Section a for web by Mary Craft

Inside the Moon

Annual LA POSADA

Lighted Boat Parade

Enchanted Forest A2

La Posada 2015 A5

Moon on a Spoon A14

Buck O'Neil A8

The

Issue 606

Island Moon

The voice of The Island since 1996

November 25, 2015

14646 Compass, Suite 3 Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Around The Island By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com By Dale Rankin It’s been a good week for beach fires and beach cruising, beach dogs, and beach firewood. The weather has been up and down but all in all everything is both hunky and dory on our little sandbar. It’s the slack time of year before the chilly winds blows the Winter Texans OTB when we locals huddle around beach fires, gather at the Boathouse on Sundays to watch football (and laugh at those crazy Cheese Heads with those funny hats), and try to figure out how to get a few more RPMs out of our belt sanders to win a few races at The Gaff.

Belt sander races at the Gaff There’s just something about the smell of fresh grass, beer, and the waft of cheap cologne that drifts from a crowd of Winter Texans trying to figure out why a bunch of crazy Texans would want to race power tools. Just be glad you weren’t here for that Great Chainsaw Race; it was ugly. The big shrimp that were in our canals and bay for the past month appear to be moving out to wherever shrimp go when they move out. We’ve had no reports of their presence for the first time in over a month. Water temperature along our shores has moved down into the low 70s this week which marks the onset of Wetsuit Season, soon to be followed by the Hide the Salt Shaker Season.

Kleberg County The Nueces County Coastal Parks Board has begun the process of introducing some order to the 3680 acres they acquired in Kleberg County this year. Parks Director Scott Cross has posted No Trespassing signs on the west side of Park Road 22 where an impromptu shooting gallery has been in place for decades and Kleberg County Sherriff and Nueces County Constables have been issuing warning tickets to duck hunters on the back, Laguna, side of the property. Until plans for the area are further developed the west side of the property is off limits for now. The east side of roadway to the dunes is accessible by foot for bird watchers. Eventually the back side of the property along the Laguna will be made accessible for kayakers and hikers, but for now if you go down there pay attention to the signs.

Of Peckerwoods and Bridgedroppers It is said that the Average Person will spend $365 this Black Friday. We’re not sure that really means anything on The Island because as we wander Around The Island we don’t really see that many Average Persons hereabouts. We got some Do-Gooders, Bridgedroppers, Ferryburners, Duck Hunters – of whom half can shoot above average – and a slew of Garden Variety Peckerwoods, but Average People. Nah, they don’t come OTB much. Remember as we head into this Holiday Season folks, at some level it just comes down to comfortable shoes doesn’t it? So go out and get yourself a pair of $30 flip-flops, you deserve it. Have a great Thanksgiving everybody and say hello if you see us Around The Island.

FREE

Enjoy Great Food and Auctions As parties go it is one of the largest on the Island and after the party is over all of the proceeds from the auctions as well as the toy donations at the door are given to the United States Marines Toys for Tots program. Once again the La Posada Foundation is pleased to invite all Islanders and Flour Bluff and Port Aransas residents to attend this amazing party on December 1st at Scuttlebutts on the Island.

Bring a Toy Kicking off the La Posada events, the Kick-off party for 5 years has been a fun way to begin the Christmas season and to welcome parties and the fantastic La Posada Lighted Boat Parades. The Kick-off party is a top source of raising funds that are given to the United States Marines for their Toys for Tots Program.

Free

Weekly

La Posada Party Kicks Off La Posada Events By Brent Rourk

Photo by Jeff Dolan

Annual

Raising Money and Collecting Toys for Kids For several years the party has raised more money than the prior year. La Posada Foundation President Doug Seefeldt commented, “Last year

La Posada continued on A5

It Wasn’t Thanksgiving: Official – An Alternative But the First Story By Dale Rankin Thanksgiving We all grew up hearing the story of Thanksgiving. You know the in America one, the Pilgrims suffered through tough winter with the help of their was Celebrated aNative American friends and then threw a big party to celebrate and on the South bang, we got Thanksgiving. Well, makes for a warm and fuzzy Texas Plains in that story but that may not be exactly how it went down. 1534 Author Richard Zacks in his book

It wasn’t an official Thanksgiving as there was no such thing yet. It was November, 1534 and four shipwrecked Spanish wanderers making their way across the prairies of what is now South Texas had little to be thankful for – at least until the end of November rolled around and their fortunes began to change.

A Moorish prediction Before 1536 there were 95 Church holidays, plus 52 Sundays, when people were required to attend church and forego work and sometimes pay for expensive celebrations. In 1536 reforms reduced the number of Church holidays to 27 and the Thanksgiving holiday as we now know it began to take shape. Days of Fasting were called for after the drought of 1611, and for relief from the plagues of 1604 and 1622; in 1588 it was the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and in 1705 the deliverance of Queen Anne, then the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Who Will Clean the Seawall? Beach maintenance practices in question

LA POSADA

Lighted Boat Parade Entrance fee is at least one new toy. Festivities will begin at 5:00 PM. Plan to attend for an evening of fun. Order meals from Scuttlebutt’s extensive menu and accompany your meal with the perfect wine. Enjoy both the silent auction and the live auction where many fabulous gifts will be auctioned to the top bidder. Many party goers have started or completed their Christmas shopping at the Kick-off Party, enjoying the wide selection of gifts for all ages.

A little Thanksgiving history

By Dale Rankin

Live Music A18

“The Pirate Hunter – The True Story of Captain Kidd” tells a slightly different version.

England 1695 The story begins in England in 1695 when some of the most powerful men in the Empire put financial backing behind the voyage of ship captain William Kidd whose mission was to put to sea and raid the ships of England’s enemies for plunder and profit. Four-fifths of the cost for the venture was

At El Constante on the north end of the seawall workers have been fighting an ongoing battle with drifting sand to keep the steps clean

Sand has piled up to the top of the seawall just south of the Holiday Inn By Dale Rankin Removing sand from the Michael J. Ellis Seawall and maintaining the adjacent beach will be the focus for the Island Strategic Action Committee in their December meeting. “The way the beach in front of the seawall is being maintained by the city is causing the sand to cover the seawall,” said ISAC Chairman Greg Smith. “The problem is caused by the city but the city is requiring the property owners there to pay to remove it.” The current estimate for removal of the sand is $30,000 for each cleaning according to property owners, and it is estimated the seawall will have to be cleaned of sand three to four times per year. The fine, beach quality sand which makes up the majority of the beach along the seawall was dredged from the bottom of Packery Channel and is therefore easily moved by the prevailing southeasterly wind which pushed it up the seven steps along the seawall. In recent years the sand has covered the entire face of the seawall along much of its .8-of a mile structure.

Seawall continued on A13

Million Dollar Inn Was the first Structure on the Seawall

By Mary Craft When the Michael J. Ellis Seawall was built in the early 1970 The Island was not part of the City of Corpus Christi and therefore no permits were required. The private developers soon built the Million Dollar Inn on the south end of the seawall to use to, among other purposes, to house prospective buyers visiting The Island.

Million Dollar Inn A13

City of Port Aransas Moves to Regulate Overnight Stay Rooms By Dale Rankin The proliferation of non-registered overnight stay rooms, homes, and condominiums on The Island which offer rooms for rent, has been a longstanding and persistent problem. It is not uncommon for people visiting The Island to arrive at their accommodations only to find an empty house with a For Sale sign in the yard, or at a house which occupied by full-time residents after finding the location on an unregulated internet site such as Craigslist.

“Right now we don’t even know how many overnight stay rooms there in town,” City Manager David Parsons told the council during their meeting last week where the new ordinance was passed on the first of three official readings. “This will at least help us start to track things.”

To address the problem the Port Aransas City Council is moving to pass an ordinance to track and register, non-hotel, overnight stay rooms in the city in an effort to introduce order into what has traditionally been a laissez-faire system.

The first step in the new Port Aransas ordinance will be a call for all overnight stay accommodations to be registered with the city and to pay a $50 fee to pay for staff to monitor the system. The city will

Estimates among tourist industry planners is that there are about 4200 overnight stay units in Port Aransas, 1100 on Padre Island, as compared to about 4500 in South Padre Island.

Port Aransas continued on A13

A little Island history

Liberated!

These were Protestant celebrations that were foreign and probably unknown to the four Catholic Spaniards who had found themselves washed upon what is now the Alabama shoreline on November 4, 1528. The men had set out from Spain in 1527 to seek their fortune in the New World. On their voyage to Florida by way of Santo Domingo a Moorish woman had predicted that few of the men who went ashore would survive and anyone who did survive would be blessed by God who would perform great miracles through them. By November of 1534 the four survivors had arrived on the Isle of Misfortune and had little

paid for by noble lords, including the Earl of Orford, the Baron of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury, Sir John Somers, and Lord Richard Bellomont a tall, gout-ridden, sixty-year old Irish aristocrat who was heir to a baronetcy in Ireland but broke. Bellomont managed to bring King William III of England into the project and Kidd was presented with a letter of marque, signed personally by the King which reserved 10% of Kidd’s captured loot for the Crown, and subsequent historical evidence

Unofficial continued on A13

Alternative continued on A6

Lord Richard Bellmont

Editor’s note. This is Part 3 Soviet Occupation of Stalag Luft 1 - Following are excerpts from Islander Sheryl Palmer Wegmann’s book: A Sentimental Journey—the War Years. A book written as a tribute to her parents who belonged to The Greatest Generation. By Sheryl Palmer Wegmann

My father, Leslie B. Palmer, B-17 pilot, was shot down in a raid over Bremen, Germany on November 29, 1943. He was captured and became a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany on the Baltic Sea. In the early hours of 1 May 1945, as the German guards departed Stalag Luft 1, a terrifying rumor was heard. Himmler, with an SS detachment, was located a short distance from

History continued on A15

A guard tower at Stalag Luft 1. This tower was always staffed by Luftwaffe personnel while the camp was in operation. This tower overlooked the shower block, parade area and solitary confinement cooler. Barth Church can be seen in the distance under the tower steps. Photo by Linn C. Stuckenbruck, May 1945

November 25, 2015

Island Moon

The 2015 Second Annual Enchanted Forest Thursday, December 3, at Doc’s

Islander Receives Philanthropy Award

Your will have a chance to buy a decorated Christmas tree on Thursday, December 3, at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks as the Second Annual Enchanted Forest tree sale takes place. The event is a fundraiser for Timmons Ministries in Flour Bluff and doors and bar will open at 5:00 pm, food will be set out at 5:45 pm and the tree auction will begin at 6:30. The ticket price is $25.00 and will include two drink tickets and food, which will be Chicken Quesadillas, Seafood Gumbo, chips , salsa and queso, donated by Doc’s. So get there early and check out the auction items. Tickets can be purchased and picked up at Timon’s Ministries, or from Linda Walsh, Kae Berry, Norma Wright and at the door the evening of the event. The “Twas the Night Before Auction” Private Wine and Cheese Preview Party for all of the Donors of Trees and Wreaths and Sponsors will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Doc’s. Proceeds from this event go to Timon’s Ministries to help them continue to operate their Resource Centers and the amazing programs they run and offer to the working poor and needy in our community. This fundraiser operates on a zero budget and all proceeds are given to Timon’s Ministries, let’s top last years $11,000.00. Check us out at Timon’s Ministries on facebook

If you would like to become a sponsor or donor you can contact Linda Walsh at lawalshva@ yahoo.com and follow us on Facebook at Enchanted Forest and Christmas Tree Auction Gala for regular updates and the Island Moon. If you want to support our cause but not decorate a tree or wreath, you can make a tax free donation directly to Timon’s Ministries.

The Texas Coastal Bend Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored one of our Island property owners at their National Philanthropy Day event on November 18 at the Solomon Ortiz Center. Deneece Squires was selected as their Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year for her tireless work on behalf of the Texas State Aquarium. Aquarium president and CEO, Tom Schmid, emphasized her passion for young

people and developing the next generation of community leaders and philanthropists through the Rising Tide Society. Deneece profusely thanked all of her mentors and encouraged everyone to find their passion and try to make a difference in their community. KEDT representative and Island resident, Leanne Libby, was also on hand as an AFP and event committee member.

Santa and Reindeer Doing Trial Run to North Padre Island

Enjoy Breakfast, Chat with Santa and Get a Photograph By Brent Rourk

The Blue Crab Boutique in Loma Alta Plaza displays their Coastal Christmas Tree. All ornaments are available for sale.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will attend and chat with all interested Island tykes, so Islanders should be thinking about what they would like for Christmas as they review their behavior over the past year. The trip to North Padre Island will serve as a warm-up trip for Santa’s very busy Christmas Eve global trek.

Gratitude Pink Friday Sale!! December 4th 10 am - 6 pm

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Breakfast begins at 9:00 AM behind the St. Andrews by the Sea Catholic Church. Visitors only need to bring a toy for the less fortunate and a healthy appetite so that they can eat a scrumptious breakfast of pancakes and sausage along with juice, milk, and coffee. Parents will receive a free photograph of their child with Santa.

Flo ur B luff Dr.

Ramping up the North Pole Toy Machine as Christmas approaches is keeping Santa, his squadron of Elves, and even the Reindeer extremely busy; however, word has it that Santa and the Reindeer will be taking a quick visit to North Padre Island on Saturday, December 5th to visit the Padre Island Kiwanis Club annual Breakfast with Santa.

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November 25, 2015

Island Moon

Letters to the Editor

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

I am a Seenager. (Senior teenager) I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work.

Plan to attend the PIPOA Night at the Movies on Friday, December 4 on the patio of Schlitterbahn. There will be hamburgers and hot dogs available for $5.00 per person starting at 5:30. The movie will start at 6:30. We look forward to seeing a good crowd.

I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew.

Distribution

I have a driver’s license and my own car.

Pete Alsop Island Delivery

I have ID that gets me into bars and the whisky store.

Coldwell Banker

The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant.

Advertising Jan Park Rankin

And I don’t have acne.

Classifieds Arlene Ritley

Padre Isles Property Owners Association News

Saturday morning, December 5 from 9 to 11 is the annual Kiwanis Club Breakfast with Santa. It is held at St. Andrew by the Sea Catholic Church on Encantada. There is no charge for breakfast, but you are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy which goes to Toys For Tots.

Life is Good!

Production Manager Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft

Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this. Brains of older people are slow because they know so much. People do not decline mentally with age, it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains, scientists believe. Much like a computer struggles as the hard drive gets full, so too, do humans take longer to access information when their brains are full.

Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Todd Hunter

Researchers say this slowing down process is not the same as cognitive decline. The human brain works slower in old age, said Dr. Michael Ramscar, but only because we have stored more information over time. The brains of older people do not get weak. On the contrary, they simply know more.

Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers

Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory problem, it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise.

Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus) Riley P. Dog

SO THERE!! I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can't remember their names. So, please forward this to your friends; they may be my friends, too.

Litter Critter will only be 1 Saturday per month for December, January and February. It will be the SECOND Saturday of each of those months. The location is the wastewater treatment plant at the west end of Whitecap from 7 Am to 4 PM. City brush only pickup will start November 30. Setout is next week. This is NOT a bulk pickup so don’t put furniture, etc. out – the City will not take it. That material goes to the Litter Critter. LaPosada boat parades at in the North channel Friday, December 11 and the South channel Saturday, December 12. Remember to bring a toy if you are going to a house party. The office will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Black Friday Shopping Report

• Books, movies and music will offer the most value on Black Friday 2015 relative to their current prices, while jewelry is expected to be the worst deal.

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.

• 11% of Black Friday deals are the same as last year, per our 2015 Black Friday Freshness Report.

News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.

• Visa, Amazon.com and American Express top the list of 2015’s 50 Most Popular Gift Cards.

The Island Moon Newspaper 14646 Compass, Suite 3

• Consumers can save up to $625 with one of 2015’s Best & Worst Credit Cards For Holiday Shopping.

Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant Pioneer RV Park

Sandpiper Condos

Well it's day 4 and no sign of Hank...Olivia is heart broken. Please continue to keep your eye out for a big rust colored mutt with a scar on his forehead. Any sightings please call me..361 331 8353. Hank is microchipped.

Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

All Stripes Stores

A Mano

CVS

Coffee Waves

Whataburger

Moby Dicks

Doc’s Restaurant

Spanky’sLiquor

Snoopy’s Pier

IGA Grocery Store

Isle Mail N More

Carter Pharmacy

• 47% of major-retailer financing offers have a feature called deferred interest that can make holiday purchases up to 27.5-times more expensive than expected if shoppers aren’t careful.

Angel Celebration

Port A Arts

North Padre

• Most consumer credit cards have a number of forgotten-about benefits that can save shoppers a lot of time and money this holiday season, including extended warranties, price protection and rental car insurance.

Rick Adams

WB Liquors

In memory of my angel, Marg Paton As you may have heard I lost Marg on Wednesday. I think the official cause will be listed as "heart failure following gall bladder surgery" or some such thing. I believe the attached poem I wrote for my angel is closer to the truth.

Larry by Larry Paton God needed an Angel,

He looked at the now,

An Angel of Grace.

Saw a lady so strong.

He searched and He hunted,

A volunteer to the core,

All over the place.

Always singing a song.

Brooklyn Pie Co.

He looked to the east,

He saw her stand tall,

San Juan’s Taqueria

Ace Hardware

He looked to the west.

Her arms in the air.

For He knew in His heart,

Calling to heaven,

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Texas Star (Shell)

He needed the best.

“Take me, ‘cause I care.”

He looked at the past,

Your favorite saying,

He looked at the now.

Came through loud and clear.

Port A Parks and Rec

Island Italian

Holiday Inn Jesse’s Liquor

Public Library

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Chamber of Commerce

Subway

He knew what he needed,

Your motto through good times,

Island Tire

The question was, “How?”

Your motto through fear.

Duckworth Antiques

And all Moon retail advertisers

How do I choose?

Those five little words,

Back Porch

WB Liquor

I need the best one.

“If not me, Then who?”

To be with Me here,

Left nary a doubt,

With Me and My Son.

He had to choose you!

Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place

Flour Bluff

Giggity’s

H.E.B.

He pondered a bit,

And so my sweet angel,

Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Liquid Town

Or lifetimes a few.

He took you that night.

A smile lit His face,

Held in His hands,

For my love, He chose you.

Held oh so tight.

Yes, He looked at the past,

Put you weren’t done yet,

Saw a mother and wife.

An organ donation,

A lady so sweet,

Now your job here’s complete,

Who shared all her life.

Join the Angel Celebration.

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

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

Gratitude in Port A is having a Pink Friday Sale on December 4th 10 am – 6 pm. They are located at 316 Station Street. A La Mode will be opening where the Island Yogurt Shoppe was near Scuttlebutt’s. Chef Vita will be serving gelato and desserts. She hopes to have it open by the end of the year.

• Over 17% of items will actually be more expensive on Black Friday than they currently are on Amazon.com.

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

Texas Watercraft & Marine is offering Black Friday Deals throughout the store with 10 – 50% off. This local fishing and hunting headquarters is located in Flour Bluff at 10621 SPID. They sell ammunition and firearms at a competitive price and offer concealed handgun courses every month. In their Fishzone they carry rods, reels, spoons, gulp and much more. Enjoy free coffee and donuts during this sale event. It’s a great place to Christmas shop for the hunter or fisherman on your list at this convenient location with plenty of parking.

Tuesday December 8 from 7 to 8pm - Island Community Christmas Sing Along - Small group of musicians leading the singing. Bring your chair and be ready to sing your way into the Christmas Spirit! Island Presbyterian Church - Fortuna Bay & Gypsy

• JCPenney and Kohl’s are 2015’s Best Retailers For Black Friday Deals. Publisher

Business Briefs

Here is the Black Friday shopping report from the WalletHub group.

Dale Rankin About the Island Moon

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

Santa will be there for pictures.

Paul Bellino

Lost in Port A

Did Ya Hear?

The Blue Crab Coastal Gift Shop is getting new items to fill the store almost daily. Check out their Christmas ornaments that include seahorses, crabs, mermaids, starfish and more. They also have Island themed jewelry at great prices and much more. It is located near Scuttlebutt’s. Bowlero has opened on Ayers near Saratoga and is the only bowling alley in Corpus Christi. It is located in the former Saratoga Lanes site. The La Posada Kick-off Party at Scuttlebutt’s will have both a live and silent auction with activities starting at 6 pm Tuesday, December 1st. There will be live music and be sure to bring a Toy for Tots to the marines on hand. A Mano is having their 6th Annual After Thanksgiving Sale with 20% off store-wide. The hours are 10 am – 6 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 2nd Annual Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree Auction Gala benefitting Timon’s Ministries will be held at the Doc’s Seafood and Steaks lower level on Thursday, December 3rd. The bar will open at 5 pm, food will be set out at 5:45 pm and the auction will start at 6:30 pm. There will be over 25 beautifully decorated trees and about 12 wreaths on auction. The ticket price is $25 and will include two drink tickets and food. The Annual Kiwanis Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus is set for Saturday, December 5th 9 – 11 am at St. Andrew by the Sea Catholic Church. There is no charge but each child is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy. The Annual Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade this year will have a festival added at the Briscoe Pavilion near Bob Hall Pier. There will be live music, food, displays, artists, a children’s area and much more. Tickets are $5 and free for kids eight and under. The adult themed party will again be held at the Veranda at Schlitterbahn with music by Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra 7 pm until midnight. The La Posada Foundation Golf Tournament will be held at Schlitterbahn Saturday, December 5th with a shotgun start at 9 am. The Boathouse Bar & Grill will be open on Thanksgiving Day and will be serving turkey dinners along with their full menu 11 am – 8 pm. The bar will be open until 2am. Dragonfly Restaurant will have La Posada catering or order to pick up for $10/person. The menu includes chicken enchiladas with poblano sauce, Chicken Osso Bucco with mashed potatoes and fudge brownies. Call 949-2224 to place your order. Island Moon T-shirts are available for only $10.95 plus shipping if necessary or they can be picked up at the Moon office at 14646 Compass. The short sleeve shirts come in grey or white in sizes L, XL and XXL. The tank tops come in aqua and white in sizes medium and large. The Back Porch in Port A will have live music on this, their last weekend of the season with Mark Monaco on Friday night and Cruise Control on Saturday. It’s a great venue to take your out of town guests. Sunday will feature the annual Turkey Bowl and beer specials all day. Correction – The Padre Island Holiday Home Tour will take place on Saturday, December 6th (not the 12th) 1 – 5 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the POA or at the homes the day of the tour for $10.

Send Letters to editor@islandmoon.com

November 25, 2015

Island Moon

Stuff I Heard on the Island by Dale Rankin As we wind down toward the holiday season I’ve got some bits and pieces that pertain to past columns to catch up on…so here goes.

New Island Firestation A few weeks ago I wrote about a plan by the Nueces County Emergency Management District #2 to build a new fire station on The Island and pay for it with higher taxes. Since that column I have been informed that the plan for that station, and the tax hike that went with it, are now off the books. County Commissioner

plies the waters around Rockport in his boat the Gatsby, a replica of a 1920s era craft. Soon after the first of the year, if all goes according to plan, Charlie will have the Gatsby available for cruises on Padre Island; a small boat but a good start. There have been several inquiries from boat captains looking to do charter operations on Padre Island which has never had a charter industry per se; we hope to remedy that soon. In the meantime look for us in the Gatsby in the La Posada Lighted Boat Parade; we’ll be the ones with a lit up Moon…that is if we can figure out how to make one.

Power in the sun

The Gatsby Brent Chesney sent a note this week saying that the plan has been abandoned and the tax increase that was passed was out of confusion between the difference in the Effective Tax Rate and the Tax Rate and Commissioner Chesney is working to get everyone on the same page. It is fair to say the District Board is not the only one in the Coastal Bend that has been confused by the difference in the two. The brush trucks from the Emergency District #2 station in Flour Bluff are the first line of defense against brush fires on The Island which, as we all know, can spread like…well, wildfires. Chesney says the District is moving forward with plans to purchase an ambulance to dedicate to Island use which sounds like a great idea given that the one at Corpus Christi Fire Station #15 on Commodores is often called to duty OTB leaving The Island without an ambulance as the first responder. I commend both Commissioner Chesney and the District Board for hearing the voice of we Islanders.

The Gatsby Last week I wrote about my decade-long attempt to breath some life back into the old Coastways property down by the JFK Causeway. The story prompted a call from our friend Charlie Rouzer up Port A way. By night Charlie is a keyboard man in Port A and with the coming of the Winter Texan season is about to be as busy as the proverbial one-armed man in a piano playing contest. But by day Charlie

A few months back I wrote a story here about the lack of solar panels on Island rooftops. It has always puzzled me why on our sundrenched Island we have so few of them. Historically part of the problem has been getting the big power company which owns the lines to install two-way meters to allow homeowners with panels to sell power back; I am happy to say that is changing – slowly but changing. Without the sellback option batteries are needed and they are expensive.

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Now in San Antonio, where the power company City Public Service is actually owned by the city, a new solar rooftop leasing program has been launched by which homeowners who allow CPS to place panels on their roofs for a twenty-year period will be paid 3 cents per kilowatt hour for the power they sell back to the company. When the program went up there were more than 1200 applicants within the first 48 hours and it looks like the program has caught some traction. The goal there is to provide 20% of the city’s power through renewables by 2016 and the panels are part of the process. It was Victor Hugo who said, “There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come;” and “One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas.” We got sunlight, we got rooftops, what we need is our power provider to steal an idea from our neighbors to the north and bring a similar program to The Island – and by that I mean not just put one on the books but make it happen. It will certainly be slower in coming to our area where the utility is owned by stockholders rather than answering to a city council but the cost of panels is coming down with new technology and the cost of generating power at giant plants will only increase over time. It seems to me that if ever there was an idea whose time has come this would appear to be it. To the sun Icarus, to the sun! On wings of copper and glass!

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November 25, 2015

Island Moon

La Posada Events for 2015 Dec. 1 La Posada Kick-off Party at Scuttlebutt’s Dec. 5 La Posada Foundation Golf Tournament – Schlitterbahn – Shotgun start 9:00 AM Dec. 5 Port Royal Christmas Tree Lighting Party – 6:00 PM at Port Royal Resort Dec. 9 Collector Boat Meeting – 7:00 PM Padre Island Yacht Club

Dec. 10 Parade Boat Meeting – 7:00 PM Padre Island Yacht Club Dec. 11 La Posada Lighted Boat Parade – 6:00 PM North Side Dec. 12 La Posada Lighted Boat Parade – 7:00 PM South Side Dec. 13 La Posada Brunch – presentation of toys and check to the Marines – 8:00 AM (open to PIYC members, Marines, and Parade Boat families).

La Posada continued from A1 through generous business sponsors and all who participated in the auctions at the Kickoff Party at Scuttlebutt’s to all the toys that were given made it a record year for the children. In 2014 we were able to present a check to the Marines Toys for Tots Campaign for $20,600 plus and gave them 5,400 toys.” Seefeldt continued, “One hundred percent of the funds and toys raised go to help make a child’s Christmas special. This year I would love to see us push those numbers way up and make another record year for the children.”

Live and Silent Auctions This year the Kick-off Party auctions promise a wide range of gifts. Currently, there are 175 gift items in the silent auction [some very nice gift items available] and many terrific live auction fun items. Examples of live auction gifts are a Life Martial Arts one month access for a family of 4, a Whataburger suite for 12 at a Hooks Game,

trucks full of toys and we see the smiles on the Marine’s faces.”

Thumbnail La Posada history Corpus Christi's unique celebration La Posada, ringing in the beginning of the holiday season for residents and visitors alike, has continued to grow each year, and is featured in newspapers across the country as a "must see" event. Many years ago the Padre Island Yacht Club (PIYC) decided to hold the first ever La Posada Lighted Boat Parade; thus beginning an annual Christmas tradition. Boats in the parade are well lit with festive lights, and many varied themes & decorations. The boats travel a pre-determined route though the canals of the Laguna Madre. This event is well publicized in advance, and many residents of the Island choose these evenings to host Christmas parties in their homes and on their decks on/off the canals. Beginning in 1998, the PIYC added another

2015 LA POSADA BOAT PARADE REGISTRATION Sponsored by the La Posada Foundation

Please print legibly ‐ ALL of the following information is required

NAME___________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS________________________________________________________________ PHONE with area code_______________________ CELL_________________________ E MAIL ADDRESS________________________________________________________ POWER________ SAIL________ BOAT NAME_________________________________ BOAT DESCRIPTION______________________________________________________ STATE REGISTRATION #___________________________LENGTH_______________ NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANY_________________________________________ Additional requirements: 

CAPTAINS OR A VESSEL REPRESENTATIVE MUST ATTEND THE CAPTAINS' MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2015 AT THE PADRE ISLAND YACHT CLUB AT 7 PM.

 ALL VESSELS MUST MEET STATE & FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.  ALL VESSELS MUST HAVE A WORKING VHF RADIO.  CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE AND PRUDENT OPERATION OF THEIR VESSELS.  ONLY ENGINE-POWERED VESSELS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.  PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE PARADE ROUTE FOR WHICH THEY ENTER.

Indicate Parade Area(s)/Dates in which you will participate: ______FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015. GALLEON BAY/COMMODORES COVE Marshalling area at the entrance to Commodores Canal by 6:30 PM. Parade begins at 7 PM. ______SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015. NORTH & SOUTH OF WHITECAP BLVD Marshalling area by the Caravel Drive boat ramp (north of Whitecap) by 5:30 PM. Parade begins at 6 PM. Instructions: Return this completed registration form Electronically to: Brent Rourk at brentrourk@yahoo.com or Brent Rourk 15606 Gypsy St. Corpus Christi TX 78418. Or deliver it to PADRE ISLAND MAIL PLUS, the PHARMACY at CVS or NORTH PADRE ISLAND ACE HARDWARE. You will receive a confirmation call after I receive your registration form.

The La Posada Foundation accepts a check for 500 a catered bonfire and meal for 10, a candlelight dinner for 8, Hotel stays, Condominium stays, a fishing trip, and more. Both the silent and live auctions will be held outside of the Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant under tent.

Parking Parking is typically tight on the Island when we have large celebrations, so the Island Foundation has secured parking for the La Posada Kick-Off Party in the Loma Alta Shopping Center (where scuttlebutt’s is located), at the Brookshire Hathoway Realtor Office, and at the Padre Island Baptist Church.

It’s All About the Kids

2015 La Posada Parade Routes

The goal of the La Posada events is focused on children. The long used slogan is “It’s all about the kids.” The La Posada committee works for 5 months planning the events, culminating in the La Posada Breakfast (this year on December 13th) at the Padre Island Yacht Club. Lines of yacht club volunteers cheerfully load trucks with toys collected throughout La Posada Season. It is not uncommon to see tears of joy during the truck loading. After months of planning, hard work, and amazing community participation, all present that morning can see the rewards of their hard work, knowing that 100% of the toys will find a child in the Coastal Bend. Doug and his wife Debbie joined the La Posada Committee and Foundation for the same reasons the other committee members did. Seefeldt stated, “A few years later we became involved with the Padre Island Yacht Club and got to see the heart and energy of those behind the parade. I love to see people having a great time at the auctions at Scuttlebutt’s, toys coming in through collector boxes and bags of toys being unloaded from the parade collector boats. But the best part is when we load the big

great tradition; teaming up with the United States Marine Corps with the common goal of collecting toys for the annual “Toys for Tots” drive. Starting in 2011, the PIYC in partnership with a fabulous local Restaurant, Scuttlebutt's began hosting a Pre-La Posada Lighted Boat Parade PARTY which continues this great La Posada tradition. In 2013 we partnered with Port Royal Ocean Resort for a Christmas Lighting Party. The strong growth and history of La Posada has allowed a Foundation to be formed independent of the Padre Island Yacht Club with its own Board of Directors having one goal to support children in becoming responsible and productive citizens. The Board of Directors has supplemented their growing expertise in branding the La Posada Lighted Boat Parade with diversity, innovation, workforce cultivation through student outreach and by establishing working relationships with over one hundred businesses (100) in Corpus Christi. The La Posada Foundation invites all Islanders to attend the La Posada Kick-Off Party for an evening of fun and fabulous auctions. In supporting the La Posada Parades, the KickOff Party, the Golf Tournament and other La Posada events Islanders will be supporting less fortunate children in South Texas through the Toys for Tots Program. In the process Islanders can enjoy parades and parties that are the hallmark of Island Christmas. A Merry Christmas to all and remember; It is all about the kids. Imagine no toys at Christmas. Now imagine less fortunate children with toys. Your Christmas Spirit, generosity, and kindness make it possible.

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Gobble up the savings this Thanksgiving shopping weekend

2015 City Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

By Kelly Trevino, Regional Director, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin It’s that wonderful time of the year again: long lines, big crowds and even bigger bargains. Black Friday, also known as the single busiest shopping day of the year, is this weekend, and retailers are promising deals, specials and promotions. Thanksgiving weekend shopping starts after the Thanksgiving feast and ends with online deals on Cyber Monday. According to the National Retail Federation, Black Friday is consistently the most shopped day of the year, with Small Business Saturday close behind. In 2014, 87 million consumers shopped in stores and online on Black Friday, and 33 percent of holiday shoppers said they shopped on Small Business Saturday. Also last year, an estimated 127 million consumers shopped on Cyber Monday. As retailers gear up for this huge weekend, shoppers are also preparing by making lists and checking them twice. However, before you jump in those long lines for “door buster” deals, you may want to double check the fine print. Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin recommends keeping these advertising sales terms in mind when shopping the Thanksgiving weekend sales: • Sales: The word “sale” should be used only when there is a significant reduction from the advertiser’s usual price. The sale must be for a limited time. • Lowest price: Prices fluctuate rapidly, sellers have a difficult time comparing their lowest price with all competitors. If advertisers claim this, they should have evidence to verify their claim. • Asterisks: If a deal has asterisks and disclosures, they should be as large as possible, as clear as possible and close to the original claim, not several clicks away on a website. Your BBB also recommends following these tips for a safe and successful shopping weekend:

November 25, 2015

Island Moon

• Shop with Trust. Research businesses before you shop, especially with online stores. Go to bbb.org/central-texas to find a trustworthy business and read its BBB Business Review. BBB Business Reviews include how long a business has been operation, how it handles complaints, customer reviews and its BBB rating. Find a BBB Accredited Business at checkbbb.org. • Plan ahead. Take time to print out or clip ads for items you are interested in buying to help outline your shopping day in advance. • Create a budget. Know who or what you are buying gifts for and how much you are willing to spend. As you buy gifts, keep track of the cost and avoid impulse purchases to prevent over-spending. • Beware of advertising tricks and gimmicks: Don’t be misled by tricky wording! Read the fine print on all advertised sales to make sure you are truly saving money, and bring the ad with you. Watch for discrepancies in advertised prices and the prices on the shelf, and verify the real price before checking out. For more information about the most common schemes and cons in bad ads, check out BBB’s #AdTruth campaign here. • Ask about return policies. Many stores have a 30-day return policy, but it is important to read the terms and conditions associated with each purchase. And remember that the refund policy usually applies to the day you purchase the item not when you give the item as a gift. • Think twice about signing up for a store credit card. Some retailers will offer additional savings to entice consumers to sign up for their credit card. However, these cards often times carry high interest rates or annual fees. If you do not plan on shopping at a particular retailer very often, the credit card might not be financially beneficial for you.

Moon Phases

Most City of Corpus Christi offices, including City Hall, Public Libraries, Animal Care Services and Municipal Court will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th. Here’s a list of City office closings and schedules:

Tennis Centers: (holiday schedule)

Garbage Collection: Thursday, November 26th routes will be collected Saturday, November 28th.

• OPEN Friday, November 27th, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Mon. /Tues. /Wed. /Fri. Routes will have no change in collection.

• CLOSED Thanksgiving Day

• OPEN Saturday, November 28th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. • OPEN Sunday, November 29th, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Recycling Collection: Thursday, November 26th routes will be collected on Saturday, November 28th.

Al Kruse Tennis Center:

Mon./Tues./Wed./ Fri. Routes will have no change in collection.

• OPEN Wednesday, November 25th, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Brush: WILL NOT BE COLLECTED on Thursday, November 26th & Friday, November 27th.

• CLOSED Thanksgiving Day

Landfill: The J.C. Elliot Citizens Collection Center WILL BE CLOSED Thursday, November 26th but will be OPEN Friday, November 27th.

• OPEN Saturday, November 28th, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Recycling Drop-Off Sites: WILL BE CLOSED Thursday, November 26th but will OPEN Friday, November 27th from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The locations are the HEB at Leopard Street and Violet Road, the HEB at Alameda Street and Glazebrook Street and the Fellowship of Oso Creek Church at 7402 Yorktown Boulevard. Animal Care Services: CLOSED Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th.

• OPEN Friday, November 27th, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• OPEN Sunday, November 29th, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Public Pools: • Collier Pool- CLOSED Thanksgiving Day • Corpus Christi Natatorium- CLOSED Thanksgiving Day Cultural Services: The Galvan House will be CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th. Gymnasiums:

OPEN Saturday, November 28th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for adoptions and kennel viewing for lost pets.

• Corpus Christi Gym- CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th.

Libraries: All public libraries will close at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25th and remain closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th. All libraries will resume regular operating hours on Saturday, November 28th. The Neyland Public Library will be closed on Sunday, November 29th.

• Ben Garza Gym- CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th.

The following schedule will be observed at City Parks and Recreation facilities and programs during the Thanksgiving holiday: Golf Courses: (holiday schedule) Lozano Golf Center:

November 2015

HEB Tennis Center: • OPEN Wednesday, November 25th, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• OPEN on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. • OPEN on Friday, November 27th, 6:00 a.m. to dusk. Oso Golf Course: • OPEN on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. • OPEN on Friday, November 27th, 6:00 a.m. to dusk.

Latchkey: CLOSED Monday, November 23th through Friday, November 27th. (Latchkey Vacation Station Youth Camp will be offered at Galvan Elementary on Monday, November 23th through Wednesday, November 25th from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Recreation Centers: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th. Senior Centers: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th. Juvenile Assessment Center: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th. 78415 Community Youth Development Program: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th. Senior Companion Program: CLOSED Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29th.

Alternative continued from A1 suggests that the King may have even fronted some of the money for the voyage himself.

Tides of the Week Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) November 12-16, 2015

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

Low

7:46 AM

-0.2

6:57 AM Set 6:27 AM

High

4:18 PM

2.1

5:34 PM Rise 5:47 PM

Low

8:30 AM

-0.3

6:58 AM Set 7:31 AM

High

5:16 PM

2.1

5:34 PM Rise 6:41 PM

Low

9:15 AM

-0.3

6:59 AM Set 8:31 AM

High

6:11 PM

2.1

5:34 PM Rise 7:38 PM

Low

10:01 AM

-0.2

7:00 AM Set 9:27 AM

High

7:01 PM

2.0

5:34 PM Rise 8:35 PM

Low

10:47 AM

-0.1

7:00 AM Set 10:17 AM

High

7:44 PM

1.9

5:34 PM Rise 9:32 PM

Low

11:32 AM

0.1

7:01 AM Set 11:03 AM

High

8:18 PM

1.8

5:34 PM Rise 10:27 PM

Low

12:18 PM

0.3

7:02 AM Set 11:44 AM

High

8:44 PM

1.6

5:34 PM Rise 11:21 PM

Low

1:06 PM

0.5

7:03 AM Set 12:21 PM

High

9:04 PM

1.5

5:34 PM

Moon Visible

98 99 98 95 89 82 73 64

At the time, Bellomont had secured an appointment as Governor of Massachusetts Bay in the New World and was looking to add the governorships of New York and New Hampshire to his resume in hopes of garnering a combined salary of 1800 pounds a year and to reverse his falling fortunes, which he eventually did.

Scheming governor Kidd did indeed put to sea but when he found the pickings of foreign vessels too slim for his likings he was accused, subsequent historical evidence also casts doubt on his guilt, of instead raiding ships belonging to the English East India Company which did not win him any friends in Jolly Old England. Kidd was subsequently arrested in New England where by this time Bellomont was in fact Governor. Charges of piracy were brought against Kidd and he was clapped in irons and Bellomont, while scheming to get his hands on part of Kidd’s loot, was also scheming to keep himself from being blamed for bringing King William into a pirating adventure which could have landed him in the Tower of London or worse. Battling fits of gout with visions of being drawn and quartered made for a chilly October in Boston town for the scheming governor.

October thanks Boston at the time was under the staunch ecumenical spell of father and son ministers Increase and Cotton Mather whose beliefs were far enough on the conservative side that Bostonians didn’t celebrate Christmas based on the belief that is was a pagan holiday. Since the 1660s ministers and governors in New England had been singling out various fall days in October for a thanksgiving, usually based on the harvest season for the local crops. The day of thanksgiving varied by region according to the ripening of the local harvest and in the northeastern portion of the continent that was always in October. But as Governor Bellomont wrung his hands and pondered his uncertain future in Boston he had little to be thankful for until the middle of October when a letter arrived by ship from England. When he opened the letter he learned that Parliament had given orders to the Admiralty to send a ship to Boston to bring

the jailed accused pirate Captain Kidd back to England to stand trial. Immediately, instead of facing trial for making the King a financier of a piratical cruise Bellomont now would be absolved of any guilt, which would now fall exclusively on the woebegotten Captain Kidd, and in fact the Right Honorable Governor Bellomont would be entitled to any of Kidd’s loot that he could find.

Oh Thanksgiving! If ever there was a man with a reason for giving thanks it was Governor Bellomont. He decided that all his loyal subjects should share in his joy and in his jubilation on October 23, 1695 declared that then and forever more the last Thursday in November of each year would be the day of giving thanks for the good fortune that had befallen him; no Tower of London, no drawing and quartering. Thanksgiving for all!

A gouty Lord and a burnt rope But alas his euphoria didn’t last long. The very next day the ship St. Antonio which Bellomont had dispatched to the island of Santa Catalina in what is now the Dominican Republic sailed into Boston Harbor and presented him with a burnt rope, called a “bass cable”, that had once been attached to the treasure Kidd had left there. The rope ended at the water’s edge and had been burned asunder by another pirate who knew of the treasure and sailed off with it. The gouty lord was left to sit in Boston and finger his burnt rope and think of the treasure that might have been. On the positive side, Americans got the Thanksgiving Holiday followed by Black Friday. Captain William Kidd was convicted in a show trial in London then hauled through the streets in a cart from Newgate Prison to the banks of the Thames River in Wapping to be hanged. Along the way he was informed of the death of Governor Bellomont and celebrated in a pub so that by the time he reached the Execution Dock was drunk as, well, as a drunken sailor. He proclaimed his innocence as the floor under him fell away but his bad luck was not over. The rope around Kidd’s neck broke leaving him dazed and sprawling to the ground as he looked up at his three companions on the gallows and saw his fate; he was lifted back up and ten minutes later told the clergyman present, one Paul Lorrain, to send his love to his wife and daughter back in New York, saying that his greatest regret “was the thought of his wife’s sorrow at his shameful death.” Nonetheless the clergyman Lorrain rushed to the printer where he published the “deathbed confession” of the notorious captain which immediately sold 5000 copies in London. Kidd’s body, as was the custom with famous pirates, was left hanging until the waters of Thames washed over it three times before it was removed and carried twenty-five miles down the river to Tilbury Point where the river meets the sea where it was hoisted in chains on an oak gibbet to be “plainly seen” by all the ship traffic going in and out of London.

Captain William Kidd

For the luckless Kidd there was little to be thankful for, but today 319 years later we still celebrate the holiday that his exit from America engendered from a gouty governor with a burnt rope instead of a treasure.

November 25, 2015

More Known about Life in Gulf of Mexico than Ever Before Gulf of Mexico Info Collection Reaches 18 Terabytes More than 2,400 researchers from 214 institutions have collected more than 18 terabytes of data from more than 200 scientific studies investigating life in the Gulf of Mexico. All of these studies, experiments, publications and datasets are part of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information & Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), allowing for Gulf researchers to collaborate in a way that’s never been done before. “We have research on burrowing clams with hydrocarbon traces; jellyfish with a high tolerance for crude oil toxins; zooplankton that react to oil dispersants; gulf killifish with altered reproduction habits from environmental stressors. And that’s just the beginning,” said Dr. Jim Gibeaut, Endowed Chair for Geospatial Sciences at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, and the director of the data cooperative.

The legacy of data and one-stop site Perhaps most valuable in times of crisis, the database, allows researchers quick access to existing data. “The first thing a scientist wants to do when a disaster like the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill hits is find out what we already know about the area of impact,” Gibeaut said. “Well, that means seeking out studies and data housed at different institutions, or, in some cases, not available online at all. This database is greatly improving that data discovery process” With all the research in one spot, scientists and on-the-ground responders will be able to review what’s worked in the past quicker, and use that knowledge to make a more informed plan to mitigate a spill’s impact. Collecting the raw data from more than 200 scientific investigations means the information is readily available for other scientist to review, and use as a springboard for new, innovative projects. For example, all the information collected on how oil dispersants react and affect the ecosystem could be analyzed by researchers working to develop a more environmentally friendly household cleaner. “The data we have could be the key to something we haven’t even thought of yet, something with an impact even larger than the Gulf of Mexico region,” Gibeaut said. The data cooperative is a project of Gulf of

Island Moon

Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), a 10year independent research program established in 2010 through a $500 million commitment from BP to understand, respond to, and mitigate impacts of petroleum pollution on the environment and public health. “This database is promoting continual scientific discovery, raising public awareness of gulf research, and creating a process by which the information is shared and archived, as a legacy for future researchers,” Gibeaut said. Another expected outcome of the more than 18 terabytes of data is informing governmental leaders and future ocean policies. “Science-based policy is a goal of the leadership at HRI,” said Dr. Larry McKinney, HRI Director. “It’s imperative that our state and national leaders understand what is happening in the Gulf ecosystem, and use this type of data to make the best policies that allow for a productive and healthy Gulf.” The data repository for research into the impacts from the oil spill covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including: •

ecology,

•

biology,

•

chemistry,

•

physical oceanography,

•

atmospheric science,

•

human health,

•

sociology,

•

cultural studies,

•

political science, and

•

economics.

Key is Data Sharing “Sharing data early in the process is a shift in thinking for many researchers, but it helps the research community in many ways,” Gibeaut said. “GRIIDC is helping to lower the barriers that have caused hesitation previously in regard to such sharing.”

Duck Destiny By Lefty Ray Chapa Ducks and water go together like rice and gravy. The amount of water across North America determines whether a waterfowl hunter sitting in a blind in Texas has something to shoot at during duck hunting season. More water equals more ducks. Less water makes it more of a crapshoot. Texas sits toward the bottom of the Central Texas Flyway, one of four waterfowl flyways spanning the continent. Water conditions at the top of the flyway, which includes the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the northern states of North and South Dakota, largely determine the breeding season‘s success. June aerial surveys will more accurately pinpoint expectations, but at press time it is known that the Canadian provinces went into a wet winter. The snowpack, however, was less and the winter precipitation was below average, although the seasonal basins remained wet. According to TPWD waterfowl biologist Kevin Kraai, the expectation is that mallard, northern pintail, and blue-winged teal reproduction from this region will be above average. In the Dakotas, similarly, it was wet going into winter, with the large basins holding plenty of water. But the area also experienced belowaverage winter precipitation and less snowpack. Kraai says he “expects good, but not excellent, production from redheads, canvasbacks, bluewinged teal, and gadwalls." These two regions both cover vast areas with different geography, and fortunes could change rapidly depending on where the precipitation lands. All of these variables affect the ducks before they migrate to Texas. As a whole, Kraai points out, “we are riding a wave of good [duck] production over [the last] two decades." He adds, "Except for the northern pintails and lesser scaup, all other ducks are above long-term averages." The good old boys talk about the good old days, but Kraai says, “We

currently may be in the heyday. It's interesting and exciting." Once the ducks migrate to Texas, the dice are rolled from year to year as the water situation here changes, too. The recent drought years in Texas, while bad for ducks overall, have been good for some waterfowl hunters, since the ducks have been more concentrated and easier to find. These fortunate hunters found the sky filled with waves upon waves of ducks, while others found their traditional spots high and dry with nothing flying. This past season started on a wet note, giving the formerly dry ponds and tanks water, which meant waterfowl were spread over more areas. The wider distribution put fewer ducks in the air in front of some hunters, but offered opportunities to more shotgunners across the state. The drawback was that some shooters saw only one or two species. It made for a disappointing day if those species had low baglimit regulations—like redheads or pintails, currently limited to two each. Much could change between press time and opening day, but at this point, it looks like hunters should probably plan on getting the state and federal waterfowl stamps or license endorsements. It could well be a good year. Lefty Ray Chapa is an outdoor photographer/ writer based in San Antonio. He is presidentelect of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association.

Sharing data allows for opportunities to review results of others for verification and to use existing data in new and innovative ways for new research opportunities, he said. It also preserves and collects data over time and from various sources and locations. And it can save money and time, as all the data is online in one place, researchers don’t have to redo data collection or search far and wide for the information. While researchers are the target audience for the database, an interactive tool lets interested members of the public find out what research is happening in their areas simply by highlighting the area on the homepage map. The site also creates tools for researchers that make it easier for sharing all the metadata that is collected during this type of research. That information ensures the data is useable to other researchers and that it follows established scientific protocol. “Through the data accessed via GRIIDC, we can help build solutions to solve real world challenges and use it to enhance educational programs,” Gibeaut said.

Had to share our catch from the rigs south of packery. 60 ft deep on mullet with light tackle. Lynn Holzera

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November 25, 2015

Island Moon

SPORTS Sports Talk

NFL Players Fined For Actions In Week Ten By Dotson Lewis

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon

Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: This is actually three articles in one. I believe each to be interesting and topical to you the Moon Monkeys who are sports fans. My thanks to Caiya Whitehead Tar Heels Team Mom, for the information regarding her Pee Wee Football team.

Carson Palmer-NFL QB Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. Costly reminder for Carson Palmer: If you’re going to celebrate, leave your hips out of it. The Arizona Cardinals’ veteran quarterback was fined $11,576 for a pelvic thrust on the team’s sideline late in their win over the Seattle Seahawks. Palmer has said the gesture was directed to his buddies cheering behind the Cardinals’ bench. But it was captured on NBC’s broadcast, and Palmer paid a price.

Race Against Time

Whitehead said while her team is disappointed, they will continue to play at their best. "I explained to my son that life can be disappointing sometimes," she said. "He's keeping his head up."

Where We Stand – Suspending Sports Officials-National Association of Sports Officials: Sports officials are being suspended in ever increasing numbers. That fact is indisputable. They are being suspended by leagues, conferences, associations and assigners. One could reasonably infer from this that sports officials are performing worse than before. That conclusion is wrong.

On November 7, 1990, the Negro League Baseball Museum, located in Kansas City, Missouri, was created by a group of former Negro League players in a one-room office space that contained a round table and six chairs. In two of those chairs sat Buck O’Neil and Slick Surratt. The story goes; that they took turns paying the monthly rent to keep their dream alive. This office space was part of the Lincoln Building, which is located at the Historic 18th and Vine Street, in the Jazz District.

Sports officials are doing a better job than ever and in the most trying and scrutinized circumstances. They are getting more calls correct more often. How do we know that? We know that from the data being amassed.

Jarvis Landry-NFL Receiver Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry also was fined for a celebration: $5,787 for throwing the football into the stands, which is considered a fan safety and crowd-control issue. Others fined for actions in NFL Week 10 included:

Arthur Moates-NFL Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats: $8,681 for grabbing Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel’s facemask (and twisting it around).

C.J. Mosley-NFL Defensive Tackle Dolphins defensive tackle C.J. Mosley: $17,363 for roughing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford.

T.J. Ward-NFL Safety Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward: $10,000 for unnecessary roughness, on the apparent punch at Kansas City Chiefs receiver Jeremy Maclin that led to Ward’s ejection. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil wasn’t fined for the facemask on Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles that gave the Jaguars an extra play in their win on a play officials should’ve blown dead anyway.

Pop Warner Sacks Kids' Disney Dreams, Despite Undefeated Season After an 11-0 season that included nine shutouts, the boys of the West Philadelphia Tarheels Mitey-Mites were hoping to roll into the playoffs and continue their domination all the way to Disney World. But a mid-season change by Pop Warner officials has pulled the prize of a Florida trip out of the reach of the inner-city kids, leaving them, their coaches and parents huddling together in disappointment. Caiya Whitehead, the team mom, told FoxNews.com that the undefeated group of seven, eight and nine-year-olds had just played their first regional playoff game when they learned Nov. 9 that the prize rules had changed. Pop Warner had decided weeks earlier that they would not be awarding the two top teams a trip to Disney, as was the case last year. Instead, they selected two teams at random for the highly-coveted prize. "We were devastated," said Whitehead, whose son, Kal-el, is a quarterback on the team. "Everyone was crying. It was heartbreaking. These boys work really hard and we've never lost a game." "This was not a fair way to handle it," she said of the decision by national Pop Warner officials. "They should have contacted us before we paid out money for the regionals. We were not told that this was going to turn into an invitationonly thing. We were amongst the teams in the bracket for making it to Florida." Josh Pruce, a national spokesman for Pop Warner, said he was sorry the 17 boys are disappointed but he defended the decision as fair. Pruce told FoxNews.com that Pop Warner has always selected teams at random for the trip to Disney, with the exception of last year. "The Mitey-Mites is a training division that is not competitive," Pruce said Friday. "There's no winners or losers in our Super Bowl." However, the teams played through a playoff system in 2014 and the top two teams went to Disney, according to Pruce. "It became very competitive and we didn't want that," he said. "Years prior it's just been picked randomly and this year they decided to go down that same road." The decision was made by national and Eastern Region Pop Warner staff during the third week of October. That decision, Pruce noted, "was communicated down through the league but then it wasn't communicated very well down to the parents." Bryan Tucker, president of the West Philly Tarheels Youth Football and Cheerleading Association, said he found out about the decision after the Tarheels won their regional game Nov. 7. "We're real sorry these kids are so disappointed," Pruce told FoxNews.com. "There was a lot of miscommunication from adults." Pop Warner said the two teams picked to represent the Eastern Region at Disney World this year are from Burlington County, N.J., and the Jersey Shore -- from leagues that have not gone before, according to Pruce.

We can handle that accountability. But what disturbs us is that errors of judgment made during a contest, whether in fact or fiction, result in the suspending of officials. That trend deserves special attention. The National Association of Sports Officials believes that, other than as stated above, suspending sports officials is a distinctly bad idea. Mistakes are made in every game by players, coaches and officials. Some have little to no impact and some loom large. We seem to have gotten to the point, as it relates to the officials, that any mistake is to be redressed. No “bad deed” can remain unpunished in the new “openness.” Setting aside a discussion about the nature of mistakes and which ones warrant sanction, let’s turn the focus to the sanctions themselves. Most sports officials are independent contractors, unlike those in the pro leagues who serve as employees. Employees have collectively bargained rights to appeal punishments. For the 98% of officials not at the pro level, they serve at the behest of the assigning agency. Thus, with virtually no bargaining power, those officials have to take what is dished out to them. Today, suspensions are being dished out. The knee-jerk reaction to a real or a believed mistake is to publically suspend. There is only one rational answer for such a move — retribution. Suspending an official will not lead to better performance by that official or the others on staff. It will bring fear into the room. That drives morale down. Suspensions make no sense, other than in a PR director’s playbook. Suspensions are a public dressing down. We believe a much saner and productive course would be to protect the standing and ethos of sports officials while at the same time holding them accountable. That can be achieved through other options: levee a fine for demonstrated poor performance; reassign underperformers; evaluate the total body of work at the close of the season and then, with proper documentation, release those officials that clearly have not met a standard of performance, subject to an agreedupon appeal process. The goal should be to motivate officials to do their best while, at the same time, tending to their psychic wellbeing. Good morale better builds a superior product than a hammer. Officials today understand they can be replaced. If officials continue to be suspended for innocuous reasons, or as is often the case, for reasonable judgments, it should be expected that efforts will get energized to find a way for officials to feel that they in fact are stakeholders in sports, that they are more than public-relations pawns. Treating officials as public-relations pawns does not improve officiating or contribute to the integrity of organized sports at any level. Dotson’s Other Note: For many years I have been actively involved in training, hiring, evaluating and firing sports officials. As a major college supervisor of officials, many times it was my job to evaluate and critique the job performance of on-the-field/court officials. I have hired, trained, disciplined and fired hundreds officials. Not once during my tenure was any action I took regarding officials revealed to the media. If requested by a coach, I did inform him/her if an official “kicked one”*. The agreement with coaches and AD’s was that if “we screwed one up,” I would tell them. At no time were they permitted to make public statements regarding my report to them. It was understood that I would take whatever action I deemed best for any situation. In my opinion, if officiating mistakes are made public, the creditability of all officiating would be lost. As far as I am concerned, when officiating, “it ain’t nothing ‘til I call it,” and “I may not always be right, but I’m the referee.” Your comments, suggestions, questions and concerns regarding Sports Talk articles are greatly appreciated, please call the Benchwarmers at 361-560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 5-8 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com *Officiating vernacular for missing a call, making the wrong call and/or just “blowing” one.

In 1945, Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. He became the first African-American in the modern era to play on a Major League team. Jackie would make his Major League debut in 1947. Unfortunately this event, while historic in civil rights history, eventually spelled the end of the Negro Leagues, as many fine Negro League players joined the Major League ranks and their fans followed suit. Some of those names are well known such as Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Roy Campanella, “Satchel” Paige, Ray Dandridge, “Junior” Gilliam, Luke Easter, Hank Thompson, “Minnie” Minoso, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron and Don Newcombe. From 1920 through 1962, the end of the Negro League era, more than 2,500 men and, yes, women contributed to the Negro League games as players, coaches, managers and executives. It is estimated that approximately 120 former Negro League players are still living. Most of them played at the tail end of the era. For them, this museum has definitely been a race against time.

Yet, there has now developed a clamor about officiating errors. The reason is this: There is video to watch and from that decisions and judgments are formed. Yes, video review/replay has come into its own, an existence underpinned by millions of dollars in investment. Today we bear witness to the return on investment and it isn’t a particularly pretty sight. It needs to be said that those of us in officiating welcome being held accountable for the decisions we make. That comes with the territory. We are tasked with knowing the rules and enforcing them – not setting them aside through being lax or deciding to “make it up as we go along.” In those two situations, we deserve punishment and, if what we have done has been egregious, the public should be told that we have violated a trust.

New York Black Yankees, Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Memphis Red Sox.

Buck O'Neil To be clear, this building is not a Hall of Fame. It is important to the Museum that they are not referred to as such. The Negro League Baseball Museum (NLBM) was conceived as a museum to tell the complete story of Negro League baseball. They do not hold any special induction ceremonies for honorees. They believe that the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, New York, is the proper place for recognition of baseball’s greatest players. However, they do give special recognition with their exhibits, to those Negro League players who have been honored in Cooperstown. In 1994, this group was able to expand into a 2,000 square-foot space. They hung photographs and built interactive displays, and a number of film exhibits were added, all commemorating the history of Negro League baseball. With the help of the city, a new 50,000 square-foot building opened in September of 1997, and the Baseball Museum moved into their new space of 10,000 square feet. They opened their doors in November of that same year. Twelve bronze sculptures and many artifacts are now on display. During the 1870s-1880s, over 50 AfricanAmericans had played in leagues with white players. In 1884, Moses Fleetwood Walker, a catcher, became the first Negro to reach the Major Leagues, with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association. White pitchers refused to accept signs from a Negro catcher. By 1887, all the ownership of white teams entered into an agreement that refused to sign anymore African-American players. It would be 60 years before another black player joined the Major Leagues. His name was Jackie Robinson. In 1920, Andrew “Rube” Foster, a former player, manager and owner of the Chicago American Giants put in place the organized baseball group that would become known as the Negro Leagues. Twenty-two different teams made up the Negro Leagues from 1920 until 1962. Some of the more famous include: the Birmingham Black Barons, Chicago American Giants, Indianapolis Clowns, Baltimore Elite Giants, Kansas City Monarchs, Newark Eagles,

As of this writing, there have been 35 former Negro League players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Not all of them played in the Major Leagues, but they were honored for their contributions to the Negro Leagues. Many of them were WWII veterans. As for me, I have been blessed to meet Buck O’Neil on two different occasions and also Slick Surratt. They were together in Houston during the 2005 World Series and were the speakers for the Negro League traveling museum. I wrote about both of them in my Greatness Series books. So, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, it was fitting that the Negro League Museum celebrated its 25th anniversary. Attending the celebration were stars like Hank Aaron, Dave Winfield, Jim “Mudcat” Grant, “Fergie” Jenkins and many more. Current curator, Bob Kendrick, was pleased. Next time you’re in Kansas City, check it out. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. Please visit www.purvisbooks. com for all the latest info on his books or to listen to the new radio podcast. Andy’s books are available online and can be found in the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. Andy can be contacted at purvis.andy@mygrande.net. Also listen to sports talk radio on Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session from 6-8 PM on Sportsradiocc.com 1230 AM, 96.1 FM and 103.3 FM. The home of the Houston Astros.

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November 25, 2015

Island Moon

Dog eats 10 batteries but avoids a shocking ending A 1-year-old dog ate 10 hearing aid batteries and could have suffered a burning shock in his throat. But instead a veterinarian from North Houston Veterinary Specialists (NHVS) surgically removed the hearing aid batteries, making sure their positive and negative poles did not produce burns inside the 7-pound dog named Boogie. Boogie is a Yorkipoo, or Yorkshire terrierpoodle mix. His owner, Cathy Barnard, describes him as “a bundle of energy and love.” But the inquisitive dog does have a habit of chewing on things he shouldn’t. He made a previous trip to NHVS after devouring too much candied popcorn. The batteries presented a different challenge. Boogie had gotten into some packets of the batteries last Thursday, eating right through the packaging. After Barnard and her husband, Jim, saw what Boogie was doing, they counted 10 missing batteries and rushed him to the NHVS hospital in Willowbrook. The batteries showed up clearly on X-rays. Sometimes veterinarians induce vomiting in animals to remove objects that have been swallowed. But at NHVS, Dr. Carissa Blair concluded that vomiting would have put Boogie in too much danger. The batteries could have left burns inside Boogie if their positive and negative poles had touched the skin of his esophagus at the same time while coming back up.

Another concern in cases like this is the fact that stomach fluids can actually break down the batteries, causing them to release harmful acids, said Dr. Natalie Windell, another NHVS veterinarian.

Work continues on the Village by the beach townhomes at the end of Windward Drive. Most of the fifty units, developed by Brite Star Construction, are sold, prices range from $169,000-$174,000.

After Blair consulted with the Barnards, she surgically removed the batteries from Boogie’s stomach. He went back home on Sunday and is how resting comfortably. “I can’t say enough great things about the veterinarians and staff, because Boogie is doing great now,” Barnard said.

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Island Moon

November 25, 2015