Issue 561
The
FREE
Island Moon
The voice of The Island since 1996 When business is good, it pays to advertise; When business is bad, you've got to advertise." ~Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Company
Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com
Our Winter Texan friends are here in numbers so we are including some things for them to do in this issue, one that goes without saying is swimming. We mention this because we locals are annually amazed when we see anyone in water of any kind, be it swimming pool or ocean, this time of year. It’s easy to tell the Winter Texans from the locals on the beach when the temperature is below 70 degrees. The Winter Texans, if not in the water, are the ones wearing shorts, a coat, and flip flops. The locals are the ones wearing three pairs of pants, a wool cap pulled low over the eyes, the biggest coat they own, which is probably a windbreaker, and the only pair of shoes with toes in them they can find in their closet. Our blood runs thin and we are amazed at the Winter Texan’ hardiness. The only blizzards we have ever seen are at Dairy Queen. So welcome you guys, send us some pictures of yourselves as you move about The Island and tell us some of your stories. We could use some new ones. We’ve worn most of ours out and are down to telling outright fibs.
Island News Bureau We have had several readers comment in recent weeks that if you watch local television news on Thursday and Friday nights you will see a lot of the same stories you have already read in the Island Moon that week. We have become the Island Bureau for local television news operations who use the Moon the way the Indians used the buffalo ringing out every bit of information they can use. That’s okay. We’re in the information business and we thank them for reading. One thing you will notice is the difference in Island News and OTB News (that’s Over The Bridge for our Winter Texan readers). OTB News usually involves somebody getting shot somewhere; the story usually starts out “Shots Rang Out early this morning in the so and so block of a street we Islanders never heard of and ends with a number for Crimestoppers. Or a car turned over in a ditch somewhere on a road we never heard of, or the robbing of a store which starts out with, “A Unidentified Robber….” and ends with a number for Crimestoppers. We’ll say one thing for the OTB newswriters, they avoid clichés like the plague.
Gambling ships Last week the Big Story that migrated OTB was about the new gambling ship that has arrived in Aransas Pass and a few weeks ago it was the new gambling ship that was/is coming to downtown. As of this writing the Pride of Texas casino ship, (the downtown ship) according to their booking agent and their website, is still scheduled to depart at 11 a.m., Sunday, January 25. The ship was originally to leave from the downtown marina and as of this writing it has not arrived there and marina officials say they still have a lot of inspecting to do once the ship does arrive. However, the company’s website now says the ship will dock in Aransas Pass and as of this writing it hasn’t arrived there yet either. It goes on to say “the vessel may arrive past the schedule date.” Calls to the ship’s operator, Vidal Conde went unanswered this week but their website says the first voyage is sold out at 1000 tickets and buyers can get a refund by calling 1 888-71-TICKETS. Mr. Conde’s Linkedin site says he is seeking “49% investors, and qualified casino personnel.” Just a guess so far, but look for some OTB headlines this week along the lines of “Arrival of Gambling Ship Delayed.”
Island Moon Art Walk Don’t forget the Island Moon Art Walk is this Saturday, January 17, from 10-2 at Schlitterbahn. We’ll see you there. Say hello if you see us Around The Island.
Free
Weekly
January 15, 2015
Photo by Ronnie Narmour
Extension of Schlitterbahn Tax Incentives Headed to City Council By Dale Rankin A decision on whether to extend the $117 million in sales and Hotel Occupancy Tax for the Schlitterbahn waterpark is scheduled to go before the Corpus Christi City Council on January 27. At issue is whether the park’s developers, local businessman Willard Hammond, Paul Schexnailder, Vice President of the Upper Padre Group, and the Henry family, owners of Schlitterbahn waterparks, have met the conditions of the incentives. Those incentives include the opening of a park capable of holding 3000 visitors last summer, a condition which developers park contend they have met since they opened the completed portion of the park before the required deadline last summer, even as they doubled the scope and size of the park adding more rides, 80 additional hotel rooms,
and expanding the size of the main building from 27,000 square feet to over 100,000 square feet. So far the city has refused to guarantee the tax incentive package, known as the 380 agreement, until further construction is complete which will comply with the terms as they interpret them. In its vote the council will decide whether to extend the time to comply with the terms of incentive agreement until September 15, 2015. Under the terms of the 380 agreement the $117 million in tax incentives are almost entirely performance based with only $5 million committed upfront; that coming from the city’s 4A funds which are raised through sales tax and committed to new economic development. $2.5 million of that has already been released to the developers with the additional coming when the terms of the 380 agreement are met.
The investment group is undergoing a change as Hammond seeks to be bought out from his investment; a move which is complicated by the uncertainty of the definition of the terms included the incentive package. Potential investors want certainty on the incentives before committing more resources. Currently about $49 million has been spent on the park and another approximately $25 million is expected to be need to complete it at the current, expanded scale. The 60acre waterpark is the centerpiece of a total 574 acre planned development which would cover the area from the park on the west side of SPID to Lake Padre on the east and would include two marinas, restaurants, retail space, hotels, condominiums, and more than 3000 feet of newly dug canals which would tie it all together.
Schlitterbahn continued on A5
Statement from the Padre Isles Property Owners Association
Island By the Numbers
How Many Vehicles are Crossing the Port Aransas Ferries?
There has been much discussion of late about the numbers of vehicles coming to The Island over the JFK Causeway, but what about traffic arriving over the Port Aransas ferry?
A look at the numbers shows that the total number of vehicles crossing on the ferries increased by about 2000 last year but dropped off by 35,000 vehicles from the year prior. Surprisingly traffic there has increased by only about 18,000 vehicles per year since 2005. The ferry crossing is the Island bottleneck where two of the area’s largest economic generators compete for space – tourism and the Port of Corpus Christi. For complete numbers on ferry crossings see the charts on Page A14 .
An Open Letter to the Padre Isles Property Owners Association membership
Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade Saturday February 14
From the PIPOA Board of Directors:
Full Schedule A5
Owners, Friends, Neighbors: Over the past months, the Board of Directors has pursued building a Community Center and new POA Headquarters at Billish Park with input from the owners and the best intentions in mind for all of the PIPOA membership. We have received many visits, emails, and phone calls supporting this project and some opposing it. We have taken all of them seriously. However, in recent days it has become apparent that the Board has not done a good job incorporating the desire of many of our owners to allow each member an opportunity to cast a formal vote to approve or not approve a project of this magnitude and importance while explaining all aspects of the Community Center and how it is to be operated.
POA Statement continued A3
Inside the Moon
Morgan Faulkner takes flight- Surfing Magazine was on the Island this week doing a story on Texas surfing. Photo by Jeff Dolan More on A9.
Flour Bluff High School Wind Ensemble Goes SAXsational! with Corpus Christi Live! Friday, January 16 at TAMCC Performing Arts Center
Seashore Charter Schools 2013-2014 TAPR Report Card Released Island Foundation Board presentation January 19th By Brent Rourk Every year the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) provides information for all Texas schools. On Monday, January 19th at 6:00 PM in room 108 of Seashore Middle School, Seashore Charter Schools will review the 2013-2014 TAPR report. The public is invited to attend. Both Seashore campuses attained a “Met Standard” rating, the highest rating attainable. SMA also attaining distinctions in Reading/ ELA, Science, Social Studies, Top 25% Student Progress, and Top 25% Closing Performance Gaps. There was no measure for Post-Secondary Readiness because Seashore Schools do not have a high school.
Report Card continued on A8
Turtle Rescue Volunteers A4
On the Rocks A7
By Bob Copes On Friday night, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. the Flour Bluff High School Wind Ensemble will take the Big Stage at the Performing Arts Center at Texas A&M Corpus Christi backing world- renowned saxophone virtuoso Rob Verdi. Verdi will lead them through a performance of his brainchild “SAXsational!” which celebrates one of the world’s most versatile and beloved musical instruments, as Verdi and the ensemble explore a repertoire of classic melodies that includes swing and jazz standards, movie and television hits and pop favorites. The program is sponsored by Corpus Christi Live!, a local non-profit that has been bringing live entertainment to the Coastal Bend for over 75 years. Victor Lara, Flour Bluff’s Music Supervisor and head band director, was “excited and honored” when he was asked whether his group would perform in the concert.
Sports A8 “This will be a very educational opportunity for the Flour Bluff band students to have a master class on jazz styles, performance techniques and careers in music from a professional musician.” The students didn't know how to react initially, but their excitement grew as they studied concert video. For Corpus Christi Live! board member Nick Colosi, choosing “SAXsational” for their 2014/2015 concert season was a perfect fit.
Birth of the Internet A14
“Corpus Christi Live! has an Outreach Program wherein visiting artists hold a Masters Class for students selected by their teachers from local colleges and high schools. The Concert Committee selected Rob Verdi’s 'SAXsational' both as a fascinating concert and an opportunity to highlight talented local student musicians,” he said.
Sax continued on A2
Winter Texan Roundup A15-16
A2
January 15, 2015
Island Moon
Port Aransas Tour of Homes
To Marathon or Not to Marathon? By Erica Rose Bertero
The Port Aransas Garden Club will host its 27th annual Port Aransas Tour of Homes on Mustang Island Saturday January 31, 2015. The tour originates from the Port Aransas Community Center at 408 N. Alister Street, Port Aransas. Get a “Glimpse of Island Life” with a visit to this beachfront getaway. For family and friends who all share memories of spending time in Port A as children and want to share that experience with their own youngsters this home provides the space and the place. The use of old barn wood and newer wood stained for the ‘old feel’ gives this large spacious home a cottage feel with all windows angled to capture Gulf views. A large game room and living area with its bar provides plenty of room for family Holiday retreats. Off to the side of this area is a private sleeping nook for their one son who loves all the builtin cubbies for luggage, toys, books and electronic games. Many hues of blues and turquoise with beach and shell art works and a relaxed style for kicking back and entertaining make this home a must see on this year’s tour. The Port Aransas Home Tour is one of few remaining tours offering a ‘bus tour party’ in the morning and a self-guided tour in the afternoon. Our bus tours at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, leaves the driving to the professionals and allows the exceptionally knowledgeable, verbose Garden Club members to guide you on your journey and provide a world of information and entertainment along the way. Any guest, who takes a morning tour, is welcome to return on the afternoon self-guided tour to see the remaining homes not included in the morning tour. Your $25.00 ticket covers the bus tour and the self-guided tour making it an all day excursion. Relax, sit back and enjoy the seminarrated, sometimes hilarious antics of the PAGC’s Cruise Staff while “the wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round.” The bus agenda provides plenty of time to see the town and explore the fine shops and restaurants. Our self-guided tour is from 1:00 – 5:00 P.M. with nine homes for your viewing pleasure. A map and brochure is provided to keep you on the path to our wonderful homes which you will receive when checking in at the Community Center located at 408 North Alister. Each home will have hostesses/hosts answering your questions about the historical and decorating significance. The self-guided tour ticket is $20.00 Bus tours and self-guided tickets can be purchased at Mustang Island Art Gallery, 2222 Hwy 361 and Gratitude, 316 N. Station Street and Cinnamon Shores Rental office 5009 HWY 361. Tickets can be purchased via our website www.PortAransasGardenClub.org using PayPal or on tour day at the Port Aransas Community Center. Bus tour tickets are limited to 90 per each tour, self-guided are unlimited. For ticket information call 361-813-2508 or email
Erica Rose Bertero is a local writer/blogger and Assistant Professor of English at Del Mar College. Visit her blog, “BEACH GAL BARED” at www.ericaroseb.com. She can be reached at beachgalbare@gmail.com. In these early days of 2015, I have been thinking about new goals, new challenges, and new opportunities. Something “new” on my horizon: running a marathon. After watching the movie "Wild" starring Reese Witherspoon (the movie is really good, by the way, but the book is much better!) - of course I feel inspired and motivated....but I know that having this feeling is infinitely easier that actually going through with making the commitment to train for running a marathon.
portagardenclub@hotmail.com. Follow us at our website www.PortAransasGardenClub.org and our Facebook page Port Aransas Home Tour and our blog portaransasgardenclubhometour. blogspot.com. For all other information contact Virginia Moser, chairperson, at 361-834-4130. Tickets, refreshments, raffle and silent auction items will be available at the Community Center during tour hours with doors opening at 8:30 AM. Port Aransas Garden Club formed in 1964 to encourage interest in beautification of the city. Proceeds from Club activities are used for landscaping, various civic projects in Port Aransas and scholarships for Port Aransas High School seniors. PAGC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible. PAGC is a member of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce, KPAB, and the Corpus Christi Garden Council.
Since talking about the book The NonRunner's Marathon Trainer last month, I took the small step of buying a used copy at Half Price Books. Then it sat on my desk at home for a little while. And then I finally decided to start reading sections of it - I found the book easy to understand, I enjoyed the sound of the writing, and was surprised to see that I didn't feel overwhelmed by the visual of the training program itself. Sixteen glorious weeks of training - preceded by 3-4 weeks of pre-training. Through my initial reading and skimming of various sections, the fact that I haven't run screaming in the other direction is a good sign. Ok - so can I really do this? Do I want to do this? I know the answer to that question - YES. I do want to do it - and the book provides a great reason for why people choose to run a marathon - they are looking for peak experiences in their lives. I believe one of the authors likened running 26 miles as a peak experience equivalent
to childbirth......and I know I'm definitely not looking for that kind of experience again. Personally, I don't think I'd compare the two to each other, but whatever. I get the gist of the "peak" - who doesn't enjoy some type of high in their life? I know I also want to do it to challenge myself - to see what I'm made of - and yeah - to break the monotony we sometimes slip into. I enjoy running - I've changed as a runner, I've tried different methods, paths, shoes, music, etc. So I already feel like I'm on the plus side of things because this book is written for nonrunners - but I do consider myself a runner. What are the cons? Funny enough - it isn't the long distances that scare me. It's the time that the distance will allow me to be in my own head. What will I be thinking about? Do I want to be in my own head for that amount of time - multiple times as I train throughout the various weeks? Being alone in my head doesn't scare me....but I'll admit that it makes me a little nervous, with a tiny twinge of excitement added to it. If you are reading this today, and you have run a marathon, or haven't but you've thought about it......share your experiences (if you don't mind). What helped you to do it? What were the positives? negatives? Why haven't you done it? And please feel free to share if you've done a half marathon too - that's something else that has crossed my mind. Do I go for a half marathon or the full monty?? Only time will tell, as will my running shoes....for now....
Sax continued from A1 After attending Flour Bluff High School's Spring 2014 concert, he was amazed at the quality of the music and the range of their repertoire. Knowing he had found the musicians he wanted, Colosi made the offer the following week, and Lara immediately accepted. “This has become a great setting to showcase the high quality of our local school’s music curriculum,” Colosi said. All students in the ensemble must demonstrate instrumental proficiency in an audition and maintain their academic standing to be members. Rob Verdi's love affair with the saxophone is now in its fourth decade. Since earning a music education degree in 1984 from Arizona State University in Tempe, Verdi has performed in a variety of music ensembles and is a founding member of the Side Street Strutters Jazz Band, the house jazz band for the Disneyland resort. A strong proponent of student outreach,
he conducts frequent workshops in the Los Angeles area in addition to the education component to his touring show. General admission tickets for this Corpus Christ Live! event are priced at $25 ($10 for student with ID) and available by phone at 361980-1949.
January 15, 2015
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys
POA Statement continued from A1
Mike Ellis, Founder
Even as late as three weeks ago, the Board did not plan any additional voting in regards to the project. This position has caused an unexpected amount of conflict. Additionally, given a recent spate of insults, innuendo and threatened lawsuits against the POA, the environment for cooperation and civil engagement has degraded significantly. Furthermore, in reviewing the regulations that the Board must follow in executing its financial duties, the Board determined that a project of this size required additional actions prior to expending funds to build the Center, actions which rightfully should include approval of the owners by formal vote. The Board has no desire or intention to violate the rules and regulations which govern the Board and management of the POA, nor do we have any desire to cause the owners to question their trust in the Board.
Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft
Given the above, the Board has decided to place on hold any further action on current plans to build the Community Center. No contractual obligations for construction or detailed design have been entered into and the POA has no future work scheduled on behalf of the Center. The Board will review all of its procedures and decisions which led to this so we can learn from it and ensure a far better process in the future. As the Board still believes a Community Center
t Christiansen
Greetings all.
Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
Riley P. Dog Publisher Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas
Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors
This week I reviewed the POA governing documents and Nov.30 unaudited financial statement and records relating to the proposed Community Building. MayBeth was very open and helpful, thanks. The POA Board had been proceeding with the belief that it had the authority to approve and contract to build a $2.3 million dollar Community Building without seeking or obtaining Membership approval. The Bylaws do give broad management and financial authority to the Board. So the Board requested proposals, selected architects, had designs drawn up, and incurred something like $23,000 in architects fees, if I read that correctly. All without any Membership approval and with the expressed intent not to ask for a vote of the membership. The claimed need for a 10,500 square foot Community Building is to have more meeting spaces, to be able to accommodate large events and groups, to have a 200 seat capacity auditorium, and a place where island groups such as PIE, card playing groups, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc can hold their meetings. The arguments for such a large new building are, at best, unpersuasive in my opinion. Now,the POA offices are only about 1800 square feet and cramped. The Board meeting room is small and unable to seat very many members attending. So some additional space is justifiable. But how much, and at what cost? The Board has called a halt for now on the Community Building and is going to make efforts to explain the proposal to the membership and to schedule one or more meetings and votes on this. Why? Because of the uproar that has arisen, and because the Board was exceeding its authority. The Articles of Incorporation trump the bylaws. Here is what Article Nine says: "The corporation shall not expend or ratify the expenditure of more than twenty (20%) of the annual lot assessments (of the year in which such expenditures or authorization is to be made) for acquiring or developing real estate or for constructing, acquiring, or developing facilities...".
The Light Turned Yellow The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.
Port A Arts
Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
North Padre
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
A Mano
All Stripes Stores
Coffee Waves
CVS
Moby Dicks
Whataburger
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.
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
Flour Bluff
Giggity’s
H.E.B.
Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Liquid Town
Keepers Pier House Port A Glass Studio The Gaff
Respectfully, Jeff Carlson, Cheri Sperling, Brent Moore, Jack Sharlow, Nancy Tressa, Stan Hulse, Darrell Scanlan
The annual lot assessments for 2014 are about $1.5 million. So the Board can't spend or authorize the expenditure of more than about $300,000 for a Community Building. The only way around that would be to amend the Articles of Incorporation by vote of the membership. That is what the Board plans to do, to seek a membership vote to amend Article Nine and approve this project. Here is what the unaudited PIPOA Balance Sheet shows as of Nov. 30: Cash in checking/savings acct's: $908,403 Current liabilities $73,822 accounts receivable: $238,380 Unrestricted funds/retained earnings $3,960,780 mutual funds, income funds, bond funds, net income $1,002,521 investment funds $7,755,549 certificates of deposit $499,913 money market funds $226,061 fixed assets, furniture, equipment $36,869 building $102,167 accumulated depreciation -$128,053 total fixed assets $10,982 Total assets $8,492,807 Of these total assets, all but $36,869 are our MONEY, cash, investments, cd's, mutual funds, bond funds, etc. The 2014 annual PIPOA budget, actual as of the end of November, shows revenues and income of $1,619,720 and expenses of $1,015,696. So why is the POA Board sitting on well over $8,000,000 of liquid assets? This is supposed to be a not for profit organization. Money not needed for current and realistically anticipated needs should be refunded to the membership. And since the current amounts of lot assessments obviously exceed what is needed (a surplus of $600,000 of revenues over expenses so far this year), isn't it time to restructure the lot assessments? Bob Nash
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, making an obscene gesture at the guy in front of you and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' and 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper stickers so naturally....I assumed you had stolen the car."
Opposed to Community Center I've been reading with interest the recent letters regarding the proposed new Community Center. Put me down as being opposed to its construction. One point I've not seen discussed is the fact that at a cost of $2.3 million dollars it works out to about $190 sq. ft. Not including the land cost. I haven't seen a custom home on the island that cost that much! The way this is being pushed down our throats is starting to sound like something is Rotten in Denmark. I'd like to see an audit of the process used to bid the new Center and who's signature is on the contract. And for Mr. Nash's info: it took the POA over five years to repair our bulkhead after we were placed 'on the list'. Good luck with that. Richard Beekman
Send Letters to the editor to
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
New Advertisers 4th Annual Coastal Bend Boat & RV Expo will be held at Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown February 13 – 15. Over 50 manufacturers will be represented at the event. The 18th Annual Port Aransas Dine Around will be held on Monday, January 26th 5 – 8 pm. Most of Port A’s restaurants will be offering samples from their menu. There are limited tickets available for this popular event. The $20 tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office and at Bilmore’s on Alister. Check their website or their Moon ad on page A4 for a list of participants.
Business Briefs Snoopy’s Pier has traditional oysters on the half-shell special for $7.50/dozen starting at 5 pm until gone. They offer lunch specials 11 am – 2 pm and now accept Visa and MasterCard. The Padre Island Business Association Monthly Mixer and the Barefoot Mardi Gras Kick-Off Party #1 will be held at Mikel May’s Beach Bar & Grill on Tuesday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. Island Italian Restaurant has happy hour Monday – Friday 4 – 6 pm with $2 domestic, $3 imported and $3 glass of wine. The popular Winter Texan band South Texas Grassroots Band is back on Sundays 6:30 – 9 pm with reservations recommended. The Port Aransas Garden Club will host its 27th Annual Tour of Homes on Saturday, January 31st. with the tour originating at the Community Center at 408 N. Alister. There will be morning bus tours at 9 am and 11 am and self-guided afternoon tours 1 – 5 pm. The self-guided tour ticket is $20 and bus tour is $25. The Flour Bluff Band will be playing at the Performing Arts Center on the A&M Campus on Friday, January 16th @ 7:30 pm. Sixty members of the Band will join Rob Verde "SAXsational" for a fabulous evening of entertainment. General Admission Tickets are $25 and $10 for students. For reservations call Corpus Christi Live at 9801949. Mikel May’s Beachside Bar & Grill now has Salsa lessons on Thursdays at 7 pm. To go along with the Salsa lesson is free salsa & chips and plenty of heaters. They offer a seafood boil every Wednesday night and have livwe music on Friday and Saturday. Johnny D’s now has Winter Texan early dinner specials Tuesday – Thursday 4:30 - 6:30 pm. They serve an off the menu Sunday Brunch 11 am – 2 pm with a Bloody Mary Bar. The Monthly Island Moon Art Walk will be held at Schlitterbahn on Saturday, January 17th 1 am – 2 pm. The Stomp Winter Festival at Cinnamon Shores will be held on January 31st 11 am – 7 pm. There will be music by Mark McKinney, a taste of Port A and wine tasting from Pioneer Wines. There will also be local art for sale and face painting for the kids. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at their website. The City-Wide Garage Sale in Port A will be held on Saturday, January 17th. If you would like your site listed contact Pam Greene at 749-4158 and if you would like a table at the Community Center contact Darlene Secich at 749-7144. A Kingsville resident claims $2.5 million scratch-off with the 100XThecash game. The Superette Food Mart where it was purchased will get $10,000. Book a round of golf in January at Palmilla Golf Resort in Port A and get $15 off by using the promo code “2015” for tee times Sunday – Friday anytime. The promo is not valid on twilight rates. The Surfer Magazine came to the Island last week to check out the surf scene and visited with Frank and Nathan Floyd , owners of Wind & Wave and Morgan Faulkner of Texas Surf Camps. The article will be published in an upcoming issue. Recycle your Christmas tree Saturday, January 17th 9 am -3 pm at the POA office, Wal-Mart on Flour Bluff Drive and Flour Bluff High School gym parking lot.
Letters to Riley
Editor@IslandMoon.com
Susan Swanson Dear Riley,
As I was trying to talk to my human last week he yelled at me, “Hey Fido, what are you barking at!?” I can’t tell him because I can’t talk. I’m a dog. Can you help? Fido Island
Shorty’s Place
Gratitude Gift Shop
The Board sincerely apologizes to the members for our oversights in regards to the Center but reiterates that we had nothing but the best interests of the membership at heart. Now that action on the Center has been put on hold, we hope that the rancor and angst will subside and our Island return to the neighborly place we all love. We thank the many owners who voiced their support for the initiative and ask you to still come out to assist us in the future when this issue gets revisited. We also express our wish that those who oppose a Center will actively participate in future discussions so the Board has an opportunity to alleviate your concerns and increase overall support throughout our membership.
Island
The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
Lisabella’s Restaurant
is a worthwhile and needed project for the Island, when the time comes to resume this process, it will include a wide dissemination of information via various media to the owners regarding operating plans, cost estimates, and budgets for membership review and will culminate in a formal vote of the membership to approve or not approve the Board proceeding forward.
POA Community Center
Jay Gardner Chad Peters
Did Ya Hear?
Letters to the Editor
A3
Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Dear Fido, yes I can. Please send hotdogs care of Riley P. Dog, International Falls, Minnesota. Mark them “Private do not open.” Thank you Riley P. Dog
A4
Winter Beach Cleanup February 7 Six Coastal Bend beaches targeted for trash
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is calling on volunteers for the 11th Annual Winter Beach Cleanup Saturday, Feb. 7 at six Coastal Bend beaches. The cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to noon.
• North Corpus Christi Beach. Check-in is at the Texas State Aquarium, 2710 N. Shoreline Blvd. Contact Rosanna Gossett at 361-8811203 or via e-mail at rosanna.gossett@ texasadoptabeach.org.
The locations participating in the Winter Beach Cleanup are:
• Kid’s Place at Cole Park. Check-in is at 1526 Ocean Drive, contact Chelsea Craig at 361-946-3996 or via e-mail at chelsea.craig@ texasadoptabeach.org.
• Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat Community. Check-in is at the parking lot off Highway 361 near Packery Channel. Contact Teresa Carrillo at 361-882-3439 or via e-mail at teresa.carrillo@texasadoptabeach.org • Padre Island National Seashore, at the Malaquite Visitor Center, 20420 Park Road 22. Contact Buzz Botts at 361-949-8068 or via e-mail at buzz.botts@texasadoptabeach. org.
The Winter Beach Cleanup is one of three all-volunteer seasonal cleanups coordinated through the Adopt-A-Beach program of the Texas General Land Office. Most trash found on Texas beaches is left there by litterbugs. Since 1986, Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up enough trash to fill a line of dump trucks 90 miles long, making it one of the most successful volunteer programs in the nation. Volunteers record data on the trash to learn more about the causes of marine debris and to help mitigate pollution along Texas’ 367 miles of coastline.
• Port Aransas. Check-in is at Avenue G at the beach. Contact Deno Fabrie at 361749-0256 or via e-mail at deno.fabrie@ texasadoptabeach.org • Aransas Pass/Redfish Bay. Check-in is at Lighthouse Lakes Park, four miles east of Aransas Pass on Highway 361. Contact Richard Gonzales at 361-7797351 or via e-mail at richard.gonzales@ texasadoptabeach.org.
The Texas General Land Office’s AdoptA-Beach program is funded primarily by private contributions. To help out, or for more information, call the Adopt-A-Beach program at 1-877-TXCOAST or visit our Web site at www.texasadoptabeach.org.
18thAnnual
DINE AROUND 2015 Presented by the Port Aransas Merchants Committee SAMPLE ISLAND CUISINE AT PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS/CLUBS Black Marlin Bar & Grill Bernies Beach House Coffee Waves Port Aransas Crazy Cajun Drop Anchor
Fins Grill & Icehouse Giggity's Island Café & Smokehouse Kody's La Barataria
L i m ited
La Playa Mexican Grille Miss K Catering & Gourmet Food Moby Dicks Restaurant & Gift Shop Port "A" Pizzeria Roosevelt's Fine Dining
Seafood & Spaghetti Works Stingrays Tap House & Grill The Gaff The Phoenix Restaurant & Bar Trout Street Bar & Grill, Inc. Venetian Hot Plate
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THIS POPULAR EVENT!
MON. JAN. 26, 2015 | 5 to 8 p.m. TICKETS $20
Tickets on sale at the Port Aransas Chamber office 403 W. Cotter & Bilmore’s, 115 N. Alister | 361-749-5919 for more information.
Carpet Cleaning Air Duct Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning
Tile & Wood Cleaning Fire & Water Damage Restoration
Call for our Daily Specials 361-993-9300 book online at www.servicemaster-tx.com
nd P
On Padre Island Since 1994. Locally Owned by Island Resident
Bill Schroeder 15481 SPID Just past Whitecap on Right
ort
By: Dimitra Guerrero, Rosalie Rossi, and Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore E-mail: Donna_Shaver@nps.gov Padre Island National Seashore staff members are looking forward to the upcoming 2015 sea turtle nesting season and are excited to announce the spring volunteer training events occurring in March. Each year, more than 100 people from the community volunteer with our nest detection and protection program, and their participation is essential to our success. If you are interested in volunteering at Padre Island National Seashore to help with the Kemp’s ridley restoration program this year, this article contains information on our program and how you can participate.
About the Program Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world. For more than three decades Padre Island National Seashore has aided with a global effort to help recover the populations of threatened and endangered sea turtles, particularly that of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. More than half of the Kemp’s ridley nests found in the U.S. each year are located at the National Seashore. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nest in south Texas from April through mid-July. Females nest one to four times throughout the nesting season, at intervals of about 14 to 28 days. They often come ashore in synchronized nesting events called arribadas (Spanish for “arrival”). Kemp’s ridley sea turtles typically come ashore during daylight hours, on windy days, crawling above the high tide line to lay their eggs. Once a nest site is selected, a nester uses her rear flippers to dig an “egg chamber.” She then deposits a “clutch” of eggs and covers the nest, never to return to the nest again. Each clutch contains about 100 soft, leathery eggs. Eggs from nests found on North Padre Island and northward on the Texas coast are incubated at Padre Island National Seashore in an incubation facility or in a “corral,” a large screen enclosure located 40 miles south of Malaquite beach. At these locations, the fragile eggs are protected from a variety of threats including predators, tidal inundation, and vehicles. After about 50 days of incubation, hatchlings emerge and are released into the Gulf of Mexico.
Volunteer Opportunities
A ra
Most people volunteering with our turtle project participate in patrols to find, document, and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles and their eggs using Utility Transport Vehicles (UTVs). Patrols are during daylight hours since Kemp’s ridleys nest mostly during the day, along designated routes on the northern half of North Padre Island. Volunteers conducting UTV patrols are paired with Biological Science Technicians. However, volunteers can also help in other ways such as radio dispatching or conducting walking patrols on local gulf beaches. Volunteers also help with operational support activities such as transporting eggs to our incubation facility by beach and highway. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. If volunteers will be driving a government vehicle, they must possess a valid driver's license. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of at least 10 hours a month for each month of the patrol season (April through mid-July), or at least 30 hours over the entire patrol season (this does not include training hours). Housing is not provided to volunteers.
Trust Islan da
Volunteer Opportunities with Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Nesting Project at National Seashore
Each year, more than 100 people from the community volunteer with the National Seashore’s program to find, document, and protect nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and their eggs. In addition to a variety of local, national, and international partners, the assistance of our dedicated volunteers at Padre Island National Seashore helps make the program possible. We are proud to say we have many returning volunteers; but we need additional volunteers to help complete the nesting program this year.
24 Hour Emergency Service
Pad re
January 15, 2015
Island Moon
nsa
s’ O ldes t
The Pest Control Professionals Islan OVER 30 YEAR EXPERIENCE dB ase dP est Con trol Com pan y.
949-0208
Residential and Commercial Services Termite * Ants * Rodent * Critter * Roaches * Spiders * Fleas
Volunteer Training Schedule All volunteers wishing to participate during the 2015 nesting season are required to attend a classroom training session every year, regardless of the activities they will be conducting. At the classroom training session, volunteers will be provided the documentation required for their participation in the upcoming season. They will also receive information about the program and volunteer duties. Note that attendance at the 2014 fall/winter cold stunned training does not fulfill the requirements of becoming a 2015 spring/summer volunteer.
Date: March 4, 2015 (Wednesday) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
UTV Training and Safety for New Volunteers Location: Padre Island National Seashore Headquarters, UTV barn Date: March 5, 2015 (Thursday) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom & UTV Training for Returning Volunteers (Refresher Class) Location: Padre Island National Seashore Headquarters, Turtle Lab/UTV barn Date: March 7, 2015 (Saturday) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom Session for New Volunteers Location: Padre Island National Seashore Headquarters, Turtle Lab Date: March 14, 2015 (Saturday) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
UTV Training and Safety for New Volunteers Location: Padre Island National Seashore Headquarters, UTV barn Date: March 15, 2014 (Sunday) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers wishing to conduct walking patrols and/or UTV patrols must successfully complete a physical fitness test, which will entail a short walk at your own pace immediately after the classroom session. For the physical fitness test, please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes, and be prepared for all types of weather. For the UTV training, you must wear long pants, eye-wear (such as glasses, sunglasses, or goggles), long sleeve shirt or jacket, and boots. If you do not wear the appropriate clothing, you will not be allowed to participate in the UTV class. Additional safety gear (such as helmets and safety vests) will be provided at the training. Parking is limited at the Padre Island National Seashore Park Headquarters. Please consider car-pooling if you know someone attending the same training. Please bring a packed lunch. There will be a 30-minute lunch break. An ice chest will be available to hold your food and beverages. Please call as soon as possible to sign up for training classes. Space is limited and fills quickly. Call (361) 949-8173, extension 268 to register. Hope to see you soon!
Cold Stunned Turtle Count So far during the 2014-2015 cold stunning season (from 13 November 2014 through 12 January 2015), 408 cold stunned sea turtles have been found in Texas, including the following: All were green turtles except for two loggerheads, one Kemp’s ridley, and one hawksbill turtle. Area
Total
Galveston Area/ Inshore
19
Lavaca/San Antonio Bay
35
Copano Bay
6
San Jose Island
2
Mustang Island/Aransas Pass 40 Upper Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay
205
If you attended a full day of classroom training and a full day of UTV training last year and volunteered during the 2014 nesting season, you will be eligible to sign up for the Refresher Class on March 7. If you are returning and not going to patrol on a UTV, you will only need to attend the classroom training in the morning that day.
PINS Gulf Beach
3
Lower Laguna Madre
98
Boca Chica Beach
0
TOTAL
408
Condition
Total
Alive
345
If you did not attend the nesting season classroom training and the full-day UTV Training And Safety class last year, or are a returning volunteer that is unable to attend the Refresher Class on March 7, you will need to sign up for the Classroom Session for New Volunteers on March 4 or March 14 and a fullday UTV Training And Safety Class on either March 5 or March 15 if you want to conduct UTV patrols. Training dates and times are listed below.
Dead
63
TOTAL
408
Classroom Session for New Volunteers Location: Padre Island National Seashore Headquarters, Turtle Lab
Thank you to staff and volunteers from the National Park Service, ARK, Sea Turtle, Inc., Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sea World San Antonio, NOAA-Fisheries, Texas Sea Life Center, Texas Master Naturalists, Gladys Porter Zoo, University of Texas, Texas State Aquarium, other organizations, and private citizens for their help to find, document, rehabilitate, and release cold stunned turtles on the Texas coast this year.
January 15, 2015
A5
Island Moon
Barefoot Mardi Gras Schedule Tuesday, January 20 @ 5:30pm BAREFOOT MARDI GRAS KICK OFF PARTY #1 / PIBA MIXER Mikel May's Beach Bar & Grill - Bob Hall Pier Come join the festivities for drink specials, food, beads and lots of fun.
On Whitecap Beach from Access 4 to Bob Hall Pier
WE WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE WITH A FLOAT. info@padreislandbusiness.org Saturday, February 14 @ 6pm - 10pm
Network your business at the same time. Bring a gift to be given away as a door prize!
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
FAT FRIDAY BAREFOOT MARDI GRAS KICKOFF #2 The Boathouse Bar & Grill - corner of Leeward and Windward Come join the festivities for drink specials, food, beads and lots of fun. Also a fundraiser for the event with auction items and door prizes. BMG benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters. Saturday, February 14 @ 11am BAREFOOT PARADE
MARDI
GRAS
BEACH
The ONLY Mardi Gras beach parade in the State of Texas!!
Schlitterbahn continued from A1 Current plans call for the finished waterpark to open this summer. Late Wednesday Schexnailder issued the following statement on the discussion of the tax incentives. “ The Schlitterbahn group recognized a potential in the market and expanded the facilities to more than twice the scope of the original project on which the incentives were based. In addition, we have identified a void in the market in lodging and entertainment and added to the current construction effort. Accordingly, we needed to open enough waterpark to meet the 3000-person requirement. We opened it within the construction site so as not to delay the opening of the expanded park in 2015. We asked the city to confirm our 380 incentives, which are all performance-based, in recognition of the 2014 opening and scope expansion. At this point it appears that the city will simply extend the date leaving the question of the 380 incentives open to interpretation. We agree with this as to the 4-A incentives since they are not performance based.”
Send letters to the editor to editor@islandmoon.com
by Dale Rankin
Get your parking spot early and be ready for a great parade
Also a fundraiser for the event with auction items and door prizes. BMG benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Friday, January 30 @ 6:00pm
Stuff I Heard on the Island
KING & QUEEN'S BALL ** 21 and over ONLY ** Veranda Restaurant at Schlitterbahn Upper Padre Cajun Food, Raffles, Zydeco Band, Beads, and a whole lot more! $25 in advance / $35 at the door Tickets available at all Island banks (1st Community, American Bank, Frost Bank and Prosperity Bank) The POA Office and at Boathouse Bar & Grill. Aslo available at Security Services Federal Credit Union on Everhart Check our website soon for online tickets.
‘Bingo at the Beach’ Returning Kiwanis Bingo Fundraiser Fun and Laughs By Brent Rourk Get your ‘daubers’ up for Bingo again as The Kiwanis Club of Padre Island prepares a six week slate of Thursday Bingo nights at the Holiday Inn on North Padre Island. The Bingo games not only serve to provide some winter fun for Islanders, Winter Texans, and folks from Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, but the funds generated from Bingo are earmarked for children through scholarships, the popular Breakfast With Santa, the Island Easter Egg hunt, and other donations to childrens’ causes. The Kiwanis will provide 6 Bingo Nights; January 29, February 5,12,19,26, and March 5th. Each Bingo will begin at 7:00 PM and end between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. The Holiday Inn is located at 15202 Windward Drive on North Padre Island. Admission is $5.00 plus the cost of the Bingo cards.
Act I Maybe it was all just one big MacGuffin. It appeared in Act I as my First Grade teacher Mrs. Odem telling the class the President had been shot. Then Stalin accused me of being a Kulak and took away my bread. He was only 5’1” but he lied and said he was 5’2”. He smelled like old cigars. Short ones. The Dolphins may trade Jim Kiick. “That’s a bad piece of business man, he got cut the same day his house burned down and he got divorced.” We’re going Gonzo man! I look in the mirror. “Oh man, my beard is turning grey!” No, I’ve just been drooling toothpaste. My dear mother’s face faded in and out “chicken soup, clean your room.” Ohio State’s playing for a National Title. “Watch out! Watch out! Coach Woody will punch you in the throat!” I wake up. My throat’s on fire. The sirens are screaming. “They’ve dropped the Big One. Run for the hills. Where’s the Ford Galaxy? Grab the bag of Vienna sausages.” No, the wife just started a fire in the fireplace but the lid is closed and house is full of smoke. Smoke bad. Bad smoke. “Welcome to flight 447 to San Diego, wait, wait! I’m going to San Antonio not San Diego!...Well, unless you’ve got a parachute you are now. “It’s Third and 26 you’re going in. We need to pass. What pass play should we run? We only got one, how stupid of an old boy are you?!”
Act II There’s a ringing in my ears. “Would you like a free trip to Miami?” A free trip to Miami. “Who is this?”
“He broke into the medicine cabinet, keep him away from the record player.” “If you come back in here we’re going to arrest you and your dog. But the dog has a license. Yea, but you don’t.” “What are you doing in my house? I thought this was the Home Tour. It’s three o’clock in the morning!” “Run for it Joe!” “Your honor, that’s a vicious lie spread by all six of the eyewitnesses!” “If that thing was any bigger I have to call the Fire Department!”
Act III The MacGuffin went up in smoke somewhere in Act II, like all good MacGuffins do. “The Six O’clock Boat won’t get you there by Sunday sir, you’ll have to take the trolley. But I’m afraid of heights. That’s okay. So’s the trolley operator. ” “Has the band started yet? Sir, this is the Department of Motor Vehicles.” “You don’t need a writing course; let me introduce you to the Editor.” “Other than your leg General Santa Anna, how was the battle?” “We call ourselves Sad Billy and the Skidmarks. We’re pioneering a new style of music. We sing in one key and play in another. We’re big in Denmark.” I woke up. What year is it? 2015. My God, I’ve been asleep for a year. It started with a wheeze. An imperceptible little tickle as the air went in and out. Then came the cough. The next thing I knew I was listening to the January wind whistle under the bedroom door and then it was Sunday night. Four days gone by.
“Get the shotgun! The Dog Eaters are coming in fast! Shoot low they’re riding Shetlands!”
There's a hard strain of a flu bug going around. It comes with a fever. If you get it your life will pass by you while you sleep. In my case it was in Three Acts. I have to say it wasn’t a terribly bad experience.
“Your honor, I can’t do four years! Well, do the best you can son.”
Other than the flu Mr. Rankin, how was your life?
“The cough syrup has codeine; don’t put in too much vodka. Do they have any flavor besides cherry?”
It may all be just one big existential MacGuffin. I can live with that.
A special dinner/snack menu will be available for Bingo players every Thursday evening and adult beverages will also be available for purchase. Ice tea and water will be available. Please join the Kiwanis Club and other Bingo fans for a chance to win a prize in one of ten bingo games or a door prize. Other surprises throughout the evening. For more information call John at 361-779-0477 or Gladys at 361816-1243.
We now have Gluten Free Pizza!
W illiam a. T hau iii, P.C. “F ormer U.S. N avy L awyer ”
LIVE MUSIC
Thursday John Eric, Friday Brian Winfrey Saturday, Ruben Limas South Texas Grassroots Band Sunday 6:30 - 9:00
♥ Reservations Recommended ♥
Happy Hour M-F 4-6 pm 2.00 dom 3.00 import 3.00 glass wine 7.00 1/2 carafes 14.00 carafes of wine.
Hours: Mon- Thurs 11 AM - 9:30 PM Fri - Sat 11 AM - 10 PM Sun 5-9:30 PM 15370 SPID (Just south of Whitecap) 949-7737
l Divorce and Separation l Child Custody and Support l Adoption/Guardianship
l Auto Accidents l Personal Injury l DWI
l Paternity Cases l Wills and Probate
l Criminal Justice l Military Law
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
th
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Free parking!
Vendor Booths & seminars!!
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A6
January 15, 2015
Island Moon
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Pact Play Promises Laughs ‘Sin, Sex, and the CIA’ Runs for Three Weeks By Brent Rourk
Conversation with Island Realtors
Island Real Estate
Editor’s note: As we move around The Island we run into many people in the Real Estate industry, which of course is a big part of the Island economy. So we have begun passing on some of the things we hear from them in these pages.
January 17 at POA The City of Corpus Christi Solid Waste Operations and the Clean City Committee advise citizens from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th and on Saturday, January 17th, there will be an opportunity to recycle Christmas trees at eight convenient locations. The collection sites will be staffed by volunteers who will help unload trees. In return, those dropping off trees will receive a free tree seedlings based on availability. Only clean, non-flocked (fake snow) Christmas trees with no decorations will be accepted.
This week we ran into Mary Spolans, Charlie Mader, and Steve Sampson over at Keller Williams. Here is a summation of their observations on the Padre Island market (in no particular order). • Dry lots are selling between $47,000 and $49,000 • Prices on waterfront property and condos are undergoing the normal seasonal lull • Prices on daily rentals are at the top of the market
The following locations will be accepting Christmas trees from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10th:
• Some homeowners are selling due to the expected opening of Schlitterbahn this summer; others are holding until after that hoping for higher sales prices
• Wal-Mart – 4109 S. Staples • Wal-Mart – Greenwood & SPID The Port Aransas Community Theatre is starting the new year off with ‘Sin, Sex, and the CIA’, a rib-splitting comedy written by Michael and Susan Parker, writers of last year’s PACT hit ‘Sex Please We’re Sixty’. The complicated plot involves a CIA agent who will make the audience question how he got his job, a Televangelist, his innocent secretary (or is she?), and e-Marine caretaker who is not who he seems to be, a mysterious neighbor, and an Assistant Secretary of State. This fast action comedy is not to be missed. Cast members include Heath Lauseng who plays Daniel the exMarine. Joy Clear shines in the role of Margaret the Secretary of State. Rick Adams does his best as Samuel the Televangelist. Malachi Whetsell, new to Pact, is the inept CIA. Cynthia Beck is Heather, the sexy next door neighbor. Teddi Giggy is back on stage at Pact as Millicent, the questionably innocent secretary. Then there is a mystery actor. You have to see the play to find out who that is. Emily Regier and Denise Keller are co-directors. Pact is located at 2327 State Hwy 361. Show dates are ThursdaySaturdays January 8-24 @ 7:30 PM and Sundays, January 11, 18, and 24 @ 2:30 PM. All seats are $15.00. Tickets can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets or by calling pact at 361 749 6036.
Tattoos in the Workplace Not Automatically Covered by the First Amendment With the increasing number of younger, white-collar professionals who choose to adorn and modify their bodies with tattoos and body piercings, employers are often faced with a difficult decision – whether or not to hire these otherwise qualified applicants based on these modifications. While tattoos, body piercings, and other body modifications are becoming more mainstream, they are still not widely accepted into America’s corporate culture.
• Residential rental property is hard to find (for leasing to live in) and most long-term rentals that become available are gone in less than four days
• Wal-Mart – Calallen • Wood River Community Association – 4410 Wood River Drive
• Currently there is very, very little retail space available and not enough to meet demand. Many developers are looking for land to build retail space but land prices and taxes are too high
The following locations will be accepting Christmas trees from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday,
• There are more $1 million homes for sale in Port Aransas than in Corpus Christi
January 17th: • Wal-Mart – 6101 Saratoga
• Many of the rental units are still going to pilot trainees (thank goodness for flyboys)
• Wal-Mart – Flour Bluff Drive • Flour Bluff High School – 2525 Waldron Road (High School Gymnasium parking lot)
• Ranches are in big demand Dale Rankin
• Padre Island Property Owners Association – 14015 Fortuna Bay Drive
Padre Island Real Estate Activity December 15-December 31
Citizens not participating in this effort may set out trees during their regularly scheduled brush collection days not any sooner. If they want to throw it out sooner they will have to take it to one of the tree recycling events. For set out dates, please refer to the 2014 Solid Waste Services Customer Guide or check online at www.cctexas.com/government/solid-waste-services. Residents can also bring trees to the Collection Center at 7001 Ayers Street for free disposal from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Beginning mid January 2015, residents may visit the Citizens Collection Center to collect freshly ground Christmas tree mulch.
By Cindy Molnar Coldwell Banker
Waterfront Homes Sold 13717 Eaglesnest Bay 15306 Beaufort 13849 Doubloom
Free Public Lectures at UT Marine Science Institute
15358 Mutiny 13554 Port Royal 13729 Primavera
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is hosting Free Public Lectures: Join us for a series of presentations about estuary, coastal, and marine environments - led by the scientists who study them
15825 Almeria
Are you interested in science and want to learn more about fishes, birds, butterflies, or how to survive a tsunami? If so, our free public lectures at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s facilities in Port Aransas and Rockport will satisfy your curiosity. The lectures are free and open to the public. Prepare to be utterly engaged and learn more about the local bay systems and those that are far away.
61 Waterfront homes listed from $289,000-$1,950,000
Public lectures are offered in Port Aransas at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s Visitor Center, located at 630 E. Cotter Ave, on Thursday evenings, from January 15th through March 12th. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
13933 Windjammer
‘Bay Talks’ are offered in Rockport at the Bay Education Center (121 Seabreeze Drive) on Fridays at noon, from January 9th through March 13th. These 45-minute presentations are sponsored by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve.
13909 Lighthouse
14805 Aquarius Average Sales Price $394,525
Interior Lot Homes Sold 13934 Longboat 13954 Ketch 13922 Lighthouse 15214 Reales 14106 Coquina Bay 13953 Binnacle 15682 Cumana 13922 Blackbeard Average Sales Price $249,980 26 Interior Homes Listed from $168,000-$395,500
Waterfront Condominium/Townhomes Sold 14898 Granada #12 Two professors in the College of Business at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi published the article, “Tattoos and Piercings: Issues of Body Modification and the Workplace,” which focuses primarily on private employers, and examines the legal aspects of hiring and employment decisions that are based on the applicant having a tattoo, body piercing, or other body modification. The article, written by Dr. Brian Elzweig, Assistant Professor of Business Law, and Dr. Donna K. Peeples, retired Associate Professor of Management, appeared in the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) Advanced Management Journal, Vol. 76, Issue 1. “In general, discrimination in employment decisions based on tattooing and body piercing is not illegal,” said Elzweig. “However, there are exceptions to this general rule when individuals claim that their tattoo or piercing is part of them being a member of a protected class or religion.” According to the article, courts have consistently rejected public employees' constitutional claims, the most common of which is that the tattoo or piercing is protected by the First Amendment provisions of freedom of speech or expression. Tattoos and piercings are considered to be mutable (alterable) characteristics; therefore, they do not automatically receive any special legal protection. Outside of any discriminatory intent that would be in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) as amended, mutable characteristics generally are permitted as a means of discrimination.
15217 Leeward #1-B 15302 Bonasse #102 13985 Fortuna Bay B 14810 Windward #512 15319 Bonasse B Average Sales Price $185,316 55 Listed From $60,000-$489,900
Spa Packages Starting at $159 Spa Package Retreat
Interior Condominium/Townhomes 22 Listed From $125,000-$305,000
Waterfront Lot 43 Lots Listed From $159,000-$1,200,000
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Elzweig and Peeples have developed a list of nine key points for employers to consider as part of their policies and procedures. Employers should take special care to familiarize themselves with Title VII cases, take claims of religious and other forms of discrimination seriously, know the implications of the dress code, and make employees understand the repercussions of violating the dress code.
361-949-1444
13915 SPID
74 Lots Listed From $38,000-$160,000
Commerical Lots 11 Lots Listed From $150,000-$4,557,465
Day And Night Boardwalk Shopping Center off Kenedy Bridge to the first right.
“Employees need to use discretion in the workplace,” Elzweig said. “In addition, employers need to recognize that the paradigm is shifting and that body modifications are becoming more mainstream.” A Harris Poll survey published in 2008 related information on the prevalence of body piercing and tattoos, as well as people's attitudes toward tattoos. The poll indicated that 32 percent of people aged 25 to 29 had a tattoo, 25 percent of those aged 30 to 39 had tattoos, 12 percent of those aged 40 to 49, 8 percent of those aged 50 to 54, and 9 percent of those aged 65 and over. The study revealed that the percentage of people aged 25 to 49 had become tattooed at a much higher rate than previous generations.
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January 15, 2015
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures On the Rocks
By Joey Farah
By Jay Gardner
Farah’s Fishing Adventures
traffic as much. If we could get some sun at some point, winter time is a good time to see some great plumages on some of these birds.
Things are already getting cranked up this year at a high rate of speed. I always forget that just because it’s cold outside that not everyone is laying on the couch, which is where I want to be with this weather. Either that or Key West…
Bundled up and Catching Fish!
The beach is kind of beat up right now, and I can’t believe I’m writing this, but there is STILL a few pieces of fresh sargassum washing up on the beaches. I have to go back through my notes to 2009 to find sargassum still on the beach at this time of year. Of course, that was a really bad year, as we also still had the dreaded red tide edging into the bays and killing fish. Knock on wood that we’ve escaped the past few years without a kill, and hope that our streak continues. Out on the west coast of Florida, it’s a yearly event. I’m not sure how they have any fish or olfactory acuity over there with as often and as bad as they see it. We should feel lucky on this side of the pond that we escape it most years.
What’s not cold is all the action going on in South Texas right now. This really is the convergence of about everything outdoors. Deer hunting is still going, along with the laguna alarm clocks (duck hunting), dove hunting, fishing, quail hunting, etc. Folks are scattered between the ranch and the water, and some folks are still heading down the beach looking for toothy creatures. James and Dani even bombed up to Ruidoso and did some skiing and snowboarding. Maybe one of these years I’ll give that a shot, but probably would break my leg walking on the ice from the airport to the shuttle right out of the chute.
Still great trout action with soft plastics along all the deep channels and deepest flats
Redfish along the deep areas of Emmortt's Hole on dead shrimp during the "CHILL DOWN"
The TCOON site says that the water temperature is hovering at a balmy 50 degrees. Looking back at previous years, it will remain around this temperature for the rest of the month before starting to edge up a little here and there in February. The cold water temp keeps a lot
Brice let us know that fishing in the canals behind the house is pretty good right now. He caught and released a 28 ½ trout the other evening right out of their green light. Since moving back to the Island, he has patiently honed his ultralight and fly skills, learning how to weed through the smaller trout and get into the bigger slots. Goes to show that we really do have some of the best fishing around, literally in our back yards. Nice on the release too Brice, let that girl get out there and make many more trophy trout. Brice is the owner of Ocean Tackle International (OTI) and caught the trout on one of his new inshore/bay rods that he’s developing. Look for them to be available soon, they’re very nice.
Birding has actually picked up a little now that we’re in our winter doldrums. Some Brice with a canal trout released species like the ruby crowned kinglet, orange crowned warblers, and cedar waxwings of people off the beach during this time of year, have all been spotted around. It wouldn’t but for those who bundle up and get out, the surprise me to hear of an American robin being shelling can be really good. The other day I sighted somewhere. Robins literally blanket the saw spiny cockle shells, a few lettered olives, eastern half of the US, but rarely make it this and actually found two whole sand dollars in far south. It’s only when the cold really pushes the span of about 100 feet at the local beach. them south do we get to see them. Now is also Get out there and add to your collection, and a great time to check out some ducks. You don’t send me pics of the good stuff to jaygardner@ have to use a shotgun, you can use binoculars scientist.com I hear the sheepshead are biting and camera lenses to check them out. Places good right now at all the jetties, maybe I’ll like the Port A birding center, and of course sneak out early at some point and see you On Paradise pond usually have a variety of teal, the Rocks. coots, and shovelers that don’t mind human
Bundle up and enjoy winters great fishing.
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Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) January 15-21, 2015
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 21
Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low
4:33 AM 2:37 PM 5:15 AM 2:52 PM 5:59 AM 3:21 PM 6:45 AM 3:53 PM 7:32 AM 4:26 PM 8:21 AM 4:57 PM 9:10 AM 5:25 PM 11:15 PM 0.9
-0.3 1.1 -0.5 1.2 -0.7 1.4 -0.8 1.4 -0.9 1.5 -0.9 1.4 -0.8 1.3
7:21 AM Rise 2:24 AM 5:56 PM Set 1:42 PM 7:20 AM Rise 3:21 AM 5:57 PM Set 2:30 PM 7:20 AM Rise 4:20 AM 5:58 PM Set 3:24 PM 7:20 AM Rise 5:18 AM 5:58 PM Set 4:22 PM 7:20 AM Rise 6:15 AM 5:59 PM Set 5:26 PM 7:20 AM Rise 7:10 AM 6:00 PM Set 6:32 PM 7:20 AM Rise 8:00 AM 6:01 PM Set 7:38 PM
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January 15, 2015
Island Moon
SPORTS Sports Talk-Special to The Island Moon
The NFL Rules, Not Refs, Are Responsible For the Dez Bryant Catch Controversy By Dotson Lewis Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: By the number of phone calls, Emails and personal encounters I have had since last Sunday afternoon, it appears that almost everyone on the Island was watching the Dallas Cowboys play the Green Bay Packers in an NFL Division playoff game. Some from whom I heard were very serious, and most did not know the rule; but even after my rather lengthy explanation of the rule and how it came about, they didn’t agree with the “no catch” ruling. For the second week in a row, a crucial NFC playoff game was overshadowed by a controversial call at the end of the fourth quarter. In last week’s NFC Wild Card game versus the Lions, the Cowboys were beneficiaries of a picked up flag on a Face Guarding call. (As all of you Moon Monkeys now know, face guarding is not a foul in NFL and NCAA Football). The Cowboys didn’t fare as well on Sunday. A spectacular effort on a catch by Dez Bryant on 4th & 2 with Dallas trailing 26-21 and just 4:36 left in the game, was overturned by instant replay; pretty much sealing a NFC Championship berth for the Packers on the next possession.
with a ball, went to the ground untouched and then regained possession doesn’t count as a catch. How is that good for the game in any way? Instead of a situation where Rodgers needed to complete an Elway-like drive to regain the lead and advance to Seattle, the drama that could have resulted in an instant playoff classic was transferred to arguing a rule definition. That sucks for everyone. Maybe that doesn’t matter to the league’s executives and owners. The ratings for this weekend’s games are likely to be gigantic and controversy certainly will keep people talking about the NFL even more than they would be between now and championship Sunday. But at some point the league has to realize the damage that these constant controversies are doing to public faith in its product, no matter how many people are tuning in to watch them.” This is clearly an incomplete pass even though it may be complete to many casual observers. Bryant is going to the ground, and has not made a lunge or stretch to the end zone before he starts to fall. Those would be completing “an act common to the game” which is the final item on completing the process of the catch.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers played phenomenally while hobbling around on a bad calf while his Dallas counterpart Tony Romo was outstanding as well, completing 15 of 19 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns and zero picks. Yet that battle will be overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the Bryant catch/no catch--a fantastic play regardless, especially after he regained control in the end zone after the bobble.
For as much grief as the officials are going to get for overturning this call, they actually got it right by the letter of the law. On writer wrote: “It’s ridiculous when an incredible athletic play and essentially a team’s season is negated by a controversial rulebook detail. But if there’s anyone to blame for this debacle, it’s the people who have basically made it so that even the most diehard fans, let alone the players themselves, are confused about what actually counts as a legal catch anymore.” In 2010, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson had a crucial touchdown reversed in a Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears after he had clear possession in the end zone, but then touched the ball off the ground. Detroit’s official Twitter account was happy to bring that up on Sunday. In August 2011, the NFL used that play to clarify what constitutes a catch, even posting an instructional video to explain it to players and fans. “If a player is going to the ground in the process of making a catch, he must maintain control throughout the entire process of contacting the ground,’ the narrator of the video says. ‘If the player does not maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, the pass is incomplete.’ The turn of events may seem like some sort of karmic justice to fans who cringed at the sight of Jerry Jones and Chris Christie celebrating a phantom penalty reversal last week. The NFL keeps finding itself repeatedly having to justify its officiating, the seemingly arbitrary nature of certain penalties and now, how a spectacular athletic play in which a player ran three steps
By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon Winton Churchill once said, “There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human, are created, strengthened and maintained.” Let me introduce you to the Frerich family of west Sinton, Texas. Staci and Toby Frerich have attended many tournaments all across the United States, while watching their two children Megan (12) and Tristan (15) compete in a sport that transcends time, a competition where butterflies are common and not the exception, and where “will” doesn’t beat greatness very often. “We have cheered on our kids in extreme heat, cold and rain,” exclaimed Staci. “It is difficult to sit back and watch. We have stressed to both of our kids it is not about the score, it’s about how you execute your shot and your sportsmanship. The score and ranking will fall where it may. There is not anything you can do to change the score, but you can do everything to change your attitude.” I would say this family has its priorities straight. How refreshing at a time where parents sometimes become the problem rather than the solution during sporting events. From the dawn of time, the armies of Alexander the Great, the Japanese Samurai warriors, and the English longbows on the battlefields of Agincourt settled their differences with a bow and arrow. From Robin Hood to the plains
Here’s how NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino explained the reversal: “By rule an airborne receiver must hold onto the ball throughout the entire process of contacting the ground. Is Bryant going to the ground to make the catch? It’s clear. He’s stumbling ... Then we have to look to see, does the ball touch the ground? Which it clearly did, and it came loose after it touched the ground ... The last part which was discussed is, did he make a football move? ... Looking at it, he didn’t so it is incomplete.”
Team Frerich
Mike Pereira (Left)-On the set of Fox Sports The rule is slightly different when a player is going to the ground: the receiver must maintain possession to the ground. Bryant allows the ball to touch the ground, which is okay if he demonstrates a continued control of the ball. He did not do that, so it is a pass that touches the ground: incomplete. Referee Gene Steratore spoke to a pool reporter after the game: “Although the receiver possesses the football, he must maintain possession of that football throughout the entire process of the catch. In our judgment, he maintained possession but continued to fall and never had another act common to the game. We deemed that by our judgments to be the full process of the catch, and at the time he lands and the ball hits the ground, it comes loose as it hits the ground, which would make it incomplete; although he repossesses it, it does contact the ground when he reaches so the repossession is irrelevant because it was ruled an incomplete pass when we had the ball hit the ground.” Dotson’s Other Note: When Gene says “our” he means that the decision was his and Dean Blandino’s. I was positive that as soon the ruling was challenged that it would reversed. Before the ruling was announced by Mike Pereira (Fox Sports) and Mike Cary (GBS Sports), both retired NFL on-the-field officials, said on TV that it was not a catch. That should prove the point, that officials know the rule. A last point for you to consider, if the fact that the covering official, who ruled a catch left the play (momentarily took his eyes off the play) before it was over. If you think the rule should be tweaked and/or changed, how would you word it? I have rules committee members on my speed dial. Your suggestions, comments and/or questions/ concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361-5605397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
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Indians and William Tell, the skill of archery has been used to communicate, to fill tables and stomachs with food, and to defend its owner. Not anymore. The World Archery Field Championships is one of the fastest growing individual and team sports in the world. And guess what. Not only did Megan and Tristan Frerich win spots on Team USA, but they just recently returned from the World hampionships held in Zagreb, Croatia, from August 16-26. Unbelievable! Who knew? Not I and I’ve lived in the Coastal Bend for thirty years. What an incredible accomplishment. Megan and Tristan, who both started at about the age of six,
were two of the thirty-five members of the U.S. Team that was coordinated by the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, to represent our country. Both kids have been training and shooting with the South Texas Junior Olympic Archery Development Club (SoTX JOAD)
which is based in Victoria, Texas. Here’s the best part. Over 400 archers, representing 46 different countries, advanced to the final round; and Megan placed seventh in the Junior Women’s Bare Bow competition, while her brother, Tristan, finished seventeenth in the Junior Men’s Compound Bow, in the world rankings. Congratulations guys, I’m proud of you. In case you’re wondering about the difference in bows used, the bare bow has no sites. Both kids competed in Field Archery which is much tougher than Target Archery. Field Archery requires shots to be made over all types of terrain, where calculating slopes, wind, and light become critical. Target Archery is performed at ground level. Competition archery requires intense concentration, refined repetition through endless hours of practice, timing, and the ability to block everything else out. I find it interesting that in a world where some kids cannot concentrate more than a few minutes unless the information is loud and coming at them at eighty mph, in multiple colors, that the skilled ingredients listed above that are required to compete in world class archery will serve the Frerich kids well in the future. When asked, “Why archery?” Tristan has always felt most comfortable in the outdoors. He became a bow hunter at an early age and started competition archery to sharpen his skills. As for Megan, she’s the little sister everyone should have. She decided if her big brother could do it, so could she. So where do they go from here? I’d say the sky is the limit. Don’t be surprised when you read about these two in the future. Perhaps the Olympic Team a waits. As for mom and dad, I say, “Keep up the good work.” “As a parent, it is very exciting to see your kids compete on a world stage,” said Staci Frerich. “Both our kids were extremely proud when they put on their Team USA uniforms.” That, my friends, is as it should be. 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.
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