On the Rocks A6
Farah's Fishing Adventures A7
Natural Pest Control for your Garden A11
Deep Sea Roundup A16
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Live Music A18
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The Island Moon
Issue 536
July 24, 2014 Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
The voice of The Island since 1996
Island of Gardens Even in semi-arid Southwest Island gardeners find a way
It seems hard to believe but the 2014 tourist season is more than halfway over. Memorial Day is now nine weeks in the rearview and Labor Day five weeks ahead. Where did July go!?
Texas A&M University, which has headed up the Mariculture Project in Port Aransas since the mid-1980s, will leave The Island at the end of August when its lease expires.
The Sargassum weed trackers flew the southern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and report that there is large mat of weed to our southeast that with prevailing winds will find its way to our beaches in the next week. Light weed continues to come ashore and pile up near the South Packery.
Sally Palmer, communications coordinator for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, said UT will take over the facility on the Intracoastal Canal that has been involved in the development and commercialization of shrimp and sea urchin farming, among other research.
Dry beach driving
And so it goes.
Hurricane evacuation Hurricane Season 2014 has come in with a whimper but planning for the next Big One is never off the agenda hereabouts. In that vein City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre has suggested establishing a list of people who may need help with evacuation during a storm and a list of people who would be able to help them evacuate. The idea is in its early stages but is a good one and anyone interested can contact us here or the POA.
Palmer said the facility will continue to be used for marine science and education but offered no details as UT is still in discussions with A&M.
When people think of our Island they mostly think of sand, water, and sunshine, three things we have plenty of. Island gardeners use these three elements to create surprisingly lush gardens in the otherwise arid Southwest. In Douden Park the community gardens have now grown to 80 individual gardens with the addition
of twenty new plots currently being added. The project was begun in 2012 by Island Beautification Trust President John White with twenty gardens and quickly began expanding due to high demands from Islanders with a green thumb looking for space. The gardens grow primarily vegetables with spring crops of tomatoes, beans, squash, and eggplants and autumn crops of
cauliflower, broccoli, onions, and greens. July and August are the slow months as the South Texas heat and sun are just too much for vegetation to flourish. Islander David Dunseth maintains a plot at the community garden where he and the Island Garden Club maintain a butterfly garden, but he
Gardens continued on A9
Seawall Driving Ban a Work in Progress Council delays decision, will act “as early as possible”
Fishing The Bluff Flour Bluff residents complained to the Corpus Christi City Council this week that commercial trotlines are jamming up the shoreline along Laguna Shores between Lola Johnson and Graham roads. Under state rules commercial fisherpersons are allowed twenty trotlines each up to 600 feet with hooks every three feet which must be baited with live bait. That means each commercial fisherperson can have 12,000 feet of line out with 4000 hooks and many of them are choosing the same spot between Graham and Lola Johnson Roads which, according to what was reported to the city council, is crowding out boaters and other fisherpersons.
Encantada Bridge Nothing is certain yet but it appears the proposed bridge over the canal at Encantada will not be on the bond ballot that goes before voters in November. The political pushback from OTB pushed the bridge off the ballot but backers of the street bonds also on the ballot know that if Island voters line up against the either of the two bond proposals in question our numbers could derail them. So to keep us on board the alternative is to place two beach access roads on the ballot to give Islanders something to support. The first reading of the bond language is to go before the city council at their meeting on Tuesday, July 29 with the second and final reading at their August 5 meeting. The matter is sure to come up at the August 5h meeting of the Island Strategic Action Committee but that 5:30 p.m. meeting will be after the council meeting that afternoon when the bond language will be set so the ISAC will have little (no) formal input. ISAC voted unanimously in its July meeting to support the Encantada bridge but City Manager Ron Olson advised the council at its meeting this week to eliminate the Encantada project, which appeared headed for a council fight, and replace it with the beach access roads. Stay cool everybody and say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Texas A&M Mariculture Project in Port Aransas Shutting Down By Sara Hendricks
Weed tracking
The dry conditions are making beach driving risky in patches but generally good, except on the natural city beaches south of Bob Hall Pier where only the four-wheelers can safely tread. Conditions for beachgoers along the seawall continue to get more confused as the sand pumped from the Packery Channel piles up against the seawall making most of the beach there unusable for either drivers or pedestrians. There is now fully eight feet of fine sand piled up against the seawall that blows and makes most of the beach there unsuitable for much of anything.
Weekly
Beach Width Variability
Dr. Addison L. Lawrence, Ph.D., project leader and scientist in charge of the A&M facility, had no comment on the changes. Dr. Juan Landivar, resident director at A&M in Corpus Christi, was out of town and unavailable for comment.
PINS Checkpoint Nets Two DUI Arrests
The DUI checkpoint set up by the National Park Service at the entrance to Padre Island National Seashore last Saturday detained a total of 146 vehicles resulting in six driver being sent for secondary screening and two DUI arrests, according to information released by the park.
In addition to the 2 DUI arrests, there were four open container violations and one citation for marijuana. In addition, according to the park release, another “40 drivers passing through admitted to consuming alcohol while at Padre Island National Seashore on Saturday.”
Since Memorial Day weekend a total of twenty drivers have been arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol with eight of those being on 4th of July weekend.
Great Time to See a Kemp’s Ridley Hatchling By Bob Algeo and Dale Rankin The move to remove vehicles from the beach along the Michael J. Ellis Seawall took one step forward and one step back on Tuesday as the Corpus Christi City Council stopped short of a ban and directed the city staff to make preparations to close the southern end of the seawall to traffic as part one of a three-phase plan that, if fully implemented, would
By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D.
rearrange vehicular access from the south end of the seawall to the South Packery Jetty. The council directed city staff to make preparations for implementation of Phase 1 of the plan, sponsored by District 4 City Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre, which would remove traffic from the portions of the beach which are 150 feet or less wide; which means
the southern portion of the seawall beginning just south of the Holiday Inn. McIntyre’s motion, approved unanimously by the council, directs the staff to find the answers to two questions: First, does the existing
Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery, National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore e-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov
Beach Driving continued on A5
A Little Island History
Islander “Led-san” Hits .319 in Japanese League By Dotson Lewis, Special to the Island Moon dlewis1@stx.rr.com Dotson’s Note: This is part 2 of the article that I wrote for the July 17th Sports Talk column for The Island Moon. Many thanks to all of the “Moon Monkeys” who read and liked the article.
Chasing a Dream-To Be A Professional Baseball PlayerPart 2
Dotson Batting Practice in Japan-May 1947
After finishing Army basic training, I shipped out to Japan arriving in early May 1947. The war had been over for about 20 months and Japan was starting to rebuild. We had been on the troopship USNS David Shanks for 9 days when docking in Yokohama, Japan. From there we
went by train to Zama, Japan. As we got off the train each GI gave his last name and last four (digits of our serial number) to a Sergeant with a clip board. When I recited the required name and number, the Sergeant looked up, he hadn’t done that with the first 20 or so that had disembarked, and said “the Old Man is looking for you, grab your bags and put them on the jeep and wait for me.” The others, all of whom had been on the ship with me, were moving toward a large barracks-type building. After finishing the check-in, the Sergeant
Baseball continued on A8
If you want to see a public release of Kemp’s ridley hatchlings at Padre Island National Seashore this is a great time for you to try. Between about July 22 and July 29, hatchlings will be released from 34 nests that will hatch. Between about August 1 and August 10, hatchlings from 15 nests will be released. In fact, these will be the best chances remaining this year if you would like to attend a release or have company coming from out of town that would like to see the hatchlings.
We expect to be able to hold public releases on several of these mornings since so many nests will hatch at once. Hatchlings must be released
Turtles continued on A8
A2
July 24, 2014
Island Moon
Padre Island Dog Group
The CBS TV show "The Texas Bucket List" was on the Island filming for an episode of their "Burger of the Season" at the Padre Island Burger Company. They interviewed owner/chef Jason about his burger recipes and he will be competing with others across Texas for the best burger. The season starts airing on September 14th Sundays at 6:30 am. Photo by Mary Craft.
Ivy Wilson, Lyn Edler & Bev Hoffman joined the Padre Island Dog Owners Group (PIDOG) for a beach walk Saturday, July 19. For more info, see Club News.� The next PIDOG event is Saturday, August 2, 2014: 9:00 am coffee with your pup on the dog deck at German Bakery. The dog deck is out back by the canal. Bring leash, water for your dog, poop bags, etc. To join, visit padreislanddogpark.com or contact Lyn (lyn. edler@gmail.com) or Bev (bevhoffman@aol.com).
The Schlitterbahn Job Fair that was held Tuesday was a success with all positions for The Veranda Restaurant filled. They encourage people to visit their website and complete applications for future positions as they become available. Steve Moody Senior Vice President
500 North Water Street, Suite 100 | Corpus Christi, TX NMLS# 613901 | 361-887-8771 | ProsperityBankUSA.com Member FDIC
July 24, 2014
A3
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Letters to the Editor
Shrinking Middle Class
Editor,
Re: Caller-Times Editorial of July 17, 2014
Distribution Pete Alsop
Editor’s note: This letter is in response to an editorial in the Corpus-Christi Caller Times.
Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner
I have never in my life seen a newspaper exhibit such a crybaby editorial as your take on the Commissioners Courts decision to acquire the Padre Island property in Kleberg County. First you want a do over on the court’s decision because?? The Commissioners Court is trying to bring law enforcement to a segment of beach that is well known as a "perverts paradise." Kleberg Co. has to drive all the way to Corpus Christi and then down the beach to patrol it. The National Seashore will not police it either. Adding patrols is not raising taxes, that’s a budget problem. Also if I were Brent Chesney I would tell you to stick it.
Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour
Island
Island
Texas Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 8 to 10
Corpus Christi Animal Care Services is looking for local rescues who would like to participate in a pet adoption event, Friday, July 25th at its facility located at 2626 Holly Road from 1:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
Bobbie Kimbrell
Carroll "Blackie " Pitzer
Animal Care Services to Host Adoption Event
Chad Peters
Just lately, there has been a lot of talk in the media about the middle class getting smaller and the reason why. The main reasons quoted is cuts in medicare, medicaid, the food benefits program (SNAP), tax breaks for the wealthy, sending jobs overseas, voting restrictions and women losing more rights every day. Middle class women have virtually been banned from health care centers that provide cancer and abortion treatment. So what it boils down to is if you are able to accept the truth is simply the Republican party getting their way during the last Bush administration and Republican majority on the Supreme Court. As long as the Republican party has any kind of a toe hold, House majority and Supreme Court majority, the middle class will continue to get smaller. Most of the middle class are so busy working and trying to eke out a living they don't have time to put great thought into politics and study it and they usually opt out of mid-term elections which ruins a president's chance of fulfilling their agendas. It's up to you, the middle class, to reverse the trend. If you don't know how to reverse it, the middle class will continue to shrink.
Local 501c3 rescues are invited to set up tables and bring adoptable animals to the event. All space is outdoors, so please ensure you have shade for your animals. All animals must be fully vaccinated 7 days prior to the event. All of our adoption fees have been pre-paid by committed citizens and the Rescues Unites 361 group-participants.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs reminds shoppers they can save money on certain items priced under $100 during the state’s annual sales tax holiday. This year, the sales tax holiday is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 -10. The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales tax, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend during the weekend. “Families gearing up for the new school year will not pay any sales tax for many back-toschool items ranging from pens to blue jeans,” Combs said. “When the back-to-school list is long and the money is short, it can be difficult for Texas families. We hope this tax break will help ease that burden.” Lists of apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax free can be found on the Comptroller’s website at www. TexasTaxHoliday.org.
Riley P. Dog
This year, shoppers will save an estimated $82.7 million in state and local sales taxes during the Sales Tax Holiday.The tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999.
Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher.
News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
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New Advertisers It Works! is a mess-free body contouring formula that shows results in 45 minutes. It can firm tighten and smooth skin on the abdomen, legs and face. Visit njayson. myitworks.com or call Nichole at 210-8467482. Nordic Plumbing is available for both residential and commercial jobs and is licensed, bonded and insured. Call the master plumber and Island resident at 8134826. Prosperity Bank was recently named America’s Best Banks for 2014 by Forbes. Their Island location is next to Black Sheep Bistro just before the light at Whitecap. They are Houston based and have 30 locations in South Texas. Children’s Tutor with more than 20 years’ experience improving reading and math comprehension. She is extremely successful with young children wanting to read. Texas certified teacher in special education and K-8 all subjects. Call 2158752. Straightline Construction does custom residential remodeling, additions and repairs with a 3 year warranty. Josh has 18years of experience and can be reached at 461-4796 or email starightline4construction@gmail. com.
Business Briefs Brooklyn Pie Company is expanding to the Island between Ace Hardware and La Palma Restaurant. They originated in Austin with their authentic east coast recipes and now have five locations there. They will offer their famous GIANT slice and New York style pizza with over 35 toppings to choose from. Their menu includes salads, appetizers, calzones and paninis. An islander made this happen. More about him and the restaurant in upcoming Briefs. Here a sushi, there a sushi, everywhere a sushi, sushi. Yes folks, you can currently enjoy sushi at Scuttlebutt’s, Bangkok Star and the Barrel and soon at Island Time Sushi near Subway and coming in the fall will be another. Stay tuned. Espresso Time will be opening inside Isle Mail & More on Monday, July 28th and will be open at 6 am every weekday. They will serve specialty coffees, Chai tea, scones and muffins.
The Padre Island Enrichment Club is hosting a membership drive that includes Bingo on Friday, August 8th at 11:20 am in the Holiday Inn. You can join this energetic and friend ladies club for just $25/year. The PIE booths for the event will include, bridge, bunco, happy hour, movie night and craft night. Lunch will be served and catered by the hotel at noon for $15. Make reservations with Kathy Merchant at 774-8994. A great way to get to know your neighbors. A&M University-Corpus Christi began construction on Momentum Village Housing that will have three buildings with fully furnished rooms mostly in four bedroom-four bath combinations. It will have a fitness center and pool and students will be able to catch the Wave bus shuttle that will run exclusively from the Village to the campus. Momentum Campus also includes the Dugan Family Soccer and Track Stadium, the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center, and recreational sports fields. The construction should be complete by July 2015 and is located off Ennis Joslin. There are currently about 13,000 students. Paddle for Parkinsons will have a free practice paddle and organizational meeting on Saturday, July 26 at 9 am at Billish Park on Gypsy. Island Moon T-shirts are yours for just $10.95 plus shipping and come in grey or white L, XL and XXL. Tank tops come in aqua and white in sizes medium and large. To order call 949-7700. Litter Critter will be at the sanitation plant at the end of Whitecap this Saturday, July 26th 7 am – 4 pm. Charlie Zahn has retired from the Port Aransas Parks & Recreation Board after 34 years and his wife Linda has retired as well.
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Braselton Homes is the largest new home and neighborhood builder in Corpus Christ and may soon begin building homes on the Island. Three generations have been building for over 65 years.
A4
Actor/Director Make His Mark in Port Aransas Providing Top Notch Entertainment
Ken Yarbrough is one of those people who have acting in their blood. He took to the stage easily, gracefully, humorously, and powerfully beginning in 5th grade as Ebenezer Scrooge at Warren Dupree Elementary School in Jacksonville, Arkansas. When he is not acting these days, he is directing plays. So who exactly is this talented local entertainer who has helped bring many top notch plays to Port Aransas and Corpus Christi?
His strengths as an actor, according to many locals, are numerous but he claims a child-like
Moon Over The Hudson by Devorah Fox devorahfox.com
I just returned from a visit to the Big Apple state but I didn’t go anywhere near the sites mentioned in “New York, New York,” the Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green tune from the soundtrack for “On the Town.” New York is more than bright lights and big city. There are farmlands and forests, mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers. Not the least of those rivers is the Hudson and the mid-Hudson Valley is where I spent a week’s vacation.
Growing up in Jacksonville, Arkansas Yarbrough described his upbringing as picturesque. He did all of the typical things and was impacted by all of the typical things that went on during those years. Overall, he described his childhood as a good one.
Yarbrough’s favorite acting roles were Aunt Pearl from the Tuna series and Daddy Warbucks from Annie. Whatever role he plays, Ken can be counted on to understand the essence of the role and to create a memorable character, deliberately and skillfully infusing it with humor and emotion.
Dee-Scoveries
“New York, New York, a helluva town. The Bronx is up, but the Battery’s down.”
By Brent Rourk
Yarbrough savored the taste of acting in junior high school and high school, however, his path took him to an A.A. degree in commercial marketing and then into the corporate world (Blockbuster and Movie Gallery) where he honed the management, planning and organizational skills that would benefit his acting and directing. Stops along the way as a teacher at SLC and as a youth coordinator for church have also helped Ken develop interpersonal skills that facilitate his work with junior theatre.
July 24, 2014
Island Moon
Running north to south through the eastern half of the state, the Hudson River is 315 miles long and over two miles wide. I know it is because I walked across it on the world’s longest footbridge, the Walkway Over the Hudson, a state historic park. Formerly the Poughkeepsie Bridge, a railroad bridge that burned in the 1970’s, it has since been restored and converted for pedestrian use. The view is stunning.
Ken is known to have some of the best costimesplay as he has helped put on some of the most memorable plays and musicals as an actor and director. PACT gave him his initial opportunity. Ken was a PACT board member for about 18 months so he knows intimately the issues facing a local theatre company and has worked tirelessly to help PACT grow and draw large and enthusiastic audiences. Ken succinctly summed it up when he proudly confirmed, “We have grown together!” When pressed to define what makes a good play, Ken reflected and then shared, “It is a good play if engaging conversation happens afterwards. If after leaving the theatre, the conversation leads to smiles, tears, laughs, memories, and other ripple effects from all involved, including the audience and cast, then it was a good play.”
Recently, Yarbrough spread his directing wings as he directed Spamalot at Harbor Playhouse in Corpus Christi. It was one of his directing goals to be able to Ken with typical expressive facial gestures in Til Beth Do direct at that venue. Us Part After Spamalot he consulted on Beauty and the Beast Junior at PACT and is currently directing Godspell at wonder – a Peter Pan Syndrome. Ken reflected PACT, which is scheduled to open on July 31st and his ever-expressive face foretold his and play for two weeks. Call 361-749-6036 for assessment as he explained, “You have to find a ticket information and schedules. Like all plays way to play characters that still have a silliness he has directed, this one has been interesting about them, though sometimes I tend to be too and challenging. Yarbrough affirmed that he playful when things should be more serious.” is excited about how it is evolving and thinks His acting career quickly led him to directing. that audiences will tremendously enjoy the He generously credits his experiences at production. Seashore Learning Center on North Padre When he is not directing, Ken is working for Island as his golden opportunity to direct. the City of Port Aransas as a Youth and Family Ken commented, “It began as a class project Coordinator. The city is generating more family at Seashore Learning Center where I was activities for full-time residents and Ken has developing a musical, The Electric Cat. Each been playing a large role as part of a dedicated class at SLC also did a short musical. In 2003 team that develops the activities. the Port Aransas Community Theatre needed a He has enjoyed watching his two daughters director for Grease, so they brought me in.” grow-up. Kelsea just graduated from Trinity Since that initial foray into directing he has University and Cathryn is a sophomore at become a local mainstay for 11 years as a Austin College. popular director of over 20 plays and musicals. His love of Port Aransas is obvious. He has When questioned about his directing skills and strengths, Ken replied, “I like it because enjoyed his careers and his theatre experiences you start out with nothing and end up with that have impacted him and all of his fellow something that no one else can do. Each play casts, audiences, and community members. is unique and one of a kind. I love taking all What lays ahead for Ken is largely unknown of the ingredients, putting them together, and now, but whatever it is, it will no doubt include watching the magic that develops.” He believes giving to his community and giving to young that his empathy for people in general help him people as he has tirelessly done for years. in his directing pursuits. He unwinds by playing music, frequently Ken has directed plays with adults and with wrapping himself in his piano to purge cross generational casts (which he loves whatever tension or anxiety might arise and because of the mentoring that naturally occurs), to enjoy the beauty and magic of music. It too but he clearly loves directing junior plays and is transformative. “I also enjoy the sing-along giving young people the opportunity to shine, to gigs on Friday evening at the Wild Horse in develop confidence, and to enjoy the advantages Port Aransas”, he added. Though directing and rewards of acting. can bring a set of stresses, it also provides Ken For many years Ken has been involved in jobs, with opportunities to de-stress and to infuse careers and hobbies that embrace giving kids creativity and meaning into his plays. opportunities, He candidly claimed, “Theatre Where will he be In ten years? Ken responded, transforms lives as it gives kids a place and a “I’d like to be alive! [chuckles] I’d like to think sense of being. I am happy to have seen kids that I will be involved in my community and start out in acting locally and then subsequently working with kids. I want to continue to be an pursue acting and music and make those arts a advocate for fine arts and theatre programs.” continuous and large part of their lives.” Wherever he ends up in 10 years, Port Aransas, “Theater is magical, fun, painful, cutting edge, Corpus, Austin, Broadway, Los Angeles, challenging and more”, Ken continued. It was no doubt he will continue to be an effective not difficult to see all of those in his face as he advocate for youth, an involved community spoke. member, and a respected director and actor. Yarbrough’s association with PACT has been Hats off to Ken Yarbrough! a mutually beneficial arrangement for years
All that walking worked up an appetite which I sated at the Culinary Institute of America. The CIA’s gorgeous Hyde Park campus is planted with not only trees, shrubs, grass and flowers but also herbs, fruit and vegetable gardens. It has a number of studentstaffed restaurants and cafes. Reservations are suggested for all of them except for the Apple Pie Bakery Café but I managed to get seated at the Ristorante Caterina de Medici. I had a Portobello Panini with hummus and goat cheese followed by tiramisu and washed down with Prosecco, all served by Diane, a most charming student. Now that’s a lunch worth writing home about. The Hudson River is the site of a lot of history. Named for Henry Hudson, the Englishman who explored it in 1609, it became the gateway to the American interior. It inspired an entire school of landscape painting and writers like Washington Irving. The Hudson’s lower half is tidal so the river flows both ways which makes it hard to navigate. Nevertheless it became important to shipping, trading and industry and its control was hotly contested during the American Revolution. Originally home to the Mahican and Munsee Native Americans it became the address of wealthy families whose estates still line the shores. Many of those have been turned over to the state or federal government and now serve as parks, such as the mansions of the Vanderbilts, Ogden Mills and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I did quite a bit of touring at the FDR home, now a national park, and the FDR library and museum, a National Archives and Records site. It’s not that I’m a big FDR fan or a history buff. My trip to the mid-Hudson Valley was primarily to visit family. I am, however, working on a novel inspired by a trip that I made over 20 years ago and for which the FDR park and library are important settings.
I was fortunate to be visiting during a week of splendid weather. Daytime temps in the 70’s and low 80’s were perfect for long walking tours. No, I didn’t see any Broadway plays or shop Fifth Avenue or visit MoMA. Instead, I made my sister squire me around to obscure locations like Staatsburg so I could absorb local color. That’s the price she pays for having a sibling who’s an author. I came home with lots of photos and notes for my current work-inprogress, a historical thriller slated for release this winter. Meanwhile, my latest novel, “The King’s Redress,” is getting five star reviews. If you missed my July 4th weekend launch parties, you’ve got another opportunity to get a signed copy. I’ll be at the Family Center IGA, 416 S. Alister St. in Port Aransas on Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I’ll be signing copies of “The King’s Redress,” the latest release in The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam, as well as all my other books, and I’ll have some specials on hand like discounts and handmade bookmarks. Come on by. I’ll see you there.
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Colorful costumes from Shrek were a big hit
My trip took me to other mid-Hudson Valley cities like Rhinebeck, Kingston and Saugerties, to which I’d been before, and to Hudson for the first time. Once a major New York city (as late as 1820 it was the fourth largest city in the state), Hudson acquired a reputation in the late 19th and early 20th century for drinking, gambling and prostitution. Now it’s undergoing a revival. I really liked strolling Warren Street and reading the placards on the multistory brick and clapboard facades that gave the buildings’ ages and named the architectural styles which ranged from Dutch, Federalist, Greek and Gothic Revival to Italianate and Victorian. I had a wonderful cup of coffee in one of Hudson’s fine coffeehouses and a terrific lunch of falafel, hummus, cucumber salad and olives at the Pita Palace.
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July 24, 2014
Island Moon
Turtles continued from A1 once they emerge from their eggshells and start to become active. The more clutches hatching at once the greater chance of a public release since even if some hatchlings become active and must be released during the middle of the night, others that are hatching may be ready for release at 6:45 am on the public release morning. Our public releases are held starting at 6:45 am, in front of the Malaquite Visitor Center at Padre Island National Seashore. No fee is charged to attend these releases. For information on the next upcoming release please call our Hatchling Hotline at (361) 949-7163 or check our Facebook page titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery. Eight public releases of Kemp’s ridley hatchlings have been held at Padre Island National Seashore so far this year. Hundreds of people attended each release and cheered on the turtles as they crawled towards the Gulf of Mexico and then swam into the surf. Each year, many people tell us that they planned their vacation to our area around the chance to see a hatchling release here, and many traveled long distances to do so. These releases have certainly become a source of eco-tourism to our area. Based upon the frequency of calls we receive to our Hatchling Hotline, comments on our Facebook page, and large attendance at our releases, we could hold many more public hatchling releases if there were more hatchlings available for them. Because the turtles must be released when they are become active, and are not retained past that time for viewing, our releases are directly tied to the number of nests found and when those nests hatch and the hatchlings become physically ready for release.
After our big groups of hatching nests from about July 22 to July 29 and from about August 1 to August 10, only 5 Kemp’s ridley nests will hatch and thus it will be difficult to hold a public release more public releases. We will try, but since so few nests will be hatching and they will be spread throughout the last three weeks August, the odds are not nearly as good for a public release then.
Update on nesting Sea turtle nesting has tapered off in Texas for this year. During the last two weeks, two Kemp’s ridley nests were documented. One
was a new nest found at Padre Island National Seashore on July 15, which ties the latest date that we have documented a Kemp’s ridley nest on in Texas. The other was an older nest confirmed on South Padre Island. The tracks from the nesting female were located there in May, but ended in the soft sand and a nest could not be found then. So, the area was marked and monitored for signs of predation or hatching, which were found earlier this month. Through July 21, 118 Kemp’s ridley nests have been recorded in Texas, including locally 72 at
Padre Island National Seashore, 10 on North Padre north of the National Seashore, and 5 on Mustang Island. Some predict that nesting could continue later this year since it was such a cold winter, but this remains to be seen. Unfortunately, unless many more nests are found, this year will mark a significant downturn in nesting for this species globally and locally. What a disappointment after the years of conservation effort by countless agencies, organizations, and people in Mexico and U.S. over the decades on behalf of this endangered species. Concern is growing that the gains toward population recovery that were made during the last 30 years may be slipping away. Only a few years ago population modelers and biologists predicted continued exponential increases in nesting and the ability to down-list the species to threatened status by the year 2020. Biologists and managers working with Kemp’s ridleys are not speculating that any longer. What has caused this change remains the focus of discussion and research, and hopefully the downward trend in nesting will be reversed soon. Two loggerhead nests have been found in Texas this year, both on North Padre Island including one at the National Seashore. However, no green turtle nests have been found. Nesting by loggerhead and green turtles could continue through mid-September. Our patrols to detect nesting by sea turtles on North Padre Island are still on-going, but are at a lower level of effort since nesting has decreased. We will soon transition to once a day patrols to locate loggerhead and green turtle nesting. Those once-per-day patrols will end after we stop finding any nests, sometime during August or early-September.
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by Dale Rankin I get asked a lot of questions as I wander around on our Island. Here are a few. Why has it taken so long to get the cars off the beach at the seawall even through voters have already approved it? The answer to this question begins a decade ago when voters went to the polls to decide whether to remove cars from the beach from Packery Channel all the way to the county park at Bob Hall Pier. It was an ugly fight. The kind we don’t want to ever have again and so city leaders are understandably reluctant to let that genie out of the bottle again, especially in an election year. But the property owners earlier this year decided it was time to force the issue and that is why we are having this discussion now. Why isn’t there more development along the seawall?
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A5
See above. Nothing can be done on that beach until this is resolved. Paul Schexnailder has owned all or part of the land there for twenty years and he still doesn’t know what the final solution there is going to be because the debate has been so heated that cooler heads have not be able to prevail. For the record I have always been a drive on the beach guy. But I understand to reach a stable, long-term solution there has to be some kind of a compromise and removing cars from the beach at the seawall seems to me to be a good start toward a good faith solution. We have run out of time for indecision; one way or another this issue will be resolved in the next two years; either through a sensible well-thought out plan, or by a muddling-through, money driven approach. The day of judgment is at hand and there is no purgatory. Either we make a plan or we don’t and either way we live with the consequences. The final and most important piece of the puzzle is what happens to the beach between the seawall and the South Packery Jetty. This land is the most valuable piece of real estate on The Island and the keystone in any comprehensive plan; many other decisions will flow from this outcome and so far the subject is so delicate it is not even being discussed. Maybe after the election season, when things calm down, is the time; but this debate cannot be avoided, only prolonged, and we need to get it right. When will the SPID/Park Road 22 Water Exchange Bridge be built?
Final permitting on the bridge should be almost complete by the time you read this. A public announcement of some sort should be forthcoming within the next few weeks and final permitting in hand in about 45 days. On that schedule work should begin around the end of the year with completion by the end of 2015. The project is over a year behind the original schedule but some changes in the permitting process in the past few months have moved the process along and things are positive. What will the bridge look like?
This has changed, for the better, in the past few months. What was originally going to be a two-arch bridge with a 14-foot waterway is now going to be a three-arch bridge with a 40-foot water passage and two 40-foot pedestrian/cart path, one on each side. The bridge is the key to everything planned on both side of SPID and expanding its scope is a major improvement.
When will development begin on the east side of SPID, including the planned marina?
Development on the east side of SPID is directly tied to the water exchange bridge. The developers understandably don’t want to begin work there unless/until they are sure the bridge, and more importantly the canal under it, are going to be built. Word from those in charge is that work on the bridge and work on the marina and canals east of SPID will begin almost simultaneously once work on the bridge begins. On that schedule, the marina should be complete by the end of 2015.
One key element here is what we refer to the Watergate; the structure that delineates the line between Packery Channel and Lake Padre. As of now it is less than fifty feet wide which is not wide enough to accommodate long-term plans. The problem is that once the water exchange bridge is in place it will be drawing water through the Watergate and at its present width that incoming water will be moving at a high rate of speed. To get an idea of the problem take a look at the water blasting under the 361/ Packery bridge when the tide is moving. This problem will be resolved but, like everything, takes time. When will all the development work be finished?
The core of the new development will be done in five years but work will continue for at least another five to ten years. Remember this is a 500-plus acre development; Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Beach Driving continued from A1 300-spot parking lot on the seawall meet the requirements of the Texas Open Beaches Act which requires one parking space “adjacent” to every fifteen feet of beach closed to traffic. The question is whether the parking lot, located just north of the center line of the seawall, is close enough to the south end to the considered “adjacent” by the Texas General Land Office which is the regulatory agency with jurisdiction. When seawall residents bought the land to donate to the city for the parking lot, which was completed in 2008, the GLO ruled that it provided ample parking for the removal of cars along the entire length of the seawall. The second question is whether a second handicapped ramp is needed on the southern half of the seawall to augment the existing ramp at the parking lot. The cost of the ramp is estimated at about $70,00 by city staff. The staff told the council on Tuesday the cost of the wooden bollards to implement Phase I of the plan is about $100,000, plus about $350,000 to buy additional earth moving equipment that would be needed to maintain the area with the bollards in place. Traffic restrictions for the Micheal J. Ellis Seawall/Beach have begun a slow progression, as voted unanimously by CC city Council yesterday. It's progress, but still not ready for implementation. The bottom line is that a clear design of the 150' plan will be brought forward to City Council for a vote. If the 150' plan passes that first vote, it will return for a second vote. If both votes pass City Council, then the City Parks and Recreation Department will begin the process of funding and procurement requests for bollards and additional maintenance equipment required to implement the plan. Initial estimates were $100k for bollards, and about $350k for maintenance equipment. The item approved by the council on Tuesday read: "A Motion to Direct Staff to come back with a complete plan to phase in and come back with full designs for Phase I of implementing the 2008 ballot, or 2008 bond package, by
restricting vehicular access to that part of the beach that is less than 150', to come back with means of meeting the ADA compliance, and with a GLO ruling on the adjacency of the parking lot, with full diagrams, as early as possible."
Voters citywide in 2008 approved a plan to remove vehicles from the beach along the seawall, the city council subsequently approved a plan to carry that out in 2010 but that plan has never been implemented. Part of the problem, according to city staff, is that between 2008 and 2010 dredge sand from Packery Channel was used to widen the seawall beach, therefore the measurements for beach width indicating where the bollards would be placed in the 2008 and 2010 documents were contradictory and therefore could not be reconciled without another citywide vote or a review by the GLO which could take up to one year. The plan reviewed by council for implementation on Tuesday would phase in the 2010 ordinance with the bollards on the southern end of the seawall being Phase I, bollards on the northern end of the seawall being Phase II, and finally in Phase II bollards running parallel to the waterline 50 feet above the mean high tide line from the northern end of the seawall north to within in 600 feet of the South Packery Jetty.
A vote on implanting Phase I of the plan, with the presumed addition of a handicapped ramp on the south end of the seawall, is expected by council “as early as possible.”
The Island Strategic Action Committee in June unanimously approved a motion requesting that the council “implement the intention of the 2008 vote by removing vehicles from the beach along the Michael J. Ellis Seawall.” The 2008 vote did not include any mention of bollards on the beach north of the seawall, that plan was approved in 2010 solely by the city council.
Another dredging project which would place more dredge sand on the beach along the seawall is not expected for at least four years.
A6
Island Moon
On the Rocks By Jay Gardner I love summertime! It brings warmer, subtropical water to the beaches, and with it comes a variety of fish that we don’t see here year round. Now that we have Packery channel, some of these fish are able to make it into the bays where our seagrass mimics tropical nursery areas. This has allowed some fish species to gain a foothold (albeit small) in the area. Mangrove snapper is one species that is expanding its range both into the bays and also northward. This past winter showed us how many snapper are actually in the canals. There was a cold-stunning event in February where I saw literally hundreds of mangrove snapper milling around on the surface. The other day Zep, Rachel and I were fishing (shocker, I know) around the little bridge when you first get on the Island. There had been reports of the black drum schooling around in the channel, and we showed up after work last week to check it out. While we didn’t get any drum, Rachel did manage to catch a striped burrfish. These cute little guys look very pokey, but actually are fairly harmless. Burrfish have what could be considered a “personality,” and are very congenial fish. They look funny when they swim, which is slow, as they mainly use their pectoral fins, and when they use their tail, they appear to “waddle” along through the water. Burrfish are very good aquarium fish, and can be trained to take food from a childs hands without harming them. They are in the Diodontidae family with porcupine fish and ballonfish, which means they can inflate themselves with either water or air when startled. Very cool fish. These next few weeks and next month will be a great one for snorkeling the jetties. You can expect juvenile Bermuda chubs, spotfin mojarras, juvenile French angelfish, dog snapper, and who knows what else. Just make sure that you follow a few simple rules (which I have already seen broken this year). Please don’t linger around directly underneath where someone is fishing. They were there before you. It’s rude. If you plan on going underneath them to another stretch, look up and ask them if they mind. They will always say “go for it”, but it’s nice to ask. In addition, the chances of you getting hooked by said fisherperson goes down dramatically. The best thing to do is to plan your trip in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day. Trying to snorkel out there after five o'clock on a Friday is just plain foolish, let alone rude. Another good reason to pick off times has a lot to do with the tides and the sun. You want the tide
coming in, which brings that pretty, clear water. The tide typically comes in in the morning until around noon or so, where it peaks. This makes it get really clear and also the current is slack. In addition, the sun is high overhead, which provides the best visibility. There are a lot less people out there at this time, there will be less conflict, and you will likely have better access to more of the jetty at these times. On the other hand, if you’re fishing the jetty, and you see someone who breaks all the above rules, get their attention and tell them to get out of the way and that they’re being rude. It’s not
July 24, 2014
Yard of the Month
The Island Gardeners awarded yard of the month for July to Jeff and Janet Granger at 14340 Indigo. Their backyard borders Ullberg Park on Jackfish. The Grangers have maintained the Ullberg bronze sculptures since the park was renamed in 2005. Their front and side yards are neatly landscaped with fruit trees, tropicals and blooming shrubs. The entryway is lined with many colorful plants and a beautiful fountain that also benefits birds and butterflies. Drive by this yard of the month and visit Ullberg Park too. Please contact Dianne of the Island Gardeners at 361-5630951 to suggest a future yard of the month.
Rachel with a striped burrfish fair that one person in the water spooks all the fish for everyone on the jetty. There’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle, and people just need to be aware of each other and play nice. Well, as I sit here and write this, I’m in the middle of having to make a decision. The auto shop called and they want $3,000 for an alignment for the old red dodge. Seems it needs a whole new front end. Old Red is a 1999, and it’s not worth putting another $3k into it. Hopefully I can get it put back together into some kind of semblance enough to get it at least on the beach. I think its past time to pick up a little beater car to commute in, and maybe I can get old red put together good enough to hit the beach. Until then, can someone give me a ride out to Packery so I can fish On the Rocks?
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Lots of big reds around now, windy afternoons are best for drifting up on one Photo by Joey Farah
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On the morning of July 17, 2014 a salvage company working with the insurer of a private plane and coordinating with the National Park Service removed a crashed plane from the bay side of Padre Island National Seashore. Due to the fragile nature of bay side ecosystems a helicopter was used for the removal. The park staff cordoned off the far southwest corner of the Malaquite Visitor Center parking lot to allow for a staging area for the recovery efforts. The plane was airlifted in the position it was found to minimize damaging park resources. On June 3rd, 2014 a private plane had to make an emergency landing due to engine troubles. The plane landed on a mudflat and then flipped over. The location of the crash site was on the bay side of Padre Island National Seashore approximately 32 miles south of the Malaquite Visitor Center. The pilot received only minor injuries and was rescued by the coast guard. The plane was then inspected to make sure there was no leakage of fuel into the ecosystem until such time that it could be removed
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July 24, 2014
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures Last Call For Summer!!
By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures Years ago about this time of summer is when we would start counting down the last few weeks of every day all day long adventures and try to fit in as much as we could. This is when we would plot and plan the most daring voyages and expeditions. The summer after 8th grade was one of those endless summers when we thought we were becoming men, and maybe we were getting close. We had spent countless days on the water and even though we were not old enough to drive we would start off from Flour Bluff in the boat and take the trip over to the Island and ditch the boat in the undeveloped canals or what is now Packery Channel and walk over with surfboards and minimum provisions. Dawn patrol and burgers at Bob Hall Pier, making up stories about how old we were and meeting every interesting character we could. We would camp on every spoil island in the Laguna Madre’ and a few abandon cabins as well. Sail lines, floundering, shooting guns, just any kind of adventure we
Lots of black drum on the rocks in Baffin as well as the ultra shallows for site casting with dead shrimp
Lots of big reds around now, windy afternoons are best for drifting up on one could find. That summer we planned the most daring adventure yet, our first trip to Baffin Bay and the Land Cut. We all told our parents that we were spending the night at someone else’s house and gathered every gas tank we could find. We gassed up and took all the food we could gather and headed south. We had been down to the mouth of the Land Cut and Baffin with Nick’s dad Mr. Joe but it looked quite a bit bigger from the sides of my 14ft Jon boat with an 8 hour run. The first evening found us at the mouth of Baffin Bay and we made camp on the Beach of Twin Palms Island. The sunset over the King Ranch was unforgettable, and our sail line drifted out and melted with the sun going down in the western sky. The fire was set and the cans of soup and sausage were hot. We had it made, tents up and feeling pretty big. Out of the darkness came a tall slender figure who sat down at the fire like one of us. Luis Pete was on his way to his cabin from a hot poker game and after he ate half of our food wandered off into the darkness along a small well-worn trail. A few minutes later he came back with two tall Styrofoam cups. “Finish this up and then come over to the cabin and meet the guys.” After the scotch and ice was finished we stumbled over to meet this group of fishermen. We had no idea that this group of fishermen were already known to be the best sport fishermen in Baffin. We learned some good lessons that night about being men and more importantly, these guys liked ICE! They would play poker hands for chips of ice for their drinks, the next few trips we brought extra ice and got to stay at their cabin. Looking back we were pretty cool, but
Tides of the Week
never could I think about my kids today going on such a journey. The third day we were off to the Land Cut and as we entered the cut saw five or six teen aged girls pushing nets for shrimp along the channel. We pulled right up to them and asked them if they wanted some BIG RED. They were from the Roloff’s house for wayward teens. The girls were only dressed in white “wife beaters” and small track shorts. That was just fine with us and the under arm hair didn’t even bother us too much. The girls kept looking down the beach and over their shoulders and we planned for them to sneak out that night. We probably didn’t make it very easy by pitching camp only a few hundred yards from their camp. We gathered all the firewood we could find and at sunset we lit it up! The girls and the old man fished on the dock all night as it got later and later we fed the fire in hopes of luring the girls over, but the old man just walked the dock and glared in our direction. As day broke and our hopes vanished about the great escape with the jail house girls was washed away, we headed north. The back side of the Island was just beautiful, miles of miles of endless clear flats that we made up names for the whole way. We left as boys and came home as men, those days in the sun were priceless. As my boat roars past these same cabins, islands and shorelines I still remember every adventure. I try to pass a little bit of that spirit along to my guests. Do not let the summer pass you bye. I have at least one or two days per week open in August, set aside for days off or last minute calls. I would love to fill them with an adventurous day with some young fishermen. We fish, explore islands, and pass the secrets of the Laguna Madre’ and even life on. Gather a crew and set out to use every last day of summer to the fullest. Live long every day.
This big 31in trout came from a red DOA shrimp on Friday down along the Kennedy Ranch Shoreline
everywhere and the chances of having an epic day on either lures or live bait is at the end of the next cast. We have been fishing the areas where fish have been dropping off of the ultrashallow flats with the recent low tides. The sides of the Intracoastal Canal have been packed with trout and redfish both. The top water bite has been good as well when you have some water that is void of floating grass. Many times this week we have had great success rigging the DOA Air Heads weed less with a large wide gap hook and skimming them across the surface along the shorelines with floating grass. The amount of trout and redfish in these areas sitting down in the grass is amazing, problem is conventional lures grass up quickly. These areas will find game fish digging and hunting small minnows among the growth of grass keeping their eyes from seeing your bait. Make some noise with mauler corks, top water action, or large weedless spoons. Redfish have really shown up strong in the last few weeks with the exit of shrimp populations. Fishermen can still drift in Baffin with shrimp and popping corks without pin perch hording your bait. The lack of large grass flats and fishing the rock piles of Baffin will bring reds, drum, trout, and sheep head to the boat. My success this last week has been finding small pockets of fish where tides have dropped game fish and bait off of ledges. Anglers throwing live croakers will certainly catch trout, but with artificial lures I’m catching reds, and flounder along with the trout. Varied bait presentation is the key to a well-rounded box of fish. The number one good time fishing trip this week is an easy one, whiting on the beach. Look for high tide and fish the first two guts at the beach. Small hooks and pinch weights baited with FISHBITES, or small pieces of squid or shrimp. Anglers can wade out in the surf and cast back into the gut with the waves to feel the bite easier. The kids can stay on the beach and dig big holes with water in them so you can have a natural holding tank. There is not a limit on size or number and these whiting are as good as or better to eat than trout. Get out and use this summer to create some lifelong memories. Keep those lines tight, and your hooks sharp!
Fishing This Week Thank you to everyone who came out for the seminars last week! I hope everyone left with some extra excitement and knowledge. The fishing right now is off the hook! Clear water is
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2014
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) July 24 - 30, 2014
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Th
24
High
5:03 AM
1.5
6:48 AM Rise 4:55 AM
24
Low
8:30 PM
-0.4
8:23 PM Set 6:41 PM
F
25
High
5:30 AM
1.5
6:49 AM Rise 5:46 AM
25
Low
9:07 PM
-0.3
8:22 PM Set 7:25 PM
Sa
26
High
5:49 AM
1.4
6:49 AM Rise 6:37 AM
26
Low
9:40 PM
-0.2
8:22 PM Set 8:05 PM
Su
27
High
5:59 AM
1.4
6:50 AM Rise 7:28 AM
27
Low
10:10 PM
-0.1
8:21 PM Set 8:43 PM
M
28
High
6:08 AM
1.3
6:50 AM Rise 8:19 AM
28
Low
12:32 PM
0.9
8:20 PM Set 9:19 PM
28
High
3:02 PM
1.0
28
Low
10:37 PM
0.0
Tu
29
High
6:18 AM
1.3
6:51 AM Rise 9:10 AM
29
Low
12:48 PM
0.9
8:20 PM Set 9:53 PM
29
High
4:05 PM
1.0
29
Low
11:03 PM
0.1
W
30
High
6:30 AM
1.2
6:51 AM Rise 10:01 AM
30
Low
1:04 PM
0.8
8:19 PM Set 10:27 PM
30
High
5:13 PM
0.9
30
Low
11:28 PM
0.3
Moon Visible
8 4 1 0 0
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A8
July 24, 2014
Island Moon
SPORTS came to the jeep and told me to hop in. I knew better than to ask questions, but needless to say, I was concerned with being singled out. We rode in the jeep for about 6 blocks and stopped in front of a building with the sign “Headquarters 4th Replacement Depot, 8th U.S. Army,” over the large entrance door. My driver, the Sergeant, told me to take my stuff and go straight through the door to the Sergeant Major’s desk and report to him. By then I was worried about what was going on, but standing at attention without saluting, (which I almost did; a Sergeant Major is enlisted, and does not rate a salute) stated “Sergeant Major, Pvt. Lewis reporting as directed!” After a long pause, Sgt. Maj. Kelley (according to his desk plate) looked up and said “oh so you are the jock.” Was I confused! I had no idea what he was talking about. He got up, said “wait here” and knocked on the door behind him, then entered and closed the door. To me it seemed like an eternity, but was only about 30 seconds, the SM opened the door and told me to come in and report to the “old man.” The “old man” was a Full Bird Colonel (I’d never seen one “up close and live”) standing behind a large desk. I managed to report properly (I think), when I finished reporting, he returned my salute and quickly walked around his desk, extended his hand and said, “welcome to Japan, ‘Red,’ we
the Kanagawa Whales (AKA Rangers). We played in a Japanese stadium in Yokohama, which had been renamed Lou Gehrig Stadium. We shared the stadium with the US Military “American Baseball League.” I played on a team in this league also. That team, “The Camp Drew Troopers,” was made up of players from the 5th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division and other units based at Camp Drew, which was near Yokosuka, Japan. The Navy Headquarters of Fleet Activities Far East was in Yokosuka, the former headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Navy. We had a couple of weeks before the new league was scheduled, so we practiced at least eight hours a day, seven days a week. I soon found out that to the Japanese, baseball was not a game, it was war with spectators; and they, along with the sponsors, expected wins. They did not agree at all with “win a few…lose a few,” or “you can’t win them all.” Interestingly enough, I didn’t notice much of a language barrier, all of the players spoke “basea-ball,” but with a completely different accent. At first I had trouble understanding the stadium PA announcer. My first at bat, I was introduced as “Luisssss-san.” No first name, but none of the players’ first names were used. I got lucky and got off to a great start, the first league game we were at home in Lou Gehrig Stadium. I was
By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon
Blood Picture
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross once said, “Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” He was a quiet guy, but special: a game changer extraordinaire. He had reached his inner peace and was okay with who he had become. He was once a tall, pencil thin, redheaded kid with a slingshot right arm; he could be as awkward as Jimmy Stewart. He was small town, as country as corn shucks and always talked football, always. He had a face that was hard to forget and looked as though he never had a square meal in his life. He owned high cheek bones, deep-set blue eyes and was baldheaded most of his life. Even at an early age, he looked older than a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars. But, you don’t become a legend without a fight. He was in for the fight of his life.
Watershed photograph
My Life in Football: Y.A. Tittle. The Giants finished their season in last place with a dismal 2-10-2 record. Y.A. Tittle, down and out, retired. Interestingly, “Big Bad John” Baker lived in the neighborhood where I grew up, located in Wake County, in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina. Baker attended Ligon High School and then North Carolina Central University. He was drafted in 1958 by the Los Angeles Rams. My dad introduced me to John Baker in the offseason, as Baker would return to Raleigh and shop at my dad’s convenience store, known as Gordon’s Market on Six Forks Road. In 1978, long after his retirement, Baker would be elected Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina; and he served for 25 years. Baker used this photo as a campaign tool. John Baker died on Halloween Night, October 31, 2007, which was appropriate, because the man was simply scary. Baker was 72 years of age. In 1972, Baker had appropriately been elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Yelberton Abraham Tittle
are very happy to have you aboard.” I was in shock! I had enlisted for duty with the First Cavalry Division in Tokyo and here I was being royally welcomed to the 4th Replacement Depot in Zama, Japan. I had no idea where Zama was, but I knew it wasn’t Tokyo. Also what I didn’t know was that there was a very intense athletic rivalry between military units in Japan and all unit commanders were on the lookout for “jocks.”
batting a surprising third in the order, and hit the second pitch, a medium speed fast ball “down the pipe” which was just above my waist, over the low retaining wall in right center field, for a three run homer. I loved Lou Gehrig stadium, it was 333 feet down each line and 333 feet all-the- way around. The retaining wall was only about three feet (1 meter) high…what a “hitter’s park!”
Not only were the units looking for athletes, but a new professional Japanese baseball league was just starting play, and they were allowed one American on each team. General MacArthur had directed that all commanders were to encourage their baseball players to tryout for the teams.
I met with the PA announcer the next day and through an interpreter, explained to him that my name was “Red” like my hair. He said that he understood and from then on I was “Aka-san.” Aka is red in Japanese. I didn’t take exception to this, because I found out in short order, that very few Japanese could pronounce the letter R …it comes out as an L, so I was happy to not be known in Japan as “Led-san.”
This new Japanese league was the four-team Kokumin League scheduled to play a 30-game summer season in 1947.
I had a great year in the 30 game season. I had only two errors, hit .319, only struck out twice and hit for the circuit 21 times.
American players would not receive pay from the Japanese, but would be paid, in addition to their military pay, a per diem to cover all extra expenses. This was a very (to me) substantial stipend. The American players were also exempt from many provisions of MacArthur’s “no fraternization” rules. But they did have a very, very strict code of conduct.
Dotson’s Note: That is the story of my professional baseball career. Stateside, I tried it again in the spring of 1956, but soon found out that a pro baseball career was not for me. Did any of you “Moon Monkeys” every try/play a professional sport? Your comments regarding this and/or any other Moon Sports article will be greatly appreciated. Please call the Benchwarmers between 3 and 6 PM weekdays at 361-560-5397 or call or Email Dotson. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
So, in May 1947, my first assignment in Japan was to play baseball for a Yokohama based Japanese professional team. Officially we were
Surf Texas Coming to Town Surf Texas is a stunning look at the people and places that make surfing towns like Corpus Christi so special. The one-of-a-kind book by professional photographer Kenny Braun has received myriad praise from media including Slate, Gessato, Texas Monthly and much more. Offering a look for outsiders and enthusiasts alike, Surf Texas celebrates what makes the surfing in Texas so unique compared to anywhere else in the world. With the incredible success Surf Texas has received, Kenny Braun and the Surf Texas team are taking the book to the places that inspired this remarkable collection of surfing memories. The Corpus Christi leg of the book tour will take place on August 2, 2014 at the Texas Surf Museum. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a mini-exhibition of fine art prints that appear in Surf Texas. We'd be thrilled to have you join us for some drinks and light refreshments, courtesy Dripping Springs Vodka and KIND Bars. What’s more, proceeds from all book sales will benefit the Surfrider Foundation South Texas Chapter. Braun would be happy to talk to you prior to, during, or after the event.
The black and white photo taken of him on Sunday, September 20, 1964, has over the years become ingrained in the very minds of every fan of the world of professional football. Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette snapped this iconic image at old Pitt Stadium. This picture would change the way photographers looked at sports, and it emphasized the power of capturing a moment of reaction from the players themselves. In this photo the quarterback now rested on his knees, in the dirt and grass of his own end zone. He had been knocked down and bloodied by Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive end, “Big Bad John” Baker, who stood 6’ 7” tall and weighed 280 pounds. Baker’s teammates kidded that John was so big he had his own zip code. This QB would suffer a concussion and a cracked sternum on this play. His helmet is missing, head down, his shoulders slumping, all while looking exhausted, in pain, broken and discouraged beyond explanation. Even his swollen hands screamed disbelief as they lay on top of his thigh pads. He had thrown an interception while being leveled by Baker. The ball landed in the arms of Steelers’ defensive tackle, Chuck Hinton, and was returned for an eight-yard touchdown. The New York Football Giants had lost another game. Pittsburgh would beat New York that day, 27-24. But it’s his bald, bloodied head that draws your attention in this photo. You see, there are two streams of blood visible, one running from his forehead into his left eye, while the other sneaks its way down in front of his left ear. The “Blood Picture,” he called it, the one picture of him that everybody wanted autographed. It’s true, I have one myself. This photo was taken during his seventeenth and final season. “I hate this picture,” he once said. Most of us never admit we are too old until it’s too late. He was 37 years old but looked 50. A copy of this photo hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eventually, he used this picture on the back cover of his 2009 autobiography, entitled Nothing Comes Easy:
Born October 24, 1926, in a small town in Texas, with a Biblical name right out of the Old Testament, Yelberton Abraham Tittle would make the #14 a famous number in New York City. As a kid, Tittle would change his name to Y.A. It just seemed simpler to say, and he was embarrassed to say his full name. “I’ve got the worst name in the world,” he once said in an interview. Y.A. grew up in the town of Marshall, just a long post pattern from the Louisiana state line. In 1936, at the age of ten, he had wanted to be like quarterback, Sammy Baugh. He would lead the Marshall High School Mavericks at quarterback, while wearing a long-sleeved jersey and a leather helmet. Y.A. was a bit headstrong and was once benched because he refused to run the plays called by his head coach. Y.A. would grow to be 6’ tall and weigh 192 pounds, and he was recruited by Louisiana State University (LSU). Tittle accepted their offer and headed to Baton Rouge to play for the Tigers. He also liked being close to his older brother, Frank, who attended Tulane. “Frank was my hero,” said Y.A. In 1947, as a junior, Tittle, while wearing the #63, was named the MVP of the Cotton Bowl which, was played in an ice storm against the University of Arkansas. The game ended in a scoreless tie. “It was cold,” said Tittle, “Five degrees below zero.” Hopefully, you know the rest of the story. Y.A. Tittle became the first pro football player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, on November 22, 1954. The New York Giants retired his #14. In 1971, Y.A. Tittle also joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” is now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon.com, Google Books, Booksamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three books at Beamer’s Sports Grill 5922 S Staples or the local Barnes & Noble store. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for more info or contact him at purvis.andy@mygrande. net. Listen to Dennis Quinn & Andy Purvis Q & A Session each Thursday 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.
Fall 2014 High School Varsity Basketball League Registration starts July 28 The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting registration for its Fall 2014 High School Varsity Basketball League. This league is team concept with a boys division and a girls division (Varsity), 8 teams per division. Each team is limited to 12 players. The season will begin the week of September 8 and run through the week of October 11, 2014. REGISTRATION will be offered as follows: A) WEEKDAYS Monday–Friday, July 28– August 15, 2014 from 10am–4pm at Heritage Park in the second floor of the Sidbury House (1609 N. Chaparral St.); $350.00 per team; B) LATE REGISTRATION August 18–22, 2014 from 10am–4pm at Heritage Park in the second floor of the Sidbury House (1609 N. Chaparral St.); $375.00 per team.
Participants will obtain a full understanding and importance of the rules and the concept of teamwork. While this program provides structure and knowledge of the sport of basketball, it also promotes positive attitudes and the importance of adapting a lifestyle with recreational activities. For more information about this league, call the Athletics Office at 361-826-3478 or visit www.ccparkandrec.com (click ‘Sports’), where the registration form is also available for download. The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department is dedicated to providing quality, affordable and enrichment programs for all ages and interests. For more information about the wide variety of programs and services offered by the department, visit www.ccparkandrec.com. We invite everyone to Live. Learn. Play!
July 24, 2014
Island Moon
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Gardens continued from A1
also has a backyard garden where he grows plants from all over the world. The abundance of sand and sunshine are obvious but for water Island gardeners have to be creative. The community gardens uses water that the city purges from “stale” water lines that would otherwise run into storm drains and into the canals. Home gardeners all over The Island use backyard wells drilled in most cases to no more than ten feet deep to provide an abundance source of fresh water. At the suggestion of Dunseth city crews began drilling test wells in Billish Park on Tuesday to determine if well water there can be used to fill an irrigation pond that would allow for plants other than grassburs to grow there. It took less than three hours for a crew to drill three water wells at the park as the first step in a $555,000 improvement plan. The crew bored down to five feet and hit wet sand then at six feet the well filled with water. Now lessons learned by Island gardeners over the years can be applied on a larger scale in an attempt to improve our currently underutilized parks.
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Island Moon
July 24, 2014