Section a final

Issue 564

FREE

The

Free

Island Moon

The voice of The Island since 1996 Bringing Island news down your fingertip and up your canal.

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

We Islanders panicked and starting hurriedly packing our cars on Tuesday after it rained for more than ten minutes straight. Our internal rain gauges tell us that if it rains that long without stopping it must be a hurricane - Hurricane! and we pack up and head OTB. But alas, then we remembered we’re way outside the hurricane season and put our flashlights back in the closet. Think of it as a drill.

Record Number of Padre Island Students Attending Port Aransas Schools

Weekly

February 5, 2015

Photo by Diane L. Anderson

Island Gets First Pedestrian-Only City Beach

By Dale Rankin

When the new school semester Google Maps started a few weeks ago sixteen

Dune driving Driving in sand dunes along our beaches has reached epic proportions of late both at Newport Pass and at The Bowl in Kleberg County.

But given the hopscotched perimeters of enforcement jurisdiction each of the two problem locations are covered by different agencies. The area where the Bowl is located, about two miles south of Bob Hall Pier, has long been a gathering place for those who wish to avoid interference from law enforcement prior to January 1 it was under the sole jurisdiction of the Kleberg County Sheriff’s office located sixty miles away in Kingsville. As of January 1 Nueces County took possession and enforcement responsibilities from Kleberg County but so far nothing really has changed. County officials have said the Constables office will patrol the area but so far the dune destruction continues.

Just north of Packery Channel at Newport Pass four-wheelers have carved a road out from the back of the Pass all the way through to State Highway 361. There are all kinds of reasons why that can’t be allowed to continue but the question is who will stop it. Texas Parks and Wildlife has told the adjacent property owners they will begin patrolling the area and the constable also has jurisdiction there.

We hear that the CCPD substation at Tortuga Dunes will be manned at Spring Break 2015 and will remain so through the end of 2015, that could have some effect on the problem.

Currently there are not even any signs warning dune drivers that they are in violation of the law. That would at least be a good start.

Barefoot Mardi Gras is coming up on Valentine’s Day, February 14, and that means the parade, the only Mardi Gras beach parade this side of Panama City, which starts just north of Bob Hall Pier at 11 a.m., and the party is at the Veranda that evening.

Laissez les bon temps roulez everybody, we’ll see you there. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

PAISD continued on A6

Winter Beach Cleanup February 7 Six Coastal Bend beaches targeted for trash Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is calling on volunteers for the 11th Annual Winter Beach Cleanup Saturday, Feb. 7 at six Coastal Bend beaches. The cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to noon.

The locations participating in the Winter Beach Cleanup are: • Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat Community. Check-in is at the parking lot off Highway 361 near Packery Channel. Contact Teresa Carrillo at 361-882-3439 or via e-mail at teresa.carrillo@ texasadoptabeach.org • Padre Island National Seashore, at the Malaquite Visitor Center, 20420 Park Road 22. Contact Buzz Botts at 361-949-8068 or via e-mail at buzz.botts@texasadoptabeach.org. • Port Aransas. Check-in is at Avenue G at the beach. Contact Deno Fabrie at 361-749-0256 or via e-mail at deno.fabrie@ texasadoptabeach.org • Aransas Pass/Redfish Bay. Checkin is at Lighthouse Lakes Park, four miles east of Aransas Pass on Highway 361. Contact Richard Gonzales at 361-779-7351 or via e-mail at richard.gonzales@ texasadoptabeach.org.

Clean-Up continued on A3

By Dale Rankin

- 1,

000

feet

After more than a decade of controversy, two citywide votes, and several starts and stops, there is now a pedestrian-only city beach on Padre Island.

Crews last weekend put up wooden bollards at the south end of the Michael J. Ellis Seawall to stop northbound beach traffic on the beach; a gap in the bollards still exists which will be closed with a chain to allow access for emergency vehicles.

The new bollards extend 150’ out from the seawall and a second line of bollards across the beach 1000 feet to the north blocks southbound beach traffic. District 4 Councilwoman Colleen McIntyre, who has pushed the plan, said stabilization mats will be installed at the base of the existing stairs at the end of the seawall to comply with ADA rules. She said signs are on order to inform drivers there is no through traffic. There

ch

PAISD is a 2A school. The district also offers the chance for high school students to attend classes for college credit in their Junior and Senior years.

Bollards

Bea

“We offer a good education in a small school environment,� Johnson said. “We have everything a larger school has except a football program.

We have a very strong UIL scholastic team, a Gifted and Talented Program, good tennis, softball, basketball, track, and baseball programs. Some students have decided they would rather make the trip up The Island rather than over the Laguna Madre.�

ian

We had three reports in the last cold snap of floor tiles coming lose.

We not sure if it’s due to defective grout or too many glasses of wine for homeowners. Or maybe we misunderstood since too many glasses of wine usually causees gout problems not grout problems.

Anyway, if you have too many glasses of wine be careful walking, especially on tile floors.

PAISD Superintendent Wayne Johnson said almost ten percent of the students in the Port Aransas school district this term – 47 out of 500 students – are from out of the district. He said sixteen of them are making the commute up The Island from Padre Island; a record number.

estr

Tile popping cold

students who live on Padre Island began attending classes in the Port Aransas School District.

Ped

Cold Stunned starfish have hit our beaches like so many Rock Stars after a night out in Hollywood.

Except these stars are here through no fault of their own but rather due to the cold water which has sent them into a catatonic state much like Cold Stunned turtles. They are piling up on our beaches in bunches. If you see them moving their little feet they are still alive and kicking.

https://www.google.com/m

Bollards Parking Area will be public parking adjacent to the bollards at both ends of the pedestrian-only beach. The plan has been approved by the GLO, The rules of the Texas General Land Office allow for the closing

One Week Until Barefoot Mardi Gras!

of a beach that is less than 150 feet wide for safety reasons. The beach at the south end of the seawall for many years was narrow enough that southbound vehicles regularly were

Beach continued on A3

Inside the Moon

Saturday, February 14 @ 11am BAREFOOT MARDI GRAS BEACH PARADE

Band from San Antonio, Beads, and a whole lot more!

The ONLY Mardi Gras beach parade $25 in advance / $35 at the door in the State of Texas!!

Tickets available at all Island banks On Whitecap Beach from Access (1st Community, American Bank, Frost Bank and Prosperity Bank) the Road 4 to Bob Hall Pier POA Office, Boathouse Bar & Grill, Get your parking spot early and be and the Veranda Restaurant. Also ready for a great parade available at Security Services Federal WE WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE Credit Union on Everhart.

WITH A FLOAT. info@ This is the Big One everybody, get padreislandbusiness.org. your tickets early!

The Moon Monkeys will be there Fat Tuesday, February 17 with our The Bull Stops Here Float.

PORT ARANAS MARDI GRAS We’ll see you there!

(PARDI ) PARADE Saturday, February 14 @ 6pm 10pm This parade begins on Beach Street in front of The Gaff and runs through KING & QUEEN'S BALL the heart of Port Aransas. It kicks off ** 21 and over ONLY ** at 5 p.m. (Port Aransas Time) but folks will begin lining up two hours LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL early and by the time the parade kicks Veranda Restaurant at Schlitterbahn off there will be several thousand Upper Padre people along the route. Get there Cajun Food, Raffles, a great Zydeco early.

Ocean Science Bowl A4

Fishing A7

Sports A8

A little Island history

Padre Isles Property Owners Association History

Editor’s note: Islander Bob Maupin has lived on The Island for more than thirty five years and has been involved in the Padre Isles Property Owners Association since moving here. We asked him to give us an overview of the POA.

which included a Board of Directors, Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws. Twenty-seven subdivisions were established, with separate declarations. PIIC, as owner and manager of the properties, controlled the initial development.

Coordinators were Dave Coggins, Nick Nickoloric, Bob Southard, Gene Knight, Maurice Walker and Diane Gordon King. The current Executive Coordinator, appointed in 1998 by the Board, is MayBeth Christensen.

By Bob Maupin

The development is made up of over 700 acres and 32 miles of canals. At the present time there are 5075 residential properties and 125 commercial properties with a total of 4600 owners. Each owner pays an annual fee for maintenance of the canals, bulkheads, launch ramps, and common area. The total fee billed for the present year is $1,642,710.00.

Effective 1 January, 1984, the PIIC no longer owned 51% of the PIPOA properties and the Association management was turned over to a Board of Directors that is elected by the property owners.

In the 1960s, a group of planners, developers and investors called the Padre Isles Development Corporation (PIIC) started a development of residential and commercial properties on North Padre Island. A portion of these properties face the Gulf of Mexico, some are on bulk-headed canals and others have access to the water. That development would be known as the Padre Isles Property Owners Association (PIPOA)

The management of the PIPOA is governed by a Board of Directors.

An Executive Coordinator position was established in 1978.

Past

Zoot Suit Riots A14

Winter Texan Roundup A15-16

The Association is self-insured for bulkhead repair/replacement that results from a severe hurricane and is part of a Municipal Management District (MMD) that will allow borrowed FEMA funds to augment

History continued from A3

Live Music A16

 ���� ��  ��

A2

Island Moon

February 5, 2015

Fat Friday Barefoot Mardi Gras Kickoff Party at The Boathouse Bar & Grill

Photos by Debbie Noble and Miles Merwin

Here are the pictures from our Cruise with Larry Joe Taylor, the Tejas Brothers and more to Roatan (LJT is in that pic as well as Dave Mendez from Tejas Bros., and my sweet husband, Jerry), Belize (myself and my sister, Janet) and Cozumel (no picture).

Thanks, Pam Benson Irving and Alice Rosenberg, long-time Gulfstream winter Texans from Michigan, recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to Belize.

Of course, they had their copy of the Moon handy to share with other cruisers!

Send Travelling Moon Photos to editor@ islandmoon.com

cuttlebutt’ s S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL

Sweetheart Package

Dinner for 2 includes entree, salad, wine & Dessert $79.99

Lonely Hearts Menu

Salad Entree, Flight of Beer & Dessert $29.99

14254 SPID Phone: 361-949-6769 scuttlebuttsbarandgrill.com

February 5, 2015

Island Moon

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Letters to the Editor Mardi Gras Dogs

As an animal rescuer and advocate, please be reminded to take extra water and a bowl to the festivities for your dogs! They get very overheated and could use a cold drink. Thank you! :) Kat Percival

Beach Mess

Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin

I hope our owners will attend the annual meeting to learn first-hand what the POA has been doing during the last year. In addition, our independent auditor will present a report on the financial condition of the Association. I believe owners will learn that the Association is well run and the Board is dedicated to making the Island a better community.

Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft t Christiansen Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)

A big thanks to Casie Ann Redman who tackled cleaning up quite the beach mess left near the South Jetty last weekend. Way to go Casie! Photo by Carol Ann Redman

‘Church Basement Ladies’ Coming to PACT A Comedic Look at a Rural Church in the 1950s and 60s

Riley P. Dog Publisher Dale Rankin About the Island Moon

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

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.

The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Where to Find The Island Moon

Lisabella’s Restaurant

Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors Port A Arts

Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

North Padre

A Mano

All Stripes Stores

Coffee Waves

CVS

Moby Dicks

Whataburger

Spanky’sLiquor

Doc’s Restaurant

IGA Grocery Store

Snoopy’s Pier Isle Mail N More

Carter Pharmacy

Island Italian

San Juan’s Taqueria

Ace Hardware

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Texas Star (Shell)

Pioneer RV Park

Port A Parks and Rec Public Library

Holiday Inn Jesse’s Liquor Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant Subway

Chamber of Commerce

Island Tire

Duckworth Antiques

And all Moon retail advertisers

Back Porch

WB Liquor

Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place

Flour Bluff

Giggity’s

H.E.B.

Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Liquid Town

Gratitude Gift Shop Keepers Pier House Port A Glass Studio The Gaff

There have been a spat of emails and letters about the “proxy” part of the ballot for the annual meeting.

This issue was raised by some who attended the January 27, 2015, PIPOA Board of Directors meeting, and I thought it was worth writing about so more people get the message.

As the Board stated, the proxy will only be used at the March 14 annual meeting to vote in the Board of Directors election. If the Board decides to move forward with a Community Center/office, there will be a new mailed ballot and a meeting to consider that issue at a later date.

Distribution

Port Aransas

News from your POA

Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

By Brent Rourk After a successful and memorable run of Sex, Sin, and the CIA at the Port Aransas Community Theatre, PACT will offer a dazzling musical comedy as Church Basement Ladies takes stage next Thursday. This entertaining play will elicit lots of laughter as it leads you through a year in the life of several church personalities.

The play revolves around 4 ladies who work in the basement of a Minnesota church where they prepare food for church functions, and along the way they attempt to solve the problems facing their community and world. Down to Earth and inviting, the play presents 4 different personalities who deal with each other, current issues, and recipes while preventing a few catastrophes and disasters. Along the way they make every effort to keep the pastor in line and on course.

Church Basement Ladies is directed by Larry Stotts, an experienced PACT director who has several plays to his credit.

Playing at PACT on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays; Feb 5,6,7,12,13,14,19,20,and 21 starting at 7:30 PM. It will also play on Sundays; Feb. 8,15, and 22 starting at 2:30 PM. Check http://www.portaransascommunitytheatre.com/ for tickets or call 361-749-6036.

The City of Corpus Christi offers Rain Barrels Through New “Catch a Drop!” Program

The City of Corpus Christi is pleased to announce citizens can now purchase rain barrels through a new program called, “Catch a Drop!” The rain barrels are being subsidized and offered to the City’s water customers at a discounted price to encourage residents to conserve precious water resources as well as to protect water quality.

“This program is an important step toward conserving water in our community because it offers an inexpensive and proven option to help people make a difference in their own backyards,” said Project Manager, Brent Clayton. “We are committed to protecting our water resources. The use of rain barrels will provide residents an important tool they need to conserve water, prevent water pollution, and reduce sedimentation in our lakes, rivers and streams.”

The barrel captures rainwater from roof-tops by connecting to the homes downspout. This water would typically be sent down the storm drain carrying potential contaminants and contributing to flash flooding. The cumulative effect of rain barrels implemented throughout a geographic area can have a significant impact on storm water management and water quality.

Water collected by the rain barrels can be used for gardens, lawns, washing cars and pets.

The rain barrels can be purchased directly through the program’s website using a credit card. Limit of 2 rain barrels per household and based on availability. The normal retail price is $129.00 but through this special promotion the cost is only $49.50. Deadline to order online is March 22nd. For details on the “Catch a Drop!” rain barrel program and how to order visit www.rainbarrelprogram.org/CorpusChristi.

Customers wanting to pay by phone or check need to contact Rain Water Solutions at (919) 835-1699.

The City provides a large recycle bin for use by residents which is located at the Fortuna Bay boat ramp. The bin is for recyclable materials.

Items are to be put IN the bin – not stacked alongside of it. We have single stream recycling in Corpus Christi, which means you may put the recyclable material in any “door” on that large bin. If the cardboard box is too big to fit -- bring along a box cutter and CUT IT UP. Garbage is NOT recyclable and should not be deposited in the bin. Chairs, mattresses, tables, barbecue grills and so forth do not fit in the bin – thus they should not be stacked alongside.

Those types of things should be taken to the Litter Critter which is available the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at the west end of Whitecap. The hours for the Critter are 7 AM to 4 PM. Volunteers are always welcome to help with directing traffic and unloading.

We see a number of people stacking tree trimmings and various material at the curb.

City setout dates do not start until February 18.

You may place brush and bulky items at the curb from February 18 to February 22 NOTE THE SHORTER TIME FRAME. Pickup will be February 23. For those who are setting out now – you may be receiving a citation and fine from the City.

The next set out for brush only will not be until MAY 27 until May 31, with pick up on June 1.

Putting that brush out early is unsightly and attracts unwanted critters.

Working together, we will all enjoy a better looking Island.

Beach continued from A1 engulfed by water. However, that changed when Packery Channel was dredged in 2006 and the sand was used to widen the beach along the seawall. Under the current plan, the 150 feet of beach nearest to the seawall will remain closed to traffic even if the beach is made wider during future dredgings but a traffic lane may be allowed on the water side if the beach is made wide enough through re-nourishment.

The establishment of a vehicle-free beach comes after more than a decade of controversy over whether to remove traffic from the beach at the seawall. After a bitter fight voters in 2005 resoundingly defeated a proposal to remove traffic from the 7200-foot stretch of beach from the South Packery Jetty to the Nueces County Park. The Island vote split 49-51 in favor of the plan.

Then in November, 2008 voters narrowly approved a plan, 53% to 47%, that allowed the banning of vehicles from the 4200 linear feet of beach in front of the seawall. However, by the time the plan got though the planning process at Corpus Christi City Hall it called for a non-vehicle beach only from the north end of the seawall southward to a point near the existing seawall parking lot and called for two traffic lanes parallel to the seawall bounded by bollards and eight parking places on the beach.

It also called for a row of bollards running parallel to the waterline to be placed 100 feet landward from the mean high tide line from the north end of the seawall to within 600 feet of the South Packery Jetty. The bollards north of the seawall were not popular and opponents of the plan claimed they were outside the bounds approved by voters. City crews also said the two traffic lanes in the soft sand near the seawall would be expensive to maintain and the unwieldy plan languished at city hall and was never implemented.

More than a decade ago property owners along the seawall struck a deal with the city to remove vehicles from the seawall beach in exchange for their purchase of land for a parking lot which they agreed to donate to the city. They bought the land for $400,000 and the parking lot was opened in 2009 and, along with the beach and seawall, named after Island Moon founder Michael J. Ellis. But due largely to the bitter political fallout from the 2005 vote subsequent city councils never acted on the city’s part of the deal and beach driving there continued as vehicles and pedestrians vied for space.

Property owners continued to complain to city officials and property owner Bob Curry two years ago began a campaign to remove vehicles which became the impetus for the current move.

That move to close the southernmost 1000 feet of the seawall beach comes after more than two years of attempts by the Island Strategic Action Committee and property owners to move forward with a plan. Councilwoman McIntyre developed the current plan and the new bollards are part of Phase I. McIntyre has said Phase II of the plan which would remove traffic on northern portions of the beach will be decided on after observing how Phase I works.

While Mustang Island State Park, Nueces County Park, and the Padre Island National Seashore have long restricted driving on portions of the beach under their jurisdiction, this is the first non- vehicle city beach on The Island.

Did Ya Hear?

A3

by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter

New Advertisers 1999 BMW M Red Roadster with soft top in excellent condition would make the perfect Valentine’s gift. It has only 49,500 miles and you can get it for just $11,500.

Call the owner at 307-760-5392.

Hillcrest AB Kangaroo Motorized Golf Caddy with remote control can be purchased for $250.00 and makes walking a golf course fun. Call 937-8187 to take a look.

The Island Presbyterian Church invites you to The Gift of Peace Lunch & Learn on Saturday, February 21st 9 am – 1 pm. They will cover your rights at the end of life, organ donation, wills, resources for caretakers, aging and disability resources and more.

There is no cost and lunch is included. To RSVP call 949-8770.

The Texas Winter Market will be held at the Aransas Pass Civic Center on February 14th and 15th. There will be Texas made items, jewelry, clothing, gourmet food and more. For vendor space and more info call 888-225-3427.

Business Briefs Brooklyn Pie is now delivering to Padre Island and Flour Bluff and you can either order online at brooklynpie.com/padreisland or call 949-1100. They have daily lunch specials and happy hour every day 4 – 6 pm.

The former Pelican Club Restaurant in Port A is now located at the Inferno at the corner of Alister & Cotter. They serve dinner Thursday – Saturday 5:30 – 9:00 pm and lunch Friday – Sunday 11:30 – 2 pm.

Scuttlebutt’s has a Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Package that includes dinner for two, a bottle of wine and dessert for $79.99.

Their Lonely Hearts menu includes entrée, salad, flight of beer and dessert for $29.99.

Padre Island Social Club get together for events like Sunday Funday at the beach, dinner or a night on the town. If you are interested in meeting new people, books, movies, wine, beer, food, traveling and more email Jennifer Seymour at SeymoueStyle@ gmail.com. You can also find them on Facebook.

Padre Island Dog Owners Group (PI DOG) will be joining the Riley P. Dog Park Committee in the Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade and staging will be at 9:30 am at Access Rd 4. Decorate your golf cart and/or dress up your pooch and join this fun group.

The parade will begin at 11 am on Saturday, February 14th.

The Port Aransas Art Center First Friday monthly event this month will feature the theme Hearts for Arts. The reception is February 6th 5:30 – 7:30 pm and will include live music, refreshments and is open to the public.

The Veterans Benefit Fair will be held at the VA Corpus Christi Specialty Clinic at 205 S Enterprise on Saturday, February 7th 10 am – 1 pm.

Ethel Eyerly Senior Center in the Bluff is hosting a Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance with music by Bud Whittington on Friday, February 20th 4:30 – 7:30 pm. The price is $6 and to make a reservation call 937-3218.

Ellis Memorial Library Book Sale in Port A will be held on Saturday, February 7th 9 am – 5 pm. There will be adult and children’s hardback and paperback books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and more.

Johnny D’s Restaurant no longer has brunch on Sundays but they still serve dinner Tuesday – Saturday 4:30 – 9:30 pm. You can view their full menu online at www.letreat. at/johnnydsrestaurant.

Clean-Up cont. from A1 • North Corpus Christi Beach. Check-in is at the Texas State Aquarium, 2710 N. Shoreline Blvd. Contact Rosanna Gossett at 361-8811203 or via e-mail at rosanna.gossett@ texasadoptabeach.org.

• Kid’s Place at Cole Park. Check-in is at 1526 Ocean Drive, contact Chelsea Craig at 361-946-3996 or via e-mail at chelsea.craig@ texasadoptabeach.org.

The Winter Beach Cleanup is one of three all-volunteer seasonal cleanups coordinated through the Adopt-A-Beach program of the Texas General Land Office.

Most trash found on Texas beaches is left there by litterbugs. Since 1986, Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up enough trash to fill a line of dump trucks 90 miles long, making it one of the most successful volunteer programs in the nation. Volunteers record data on the trash to learn more about the causes of marine debris and to help mitigate pollution along Texas’ 367 miles of coastline.

The Texas General Land Office’s AdoptA-Beach program is funded primarily by private contributions. To help out, or for more information, call the Adopt-A-Beach program at 1-877-TXCOAST or visit our Web site at www.texasadoptabeach.org.

History continued from A1 the self-insurance funds. The fund for the bulkhead self-insurance is made up of stocks, bonds and CDs. The current value of the fund is $ 7,000,000.00 with a floor (minimum amount) of $ 6,000,000.00. This fund increases from the annual property owners maintenance fees and at the present time there is no cap. The specific details of the Association’s expenses are open for inspection and review at the PIPOA office.

The 2015 annual meeting for all property owners of the PIPOA will be 14 March at 10:00 a.m. in the school gym on Encantada.

Hope to see you there.

A4

BBB Top Ten Scams of 2014

February 5, 2015

Island Moon

Better Business Bureau hears from thousands of consumers and business owners every year about a variety of scams and frauds. Many are new twists on existing scams, but scammers get more sophisticated every year in how they spoof trusted names and how they fool consumers.

New Officers at Padre Island Yacht Club Spirited Installation Banquet Welcomes New Slate

While BBB doesn’t have specific numbers about how many people were defrauded or for how much, here are the scams we think were most pervasive this past year: #10 Sweepstakes Scam: You’ve won a contest!

Or the lottery! Or the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes! All you have to do to claim your prize is to pay some fees or taxes in advance so they can release your prize… This is not a new scam, but it is a perennial problem. #9 Click Bait Scam: This one takes many forms, but the most notorious of the past year was when the Malaysian Airline plane went missing (“click here for video”). Other click bait schemes use celebrity images, fake news, and other enticing stories to get you to unintentionally download malware. #8 Robocall Scam: The notorious “Rachel from Cardholder Services” made a resurgence in 2014. This scam claims to be able to lower your credit card interest rates and takes personal information – including your credit card number – and then charges fees to your card. #7 Government Grant Scam: You get a call saying you’ve been awarded a government grant for thousands of dollars. It may even mention a program you’ve heard about in the news. All you have to do to collect your grant is pay a couple hundred in fees by wire transfer or prepaid debit card… #6 Emergency Scam: This one is sometimes called the “grandparent scam” because it often preys on older consumers. You get a call or email from your grandchild or other relative who was injured, robbed or arrested while traveling overseas and needs money ASAP. #5 Medical Alert Scam: Another one that preys on older folks. You get a call or a visit from a company claiming a concerned family member ordered you a medical alert device in case you have an emergency. They take your credit card or banking information but you never receive anything. #4 Copycat Website Scam: You get an email, text message or social media post about a terrific sale or exciting new product. You click through and it looks just like a popular retailer’s site. But when you order, you either get a cheap counterfeit or nothing at all… and now they have your credit card number! #3 “Are You Calling Yourself?” Scam: Scammers can make a call look like it’s coming from anywhere. The latest trick puts your number in the Caller ID, which piques your curiosity and gets you to pick up the phone or return the call… and then they’ve snagged you in whatever scam they are running.

It was almost a tie for the top spot this year, because BBB sees this one every day: #2 Tech Support Scam: You get a call or a pop-up on your computer claiming to be from Microsoft (or Norton, or Apple) about a problem on your computer. They say if you give “tech support” access to your hard drive, they can fix it. Instead, they install malware on your computer and start stealing your personal information.

And the top Scam of the Year, because it’s just so terrifying, is: #1 Arrest Scam: You receive an ominous phone call from someone claiming to be a police

officer or government agent (often the IRS in the United States or the CRA in Canada). They are coming to arrest you for overdue taxes or for skipping out on jury duty… but you can avoid it by sending them money via a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Another variation on this is that you’ll be arrested for an overdue payday loan. Whatever the “violation,” it’s scary to be threatened with arrest, and many people pay out of fear.

Why Scams Work: There is a science to scams, and it may surprise you to know that scammers use many of the same techniques as legitimate sales professionals. The difference, of course, is that their “product” is illegal and could cost you a fortune. Here are the major techniques they use to draw you in: Establishing a connection: The scammer builds rapport and a relationship with you.

This is usually used face-to-face, as in home improvement scams and many investment scams, but also online romance scams.

Source credibility: The scammer uses techniques to make themselves look legitimate, such as fake websites or hacked emails that come from a friend’s account. Most email phishing scams spoof real companies, and many scammers pretend to be someone they are not in order to add credibility.

Playing on emotions: Scammers rely on emotion to get you to make a quick decision before you have time to think about it. An emergency situation or a limited time offer is usually their methodology. They count on emotional rather than rational decision-making.

The Expo offers a rare indoor environment where event-goers can see, touch and compare – all in one place. In addition, many manufacturers and dealers will be ready to make a “sweat heart of a deal” with pre-season low financing, expo specials and rebates.

Interestingly, RV travel and ownership continue to grow in popularity – including in Texas - with 7.2 million RVs on the nation's roads. And, the local boating segment is seeing similar upticks. 22% of Texas households participate in recreational boating annually, and with more than 600,000 registered boats, the Lone Star state ranks sixth in boating activity in the country.

The RV and marine industry have both seen tremendous changes over the years. The newest trend - it’s not just retirees or older folks hitting the open road or the water. Younger families are hitting the open road and open water for fun these days.

"Today's record RV ownership levels reflect the enduring appeal of the recreational lifestyle despite recent economic challenges. The biggest difference ist hat younger families are making RVing a priority in their lives because they realize it is a cost-effective and fun way to spend time with family and friends," says Tiffanie Hoover, Director of the annual Coastal Bend RV & Boat Expo.

She adds, “And Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state. So, it makes perfect sense that families want to spend quality time together having fun in and on the water.”

Free educational seminars hosted by marine, RV and outdoor adventure industry experts will be held throughout the weekend at the Expo.

Topics include satellite selection and towing solutions for your RV, as well as saltwater fishing for sharks, boating inspection, new

By Brent Rourk With a fabulous dinner and fine dancing the Padre Island Yacht Club (PIYC) welcomed the new 2015 club officers and thanked the outgoing 2014 officers at the Holiday Inn on Saturday evening during the 2015 Installation Banquet. It was a fun evening for 125 PIYC members with many couples dancing into the evening after the recognition and awards.

Outgoing commodore Vic Schreck recapped his year as the PIYC leader, thanked many who worked with him during the year, and recognized the outgoing officers.

During 2014 the PIYC promoted and sponsored many fine events, including club socials, parties, games, plays, picnics, outings, and of course La Posada. Outgoing commodore Schreck claimed that it was a lot of work and very worth it. He stated, ”My last year was filled with lots of challenges, from PIYC facility

repairs to the many fun filled events we hosted.

But I must say the 4th of July fireworks display was spectacular and the La Posada events were amazingly successful in raising a lot of cash and toys for the Marines ‘Toys for Tots’ campaign.”

The 2015 Commodore David Ziler introduced the new officers and looked forward to a fantastic year for the PIYC. Ziler promised that the club will continue its many fun venues in 2015 noting, “Although we're just a month into 2015, our Board has been very busy planning the many social and cruising events that we'll have for our members throughout the year. We are really excited about another fun filled year for our members.”

In terms of the Installation Banquet Ziler claimed, “Our Installation Banquet night was filled with wonderful food, great conversations and dancing. I believe our members truly enjoyed a fantastic evening!”

Students Go Head-to-Head to Battle in the National Ocean Science Bowl

What You Can Do: • Don’t be pressured into making fast decisions.

• Take time to research the organization.

Check them out on bbb.org, search online, etc.

• Never provide your personal information (address, date-of-birth, banking information, ID numbers) to people you do not know.

• Don’t click on links from unsolicited email or text messages.

• If you are unsure about a call or email that claims to be from your bank, utility company, etc., call the business from the number on your bill or the back of your credit card.

• Never send money by wire transfer or prepaid debit card to someone you don’t know or haven’t met in person.

• Never send money for an emergency situation unless you’ve been able to verify the emergency.

Coastal Bend Boat and RV Expo Over Valentine’s weekend, bring your love to the 4th Annual Coastal Bend Boat & RV Expo, the largest indoor show in the Coastal Bend area. Join thousands of fellow adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts February 13, 14 and 15, 2015 and explore all the different types of adventures to be had – and the fun and fast toys that go with them. More than ten dealers and more than fifty brands will showcase the latest variety of new bay, offshore and pontoon boats, as well as gas and diesel motor homes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toys haulers and more … all under one roof at the Robstown Fairgrounds!

Last year, record setting attendance totaled more than 6,000.

2015 officers display their flags

On Saturday, February 7, 2015 twelve teams from eight schools throughout South Texas will vie for the opportunity to win the Loggerhead Challenge. The Loggerhead Challenge is the Southern Texas Regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) and is hosted by Texas Sea Grant, Mission-Aransas Reserve, and University of Texas Marine Science Institute. In this competition, students will demonstrate their knowledge of marine and coastal science by answering questions ranging from biology, physics, chemistry, geology, geography, mathematics and the social sciences.

Each team consists of four students and their coach. The purpose behind all of the mental matchups is to increase ocean literacy and prepare students for ocean related science and other STEM careers. Through this

Not your parents' RV! Evinrude motors, and hunting and fishing laws and safety. (Full seminar schedule attached.)

On the water …

The 2015 Expo will feature more than hundreds of bay and offshore powerboats, luxury cruisers, fishing boats and personal watercraft.

So whether your adventure includes fighting for the big catch out in the Gulf, jumping the waves on your personal water craft, cruising around the lake at a serene pace or paddling yourself to wherever you want to go, expo-goers will be able to find it all.

On the open road …

The three-day show features a great selection of gas and diesel motor homes, travel trailers, campers, fifth wheels, travel trailers and accessories for outdoor adventurers. Owning a camper gives you the freedom to travel and explore any time of the year. Who wants to stay in a strange hotel when you can travel in the comfort of your own space and at your own pace? Sleep in! There’s no check out time here.

Playing with toys and accessories …

Already own a boat or RV? Then the 4th Annual Coastal Bend Expo is the perfect place to outfit your boat or ride with a new sound system, GPS system, fishing or wakeboard tower. Or you can gear up with hottest new kayaks, wakeboards, tubes and towing equipment. Whatever outdoor adventure you want to do, expo-goers can see the latest boat and RV accessories hot off the factory line including sewer and water hoses, awnings, lights and power poles, as well as rocking chairs and more!

Attend the participants …

2015 vendor participants include (alpha order) Camper Clinic RV Super Center, CCRV, Chris’s Marine, Colonia Del Rey RV, Gulf Coast Marine, Premier Yamaha Boating Center, Ron Hoover RV & Marine, Texas Watercraft & Marine and Waypoint Marine.

experience they will become knowledgeable citizens and better their understanding of environmental stewardship. The ocean is an ideal interdisciplinary teaching tool for science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM) that applies learning in a real world context. Working in the ocean environment poses challenges that push the innovation, engineering, and technology development needed in our workforce. Ocean science is not a course generally offered at the high school level, but this opportunity combines high school science and math in a format that is both exciting and challenging. The NOSB is one of the few ways students gain exposure to all of ocean science and related careers as they are beginning to chart their course in life.

Fee Free Holiday Weekend at Padre Island National Seashore on February 14-16

Padre Island National Seashore is joining all National Park Service (NPS) sites across the nation in waiving admission fees for February 14-16, in observance of the President’s Day Weekend federal holiday.

In addition to the President’s Day weekend, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on April 18 & 19 (opening weekend of National Park week), August 25 (the National Park Service’s 99th birthday), September 26 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).

Come and find your national park at Padre Island National Seashore

You’re invited to…

THE GIFT OF PEACE LUNCH & LEARN Island Presbyterian Church 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Saturday, February 21 Please RSVP to: 949-8770

Leave a message, the office is not always staffed.

What we will cover: *Your Rights at the End of Life, Organ Donation & Grief* Resources for Caregivers*Aging and Disability Resources* Wills, Probate, Medical Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives*Funerals & Pre Arrangements* Lunch is included Free - No Cost!

February 5, 2015

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Island Moon

What happened in Corpus Christi in January of 1942 that was the first event of its kind in the continental United States?

By Dale Rankin

As anyone who lived through that era probably guessed the answer to the question – as was most everything in that time – is war related. Our third grade math tells us that January 19, 1942 was just over six weeks after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and Americans – including those in Corpus Christi – were seeing threats around every corner.

A reading of the history of the time shows a clear link between the timing of the raid on Pearl Harbor and the possibility of an impending oil embargo on Japan by the United States so petroleum was on everyone’s mind. That meant that the Port of Corpus Christi was a hive of activity supplying the needs of the American military as it rolled troops and equipment around the world. The Naval Air Station had just opened in March of 1941 and the town was filled to overflowing with service personnel.

So on the night of January 19 the city of Corpus Christi was the first city in the United States to be put into blackout. Doc McGregor, grandfather

of Island Living owner Shawn McGregor, who took literally millions of photographs of Corpus Christi over the years, stood on top of the Plaza Hotel and took a before and after photo the town with lights and moments later a black hole where the town used to be.

Then in November of that year a blackout was ordered for real after a U-boat was sighted in the Gulf. That particular boat was never found but a U-boat was later sunk in the Gulf 200 miles from Corpus Christi. An oil tanker was sunk by U-boats near Port Lavaca.

Local stories abound about German spies watching the comings and goings of ships in the channel; one about a man who sat at White’s Point in the back bay watching the channel with a telescope, and another a tamale salesman on North Beach who may have been a spy or just a tamale salesman.

All in all it was an exciting time to be a Corpus Christian.

The Gift of Peace Lunch & Learn

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin In last week’s column on the Padre Isles Property Owners Association and its Articles of Incorporation I stated the following: “Where we find ourselves is with a board which cannot spend the money it takes in each year because of Article Nine (of the POA Articles of Incorporation) even if the money is needed for an emergency such as rebuilding bulkheads.”

I got that information from a board member at the last POA board meeting and after I published the column I received a letter from Islander Bob Nash challenging that statement so I went back to the Articles of Incorporation and found that Mr. Nash is correct. Article Nine of the POA Articles of Incorporation reads in full as follows:

Article Nine (added as amendment March 8, 1980) The corporation shall not expend or ratify the expenditure of more than twenty (20%) (sic) of the annual lot assessments (of the year in which such expenditures or authorization is to be made) for acquiring or developing real estate or for constructing, acquiring, or developing facilities. Expenditures for normal maintenance, operation and repair of facilities shall not be subject to such limitation.

So I stand corrected: The POA board can spend over the 20% limit for emergencies such as bulkhead repair in case of, say, storm damage, however, they cannot unilaterally spend over that amount for non-emergency items such as a community center. That takes a vote of the members. We are now told by the POA Board that the subject of the $2.3 million community center will not be broached at the March 14 annual meeting but will likely be addressed through public meetings in the future.

Also to be addressed in the future, we are told, are changes to the current Articles of Incorporation, changes which are, at this juncture, undefined. What can be said with certainty is that changes to the Articles are not needed with regards to emergency repair of canals and bulkheads as that authority already resides with the board.

The Island Presbyterian Church Deacons will hold a seminar for the community on Saturday, February 21, 2015, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 14030 Fortuna Bay Dr. The purpose of the seminar is to provide information relating to Aging and Resources that are available, because of sudden life changes at all ages; the information is appropriate for everyone.

In addition, questions on many of the legal concerns involving end of life issues will be answered. The greatest gift to your loved ones is to have all of these issues answered prior to your passing.

The morning will begin with the Rev. Michael Doane speaking on “Your Rights at the End of Life” and Advanced Directives. He will also talk about Grief. The session will continue with Filipa Wilmot, a “Caregiver Specialist” with the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities Resource Center. Filipa will address the resources available to caregivers from the Agency and in the public. After a short break,

Board Certified Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Katherine Harlan will speak about Wills, Probate, Medical Power of Attorney, Advanced Directives, and Organ Donation.

Douglas Campbell from Seaside Funeral home will follow Katherine to discuss Funerals and Pre-Arrangements. The agenda is full of great speakers, resources, and helpful information, so don’t miss it.

Next we will break for a light lunch of soups and sandwiches. While we enjoy our lunch the speakers will be available for a roundtable or open question period. It’s all free – lunch, too; so take advantage of this opportunity to give your loved ones The Gift of Peace. Make your reservation now by calling the church office and letting us know you will be attending. If the secretary is not there just leave a message on the recorder and we will pick your message up to secure your seat. FMI and reservations: 9498770 or email: office@islandpresby.com.

We now have Gluten Free Pizza!

Dumber of directors shall be three But a reading of the one-page (legal size) Articles of Incorporation produced some interesting points. It is an interesting document with some humorous typos, (and if there’s one thing we know a little about here at the Island Moon it is humorous typos). For instances Articles Six which read in full: Affairs of this corporation shall be managed by a beard of directors. The number of directors shall be fixed by the bylaws of this corporation, and until the adoption of the bylaws, the dumber (emphasis mine) of directors shall be three (3).

The names and residences of those who are appointed as the initial directors are as follows: C.G. Hofreiter, Emerald Street; Gene Graham, Emerald Street; M. Marvin Mesirow, Emerald Street.

I can’t say I personally know misters Hofreiter, Graham, or Mesirow but since they are the three original signators of the Articles which were approved on March 24, 1976 I’m going to go out on a limb here and say they are not “dumber.”

Cleaning the butters Article Four states in part, that the POA will be responsible for “owning, constructing, operating, acquiring, developing, maintaining, repairing, replacing and protecting, as on a non-profit basis in furtherance of the aforesaid purpose of common areas, including but not

Thursday John Eric, Friday Brian Winfrey Saturday, Ruben Limas South Texas Grassroots Band Sunday 6:30 - 9:00

♥ Reservations Recommended ♥

The Original Pizza of Padre Island The Only Stone Baked Pizza on the Island

2.00 dom 3.00 import 3.00 glass wine 7.00 1/2 carafes 14.00 carafes of wine.

4 Boat & RV expo FeBRuaRy 13-15, 2015

Hundreds of Boats & RVs on SALE! Over 50 Manufacturers Represented special Financing!!

Free parking!

Vendor Booths & seminars!!

Exhibitors Include:

Ron Hoover Marine Waypoint Marine

Coastal Bend Production Company

Camper Clinic CCRV Ron Hoover RV

Corpus Chrisi Cycle Plaza Premier Yamaha Boating Center South Texas Marine Center

PO Box 747 • Rockport, TX 78381 • Phone: 361-205-9695 • Fax: 361-729-3863 • CBProductionCo@yahoo.com

There are a total of nine articles in the Articles of Incorporation, seven of which were in the original document. Most are pro forma, establishing that the corporation is being formed, its name, and its duration (perpetual).

Article Nine was added on March 8, 1980, and in 1990 Articles Ten, Eleven, and Twelve were added by amendment but were subsequently “deleted by an amendment adopted by the membership on March 10, 1990.”

By far the lengthiest of the articles is Article Four, amended April 3, 1990, which stretches to about 400 words and covers some basic territory such as: “The corporation is not organized and shall not be operated for pecuniary gain or profit.

The corporation is not authorized to provide exterior maintenance to private residences. No part of the property of the corporation and no part of its earnings shall inure to the benefit of any director or other private individual. The corporation shall never be authorized to engage in a regular business of any kind ordinarily carried on for profit…”

So the Articles of Incorporation charge the Board of Directors with maintaining the common areas, primarily the canal system and the 32 miles of Island bulkheads and allows them to conduct emergency spending to repair and maintain them. Otherwise, it restricts them from spending more than 20% of the dues collected each year (that amount now is about $300,000 annually) for anything else such as a community center, and that money must be spent in “the year in which such expenditures or authorization” are made. The money can’t be rolled over from year to year until $2.3 million is accumulated.

The Articles also prevent the board from raising members’ fees without a “majority of the votes cast by members on the proposal.”

Bari Bear

Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Center Pavillion Arena • Robstown, Texas

Texas Watercraft & Marine Chris’ Marine

The document

Weekly pet adoptions are being held at ACE Hardware on the Island Saturdays from 11-3. The events are held by Mission Pawsible Animal Assistance. Stop by and say hello and if you can’t adopt an animal they would gladly take a donation for care of the animals in foster homes.

Coastal Bend

al

A change to the Articles would be needed to allow the board to spend $2.3 million on a community center as it would not fall under the description of “normal maintenance, operation, or repair.” Note that it does not say a majority of the members, but rather a “majority of the votes cast by members on the proposal.” So according to the Articles of Incorporation it doesn’t take 51% of the membership to approve spending for a community center, only 51% of the “votes cast by members on the proposal.”

The last time a full vote of members was taken was in 2005 when 5904 ballots were sent out and 2573 responses were received.

Pet Adoptions at Ace

Hours: Mon- Thurs 11 AM - 9:30 PM Fri - Sat 11 AM - 10 PM Sun 5-9:30 PM 15370 SPID (Just south of Whitecap) 949-7737

annu

Majority vote needed

Article Four goes on to say…”The Association shall not support, in any manner, any proposal of any entity or person(s) that could or would cause an increase in members’ taxes or assessments, (except those for common area maintenance of Padre Isles as outlined in the covenants of the development), without first obtaining a majority of the votes cast by the members on the proposal.”

I’ll delve into those questions in future columns.

Happy Hour M-F 4-6 pm

th

If you don’t keep those “butters” clean they’ll clog up like a rancher’s arteries. So it is fair to say the Articles need some cleaning up, but what they don’t need is amending to allow for emergency spending for the POA Board to comply with the organization’s Prime Directive which is to maintain the canals and bulkheads as they already have the authority needed for those tasks.

Any more details in the governance of the POA and the plan for rebuilding the bulkheads and clearing the canals of debris in case of a major storm are left to the POA Bylaws. What do they say, and what is the plan? And do the Texas Open Records Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act apply to the POA?

Closed Superbowl Sunday

LIVE MUSIC

limited to: greenways, recreation areas, canals, bulkheads, seawalls, seagates, lighting, parks, roads, streets, curbs, (butters) (sic), drainage facilities, water access areas, boat ramps and any other facilities or property which shall be owned by it…”

Gulf Coast Marine Colonia Del Rey

coastalbendexpo.com For more information visit

Bari Bear was part of a large litter of puppies born in a drainage ditch on Navigation Drive.

Fortunately they were found and rescued by someone who worked nearby. She is about 9 months old now and has been spayed and up to date on all shots. She appears to be possibly a mix of Australian Shepherd and Border Collie and is extremely smart. Bari Bear loves everyone and every animal she meets and sees them all as playmates. This girl loves to run, play with toys, belly rubs and to be near her humans. She is very affectionate and it is hard to keep your hands off of her because she is so soft and has the most beautiful thick coat.

It's so easy to fall in love with this precious girl! She would love to be part of an active family who has a yard for her to play fetch in and having a playful brother or sister would be a special bonus!

If you would like to meet Bari Bear please contact Mission Pawsible at 1-361-2771731 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ missionpawsiblecc.

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February 5, 2015

Island Moon

Blood Drive Sunday, February 8 Island Presbyterian Church and Padre Island Rotary Club are jointly sponsoring six Blood Drives in 2015 to help support our community’s need for donated blood.

Mark Your Calendar: 2015 BLOOD DRIVES are scheduled for: February 8, April 5, June 7, August 2, October 4, December 6 The Coastal Bend Blood Center collects nearly 30,000 units of blood yearly to supply 13 medical facilities in 10 Coastal Bend counties. The Blood Center provides blood to a service area with more than half a million Coastal Bend residents.

Our FIRST Blood Drive of 2015 will be held on Sunday, February 8, from 8am-12pm. The Blood Bus from the CBBC will be in IPC’s parking lot at 14030 Fortuna Bay on the 8th. If you have never been a blood donor, but would like to give it a try, this is an excellent opportunity. And to top it off, there will be delicious sweet treats for all the donors. If you weigh at least 110 pounds and are at least 17 years old, and in good health, you can donate. Even folks on blood pressure medication, as long as their blood pressure is under control, as well as diabetics, can donate. If you are able, please make the decision to be a blood donor – it truly is the GIFT of LIFE! Also, please pass along this information to your friends and neighbors and invite them to donate at IPC – Sunday, February 8, 2015!

Gun Bills in Austin Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has referred the following legislation to the Senate State Affairs Committee: • Senate Bill 342 (SB 342), Relating to providing for the open and concealed carrying of handguns without a license and to related offenses and penalties.

• Senate Bill 346 (SB 346), Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun.

Consumer Alert - TDI Warns Consumers of Timeshare Fraud The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) warns owners of timeshare vacation properties of a fraud scheme involving unlicensed title insurance companies. Consumers should always make sure they are dealing with properly licensed title companies and can contact TDI’s Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 for assistance.

Timeshare fraud typically begins when a person contacts timeshare owners and either says they are representing a buyer or offers to help them sell their properties. The person sends the owner to work with a specific title company, but the company doesn’t exist. The company address, phone number, and website are legitimate-looking but are all fake. Finally, the person asks the owner to send money to an account in Mexico and then disappears without providing any services.

“These fraudulent schemes typically involve a company that has gone by several different names, but none are licensed by TDI,” said Commissioner David Mattax. “Timeshare fraud is a serious crime, which can cost consumers thousands of dollars.”

TDI urges consumers to follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim of timeshare fraud: • Make sure any title company you work with is licensed or registered to sell title insurance in Texas by calling the TDI Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439.

• Know the company’s exact name. Unlicensed companies often use names that are similar to the names of licensed companies.

• Verify that the title insurance company you’re using has a physical office with a real address and a working phone number. If possible, visit the office in person.

• Ask the buyer’s representative to send you details in writing about the services offered.

• Ask questions about expenses you are asked to pay up front.

Seek a second opinion if the explanation is suspicious. If you are asked to transfer funds to Mexico, contact the taxing authority in Mexico or an attorney to advise you.

• Ask questions and take notes if there’s anything you don’t understand. The title insurance company shouldn’t hesitate to answer your questions.

For answers to general insurance questions, for information about filing an insurance-related complaint, or to report suspected insurance fraud, call the Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or visit our website at www.tdi.texas.gov. You may also file complaints against businesses with the Texas Attorney General at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Ellis Memorial Library Book Sale

The Ellis Memorial Library Annual Book Sale & Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 8th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Port Aransas Civic Center, located at 710 West Avenue A inside the City Hall complex.

The entire Civic Center will be full of affordable adult and children’s hardback and paperback books, videos in DVD and VHS format, audio books on CD and cassette, music CDs, vinyl LP’s and magazines for sale. Typically, there are about 10,000 items for sale. Volunteers work one week prior to the sale organizing and arranging the books into specific subject categories for easier shopping. Fiction lovers will find books arranged alphabetically by author.

Police Blotter The female called Corpus Christi Police and told them that while driving on the beach, she observed a vehicle following them without its headlights on and she immediately knew that it was her ex-boyfriend. She did not stop on the beach, and while driving back to her home on the freeway, the suspect vehicle drove past her and immediately slammed on its brake.

Island Vehicle thefts There have been two vehicles stolen on The Island recently.

One was a Ford 250 pickup stolen from a neighborhood, the second a compact car stolen off Windward Drive which was later recovered in Annaville. Police are not sure if they are connected; so lock ‘em up everybody.

The female was able to exit the highway in the 1400 block of Rodd Field Road, and pull into a restaurant parking lot. She went and confronted her former boyfriend about following her and he threatened her with a knife. When she got back in her vehicle and tried to leave the parking lot, the ex-boyfriend blocked the exit with his car.

City Hosts Vehicle Auction February 7 The city of Corpus Christi will auction 88 cars, trucks, and motorcycles at the four paved acres of the Corpus Christi Police Vehicle Impound Lot located at 5485 Greenwood Drive on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 10:00am. The general public is encouraged to register and view the vehicles for auction from 8:00am to 4:00pm on Friday, February 6. The general public can continue to register and view the vehicles from 8:00am to 10:00am on the day of the auction. The vehicle for auction may be viewed online and an auction list may be downloaded from www.siskauction.com.

The female was able to contact police, who arrived and found Hipolito Vasquez (10/31/1996) still at the scene in his car. He was arrested for aggravated assault for threatening the female with a knife.

Fishermen discover body along Laguna Shores February 1

There are 30 vehicles for auction that were seized for no insurance. The department’s strong stand and enforcement of this “Zero Tolerance No Insurance Initiative” will continue and all vehicles involved in accidents will be impounded and the driver cited if they are unable to provide financial proof of insurance. Driver’s license and proof of financial responsibility checkpoints will continue to be conducted at the Shift Captains’ authorization.

12:20 p.m. 1700 Laguna Shores DOA

Corpus Christi Police Officers responded to 1700 Laguna Shores in reference to a body discovered in the water. The responding officers contacted a couple of fishermen. They advised that they were on their way out to wade fish when the discovered a body floating in the water and called police.

The Medical Examiner’s office, detectives and the forensics unit were called to process the scene. The deceased male was not identified due to the condition of the body. The medical examiner will work to identify the male and determine the cause of death. Once an identification is made, detectives will work to bring closure to this case. The man was later identified as Stephen Watkins who was reported missing January 27, 2015

Police Investigate Possible Murder/Suicide In Flour Bluff Tuesday, February 3 5:06 a.m. 10333 Compton Road Homicide Corpus Christi Police are investigating the death of two people in an apartment located at 10333 Compton Road Tuesday morning. Corpus Christi Police responded to a complaint of a shooting at 5:06am Tuesday morning and discovered a 46-year-old man dead, a 33-year-old woman dead, an injured adult and at least one other person who was uninjured at an apartment. An ambulance crew took the injured adult man to the hospital for treatment of what Officers believe to be a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.

The Officers gathered information and evidence to believe that the 46-year-old man shot the adult man and the 33-yearold woman, then shot himself.

Police Warn Public About Phone Scam Beware of phone scams! This audio record is an example of a scam. The caller claims to represent the I.R.S. in regard to a law suit. This call was made to Corpus Christi Police Commander Michael Alanis. An investigation was conducted in regard to this call and the phone number was disconnected.

Corpus Christi Police Detectives believe this particular man was able to obtain money from victims by claims that the F.B.I. would be outside the victim’s door within an hour unless a payment was made to this suspect.

Police Calls

Detectives do not believe there is any other suspect for the crime at large. Detectives have not been provided information to support this event as dug or gang related. Detectives still would like to hear from anyone who may have additional information about this event and urge the public to contact them at 886-2840 to provide any additional details.

14400 block Cabana East 6:39 p.m. Criminal Mischief $500-$1500 15000 block Windward 2 p.m. January 27 Burglary of motor vehicle 15300 block Isabella Ct. Midnight January 30 Theft from vehicle

Boyfriend Beach Trouble Sunday February 1 12:40 AM 1400 Rodd Field Road Aggravated Assault

14500 block SPID 9:47 p.m. February 2 Reckless driving

A 19 year old female and her new boyfriend were threatened by a former boyfriend who saw them riding around together on the beach.

Palmilla Beach Development Took Major Strides in 2014 And world-class amenities are not the only milestone that Palmilla Beach hit over the past year. Six homes are currently under construction, slated for completion in spring of 2015, with more homes scheduled to follow. The Seagate Condominiums are also underway, with completion slated for summer of 2015.

Over 50% of the condos have already sold, along with thirteen homes and/or homesites.

New Construction, Concept Completion and Sales Mark Major Milestones for Coastal Community Koontz McCombs, a real estate development firm based in San Antonio, began on-site sales and development of their coastal development, Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Club, early in 2014. Over the past year, the coastal community has exceeded expectations and hit several milestones in the development process.

Palmilla Beach Resort and Golf Club is the first True Texas Beach Resort by San Antonio-based developer Koontz-McCombs.

The heart of Palmilla Beach is an award winner Arnold Palmer Designed Signature links-style golf course carved into 222 acres of windswept Mustang Island dunes. Surrounding the course are two mixed-use developments known as Village North and Village South. Along with mixed-use properties, hotel properties, and the golf course, Palmilla Beach holds in reserve approximately 349 acres of bay front property for future use. The Palmilla Beach Welcome Center is located at 3628 Island Moorings Parkway and is open daily. Visit www.palmillabeach.com or call 361-7493628 for more information.

One of the first steps Koontz McCombs took was to partner with legendary course management company, Troon Golf, to make significant improvements to the par-71 Arnold Palmer Signature Course. Over the past year, Palmilla Beach Golf Course has hosted over 23,000 rounds of golf and currently has over 50 annual members.

Golf patrons can now also enjoy time at the Black Marlin Bar & Grill, a new restaurant and clubhouse development that was completed in early 2014. Situated on the golf course and driven

by Chef Kaharim Becerra, The Black Marlin offers approachable and delicious coastal cuisine in a laid back setting. Menu favorites include pulled pork sliders, mahi-mahi tacos and pan-seared gulf snapper. The site also includes a three-story elevated bar which offers sweeping views of the Texas coast and the beautiful golf course.

PAISD continued from A1 The school district began running a school bus from Port Aransas to the parking lot at the American Bank on Padre Island when the semester started, but Johnson said, that stopped because almost all the kids from Padre Island were involved in extracurricular activities and needed to stay after normal school hours so they formed car pools rather than ride the bus.

During the summer months, The Black Marlin hosts a weekly summer concert series featuring artists ranging from The Rankin Twins to Hal Ketchum. During the 2014 summer concert series, which began in late May and concluded Labor Day weekend, The Black Marlin hosted over 900 visitors.

PAISD was one of the top two finalists for the statewide HEB Excellence in Education in the small school category. Due to it high tax base PAISD must pay about 75 cents of each property tax dollar raised to other, less affluent districts, under the state’s Robin Hood financing plan. Johnson said the higher tax base and the higher housing costs which it generates have made it difficult for young couples to afford to live in Port Aransas and that has caused downward pressure on enrollment.

“The Texas Gulf Coast is a booming market right now,” said Bart Koontz, President & CEO of Koontz McCombs. “Port Aransas is seeing exponential growth, and we’re delighted to be a part of it.

Palmilla Beach itself has seen significant growth over the past year – from the Santolina Dune Crossover to the opening of the Black Marlin and Pool & Amenities Center, and we’re excited to continue down this path of development.”

The developers also began and completed an 860 foot long dune crossover and a resort-style pool and amenities center over the past twelve months. The dune crossover is wide enough for two golf carts to pass side-by-side, and will take residents straight from the development to the sand. The resort-style pool and amenities center features an event room, numerous shade structures, bar and grill.

“We have enough teachers for 540 students,” Johnson said. “So we are becoming more aggressive in looking for students from outside of the district to increase our enrollment.”

The school’s website says that tuition is free for out of district students and the transfer forms are available on the district’s website.

All proceeds from the sale benefit the library.

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February 5, 2015

A7

Island Moon

Backwater Adventures On the Rocks

By Joey Farah

By Jay Gardner

Farah’s Fishing Adventures

Along the Way This last week was a whirl wind of preparation of both business and family duties getting ready to go to San Antonio for four days for the Boat Show. In all the rush I sat down to a monster box of pictures from 20yrs of guiding and another 20 yrs. of adventures in the

the drum are sucking in the bait and spitting it out the hook will sink in by itself. Don’t set the hook when you feel the bite, let them take a slack line for a few inches then just tighten the line. I like using a weight of about half to one ounce so my bait doesn’t float around on

Well, I’m sure you’ve all heard that the bollards are up in front of the seawall from south of Holiday Inn to the south end in front of the Island House. For those of you unfamiliar with how they got there, it’s been a long road going back almost 20 years, and has included collaboration with the TxGLO, local land owners, the City of Corpus Christi, and two city-wide referendum votes. Basically, the majority of voters voted for the closure in 2006 and 2008, and there were some changes to the final language in the 2010 ordinance that was passed, but here we are.

You loyal readers know that there was a recent survey that was completed, and where the bollards were placed was because the beach was less than the prescribed 150 feet wide by the Texas Open Beaches Act and Texas Administrative Code. There have been a few eyebrows raised by folks that were unaware of the goings-on and articles in the Padre Island Moon over the past few years, but the everyone else has adopted the “wait-and-see” attitude (as I have myself). We’ll see how it works or doesn’t work. Time will tell.

some great family fun for the next few weeks with lots of black drum in the local areas.

Laguna Madre’ and Baffin Bay. The fish were not at all what struck me, nor the stringers of 50-plus trout trips. The people that I have met along the way is what I miss the most. Each picture showed the smiling faces of old friends, and their lifetime memories that we shared out on the water. Many of my guests from the early years have passed away and now I am blown away that I am fishing with many of their children that I guided as young anglers when I myself was not that old. Each photo brought me back to what they did for a living, stories of their lives, and even some of the great advice they gave me. So many times in life we push the gas a little too fast and speed bye the people we share life with. This week in fishing I am reflecting on the many memories we built on the water and the fishing spots that we were in.

Many of them I haven’t visited in years. Down in Baffin this week looks like a NASCAR race and Marine attack on the bay, wade fishermen swarming to a select few spots popular for trophy trout. I have a few handfuls of places I will be hiding and reflecting on fish and people in my past, and building new relationships with both man and fish.

The Drum Run is On This week wet a line along the Intracoastal Canal here in the Upper Laguna Madre’ and hold on. A flood of back drum are streaming in from the gulf beachfront and making their way towards the spawning grounds in the lower areas to the south. Live and dead shrimp, crab, and sea lice take top honors for the black drum.

Shrimp works best unless the small baitfish are taking your bait. Scent products like ProCure from Marker 37 makes a big difference on your success. The drum are like hogs using their nose to find food. Peeling your bait will allow the fish to suck up the bait very easily and take the hook. I prefer either #2 or #4 circle hooks for all my drum fishing. This hook snags the side of the mouth without gut hooking the fish. When

the bottom picking up grass. The local piers and public access points are also great places to build a box of drum this week. The area along the JFK causeway is good and under the bridges as well. The pier at Marker 37 Marina is hot for drum action. Look for incoming tide to make fishing best and expect to catch a few nice slot drum along with some real monsters. All drum over 28inches must be released, make sure their tail is pointed and is under the line. These big fish will fight till they are spent, for this reason a quick picture and a careful release is important.

Do not just throw them back in after a long fight. Face them into the current and fill their gills with water as you move them back and forth until they can swim off.

And because everyone is so informed these days, I’m sure you’ve heard from the news on the starfish kill that occurred last week. While the local news thinks this is a Major Event, you loyal readers know that this happens every few years when the temperature gets down too low (as you’ve read about it in my article almost every February for the past 5 years, LOL). The water temperature at Bob Hall is currently 55 degrees, and has been bouncing around in the mid-to-lower 50’s for weeks now. There was a bounce up to 65 with the good weather last week, but back down now. While the Park reported that the starfish “stunning” happened down at the Mansfield channel, I saw a couple at Local Beach the other day when I popped by in between job sites. I’m sure they’re all along the beach, with concentrations here and there.

There are several ways to preserve them. One

BINGO Starts With Busy Daubers Locals and Winter Texans Alike Enjoy ‘Bingo on the Beach’

By Brent Rourk An optimistic crowd filed into the Holiday Inn on the Island last Thursday evening to begin the first of six weeks of Kiwanis of Padre Island Sponsored BINGO. Folks no sooner had their seat, food and beverages when the first game began. Soon the sounds of BINGO and the crashing surf filled the cool evening air.

Familiar faces dotted the crowd, expecting the chance to win some cash, but many of them admitted enjoying the chance to get out of the house on a week night to have some fun and laughs. One BINGO player confided, “This is much better than staying home and watching reality TV.” By 9:30 the BINGO games were over and the pleased crowd vanished, leaving a dedicated

This big trout came from the Bad Lands in Baffin Bay while using a soft plastic and a cork for added noise.

Tides of the Week Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) January 29- February 4, 2015

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

Th

F

Sa

Su

M

Tu

W

5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11

High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High

2:09 AM 9:40 AM 5:03 PM 11:12 PM 3:06 AM 10:07 AM 5:15 PM 11:31 PM 4:06 AM 10:32 AM 5:28 PM 11:52 PM 5:13 AM 10:56 AM 5:42 PM 12:19 AM 6:31 AM 11:20 AM 5:54 PM 12:55 AM 8:03 AM 11:43 AM 5:59 PM 1:41 AM 5:32 PM

0.8 -0.2 1.0 0.6 0.8 -0.1 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.0 0.9

7:13 AM 6:13 PM

Set 8:01 AM Rise 7:56 PM

99

7:12 AM 6:13 PM

Set 8:35 AM Rise 8:46 PM

96

7:12 AM 6:14 PM

Set 9:09 AM Rise 9:37 PM

92

7:11 AM 6:15 PM

Set 9:43 AM Rise 10:28 PM

87

7:10 AM 6:16 PM

Set 10:19 AM Rise 11:20 PM

80

7:10 AM 6:16 PM

Set 10:56 AM

72

7:09 AM 6:17 PM

Rise 12:13 AM Set 11:36 AM

63

February is headed down the road at a high rate of speed. I keep looking over my shoulder at my calendar on the wall with an anxious feeling like I’m forgetting to be at a meeting or have something handed in. The CCA-CC chapter annual fundraising banquet is coming up quickly on the 26th; please look me up if you want to know more. The 20th annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Clean up is that following Saturday on the 28th starting down in the Malaquite visitor’s center parking lot. Please make plans to join us for that awesome event, and you can log on to the FriendsofPadre.org website to learn more about the cleanup. You can contact Big Shell Clean Up Committee Chairman Aaron or VP Tyler at info@friendsofpadre.com to learn how to become a sponsor, sign up to become a section leader, or figure out how else you can help. Thanks to my fellow Moon Monkeys for getting the ad in the paper for this event. Drop me a line at jaygardner@scientist.com and I’ll see you on the sand soon enough.

Trout Quest Seems like an army of boats from out of town are all competing for the same few areas in Baffin for their trophy trout hunting. In the last few weeks I have been stressing the importance of not disturbing their area. This can’t be done when all you feel on the bottom is boot prints in the mud and the scream of outboards along the shorelines. Get out away from all the traffic, look for quiet water with complete structure.

The presence of bait during the warmer parts of the day will clue you into the best areas as well as slightly cleaner water quality. The Calendar is full this month save only about 4 days for trophy wade fishing but opportunity only gets better and better for the next three months.

The weather will start to warm up and so will fishing. Look for the last of the hardest cold fronts to come in with lots of moisture, when water temperatures dip back into the high 50’s then be on alert. As soon as they return to the 60’s trout will go on a feeding frenzy along the predicted lunar feeding times. Plan your next adventure now and don’t forget about preparing now for those awesome spring trips over Spring Break and the Land Cut Run for trout. Keep those lines tight and your hooks sharp! v

The first game was won by an ecstatic youngster who turned the money over to dad; after all what would a kid with a fist full of cash have to buy at the BINGO parlor? Dad is going to be the tax man on that one.

is to encase them in polyester resin. Giving you instructions on that particular process is beyond the scope of this article; however, for those “doit-yourselfers” there are kits at the hobby stores.

In any event, you still have to “preserve” them.

The best way I’ve found to preserve them is to soak them in rubbing alcohol for a few days to “fix” them (formalin works better, and don’t use bleach). Then dry them slowly for a few days OUTSIDE. Starfish left in the back of a vehicle or out in the sun without proper fixative will smell BAD. A piece of hardware cloth or even a baking/cooling rack gently placed over them will help with curling as they dry. After they’re completely dry after a few days, you can try a clear spray acrylic over the top. They will be extremely brittle, handle with care. I’ve had mixed success with the acrylic, and some have come out just perfect. Fix them on both sides, carefully, and then you can put them in a shadow box, on a shelf, or encase them in resin.

Get out to the sand, beachcombing is really good right now.

Moon Visible

group of Kiwanians to clean-up and organize materials for next Thursday’s BINGO. Twelve players won cash and 4 more won door prizes, including one night stays at the Holiday Inn. Proceeds earned from BINGO are used by the Kiwanis Club for children’s causes, including assistance to the Island schools, CASA, Breakfast with Santa, and the Island Easter Egg Hunt. See you Thursday evening at 7:00 PM – bring your family, friends, and neighbors.

A8

February 5, 2015

Island Moon

SPORTS Many Are Saying It Was The Worst Call Ever In A Super Bowl

By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon

Dotson’s Note: I am enjoying this to the hilt.

The “call” was not made by an official, but by a coach. What a refreshing turn of events! The following coincides with my view of the event.

If you wish, at a later date we can/will discuss the officiating of the game. But for now, let the spotlight be on someone other than a guy in stripes for the “Worst Call Ever in a Super Bowl.”

Seahawks' Pete Carroll Explains IllFated Call in Super Bowl-49

"I can take a punch," Pete Carroll said late Sunday night, nearly three hours after the conclusion of one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, and about 170 minutes removed from one of the most universally reviled play calls in the history of football.

Fresh off a near-miraculous, four-bobble reception by Jermaine Kearse, the Seahawks had second-and-goal at the 1 with 26 seconds remaining. Seattle was 1 yard away from securing a second consecutive championship -- but instead of handing the correctly inflated ball to Marshawn Lynch, the most powerful goal-line runner in football, Carroll called a pass play, causing double-takes on his sideline and in living rooms and sports bars all over the football-watching world.

And when Russell Wilson's goal-line slant to Ricardo Lockette was jumped and intercepted

by Pats’ rookie Malcolm Butler, Carroll earned himself a lifetime's worth of second-guessing from almost everyone, some of them inside his own locker room.

When asked, receiver Doug Baldwin, in a quiet conversation near his locker, if he was shocked

by Carroll's decision to throw; he shook his head and said, "Come on, man, you've got common sense, too. We have nobody to blame but us. My first thought was that we were gonna run it in, but coaches, they're the ones that know it better than us."

Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin was even more pointed, saying, "We beat 'em, bro. We beat 'em.

I'm speechless. Best back in the league, and the 1-yard-line? It wasn't even the 1, it was like half a yard. I will never understand that, bro. I will never understand it. I will never understand.”

So yes, like Lucy Ricardo, Carroll had some explaining to do. To his credit, he did so even while possessing a pretty clear idea that his perspective would get lost amid the noise -- a very legitimate fear, given human nature, and the magnitude of the moment.

For every ounce of admiration and excitement their fans experienced for a valiant Patriots team that overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit with an insanely clutch-play by an undrafted rookie defensive back to capture the fourth championship of the Bill Belichick/Brady era and completed an incredible journey; they were equal parts sick for the Seahawks, who were literally 2-feet from a repeat.

The Pats had gone ahead by four on Brady's 3-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman with 2:02 remaining. The Seahawks countered immediately, with Wilson finding Lynch on a beautiful over-the-shoulder sideline pass for a 31-yard gain. An 11-yard completion to Lockette on third and 10, gave Seattle a first down at the Patriots' 38. Then, in a surreal play that caused bad flashbacks all over New England, Wilson went up top to Kearse who, despite tight coverage by Butler, stayed with and somehow managed to catch Wilson's pass while lying on his back, on the fifth time he touched the ball.

So, what was Pete thinking?! It appears that Carroll was overthinking the situation. Carroll, with one remaining timeout, did the math and erred on the side of ensuring a maximum amount of chances to get the ball across the goal line while limiting the chances that the Pats would have enough time to counter.

On first-and-goal with one timeout from the 5, Lynch (24 carries, 102 yards) took a handoff to his left and powered inside the 1, and the notion of him not getting the ball again seemed unthinkable. Belichick, with two timeouts remaining, inexplicably elected to let the clock run down, simultaneously eschewing both the let them score on purpose strategy (which he'd employed against the Giants in Indy three Super Bowls ago) and the try to keep them out but save Brady as many seconds as possible tack.

$6.00

Carroll saw a front stacked against a power run and a matchup he felt he could exploit with a short route against a rookie corner who had zero career interceptions. And he didn't want to run, get stopped short, burn his final timeout and be boxed into calling a pass on third down.

"You could run on 2nd down, call timeout, have to throw on third and score, or incompletion and have to choose (run or pass) on the final down," Carroll said "That's ball logic, not 2nd guess logic, you never think you'll throw an interception there, just as you don't think you would fumble."

Malcolm Butler's interception sealed Seattle's fate.

And yet: Wilson (12 for 21, 247 yards, two touchdowns), who'd thrown four interceptions in the Seahawks' stunning NFC Championship Game victory over the Green Bay Packers, served up the most painful pick of his short, luminous career. While Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell complained in postgame interviews that Lockette "could have been stronger through the ball," give Butler credit for beating him to the spot.

"You see how he jumped it, though?" Irvin said to Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner as they stood at their adjacent lockers. "Like he knew it was coming."

"The logic and reasoning (of the second-and-1 pass) is why you throw a TD pass with six seconds left in the half," Carroll said. "You've trained your players to do the right thing, and I trust them to do right."

As time passes, and the wounds become less acute, I suspect that many of Carroll's players will start to become open to viewing this painful and perplexing lost opportunity from a similar orientation.

There were numerous "What the (expletive) was he thinking?" mutterings overheard from people in Seahawks uniforms. One anonymous player was hinting at a conspiracy theory that Carroll somehow had a vested interest in making Wilson, rather than Lynch, the hero, and thus insisted on putting the ball in the quarterback's hands with an entire season on the line. "That's what it looked like," the unnamed player said.

Believe this: The Seahawks remain a young, talented and relentless team, and Carroll will return next season as a highly popular coach who can work his motivational magic with a clear mandate for redemption. Don’t bet against him, but also be sure that he's going to beat himself up over this, over and over again.

Carroll had likened Sunday's disappointment to that which he endured while coaching USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl, when the Trojans suffered a heartbreaking 41-38 defeat to Texas that denied them a third consecutive national championship. He bounced back from that, and he'll likely bounce back from Sunday's defeat, even as the chorus of severe second-guessing from many NFL fans reaches a crescendo and continues for the foreseeable future.

For now, most believe Carroll should have handed the ball to Lynch on second-and-1, and think that would have led to him hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and sucking down celebratory beers rather than engaging in a back-and-forth exchange with members of the media and with fans.

Dotson’s Note: What do you think is the “Worst Super Bowl Call” of all time? I will tally your votes and let all “Monkeys” know the results.

Your suggestions, comments and/or questions/ concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361-5605397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

off any oil change!

Do You Know Andy?

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon While waiting on a pitch, his fingers moved like a piano player against the handle of the bat. Hands back, right elbow up, hunched in the batter’s box, he was doing exactly what he wanted to do, play baseball. He was the best player on a bad club for 19 years. He had started out as a shortstop and, like many who played for awhile, he ended up a first baseman.

In the early 1950’s, before reaching the Major Leagues, this fellow played for $7 a game with Kansas City Monarchs of the old Negro Leagues.

“Cool Papa” Bell and Satchel Paige were two of his teammates.

As a young man, he was not all about baseball; it was the other way around.

Baseball is supposed to be all about guys like him.

He was a winner in life, which is far bigger than a game of baseball. He became more important to baseball than hotdogs and nachos. Heck, they named streets after this guy. His joy was not defined by something that happened on the field. He was able to filter out the down times that occurred in the game.

With his wonderful attitude about others and his abundance of enthusiasm about life, he could have been a Hall-of-Famer at anything he chose to do. In ten minutes he could own the room.

Do you know Andy?

“Do you know Andy?” Those were the first words I ever heard him say in person. We were standing on the field at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, before the 2004 All-Star Game.

He was tall and walked with the bend in his back of an old ballplayer. His knees had been surgically replaced from the many slides into second base by his opponents with their spikes showing. His eyes twinkled and were still sharp. His face was thin with time. I listened carefully as he said to Joe, “I’ve had 19 years of doing and 32 years of remembering.” When Ernie asked, “Do you know Andy?” he was talking to Joe Booker. The great Ernie Banks was actually introducing me to Joe. Ernie had only seen me once before years ago but here he was introducing me to someone else as if we were old friends. It’s the first and so far the last time that has ever happened to me. I was astounded. Yes, I knew Joe Booker quite well.

Joe and I had spent lots of time over the years in the media section, discussing the game of baseball and covering the hometown Houston Astros. Banks had been a friend of Booker’s for years. Ernie Banks saw me standing there quietly; waiting to interview him, and he read my name on my media credentials. How cool is that? Banks was one of the warmest and most sincere guys I have ever met. I enjoyed being around him. Baseball lost one of its best friends today, another part of my childhood taken away too soon for me.

Born in Dallas Born at home on January 31, 1931, in Dallas, Texas, Ernest “Ernie” Banks would have turned 84 in eight days. Ernie’s parents were named Eddie and Essie Banks and Ernie was the second of 12 children. His father worked in a warehouse for a grocery chain, and his mom encouraged him to follow his grandfather’s career and become a minister. Ernie loved swimming and playing football and basketball.

He never showed much interest in baseball until his dad bribed him with a store-bought glove for three dollars and gave him loose change to play catch. Eddie had played baseball for several black semi-pro teams in Texas. In 1950, Ernie graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Interestingly, Washington High School did not have a baseball team, so Ernie played softball at church and baseball during the summers, for a team known as the Amarillo Colts. A natural athlete, Banks received athletic letters in football, basketball and track.

There seem to be two stories about how Banks joined the K.C. Monarchs. A Monarch scout by the name of Bill Blair claimed to have discovered Banks, while a Kansas City player named James “Cool Papa” Bell says he influenced Banks to play for Kansas City. Bell operated a team known as the Junior Monarchs and they were touring Texas, when he saw Banks play. The story goes: Bell telephoned “Buck” O’Neil, manager of the Monarchs, and told him about Ernie. Buck signed Banks to a contract without ever seeing him play. Either way, 19-year-old Ernie Banks joined the Monarchs in 1950, after high school. It’s hard to believe that according to Buck, Ernie was shy and somewhat introverted at the beginning, when he arrived in Kansas City. Banks always looked up to Buck O’Neil as a father figure. I guess you could say Buck’s pleasant demeanor rubbed off on Banks.

In 1951, Banks was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean War, where he injured his knee in basic training.

Banks later served as the flag bearer in the 45th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss, located in El Paso, Texas. While there, he occasionally played basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters. Banks was discharged in 1953 and returned to Kansas City to play with the Monarchs. Ernie’s roommate was a fellow you might remember, Elston Howard. At the end of the 1953 season, the K.C. Monarchs sold Banks’ contract to the Chicago Cubs for $10,000 in cash. Banks signed on September 14, and became the first African-American player for the Cubs. His first Major League at-bat occurred on September 17th. Ernie was 22 years old. Banks’ first home run was hit out of Sportsman’s Park three days later.

Cardinals’ pitcher Gerry Staley provided the fastball. It was the first of 512 home runs to be hit during Banks’ 19-year career. Banks would hit 40 or more home runs five times during his career. He contributed his power to switching to a lighter bat (34-31 ounces), and developing

strong wrists by playing handball. Ernie Banks would become the ninth player in Major League history to reach 500 home runs.

Shortly thereafter, in 1954, second basemen Gene Baker would join the team. These two would not only be roommates on the road, but turn into one of the best double-play combinations in the National League. The first

Ernie Banks

baseman at this time for the Cubs was Steve Bilko. Cubs’ announcer, Bert Wilson, could be heard describing a double play as “Bingo to Bango to Bilko.” After hitting 19 home runs, Banks finished second to Wally Moon in the Rookie-of-the-Year race. In 1955, 44 home runs left Ernie’s bat and he played in his first All-Star Game. Banks also set a record by hitting five grand slams in a single season. It was quite a year for “Mr. Sunshine.”

Banks became the first player to win the National League MVP Award in back-to-back seasons, 1958 and 1959. In 1960, Banks won his first and only Gold Glove at the shortstop position. Banks was moved to left field at the beginning of the 1961 season, but soon found a new home at first base. On a Friday during the 1962 season, Banks was hit in the head by a ball thrown from pitcher Moe Drabowsky, a former Cub. Banks left the field on a stretcher, unconscious. He spent two days in the hospital and then sat out Monday’s game. On Tuesday, incredibly, Banks returned to the lineup and hit three home runs and a double. Ernie Banks played with many stars, but his favorite was Lou Brock. Banks roomed with Lou while playing with the Cubs.

Banks finished playing the game of baseball on September 26, 1971, at the age of 40. He had been a 14-time All-Star, and a two-time National League home run (1958-1960) and RBI (1958-1959) champ. This North Side hero taught everyone how to lose gracefully, as he never got the chance to win it all. The incredible amount of joy he received back from the fans easily replaced any World Series ring he may have won. He continued to serve the Cubs as a coach, instructor and administrator. Banks was married a fourth time in 1997. Hank Aaron was his best man, and Ernie and his new wife Liz adopted a baby girl in 2008.

Heavenly lineup

Mr. Sunshine took his place in the heavenly lineup on Friday, January 23, 2015. He died of a heart attack at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Baseball’s brightest light flickered and went out. Expect the Cubs to honor Ernie during the season, especially during the Major League opener set for Sunday night on April 5, 2015. In the end, Ernie Banks honored his mother and father by becoming a great baseball player and an ordained minister. There’s a good chance there will be a double header in Heaven this weekend. At a time where drugs, steroids, cheating and spousal abuse fill the sports pages, Ernie Banks was a breath of fresh air. He was a reminder of all that is good in the world of sports. Perhaps Major League baseball should have every team play a double-header next year in his honor. I will remember the rhythm of his voice and that smile. Thanks, Ernie.

I will end with a quotation by Ernie that will stand the test of time. “There’s sunshine, fresh air, and the teams behind us. Let’s play two.”

Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” in now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon, Google Books, Bookamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three of his latest books at the local Barnes & Noble Book store in Moore Plaza. All three books are also available in e-book format, Kindle, Nook, Apple I Pad and Kobo. Please visit www.purvisbooks. com for more info and leave a message in the guest section. You may also contact him at purvis.andy@mygrande.net and don’t forget to listen to Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.

February 5, 2015

A9

Island Moon

AirTales procedure is known as a “precision approach” and one currently exists for Port Aransas.

Although there may be caveats I’m not aware of, it’s my understanding that if anything at all breaks the clearance plane the approach procedure is in jeopardy of being voided by FAA surveyors, making the Island inaccessible to aircraft when clouds or fog are any lower than around five hundred feet.

An E-90 Model KingAir for business lease

By Jason Towns The Permian Basin. I’ve spent two days here this week. The Permians have been very hospitable folk but as I wheezed along on a 4-mile jog this morning the thinner air reminded me this is anything but a basin. Midland Texas has been one of the hubs of the shale-oil boom and I’ve made many trips here over the past couple of years hauling a variety of oilfield related clients.

New Hangar being constructed at the Port A airport. City Officials have directed construction cease until specifications are complied with.

I drove over to Odessa for lunch and noticed the “stacking” of drilling rigs I’ve been hearing about. I actually remember the last time this happened back in the 80’s as my father would lease some of our farmland to oil companies for storage of their unneeded derricks.

One of dozens of Extended-Stay Hotels under construction in Midland as the oil boom slows.

I’m flying a KingAir this trip which is a 6-seat twin-engine turbo-prop; this means a jetengine making thrust by using its exhaust to spin a propeller rather than spitting it out the tail end. The twin-engine Navy trainers you see flying up and down the Island are KingAirs and were the military orders for which I moved here in the first place. I racked up over 2000 hours in them at the NAS but other than a spurof the-moment trip to Australia in 2010 haven’t touched one again until this month. It’s been nice to reacquaint with this classic of corporate aviation and zip her around Texas when needed.

The P51D Mustang "Sarah Jean" does a highspeed pass in Port A after she's pulled out of the mud.

I checked into a Hilton Homewood Suites on the west side of Midland near the city’s new sportsplex area (home field of Hooks’ foes the Rockhounds… boo!)

The hotel was one of about five first-class newly constructed extended stay lodges on the street and is surrounded by another twenty under construction; the oil companies weren’t the only ones counting on Texas shale to continue to be worth fracking…

There were plenty of rooms available, plenty of leftovers at the complimentary breakfast and the fifteen or so cleaning ladies seemed to be breakroom-socializing more than cleaning.

I’m neither an international trade specialist nor OPEC expert but this doesn’t look good for the Permians.

in putting on a skydiving event in the beach resort town of Tela. It’s going to take about nine hours following the Mexican coastline and then crossing the Yucatan in our Cessna. There are no skydiving opportunities whatsoever in Honduras but according to the event’s Facebook page interest is high and plenty of aviating should occur! It will be my first trip into Latin America in a small plane and will hopefully yield stories and photos worth sharing—wish us luck and Blue Skies!

Whether we need the instrument approach or not, in retrospect one has to wonder why the City didn’t at least consider offering the land for use in some sort of local aviation business instead of going for the out-of-town big money.

A hangar may have been completed months ago and done so in compliance with all codes, creating jobs, tax revenue and year-round storage for at least a few locally based aircraft.

As it is, only seven of the nineteen hangars are locally owned and regularly utilized.

Island Resident Jason Towns is a Commercial Pilot, Air Force Reservist and Owner of Skydive South Texas in Port A.

Mustang at Mustang We got a visit in Port A this weekend from a legendary WWII aircraft: a P51D Mustang.

Many say the 1500 horsepower beast was the key to victory as it was the first fighter capable of escorting and protecting our bombers all the way to Berlin. The Sarah Jean was based in Britain during the war with the 8th Air Force but now resides in Spicewood Texas. She’s owned

by Mr. Claude Harrington who brings her down to the Island a few times a year.

Sarah Jean almost didn’t get off the Island, however, as Claude swung her tail just a little too wide on the main parking area at Mustang Beach Airport. Constructed a couple years ago, the concrete pad’s edge still has about an 8-inch drop in some places which has snagged a few airplanes. Soon we had a crew of five men working to free her but the weight of a P51 tail section is more than I ever would have imagined. A simple shovel proved to be the solution and after digging a trench the tail was pushed back away from the ledge. We then built a crude ramp with scrap lumber and the rest was up to raw horsepower-- of which a 12-cylinder Rolls Royce engine has plenty. We were all rewarded with a brief airshow as Sarah Jean performed a few goosebump inspiring 300mph low passes for her rescuers!

Una Mas Cerveza, Por Favor There will be no airtales published next week but if all goes well, tales will be in progress.

Two of my staff and I plan to fly from Port A to Honduras and assist a Houston-based group

It You Build It…. Don’t Build it so Tall?

P51D Mustang runs off the concrete in Port A Texas Tea going Stale?

With the sudden downturn in our oilfield industry I was curious what the Midland airport would be like this week. Past trips have seen row after row of both private and executive jets, long waits to get fuel, zero rental cars or hotels available and a frustrating line at the end of the runway when ready to depart. As I turned the KingAir off the taxiway with my four passengers from a local drilling tool company I immediately noticed this wasn’t the case anymore. Although not completely empty, the ramp area only held about a third of the normal airplane count.

The ladies at the executive terminal informed me there were plenty of rental cars available if I needed one.

In local aviation news, construction on the newest hangar at the Mustang Beach airport in Port A has been halted. According to airport advisory board member Mark Creighton, the roofline of the structure is almost two feet taller than allowable under the FAA’s airport construction codes and City Hall has demanded compliance. The hangar is being constructed on the site “auctioned” off by the City about a year ago to the highest bidder. The winner was Mr. Bobby Patton of Ft Worth who occasionally flies to Port A and his intent to be the auction’s victor was no secret around the Island. Why the crew built it slightly larger isn’t yet known but cohesion with the existing buildings was a stipulation in the sale.

Two feet may not seem like much, but construction on and in the vicinity of airports must adhere to a “clearance plane” which assures pilots of an obstacle-free zone in low visibility conditions-- aka instrument flight. If clearance criteria are met, a qualified aviator may descend “in the blind” down to around 200 feet above the ground in efforts to visually acquire the runway on cloudy winter days; the

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