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361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com The Island Newspaper since 1996 Facebook : The Island Moon Newspaper
October 3, 2013
Photo By Jeff Dolan
The sooner we catch all the fish the sooner we can find out where they hide their money. Next Publication Date: 10/10/2013Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
PINS Closed Until Further Notice
By Dale Rankin Padre Island National Seashore is closed due to the shutdown of federal agencies. The park is not accessible to the public and those attempting to enter will be turned back by a
Around The Island
By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
The topic of conversation hereabouts this week has been the Mosquito Season. We got ‘em folks. The recent rains have brought the litter buggers out in force and along about dusk each evening it sounds like somebody is cutting loose with an Island buzz saw. And they’re big ones too. Last week we had a report of some early migrating humming birds that turned out to be mosquitoes! Well, not really, but this year’s mosquito crop does seem to be of a larger variety that usual, maybe they are just living longer. Vector control is doing their best but driving around in trucks and spraying, which is about all that can realistically be done, is sort of like holding back the tide with a broom. The spray dissipates very quickly after is hits the ground and according to Vector Control only kills mosquitoes that are airborne while the spraying is going on and is said to kill only about one third of the mosquito population. The location for spraying is determined by mosquito traps (who knew!?) which are designed to determine which areas of the city have the most mosquitoes. The problem is that each trap only holds fifty mosquitoes and every trap in the city right now catches fifty mosquitoes every day so they need to spray the entire city at the same time. That would take a Big Old Mosquito Truck friends and sounds more like a Coen brothers movie than reality!
Year 16, Issue 494
Update on Island Projects
Schlitterbahn, Sewer Gas, Police Boat, $71.9 Million
Park Ranger posted on Park Road 22 just north of the park entrance. The park will remain closed until the folks in our nation’s capital learn to get along. It may be a while.
Island United Public Sets Bond Fire for October 14th In a month we will be asked to approve a number of bond related projects (with tax increases?) and several Texas constitutional amendments. The Island United PAC is hosting a “Bond Fire” on October 14 at the Seashore Learning Center gym starting at 5:30 pm. District 4 City Council member Colleen McIntyre will explain the bond project proposed by the city. State Representative Todd Hunter will present the Constitutional Amendments that we will be voting on in November. He will also discuss HCR56 - Cruise Ship industry in South Texas and HCR59 - Water Desalination. Council Member Colleen McIntyre will discuss all of the city bond issues that we will be voting on in November. This will be one of our few opportunities to get educated before we vote. Come to the “BOND FIRE” - tell your neighbors and bring a friend. This is and Island United PAC function, not a Tea Party function.
The new wave pool at Schlitterbahn By Dale Rankin Schlitterbhan Beach Country Resort and IslandWalk. Negotiations are moving forward to bring a 100-plus unit condo development to the south end of the Island seawall. Developer Paul Schexnailder told the Island Strategic Action Committee on Tuesday that the development would include the area of both sides of Island House along the seawall. He also said a letter of intent has been signed to bring a 200-unit apartment complex to the area around Lake Padre. He also told the group about 75% of the excavation work on Schlitterbahn Beach Country Resort and the 3600-foot long IslandWalk development, all on the west side
of SPID, is now complete and digging on the east side of SPID is expected to begin within six weeks. He said that fill sand from the dredging process will be used to raise the level of the land around the lake. He also said design work on bulkheads for the new canals is nearing completion.
Schlitterbahn director Stan Hulse told the ISAC that work is nearing completion on the wave pool which is located at the southernmost end of the park site (see photos).
Work continues at the Padre Isles clubhouse to add a second story. The first phase of the waterpark is on schedule to open by summer 2014. Island Projects continued on A6
On the Rocks
New Reef Ready for Action
By Jay Gardner It gives you a really good feeling when a project finally reaches fruition and becomes reality. As I type this, Callan Marine is placing the 470 concrete pyramids at the reefing site out
It’s going to be massive and hold a lot of fish. In fact, it’s already attracting smaller fishes, as I picked up a couple of blue runners on a small spoon right when we rolled up. I’m sure I didn’t catch the very first fish off the new reefs, but I bet I was pretty close to it.
of Packery Channel. We popped out there on the Donzi the other day to witness the reef creation. I’m not sure if people realize exactly how big this reef is going to be. While a rig is about an acre, they’re building a 40-acre reef out there.
Several other boats were hanging around, watching the fun as well. There were a couple of bay boats out there (it was kind of lumpy) and we even bumped into Mike Hurst out there,
Taste of The Island Set for October 16
Dead fish So what’s to be done? We’ve had several suggestions about how to deal with the flying plague. We ruled out the Karankawa method of smearing ourselves with dead fish oil. It worked just fine for the indigenous population but doesn’t go over so well at PTA meetings. The one thing we have tried that seems to help, who can be certain about these things, is using a dryer sheet. You know those little squares you throw in the dryer to freshen things up and cut down on static cling. Given our humidity levels static cling is not high on our list of problems but since mosquitoes are so we took one and carried it around in our pocket. We were still doing the Skeeter Dance but it was more of a waltz than a jitterbug so it did seem to help. At the very least we will all smell a little better and that’s never a bad thing. Give it a try and let us know how you think it works.
The annual Taste of The Island event sponsored by the Padre Island Business Association is set for Wednesday, October 16, around the newly remodeled pool Port Royal Resort on The Island. The event features food from Island restaurants and during the event PIBA will be awarding $5,000.00 scholarships to both Texas A&M and Del Mar College. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by calling PIBA at 361-949-9498, or picked up at American Bank, Frost Bank - island branches; 1st Community Bank island branch; Isle Mail & More; the POA office; Office Lounge; Prosperity Bank island branch; and
In the meantime make sure your water sits down because we all know how much them skeeters like standing water. Good luck.
Padre Island Country Club. There will also be special rates from Port Royal for those who wish to spend the night.
Fire hydrants Last week we told you about an Island fire that got out of control due to a fire hydrant that was too rusted up to use. The fire department continues to inspect Island hydrants but given the consequences a belt-and-suspenders approach is probably best. So if you have a hydrant near your house take a look at it and if it looks like it would take the Incredible Hulk to wrench it open call the city and let them know. You don’t want to find out it is out of commission while your house is on fire. That wouldn’t be good for anybody.
This is the major fundraising event for PIBA and a premier social event for North Padre Island, Mustang Island, Port Aransas, Flour Bluff and Corpus Christi. The money raised through this event allows the PIBA to continue its’ mission of promoting the growth of existing businesses and the promotion of new business. Proceeds from the Taste are also used to fund the PIBA scholarship programs with Del Mar and Texas A&M. PIBA will be awarding their $10,000 in scholarships to both Del Mar and Texas A&M at the next monthly luncheon on October 10 at the Holiday Inn
October is the Sweet Season folks so get out there and enjoy it. Say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Please join us in making this Annual Taste of the Island the most successful event in our history.
On the Rocks continued on A7
Parrot Heads Party this weekend!
October 4-6, Latitude with an Attitude to Benefit the ARK and the Helping Hands Food Pantry
The Parrot Heads of Port Aransas are going to thrown down for the ARK and the Helping Hands Food Pantry on the weekend of October 4-6 with a three-day event which will include a Friday night beach bonfire and cookout, Saturday pub crawl (you haven’t pub crawled until you have pub crawled with Parrot Heads) or shopping poker run. Registration is $55 per person and comes with an event t-shirt and goody bag! The big party is Saturday evening at the Sandcastle Condos recreation center with music by Jerry Diaz and Hanna’s Reef. Or you can attend the party only for $20. To register go to Portaransasparrotheads.com. It’s a chance to change your attitude without changing your latitude. We’ll see you there!
A little Island history
Development of The Island as a Tourist Destination Began in 1926
Editor’s note: Islander Greg Smith is a descendent of the Dunn family who ranched The Island for almost 100 years. By Greg Smith In 1926 Pat Dunn sold The Island to a Valley Land Promoter and railroad developer Col. Sam Robertson. As part of the sale Pat kept grazing rights for his cattle so he continued to operate the Dunn ranch. This started a slow change of Padre from ranching to recreation/tourism. The Robertson land promotion was short lived though, beginning with the purchase of Padre Island in 1926 and ending with the destruction of the Don Patricio Causeway across the Laguna from Flour Bluff and the Del Mar hotel in the 1933 Hurricane. After that cattle again ruled the beach but then History continued on A6
A 2
Island Moon
October
3,
2013
The Travelling Moon Gets Around...
Return of the Bug Bird by Mark Middleton
Sally Wallace and Chad Fincher of the band, Green Light Pistol, got engaged on the beach in Port A while they were in town performing at the Back Porch
Snoopy Paul discovered this new box.
Island Creations Remodeling
Beach Club residents Frank and Chris Santa Maria have just returned from a great trip to Niagara Falls NY with a side trip to Toronto Canada. The falls were beautiful and the weather perfect, with a high of 72 and nighttime low 50.
Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco
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Skip the Plastic is pleased to announce our October Bag Hero, Stephanie Martinez. As a student at the Aveda Institute Corpus Christi, Stephanie is inspired by Aveda’s goal to minimize their environmental footprint in all their operations. She cares about her community and is very aware that she can play a role in helping to shape the kind of place where her son grows up. Some simple steps she takes to this end are recycling, picking up trash when she sees it and bringing her own bags when going shopping. As she says, “You have to be the example.”
October 3, 2013
Island Moon
A3
Senior Moments By Dotson Lewis
The Saga of Tokyo Rose
dlewis1@stx.rr.com Dotson’s note: During the Crime Trials I was told by a GI friend who worked at Sugamo Prison, that a woman known as “Tokyo Rose” was confined there who was to be tried as a War Criminal. I checked around and was informed that this was indeed a fact. Here is another part of “the rest of the story.” Following the Japanese surrender in September 1945, American troops began searching for Japanese military leaders and others who may have committed war crimes. The press—sometimes following, sometimes beating the military to the scene—did the same.
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Sugamo Prison-1946
Two of these reporters, Henry Brundidge and Clark Lee, sought “Tokyo Rose,” the notorious siren who tried to demoralize American soldiers and sailors during the war by highlighting their hardships and sacrifices.
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Through their legwork and contacts, the two reporters quickly identified one young American woman, Iva Ikuko Toguri d’Aquino, who had made such broadcasts. Brundidge and Lee offered her a significant sum, which they later reneged on paying, for exclusive rights to interview her. Aquino agreed, signing a contract that identified her as Tokyo Rose. The problem for Aquino, though, was that Tokyo Rose was not an actual person, but the fabricated name given by soldiers to a series of American-speaking women who made propaganda broadcasts under different aliases. As a result of her interview with the two reporters, Aquino came to be seen by the public—though not by Army and FBI investigators—as the mythical protagonist Tokyo Rose. This popular image defined her in the public mind of the post-war period and continues to color debate about her role in World War II today.
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In September 1945 Henry Brundidge contacted Eighth Army intelligence and told the commanding officer that he interviewed her and had the signed confession of the traitor Tokyo Rose. The next day, Iva Toguri d’Aquino was arrested. Lacking hard evidence of treason, the army released her, but as the media spread the news of her interview, political pressure to prosecute Tokyo Rose increased. On October 18,1945, the U.S. Justice Department ordered General MacArthur to take Toguri into custody on suspicion of treason. She was arrested and taken to Yokohama Prison. Six weeks later she was transferred to the notorious Sugamo Prison.
The BACK PORCH Live Music Oct. 4 The Larry Joe Taylor Oct. 5 BACK PORCH Tom Gilliam Oct. 11 Coastal Bender w/ Bar The Dust Devils Oct. 12 Randy McAllilster
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Iva Toguri d’Aquino-Tokyo Rose . Toguri was kept in Blue Block, a special section designated for women criminals. For a year she lived in a six-by-nine-foot cell equipped with a toilet, a water basin, and a straw mat. She was allowed to bathe every three days. The army considered her a Japanese national; as a result, she could not send letters to her family in the United States. Her only luxury was the steam radiator in her cell that helped ward off the harsh Tokyo winter chill. During her incarceration, she was denied her due process rights as a U.S. citizen - she was denied a legal counsel lawyer, there was no indictment, and no bail was set.
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Toguri kept telling herself it was all a mistake. She stubbornly clung to the belief that her Orphan Annie version of Tokyo Rose was a popular figure among American GIs. Her inability to grasp the severity of her situation led to some stupid mistakes. She signed autographs for prison guards “Iva Toguri/Tokyo Rose,” and she was flippant with FBI interrogators. Of course, she had no way of knowing how
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Aquino was born Ikuko Toguri in Los Angeles on July 4, 1916. Her father, Jun Toguri, had come to the U.S. from Japan in 1899. Her mother followed in 1913, and the family eventually settled in Los Angeles. During her school years, Ikuko Toguri used the first name of Iva. She attended grammar schools in Calexico and San Diego before returning with her family to Los Angeles where she finished grammar school and went on to high school and junior college.
Iva Toguri enrolled in the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated in January 1940 with a degree in zoology. She did graduate work there until June of that year. During her school years, Toguri was a popular student and was considered a loyal American. Her favorite pastimes included sports, hiking, and swing music. From June 1940 until July 1941, Toguri assisted her father in his mercantile shop.
On July 5, 1941, Toguri sailed for Japan from San Pedro, California, without a U.S. passport. In subsequent years, she gave two reasons for her trip: to visit a sick aunt and to study medicine. In September of that year, Toguri appeared before the U.S. Vice Consul in Japan to obtain a passport, stating she wished to return to the U.S. for permanent residence. Because she left the U.S. without a passport, her application was forwarded to the Department of State for consideration. Before arrangements were completed for issuing a passport, Japan attacked America, and war was declared.
In November 1943, Toguri was asked to become a broadcaster for Radio Tokyo on the Zero Hour program. The program was part of a Japanese psychological warfare campaign designed to lower the morale of U.S. Armed Forces. The Zero Hour was broadcast every day except Sunday, from 6 p.m. until 7:15 p.m., Tokyo time. Toguri participated in most weekday broadcasts, but other women handled weekend duties.
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the U.S. media was orchestrating the legend of an insidious Tokyo Rose. In the States political cartoons, movies, and newspaper editorials embellished the myth of “Tokyo Rose” as a malevolent seductress who preyed on the loneliness of American fighting men. Her interview with Brundidge had sealed Toguri’s fate. As far as the U.S. public was concerned, there was only one Tokyo Rose, and she was Iva Toguri d’Aquino.
Toguri was introduced on the program as “Orphan Annie.” Toguri’s average time on each program was about 20 minutes, during which she made propaganda statements and introduced popular records of the day, such as “Speak to Me of Love,” “In a Little Gypsy Tea Room,” and “Love’s Old Sweet Song.” The remainder of the program was devoted chiefly to news items from America and general news commentaries by other members of the broadcasting staff.
By late 1944, Toguri was writing her own material for the program. Her salary at Radio Tokyo reportedly amounted to some 150 yen per month—about $7 in U.S. currency. Toguri was not a professional radio personality, but many of those who later recalled hearing her enjoyed the program, especially the music.
As far as its propaganda value, Army analysis suggested that the program had no negative effect on troop morale and that it might even have raised it a bit. The Army’s sole concern about the broadcasts was that “Annie” appeared to have good intelligence on U.S. ship and troop movements.
On April 19, 1945, Iva Toguri married Felipe Aquino, a Portuguese citizen of JapanesePortuguese ancestry. The marriage was registered with the Portuguese Consulate in Tokyo; however, Aquino did not renounce her U.S. citizenship. She continued her Zero Hour broadcast until the war was over. (to be continued…)
Dotson Note: Do you believe that Ikuko was a war criminal and should have been tried as a War Criminal? Please let me know what you think. 361-949-7681or dlewis1@stx.rr.com
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A 4
Dee-Scoveries by Devorah Fox
Island Moon
October 3, 2013
Perfect Pairs
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Port Aransas’s La Barataria Restaurant and Wine Bar celebrated two successful years of business and accolades from diners with a byinvitation-only food-and-wine pairing dinner on the last Thursday of September, 2013. The event also introduced wines from Amici Cellars, the latest addition to La Barataria’s wine list.
Guests were welcomed with a cheery gemcolored cocktail of Kir and Amici Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. La Barataria’s dining room, always warm and comfortable, seemed to have a special glow, perhaps due to the golden light of the sun setting over the water of the adjacent Island Moorings.
Once everyone was seated owner Lezlie Keebler welcomed her guests and thanked them and her staff for the restaurant’s success. She introduced Chef Benny Perez and Jim Jiabia, sales manager of Amici Cellars’ southwest region.
Jim gave a brief history of Amici Cellars which began in the 1990’s. A few friends collaborated on wine for their personal enjoyment but it was so well received that in their second year they produced wine to sell to the public. Amici Wines has some Texas roots. One of the owners, John Harris, grew up in Houston and went to the University of Texas. He and his friends were joined by Californian Joel Aiken who has been winemaking since his college days and comes from long career with Beaulieu Vineyards.
As each course was presented, Jim told us a little about the wine selected to pair with the dish. We began with grilled sea scallops served with prosciutto and figs and a port wine syrup. The scallop was plump and juicy. I heard some people say that they didn’t care for the port wine syrup but I liked it. I thought it balanced the saltiness of the prosciutto and was a nice fruity accent for the scallop. Sauvignon Blanc is about my favorite white wine. Usually I find that nothing can compare with the ones from New
Restaurant
& Wine Bar
Zealand but I liked the offering from Amici Cellars almost as well. Next we had Maine Lobster Stew paired with Olema Chardonnay. I don’t like Chardonnay as well as Sauvignon Blanc but both this wine and the stew were delightful. Sometimes I find the label descriptions of a wine’s flavors and aromas to be a little over the top. This one promised “flavors of creamy lemon custard” and they were indeed there. The wine did have a silky, custardy feel. The Beef Wellington in puff pastry was done just right to my taste, not too well cooked or too rare, and was prepared with foie gras and duxelles. The wine for this dish was Amici Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvingon. I tend to prefer jammier red wines like Zinfandels but have to admit that this Cabernet went better with the beef, especially since the presentation included fruity and sweet notes from port wine syrup. The meal ended with dessert, a flourless chocolate cake that Lezlie said she spent all day making. I’m a big fan of chocolate desserts and I thought her time had been well spent. Amici Pinot Noir 2009 complimented it well. (2009 was a particularly good year for Amici Wines.) I had a really enjoyable evening with just the right amount of food deliciously prepared and graciously served by La Barataria’s friendly staff. And, I discovered some great new wines. For more information about Amici Cellars, visit the Web site at www.amicicellars, call 816-225-2713 or send an email to jim.jiabia@ amicicellars.com. To find out more about La Barataria., send an email to LezlieKeebler@ gmail.com or call 361-749-2212. Or stop by La Barataria Restaurant & Wine Bar at 3500 Island Moorings Parkway. I’ll see you there.
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October 3, 2013
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Island Moon
Letters to the editor
Beach cleanup Thanks to all who came out to help today at the Beach Cleanup. We had a big crowd of about 250 beach cleaners (more precise stats TBD). Thanks to Gladys for making arrangements before she left for vacation in California and a BIG SHOUT OUT to John Vaughn for all the work he did to make the clean up happen. THANK YOU, JOHN! Thanks to Kiwanis volunteers John, LaDonna, Grady, Jim, Mark, Brent and special thanks to our “honorary Kiwanians” who helped with hotdog wrapping - Jeanne Gardiner, Alicia Needham, Linda Pugh and Carole Salsberry we could not have done it without you! Thanks to Ernie Powell for making the effort to see if we needed extra help!
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin
We also had help from Key Club kids who helped us set up the tables for lunch.
Patrick Kelliher Office Lisa Towns
It was a lot of fun - thanks everyone!
Classifieds
Karen Wilson
Construction Industry Day
Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers
Contractors,
Joey Farah
FD Stonewater and Lynxs Group are hosting a CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DAY for the development a 167,000 gross square foot United States Coast Guard facility at the Corpus Christi International Airport.
Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner
This event is open to all construction related professionals and consultants seeking more information about this opportunity. The anticipated start date for earthwork and utilities is December 2013.
Todd Hunter Danniece Bobeché Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk
The event is Wednesday, October 9, 10:00 a.m. at the Omni Hotel, 900 N Shoreline Blvd. in the Bayview Conference Room. For Addition Information Please Contact:Ben Dineen, FD Stonewater at (703) 537 - 7642 | bdineen@ fdstonewater.com.
Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft
P.I. Dog Group News
Office Security/Spillage Control Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor 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 Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
Port A Glass Studio The Gaff Wild Horse Saloon Tarpon Ice House
North Padre
Miss K’s Catering & Bistro
All Stripes Stores
Amano
Whataburger
Felder Gallery
Doc’s Restaurant
Island Woman Boutique
Snoopy’s Pier
Coast Club Coffee Waves Moby Dicks Spanky’sLiquor IGA Grocery Store Port A Business Center Carter Pharmacy
CVS
Isle Mail N More Island Italian Ace Hardware Holiday Inn Texas Star (Shell) Jesse’s Liquor Padre Isles Country Club
San Juan’s Taqueria
Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Subway
Port A Parks and Rec Public Library Chamber of Commerce Duckworth Antiques Back Porch Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place The Flat’s Lounge Giggity’s Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Island Tire And all Moon retail advertisers WB Liquor
Flour Bluff H.E.B. Liquid Town Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station
Gratitude Gift Shop
Police Station
Keepers Pier House
Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Special thanks go to the P.I. Dog Group members who attended our first Dog Walk & Talk at Billish Park. It was well attended with over 25 dog owners and their four-legged children! With so many wagging tail, happy owners and no issues with meeting one another, it was clearly quite a success. We are already planning some October events (sign up for you free membership so you get notified). FYI – there are only four spaces left in the obedience/Canine Good Citizen class which began September 30th. Get more info at www. PadreIslandDogPark.com.
Keep Port Aransas Beautiful’s “Dunk Your Junk Day” This Fall’s “Dunk Your Junk Day” will be held on Saturday October 12, 2013 from 9 am to 12 noon at the City of Port Aransas, Citizens Collection Station (The Dump). The Collection Station is located at the end of Ross Ave. All Port Aransas residents are invited to bring their worn out furniture, TV’s, mattresses, box springs, chairs, etc. for proper disposal. All air conditioners, freezers, and refrigerators must have had all the freon removed. Items that are not acceptable: asphalt shingles, drywall, tires, chemical wastes, paint, hazardous chemicals, propane tanks. No commercial contractors junk will be accepted.
Island Farmer’s Market This Saturday Our market is BACK!!! Things were a little slow through September but our vendors are back and ready for a great sale this Saturday, October 5 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at Island Presbyterian Church 14030 Fortuna Bay Dr. From the Garden will be there with okra, eggs, swiss chard and sweet potato vines. They will have squash and green beans available very soon! Sip A Quote Stemware will be back with lots of new and exciting designs. She will have pink ribbon designs for breast cancer awareness as well as purple ribbon designs for Alzheimer’s awareness. She will also take special orders for the upcoming holidays Elaine will be there with her home grown and self dried herbs and her amazing handmade jewelry. DDD will be there with their gourmet, natural dog treats- and we may have a few surprise vendors. Be sure to come by and support local and handmade businesses!
“Destination Bayfront-No!” Destination Bayfront proponents claim it will improve the quality of life for residents and produce downtown economic growth. Quality of life is subjective. It’s in the eye of the beholder. For many of us the drive along Shoreline Drive past Magee Beach with a beautiful unobstructed view of the bay and marina is quality of life. Many residents make that drive daily. Most residents make it at least once a month. Have you taken that imaginary drive if Destination Bayfront is built? The view will be obstructed by restaurants, stores, shade structures, stages, parking and trees. We will have sacrificed quality of life for the 92 percent of residents who enjoy the view regularly and will never go to Destination Bayfront for the sake of 8 percent of residents who are expected to visit Destination Bayfront once a year. That’s not fair to the 92 percent of residents who will lose their quality of life and have to pay $6.50 in property tax for each Destination Bayfront visitor. Proponents claim Destination Bayfront will produce downtown economic growth by promoting tourism. Tourism is about 5 percent of the Corpus Christi economy. Even if by some miracle Destination Bayfront could increase tourism by 20 percent that would only produce a onetime growth of the Corpus Christi economy of one percent. By comparison the Port Industry industrial plants produce about 43 percent of the Corpus Christi economy followed by Eagle Ford oil & gas activity at about 15 percent followed in tern by the military bases, medical industry, higher education industry, manufacturing and finally tourism. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) economic impact study of Eagle Ford projects its impact on Nueces County will increase from $2 Billion in county gross product in 2012 to $4.4 Billion in 10 years. That means Eagle Ford’s 15 percent share of the Corpus Christi economy will more than double in 10 years. Corpus Christi’s economy is already growing rapidly as evidenced by the 12 percent increase in city sales tax receipts in 2011, another 12 percent in 2012 and continuing at that rate in 2013. Sales tax receipts are a good measure of consumer spending and consumer spending is 70 percent of a local economy like Corpus Christi. Most of that growth is being produced by Eagle Ford activity which is projected to continue for 10 to 20 years. However, going forward, Port Industry plant expansions and new plants will become big growth contributors. Total dollar value of industrial plant expansions and new plants in the 3 county Corpus Christi
Janet F. Harte Public Library Activities “Moonfest” Program at Janet F. Harte Public Library! Janet F. Harte Public Library will offer a special program for families on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 6:15 p.m. Families are invited to celebrate Halloween, autumn, and “International Observe the Moon Night” with music, crafts, face painting, and a view of the moon through telescopes. The Corpus Christi Astronomical Society will also give a short presentation prior to nightfall and the moon-viewing. Come in costume! The library is located at 2629 Waldron Rd. in Flour Bluff. Free and open to the public. For more information call 937-6579.
“Firefighters” Program at Janet F. Harte Public Library! The Janet F. Harte Public Library will offer a special program for children on Tuesday, October 15, at 11:00 a.m. The Nueces County ESD2 Firefighters will talk about fire safety and allow kids a close-up view of their fire truck and firefighting equipment. Free; geared for ages 3-5 but all are welcome. The library is located at 2629 Waldron Rd. in Flour Bluff. For more information call 937-6579.
Port Aransas Dog Park
Metropolitan Area is about $21 Billion. By comparison Nueces County’s total property value is about $15 Billion and downtown Corpus Christi is $500 Million.
Those plants aren’t coming here because of Destination Bayfront. Their criteria for building here are; First, low priced (currently $3.80 per thousand cubic feet) and abundant natural gas. For example, Voestalpine’s iron plant’s annual profitability goes up or down $25 Million for each dollar change in natural gas prices. Second, a free natural gas market in the US contrary to many other countries where the government controls natural gas prices. Third, our deep water port. Fourth, US and local political stability such as no threat of city annexation. Ralph Coker,
Things to do This Weekend ArtWalk- Friday 5:30 pm – 9 pm Experience art in a whole new way at ArtWalk. In addition to being a huge Downtown party hosted at over 100 business locations, ArtWalk also serves as a self guided tour of Art Galleries, Museums, and other locations displaying art. Visit the information tent in La Retama Park at the corner of Mesquite Street and Schatzell Street to pick up your ArtWalk map. Begin your art tour with a walk through the Bluff Tunnel which is now an Art Gallery displaying work by students of Texas A & M Corpus Christi. Follow the map to the locations of your choice and enjoy all the art, music, and entertainment available Downtown on Artwalk night - most of which is free! For more information on ArtWalk: www. artwalkcc.com
South Texas Underground Film Festival- Thursday through Sunday South Texas Underground Film Festival is a local and International film festival that celebrates films/media that are by Underground and incredibly Independent filmmakers that are diverse in film technique, background and culture. The festival will begin Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013 with Screenings, Q&A’s, Workshops, Mixer’s and After Parties until Sunday Oct. 6th, 2013. For more information on South Texas Underground Film Festival: www. southtexasundergroundfilm.com/stuff
Marina Market Days Saturday 9 am – 4 pm Embark on the shopping adventure at the largest outdoor market on the water in Texas during Marina Market Days. Featuring many unique vendors and activities, it’s the perfect place to spend a relaxing day enjoying the views of Corpus Christi Bay, making new friends and browsing for something special. For more information on Marina Market Days: http://www.marinamarketdays.com
MusicWalk – Saturday 12 pm – 4 pm (Marina) and 6 pm – 10 pm (La Retama Park/Downtown) Engage in the tunes of local music during the newest addition to Corpus Christi First, MusicWalk. Live music of all genres can be found in the afternoon at the marina. For evening entertainment, be sure to stop by La Retama Park and venues throughout downtown Corpus Christi. For more information on MusicWalk: http://www.musicwalkcc.com
BridgeWalk – Sunday 7:30 am Enjoy beautiful views of the Corpus Christi skyline from the top of the Harbor Bridge at BridgeWalk. Beginning from the Galvan House in Heritage Park, this unique experience is fun to walk, jog or run across the iconic bridge. This month’s event includes the second annual fitness / wellness fair in addition to the regular Yoga, Tai chi, and Zumba activities and will feature a “Superhero BridgeWalk.” So dress up as your favorite superhero and maybe you’ll win a prize for best costume! For more information on BridgeWalk: http://www.bridgewalkcc.com
First Friday Reception at Port Aransas Art Center Join us for Refreshments Live Music Art and Artists on Friday, October 4th from 5:30-7:30 at the art center. The show is the 2nd Annual -Round the Bend-Invitational featuring TAMU Corpus Christi Graduate Students Jeremiah Ibarra and Kristopher Jorgensen, Instructed by Louis Katz M.F.A. Professor of Art-Area of emphasis, Ceramics. The event is free.
A5
Port Aransas City Parks and Rec department heads; Rick Adams, David Hyde, Ken Yarborough Sherlock and Rusty, at the new ¼ acre Dog Park located at the Community Park complex on Ross Road.
Mark Your Calendar for Birdies on the Bay October 18 2nd annual golf classic supports Special Olympics Texas athletes Make plans to swing, chip and putt fore Special Olympics Texas at the Birdies on the Bay Golf Classic, October 18, at the Corpus Christi Country Club. Lunch is at 12:00 p.m. and tee off is at 1:00 p.m., immediately followed by an awards ceremony and refreshments. Participants will also have a chance to win fantastic prizes, including golf bags, an ice chest and a barbecue pit. Registration is $125 per player and $500 per four-person team. Proceeds support more than 1,500 Special Olympics Texas athletes in the South Texas area. For a registration form or more information, contact Alice Fulton-Garza (agarza@sotx. org) at 361.857.5679.
A 6
Island Moon
1. Shock and Denial- I can’t believe my Stoopid Humans left me. The cats get to stay at the house and have a cat party and I get Dogpounded! Stooped Cats! This portion of the process is sometime accompanied by floor pooping and excessive barking. I advise you to avoid both of those as they do no good and often lead to trouble. 2. Pain and Guilt- This part is usually easier to get through if you skipped the pooping portion of the program mentioned above. If you did that you are going to probably get the pain part even if you don’t have the guilt. Your humans will have plenty of guilt to loan you some. 3. Anger and Bargaining- “I still can’t believe my stooped humans left me. Why me?! Tell your humans you will walk yourself for a month if they will undogpound you right now. (Your humans will forget about this promise real soon). That’s about all the bargaining we dogs can do because our humans give us food and don’t charge us. We can try to pout but that never works. We’re dogs. So just get over it.
5. The upward turn- This is the part where my other humans Nancy and James come and get me from the babysitter and take me to their house. They have two Labradors. I don’t know why Labradors are so happy all the time. They don’t have anything the rest of us dogs don’t have but they are always so happy. I would bite them if I could catch them. Stooped Labradors. They eat my food too. 6. Reconstruction - By this time I’m over being mad at my humans and just wish they would come home so I could get some treats from the drawer by the door. I know where the treats are at my house but not anywhere else. It’s all so confusing. 7. Rescue! This is the part where my humans come and get me and I give them my sad eyes and they forget about my diet for a day or two and give me lots of treats. My advice is to work this for as long as you can because pretty soon it’s gonna be back to the same old Dog Life. I still don’t know why the cats get to stay in the house. Stooped Cats!
Island Projects continued from A Construction around Packery Channel. When the Packery Channel project was approved a Tax Increment Financing Zone was set up to fund improvements around the site. The TIFZ collects all property tax from new construction within the zone after the base year of 2003 through 2022. Figures released this week by the City of Corpus Christi show that the fund has a current balance of $4.6 million with $2.5 million collected last year, and an additional $3.1 million expected to be collected in fiscal year 2013-2014. $1.5 million of the existing balance must be kept in the account for debt service on the bonds for the original digging of the canal, and another $3.5 million kept in reserve for future dredging. The reserve fund for dredging is expected to increase to $4 million by fiscal year 2014-2015 and will remain at that level through 2022. By the time the TIFZ expires in 2022 projections are it will generate $71.9 million. City Engineer Dan Biles told the ISAC he expects a contract for design work on restroom and a pavilion between Zahn Road and the north side of Packery Channel to be put to bids within “two to three months” but the $1.9 million project will likely not be built for about three years. That work will be funded by the TIFZ. Sewer gas. ISAC members for over two years have been attempting to get the city to put an end to the recurring smell of sewer gas emitting from the pump station at Cruiser and Whitecap, and in various locations along SPID. City crews say they have inspected the lines and find no problem with city-maintained equipment but the stench continues. The latest complaint came from Alex Harris, owner of the Padre Profession Center on SPID just north of Whitecap and downwind from the Cruiser substation. He told city staff that when complaints were filed recently about the smell of “sewer gas” at the center the caller was transferred to the city gas department which cut off the natural gas supply to the center. ISAC and city staff agreed that anyone with a complaint about a leaking sewer line should call 826-1800 and a record will be kept of the calls. Speed tables on Aquarius. A traffic study by the city has found that the speed tables placed there recently have reduced average speed on the street from 40 mph to 36 mph. which is still above the posted 30 mph limit. City engineers may put stripes on the speed tables to further
reduce speed. Gypsy Street. A recent traffic study found that half the traffic on Gypsy Street is traveling 38 mph or higher in spite of the posted 30 mph limit. Engineers are considering speed tables or new striping to help slow it down. Island Police Patrol boat. A fund has been set up to begin collecting $40,000 in donations to purchase a police boat to patrol Island canals. The remainder of the approximately $70,000 expected to be needed to purchase the boat and equipment, including an onboard video camera, is expected to come from the city. A public meeting is expected to be scheduled in November to explain more details of the project to the public. The Island Foundation Beautification fund is now collecting donations for the boat. To contribute contact Mary Ann at the Seashore Early Childhood Center at Park Road 22 and Whitecap. Billings and Clems Boat Ramp Improvements: Work is underway on the new parking lot adjacent to the JFK Causeway and Packery Channel. High tides have delayed the process but crews are now back at the site and work on the $1.2 million project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
October 3, 2013
by Dale Rankin
By Riley P. Dog 4. “Depression” Reflection, and Loneliness- This is the part where I just curl up on my bed and sleep. I can’t see my reflection because all the mirrors are too high up but I got the lonely part. The good part is that I don’t have any sense of time so I have no idea how long my humans have been gone. Also I’ve mostly been asleep.
Stuff I Heard on the Island
Dogpounded Since I wrote to you last time I got Dogpounded. Well, not really Dogpounded, I went over to Sandy Paws and hung out there for a few days then my friends Nancy and James came and got me until my stoopid humans came home. It’s not my first time to be Dogpounded but it doesn’t get any more fun even though I’m kind of used to it now. But in case you other dogs and cats out there haven’t been Dogpounded or Catpounded before I’m here to help. The best I can tell there are seven stages of being Dogpounded.
This past week I was on a different Island; California Island; more specifically the Island known as Los Angeles. Venice Beach The first stop was the Plebeian’s paradise of Venice Beach – that is if you define hippies as plebeians. Cutoff blue jean shorts are the fashion statement of the moment there, both for women visiting from the Square States and the men who live on the grass there (the kind you walk on not the other which they sell legally from shops all over the place). It is a wonder there is anyone left in California who isn’t inked as there is a tattoo parlor on pretty much every corner and, as in New York; it’s all about the shoes. It’s always about the shoes, even if someone is barefoot. We watched a shoot for a Fox crime show which had more than thirty production trucks brought there to shoot two scenes that took about three hours. Seems like making bad TV wouldn’t be so labor intensive.
Just flew in from… There are 38,041,430 souls in California and the best I can tell about ten of them are actually from there. The DJ at the hotel bar is from Austin, the guy parking the cars is from West Virginia, the desk person is from Missouri… Many of them relocated there to become rich and famous and I came across many of them, none who actually are rich and famous, but some who are convinced it is just a matter of time. But I learned that all actors are not the same. The ones who do traditional Greek theatre are serious about it and going to school to learn how to do it. They are a lot of fun and, as actors go, normal people who just act for a living. However, the ones who headed for the Left Coast right out of high school are a different story. These actors are not going to school. They are parking cars at the rental agencies, waiting tables pretty much everywhere, and if they are lucky are doing a commercial here and there, going to auditions to break in The Soaps, and hoping to be discovered by a producer who will sweep them from their life of penury to a suite at the Chateau Marmont and mostly all being told they should go back to where they came from and forget about it. I noticed that these types of “actors” are very fond of the first person pronoun. They sit next to you at restaurants and say things like: ““I wear glasses even though I don’t need them. I like pudding. I am like, so unusual,” when the fact is that the only thing unusual about them is their boundless self fascination. Auditioning for parts when you have no discernable reason for thinking you are qualified to get them requires a bulletproof hubris and you can only admire them for their courage if not their judgment. But hey, give it a shot. Somebody’s going to get
those parts, it might as well be you.
Hollywoodland Actors on Hollywood Boulevard have a hard time competing for space with tourists. I saw a few people walking around dressed like vegetables who I guess were headed for Let’s Make A Deal – or maybe running studios I’m not sure. The chances of seeing what could be termed an actual “celebrity” are pretty much nil because even if someone from Charles In Charge showed up they would be mobbed by star struck visitors from the flatlands before they could order their latte. West Hollywood is fine, but I like to be out of Hollywood by dark.
Santa Monica In Santa Monica we happened to show up the night of the GLOW Festival which is a big lightshow on the beach that lasts until sunup. It’s a great idea and we should consider one for The Island I met a guy there who is from Pennsylvania and going to auditions but his day job is to walk around with a spray bottle and a rag and wipe up spots on the sidewalk. I asked him if had ever heard of the guy who shovels elephant dung in the circus and when asked why he didn’t get another job replied, “what, and leave show business!?” He laughed but I think he might have been crying on the inside like the sad clown I met at Venice Beach. I met a guy from north Florida who said he came to California to get away from the Dengue Fever. There was a homeless man walking around with a hockey mask on that covered his entire face. His friend asked me if I could give him a dollar for a sandwich. “I dunno let me see the sandwich,” I said.
Hotel California L.A. is like the blind man touching the elephant, you can drive ten blocks and it changes completely. Huge parts of downtown are the Land of the Living Dead with people living in tents on the sidewalk. I thought I had seen some large homeless populations in The Bowery in New York but the street crowd in east L.A. is a swarm. I drove all the way out to Watts and through East L.A. and Chinatown and I got to say, all in all L.A. is a very interesting city. There’s a little bit of everything there but you got to drive to get there. On the way home we got stuck at the airport in Houston for three hours but I don’t mind sitting around airports. They are about the only place left where you can be fairly sure nobody is armed. But remember fellow travelers, screaming babies are not cute no matter how much their parents may think they are. Loud but not cute. They good news is I kept all my hotel room keys so the next time I go to L.A. I can stay free. So I got that going for me.
History continued from A1 were sometimes joined by hardy tourists and fisherman that came down from Port Aransas or up from Point Isabel. Pat, though he still ran cows had lost control of his destiny with the sale. Prior to Col. Robertson’s purchase access to The Island was limited. Patrick did allow visitors but only with permission. “From the early Eighties I carried an advertisement in the Corpus Christi papers prohibiting hunting on The Island, and my recollection is that I carried that advertisement for a while in the Brownsville paper, but that was later on in 1904. There never was much trespassing on The Island. Occasionally somebody would want to go up the beach to Corpus Christi and I had men here at Point Isabel to look after that for me. I had John Champion and Charlie Champion here at Point Isabel as my agents, and if any one wanted to travel up the beach they would have to get a note from my agent. There was not much of that and the principal people who came over there were fishermen.”
Winds of change Even though The Island had returned to its ranching ways the winds of change from the Robertson promotion made its way across the country. In the 1930’s the State Highway department investigated buying the beach and
building a causeway for a road to The Valley. The United States Department of Interior began researching the practicality of purchasing it for a U.S. park. The report from the Washington folks was not favorable. They inspected it during one of the recurrent fish kills and found the beach both odorous and trashy; not realizing this is a relative uncommon occurrence and not the norm.
With the war breaking out in 1941 and the German submarine offensive in the Gulf of Mexico in 1942 this put all conversation of using The Island for parks or development on hold as it was then patrolled by the Coast Guard looking for Germans and the Navy for bombing practice. The Coast Guard and purported Germans never bothered the cattle but the Navy did manage to bomb at least one cow. When Burton Dunn asked that the Navy pay for his now ground beef animal all he got was the always ever present government runaround. After the war was over development interest again resurfaced. This lead to the building of the Causeway in 1950 and unlike Col. Robertson’s short lived promotion in 1926 we see the continuous developing of Padre to where it is today. Next week: the land promoters that shaped Texas, Nueces County and The Island.
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October 3, 2013
Island Moon
Angler’s Alley On the Adopt-A-Beach volunteers shatter Rocks expectations for Fall Cleanup continued
11,665 pick up 206 tons of trash from Texas beaches The results for Saturday’s 27th annual Fall Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup by the Texas General Land Office are in, and the number of volunteers exceeded all expectations. On Galveston Island, an all-time record 4,748 volunteers hit the beaches, hauling off an astounding 119 tons of trash that could have otherwise killed or maimed dolphins, turtles, birds or other sea creatures. Statewide, the total number of volunteers who pitched in and helped out was 11,665. Together, they removed a total of 207 tons of marine debris. “The push to spread the word on Adopt-ABeach via social media is really paying off,” Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said. “As more and more people ‘like’ us on Facebook and share the message with their friends on Twitter, more and more volunteers show up on the beach.” Since 1986, more than 458,000 Adopt-ABeach volunteers have cleaned more than 8,700 tons of trash from Texas beaches. Cigarette butts, beer cans and plastic bags are among the most common items found. But with each cleanup, plenty of odd and unusual items inevitably are reported. On Saturday, the list of weird stuff found on Texas beaches included a mannequin, a set of dentures, camping tents, the sail from a sailboat, swim suits, syringes and a toilet seat. “None of this trash belongs on the beach — every day it kills and injures dolphins, turtles, pelicans and other wildlife that live there,”
Patterson said. “Trashing Texas beaches isn’t cool.” Adopt-A-Beach volunteers record data on the trash they find to learn more about the causes of marine debris and to help mitigate pollution along Texas’ 367 miles of coastline. The next Adopt-A-Beach cleanup will be a special, four-wheel drive expedition on Padre Island National Seashore Saturday, November 2. Only eight teams of four will be allowed to sign up for this competitive event and spots are filling up quickly so register now if you are interested at www.texasadoptabeach.org. The next coastwide cleanup will be the spring Adopt-A-Beach effort scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2014. The Texas General Land Office Adopt-ABeach program is an all-volunteer effort to remove trash from Texas’ shores. Coastal cleanups are held three times each year and the program’s success is due to the hard work of volunteers, including local coordinators who work many unpaid hours publicizing the cleanups in coastal communities. Our corporate sponsors and local media sponsors provide the necessary resources to help underwrite the costs associated with our annual events. The lead, statewide sponsors for the 27th Texas General Land Office Adopt-ABeach Fall Cleanup was Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises. Other statewide sponsors include: HNTB, Apache Corporation, Ca
from A1
who was observing the deployment as well. We sure didn’t envy the guy running the crane lowering those pyramids into the water, that barge was pitching around pretty good. The crane has a GPS on the top of the boom, and they are marking every piece they put down. The picture of the area is shaping up very nicely. (Photo(s) by Lisa Laskowski or TPWD.) As I write this (hurriedly) on Wednesday, they had the big barge out there and had placed 243 of the 470 pyramids and all the culverts (was the first stage). The seas look fairly reasonable for the next few days before the front this weekend, and wishing them luck on getting the rest of the pyramids placed, although they should be able to get them down fine.
Legend
_ ^
TPWD ARP Reef Sites County Lines SAN PATRICIO
0
´
1.25 2.5 5 Nautical Miles
ARANSAS
A7
Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef Water Depth (ft): 110 Distance from Port (nm): 18.15 miles Nearest Port: Port Aransas Latitude: 27.569759 Longitude: -96.858589
7.5
Boatmen’s Reef Water Depth (ft): 60 Distance from Port 4.75 miles Nearest Port: Port Aransas Port Aransas Latitude: 27.773918 Longitude: -96.971100
Corpus Christi Nearshore Reef (new) Water Depth (ft): 73 Distance from Packery Channel 10.6 miles Nearest Port: Packery Channel Latitude: 27.646706 Longitude: -97.007675
Boatmen's
_ ^
Lonestar
_ ^
Corpus Christi
NUECES
KLEBERG
Corpus Christi Nearshore Reef So the official name of the reef by Texas Parks and Wildlife is the “Corpus Christi Nearshore Reef”. We think that’s a pretty bland moniker, and we’ve begun experimenting with names to localize and personalize the reefs more suited to something of this scale and size. We tried “Cairo” and “Egypt” and even “Giza” in keeping with the spirit of the pyramids that were deployed, but nothing has really stuck to the wall yet. Shoot me an email at jaygardner@scientist.com if you think of a real zinger. Last edition I wrote about what to expect with the colonization of the reefs by the encrusting organisms, and that it will take a couple of months to attract fishes. Red snapper are spawning right now, and the juveniles will recruit to this reef for sure. Snapper grow pretty fast in their first year, and then slow down some after that. The reef will recruit fish through the winter, and as the reefs become more established, will provide more food resources for the fish, as it increases biomass. By next summer, the reefs should have
Lonestar Reef Water Depth (ft): 72 Distance from Port (nm): 8.81 Nearest Port: Port Aransas Latitude: 27.691977 Longitude: -96.975266
^ Nearshore Reef _
decent coverage of year-one fish, which are typically just under legal. By next fall, the reefs should be gang-busters with just-legal fishes grown right there on the reefs.
The reef will also attract a lot of fishermen, as I noted the other day when they were just deploying the reefs and there was already five boats on the scene, with a few of them fishing (or attempting to) already. It’s going to take some education and patience on people’s part when they head out there next summer. When you approach the area, hang back for a minute and see which way the drift is going. Make sure to have the corners of the reef plugged in your GPS already, then idle around up current and drift over the area. Attempting to anchor is going to result in a lost anchor, I promise you. Don’t crowd or cut people off and everyone will have a shot at some good fish. The local governments and taxing entities will also notice an increase in out-of-towners and fishermen due to the new opportunity. It’s going to be awesome! Watch the weather windows, and I’ll see you out there over the rocks!
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Island Moon
A 8
October 3, 2013
STATE Early Voting Begins October 21
Island early voting location moved to Seashore Learning Center
Early voting in the November 5 election begins October 21. Note the change in the early voting location on The Island. The usual voting location at Padre Isles Country Club has been moved to the Seashore Learning Center due to construction at the club. Voters may vote at any location during early voting; you do not have to vote in your precinct if you vote early. Only on Election Day are you required to vote in your home precinct.
The following is the only local issue on the ballot: $44.6 million for Destination Bayfront. Proposition No. 1
Vote early and vote often… Oct. 21-Oct. 26 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Oct. 27
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Oct. 28-Oct. 30 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Oct. 31-Nov. 1
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Main Polling Location SEASHORE LEARNING CENTER (Marlin Building) 15801 SPID Corpus Christi, Texas FLOUR BLUFF ISD-MAINTENANCE
The City Council of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas shall be authorized to issue and sell one or more series of general obligation bonds of the City in the aggregate principal amount of not more than $44,600,000 for the purpose of designing, demolishing, constructing, acquiring, improving and equipping a publicprivate project known as Destination Bayfront -- a parks, recreation and cultural enrichment project developed with public input to make improvements, renovations and enhancements to revitalize approximately 34 acres of public land and beach downtown, which would leverage public construction dollars with private donations and other sources of funding for ongoing park programming, operation and maintenance costs, the improvements and amenities to be made having been developed through a series of public meetings and which include:
2510 Waldron Road
• Improvements to Veteran’s area including shaded event space, restrooms and handicap parking;
COUNCIL FOR THE DEAF
• Large event area with covered stage, including necessary utility connections and lighting to support festivals and other large events;
Corpus Christi, Texas
• Boardwalk promenade along the seawall with shade structures and restrooms adjacent to shops and restaurants;
Corpus Christi, Texas PORT ARANSAS CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX 710 W. Ave. A Port Aransas, Texas NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE (1st Floor Atrium) 901 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, Texas BISHOP COMMUNITY CENTER 102 W. Joyce Street Bishop, Texas CORPUS CHRISTI AREA 5151 McArdle Road GREENWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER 4040 Greenwood Drive. Corpus Christi, Texas HILLTOP
• Public pier with shade structures; • ADA ramp to access Magee beach and beach wash off stations;
COMMUNITY CENTER
• Children’s and family play areas including shaded seating, recreational and playground equipment for all ages, a climbing wall, and a water spray feature;
Corpus Christi, Texas
11425 Leopard Street JOHNNY S. CALDERON COUNTY BUILDING
• Senior exercise area;
710 E. Main Street
• Hiking and jogging trails and sports courts;
Robstown, Texas
• Dog park;
CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL
• Picnic area;
(1ST Floor Utility Section)
• Adding shaded areas, landscaping, lighting, drop off points and transportation connection improvements throughout the site; • Providing parking within the area; and • Construction, renovation and acquisition of buildings and other facilities for lease or grant of retail, food or other concessions to private entities.
November Constitutional Amendment Election: Amendments 1, 2, And 3
By Todd Hunter, District 32 The November constitutional amendment election is just around the corner. This year, the first Tuesday of November falls on November 5, 2013 (Election Day). Before you can vote on Election Day, it is important to make sure you have everything in place and to know what you will have the opportunity to vote on. This week and over the next couple of weeks, I will be analyzing the proposed constitutional amendments. This year you will have the opportunity to vote on nine constitutional amendments. As a recap, the Texas Legislature officially ended the 83rd Regular legislative session on May 27, 201. As of that date, nine constitutional amendments had managed to make their way through the 140 day legislative session and receive the necessary two-thirds vote of all members in both the House and the Senate. Once the constitutional amendment makes it through the legislative process, it then goes to the voters of Texas where it must receive a majority of the votes cast, in its favor. Below is a brief analysis of the first three proposed constitutional amendments as they are placed on the ballot with the use of information provided by the Texas Legislative Council*: 1. Amendment No. 1 (H.J.R. 162) - As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed in action.” Amendment No. 1 proposes to add an exemption from property taxation for a residence homesteads and limitations on certain property taxes which may be imposed on those homesteads for the surviving spouse of a member of the United States armed services of whom was killed in action. This exemption/reduction would only be provided if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the service member’s death. If approved by the voters this proposed constitutional amendment would only apply to a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
3. Amendment No. 3 (H.J.R. 133) - As worded on the ballot “ The constitutional amendment to authorize a political subdivision of the state to extend the number of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad valorem taxation due to their location in this state for a temporary period may be located in this state for purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption.” Amendment No. 3 proposes to authorize the governing body of a political subdivision to extend the date by which aircraft parts are exempted from ad valorem taxation before which they must be transported outside the State to a date not later than the 730th day the parts where acquired or imported in to the State. If approved by the voters this proposed constitutional amendment would only apply to a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
*The mission of the Texas Legislative Council is to provide professional, nonpartisan service and support to the Texas Legislature and legislative agencies.
If you would like additional information on Voting in Texas you can go to www.VoteTexas. gov. If you would like to view the proposed constitutional amendments on the Texas Legislative Council website you can go to www.tlc.state.tx.us/const_amends.htm .
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
2. Amendment No. 2(H.J.R. 79) - As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which is operational.” Amendment No. 2 proposes to repeal the constitutional provisions which established the State Medical Education Board and the State Medical Education Fund in 1952. The board and fund proved ineffective for their intended purposes and as such have not been operational for over 20 years.
1201 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, Texas LONDON ISD MIDDLE / HIGH SCHOOL (Middle School) 1306 FM 43 Corpus Christi, Texas
Great Seafood and Burgers Libations Amusements 18 Holes of Minature Golf
Prime Rib Wednesdays Twice-Baked Potato & Salad Open 11 am - 2 am $15.95 Kitchen Closes @ 1 am
One Bite & You’re Hooked
2034 State Highway 361
361 749- Taco (8226)
Under the Bridge Serving South Texas Seafood for Over 30 Years Open Daily 11:00 - 10:00 AlsoScoopy’s Veranda With Sweet Treats, Soups, Salads & Sandwiches
Snoopy’s Scoopy’s
(361) 949-8815 (361) 949-7810
13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418
October 3, 2013
Island Moon
A9
Backwater Adventures
Fishing at the New Reef
Photos by Lisa Laskowski
Farahs Fall Harvest
Drew Diggins, island Rez. With his biggest redfish to date 42 inches. Farah.
Fishing is already good at the new artificial reef. To learn more about the artifical reefs being built in the Gulf, read Jay Gardner’s column on page A1
One of the big trout this week from the shallow banks of the King Ranch shoreline.
Sharkeys Beach Club Presents the 13th Annual
South Texas Music Festival & Chili and BBQ Cook-Off
Benefiting the Jody McCormick Scholarship Fund
Happy Hour
Saturday October 5th
til 9pm $1 off regular price Well thru Call & ALL Beer!
Headlining Sat. Night:
Raeanne & the Ride
Sharkeys & the Jody McCormick Scholarship Fund wish to thank these sponsors for all their support!
Live Music All Day! With:
Along with:
Todd Dorn & the Seadrifters
Island Road,
and
Out of Bounds $5 Cover21 & up* $15 Cover18-20 yrs. old *All Door Proceeds to Benefit the Jody McCormick Scholarship Fund!
Special Thanks To: Mr. John Hatch, Jr. , Mr. James Young , Mr. Dave Hix & Mr. Arnold Govella SHARKEYS BEACH CLUB 2600 HWY 361 PORT ARANSAS, TX FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 361-749-4254 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SHARKEYSBEACHCLUB.COM
The Ones and
Todd Dorn & the Seadrifters
No Cover!