P. Dog who is a blue heeler about the same age as the Island version. But the really amazing part is that people have time to Google things while at work. Who knew!?

It was several months before I found accurate information from the Commissioner of Education Robert Scott himself. Here it is: In Texas, 80% of all students graduate from high school in four years. Another 9% take an additional year to finish, and 1% take the GED.

It’s quite something that we both have Heelers named Riley P Dog.

Back in my heyday in education—the 1980’s and 90’s—measures were taken to improve the quality of education for Texas students. We called it accountability, and the system was designed for steady, incremental improvement and gradual increase in difficulty. Great emphasis was on reducing dropouts. The accountability system worked. A colleague who works with education systems across the U.S. recently remarked that Texas is about 15 years ahead of other states.

Because we now have so much data, it’s possible to see what’s happening with Texas students. Michael Marder, professor of physics and co-director of UTeach at the University of Texas, has studied the data and produced visualizations that reveal that Texas students, when compared with their peers, are among the best in the nation, and U.S. students, when compared with their peers, are among the best in the world. The greatest single factor in all this data is poverty. Simply stated, most students from poverty do not do as well as their more affluent classmates.

Editor,

I had a bit of time at work one day and Googled my dog’s name. Much to my amazement I see he has a Facebook account. I couldn’t believe I was seeing another Heeler with the same name as mine. So, I just wanted to ask how you came up with the name for your pet?

When my Riley P Dog was a young pup he of course would submit by rolling on his back and peeing. Hence the P Dog part of his name. The Riley part was pulled from a hat.

He just celebrated his 16th birthday and still going strong. Take care and thanks for your reply.

Cheryl Hanet Vancouver British Columbia Canada

Nancy Oelklaus, Campaign Chair Be Proud, Texas 5400 Mount Bonnell Road, Austin, TX 78731 512-431-4946 (cell)

Riley P. Dog (Canada) with his Canadian humans

Love it or Leave it?

I don’t know who I’m responding to, but this is in response to A. Nonny’s response to my letter to the Moon on the 9th. The name omits a gender, i.e. Mr., Ms. Mrs. Now take your pick. Also, no abode. So here’s to you out there somewhere. If the truth were known it’s probably an island resident. You misunderstood the contents of my letter as the Island, then and now, is stagnant. Nothing has changed, only my tax bill. A slight adjustment will be required to adapt to a beautifully transformed Island atmosphere for people of all ages. The implementation of the upcoming projects will eventually produce a first class tourist resort.

Don’t make the same mistake as I. Time is still on your side to take a hike if you do not plan to make the adjustment. Change is good for society. The best for everyone will prevail no matter your state of mind on Island matters.

John Doyle (Full Name) Island Resident (Abode)

Who Are the Moon Monkeys

Mike Ellis, Founder Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin 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.

Mayor’s Council on Aging to Host Senior Art show ‘Art From The Wise Heart’ on May 4

Registration runs through April 20

The City of Corpus Christi’s Mayor’s Council on Aging (MCOA) and the Treehouse Art Collective, LCC are co-sponsoring ‘Art from the Wise Heart’ on Friday, May 4, 2012 in celebration of Older Americans Month. The public is invited to this free art exhibit from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Water Street Market, 309 North Water Street, Corpus Christi. It will be hosted in conjunction with First Friday Art Walk. Artwork created by talented local older adults will be featured in this show.

In addition to the exhibit, a reception will be held by Treehouse Art Collective, LCC and sponsored by Mirador. Information about the many services offered to local seniors will be available.

The MCOA is a coalition of volunteer representatives of senior groups, service providers, and advocates for seniors, seeking to raise awareness of the needs of the city’s older adults, coordinate available resources, and develop a network for local seniors’ affairs in and around the city of Corpus Christi, Texas.

The mission of the MCOA is ‘to help older

Redfish Bay Chapter, CCA Texas, will hold its annual banquet on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Port Aransas Civic Center starting at 6 PM. We are planning a great evening of fun and fellowship! This is a family event will include a live auction, silent auction, and raffle tickets for coastal art, fishing and hunting packages, and many other great items. For the non-sports persons, we have art work, home decoration items, jewelry, and photography donated by local merchants and friends of CCA. The meal for the evening will be grilled fish and fried shrimp with all the trimmings. Tickets, which include the meal and a CCA membership, are $60 for an individual or $95 for a married couple. Corporate tables are available for $500 a table, and the price includes table signage, program recognition, reserved seating, and a table gift for the buyer.

In the meantime, we have reason to be proud of our students and the educators who serve them.

So Be Proud, Texas!

http://www.fotps/beproud

Calling All Artists Age 60 and Over persons lead dignified, meaningful lives in an age-friendly community.’

“This event will highlight the many artistic talents of local senior artists who continue to contribute to our community through their passion for the arts and cultural events,” said Janna Shoe, MCOA member. “In recognition of Older Americans Month, we are celebrating all senior citizens across the nation, not only those living in Corpus Christi. As part of that national celebration, the ‘Art from the Wise Heart’ event will feature many talented Corpus Christi senior artists and the cultural impact they still have on our community.”

Seniors age 60 or older (as of May 4, 2012) who wish to participate, may pick up a registration form from their nearest Senior Center or online at www.ccparkandrec.com or at www.treehouseartcc.com . Categories are Painting, Drawing, Photography and Poetry.

Deadline to submit forms and entries is Friday, April 20, 2012. For more information, contact the Corpus Christi Senior Community Services Division at 361-826-3150.

We invite you to Live. Learn. Play!

Redfish Bay Chapter CCA Texas to Hold its Annual Fundraising Banquet

We still have much to do to improve our accountability system and the performance of all students, especially those from poverty. It’s a process that never ends because the world is constantly changing.

Nancy@HeadtoHeart.com

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CCA Texas has funded $3,019,592 for various conservation efforts in Texas since 2006. Of those funds, $1,024,600 have had a direct impact on the Coastal Bend since 2009. CCA has funded the new UTMSI research lab,

shrimp license buybacks, TPWD Game Warden Equipment, graduate-level scholarships, a tripletail study, marsh restoration, TPWD flounder study equipment, intern programs, and TPWD trout brochures and fish identification booklets. Please help us continue to improve our coastal marine environment through your support of our fund raising events.

This event would not be possible without all of our donors and sponsors who are helping with this year’s event, and Redfish Bay Chapter would like to extend its thanks in advance to these organizations and people. We would also like to thank Chris’s Marine in Aransas Pass for being the 2012 title sponsor. If you want additional information concerning the banquet, want to purchase tickets, or want to sponsor a corporate table or event, please call, Norman Oates (Aransas Pass) at 361-758-0266 or John Blaha at 800-626-4222 or jdblaha@ccatexas. org.

Hope to see you at the banquet!

Island United PAC preparing for November 2012 elections

By Phyllis Freeman

Riley P. Dog (Canada) Exercising using Riley P. Dog Method

Wind Power Editor, Texas is the national leader in wind energy generation installations, further it is the manufacturing hub for the wind energy industry. What that also means for Texans is an awful lot of families rely on the jobs that are created here to put food on the table. Not to mention the numerous long-term economic and environmental benefits that derives from it.

With production tax credits (PTC) set to expire, there is clearly more than just bragging rights at stake here.

The Internal Revenue Service allows for incentives for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources including wind, but these incentives are set to expire after December 31, 2012. Unfortunately, the PTC extension was not included in the recent payroll tax proposal.

Manufacturing at the 420 U.S. facilities, including those right here in Texas, have already started to slow and can be expected to continue to drop off as the year progresses.

This in-turn impacts not only the state’s future energy needs, but also industries that rely on manufacturing such as the truckers who haul supplies, components and equipment in and outof-state to their destinations. That is somewhere between 8000 – 9000 jobs that are supported directly and indirectly from the wind industry’s presence in Texas. You are hard pressed to find a Texas seaport today that doesn’t have commodities for wind energy bustling through it docks.

In addition, over the last four years, wind energy has accounted for more than 35 percent of all new domestic generating capacity. This is only behind natural gas, but more than coal and nuclear energy combined. The best part of all of this is that wind is a clean energy and never seems to run out.

The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration is predicting that if the PTC is allowed to expire; the wind industry will install very little new generating capacity in 2013. Jobs will be lost and $10-20 billion of capital investment for the nation gone with it.

The trucking industry will continue to work with the Texas delegation in Washington to support the PTC. This tax credit works the way it was intended to – by keeping Texas wind power working for all of us.

Keep Texas Wind Power Working

By John D. Esparza Texas Motor Transportation Association President and CEO

Around the Island Continued from A1 for staff and that’s a sign that things are moving forward. We’ll keep you posted.

There have been no recent sightings of the Canalligator so we got that going for us. Maybe he’ll turn up during the Spoil Island Cleanup in a few weeks. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

Co-Chair Committee

Endorsement

The Island United PAC is gearing up for the November 2012 elections. This is going to be one of the most important elections the Island has been involved in. Therefore, it’s going to be crucial that we turn out the vote and that we vote “United”.

In the past two City elections, the Island has voted overwhelmingly in support of the candidates endorsed by the PAC. As a result, the City has been more responsive and more supportive than ever before. Some of the Island’s successes include the formation of the Island Strategic Action Committee, the commitment to build Aquarius, funding the Park Road 22 Bridge and the focus on keeping our beaches clean.

The candidates that we endorse are not selected by our Board...they are voted on by you, the registered voters on the Island. So please attend our Candidate forums during which you get to hear directly from the candidates and decide, that night, who you want to endorse. We’ll post the dates and locations here in the Moon as soon as they are confirmed.

You can always email us at islandunitedpac@ gmail.com, view our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/islandunitedpac, or visit our website at www.islandunitedpac.com

Our next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, April 4, 6PM at the Holiday Inn. Please join us so we can hear your thoughts and suggestions.

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On the Rocks

Island Moon

No Excuses

March 22, 2012

Trivia Question of the Week What is this a photo of?

By Jay Gardener Wow what a weekend folks!

Hopefully you locals managed to keep it all together and not get assailed too much by the spring breakers. Many of us boycotted going too far from the homestead; I’m sure it was crazy out there on the sand. Traffic was once again backed up off the island to the HEB in Flour Bluff with folks trying to get on the Island last Saturday. That’s a bunch of cars.

Onward through the fog Last week I actually took a couple of days off and did some fishing with Rockstar Bob. We loaded up a boat and headed on down to Baffin Bay and the Meadows. We had to carefully pick our way through the fog as that stuff has been pretty thick lately in the morning.

Boaters beware if you haven’t gotten out in that stuff before and you give it a shot! You will get disoriented extremely quickly and wind up hitting something!

But anyway, we headed down south, and besides the fog, the winds were really light in the morning. We hopped out of the boat, and started wading around. The water was great, there was bait flipping everywhere, and I didn’t get a bite. Rockstar Bob caught 6-7

No Excuses Due to the heavy traffic around the Island last weekend, we decided to cut out and go inland. I started on Friday by going to the Dog Tracks for the “No Excuses” BBQ competition. I wasn’t really there to stay up all night hovering over the pit, I was there to see Charlie Robison. I think the band was disappointed at first at the very low numbers of turn-out, but after a few songs they saw that the few people that were there were there to see them play, they got cranked up and played one heck of a show.

I haven’t seen Charlie in several years, and he did not disappoint.

Rattlin’ snakes in Old San Pat decent trout (all released). I got nothing and liked it, especially because it was a Monday and I wasn’t at work. Evidently we drove way to far south, as Danny, Big Al, and Clay nailed them on the King Ranch Shoreline (KRS). They had an epic day, with several trout over 27” released, and another 8 over 22”. They even got into the redfish, as they were one short of a boat-limit.

Then on Sunday we headed up to Old San Patricio and attended the World Championship Rattlesnake Races where Veronice was supposed to defend her title of Grand Rattlesnake Racer from a couple of years back. Roadkill Willie and I watched from the safety of the bleachers, but alas, Veronice didn’t get a very peppy snake

July 26, 1845 began what must be considered seven and one-half months of the most colorful period in the life of Corpus Christi. On that day, according to the diary of one Lt. Col. Ethan Allen Hitchcock men under his orders left a transport vessel moored off St. Joseph’s Island and planted the first U.S. flag ever flown in Texas.

Occupation Occupation got off to a tough start. The first two companies from the small boat under Hitchcock’s command ran aground and had to be rescued by seven fishing boats whose curious owners had gathered to watch the action. On board the boat Suviah young lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant was just learning to like tobacco and fell overboard and had to be hauled up in a bucket.

Local Mexican traders began showing up to do business with the troops. According to Hitchcock they “bring their money in silver bars, molded in sand, each embracing $50$60 in pure silver bars which are exchanged by weight.”

On August 15 General Taylor moved his headquarters to Corpus Christ – North Beach – where the grass was as tall as a man’s head.

Taylor himself moved into a house on Water Street.

So needless to say, Rockstar Bob and I joined them the next day, on Tuesday, and it was one of those “should have been there yesterday” fishing trips, as I didn’t even get bite one. Two days of skunked! At lease Rockstar Bob caught this nice 25” fattie on a topwater and let her go to spawn another day.

On a sultry August night a few weeks later panic swept through the camp of the Seventh U.S. Infantry when rattlesnakes caused the soldiers to flee before the slithering enemy.

At dawn they returned to kill an army of 114 snakes.

CCA Banquet The 34th Annual CCA-Corpus Christi Chapter Banquet/Fundraiser is coming up next week (March 29th! Quickly approaching). Come on out and join us at 5:30 pm next Thursday at the American Bank Center downtown. We have a ton of great prizes, including a Majek boat, with a motor and a trailer for $10 a raffle ticket! In addition, we also have a John Deere ATV this year that is awesome! We will have tons of great silent and raffle items, including fishing and hunting conservation artwork, rods, reels, guns, shotguns, trips, and of course two lab puppies that are just adorable! Come on out and join us for some good times all in the name of conservation.

Trivia Question of the Week from last issue What was the first newspaper in Corpus Christi?

Over the next few weeks more men arrived including such future luminaries as Taylor’s son-in-law Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, William Tecumseh Sherman, George Meade, Albert Sidney Johnston, Joseph Hooker, Franklin T. Pierce, and A. P. Hill. For those interested the diary left behind by Colonel Hitchcock provides a vivid picture of life in Corpus Christi during these turbulent times.

La Estrella Americana Henry Lawrence Kinney first settled in Corpus Christi when Texas was still a republic. He set up a trading post and began trading with Mexicans who came up from the Rio Grande to in her first heat and was eliminated. Better luck next time. The only action I got into was loaning my boots to some lady that needed them for the Ladies’ Boot Races. That was a fun time there, if you haven’t seen one of those before. They had about 20 ladies out there, and actually raised over $500 for the Wounded Warriors program in the process. They bag up all the boots mixed up on the opposite side of the field, and then have the ladies run down in their socks, and the first one to get their boots on and back down the field is the winner. That was a hoot.

The Rattle snake races are more than just that; there were some rides for the kids, they had a monkey that would take a quarter from you and stuff it in his pocket, and mechanical bulls, live music, pony rides, camels, and all kinds of stuff.

Make sure to go check it out next year.

Burning daylight Thank goodness we’ve moved past daylight savings times. I can actually get out and get a few things done after work and have a little light left.

The official first day of spring was last week, and the pecan trees behind my work finally did start blooming. Its’ here.

Along with some mold and pollen, which is making a lot of folks allergies pretty miserable.

I want to throw a big Congrats to Nick and Jackie, who got married this past weekend out on the island actually on St. Patricks day at the Big Church.

I’m proud of you two and you’re going to do great.

See ya’ll on the sand for Sunday Funday at local beach!

We’re taking it back!

trade horses, mules, saddles, blankets, and silver for cloth, guns, ammunition, and cartloads of tobacco. Since both Mexico and the United States claimed the Nueces Strip between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers most of the trade was done through smuggling to avoid having to pay tariffs to both countries.

When Taylor’s army landed Corpus Christi had less than 100 residents and just a few small buildings including a hotel and several homes, most of which were owned by Kinney. Kinney sold most of them to the U.S. Army.

To keep people up to date on the goings-on during the troops’ stay he decided to found the area’s first newspaper. It was called La Estrella Americana – the American Star. The paper was printed both in English and Spanish. Not only did it keep people up with the events of the day it was also the vehicle through Kinney sold lots.

Many soldiers bought lots and returned after the Mexican War.

No ladies and very few women

It was a time of change and growth in the burgeoning hamlet nestled on the bay. A post office was established; Army engineers laid out a cemetery, now the site of the Bay View Cemetery. Its first customers were eight men who were killed on the transport boat Dayton which future President Grant was to sail on but changed his mind at the last moment. The Dayton’s boiler exploded off the shore near Ingleside where its wreck still resides.

On December 29, 1845 La Estrella Americana printed news of the proposed new State constitution by the U.S. Congress. It was read by the estimated 2000 adventurers, gamblers, speculators, and drifters who now had flocked to the area. It was said of the town at that time, “There are no ladies and very few women.”

Approval of the constitution was the De facto annexation of Texas and on February 16, 1846 the flag of the Republic of Texas was hauled down and the Stars and Strips took its place.

The war with Mexico was on and the Army began preparations for move south. All covered

by La Estrella Americana in both English and Spanish.

Dale Rankin

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March 22, 2012

Legislative Update

Island Moon

Todd Hunter, District 32

Speaker Appoints Joint Interim Committees (Human Trafficking) During the 81st Texas Legislature, I Chaired the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee. It is while serving as Chairman of that committee that I learned how serious a problem human trafficking is in the State of Texas. It is for this reason that during the 82nd Texas Regular Legislative Session, I filed and the legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 68, which was signed on June 17, 2011, by Governor Rick Perry. HCR 68 officially requested that the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House create a joint interim study committee.

fraud or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

• A commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.

• Any commercial sex act, if the person is under 18 years of age, regardless of whether any form of coercion is involved.

Between 2008-2010, data was collected through the Human Trafficking Reporting System. During that time period Federally At the beginning of 2012, Lieutenant Governor funded task forces opened more than 2500 cases David Dewhurst and Texas House Speaker of suspected human trafficking. Out of those 2500 cases approximately 82% were classified as sex trafficking, with about Individuals seeking to force people in to 1,000 of those incidents involving allegations of prostitution or human trafficking do not discriminate sexual exploitation of a child. The amongst their victims and often prey upon remaining cases were connected to trafficking for labor purposes those who are most vulnerable. and other unknown reasons.

Joe Straus appointed the members of the Joint Committee on Human Trafficking. The committee is comprised of seven Texas House members and seven Texas Senate members.

The committee is tasked with analyzing ways to combat the human trafficking trade within the State of Texas, as well as identifying services that may be available to victims of human trafficking and the best practices that can be utilized by public-private partnerships. It is extremely important that the State of Texas take a lead role in combating human trafficking due to the state’s large geographical size and busy ports.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for one of three purposes: • Labor or services, through the use of force,

It is important to know that human trafficking is not exclusive to one segment of society. Human trafficking involves victims of all races, age groups, both males and females and United States Citizens, as well as non-citizens. Individuals seeking to force people in to human trafficking do not discriminate amongst their victims and often prey upon those who are most vulnerable.

At the end of March, I am proud to be hosting the Human Trafficking Summit in connection with Del Mar and Victoria Colleges. The Summit will be held on March 29th from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Center for Economic Development on the Del Mar College campus in Corpus Christi, Texas. Keynote speakers will include Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor of Victoria County and The Honorable Senfronia Thompson. If you would like to attend please feel free to contact my office for additional information or go to my website. The Summit is free for everyone to attend If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office.

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

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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.

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Local Ducks Unlimited chapter earns place in President’s Elite Corpus Christi Chapter recognized nationally The President’s Elite are among Ducks Unlimited’s most prestigious volunteer chapters throughout the nation. Every year, the list is reserved for the chapters that raise $100,000 or more for DU’s habitat conservation work. This past fall, the Corpus Christi Chapter made the list as one of the organization’s best fundraising chapters.

“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the grassroots force making a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President John Newman. “It takes a great deal of effort to achieve the President’s Elite level, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”

The Corpus Christi Chapter earned a spot in the President’s Elite out of the more than 2,700 DU chapters nationwide. DU’s event fundraising system has long been a model for other conservation organizations around the world and has funded a significant portion of the more than 12 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat DU has conserved since 1937.

This year’s President’s Elite chapters also have the distinction of being honored during DU’s 75th Anniversary year, celebrated with special events and wetland project dedications

nationwide. The President’s Elite will be recognized during DU’s 75th National Convention in Nashville at the end of May, with many chapter representatives in attendance.

“DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our drinking water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities,” Newman said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our President’s Elite chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters next year.”

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

CCA Texas Takes Bold Step in Opening Cedar Bayou $500,000 pledge kicks off multi-million dollar fundraising campaign The Coastal Conservation Association Texas recently announced a $500,000 matching grant to initiate a new push in generating the funding to open Aransas County’s Cedar Bayou and Vincent Slough. After decades of negative impacts from siltation and low water flows, an estimated $6.5M effort will be required to open the vital connection from Mesquite and Aransas Bays to the Gulf of Mexico.

“It is not often that there is an opportunity to reopen a vital and iconic pass,” said Robby Byers, CCA Texas executive director. “There is still a lot of money to be raised and a lot of work to do, but CCA Texas kicked off a critical next step with this financial support.”

Cedar Bayou is a natural pass that separates St. Joseph’s Island from Matagorda Island.

Dredging efforts date back to the 1930s, but partial efforts, siltation and misplacement of spoil materials have eventually led to the pass and adjacent Vincent Slough being sealed.

Along with the kick-off funding, CCA Texas will partner with Aransas County in providing funds to secure a professional fundraiser to

pursue the needed dollars to complete the dredging project. To date, Aransas County has already secured $500,000 in Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds for the project.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the economic and environmental future of Aransas County and the State of Texas,” said Judge C.H. Mills. “Our partnership with CCA in this important effort is a much-needed boost to push this initiative forward.”

After a protracted application and approval process, Judge Mills signed the dredging permit for Cedar Bayou and Vincent Slough on August 3 of 2010. Although the pass has been dredged numerous times through history, this is the largest and most comprehensive effort slated to date.

“Anytime you can open a pass between the Gulf and bay, you are creating a tremendous benefit for the bay and the anglers who enjoy it,” said Mark Ray, CCA Texas Chairman. “CCA Texas has supported this important effort for decades and this new support will hopefully reopen this vital pass for generations to come.”

Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship Open to High School Seniors

Texas high school seniors who care about the environment have the chance to win a college scholarship by composing a 350-word essay explaining what they’ve done to improve the litter situation in their community.

The ninth annual Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship is sponsored by BASF Corporation’s Freeport, Texas, location in partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful. Don’t Mess with Texas is accepting essays for the 2012 Scholarship March 15 through April 20, 2012.

The first-place winner will receive $3,000. The second- and third-place winners will receive $1,000 each.

Don’t Mess with Texas is a litter prevention campaign sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation. The scholarship is one of TxDOT’s efforts to generate more youth

involvement in the campaign.

Eligibility: Any high school senior graduating spring 2012, who currently resides and attends school in Texas. Seniors planning to further their education at an accredited two- or fouryear college or university (public or private) in Texas. Timeline: March 15, 2012 – April 20, 2012. Materials are due via email or must be postmarked by April 20, 2012.

Requirements: A 300 to 350 word-essay identifying a litter problem in the student’s school or community and the action he or she took to address it. A completed Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship application sent online or by mail with the essay by April 20, 2012.

For the application, mailing address or further details, visit www.DontMessWithTexas.org.

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Pirate’s Funky Country Music Festival

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.

Transistordale (San Antonio), HOBO (Corpus Christi), and The Newton Gang (Brooklyn NYC) are tentatively included in the line-up.

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.

Island Moon

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 Just Published

New Local History Book!

The Robert Mercer family kept a daily diary for 11 years in the mid 1800s about their life and times on Mustang Island. They called the diary the Mercer Logs as they were bar pilots.

The Mercer Logs are unprecedented in that they are the only record of the early pioneer days on Mustang Island.

The Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Association has published this invaluable historical record by way of the book, The Mercer Logs: Pioneer Times on Mustang Island, Texas. Local historian and PAPHA board member J. Guthrie Ford, Ph.D., chose approximately 250 verbatim log entries and organized them in topical chapters, such as Extreme Weather, Maritime World, and Ranch and Cattle Era. This 110 page, coffee-table size book, of which only 251 were printed (each book is numbered), also contains 28 images, photographs, and maps pertinent to the Mercer family.

The Mercer Logs book is available at the gift shop of the Port Aransas Museum, open Thursday through Saturday, 1-5. The book can also be mail ordered by clicking on the Gift Shop tab at www.portaransasmuseum.org.

Port A Happenings Pool hours

The Port Aransas Community Pool was well used during the extended hours of Spring Break.

The hours now are: Open Swim: Tuesday through Thursday …1 2 pm; Fri Sat Sun…1 - 5 pm Lap Swim: Tuesday through Thursday: (shared time)…8:30 am to 2 pm; Friday (shared time)…8:30 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday (lap swim only)…12 noon to 1 pm; (shared time)…1 pm to 5 pm Water Exercise: Tuesday through Friday …8:30 - 9:30 am, 9:30 - 10:30 am, 12 noon – 1 pm The pool is located at 700 Clark Parkway, off Ross Avenue in Port Aransas.

Be on the safe side and call to check pool status before coming, 361-749-2416.

Weather related closings include too cool temperatures and high wind. It takes four employees up to an hour to uncover or cover the pool with pool blankets that help keep the warmth. Staff check reports for morning predictions of wind/cold and decide to open accordingly. If afternoon winds are predicted, staff must also decide well in advance to set the blankets on the pool without injury to staff or damage to the blankets.

Heating with gas, solar and blanketing allow the pool to be used much of the fall, winter and spring in comfort.

Beach Walk All ages are invited to take a stroll on the Port A tomorrow, Friday, March 23. A free guided tour is held each month lead by the fun and knowledgeable Shirley Fischer.

Meet her at 9 am, under the purple flag, near Horace Caldwell Pier at the end of Beach Street.

She will share her vast wealth of information on the up-to-two-hour walk between the pier and the jetties.

You can choose how much of the walk you want to be a participant.

Bring a container to store the treasures you find. The sargassum holds lots of interesting items, live and dead.

The walk is held each month courtesy of the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.

Recycling Answers Got questions about recycling in the Coastal Bend? Answers may be had as Keep Port Aransas Beautiful has Mike Reeves, Municipal Marketing Manager for Republic Services (Allied Waste) come to speak at their next meeting. It will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Community Center, 408 N. Alister.

Reeves will give a presentation about recycling by the company that provides the service for Port Aransas and the Coastal Bend.

March 22, 2012

Islander David Sikes Honored at 2012 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards

Ducks Unlimited has announced the winners of the 2012 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards during the 77th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, held at the Hilton Atlanta. This year’s winner in the Communications category is Islander David Sikes, outdoors columnist for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

“David has been a driving force for communicating issues important to waterfowl and wetlands conservation along the Gulf Coast and throughout Texas,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt. “He has spent the last decade using his writing to promote the work of conservation organizations and the benefits that work provides hunters and waterfowl.”

DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America’s wetlands and other waterfowl habitat. As the “Caller-Times” outdoors columnist since 1998, Sikes serves as a regular and reliable source of conservationrelated information for approximately 50,000 southeast Texans. Sikes also promotes the outdoor offerings of the Coastal Bend in multiple venues, including other newspaper columns, magazine articles and group presentations, including the Texas DU State Convention.

Sikes’ friends and colleagues are quick to point out the writer’s active pursuit of the topics he covers. Rather than sitting behind a computer wondering where his readers’ interests lie, Sikes is out in the field, fishing the same waters and hunting the same areas.

“David is out there finding the stories. And he has a knack for seeing a much bigger picture.

Corpus Christi is a long, long way from the Prairie Pothole Region, but through his writing, people along the Texas Gulf Coast understand the issues facing the Duck Factory,” said David Schuessler, DU’s national director of grassroots fundraising and a longtime friend of Sikes’. “David helps his readers understand the linkages between places as far removed as Eston, Saskatchewan, and Edna, Texas.”

Sikes is a longtime member of the board of directors of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and currently serves as the association’s president. He has received numerous awards from TOWA and was named the 2012 Professional Conservationist of the Year by the Harvey Weil Foundation.

“Conservation is the lifeblood of hunting and fishing,” Sikes said. “Without it, I, too, would wither and die along with the habitats I enjoy.”

Port Aransas has recently added more recycling options for residents and visitors including a new big recycling receptacle in the Civic Center parking lot. Officials also are talking about feasibility of recycling on the beach.

KPAB is a Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful affiliate, promoting community improvement, litter reduction, environmental education and reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy and repurpose.

The lost Moon Monkey has been found.

He bailed off of the Moon float during the Mardi Gras parade and took up permanent residence on the beach. If you see him, tell him to write when he finds work.

Ray Herrera hosted another hugely successful No Excuses BBQ cookoff at the greyhound racetrack. Some of his helpers posed for the Moon

Surfers near Bob Hall Pier Photo by Miles Merwin

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.

March 22, 2012

Ebb and Flow- The Changing Face of the Island

Island Moon

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Beach Fun & Games

By Melissa Maupin mmaup@ymail.com The beach is a playground—a place to have fun and frolic in the sun. For many that means swimming, fishing or surfing, but for those who choose to stay ashore, there are many other diversions.

Back in the 1940’s, the island wasn’t very accessible. Tourists visited North Beach and considered the Corpus Christi bay front “the beach.” My mother, Ivy Shearer, recalls her 1949 high school trip to our coast from Brady,

Texas complete with an extensive list of beach activities. “There was a permanent skating rink then and a Ferris wheel. We swam and got sunburned, went for a ride on the fishing boat and took silly photos in cut-outs.”

A Toss Up Historically, the simplest fun on the beach is to toss a ball—a beach ball or football. Throwing a ball to a friend or to the dog to fetch is a norules pastime that goes with lounging at the beach. You can play with the harder-than-theyappear paddle ball sets as an option of course, or simply kick a soccer ball.

To up the ante though, throw a Frisbee. Early in the sixties, the Frisbee made its way into beach life and became a ubiquitous part of seashore fun. The Frisbee is said to have started by the Frisbie Baking Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut which originated in 1871. They made pies and sold them to local New England college students. Kids got a bug to toss the used pie tins for sport and the product launched itself.

Unfortunately I never was very skilled at the toss. I was a high school athlete: track, cheerleading, basketball, swimming, skiing, gymnastics, but was never great at throwing anything upwind. Mom always said, “You throw like a girl.” She was right, but luckily, I was a girl.

Kathy King and team playing beach volleyball at J.P Luby Surf Park 1996.

Beach Volleyball The predominant beach team sport has always been volleyball. The sandy version of the traditional indoor game began in late 1910’s and early 1920’s in Hawaii and Santa Monica, California respectively. It took off from there and became a common leisure and competitive

Island resident, Kathy King moved here in the nineties and was thrilled to meet a group of friends that played competitive volleyball at J.P. Luby Surf Park. “I felt I died and gone to heaven playing beach volleyball and not being a tourist. Our team was old for the time, in our forties, playing against kids with hard bodies,” says King. “We served underhanded. We didn’t dive for balls, but we worked as a team and were champions at the end of the season in 1996.”

In 1948, a Los Angeles building inspector, Walter Morrison and his partner Warren Franscioni, invented a plastic version of the Frisbie pie plate strictly for the enjoyment of throwing. Wham-O eventually bought the rights to the toy and changed the name to “Frisbee.”

Today the Frisbee® is owned by Mattel Toy Manufacturers. There are many knock offs of course and plastic discs are sold just about everywhere including island stores.

High school group on boat Roseabel 1949. Ivy Shearer sixth from left.

Both casual and serious players today make their way to our beaches regularly to play volleyball. For more info, check out Club Beach Dig or ccvcvolleyball@live.com.

I can’t recall the local beach in the seventies and eighties without kids throwing Frisbees.

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sport with a twist; swimsuits are the norm, only two players per side. For the less serious beachgoer, swimsuits are probably still the uniform, but numbers on teams tend to vary. In the seventies and eighties, I recall participating in many competitive games in front of the condos. Often you would just walk down the beach, see someone you knew and joined in.

You could quit when you wanted and wins were often celebrated with a beer.

Ivy’s classmates posing in cut-outs, 1949, North Beach.

A newer arrival on the beach game scene is Blongo Ball or ladder ball or ladder golf. If you haven’t played it, you’ve likely seen it set up while cruising down the beach. The game consists of two, three-rung ladder stands. Teams

throw three bolas, a set of two balls connected with string, trying to land one on a rung.

The higher the rung the bolas hit, the more points they gain.

The game is played until one person or team reaches 21 points.

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Go Fly a Kite

Flying a kite is a natural on the beach. Ocean breezes tend to be steady and strong, a good atmosphere for launching a kite. Kite flying is ancient dating back to 200 B.C. when Chinese General Han Hsin used a kite to measure how far his army needed to build a tunnel to reach past his enemies. The idea spread to Korea and India and became not just a tool but a toy.

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Another ancient pastime that made its way to the beach is the game of horseshoes or horseshoe pitching. The game is believed to have originated in Rome by soldiers and spread throughout Europe, then during the American Revolution, to the United States. Horseshoe pitching is a common beach game. Today, the North Padre Island Beach Bums who stake out the area just south of Packery Channel include horseshoes as a regular activity. Take a cue from this fun-loving group. Whether you fly a kite, pitch a shoe, snap a crazy photo or throw a Frisbee, the days are growing longer and it’s time to get out to beach and have a blast.

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Island Moon

India: The Best of Times and The …

March 22, 2012

By Brent Rourk India is a country in transition, growing at incalculably high rates while still retaining some of its historical soul or essence. It is a country that can equally charm you, enchant you, and make you shake your head in wonder at its problems. Thousands of years of history have influenced how it faces the challenges of the 21st century. As are evident in all contemporary countries, there are environmental, social, political, and economic problems in India that

reflect hope and despair in the same glance.

Travel away from resorts or small coastal towns is bound to open your eyes to a culture striving to enter the modern world yet remaining plagued with poverty, pollution, and over population. In spite of those issues, friendly people, tasty fare, and archaeological wonders will lure you with promise into its borders and cities.

India, setting at the doorstep to the Himalayas, presents countless miles of coastline along two oceans and provides a huge plain for tourists to explore. I would strongly recommend that you explore enough of India to see and to experience as much of the culture as possible.

A trip to the ‘Golden Triangle’ as it is known is undeniably a superb place to begin and was recently the scene of my travels. The triangle is formed by the location of three significant cities: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, all located in north central India.

Delhi is a sprawling urban center of over 13 million inhabitants (and growing). A variety of neighborhoods exist here; downtown, historic market, working class, and higher class. Delhi is the home of many temples, each an architectural delight in homage to its religion. Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu temples are large scale, colorful, and replete with amazing architectural detail. I visited several of these expansive temples in Delhi and was never disappointed as I absorbed the scope and beauty of the external buildings.

Temples on your must see list should include Hazrat Nizamuddin Darga, Humayun’s Tomb, Svetamber Jain Temple, Lal Qila (Red Fort in Delhi), Akshardham Temple Complex, and The Lotus Temple (in the shape of a lotus flower) among many other temples. Add to that list a trip to the National Gallery of Modern Art, National Museum, the National Rail Museum, and India Gate and the Government Buildings.

These landmarks, temples and museums are spread out over Delhi, so preparing your schedule carefully is a must, especially when you take into account traffic and stops at

recommended eateries.

Agra, several hours away and not a day trip, is the proud home of three incredible attractions; Agra Fort (a massive red stone fort), a small tomb commonly named The Baby Taj, and of course, the unimaginably striking Taj Mahal. In spite of a bland trip from Delhi to Agra as well as winter pollution in Agra that borders on choking and life threatening, a day or two spent devouring

these three attractions is well worth the time.

Agra Fort holds interesting history along with gorgeous red stone walls. Bask in its history, peace, beauty, and packs of active monkeys.

The top attraction in Agra and irrefutably all of India remains The Taj Mahal. The walk down to the entrance and ticket area is lovely, the waits in eternal lines annoying and hot (though well worth it – bring cold water), and the walk from the entrance to the sandstone gateway dramatic.

The walk to and through the sandstone gateway reveals unrivaled architectural beauty. In an instant there it is – The Taj Mahal. All who see it agree; it is breathtaking and will take many hours for you to explore and experience. I was stunned by the beauty of the grounds and the three temples, even more so because I had read about the history of the Taj Mahal and knew the love story as well as the sad family story behind it. Few monuments, if any, stand up to the Taj Mahal in sheer splendor. The best of times.

Jaipur and its surroundings are home to three more notable sites; City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and Amber Fort. Although there is much more to see in this area, those three places will take a day or two and delight you with their colors, history, and architecture. The Amber Fort is a must see. Take an obligatory and leisurely elephant ride up the mountain or take a jeep or walk.

Either way you will be favorably impressed with the number of complexes within the Fort.

Make sure you take photos from the town below the fort as well as from the top of the fort.

One of the more refreshing cultural aspects that I encountered in India was the friendliness of the people in general. I had many conversations with native Indians and learned more about their country, goals, and beliefs. I found them to be very congenial, warm, caring and willing to share their perceptions about their country as well as learn about our country. Their desire to persevere is obvious. Their drive to find some kind of work is admirable. Their dedication to their country is unyielding.

Indian food is well documented with stories of delectable sweets, searing and spicy curries, tasty breads, and stews or gravies that complement and enhance any dish. Though the road stand and street cart food fares might be enticing, it is well recommended that you purposely steer away from them. Restaurants are in abundance and you should find ones that will cater to whatever dish that you fancy.

Now what could make one wary about taking an adventure to India? There are many cultural

components to consider. First, the pollution is staggering and very toxic. Delhi is considered by a few organizations to have the most polluted air in the world. I could not agree more. I am probably like the canary in the coal mine when it comes to polluted air and I truly suffered. Delhi and even Agra were continually covered in a blanket of thick, beige, and heavy toxic air. All of the people in my small group were aware of the pollution and suffered to various degrees. It is the worst I have ever seen anywhere in the world and I would not want to breathe it again. Estimates are that 2 out of 5 inhabitants currently suffer from some serious form of respiratory disease. It will worsen. Realize that the pollution clings to these cities, especially in the cold winter months, a time when the climate is cooler and more welcoming. Water pollution and land pollution are also two environmental powder kegs presently facing India and the traveler will constantly see evidence of these problems.

Drink bottled water only and be careful about what you eat and where you eat. Also, take a small medicine kit with all of the meds necessary to help you avoid or quickly recover from whatever malady you host. Your stomach is not acclimated to the bacteria in India and if you are not careful you will likely come down with a case of Delhi Belly, as it is unaffectionally labeled. Almost all of the travelers in my group were afflicted

with Delhi Belly. With India’s population out of control, a lack of infra structure, and a lack of funding India is finding it challenging to effectively and comprehensively tackle these problems, though it is aware of them. Garbage casually adorns everything, in spite of efforts to keep the cities clean. The countryside is also liberally strewn with garbage in unmatched amounts. The worst of times.

Another cultural element with deep ties to India’s religions and history that visitors might find offensive is the abundance of animals roaming streets, buildings, monuments, the city, the countryside, and parks. Cows, pigs, dogs, monkeys, and birds rule India with impunity.

They are fed, respected, worshipped in some circles, and accepted as part of their world.

That itself is understandable and respectable, however, domestic and wild animals have been given the rule of the roost, without respect to sanitation, dangers, and diseases. Animals run wild, fending for themselves with the exception of bird feeding. Essentially, their populations are unmanaged, and if anything, animals are permitted to continue multiplying. In the cities and countryside animals are frequently found lying on heaps of garbage. A common site is to see cows or pigs lying on garbage piles on streets, occasionally rooting out whatever food they can from the pile. Animal waste is everywhere. Humans relieve themselves in streets and along highways. A few of us literally stumbled over a body on a wide Delhi sidewalk in broad daylight.

near middle class neighborhoods. How can India successfully manage their populations, become more effective at providing meaningful employment for those 1.2 billion inhabitants who are employment age, and protect their environment? Those questions and more face India now.

So why travel to India? It is one thing to read about the joys and sorrows or the successes

and challenges of a country. It is quite another thing to experience them and therein lays the motivation for travel. Judge less and experience more. With astonishing temples and landmarks throughout the country and an extremely friendly population there is every reason to enjoy the best India has to give, and even the worst.

Throw in delicious food, cheap transportation, lively urban markets, and extremely reasonable tour rates and you have even more motivation.

Then there is the Taj Mahal.

Many tour companies are offering travel to India at rock bottom prices. Check Gate1 and GAdventures, as both are offering fantastic deals on travel to India, including hotel and tours.

Though entering the 21st century with some technological savvy and some growing industry, India is largely a poor country and evidence of its poverty abounds, whether it is unemployment, lack of government to effect change, inability to manage its populations, the huge size of its lowest economic class, or the methodical and persistent destruction of its environment. Neighborhoods of shacks can be found near major monuments or even

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