Section a for web

Issue 549

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The voice of The Island since 1996

The Island Moon

October 23, 2014 Around The Island

By Dale Rankin

The Only Island in Texas where Walker Texas Ranger keeps the peace

With Early Voting already underway Texas Attorney General and frontrunner in the race for Texas Governor Greg Abbot (R) came to The Island on Wednesday to address a packed house of supporters at Snoopy’s Pier.

He was accompanied by actor Chuck Norris and his wife.

By Dale Rankin The beaches are mostly tourist free, the driving is good, seaweed light, life is good on our Island and there is a lot going on. Here is some of it…

He delivered a stump speech which touched on border control, schools, veterans’ health care, and voter identification at the polls.

Gambling ship

Texas Gold Nugget Save your disposable income folks it looks like we have a new gambling ship coming to the area and she’s a beauty; 250 feet long, 60 feet above the waterline, and 69 feet wide and can hold up to 1000 people. We spoke to the ship’s CEO and he referred us to his website which says the “Texas Gold Nugget" is a JET Catamaran, traveling at 41 knots (47 mph)” and is a “Mega Vessel, towering at 60' in height with over 50,000 sq ft of space, featuring over 600 Slots machines, 20 table games, Bar areas, Restaurants and dance Night Club” and includes “Sports betting, Bingo, Black Jack, Roulette, Craps, Poker, Bacarrat or Slots” and a swimming pool.

Again, according to the website the “projected arrival date (of the ship) is January 25 and will be opening additional dates as each date sells out.” It will depart from the American Bank Center downtown and the trip to international waters will take about one hour. The website says the cost is $30 per trip.

We’ll have more details as they become available.

Chuck Norris and Attorney General Greg Abbott visited Ernie Buttler at Snoopy's pier on Wednesday

The first Port Aransas Plywooden Boat Show presented by the Port Aransas Historical Association and Farley Boat Works (FBW) spurred my son, Joey and I to finish our boat we built in the summer of 2013. We had gotten a few phones calls, emails and inquiries asking “When are you going to finish it?” To which I would reply that Joey was focused on finishing high school and getting into his target college. He accomplished both. But it was Frank Coletta asking if we were going to bring it to the boat show that gave us a deadline.

City Manager Ron Olson told members of the Island Strategic Action Committee this month that his office is going to take a second look.

Island Moon Art Walk Don't forget the Island Moon Art Walk this Saturday at Schlitterbahn.

Doors open at 10 am. For more information email jgreer@ schlitterbahn.com. we'll see you there and in the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

$500 fine beginning in January 2016 The Port Aransas City Council has passed a ban on single-use plastic bags which will be voluntary until January 2016, when a fine of $500 per bag will kick in for each “offense.”

The ordinance requires two additional readings before formally taking effect. The ordinance provides for two exceptions: Bags used for the purpose of containing bait or seafood sales; Bags without handles, provided to effect food safety for a purchaser of food by preventing contamination from any raw food; i.e. fruits, vegetables, raw meat, raw seafood, raw poultry.

The Corpus Christi City Council has eschewed a bag ban or fee in favor of a voluntary anti-litter campaign.

Inside the Moon

Boats continued on A9

Early Voting Totals Up from Last Election Cycle

Missing Buoy

A traffic light is being considered on SPID at the Aquarius intersection near the base of the JFK Causeway.

It is being requested, and would be paid for, by the owners of adjacent land where retail business would be located. According to city planners a study was done last November which found that the traffic flow at that locations meets the minimum standards for the placement of a traffic light; what has not been done is a study during peak traffic flow to determine how the light might back up traffic during peaks hours at a spot where the distance from the light to the top of the JFK Causeway is 125 car lengths.

Port Aransas Passes Plastic Bag Ban

So early this summer we went back to sanding, painting and finishing

Early voting for the General Election on Tuesday, November 4 began Monday and as of the closing of the polls on Tuesday evening a total of 8951 voters had gone to the polls in Nueces County, 245 of them at the voting location on Padre Island at the Island Foundation Learning Center.

Red Light Green Light

Abbott continued on A3

The First Port Aransas Plywooden Boat Show

By Dale Rankin

On Saturday, Mike Hurst from SEA, who along with Texas Parks and Wildlife organized the project, got a call and this photo about 1 p.m.

Saturday saying the buoy had washed up near Beach Marker 61, but when he got there to retrieve it there was no buoy. If you have it SEA would like to have it back to save the cost of replacement. Contact Mike at 361 816-7070 and Mike will be a happy camper.

He also addressed the escalating costs – 5% percent per year for several consecutive years – of Texas Windstorm Insurance for the 14 counties in the actuarial risk pool

By Joe Calvey

Buoy oh Buoy

Has anybody seen our buoy? The buoy pictured here was attached to the 155-foot freighter Kinta S and sunk at the Neashore Reef recently in 73 feet of water, ten miles off Packery Channel at Latitude: 27.646705627441406; Longitude: -97.00767517089844. Besides the ship the reef consists of 203 box culverts, and 470 concrete pyramids.

Weekly

Abbott Visits Snoopy’s Pier

editor@islandmoon.com

FREE

That total for the first two days of Early Voting is a significant increase over the turnout in the first two days of the last gubernatorial cycle election in 2010 when only 6883 ballots were cast in the same time period.

The largest turnouts through the first two days of voting have been at the Corpus Christi Council for the Deaf on the city’s south side where 1005 voters have cast ballots and at the Nueces County Courthouse where 924b allots have been cast.

The number of registered voters in Texas this year topped 14 million for the first time There are about 200,000 registered voters in Nueces County. Historically in races in the gubernatorial cycle, such as this one, a total of about 60,000 voters to go the polls in Nueces County; that number increases to just over 100,000 during

Voting continued on A3

Cold Stunned Sea Turtle Training Saturday

By Rosalie Rossi and Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery National Park Service Padre Island National Seashore

Airtales A4

A cold stunned turtle receiving aid at PINS On Saturday October 25 you can learn about cold stunning of green turtles in our area and how you can help save them during the next cold stunning event. Green turtles are classified as a Threatened Species, and cold stunning is currently the largest threat to these turtles in south Texas.

Every few years, severe cold fronts pass through south Texas causing water temperatures to drastically drop, which can debilitate sea turtles.

Cold stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold waters, typically in bays where shallow water cools quickly, and they are unable to move to

warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea turtles cannot regulate their body temperatures and when they are too cold they become immobilized and float to the surface or wash ashore.

If cold stunned turtles are not found and protected, they typically die due to exposure, predation, drowning, or boat strikes. However, cold stunned turtles that are found rapidly and taken to rehabilitation have a good chance of survival.

Turtles continued on A2

Two South Texans Were the Inspiration for Lonesome Dove Characters

Frank Goodwyn wrote of his childhood growing up on the King Ranch in his book, "Life on the King Ranch" which was published in 1951. Goodwyn, whose father Francis Eppse Goodwyn was a foreman of the King Ranch’s Norias division where he was known for his “quick brush eye and fine roping arm.” Norias covered 238,000 acres of hardscrabble brush country teeming with impenetrable thickets and miles of oak groves and carpeted with native grasses.

Goodwyn’s uncle Grover Cleveland Latham worked on the Suaz Ranch, a part of the King Ranch. During the height of the Great War Goodwyn as a young boy would visit his uncle to play with his cousin. The Suaz was a lousy

place to be a kid because the land was as flat as the sea on a calm day and the houses were in the midst of the brush country providing no view.

The loneliness was punctuated by the coo of the turtledoves who called through the thickets to be answered only by the retort of quavering howl of the lonesome coyote’s call.

The main house at the Suaz was a whitewashed affair with plenty of chipping and cracking. It was a long square-topped building running north and south and it was called The Store but no one really knew why. Since no one came there to buy and if they had there was nothing to sell. The only thing connecting The Store to the real world was a delivery wagon that drove between it and Raymondville, twenty-one miles away.

In one of the smaller houses surrounding The Store lived Old

On the Rocks A7

In Texas, the green turtle is affected by cold stunning far more often than any other sea turtle species. This occurs since these events typically

A little Island history

By Dale Rankin

Flour Bluff Football A2

Sports A8

Election A11-A16

Augustus McRay and Woodraw Call from Lonesome Dove Man Durham. This is the same George Durham who wrote the book

History continued on A6

Live Music A18

A2

October 23, 2014

Island Moon

Friday Night Flour Bluff Varsity Football – A Production The least expensive and finest entertainment around

Turtles continued from A1 affect sea turtles that are in our bays and passes and during winter months and virtually all sea turtles that occur in these waters then are green turtles.

help! Being able to respond to these events quickly is extremely important; therefore, we provide training in advance of the cold stunning season in order to be prepared in case an event occurs.

By helping rescue cold stunned green turtles you can aid with recovery efforts for this species. We have scheduled a training session to inform potential volunteers and the public about how they can help save these turtles if a cold stunning event occurs this winter.

A tough Hornets defense

By Brent Rourk Friday Night under the lights at Flour Bluff High School is a great place to be. Football, music, bands, twirlers, cheerleaders, flag runners, many entertaining groups, and friends all make the $6 ticket an entertainment steal.

Hundreds of students from North Padre Island and Flour Bluff work tirelessly to put on an amazing show.

Last Friday Night’s football game was won

by Flour Bluff 37-10 over Victoria East. Once again, Flour Bluff showed its strengths on both sides of the ball with an explosive offense and a tenacious defense. The Flour Bluff Varsity Football squad currently sports a 7-0 record.

The excitement at the games on Friday Night is fabulous, aided by several student groups

and organizations. The large Cheer teams keep the crowd in the game and the Banner carriers that race along the sidelines before each game and after each FB score add excitement. The band and twirlers always perform superbly and did again last Friday Night. As an extra treat the Victoria East band also put on a fabulous halftime show.

If you have lived here for any amount of time you will certainly run into somebody that you know and the folks are plain friendly. It is tough to beat 3 hours of captivating entertainment at such a steal. There is one more ‘can’t miss’ home game on the schedule when Flour Bluff plays Tuloso-Midway for Homecoming on October 31st. Flour Bluff also plays away at Calallen on October 24th and Alice on November 7th. Save that $6.00 and have some Friday Night Fun.

Training Date and Time

Several large cold stunning events have occurred in south Texas over the past few years.

More than 1,000 green turtles stranded due to cold stunning during the last event, which lasted from November 2013 through March 2014.

During a single day in February of this year, more than 100 green turtles were found cold stunned. Most were found in the Laguna Madre near the JFK Causeway. Other areas where cold stunned turtles were located included the Corpus Christi Bay shoreline near the Naval Air Station, Packery Channel Park, and the lower Laguna Madre of Padre Island National Seashore.

Usually when cold stunning events occur, many sea turtles are found over a short period of time in a large geographic area. It can be extremely challenging to find and rescue hundreds of cold stunned green turtles. That is why we need your

The training is scheduled for Saturday, October 25 from 10:00 am to noon. The training will be held at the Seashore Learning Center Gymnasium at 15801 South Padre Island Drive (SPID), Corpus Christi, Texas 78418. The gymnasium is the large building with aluminum siding located near the corner of Encantada Avenue and SPID. The session will be open to the general public as well as people who want to volunteer with the Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Program. You do not need to sign up in advance to attend. If you have any questions about this training or our volunteer program, contact one of our staff members by calling 361-949-8173, ext. 268 or send us an e-mail at pais_seaturtlevolunteer@nps.gov.

Hope to see you there!

National Television Coverage Local efforts to help save cold stunned sea turtles during the last cold stunning event were featured in an episode of Sea Rescue titled “Lost Bearings, Found Hope” that aired nationally on October 11. Sea Rescue is an ABC network television program about rescued and rehabilitated marine animals.

This episode documented our work to locate and recover cold stunned sea turtles last winter. Efforts of our Padre Island National Seashore staff and volunteers were featured, along with the hard work of our partners from the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK), Sea World of Texas, and the Texas Sea Life Center. If you missed it when it aired, you can watch it on our Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/nps.pais. seaturtles.

October 23, 2014

Island Moon

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Did Ya Hear?

Letters to the Editor FBISD Elections

Kudos to Dale Rankin and the editorial staff at The Moon for clarifying their position on the FBISD school board elections in the October 16 issue of The Moon. Admittedly, I was one of the people who misconstrued earlier Moon articles as fomenting an “us versus them” atmosphere between the Island and the Bluff. Such artificial division is an unnecessary distraction and is contrary to our children’s best interests.

I am a Hornet. I went to Flour Bluff ISD, K through 12. When I started, in 1980, we lived on the Naval Air Station – “the Base.” Each morning the FBISD buses would take us to school. When I finished in 1993 we lived on Encinal Peninsula - the area commonly referred to as “the Bluff.” Each morning the FBISD buses would come to my house.

Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis

The seats on the FBISD school board are not assigned to specific geographic sub-regions in the district. This is different from the Corpus Christi City Council, the Texas House of Representatives, or even the US House of Representatives. Candidates for those positions represent specific regions whose boundaries are drawn on a map (and occasionally argued about). That is not the case for the FBISD school board.

Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour

Every Flour Bluff school board member is there to represent the entire school district and give their best for every student. There are no exceptions; no divisions.

Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)

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

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

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

Snoopy’s Pier

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

Now, 21 years later, I am a father of two kids (8yrs. old and 5yrs. old) – both Hornets. We live on “the Island.” Each morning between 6:28 and 6:31am, I put my own kids on an FBISD school bus. The point is this: Flour Bluff Independent School District serves everyone in the entire district, and it always has. The members of the Flour Bluff Independent School District Board of Trustees are to do the same.

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

Because the school board seats are not beholden to sub-regions of the school district, and because every member of the board has a solemn duty to make decisions in the best interest of all students in the entire district, the particular neighborhood in the district that candidates happen to live in should be far less important than the candidate’s individual background, competency and their positions on the issues impacting our children.

Once inquiry is made beyond the superficial “us versus them” sort of electioneering, it quickly becomes apparent which candidates in this election are the most competent and have the best interest of the students as their driving force. Because they share the core value of putting the kids first, they support each other and you will see their signs together throughout the district.

Shirley Thornton graduated from FBISD in 1976, taught at FBISD for 28 years, and has served on the FBISD school board for three years. All of her children went to FBISD from kindergarten through graduation. She has volunteered countless hours for FBISD in numerous capacities. All of her school age grandchildren attend FBISD. Thornton’s opponent, Brent Rourk, moved to Texas from Colorado within the last 10 years.

He has never taught at Flour Bluff, and has no children attending there. If he has ever volunteered or served for anything related to FBISD (prior to running for this school board election), it is a well-kept secret. No history with anything FBISD (teaching, volunteering, coaching, serving on committees, PTA, etc.) is listed on his “Elect Brent Rourk” Facebook page. Googling his name brings up his profile as a “wedding officiant” and wedding photographer, and then some credentials from his time as a teacher and administrator in Colorado. Notably absent is any mention of anything he has ever done with or for FBISD. …Except run for the school board.

Mike Morgan graduated from FBHS in 1973 and served on the FBISD school board for several years in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

He stepped down when his children entered high school at FBHS because he was very involved with their extracurricular activities. He thought he was retired as a board trustee, until he was called back to service recently and appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy on the board. He passionately believes that the FBISD School Board exists for the betterment of students and the entire community, not as a stepping stone to some other political position.

Morgan’s opponent, Debbie Lindsey-Opel said in a recent public speech that she ran for this position on the FBISD board because she “looked around” at local political races and this was the one she thought she could start with. To be fair, Lindsey-Opel has been very involved in FBISD (as has Morgan). They both have strong ties to the district and a history of volunteering for all sorts of district related events and committees. The difference in this race is that Mike Morgan is looking to serve here and only here. His focus is on FBISD schools. LindseyOpel views this position as a stepping stone and a way to prepare for future political ambitions.

Brian Grunberg graduated from FBISD in 1991. He presently has two young children in FBISD. Grunberg, like his opponent, Flo East, has volunteered for FBISD numerous times.

They both have strong ties to the school and a history of serving. The difference is that Flo East also has a dubious history as a FBISD Board Trustee. During her tenure there she has repeatedly complained about the public comment portion of board meetings.

For East - a board member who is supposed to represent the entire district – to not want to hear from people in the district she represents, is deeply troubling. Grunberg has committed to represent the entire district and to be receptive, respectful and responsive to the people he represents.

Dale Rankin put it best: “The education of kids is too important a thing to allow for an us versus them mentality to take over. Of all the things that government does, education is the one we can’t get wrong.” In this FBISD School Board election voters should look at the candidate’s backgrounds, the substance and the issues, not artificial divisions. We may hail from the Base, the Bluff and the Island, but we are all Hornets.

Jeffrey Rank

A3

by Mary Craft

mkay512@aol.com

New Advertisers

Skip the Bag Editor’s note: Last week the Port Aransas City Council approved a point of sale plastic bag ordinance. The Keep Port Aransas Beautiful and Skip the Plastic Port Aransas organizations pushed for the ban, which was patterned after the ordinance that has been in effect in the Rio Grande Valley for several years. Here is some background: Dear Dale, My name is Julie Findley, and I am a member of Keep Port Aransas Beautiful, and also Skip the Plastic-Port Aransas. I spoke to Victor Baldovinos, Director of Environmental Health Services. He was the main architect of their bag ordinance. He stressed to me that it is NOT a ban, but a set of regulations, and the purpose is to protect our marine life. According to Mr. Baldovinos, their department spent an entire year on educating the public and businesses about the importance of the ordinance. There were numerous meetings, and everyone was allowed their say. This period of time gave everyone a chance to get the word out, and for businesses to use their stock of bags. Since the ordinance has been in effect, there have been no citations for non-compliance.

Similar to Port Aransas, South Padre Island knew that an anti-litter campaign was also important, so they started a campaign with the slogan, "Treasure it, Don't Trash It." They enlisted a number of volunteers who went up and down the beach, speaking to every visitor about the importance of not littering.

They asked them to enjoy the beach, and "leave only footprints." In this way, they were proactive in stopping litter before it happened.

They also posted signs, with litter fines up to $2,000. According to a press release, "The antilitter campaign also aims to promote pride of ownership among visitors. By recognizing that the beach belongs to everyone, it is expected that beachgoers will be extra vigilant in keeping the beach clean and will even be proactive in removing litter they find."

When people complain that prohibiting bags in Port A will not make a difference, Victor responds, "Everyone must keep moving forward. Regardless of how quickly or how slowly, we still must move forward." We cannot control people, but we can set an example, and in this way, we will make an impact. If we don't start, we will never make a difference.

Julie Findley

Voting continued from A1 races in the presidential cycle. There are about 200,000 registered voters in Nueces County.

During Early Voting registered voters can vote at any polling place, not just in their own precinct. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, voters must vote in their own precinct.

Here is a short list of Early Voting sites in and around The Island. For complete election coverage see the special section in this issue.

November 4, 2014, Early Voting Sub-Stations And Hours of Operation Oct. 20-Oct. 24 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Oct. 25 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Oct. 26 12:00 pm _ 5:00 pm Oct. 27-Oct. 31 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

ISLAND FOUNDATION SEASHORE LEARNING CENTER (Marlin Building)

Miss K Bistro & Catering in Port A now has fine dining on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at affordable prices. There will be one featured item each night and the dinner will include appetizer salad, two vegetables and dessert. Appetizers are served at 6:30 pm and dinner at 7:15. The menu for these dinners and for lunch can be found on their Facebook page. It’s BYOB and there is limited seating so call 749-7776 for reservations.

Business Briefs Marcel’s Restaurant in Port A will be closing. The last day of operation will be Saturday, November 8th so call 749-5575 to make a reservation to enjoy one last great German meal.

The Saltwater-fisheries Enhancement Association (SEA) request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the vessel “M/V Kinta S” as we welcome her into the artificial reef in partnership with Texas Parks & Wildlife. The event will be held at the Schlitterbahn Resort Thursday, October 23rd 6:00 – 8:00 pm. There will be a cash bar and light appetizers.

The Texas Gold Nugget Casino Ship will start daily gambling cruises out of Corpus Christ on January 25th. Check their web site for complete details.

The 3rd Annual Octoberfest will be held at Padre Landscapes Nursery between Island Tire and Johnny D’s Restaurant on Tuesday, October 28th at 5:30 pm. German food and beer will be provided with live music by Beach Stone Rise. All are welcome!

Road to Recovery Fundraiser for Rebecca Chambers will be held at Dewey’s on Rodd Field Road Saturday, October 25th 2 pm – 2 am.There will be a silent auction, live music, barbeque plates, apple bobbing, kids costume contest and much more. All proceeds will go to this young lady who lost her leg in a tragic boat accident.

San Francisco Giant Hunter Pence got a two-run homerun in the World Series game against Kansas City. Hunter is a former CC Hooks player.

JB’s German Bakery serves breakfast all day except for weekends when they serve until 11 am.

Kody’s on Highway 361 in Port A has a prime rib special on Wednesdays starting at 5 pm until they run out.

The Island Moon Newspaper Art Walk will be held at Schlitterbahn Resort on Saturday, October 25th at 10 am.

The Flour Bluff Community Fall Fair will be at the Flour Bluff Intermediate Campus on Saturday October 25th all day.

The market, BBQ and auction will run 8 am – 5 pm and the carnival 11 am – 5 pm.

The Halloween on the Green Golf Scramble benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project will be held at the Schlitterbahn Golf Course Saturday, October 25th at 10 am. It will be a four player scramble and the cost is $55/person. Call Heather Mader at 970-3016303 to reserve your spot.

The Seashore Middle Academy Monster Ball will be held Friday, October 24th 7 pm – 9 pm. There will be food, games and a DJ. It is open to the community and is fun for all ages.

The AARP Annual Rummage Sale will be held at Ethel Eyerly Senior Center on Graham Road in the Bluff on Saturday, October 25th 8 am – 3 pm.

The Crazy Picasso will host a Paint for Pups night with proceeds going toward Riley P. Dog Park. Easel and canvas will be provided for the follow along painting of a dog bone motif. They also hope to get some volunteers for the park at the event. The cost is $30 and is BYOB. The studio is located at 7602 Staples.

15801 SPID Corpus Christi, Texas

FLOUR BLUFF ISD (Maintenance Building) 2505 Waldron Road.

Corpus Christi, Texas

ETHEL EYERLY SENIOR CENTER

Litter Critter will be at the treatment plant at the end of Whitecap this Saturday 7 am - 4 pm.

Abbott continued from A1

654 Graham Road.

Corpus Christi, Texas

PORT ARANSAS COMMUNITY CENTER 408 N. Alister Street

along the Texas Coast including Nueces County; a risk pool which does not include Harris County (Houston) where most of the hurricane damage has occurred in the past decade.

“TWIA (Texas Windstorm Insurance Association) is broken,” Abbot said. “We need to look at the entire Texas Coastal region and find a solution that works for everyone.”

Port Aransas, Texas CORPUS CHRISTI CITY HALL (1st Floor Utility Section) 1201 Leopard Street

Send letters to the editor to editor@islandmoon.com

TWIA was established by legislative mandate to provide wind and hail insurance to property owners along the Texas Gulf Coast but escalating costs to ratepayers has sparked a fight between lawmakers in the Texas Panhandle who want the fourteen Texas counties to remain in a separate risk pool rather than be included in a state-wide pool in the same way that hail insurance risk is handled. The State Legislature is expected to take up the issue in their session which begins in January, 2015.

Dale Rankin

Island Jewelers

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A4

October 23, 2014

Island Moon

Airtales

In November of 2001 our Special Operations against these knuckleheads was just getting started. Considering we’re now approaching 2015, a little math quickly establishes these are some very determined knuckleheads. Things were looking up in Northern Afghanistan on November 24th as hundreds of militants of many nationalities “surrendered” to our Northern Alliance allies near Konduz and allowed themselves to be carried to the 18th century Qala-i-Jangi fortress near Mazar e Sharif. According to Wikipedia, the prisoners had not been searched, and some had concealed weapons during the surrender. A small CIA team was waiting there to conduct interviews with particular interest in the dozens who hailed from outside Afghanistan. (It later came to light that two were even US Citizens.)

The mission was as simple as briefed.

A ground team radioed I was indeed cleared to fire on any personnel our cameras could find but was particularly concerned as to the source of mortars being launched at them every couple of minutes from somewhere on the south side.

My sensor operators began picking out alQuaeda prisoners all over the complex, some casually strolling along, some standing around smoking cigarettes and some moving equipment they had commandeered in the takeover. As I depressed the yoke trigger to unleash round after round of Howitzer shells onto dozens of enemy, my navigator continued to report such casual behavior as he watched them on his screen. One individual was sighted walking

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It only took a couple hours for the Trojan horses to realize their odds were pretty good and a massive revolt ensued. The The Quala i Jangi fortress seen today in peaceful prisoners shocked daylight looking east. their captors and American interrogators with their sudden fervor, killed CIA officer Johnny through a grove of trees with a large pack on “Mike” Spann and managed to take over the his back. One, two, three 105mm explosions southern half of the fortress, including the blasted within yards and he never picked up armory and ammunition depot, seizing a large his pace. My fourth shot brought him down store of small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and ignited the backpack. This resulted in a launchers, mortars and ammunition.

The bottle-rocket effect through the branches as the surviving Americans and Afghan allies retreated deceased’s personal stash of rocket-propelled to the northeast corner of the 10-acre complex grenades took flight. where they were joined by US Green Berets Needle in a Haystack and even a couple of European television crews.

The jihadists seemed to like their new fort With only five rounds remaining in our own and made themselves at home; there was no stash, I noticed a flash as yet another mortar effort to escape and they used weapons General exploded near the friendly position on the north Dostum had been storing there to wage a 3-day wall. “Safe Six”, I called over intercom, an battle within its walls. order directing the Howitzer--also known as gun number 6— be halted. I reminded the crew we should probably find mortar-boy before we ran out of ammo. Three orbits later my TV-operator (who with tonight’s moon had almost as good an image as the infrared) called “Pilot, I’ve got him!”

“Give me the TV as primary”, I directed the navigator. The little diamond symbol in my gunsight jumped to a narrow alley between two buildings less than 100 yards from the US Army position; the mortars were apparently being The AC-130 Spectre Gunship, in service from 1969-2012, lobbed almost vertically over the dividing wall... “He’s sneaking as seen from the rear of a refueling tanker. in and out of this doorway, pilot” the master-sergeant running the Shooting Fish in a Barrel TV said as he wiggled the diamond.

“OK, On November 26th, my AC-130 gunship crew pilot’s on the trigger. Take the shot TV.” and I had been briefed to fly a patrol mission The building began to burn, slowly at first. As in the vicinity of Konduz with no specific jihadists were jumping from flaming windows objective and no known targets or conflicts in to the ground only two feet below I thought of progress.

With most of the crew already at our own citizens jumping from 35 stories just the airplane prepping for our first mission, I a few weeks earlier. These guys were getting stuffed a couple last-minute bottled-waters off easy. The roof of the building took flight into my bag, tested my NVGs in a dark corner a minute or so later in an explosion worthy of of the command tent and was headed for the a Hollywood movie. Headed back to base I door for the long walk to the flight line. The banked the plane to the left and took a glance commander stopped me and informed me our back to see secondary fireballs still bursting mission had changed. He handed me a Google- skyward fifteen minutes later. Apparently that earth photo of a massive star-shaped compound building had been the aforementioned armory with specific coordinates hand-written on the which had become a candy-store for the threebottom. “You’re pre-cleared to fire on anything hundred fanatics. This would have been good south of the center wall”, he said, “Just give this information to include in my “simple” preto your Navigator.” No training mission had mission briefing I thought… ever been this simple.

In conclusion I’ll never forget the guy walking We departed Uzbekistan and headed south. through the orchard without a care in the With night vision goggles and a massive world. He was in no hurry. He had absolutely full moon overhead, I wouldn’t even need a no fear of death. Eighty five of his friends navigator to find this target. As luck would survived that night and many were eventually have it, five-minutes away from Qala-i-Jangi, sent to Guantanamo. Most have since been the number three engine oil temperature began released and are out there somewhere again. to overheat. Procedures required a shut-down And our government likely has no idea where of the motor and return to base. My first somewhere might be. I don’t know much about actual combat mission had now turned into my what’s going on now, thirteen years later, but I first actual emergency landing without firing a learned enough that night about who’s out to get single shot. Itching to get into the fight himself, us to be a little concerned. my flight engineer informed me he felt the only Next Week, Back to Lighter “Coastal Aviation” problem was the engine’s oil-cooler door likely Topics!

949-0787

C

Wa ldro nR oad

Last week I began a tale which came to mind by the frequent questions I get regarding the ongoing War on Terror, this ISIS thing and of radical Islamists in general. Right or wrong, I’m just a Reservist and small business owner now and seldom put much thought into it. But I suppose I do have experiences which many years later give me a smidgeon of insight into what we’re up against.

Lag una Sho res

Moon Monkey Jason Towns is a Major in the Air Force Reserve, Afghanistan Veteran, Corporate Pilot, Flight Instructor, Island Resident and Owner of Skydive South Texas in Port A.

had jammed shut, preventing airflow through the little radiator behind it. Before touchdown I had a plan. I parked the airplane but kept the remaining engines running. The engineer pulled off his helmet, unbuckled and ran out the back of the plane. He yelled an explanation to the crew chiefs and within seconds one of them had a ladder under the wing and a hammer in hand. The door was “convinced” to open and remain so. Thirty minutes later we were overhead our target.

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October 23, 2014

News from your POA

By Maybeth Christensen The rain has been wonderful except that means the weeds are way out of control! The mowing companies are all working very hard to catch up, but each day it rains, puts them another day behind. All we can ask is for a little patience. If the high weed vacant lot is the only one on your street, call the office. But, if there are several, please know the mowing companies will get to it soon.

It also seems that residents have been doing a lot of trimming bushes and palms. It is too early to leave those clippings in your own yard let alone dumping them on a vacant lot. City brush pickup does not happen again until December 8. Setout does not START until November 29.

If you’ve put things out, expect a citation from the City and a $75 fine on your utility bill.

There is no reason to throw your stuff in a dumpster located at a construction site. We require contractors to have a dumpster for their material. It is really difficult to tell a contractor to keep his job site clean when neighbors keep filling them up with junk. The construction site dumpster is private property! Please use the Litter Critter. We work hard to provide alternatives for our residents so that the vacant lots and the construction dumpsters don’t have to be dumping areas. We do not want our Island

Island Moon

to look like some other areas in Corpus Christi!

An option for disposing of cuttings, whatever you do not want in your garage any more, or old worn-out furniture, is to bring those items to the Litter Critter. Every Second and Fourth Saturdays of the month, the Litter Critter is now at the west end of Whitecap at the City wastewater treatment plant. The hours of operation are 7 AM to 4 PM. They take everything except tires, batteries, paint and chemicals.

Community Center Plan to attend the Town Hall meeting the PIPOA will hold on November 13, 7 PM at Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada.

Board President Jeff Carlson has an article which talks about the meeting in another area of the Moon. The meeting will be about the proposed new Community Center.

Board Member If you are interested in being a Board member, you need to submit your information before November 15. If you have questions about the position and what the Board does, just give me a call – 949-7025 or send me an email – maybeth@pipoa.net. I have some printed information which I will be happy to provide.

Paint For Pups!

Calling all dog lovers – we need your support!

Riley P. Dog Park is actively looking for passionate people that want to give their time as a volunteer to help make our dream park a doggone reality!

If you have a soft spot for our 4-legged friends and would like to find out more about what’s needed and whether or not it’s a good fit for you – come get information…

Or, if you’d just like to have a good time –

proceeds of the night’s event will go to the Riley P. Dog Park…

On October 28, 2014 Crazy Picasso will host a ‘Paint for Pups’ night that will include: 6:45 – 7:00pm: • A quick run down of what the Riley P. Dog Park will entail • What types of volunteer work we need help with • Answers to any questions you have about Riley P. Dog Park 7:00pm – till: • A fun, follow-along painting of a dog bone motif and saying • An opportunity for you and your friends to do a good deed

Seashore Middle Academy

MONSTER BALL October 24th 7-9 pm Fun for all ages Open to the community Food, games, DJ

• Answers to any questions you have about Riley P. Dog Park The truth is, we need your money and your time – so what better way to give than to have a blast painting with your friends while learning more?!

Come have a howling good time while doing a good deed for your 4-legged friends!

Get your tickets online at www.CrazzyPicasso. com Get more info about the dog park at www.

RileyPdogpark.com Hope to see you there!

Last Leg of the Chesapeake

By Sail Offcourse After several days of waiting we finally had good weather to get out of the harbor and make our way to Virginia Beach. There were still a few waves and the wind was light, but it was a gorgeous day to cross the Bay. We had chosen the Marina Shores Marina in Virginia Beach as our destination. It would mean crossing the bay and going past the tunnel bridge to make it inside Lynnhaven Inlet. The Marina advertised it was optimized for transient boaters with two on-site restaurants, large saltwater pool with poolside bar, banquet facilities, book swap library, shower & laundry facilities, full service pump out station, covered fish cleaning stations, full service fuel station, and free WiFi Internet.

The Marina is only two blocks from the beach and other local attractions.

Captain Silverton was sold on it because of the poolside Bar and I liked the spot as it was only blocks from where I would take my boat to my family’s private dock. There we were to part ways and I would stay with my family for several days. I was looking forward to being away from the noise of the engines of the motoring yacht. I had stuck to my word given to the good fellows at Quantico and was now at liberty to choose my own route.

Crossing the Bay we were hit by a huge wall of water that came from nowhere it seemed.

The Captain was inside down below while I was piloting from the fly bridge. This huge wave rocked the boat so hard that everything was tossed onto the cabin sole. The Captain was yelling and I had to make sure he had not been crushed by the furniture. I placed the boat in neutral and climbed down to see what assistance I could be. The furniture was now all laying on the floor and the Captain was not hurt.

I told him what had happened and he wanted to know why I had not given a warning. I let him know that the wave had suddenly appeared and may have been a submarine passing close by. It did not appear to be as big as it was and did not think that it merited being announced.

I am sure he was mad more about spilling his drink more than anything, and soon he came climbing up the ladder to join me. Everything was ok and he had found that he could not pick up the heavy furniture in the bouncing boat and had resigned to wait till we were tied up at the dock. I then offered to hand the helm over but he did not care to pilot but wanted to just enjoy the elevated view from the fly bridge.

We were now in sight of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and it is a 23-mile fixed link between Virginia Beach and Delmarva Peninsula. The roadway combines 12 miles of trestle, two 1-mile-long tunnels, four artificial islands, four high-level bridges, approximately 2 miles of causeway, and 5.5 miles of approach roads—crossing the Chesapeake

Bay and preserving traffic on the Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake ship Channels.

We had the choices of to go over the tunnels or under the bridges. The Tide was coming in fast so we made our way to the southern bridge side to go under its 75 foot clearance. It is an awesome work of engineering that took our attention form the southern banks of the bay.

Beyond the bridge the view is of the Cape Henry lighthouses. The original lighthouse built of sandstone by John McComb, was the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government, dating from 1792. It was also the first federal construction project under the Constitution for a cost of $15,000.oo. A second lighthouse was built and completed in 1881 a short distance away after concern arose about the stability of the first.

We entered the inlet and were told which slip was to be the captains and we headed to the slip. Once tied up I helped him straighten up the mess below, got all my gear off and headed to see my family on my sailboat, waving goodbye to the Captain.

Where Guys Go For Haircuts

Barber Joe I’m the Islands’ “old-­‐school” barber.

Vintage to vogue cuts, long hair and short, grown men and li<le boys…I cut them all! I’d love to be your barber, too.

Online appt se+ng is fast and easy. Go to BarberJoeSexton.com, look at my schedule, pick a day and Dme. You’ll find me I’m INSIDE Padre Island Mail Plus, 15037 Park Rd 22. 8-­‐5, Tue-­‐Sat. Walk-­‐ins welcome. Call: 361-­‐500-­‐8955

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ConvenienT Flour BluFF loCaTion 9708 S.P.I.D., Suite A-101 s C orPus C hrisTi (361) 937-5513 s T oll F ree 1-877-888-1369 Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Former President of the Corpus Christi Family Law Association (1999-2000) Selected as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in November 2003, October 2004 and October 2005 Issues of Texas Monthly

A5

PADRE ISLES PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPENINGS 3 Board positions are up for election for a 3-year term.

Statements of why you want to be on the Board need to be in to the POA office by November 15, 2014.

Questions? Call - 949-7025 or maybeth@pipoa.net

A6

October 23, 2014

Island Moon

Island Legends

Breakfast with Claude Brown

By Jackie Bales “Hey Jackie, what do you guys do in there this time of morning”?

It was Deputy Constable Claude Brown on night patrol at four in the morning. Local musicians were filing out with their gear.

Jessie Bishop, Woody Rae Lawson, Debby Dault, Hollywood Bob and others. It was my recording studio at 419 East Roberts.

“Well Claude, we are making music. We are recording a CD. Come on in and see for yourself, you know you are always welcome… Claude gazed forward while tapping his finger on the stirring wheel as if to consider the request. “Naw” he replied as he looked me in the eye, “I’m in enough trouble already”.

Police Blotter

History continued from A1

They won’t have to haul him far

Taming the Nueces Strip, which The Island Moon has published excerpts from in the past. Durham had ridden with Texas Ranger Capt. L.H. McNelly when he and his Rangers cleaned the bandits and outlaws out of the strip in the years after the Civil War.

When the wagon leaves send me some Durham tobacco Goodwyn’s best recollection of Durham was when Durham would run out of Durham tobacco and would scream into the new telephone on the ranch, “Hello, Raymondville. This is Mister Durham. When the wagon leaves, send me some Durham tobacco.” It was the only time Durham would use the phone as he didn’t really trust it but he seemed to take pleasure in the fact that his name and the name of his Bull Durham tobacco were one in the same.

But there was another ex-Ranger who also lived in one of the houses on the Suaz. His name was Old Man Tally and he lived alone but did not chew tobacco. But according to Goodwyn he smoked and curses in equally copious amounts. “He called himself a ‘wicked old cuss’ and rightly so,” writes Goodwyn.

Bank Employees told Police this man robbed the bank at 221 South Shoreline Tuesday Tuesday, October 21 3:43 p.m. 221 South Shoreline Robbery (Across the street from police headquarters)

Tally had joined McNelly’s Rangers about halfway through their work in the Nueces Strip and was a few years younger than Durham. Both men in Ranger tradition wore high-heeled boots that came nearly to their knees and pants and jackets of khaki that had once been brown but were now faded to a pale, washed-out cream. Their big hats were blackened in the seams by dust and use and their brims were crumbled and limber.

The Corpus Christi Police responded to a bank robbery complaint at 3:43pm Tuesday afternoon at the IBC Bank located at 221 South Shoreline across the street and one block south from Police Headquarters.

Bank employees told Officers a man approached the counter, reached over the counter, and took money. The employees said the man then ran from the building and across the street. Bank employees said the man tripped and dropped a portion of the money before he got into a gray vehicle, possibly a Honda Crossover. No injuries were reported and there was no weapon displayed.

Neither man worked any longer having earned their peace through years of violence when violence was the order of the day.

Guarding the gate Old Man Tally loved his pistol and cleaned and oiled it daily as he at any moment might ride off into the South Texas brush in search of rustlers or revolutionaries. His self-assigned task was to take care of the gate of a small pasture about fifty yards down the dusty road from The Store. The gate was a sturdy one and nothing was likely to ever happen to it but if it did Old Man Tally was ready to ride to its defense six-gun ablaze.

The man left the area and Police are searching for the suspect in this case. Bank employees described the suspect as a white male with sandy blonde hair, and wore a white cap, plaid long sleeve shirt, and blue jeans.

Anyone who can identify this man, or has any additional information about this crime should call the Corpus Christi Police at 886-2798. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and still provide information to Detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at http://www.888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Every morning Tally limped down the road in his high-heeled riding boots and made sure it was properly closed and latched.

Durham’s sons ran the ranch but Tally’s only task was to guard the sanctity of the blessed gate.

Across the Creek The year was 1988 and we were all upstanding citizens in a community that thrived on music, art, good food and friendship.

As for law enforcement, it was a relativity calm time for Dewayne Mathews’ Deputies. A little piece of paradise, on a tiny island, where everyone lived life like they wanted. A place far away from the worries that plague the rest of society. “Across the creek” was the term used to define the world beyond the Ferry Boat.

The ex-Rangers would visit each other daily and spoke in clipped tones of their day and their past. When Durham visited Tally’s home he would spit his tobacco on the toe of his boots rather than soil the wooden floors. It was his sole bow to civilization as it evolved in the modern world that was then South Texas.

The conversation always started the same way with Durham asking, “Been down the gate today?”

13300 block SPID 11:05 p.m. Oct. 19 Possession of drug paraphernalia/possession of marijuana

Draw Partner!

“H--- yes, Saw a d--- skunk. Didn’t shoot him though. Too d--close.”

13900 block SPID 7:10 p.m. Oct. 15 Shoplifting $50

I caught up with Claude Brown for breakfast at Juan’s. Claude had a big glass of water while he recounted some of his nighttime adventures; “I always checked to see that local businesses were secure” Claude recalled the story like it was yesterday. “At Mary’s Malibu, I would stop and peer through a hole in the back fence. One night I saw the back door open so I got my double barrel shotgun and climbed the fence. Keeping my back to the wall, I slipped in and skirted around the bar checking openings and hiding spots. Just then the lights came on behind me and a deep voice said “DRAW PARTNER”! Claude became animated as he continued. “I spun on my heels and drew down, cocking both barrels on the perp. It was just a shooting arcade game that activated when a customer got close”. “All was well, it was just a door left unlocked that blew open in the wind” Claude concluded.

We’ll have to call Claude

Claude owns a heavy equipment business and can lift anything with his backhoes, cranes and “Walking Tall” brush truck. If he didn’t have the proper equipment he would fabricate it with his welding machine. “We’ll have to call Claude Brown”, the local contractors and builders would say when things became insurmountable. Claude was sometime big enough to lift it by himself. He would often set in the seat of that crane with his daughter on his lap (the silhouette looked like mini me). Such a good Daddy.

You can always tell Claude Brown what you think and he will listen. But, you can’t tell Claude what he thinks. He is his own man and a hero for the people.

SH 361/SPID 2:16 a.m. Oct. 15 Possession of controlled substance

“Hmmm. D--- good. How far?”

15300 block SPID 10:14 p.m. Oct. 16 Gasoline theft

“Twenty feet.”

15200 block Windward 11:30 p.m. Oct. 15 Burglary of motor vehicle

“Gonna send it to Norias?”

Beach Marker (near Michael J. Ellis Seawall) Assault with injury

“H--- no gonna keep it.”

At Norias they paid a five cent bounty for every rattle brought in but Durham would hear none of it. Killing rattlers was his duty and to take money for doing his duty was an abomination.

15700 block Dyna 5:32 p.m. Oct. 17 Criminal mischief $50$500 14400 block Aquarius 12:50 a.m. Oct. 19 Assault with injury

“Gonna rain?”

14700 block Whitecap 10:51 p.m. Oct. 20 Possession of controlled substance/paraphernalia

That was the life of the Ranger living out of his time on the King Ranch in the years of World War I. There was only mesquite, starved grass, with no lakes or streams for relief. Nothing but fine-grained, crusty black sandy loam packed down hard by years of trampling by livestock. It was a hard land even for the tough mesquite trees.

158000 block SPID 3:20 a.m. Oct. 21 Possession of marijuana/paraphernalia 15300 block Gypsy 3:49 a.m. Oct. 22 Possession of controlled substance/possession of drug paraphernalia/ possession of marijuana/possession of a dangerous drug

The dust that Durham bit down south ended up in Old Man Tally’s mouth

14800 block Windward 4 a.m. Oct. 19 Burglary of building

The peace was interrupted only when either Durham or Tally came across a rattler which produced a short rattle coming through the brush punctuated by a single loud shot.

It’s Fall Back Festival Time

Durham died in the early 1930s and Tally decided to move but not far. He moved forty miles northwest of the Suaz but stayed on the King Ranch moving into an abandoned ranch house on Huisaches Altos near Highway 281. For the next twenty years he cleaned his pistol and guarded his gate in silence as he watched fruit trucks and carloads of tourists blasting up and down the highway going to and from the Rio Grande Valley. He was a man out of his time with nothing to keep him company but his memories.

The 19th Annual Fall Back Festival will be held on Saturday, November 1st, 2014. An evening of food, wine and live music is planned under the stars.

This year the festival will be at the Black Marlin Restaurant and Bar Veranda located at Palmilla Beach Resort and Golf Club on Access Road One, in Port Aransas, Texas.

Samples of food will be provided by some of the finest restaurants in the area, multiple varieties of wine will be provided for tasting and a band named ‘Unrehearsed and Unashamed’ will provide live music all evening.

At the age of eighty he bought a Ford to drive to town to get a haircut. But he must have liked the city life because at ninety he moved to town, well, Falfurrias saying he was bored living alone.

It was there he died in his hotel bed, complaining of no pain but admitted he was “kind of tired.”

Another Island legend… Same time next time.

~

Aquarius and Sea Horse 3:58 p.m. Oct. 13 Public Intoxication

”I was over at the pins today,” Durham replied. “Shot a snake.

Fourteen.” From his pocket he pulled a snake’s rattle with fourteen points and handed it to Tally.

“H--- no. Rained last month.”

If you want to talk city politics with Claude, be sure you have your notes (Claude doesn’t need notes). Having served as city councilman and being elected Mayor in 2006, Claude can tell you, first hand, about everything that has happened on this little sand bar since the 1950’s. Like local city leaders before him (Dennis Dreyer and Roy Turnbull), Claude has a sensible approach to the development of our community. He has fought outsiders coming in to create and develop our community to resemble the very thing they were moving from. He has introduced code and policy that has shaped our little community into the beautiful little island it is today. He lobbied at the State Capital on issues that protect our way of life. City Council meetings would often read like an episode of “Law and Order” as the “love hate” relationship unfolded with his fellow city leaders.

OPEN 10-6

Police Calls

A Chinese Auction of lovely gifts provided by local merchants and a Costume Contest will be held between 7:00 and 10:00 P.M. No food or wine will be available before 7:00 P.M.

Lonesome Dove’s Woodrow and Call

Daily Lunch Specials

casseroles to-go

Some transportation will be provided from the City Hall parking lot to and from the festival for those who cannot drive at night.

Call the PACT Theatre (361-749-6036) for information. Leave a message, your name and phone number if no one answers.

Little could neither Tally nor Durham have had any idea that in the latter part of the 20th century they would achieve immortality as the inspiration for Woodrow F. Call and Augustus McRae in Larry McMurtry’s book Lonesome Dove; two hard riding Texas Rangers who lived to the age of the Model T., the telephone, and the flying machine and brought to life by Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duval.

Admission is $30 per person. Admission will be pre-sold at The Gratitude Shop, 316 North Station Street, Port Aransas.

Admissions will be available there beginning on Friday, October 17th, or pay at the entrance of the event.

There’s no word on who is guarding the gate these days.

All profits go to the PORT ARANSAS COMMUNITY THEATRE.

Private Parties, Personal Chef, Weddings

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October 23, 2014

A7

Island Moon

Backwater Adventures

Texas Wildlife Association Sets Legislative Agenda 10 Day Rule- TWA will pursue legislation that will require a “spring release” of pen-raised deer, as opposed to the current “10 day rule” which allows release of bucks up until 10 days prior to the start of the earliest deer season. This will address concerns related to consumption of deer meat that could have drug residues. A spring release would also provide more time for deer to “re-wild” before being hunted, which will address concerns regarding fair chase and perceptions of canned hunting.

The Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), a statewide organization consisting of almost 7,000 members, is actively developing its legislative agenda as the 84th Texas Legislature approaches in January 2015.

“Our organization’s leadership and committees have spent considerable time and energy over the last several months vetting various issues that we believe deserve legislative attention.

Because public policy issues are a significant focus for TWA members, we have increased our governmental affairs capacity by adding personnel to our advocacy support team,” said TWA Chief Executive Officer, David Yeates.

Water- Water is the most important and complex challenge facing a sustainable, healthy Texas.

TWA will consider and monitor various waterrelated issues that may be presented during the next legislative session. These water issues may relate to both ground water and surface water.

TWA engages in a broad range of land, water, and wildlife issues. “The diversity of issues that TWA addresses is often times challenging and complex. However, the ambitious advocacy approach reflects the strength of our organization,” said TWA President, Greg Simons. The broad range of issues that TWA addresses is important as each one has the potential to have a tremendous impact on the members of TWA. “We have a history of serving as an advocacy leader for landowners, hunters, and other wildlife enthusiasts, even when the issues are complex or controversial,” said Simons.

Captive Propagation of Wild Mule DeerTWA will seek to repeal legislation that was passed in 2011 that provides for possible implementation of Deer Management Permits (DMP) for mule deer, which allow captured wild mule deer to be placed into pens for propagation purposes. With the state’s first cases of Chronic Wasting Disease detected in 2012 in the mule deer country of far West Texas, such DMP practices create unnecessary risk to our state’s deer resources. DMPs for mule deer have yet to be implemented and TWA believes that this “dormant” permit allowance should be repealed in order to address these unnecessary risks to our important wildlife resources.

Below is a list of key issues that TWA will directly address through legislation and/or will continue to closely monitor prior to and during session.

Eminent Domain and CondemnationEminent domain is tilted in favor of the condemning entity, leaving private landowners with minimal latitude in negotiating a fair agreement that properly protects their important property assets. TWA will seek or support legislation that provides landowners with important provisions that are lacking under current statutory law.

“TWA will work to be first in line to protect the rights of private property owners. We will always be diligent in maintaining the balance of protections between the owners of wildlife habitat, the public’s wildlife, and the hunters of Texas,” said TWA Vice President, Marko Barrett.

TWA is a 501(c)4 organization that was formed in 1985 with a mission of serving Texas wildlife and its habitat, while protecting the property rights, hunting heritage, and the conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.

Hunters’ Right to Know- TWA will pursue legislation that provides improved animal identification requirements on white-tailed deer and mule deer that are released from breeder pens. TWA maintains the position that a hunter has the right to know the origin of the deer he or she is hunting in order to make personal ethical and meat safety decisions prior to harvest.

For more information about TWA, visit www. texas-wildlife.org

On the Rocks

By Jay Gardner As an otherwise healthy, 21 year old, we were all caught off guard by the news. As a show of support, a benefit fishing tournament is being organized to help offset the multitude of medical expenses that are sure to ensue as Cody works his way through chemotherapy treatment. The benefit is being sponsored by the Islander Anglers and Friends of Padre, as Cody is a member of both organizations. For those unable to fish the tournament, we still encourage everyone to come out and show your support for Cody. For more information or to register for the tournament, please visit http:// islanderanglers.com/benefittournament.php

Right now we have Tropical Depression 9 that is crossing from Campeche over into the western Caribbean, and the computer models are all over the place on where it’s going to head after that. If she reforms, she will be called Tropical Storm (or potentially Hurricane) Hanna. The weather guys have no idea what this one is going to do, as their models have changed dramatically over the past few days. What I’m seeing is a stray model run that is getting closer and closer to the upper texas coast. There’s nothing to say she won’t turn right around and come back into the Bay of Campeche and take it from there, but probably not. Keep your eyes peeled in any event, and it will at least make the surfers happy with some waves.

What a great time of year to get out and play!

The Babes on Baffin ladies fishing tournament had a great turn out with 300 anglers, however many got soaked coming back to the docks or running to the weigh in tent. It was one of those rains that even if you were wearing rain gear, it failed. However the ladies did a great job and donated 49 live trout, redfish, and drum that went to the hatchery for either brood stock to make millions more fish, or to the kidfish ponds for the kids to bend their poles.

Any fish that weren’t alive were also donated to Cody’s benefit this weekend. What a great event and good job Lauren Roesener and the committee that put this event together.

Speaking of Cody’s benefit this weekend, this is it. Come on out Friday starting at 5pm at Marker 37 to check out the raffle and silent auction prizes, as well as sign up for the fishing tournament.

The tournament has a unique format, as well as a kids division. The catch photo, and release format includes a long list of potential fish to be caught besides the usual suspects, which levels the playing field for any angler to take top honors. In addition, Troy Adler with Federal Iron and Steel has donated his BBQ pit and a mass of hamburgers for benefit plates.

There are also a lot of great raffle items from Catchsharks.com including some awesome Avet reels and gear, SeaLevel Apparel, and trips from Captains Cody Roesener, Ryan Ford, Jeremy Chavez, and Ernest Cisneros in bay. Jeff Wolda has donated a Big Shell fishing trip, and the Bill Collector and Wayne Eckhardt have even donated some offshore fishing trips! Awesome!

So bring your pocket book and your appetite and please join us for this benefit. Saturday the weigh in will be from noon to 3pm, and there will be another smaller raffle. Prizes will be awarded after judging, and we will be on hand frying fish donation plates, so again, bring your appetite and pocket book back out to Marker 37 on Saturday. Even if you just drop by for lunch.

Jacob with two surf trout Unfortunately I’m still chained to this computer chair during the week, meetings in the evening after work, and volunteering for various functions during the weekend. All work and no play makes Jay a dull boy. At least Jacob got out and got a couple nice trout in the surf during the last window. Send me your pictures at jaygardner@scientist.com so I can vicariously live through my loyal readers when y’all make it out On the Rocks!

Here’s the scoop on Cody again if you’ve missed it the past several editions. A few months ago, a good friend of ours, Cody Moravits, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphona.

Sam the friendly Pelican near UTMSI in Port A. Photo by Ronnie Narmour

This is what the sunset looks like from a 1947 Steerman biplane over Port Aransas.

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A8

October 23, 2014

Island Moon

SPORTS Bench, Buster or Berra

Too Many Penalty Flags

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon

Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: Since the start of the 2014 NFL Season, I have been bombarded with questions regarding the rules changes which have caused a rash of “yellow hankies” (penalty markers) being dropped/thrown by my friends in the black and white striped shirts. The following are remarks made by two groups of NFL participants, the fans and the experts*:

The Fans: crying too many NFL penalties!

Eli Manning looks for the penalty flag Call it the Autumn of the Penalty Flag. Fans of pro football are seeing changes in their sport.

New tackling rules, designed to protect the players, are being strictly enforced.

In the games through Week 7, so many yellow flags have been tossed; the refs look as if they’re competing in one of those Olympic rhythmic gymnastics routines.

Low hits, high hits, out-of-bounds hits … they’re being redefined on the fly (often during an official time-out in which the refs confer and debate.) Players are learning what will now be deemed illegal and what won’t. It’s in their interest to adapt quickly to the changes. As long as they adjust, it’s a net positive for them: they might actually live to be 60 and may even remember who they are, too.

The fans, however, appear to be having a harder time of it. A brutal tackle usually triggers one of two reactions: "Yeah, baby!" or "Ouch!"

Either you like to see people smash into each other, or you don’t. And no, you can’t split the difference, saying you enjoy your team’s hits on the other guys, while disapproving of their hits on your guys. If you’re in the "Yeah, baby!" camp, the new rules are reducing the joy you experience as a fan.

Problem is, you can’t actually say that out loud. Not that people haven’t tried, they all start out saying, "Well, of course, we want everyone to be safe” …Then they get to the "buts”. “But it’s getting too tame. But everyone’s confused now. But it stops the flow of the game. But they might as well be playing touch football.”

The grumbling continues until it reaches the dreaded "grandmother" hyperbole: "At this rate, pretty soon, they’ll be playing my grandmother."

Problem is, we now know pro football players don’t just get "banged up." They get actual brain injuries; the kind that can now be seen, measured, charted. We don’t want this to happen to our kids, so we don’t say the new protective rules for high school players are ruining the game.

But the Pros? Some people yearn for an era when wounded gladiators were dragged off the field and never heard from again. Nowadays, no one disappears. They hang around. They stay in touch with each other, comparing diagnoses.

They get MRIs.

interference has seen an uptick, too, at a rate of 51%. Can't say we were not warned.

Calling the games tighter is one thing. Ruining the game with so many absurd calls is another.

Each week, many are left scratching their collective heads by some of the calls.

Maybe the most egregious flag of 2014 came on a Monday night at St. Louis where Rams tight end Jared Cook was flagged for offensive pass interference to negate a huge gain. At the time, the Rams were leading the 49ers 14-3, and Cook's reception put St. Louis in scoring range just before halftime. Instead, the game's momentum changed, and the 49ers never looked back.

Even worse, NFL officiating director Dean Blandino said during his video review on the NFL Network that it was a bad call. Too bad for the Rams. The consolation prize of knowing the flag should not have been thrown doesn't bring back the opportunity to take a 21-3 lead into halftime.

The case sadly underscores there are just too many cheap calls in the mix.

"Like it or not, the officials are doing what they're told to do," Mike Pereira, the NFL's former officiating director and current Fox Sports analyst, said "And they're the ones taking the heat."

Mike Pereira Pereira expected this when the NFL's competition committee last spring came up with points of emphasis — not new rules, but stricter enforcement — for 13 rules.

"It's natural when you tell the officials to call it to the letter of the law to get an overreaction," Pereira told USA TODAY Sports. "You get more trigger-happy officials making calls that they would not have made last year."

And just when you thought it couldn't get any tougher to be a defensive player trying to thrive within the rules. Defensive penalties overall through six weeks were up 58.17%.

In apples-to-apples comparisons of NFL data for 2014 vs. 2013, through Week 6, it measures as such: • Defensive holding: 138 vs. 63.

• Illegal contact: 63 vs. 16.

• Illegal use of hands: 93 vs. 36.

• Total penalties per game: 16.9 vs. 14.6.

Lo and behold, defensive pass interference calls are down (90 vs. 104), but my eyes tell me that many of last year's defensive pass interference calls are now flagged as illegal contact.

Pereira said that with the added emphasis, he expected that maybe Peyton Manning or Drew Brees would be on pace to shatter the singleseason passing record.

Not quite.

Then again, maybe the passing yards are down because the offenses are merely advancing with the help of more penalty yards.

Pereira didn't like the point of emphasis a decade ago that clamped down on New England's rough-housing of Manning's receivers with the Colts, and he's surely not a fan of the recent changes.

"There's a 200-page rule book," Pereira said.

"Does breaking a rule create an advantage? If so, make the call. If it doesn't, let it go, with the exception being rules for player safety."

If you’re one of the fans who has always responded to a blindside tackle with "Ouch!" these new rules aren’t hindering your enjoyment of the game. These fans still appreciate football for its strength, speed, skills, cunning, team dynamics and its biological imperative to get past the opponent’s defenders. They’ve always known there is way more to football than large slabs-o-beef bashing each other like a stubborn pair of bighorn sheep. They’ll be only too happy to retire "Ouch!"

The Experts: According to the math of an NFL general manager who shared his research, defensive holding penalties were up 120% through six weeks, compared to the same point in 2013.

Flags for illegal use of hands were up 163%.

Illegal contact? Up 285%. Offensive pass

Buster Posey’s three World Series in first his five years in the Major Leagues is reminiscent of “Yogi” Berra’s start with the Yankees.

“Buster Posey is the best offensive catcher in baseball today,” said Kevin Kennedy. Do you agree? So, I decided to compare Buster’s start to two of the very best in the game at the same position, Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra. Can you imagine an introduction of these three that would sound something like this: Larry, I would like you to meet Gerry and Johnny?

Lawrence Peter Berra Yogi Berra’s real name is Lawrence Peter Berra. He was initially called Larry by his teammates. Yogi was 21 years old when he made the big club for the Yankees, in September of 1946. Berra hit 102 home runs in his first five full seasons as a Yankee (1947-1951). He drove in 459 RBI’s while batting .299. Five times, including 1950 and 1951, Berra recorded more home runs in a season, than strikeouts. Unheard of in today’s game. During Game Three of the 1947 World Series, Berra hit the first pinchhit home run in World Series history. In 1951 Yogi was voted Most Valuable Player of the American League, for the first time. He would earn that award twice more during his career (1954 and 1955). Yogi also finished second in the MVP voting, twice. Berra and the Yankees would play and win four World Series during Berra’s first five years. New York would beat the Brooklyn Dodgers twice (1947 and 1949), as well as the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950 and the New York Giants in 1951. His most remembered accomplishment was catching Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game Five of the 1956 World Series against the cross-town rival Dodgers. Yogi Berra was a permanent fixture on the American League All-Star team from 1948 to 1962 (15 seasons). Yogi appeared in a total of 14 World Series as a player, winning ten championships. Berra never made more than $65,000 a year. Yogi was inducted into the Baseball Hall-of-Fame Museum in 1972 on his second ballot.

Johnny Lee Bench

Although scoring is up a tad (46.7 points per game vs. 45.9), passing yards per game are down slightly (488.0 vs. 492.8).

He said that in addition to making the flow of the game "choppy" with increased flags, the spirit of the rule book has been compromised.

That's the most essential point of all.

This isn't football.

Normally I am very cautious when comparing today’s athletes and their accomplishments to past superstars who are enshrined in their sports Hall of Fame. But, I am a history buff and I find myself spending my time protecting our heroes’ past. A friend of mind once said about sports, he may eat, sleep and work in 2014, but he lives in 1964. I can understand what he is trying to say. Most sports fans live in the present so much they forget that the great ones were elected to the Hall of Fame because they performed at an incredible high level for many years and their performance stood the test of time against the very best their sport had to offer. Now don’t misunderstand, there are times when an athlete appears on the horizon and gets off to a tremendous start. It didn’t take long to see that guys like Brett Favre, Tony Gwynn and Magic Johnson were going to be special.

The same may be said for “Buster” Posey, the starting catcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says that personally he is a fan of the new emphasis on the rules. Then, in the next breath, he considers a few of the perceived ‘non-calls’ this season.

Every week, we are sending five or six plays to the league for further clarification. I wish it would go back to what they used to say in the NBA, 'No harm, no foul.'

Johnny Lee Bench joined the Cincinnati Reds in August of 1967. Bench debuted at the age of 19 and became the first catcher to win the Rookie-of-the-Year Award, in 1968. Bench was elected the National League’s Most Valuable Player twice, in 1970 and 1972. Bench became the youngest player to win the MVP Award at the age of 22. He proceeded to hit 154 home runs in his first five full seasons for the Reds (19681972). He also recorded 512 RBI’s and batted .271. This 14-time All-Star catcher earned AllStar status in all of his first five seasons. Johnny Bench played in four World Series with the Reds, losing to the Baltimore Orioles in 1970, and the Oakland Athletics in 1974. “The Big Red Machine” finally broke through, winning back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976.

Bench still owns the record for catchers while hitting ten grand slams in his career. Bench was known for his strength behind the plate and for having huge hands. He could hold as many as seven baseballs in one hand and once threw out Lou Brock, who was trying to steal, three times in a single game. Bench caught one no-hitter during his career with pitcher Jim Maloney against the Houston Astros. In 1989, Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall-of-Fame Museum on his first ballot. He also became

the first individual player to be portrayed on a Wheaties cereal box.

Bench’s top salary never exceeded $400,000 per year.

Buster Posey

Gerald Dempsey “Buster” Posey, III debuted with the Giants at 22 years of age, in September of 2009. He went 3-for-4 in his first at-bat and was elected Rookie of the Year in 2010. During Buster’s first five years with the San Francisco Giants (2010-2014), he hit 83 home runs and recorded 352 RBI’s, while batting .308. In fairness, while comparing him to Bench and Berra, Buster only had 162 at-bats, while playing in just 45 games in 2011, as he was injured in a home-plate collision against Scott Cousins of the Miami Marlins. Buster suffered a fractured fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle, which required season-ending surgery.

This injury would create changes in the rules governing plays at home plate. In Game Four of the 2010 World Series, against the Texas Rangers, Posey and Madison Bumgardner became the first rookie pitcher-catcher tandem in World Series history since Yogi Berra caught Spec Shea in Game One of the 1947 World Series for the Yankees. In 2012, during Game Five of the National League Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Buster became just the third catcher in MLB history to hit a grand slam in the playoffs, joining Yogi Berra and Eddie Perez. Buster was behind the plate for Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012 and caught both no hitters thrown by Tim Lincecum in 2013 and 2014. In 2012, his first All-Star year, he was elected Most Valuable Player and also received the Comeback Player-of-the-Year Award. Posey’s current salary for 2014 is listed at $12,500,000. Posey will be competing in his third World Series, this time, against the Kansas City Royals, having won it all in 2010 and 2012.

I find it very interesting that seven of the ten 2014 post-season teams are managed by former catchers. Casey Stengel, Berra’s Yankee manager, always said about Yogi, “I never play a game without my man.” Sparky Anderson was once asked to compare Yankee catcher Thurman Munson to the Reds’ Johnny Bench.

Sparky answered, “You don’t compare anyone to Johnny Bench. You don’t want to embarrass anybody.” And Giants manager, Bruce Bochy, a future Hall-of-Fame manager, was asked how he felt after another one-run win with the help of Buster Posey. Bochy said, “Games like this is why they make alcohol.”

So, stay tuned. We may be watching the next great Major League catcher. Will Buster Posey end up being the best?

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 Story Time with Uncle Andy on Tuesdays 5-6 PM and Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.

(*NFL Experts other than fans-- are any person connected with the NFL including, but not limited to players, coaches, administrators on the field officials and instant replay officials.)

Another Dotson’s note: What do you think, are there too many fouls being called? What would you do to make it a better game? Let me know; hopefully you’ll have a suggestion(s) I will pass on to a friend who has the “ear” of members of the NFL Competition committee. Let us hear from you. Please call the Benchwarmers 361560-5397 Weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m., or contact me: Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

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October 23, 2014

SMA Builders’ Club Reading to SLC Kindergarten Kids

Island Moon

The Travelling Moon Gets Around

Boat Show continued from A1

A9

our 16’ Texas style skiff. Because this was a father-son effort we worked on every aspect of the boat together. We only went hunting once and didn’t go fishing at all this year.

Let me tell you a little about Frank Coletta. He took over the helm of the Farley Boat Works earlier this year after the Shop Manager job opened. A skilled amateur boat builder and a recently retired executive Frank decided to make his home in Port Aransas and go after a dream job of running a community based boat building shop. WOW, what a mark he has made. Keep in mind he had some big shoes to fill.

Middle schoolers continue to serve SLC

By Brent Rourk

Clouds rolled over the amusement parks this week in Anaheim, Calif. Tom Cullinan found that all of them were busy with weekday visitors as we might anticipate eventually with the Schlitterbahn.

Boat reminiscent of Homer Simpson All of the Kinder students select their favorite books photo by Brent Rourk

The Plywooden Boat Show was an incredible vision Coletta shared with Rick Pratt for whom the boat building school at FBW is named and who leads the Port Aransas Historical Association.

Pratt and Coletta led the dedicated team of FBW volunteers and the vision took shape.

Wendy Triplett and James Hughes were married here in February 2001 at the Mall Of America Wedding Chapel, Bloomington, MN. They were back in MN for Jim's daughter's wedding in September. After 2 years in Corpus Christi, they can confirm that the weather is better here in February!!!

90 boats were on display at Robert’s Point Park for this event while an audio visual boat building program was taking place at the Civic Center. Over at the Farley Boat Works location an intensive two day boat building class was taught by internationally respected boat builder John Wellsford of New Zealand.

Frank Coletta instructs boat builders Asking and answering questions

Oh yeah, five “plywooden” row boats were being built simultaneously by five family teams under a circus like big top tent at the park adjacent to the boat show. Families came from Houston and Austin as well as Port Aransas to participate.

photo by Brent Rourk

Last Friday shortly before 11:30 AM, nine SMA Builders’ Club students quickly ate their lunch and then headed to Seashore Learning Center to continue a program of reading to SLC Kindergarten students. The ‘kinder kids’ appeared ‘wide-eyed’ as they observed the taller middle school students enter the classroom. The little ones finished their lunch, washed up and then raced to the bookshelves to choose several of their favorite books.

Finding an open space on the classroom floor, the middle schoolers waited for kindergarten students to sit with them. After students introduced themselves and the SMA students began reading for 40 minutes, engaging the kindergarten students with their favorite books.

Instead of one or two books being read to an entire class in a 40 minute span, each kindergarten student listened to the SMA student read 4 or 5 of their favorite books, totaling 35 or more books for the 40 minutes. New found friendships were formed and the Builders’ Club students cannot wait to read to the bright and friendly kindergarten students again soon.

A walk through the grounds of the boat show allowed visitors to see all manner of wooden boats built by individuals. One particular boat was unique to the show not for the style or construction but rather because of who the builders were.

Bagpipers at the Old Town Festival Parade in Port A. Photo by Ronnie Narmour.

Without any bias on my part the best area of boats were the Farley boats. Perry Finger’s Kbaby was there, Charlie Fisher’s Dragon Fly was there, Joey’s boat, “Tiger”, with the candy apple red metal flake paint was there as were several other gorgeous boats built at Farley.

By Mary Leja Queen of the PIPPs

The Wind Walker prototype made an appearance on the beach in Port A this weekend. Photo by Ronnie Narmour

Fourteen PIPPs and friends of PIPPs sailed with us. Coordinated

by Queen Mary and Vice Queen Jaki, we laughed and played ourselves silly. Highlights included a Purple Pajama Party for breakfast in the dining room. Door Decoration contest. Happy hours in our rooms---like fitting 14 into a VW Bug! Red Hat Bingo, touring, dancing with our waiters, gambling and of course SHOPPING. It was wonderful!

There were sail boats aplenty even one where the stern folded over onto the hull to make trailering the 30’ craft easier. Another sailboat looked like a Homer Simpson car outfitted with a pink and yellow paint job, working headlights, fins, fuzzy dice and taillights.

A group of stand up paddle boards were placed near some gorgeous kayaks which were near a boat that had traveled from Minnesota to take part. Even boats to live aboard for short stays were on display.

Island Red Hats Triumph on Carnival Cruise

On October 6th, the Padre Island Palapa Pals (PIPPs), our Island Red Hat group, set sail on the Carnival Triumph out of Galveston for 5 days of fun and foolishness. The cruise was a celebration of our 10th Anniversary for the group.

Steve Wood’s “Termite’s Delite” was the last boat built by the shop students at Port Aransas High School. Back in 1991 the wood shop students, shop teacher Doyle Merritt and local boat builder, fishing guide and harmonica player Bubba Molina, now nearly 100 years old, built their last boat together. (Note: Bubba and Steve helped us build ours!)

Taking a deep breath as he paused from assisting the family boat builders Coletta said “Next year is going to be even bigger, wait until you see the sponsors we will have, this is going to be a huge event and get Port A significant attention from boat builders around the country”.

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A10

Island Moon

October 23, 2014