La Posada Parade December 12-13
Issue 553
Free
The voice of The Island since 1996
The Island Moon
November 20, 2014
The Island Where Turtles Come to Warm Up!
Weekly
Around The Island By Dale Rankin
th
40
editor@islandmoon.com
Annual
There was a little frost on the pumpkin up Beeville way this week and they brought in the brass monkeys in Swinney Switch, here on The Island Old Man Winter blew in like a lion on Sunday but by midweek his purrings were reduced to a mere catcall as the sun shown through and the wind laid down and all is good on our little sandbar.
LA POSADA
Lighted Boat Parade
La Posada Begins December 2!
While we thin-blooded Islanders grouse about temps in the 50s our soon to be Winter Texan friends up north are digging out of an autumn snowstorm and wondering if the RV will fire up on first try. Hey, look on the bright side everybody, the cool weather eradicated the mosquito population; we’re not doing the Skeeter Dance anymore and that counts for something.
Full Schedule on A4 The big Leap. Photo by Jason Towns
Billish Park Makeover to Include Community Center By Dale Rankin
A 12,500 square-foot, $2.4 million community center at Billish Park will be finished and open for business by early 2016, according to current plans..
Something rotten on Whitecap Several businesses near the Whitecap/SPID intersection had to close their doors this week after sewer gas backing up from the pump station on Whitecap pushed odoriferously offensive odors back up the line and into their buildings. After years of smoke tests, recriminations, line testing, finger pointing, bureaucratic obfuscations, and shameful negligence our city continues to blame the problem on the victims. But this is the first time we know of that local businesses, four so far, have actually had to close their doors due to the stench emanating from city sewer lines. For the last four years Islanders have sought olfactory relief only to be told by city officials there is no problem with the pump station, even as we drive down Whitecap and must roll up our windows and hold our nose. But now the problem is affecting commerce. It’s time for a solution to the nose pollution.
Dearth of Retail Nary a week goes by here at the Word Factory that aspiring business owners don’t stop in with the same question/imperative demand; “We need more retail space! Why isn’t more being built?” A crucial question and a very good one. We know of half a dozen new retail businesses looking for Island space and another half dozen existing ones looking to expand/move. Good luck. As you know there has been no new retail space constructed on The Island for almost five years now, in spite of the steady demand for more. So what’s going on? A telling clue is in the common denominator of three new Island developments currently in the pipeline. That common denominator is a multi-level hotel. The pertinent question is not whether we need more hotels, a question for another day, but rather why the developers, after all looking at the same numbers all came to the same conclusion – without a hotel stand-alone, single-story retail space is too expensive to build. Why? Skyrocketing property evaluations compounded by leapfrogging taxes mean that financing costs and taxes combine for upside down numbers that rule out single-story retail development. Each of the three new development plans includes a hotel to bolster the retail numbers. The hotel is a means to capture the value of air space left unharvested by single-story retail development. The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg isn’t completely dead, at least not yet, but the ligature of taxation has him honking for air. If The Island ever gets a grocery store, look for it to be attached to a hotel.
La Posada Don’t forget that the La Posada Lighted Boat Parade is Friday, December 12 on the north end of The Island and Saturday, December 13 on the Main Canal. Things kick off at Scuttlebutt’s on Tuesday, December 2. For a complete list of La Posada events check the schedule in this issue. We’ll see you there, and in the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.
FREE
After a public gathering last week of members of the Padre Island Property Owners Association, the association decided on construction of a completely new building rather than a design which would have incorporated the current POA building at Billish Park into the new facility. The new facility will included a meeting area, indoor and outdoor kitchens, offices, indoor and outdoor public restroom, and other amenities.
Cold Weather Means Stunned Turtles
“This will be a place for birthday parties, community gatherings, and other events for Islanders,” said MayBeth Christensen, Executive Director of the POA. “It will not cause an increase in POA fees or dues.” Final plans for the new facility are being done by Turner Ramirez Architects with construction by KJM Construction. Groundbreaking is expected in March, 2015 with a nine month construction time. The building will be funded with existing POA monies, either directly or through bank financing using the POA reserves as collateral.
Billish continued on A6
Inside the Moon
Numbers of cold stunned turtles found in Texas during each day of this event include:
November 16 – 0
November 15 – 31
November 14 – 85
November 13 - 2.
All were green turtles except for one loggerhead located alive on the first day of cold stunning. Area
Total
Galveston Area/ Inshore
3
Lavaca/San Antonio Bay
0
Mustang Island/Aransas Pass
1
Upper Laguna Madre & Corpus Christi Bay
50
Padre Island National Seashore Gulf Beach
0
Lower Laguna Madre
70
Boca Chica Beach
0
TOTAL
124
Condition
Total
Alive
122
Dead
2
TOTAL
124
More on A2
Airtales A4
Fishing with Farah A7
Turtles at the ARK with Amanda. Photo by Ronnie Narmour. If you find a turtle, call 361-949-8173 or 361442-7138
A Little Island History
Million Dollar Inn Becomes Braniff Place and Then Becomes Rubble
On the Rocks A7
By Mary Craft The Million Dollar Inn was a fixture on the seawall and was originally part of a larger plan to develop the Island into a Floridastyle destination resort area. By 1972 the original plans had evolved and the role of the hotel had evolved with it. The Million Dollar in was sold to Resort Enterprises which was made up of President Eric Labian and four other investors. The hotel was closed to upgrade the main building and expand the third floor over the portico. The hotel rooms were freshly painted.
Hornets in the Playoffs A8
The Padre Island Investment Corporation (PIIC) located on the third floor would occupy the expansion for more needed space. The corporation initially owned 4500 acres in the mid 1960s and was responsible for island development including infrastructure, including
History continued on A6
Live Music A16
A2
November 20, 2014
Island Moon
The Travelling Moon Gets Around
Cold Stunned Turtles Recover at the ARK
Jordan Goldberg and Rachel Park took the Island Moon to the La Brea Tar pits just outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
PRICE REDUCTION! Beautiful Home! Extra wide garage Beautifully maintained Updated! 15957 El Soccorro Loop
Photos by Ronnie Narmour
Friends of the ARK is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas, Texas by providing education, volunteers and funding. To find out how you can help, visit www.friendsoftheark.org.
$247,500
Above: Cold stunned turtles receiving treatment at the Texas Sealife Center on the Island Photo by Dale Rankin If you find a turtle, call 361-949-8173 Right: We rescued this green sea turtle this week after it was stunned with cold temperatures and hit by a boat prop. Be alert to surface turtles when temperatures drop this winter. They move too slow to escape the boat traffic. The National Seashore and The Ark in Port Aransas are good contacts for turtle rehab. Photo by Joey Farah
November 20, 2014
Island Moon
Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder
Did Ya Hear?
Letters to the Editor Surveillance Camera
A3
by Mary Craft mkay512@aol.com or @padreeyelander on twitter
New Advertisers PIE Bake Sale PIE (Padre Island Enrichment) women's organization is having it's annual Bake sale on Tuesday, Nov. 25th from 10am until 2 pm. Baked goods will be on the front porch of the Keller Williams office on SPID. Come by and pick up your pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving! Support your community scholarship program! Happy Thanksgiving!!
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 Maybeth Christiansen
To me, I have no idea why the owner is so paranoid. Maybe during construction he had a bunch of materials taken. I have no idea. But if he is just a security freak, he just made himself the number on target on the Island. Does anyone have info on this?? Sorry the photo is dark, but you can expand and read the shot I took from the fence that had two of these signs and one on the pole in front of the house with the flash camera, I know he got my photo taking this, so what. This whole thing is very creepy!
Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin
PODS
Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)
Riley P. Dog Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor Dale Rankin About the Island Moon
The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office.
The Island Moon Newspaper 15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper
Where to Find The Island Moon Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant
Coffee Waves
CVS
Moby Dicks
Whataburger
Spanky’sLiquor
Doc’s Restaurant
IGA Grocery Store
Isle Mail N More
Carter Pharmacy
Island Italian
San Juan’s Taqueria
Ace Hardware
Wash Board Laundry Mat
Texas Star (Shell)
Snoopy’s Pier
Holiday Inn Jesse’s Liquor Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant Subway
Chamber of Commerce
Island Tire
Duckworth Antiques
And all Moon retail advertisers
Back Porch
WB Liquor
Woody’s Sports Center Shorty’s Place
Flour Bluff
Giggity’s
H.E.B.
Stripes @ Cotter & Station
Liquid Town
Gratitude Gift Shop Keepers Pier House Port A Glass Studio The Gaff
Parents, grandparents and caregivers are invited to bring kids 1-4 to Tot Time on Thursday, Nov. 20. From 10 to 11:30am, kids can play, learn, socialize and have fun with others as the adults get a breather as well. Tot Time will not be held Nov. 27, but will resume weekly on Dec. 4. Due to holidays, it will not be held Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Other than the holidays it is held each Thursday morning. Meet at the Girl Scout hut in the Parks and Rec building, 739 W Ave A, on corner of Cut Off Road in Port Aransas for the free event
Dance Night Meet some people, get some exercise, learn some steps and just have fun at the next Dance Night. Enjoy music and or dance, your choice. Bring someone or come alone; get exercise or just listen to music. The event this month and December’s will be held at the Community Center, 408 N. Alister St. Dance nights are held 6:30-8:30pm on the third Thursday of the month and will be held at Sharkey’s Beach Club in January and February.
Birding on the Boardwalk
A Mano
Public Library
Tot Time
Port A Arts
All Stripes Stores
Whataburger on Waldron Ethyl Everly Senior Center Fire Station Police Station Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID
Mother Teresa Shelter, Inc. Christmas Giving This holiday season, Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc. and The Mother Teresa Shelter, Inc. invites the community to give the gift that blesses others less fortunate. Between November 19 and December 31, 2014, with each donation of $10 or more to The Mother Teresa Shelter, a beautiful angel Christmas card will be mailed to the donor’s honorees to notify them of the tribute (without specifying the gift amount). For gifts of $25 or more per Christmas card, a keepsake Christmas tree ornament will also be included. The Mother Teresa Shelter, located at 513 Sam Rankin St., Corpus Christi, is our area’s only day comprehensive shelter for the homeless. Each gift to The Mother Teresa Shelter helps our clients come for a place to eat, rest, clean up, and care for their families. The shelter provides breakfast, snacks, laundry and shower facilities, job counseling, mental health services, medication supervision, communication with family and friends, and outdoor, productive pastimes and therapeutic activities to more than 200 people each day. For more than 10 years, our clients have been treated with respect and dignity. This is a wonderful way to Christmas shop and to help the homeless in our community at the same time. For more information, please call (361) 883-7372, email mteresashelter@ diocesecc.org, or go to www.catholiccharitiescc.org.
Port Aransas Happenings…
WB Liquors
Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A
Port A Parks and Rec
Question: We have noticed the presence/ installation of two POD steel containers at the boat ramp on Whitecap. They appear to be storing windsurfing boards for a company that is giving lessons at the same location. I am all for free enterprise but, is this not a public place and POA property reserved for residents? (Can we park our cars/trailers there permanently as well?) If they are using it to run a business are they paying rent? and to whom? Are they insured and is the POA protected in the event there is a loss of some kind? Just wondering.... Adam Stern
Refreshments will be provided, but the public may bring their own. The free event is courtesy of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation.
Sandpiper Condos
North Padre
Pioneer RV Park
I am writing about the new construction house on Aquarius at the second speed bump. I drive by a few days ago and they were installing a camera much like those the city uses for red light offenders in the front yard. The next day they posted big signs that threatened terms as if we were ISIS. I stopped by tonight and it was dark but you can expand the photo to see what it states. To me, this is really strange for the island. I have tried to take photos of the camera and signs during the day but there is always a bunch of vehicles and people around.
A guided birding tour for anyone, novice to expert, is held year round in Port Aransas. Every Wednesday at 9 am at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at the end of Ross Ave, local guide Nan Dietert leads the free tour on the boardwalk. See birds, gators and flora and fauna in their natural setting along the quarter mile boardwalk. Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them. The boardwalk is handicap accessible, but also includes a tower with scope for a birdseye view. The weekly event is sponsored by the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.
Plant & Book Swap/E-Recycling This event in celebration of America Recycles Day was originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, but will be held Saturday, Nov. 22. From 9 am to noon, bring any plants, seeds, rooting, clipping, trees, etc to swap. We also will be trading books and collecting eye glasses and cell phones for redistribution. E-recycling all computers and computer products, printers and stuff will be accepted in a partnership to recycle and keep them out of the landfill. All will take place on the Parks and Recreation Department lawn, 739 W. Ave. A, on the corner of Cut Off Road. Working electronics will be set aside for others to take until the event is over, and then will be recycled. This annual event is a partnership between Keep Port Aransas Beautiful and Port Aransas Parks and Recreation.
Community Park Pool The Port Aransas Community Park Pool will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. Water exercise and deep water exercise will be held Wednesday and Friday, weather permitting.
Beach Walk Bend down and walk off some of that Thanksgiving poundage at the next guided beach walk. Meet Shirley Fischer on 9am,
Friday, Nov. 28, under purple flag at Horace Caldwell Pier, at the end of Beach Street. The free tour will be between the pier and the jetties, and Shirley will share her knowledge and entertain. The walk is held the fourth Friday of each month courtesy of the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.
Our Footprints on the Island Art Show Keep Port Aransas Beautiful will hold its second annual art show on Sunday, Nov. 30. Pieces of any medium will express the island lifestyle and/or the responsibility we have for our environment. Contact Julie Findley at 361947-4343 for more information. The show will be at La Playa Mexican Grille from 5pm-8pm, with a portion of the proceeds going to KPAB. Come eat, drink, admire and buy!
Stained glass class Learn from an expert how to make a beautiful piece of stained glass. Parks and Recreation is offering two classes where you can make and take home a piece or ornament. Cost is $40 each. Both classes will be 9:30 to 11:30am at the Girl Scout hut in the Parks and Rec building, 739 W Ave A, on corner of Cut Off Road. The first will be on Tuesday, Dec. 2, and participants must register by Friday, Nov. 28, by phone, 749-4158 or email, pamg@ cityofportaransas.org. The second will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, and participants must register by Thursday, Dec. 11. Not enough signups could cause cancellation.
Christmas Tree Lighting Mark your calendar now for the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. It will be on Thursday, Dec. 4, starting at 6:30 pm. Mayor McMullin will light the tree. Marlin Academy students will sing Christmas songs. PAISD band members will play holiday songs. We also will have hayrides and free hot drinks and refreshment. Santa will arrive by fire truck and will be available for families or individuals to take photos with him. Come out and enjoy a fun night for the whole family.
Dress for Success wants you to become a Shoe Gooder by donating your professional women’s shoes on Tuesday, December 2nd from 9 am – 6 pm at their office located at 4639 Corona Drive.
Business Briefs Brooklyn Pie Company is now open and serving pizza, chicken wings, desserts and more. They have a variety of beers and wine. You can dine in or carry-out and delivery should be available soon. They open daily at 11 am and are located next to Ace Hardware. The Barefoot on the Beach Mardi Gras Parade and Party will be held on Saturday, February 14th and preparations have already started. There will be more people involved and more advertising. The CC Visitors Bureau will be advertising the event in Houston, San Antonio and South Padre so this should be the biggest one ever. La Barataria at Island Moorings in Port A is now serving sushi nightly and on Mondays you can enjoy it with half price wine and Sake. The Holiday Home Tour presented by Padre Island Enrichment Club will be on Sunday, December 7th 1 – 5 pm. Tickets will be on sale at the home on North Cabana and Three Fathoms Bank on the day of the tour for $10. There will be 10 Island Homes participating in this event. Contact Katherine Pierce at 960-0327 for more info. The Kiwanis Club of Padre Island now has a variety of different kinds of nuts for their annual sale. To contact a member see the numbers in Club News this issue. The Corpus Christi 5K Santa Boogie will be held Saturday, December 13th starting with a warm-up at 7:30 am at Cole Park Amphitheatre. A free Santa Claus costume will be given to everyone who registers. The Rock and Roll Sushi Bar will be opening in a couple of weeks and will have two of the sushi chefs from the Sushi Bar that was located there several years ago. It is located in the building where The Office Lounge was. Third Coast Theater in Port A will feature their annual Thanksgiving weekend with Larry Joe Taylor and Deryl Dodd on Friday, November 28th and on Saturday Larry Joe will be performing with his full band. Tickets can be purchased at their website for $30. Make sure you get them early for this popular event. There is a group getting together to make improvements to Aquarius Park. If interested email us at editor @islandmoon. com and we will hook you up.
TSCRA Submits Comments Opposing EPA Water Rule Proposal The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) President, Pete Bonds, this week made the following statement after TSCRA submitted comments on Friday opposing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposal. The rule would redefine the term navigable under the waters of the U.S. to give the federal government jurisdiction over all water in the country. “As a cattle rancher and landowner, the EPA water rule proposal causes me a great deal of concern,” said Bonds. “If implemented the federal government would have control over all water in the U.S., clear down to the water that falls off the brim of my hat when it rains. “The rule goes even further to expand EPA’s authority to not only water, but also ditches and man-made conveyances that could hold water. Additionally, it would require landowners to obtain costly permits to apply pesticides, graze cattle, conduct construction projects and perform other routine maintenance on their land. These permits can take up to a year to receive. “This rule amounts to the largest land grab in history and would not be good for the cattle industry or the landowners in our country. I hope the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers will take our comments into serious consideration and realize the detrimental impact this proposal could have on our important industry if it is implemented.”
A4
November 20, 2014
Island Moon
Airtales By Jason Towns
by Dale Rankin
It’s a bone-chilling Thursday as I write this week’s column from Sulphur Springs Texas, way up here northeast of the Big D. I’m here awaiting passengers for my newest favorite flying gig: that of “Contract Pilot”. Of course I have a new favorite every few weeks, but that’s why I can keep writing this stuff.
Puddlejumper Drivers for Hire Here’s how it works: light twin engine airplanes aren’t as expensive as folks may think, there are quite a few of them out there and they can actually be both speedy and comfy. Most are owned by small corporations or private individuals and can be purchased for less than some of these modern motor-homes beginning to flood the Island. The typical owner uses his plane for an occasional business meeting in Houston or Midland, a family trip to see grandma in Lubbock, a boys’ outing to the Hill Country ranch or Lake Charles casino, or perhaps a short-notice troubleshooting mission to get an engineer to a refinery in Shreveport. These are occasions which can’t be effectively met with airline tickets, but such infrequent and sporadic use doesn’t warrant keeping a pilot on call and on the payroll either.
Stuff I Heard on the Island We met Elvis and we met Marilyn and we met Mickey and it turns out they are all Island Moon readers. Who knew!?
A Cessna 421 sits outside the private terminal of Sulphur Springs awaiting passengers to return to the Coast. The airplane is owned and leased yearly by Skye FBO of Ingleside. nice one. By mid-afternoon the phone rings and my passengers headed back to the airport. I collect my stuff, check the oil and open up the baggage compartments. After quick stops by the restroom they’re headed home to Ingleside five minutes later; straight-line nonstop with no connections and we all know exactly where our bags are! Plus we’ll all be home in time for
This is where the contract pilot comes in and although it can’t always be described as steady income it’s a great job. Unlike my many exAir Force buddies who work for Southwest or United, I never have to go through a TSA line or be away from my kiddos for days on end. Rather I’m usually airborne within fifteen minutes of arriving at the corporate terminal of Corpus International and I’m often home in time for lunch after a quick drop-off in Sugarland. I don’t need to make decisions by committee with a copilot because it’s only yours truly in the cockpit and when I do stay somewhere overnight I’m not obliged to buy a round of drinks for any pesky flight attendants. There’s no union-dictated seniority system— the paycheck is simply determined by how many airplane owners I can meet through old fashioned handshakes and luck. The bigger the plane the higher the daily-rate and the busier the entity holding the pink-slip, the more we fly. We’re not beholden or salaried to any particular owner so it’s first-call first-fly for our services. I often wake up Monday thinking I’ve nothing to do all week but by Thursday I’ve flown 1500 miles!
We spent most of last week in Los Angeles – or more specifically in the Hollywood secton of Los Angeles. L.A. is like the proverbial elephant and the blind man; it feels like a completely different animal depending on which part you happen to glom onto.
Venice Beach Last time we stayed in Venice Beach and Malibu. I can’t think of anywhere else in the United States which compares to Venice Beach for its vibe and moxy or its scale. Its beachfront retail section is as long as or longer than the boardwalk in New Jersey but has more retail space per square mile than South Beach in Miami. It is one long hippy theme park, complete with a Ferris Wheel visible just up the coast on the Santa Monica Pier, and shops selling every kind of tie-dyed item imaginable that you don’t really need but seem to buy anyway, and twentysomethings in forest green scrubs and sandwich boards outside of ubiquitous medicinal marijuana shops calling, “the doctor will see you now” to anybody who happens by. There’s a guy who for years has made his living by painting himself gold and balancing a brass ball on various parts of his body while wearing nothing but a Speedo. There are artists of all shapes and sizes using everything from cans of spray paint to bottles they found on the street to fashion everything from giant robots to ash trays.
Hollywood
Hollywood and Vine
After their day’s meetings in Tyler I brought the guys on up to Sulphur Springs for an overnight and another day of the same. Most small-town municipal airports have lickitysplit private plane services and surprisingly top-notch terminals which is usually where I kill the time. A comfortable pilot lounge offers recliners, a popcorn machine, internet connectivity and a quiet area to write Island Moon columns... Complimentary “crew cars” are almost always available to grab a local lunch and a quick tour of the town square and I must point out Sulphur Springs has a pretty
At the Hondo airport, former US Army PFC Hector Lopez loads his haul of venison before returning to El Paso from a Wounded Warriors hunt. Lopez was seriously injured by a sniper in Iraq in 2006. The airplane is a Cessna 414 donated for Hector's hunting trip by Gulf Coast Cranes of Corpus. dinner. Trips for other clients this year have taken me and my fellow pilots to many interesting small towns and to choice destinations we’d never have visited otherwise: Paul’s Valley OK, Jennings LA, Key West, Aspen, Nashville and many vintage Texas stops like Uvalde, Hebronville, Halletsville and Leakey. One Flour Bluff airplane owner even occasionally donates use of his bird for Wounded Warrior transport; I’ve donated my services as well and taken two young Veterans this year on trips they simply wouldn’t have made on their own. This particular column wouldn’t be complete without a sales pitch: If you live on the Island but must travel frequently to locations within a state-line or two, you may be surprised how affordable and convenient a small plane can be whether you’d like to own one outright or partner up on a time-share basis. There are several well-qualified local pilots who do such work and-- as mentioned a few columns back— aircraft storage is rapidly coming available over in Ingleside. Don’t worry, we’ll cross the ferry and come back and getcha! If you’d like to discuss options drop me a line at: townsmj@ gnt.net Or as always come see us at Mustang Beach Airport any weekend the sun is shining! Blue Skies….
I actually had one of those L.A.-only conversations. “We’re gonna take the 405 to the 110 up to the 101 until we hit the Canyon.” It’s was very L.A.
Texans We met a lot of Texans everywhere we went; some tending bar, some working the Redbury Hotel where we stayed at the corner of Hollywood and Vine – according to the staff a favorite stop for Spurs Coach Greg Popovich – others driving Uber cabs, and some just in The Business. All of course are trying to break into “The Business.” Some of them remind me of the guy shoveling elephant dung in the circus. “Did you ever think of getting another job?” “What, and quit show business!?”
Uber Lyft One thing I did learn is that our city is missing out by not allowing Uber or Lyft cars to operate here. We took several and the fee was never more than five bucks and it goes right from your credit card with tip included; no cash needed. You can track their location on your phone and mark your destination as well. Even pick the kind of car you want and see a profile of the driver. When we arrived back at the Corpus Christi airport about 1 a.m. Sunday a there wasn’t a cab in sight and we had to give an Islander a lift home. Meanwhile at Houston Hobby where they just began allowing Uber and Lyft cars to operate getting a ride was cheap and easy. At some point the taxi monopoly in our city will have to make some room.
Visiting the Farm Teams Today’s trip took me and four passengers from the McCampbell airport in Ingleside in a very posh Cessna 421 to the rolling hills of Brenham. With no control tower in Bluebellville to coordinate with, we opened the door for a fifth passenger and were off the deck again five minutes later zipping northward to Tyler at a 230mph clip. My passengers are the CEO and several staff of Texas Farm Credit Association, a rural Texas lending cooperative which finances agricultural operations, rural recreational property, agribusiness and other rural real estate. TFCA was created last January through the merger of a Robstown cooperative-- Texas Agfinance-- with another known as Agriland Farm Credit Services. This merger created a massive new territory encompassing 100 Texas counties and multiple additional branches. “Rural” being a key word in their business plan it goes without saying the major airlines are of little help to these guys when it’s time to go visit the troops and make things happen. Everyone knows driving back and forth across this State can eat up productivity in a hurry, so a year’s timeshare in the 421 was something Farm Credit CEO Mark Miller wanted to try. He and all his staff seem to love the door-todoor service and we try not to frighten them any more than necessary. (None of them have heard me use the term “tactical,” yet.)
Hollywood and Vine
An hour’s drive away in Hollywood there is none of that. There are blocks upon blocks of mom and pop stores selling everything from vintage clothes to nine dollar cups of half-caffde-caff-Colombian grade coffee with nutmeg, and Moon dust but there are no street artists; only homeless people. In Los Angeles they don’t have Skid Row they have Skid Drive where the weather, as long as they can stand the annual rain shower, never drives them indoors. I drove thought the eastside of downtown and saw thousands of people living there, “There are a lot of homeless people over there,” I said to a Los Angelino.
Right outside our hotel on Hollywood Boulevard I found the star of Agnes Moorehead, the witchy mother in Bewitched and searched until I found The Duke’s star. Imagine my disillusionment when only steps away I found the star of Judge Wapner! Judge Wapner and The Duke on the same street! If The Duke knew that we would scoop Wapner up by the robe and toss him right out of the courtroom. Or maybe not; that wouldn’t be a very L.A. thing to do.
“They’re not homeless man, they live on the street and that’s their home.” Melrose Avenue is home to hundreds of eclectic stores that would take the interested shopper several days to go through. Intermingled, usually in the middle of the block or on the corners, is a café/bar which in the evening turns into mostly just a bar. Second hand cowboy boots are cheap, food is modestly priced, and every other person you meet has on what looks to be a ripped tee shirt that hasn’t been washed since Timothy OLeary was at Harvard and sends a studied message of nonchalance but which in reality cost $250 and just came back from the cleaners. L.A. is funny that way.
W illiam a. T hau iii, P.C. “F ormer U.S. N avy L awyer ”
l Divorce and Separation l Child Custody and Support l Adoption/Guardianship l Paternity Cases l Wills and Probate
l Auto Accidents l Personal Injury l DWI 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
November 20, 2014
Island Moon
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La Posada Celebration Adds Land Parade
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By Vic Schreck Commodore Padre Island Yacht Club A land parade is being added to the La Posada schedule this year. The La Posada Christmas Parade sponsored by the Yorktown Fire Station and Padre Island Yacht Club will be three hours long and Island residents are asked to muster at the Briscoe King Pavilion at 5:30pm on Monday, December 8th and participate in all of the route or choose those portions of the Parade route that they desire. Three entry/exit points are identified in the parade route attached. Participants need to complete the entry form so the parade planners know what to expect. Bring candy for the children and help collect Toys for the U.S. Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” Campaign. The Yorktown Fire Department in Flour Bluff and the Padre Island Yacht Club have teamed up to launch an Annual Christmas Parade (land only ). The Yorktown Fire Station, led by Chief Dale Scott, has for several years traveled to Padre Island to parade the streets handing out candy to children. This year the Padre Island Yacht Club will join in, along with the Padre Island
ROUTE 1: PAVILION 6:00 P
Letters to Riley
To Encanta Ave,
SOOOOO decorate your home, golf cart, ATV or beach buggy and come out for a great time!
December 12 and 13, Island Moon 2014 Registration Schedule Information
Mustering @ the Pavilion @ 5:30 Start @ Briscoe King Pavilion
For additional information go to PIYC.ORG web site.
40th Annual La Posada Lighted Boat Parade
Monday, December 8, 2014 La Posada Christmas Land Parade Route
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Golf Cart Club. We encourage all golf cart, ATV and Brush Buggy owners to decorate their vehicles and join in the parade. Please bring lots of candy for the children and in turn we will ask Island residents/businesses to provide toys for the U.S. Marines Toy for Tots Campaign. We encourage all Island residents to decorate their homes and businesses on the street side as well as the water side, as we will be judging them from the land parade. Several Categories – Best Island Christmas Theme, Best Overall Christmas Decorations, Best Christmas Fantasy Decorations Most Creative & Joyful Decorations) will be judged and awarded prizes in each category. This Residential/Business Decoration Judging is one of many official La Posada events supported by the Padre Island Yacht Club and waterside judging will follow later in the week.
Registration Island Dogs
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l a u n n A LA POSADA
Lighted Boat Parade
La posada fills truckloads of toys for Toys for Tots every year
La Posada Schedule By Brent Rourk This year PIYC has many events tied to La Posada and Toys for Tots. You can keep posted by going to www.piyc.org (go to Activities – La Posada December 2nd – La Posada Pre-Party at Scuttlebutts Bar and Grill – 5:00 to 11:00 P.M. There will be silent and live auctions. Bring a toy for Toys for Tots. To contribute items for the live and silent auctions during the La Posada Pre-party at Scuttlebutts on December 2nd, contact Dave Zilar at 214-923-3146. December 6th – La Posada Lighted Christmas Tree Party at Port Royal Resort. Be a part of the fun as the large decorated Christmas Tree is lighted. Bring a toy.
December 8th-10th – La Posada Residential/ Commercial Christmas Decoration Judging water side and street side. During these three evenings a team of judges will tour North Padre Island judging decorated residences and commercial buildings. Be ready by December 8th. December 10th – Collector Boat Meeting at PIYC at 7:00 P.M. All collector boat. Captains must attend. December 11th – Captain’s meeting for Lit Parade Boats at PIYC 7:00 P.M. Residential and Commercial. Captains must attend. December 12th – La Posada Boat Parade North side begins at 6, 7:00 P.M. Bring lots of February 2014 toys for Toys for Tots. A flotilla of collector boats will collect toys from docks. People must flash yellow lit collector boats with flashlight to have toys picked up. Enjoy the parade on the North Side of the Island as the boats make two passes around this short course.
Stuff I Heard on the Island
December 8th – La Posada 1st Annual To register for this year’s boat Christmas LAND Parade – 6:00 to 9:00 P.M.. parade, simply fill out the attached registration The Yorktown Fire Department has teamed form and return it to Padre Island Mail Plus, by Dale Rankin with the PIYC to launch this fun community Foundation, International Falls,orMinnesota. the Pharmacy at CVS North Padre Island December 13th – La Posada Boat Parade event. Donate a toy for Toys for Tots. The My friends there will send them to me.it Don’t Hardware. You can attach and email it to South side begins at 6:00 P.M. A flotilla of There are a lot of things happening on our forget…hotdogs…International Padre Island Golf Cart Club will be joining this brentrourk@yahoo.com Falls. or send it to Brent Beach sticker prices collector boats will collect toys from docks. Island this week. Here aremustering a few of them. land parade, at 5:30 at the Pavilion 15606 toGypsy St.Stoopid Corpus Don’tRourk send anything the cats. catsChristi, TX People must flash yellow lit collector boats A move to raise the price of beach parking on Access Road People are welcome to join 78418 Dasmarinas speed5.humps with flashlight have toys picked up. See stickers from the current $12 has to been underway at that point. Drivers on Dasmarinas north of Whitecap will for about a year parade Electronic downloads of forms and information but route. is getting nowhere fast. notice that five new speed humps are now in It will take agreement of the cities of Corpus at www.piyc.org (Home, La Posada, place. Congratulations to Dave Zeiler for his Christi and Port Aransas, and Nueces County Registration) persistence in getting it done.
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to do it and so far it doesn’t appear they are
Schedule Mandatory captains’ meeting 2014 LA POSADAtalking. BOATEven PARADE after theyREGISTRATION agree it will take about No police boat Thursday, December 11th , 2014, at 7 p.m. at a year to get the approval of the Texas General the Padre Island Yacht Club, 13403 Whitecap Corpus Christi Simpson poked the final Land Office sign TheFloyd following information is required. Pleasewhich printmust legibly : off on the deal. Blvd. Parade positions, call signs, paradehole route, in the hull of a police boat to patrol Island The City of Port Aransas sold about $900,000 canals communications and safety procedures will be when he told the Island Strategic Action in stickers last year while Corpus Christi sold NAME___________________________________________________________________ Committee (ISAC) this week that he doesn’t covered. only about $700,000. That has led to some have the manpower to staff it. It could happen ADDRESS________________________________________________________________ Friday, December 12, 2014, Galleonsooner Bay/ or later but as of now it will be later. He grumbling in Port A that splitting the sticker revenue according to linear feet of beach Commodores Cove parade. Marshalling will told be the group that he with would prefer to have a PHONE area code_______________________ CELL_________________________ at 6:30 p.m. Parade will start at 7 p.m. police storefront on The Island and is currently maintained by each entity might need a review. E MAIL ADDRESS________________________________________________________ Stay tuned. Saturday, December 13, 2014, north andlooking south for a location and then will be looking for volunteersPOWER________ to help staff it. He SAIL________ said his goal BOAT NAME_________________________________ sides of Whitecap Blvd parade. Marshalling Island Dog Shelter is to ultimately have an “Island Cop” who is the will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Caravel boatmain ramppolice contact for citizens on The Island. The Island Moon Facebook page – BOAT DESCRIPTION______________________________________________________ north of Whitecap Blvd. Parade will start at 6 He also saidSTATE the PD isREGISTRATION looking into the use of theislandmoonnewspaper – has become p.m. #___________________________LENGTH_______________ the Island bulletin board and by watching
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Left Palmira Ave,
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Right Gypsy,
cameras to catch No Wake violators as part of a
Sunday, December 14, 2014, at 9 a.m. department-wide at the NAME OF INSURANCE computer system upgradeCOMPANY_________________________________________ that it everyday it has become apparent that the number of abandoned dogs on The Island is Padre Island Yacht Club, collected toysshould will be in place by the end of the year. going up steadily and quickly. Some are being be given to the US Marines for their Toys for Additional requirements: abandoned by puppy farms when they become Code enforcement Tots® campaign. Awards ceremony and brunch too old to sell and others, sadly,THE justCAPTAINS' simply CAPTAINS OR A VESSEL REPRESENTATIVE MUST ATTEND Simpson also said as of February 1 CCPD has will follow at 10 a.m. because people don’t want them anymore and
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MEETINGThat DECEMBER 11, 2014 AT THE PADRE ISLAND YACHT CLUB AT 7 PM. taken over code enforcement. means they
know that if& they dump them on The Island we Information Awards will be given for first dumping ALL VESSELS MEET STATE FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. now can help police and otherMUST formerly won’t let them starve. Indeed a large number of and second places in the categories: MOST ALL VESSELS MUST HAVE A WORKING VHF RADIO. non-police offenses and that trespassing is at the good-hearted Islanders are taking the dogs in TRADITIONAL; MOST JOYFUL; MOST top of the list. CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE AND PRUDENT until they can find permanent homes. PATRIOTIC; and BEST ISLAND SPIRIT. Let OPERATION OF THEIR VESSELS. Trespassing we are reaching a tipping point that your imagination run wild. The top boat across ONLY ENGINE-POWEREDBut VESSELS ARE ALLOWED TOwhere PARTICIPATE. all categories will receive the Fleet Award.And speaking of trespassing; the No system won’t work much longer. We need an PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE PARADE ROUTE Trespassing signs that went up on private animal facility where volunteers can take care All boats must have current registration property and WHICH THEY all over TheFOR Island two weeks agoENTER. are of them while they are looking for a home. insurance. now gone. The half-life of a No Trespassing There are plenty of people who will/are helping
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Right Reales Left Whitecap, Left Aquarius, Stop @ Fire Station-Break- Vote Best Decorated Cart-Exit/Entry
is about the same as a Cheeto in but they can only have so many dogs in their Working VHF radios are required aboardsign all hereabouts Indicate Parade Area(s)/Dates in which you will participate: a flock of seagulls. nice human friend Deb. vessels homes. If we had a place where the dogs could be kept there is no shortage of volunteers. ______FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014. GALLEON BAY/COMMODORES COVE ATVs All vessels must meet US Coast Guard safety Marshalling area at the entrance to Commodores Canal by 6:30 PM. Developer Paul Schexnailder has agreed to requirements. The ISAC this week recommended that some Parade PM.beach but donate land near the water tower for a dog park. ATVs be allowed to begins remainaton7 the Only engine power can be used during the only if they are low speed. The question is how Maybe that would be a good place for a No Kill parade. as well. DECEMBER 13, 2014. NORTH & SOUTH OF WHITECAP BLVD to distinguish______SATURDAY, between a low-speed ATV and a shelter Marshalling by the Caravel Drive boat ramp (north Whitecap) 5:30 ATV and it has area now been forwarded Parade registration will not be accepted high-speed after Something is going to of have to be donebyand nowPM. to the City Attorney’s office for legal opinion. is the time to start thinking about what is the Parade begins at 6a PM. the captains’ meeting. best thing to do.
Fire hydrants This is the 17th year we will be collecting Toys Instructions: Return this completed registration form Electronically to: Brent Rourk at Any ideas? for Tots® during the La Posada Boat Parade. A recent testbrentrourk@yahoo.com of Island fire hydrants found that Rourk 15606 Gypsy St. Corpus Christi TX 78418. Or or Brent Toys must be new and in original packaging. 8% failed inspection corrosion. The MAIL PLUS, the PHARMACY at CVS or NORTH ROUTE 3: FIRE STATION 8:00P deliver itdue to to PADRE ISLAND Have a party, have attendees bring a toy and became an issue after a storage facility matter PADRE ISLAND ACE HARDWARE. You will receive a confirmation call after I Right Swordfish, we will pick up the toys at your dock during suffered severe damage over the summer receive your registration form. the parade. Simply flash a white light because at our the nearest fire hydrant was unusable Right Cabana, Under the Bridge to corrosion. collector boats showing yellow flashing due lights Left Commodore, and we will Serving South Texas Seafood forget to you. Be patient; it will Thebe next check will be for water pressure after both busy and dark. Have a camera ready to builder said he had to install a pump in Left Compass, a local Over 30 Years PADRE GOLF CARTS take a picture of the service member collecting a new building because the water pressure from Right Head Sail, toys. the nearest hydrant was not sufficient to get Open Daily 11:00 your - 10:00 Padre Island La Posada Land Christmas Parade Entry Form water to the second floor in case of a fire. Left Frontage
Mustering @ Fire Station @ 7:45
Traditional half-shell season is here!
Left Jackfish,
Hal Linden, TV’s “Barney Miller”, Brings Broadway Hits and Big Band Sound to the Island So if you’re going to have a fire and don’t have University You are invited to participate in the Padre Island La Posada Land Christmas a pump make sure it starts on the first floor but
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s ninth , 2014 from 6‐ 9 p.m. in which we decorate our Parade on Monday December 8 Nails Spa Friday & SaturdayBella’s Only remember, fire burns up. season of The Gloria and Robert R. Furgason carts, ATVs, & Buggies for prizes and hand‐out candy to the children (do not LeftFrom Sea Horse, Bravo! Series presents “An Evening with Hal Professional Nails dozen Care, Waxing, Eyelash Extension 5pm until gone $650 per Linden”, Tony and Emmy Award Winning throw anything from the parade… hazard for children running into the road way). Right Aloha, Daily lunch specials 11-2 Appointments & Walk-ins Welcome Broadway and Film Star and TV’s “Barney th
Right Aquarius,
Hours: on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the I ___________________________________________________________ (name) AlsoAll dogs take notice! Miller” Performing Arts Center. Monday - Saturday 9 am - 7 pm Left Aquarius, Scoopy’s Veranda Sunday 11 am - 6 pm Will be driving an ______ ELECTRIC or Backed by a ______ GAS GOLF CART 7-piece band, Linden, a former Jerky Treats to Return, With Sweet Treats, Soups, Right Amdrosia, big band singer and instrumentalist with the _____ 4 SEATER ______ 6 SEATER or Sammy Kaye ______ OTHER Orchestra, will provide decades Sandwiches Veterinarians Provide End @ Schlitterbahn 9:00Salads P. Vote & Best 361-867-1281 Right Suntan, (add Right Caribbe)
Decorated Cart
Snoopy’s Scoopy’s
(361) 949-8815 (361) 949-7810
15125 S. Padre Island Dr. # 103 13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418
One Bite and You’re Hooked!
Great Seafood and Burgers
Advice
worth of knowledge and talent and an entire
concert filled with an assortment of poise, ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
entertainment and timeless big band, Broadway, The controversy surrounding jerky treats for and jazz standards. CELL PHONE NUMBER: _______________________________________________ pets has resumed following an announcement Tickets are available for purchase online at that two major pet treat manufacturers will soon E‐MAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________ tamucc.tix.com or by calling (361) 825-ARTS return their products to stores’ shelves. or stopping by the Performing Arts Center box The treats in question had been voluntarily GOLF CART ROUTE CHOICES: MAY PARTICIPATE IN ONE OR ALL GROUPS BY office Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 recalled, though members of the public were p.m. General reserved-seat tickets range from CHECKING EACH GROUP. warned by the Food and Drug Administration $26-$36; student tickets are $7 with a valid through a report that approximately 4,500 dogs SandDollar ID. _____GROUP 1: BRISCOE KING PAVILLION THROUGH SEA PINES AREA TO POA had reportedly gotten sick and nearly 600 dogs had died, allegedly from consuming jerky treats. Traffic continued from A1
Wednesday All you can Eat Shrimp 4 PM - Close LibationsRib Specials on Prime Mustering @ 5:30 pm Passing lanes on “The Landing Strip” Amusements Ultimately, an identifying cause of the illnesses Thursday 5 PM until it runs Other improvements along the SH 361 corridor and deaths was never found. Some human foods 18 Holes of _____GROUP 2: POA THROUGH TESORO, AQUARIAS AREA TO FIRE STATION 15 between North Padre Island and Port Aransas, are toxic to pets; onions, garlic, chocolate, Minatureout Golf
All-You-Can-Eat Fried Shrimp Wednesdays Seafood, Steaks, Salads, Burgers 13.95 One Bite
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raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, the sugar colloquially called The Landing Strip by locals, Mustering @ 6:45 pm include $10.5 million, currently not funded, substitute xylitol, and raw or undercooked food to add two “Super Passing Lanes” to State can create major problems for pets. _____GROUP 3: FIRE STATION 15 Mustering @ 7:45 pm THROUGH NORTH END Highway 361 between the SPID intersection on North Padre and Port Aransas. The lanes will AREA (CVS to allow for faster moving vehicles to pass slower moving vehicles without having to cross into Jessie’s Liquor area), ENDNG AT SCHLITTERBAHN PARKING LOT the lane of oncoming traffic, or forcing slower moving traffic onto the shoulder. The new 12Please mail this form to: Bob‐0 Campbell 13606 Moro Lane CC, Tx 78418 or ‐ E‐mail this form to foot lanes will be spaced periodically along the padregolfcarts@aol.com . For more information Call Bob‐O @ (361) 537‐5006 or Vic Schreck @ (214) 668‐6263 18-mile stretch of road. No timetable has been Come join in and drive your Christmas decorated vehicle, hand‐out candy, collect toys for the U.S. Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” campaign and set for the project. enjoy all of the fun.
It is a temporary solution to allow easing of the
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November 20, 2014
Island Moon
Island legends
De Vaca
Editors Note: This is the first chapter of a novel by Moon writer Jackie Bales By Jackie Bales “Heave around, heave around on the main sail, She’s going to broach (Alrededor de tirón, tirón a la vela principal, ella se va a abordar).” It was Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca Screaming orders through hurricane force winds. “Abandon ship and everyman for himself (Abandonar la nave y un hombre por sí mismo)". Cabaza De Vaca had assumed command after Captain Alonso de Solis and Fray Juan Suarez had been washed overboard along with four Monks of his Majesty’s order… The Hurricane was raging out of control on this 27th day in the month of June in the year of his Majesty’s Lord 1528. “Beware the mast, it is coming down” De Vaca shouts, in his Spanish tongue, against the rolling waves and wind as the ship broached into the rolling breakers of the coast line. Each set of breaking waves became larger and larger as the wind screamed in turbulent furry. The bow plows into the sandbar of this remote barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The ships long boats were torn from their davits and ravished by the angry sea. De Vaca helps the remaining passengers from the broken hull of the ship as the water washes across the beam. The ship hurls across the sandbar rolling on its side. The remaining souls are swept to the mercy of the sea.
Billish continued from A1
History continued from A1
Billish Park
canal dredging, bulkheads, streets, sewers, and water. The sales office for the Galleon Bay lots and the lots for future subdivisions was also located in the hotel. The was not yet annexed by Corpus Christi so the city was not involved.
In addition to the community center, plans for a complete refurbishing of Billish Park are about 75% complete with $500,000 in funding from City of Corpus Christi bonds.
When the hotel sold it was reopened as Braniff International Hotels, Inc a subsidiary of Braniff Airlines, which was contracted to manage it and it was renamed Braniff Place but it was not the same hot spot it was under the management of the flamboyant former owner/manager Joe Fay.
The plans call for a surface lake to capture ground water, test wells found there is a fresh water reservoir less than six feet below the surface, and the lake water will be used to irrigate a turf athletic field, trees, berms to irradiate the park’s current ubiquitous grassbur population.
Under Fay people would come from in town, Port Aransas and surrounding areas to enjoy the music and dancing that a live band provided Tuesdays through Saturdays. Joe had connections with downtown and arranged for many community events to be held at the hotel.
The final design for the park is expected in early 2015.
Braniff Place had a restaurant and bar but no entertainment. It also had to compete with the new condominiums at Island House, Surfside and Gulfstream that opened nearby. The modular units where the hotel rooms were located were in disrepair and difficult to maintain. For example, the plumbing lines were behind the preformed walls which made the difficult to get to. PIIC provided free lodging for prospective buyers they had flown in and because of the better accommodations elsewhere, no longer used the hotel’s rooms. They set up most of their clients at Gulfstream because of the large balconies overlooking the Gulf and the panoramic entryway view of the Island that made for a great selling point.
Proposed community center plan
Closed for remodeling
Jobs in Kleberg!
In September 1974 the hotel reportedly closed for remodeling but never reopened. Owners filed a petition in Federal Court seeking reorganization with debts totaling $2.2 million. Creditors filed suit in April 1976 which kept the property tied up in court until 1980.
Job fair Tuesday, December 2 Economic projections for South Texas indicate that over the next four years 65,000 new jobs for skilled jobs for skilled labor will be created.
In the meantime Resort Enterprises abandoned all claim to the property and it was auctioned off to pay creditors in l980. Gibraltar Savings & Loan of Corpus Christi had first claim which was $2.6 million and next was PIIC with $172,000.
Anyone interested in training or working in those jobs can attend a free public jobs town hall meeting/career fair on Tuesday, December 2nd Kleberg County. Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes.
The main building was still being used by PIIC but the hotel rooms were unoccupied and were eventually ransacked and vandalized. It began to attract unsavory types so the county tore it down in 1980.
Door open for the event at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. The event is on the Texas A&M University Kingsville campus in Student Union Room 221, 955 University Blvd., Kingsville. Participating Employers and Organizations are: Border Patrol, Celanese, Corpus Christi Army Depot, Coastal Bend College, Craft Training Center, Del Mar College, Franklin Welding, Kingsville ISD, Rivera ISD, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Kingsville, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend and more.
The main building was razed in l987 and PIIC moved to where the American Bank is now. Prior to the hotel they had their offices located in the building where Johnny D’s is now and a branch sales office near the Shell station.
A Statue of De Vaca in Hourston “Quickly, quickly my darling daughters (Pronto mis queridas hijas)”. Señora Maria Costello Helps her girls climb into an empty salt pork barrel and seals them in. They are Senoritas Alandria and Concelia Costello ages twelve and thirteen. Banished from Spain and exiled to the new world for no other crime than to be the illegitimate daughters of his Majesty Don Carlos. Just then a rogue wave hits the ship in a broadside, as it rolled onto its side, the pork barrel bounds toward the shoreline rolling in the breaking surf. The young girls could not hear their mother’s last cry as she was consumed by the lashing waves. The Expedition had set sail from Spain in 1527, to explore and concur the cape of Florida and the coastal main lands to the West. Separated by the storm from the fleet of four ships and numerous galleons, Cabaza De Vaca and two senior officers were to be the only known survivors at the time. The wooden cask containing Alandria and Conclia bounded southward down the shoreline until it was swept ashore and slammed into the sand dunes by a great tidal surge that rolled down the beach, laying everything in path on higher ground. The night seemed to never end as the two sisters huddled together, victims of natures, waiting for the great storm to subside. The morning came with an ominous sunrise as Mother Nature took her victory dance. The birds have return to pillage through the wreckage. The sea was descending with quite respect of the ones it had claimed the night before. “Concelia, Concelia”, Alandria was frantic to wake her little sister. “We have to go and find the others”, she shouted in her English tongue that she was so found of. She pulled Concelia from the wreckage on the barrel and tried to wake her but it was no use. Her precious little sister did not endure the nightmare.
The only evidence left at the hotel site is the sidewalk that runs from Windward Drive to the seawall and the concrete edge of the foundation.
The program will consist of resources for job seekers in South Texas including various training programs, education curriculum options and financial aid/scholarships. Industry experts have predicted the need for some 65,000 skilled workers in the South Texas region in the next four years.
Some of the information for this story was gathered from Joe Bibbs, the Million Dollar Inn maître d and his brother Herman who was a bartender for both hotels.
Wine, Whine & Design Painting Island Style Workshop
Enchanted Forest and Christmas Tree Auction Begins February 28, then moves to The Island
That’s right artists, you can engage in three of an artist’s greatest pleasures on Sunday, November 23, from 5-8 p.m. when the Art Center of Port Aransas provides the canvas to Wine, Whine & Design.
First is the Enchanted Forest which starts Friday, November 28, 2014 and continues on Saturday and Sunday (29th& 30th). It reopens on Saturday and Sunday December 6 and 7, 2014. This is a free event for local kids. It will be held from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm each day at FUNTRACKERS. The forest of decorated trees are donated by local businesses, groups, individuals, and schools. Kids will walk through a winter wonderland of beautifully decorated trees and lights. Just before exiting the Enchanted Forest Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting each child.
For a $40 donation to the Art Center Land/Building Fund instructor Norma Gafford will help you paint a gorgeous Cardinal – the bird not the Holy Man – by tracing patterns on a simple design. The Art Center provides the materials, which include; a 16x20 canvas, brushes, paint and wine glasses. All you really have to bring is your wine and your whine. Call and pre-pay by Friday as the classes fill up quickly. If you are late and miss the boat you’ll have to whine at home...alone. If an artist whines in the studio when no one else is there does it make a sound?
Christmas Tree Auction Gala December 10
We think not.
On December 10, 2014 the fun continues as the trees are moved to Doc’s Restaurant located on Padre Island. There we will have a beautiful GALA amongst the beautifully decorated trees. The GALA begins at 7:00 pm with wine, soft drinks, cash bar and Doc’s great hors d oeuvres. Around 8:00 pm we will auction off the trees one at a time. Tickets are $20 which includes 2 glasses of wine and soft drinks. Proceeds from this event will be donated to Timon’s Ministries to help with the much needed services they offer to the community.
The full moon arose in full brilliance as if to apologize for the entire ordeal. Little Turn birds were running down the shoreline, cleansing the beach of all life that crumbed to the great ordeal. It was enough for Alandria to set beside her little Concelia for she was the only thing that had purpose in her life. She held little Concelia in her arms all night and rocked to sleep. Concelia was the only thing that really mattered and now life had no further meaning. When the sun came up it was a brutal experience that required shelter but there was none. Alandria dug a grave in the dunes with her bare hands and buried her beloved little sister with nothing to mark the spot. “Lord please take little Concelia to your house in heaven”, she prayed.
For further information or tickets contact Linda Walsh at lawalshva@yahoo.com or Norma Wright at normas_wright@ yahoo.com
The Island Moon T-Shirts The Island Looks So Good On You!
$1.1 Million for Nueces Bay Rookery Islands Restoration in Nueces Bay The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund will provide $1.1 million to restore and protect over three acres of water bird nesting habitat on three rookery islands in Nueces Bay. Critical rookeries in Nueces Bay are less productive as a result of erosion, relative sea-level rise, mammalian predators, imported fire ants, coastal wetlands loss, and human disturbance of nesting sites. This investment will protect the existing islands from further erosion and place 6,200 cubic yards of new material to restore essential nesting habitat. This additional acreage of nesting grounds is projected to support hundreds of additional pairs of wading birds and ground-nesting birds each year. The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), supports projects to remedy harm and eliminate or reduce the risk of harm to Gulf Coast natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To date, NFWF has awarded over $56.5 million from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund for 14 projects in the state of Texas. These projects were selected for funding after extensive consultation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas General Land Office, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Historically, rookery islands in Nueces Bay have supported nesting colonies of various species of colonial waterbirds such as Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, Caspian Terns, and Black Skimmers. Since the 1960s, nearly 12 acres on 40 critical nesting islands in Nueces Bay have been lost to persistent erosion, hard shell dredging, and storm events. This investment would restore 40 percent of the rookery habitat lost, and contribute to overall health of important bird species in Nueces Bay and the Texas Gulf Coast. These projects were developed in consultation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and federal resource agencies. Under the allocation formula and other provisions contained in plea agreements, a total of $203 million will be paid into the Gulf Fund over a five-year period for conservation projects in the state of Texas. Locally the funds will be administered through the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program.
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November 20, 2014
A7
Island Moon
Backwater Adventures On the Rocks By Jay Gardner This weather is for the birds, for sure. This winter is shaping up to be similar to the one last year, which was really not fun. I just got back in town from doing some field work down in the valley, and it was cold and miserable down there too. Guess I need to keep driving south until it warms up some.
Duncan didn't cancel on me regardless of the wind chill factors diving into the low 20's this morning. We smoked limits of drum and all our big reds too. This pic says it all complete style shot in extreme conditions. The gravel beds in the mouth of Baffin is where we sat and filled the box.
Water temperatures in the bay dropped to as low as 52 degrees last week pushing drum and reds into the deepest flats where we loaded up using peeled shrimp on the bottom. Gamefish will slow WAY down when they are cold so don't use popping corks or fast moving baits during the coldest of times.
The birding down in the valley was great though. There were kestrels on every fence and power line, we saw more crested cara-cara’s than I’ve ever seen in one place, and the sandhill cranes have made it down there too. There were white crowned and chipping sparrows all over. These little specialty birds are typically found sitting on piles of brush. Now, I know that not everyone has the room or desire to have a pile of brush laying around in their yard, but I’m sure there’s someplace around that has one. Keep your eyes peeled for brush piles and have your binos ready. In addition, there are also a lot of lark sparrows running around in fields and along fence lines as well. These little sparrows have a distinctive dot on their chest and are easily identified by that marking. In fact, there are a lot of sparrows around during this time of year, and if you’d like to get into something new regarding birds, give those guys a shot. The Audubon birding boardwalk in the Packery Channel Park area, as well as the new Packery Channel Park boardwalk are great places to start looking.
Rachel with a solid flounder limit deeper channels. It is in the deeper water that you can target them easier and really get into a mess of fish, as we did this past weekend. Of course Rachel was the big winner again, putting a hurt on the boys as she usually does. Work your lures really, really slowly, and of course read Joey’s article on specific spots to hit, and also how to contact him if you want a ride to the best spots. Don’t forget flounder season has a reduced limit from October until December 14th with only a two fish bag limit. Hit up Operation Game Thief if you see someone getting greedy. The number is on your fishing license.
Speaking of the Packery Channel boardwalk, if you haven’t been out there yet, you need to go see it. It extends from the current boardwalk near the oak motte out into the field there at the Park. I suggest you go check it out before they get in there and start planting so you can see the before and after conditions. It really is going to be something. This project was/will be constructed with CIAP funds from Nueces County and of course our friends over at the CBBEP. I can’t wait to see this project come to fruition. It will be quite a birding mecca once completed by about this time next year.
By the time you get this in your hands I will be planning a week long furlough to be spent vacationing around here. I usually take the whole Thanksgiving week off and get into a variety of trouble. We will of course be down the beach for a portion of it, and I can’t wait to get back down south. Unfortunately, I may be a complete slacker and having too much fun next week to get around a computer and get another gripping article out to you loyal readers, so we will have to catch up in December. If you don’t hear from me, have a great Thanksgiving and I’ll be On the Rocks!
At least the fishing has been decent with the cold temperatures. As the cold fronts rip through the coastal bend the water temperatures drop dramatically and push all the fish into the
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This great family came in for their first bay trip and first duck hunt. We had a great full day on the water together.
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Left: Youth duck hunts are something special, and a great Christmas present.
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Tides of the Week
Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) November 20-26, 2014
Day
High /Low
Tide Time
Height in Feet
Sunrise Moon Time Sunset
Th F Sa Su M Tu W
20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26
Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High
7:00 AM 3:16 PM 7:29 AM 4:02 PM 8:01 AM 4:49 PM 8:37 AM 5:36 PM 9:18 AM 6:24 PM 10:03 AM 7:10 PM 10:51 AM 7:52 PM
0.3 1.9 0.1 2.0 -0.1 2.1 -0.2 2.1 -0.2 2.1 -0.2 2.1 -0.1 2.0
6:54 AM Rise 5:01 AM 5:35 PM Set 4:31 PM 6:55 AM Rise 5:58 AM 5:35 PM Set 5:15 PM 6:55 AM Rise 6:56 AM 5:35 PM Set 6:04 PM 6:56 AM Rise 7:54 AM 5:35 PM Set 6:58 PM 6:57 AM Rise 8:52 AM 5:34 PM Set 7:56 PM 6:58 AM Rise 9:47 AM 5:34 PM Set 8:56 PM 6:58 AM Rise 10:38 AM 5:34 PM Set 9:59 PM
Moon Visible
7
Island Creations Remodeling
3
Total Renovation & Remodels, Outdoor Kitchens & Spas, Additions, Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades, Sunporches, Replacement of Windows and Doors, Roofing, Painting & Stucco
0 0 2 6 13
Landscaping Insured Member, Padre Island Business Association Member, Builders Association, Corpus Christi
960-0327
Design work, Yard Maintenance, Decks, Pergolas, Installation of Rock, Grass, Plants, Trees, Walkways, Paths, Tree Trimming, Container Planting, Vacant Lot Mowing & Shade Covers. All Kinds of Fencing, Pressure Washing & Deck Staining & Sealing
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A8
November 20, 2014
Island Moon
SPORTS Flour Bluff vs Mission Veterans Memorial Sports Talk-Special to The Island Moon By Dotson Lewis Dotson’s Note: If Flour Bluff defeats Mission Veterans Memorial, they will play the winner of the Austin Vandergrift-Lockhart game. Flour Bluff hosts Mission Veterans Memorial in the area round at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Flour Bluff’s home field. After Flour Bluff’s win over San Antonio South Side last Friday, here are some of the things being written and said about the Flour Bluff Hornets football team.
Later after a few long strides down the visitors’ sideline, Brewer scored a 60-yard touchdown. Southside (8-3) turned the ball over on downs in Bluff territory near midfield shortly after, giving the Hornets a chance to increase their lead. They did, leaning on their passing attack. Brewer’s 25-yard pitch and catch with Kevin Dewitt was followed by three straight runs, and then a Brewer-Dilworth hookup moved the chains on a fourth and five. Dewitt Brewer went 24 yards down the left side for a 14-0 lead after the extra point. Dewitt went on to catch two more touchdowns in the second half — plays of 55 and 72 yards, respectively — and Dilworth got in on the fun with a 19-yard touchdown catch to complete the Hornets’ scoring in the fourth. “It was more (exploitation), I should say,” Dewitt said. “They were just rolling down the safety, he was really close. We were just exploiting the differences between our physical abilities because I’m, for the most part, predominately faster than other (defensive backs).”
Flour Bluff’s defense is making a strong case for a share of the headlines the high-scoring offense regularly hogs.
Brandon Herrera keyed Southside’s breakout in the fourth, throwing for two scores and running for another.
Its latest showcase: three shutout quarters during Friday’s Class 5A Division I bi-district game at San Antonio Southside, which it highlighted with a handful of forced turnovers on downs and Travis Granberry’s pick-6 in the second.
Here are some tweets that have been posted regarding the area play-off game between the Flour Bluff Hornets and the Mission Veteran Memorial Patriots:
The Hornets’ offense scored 21 points while the Cardinals were denied one, adding a pair of touchdowns late in a 42-21 win to deal Southside its first loss at home this season. “When you have such a prolific offense, sometimes they don’t get the attention or notoriety they deserve,” Flour Bluff coach Chris Steinbruck said. “We feel good, as a defense, when we do our job and help because our offense is averaging 40 points a game.” “Earlier in the game, I messed up on the coverage and I was way off the guy,” Granberry said of a play similar to the one he spoiled for a defensive score. “They just tried to get to the sticks with that short route and it was the same situation, so I was just expecting it. I saw him break outside and jumped the route.” Granberry’s touchdown gave the Hornets (110) a 21-0 lead heading into the half. But shades of Week 11’s slow start at Alice were present early on, as the Bluff went three and out without gaining a yard on its first possession. And as was the case during that regular-season finale, the Hornets’ defense sparked their offense. Aaron Dilworth’s block of a Southside field goal attempt on the ensuing drive handed the ball to Flour Bluff on its 20, and the Hornets turned to the ground game. Reidel Clayton picked up a first down with a couple of carries and another 9 yards during the second set of downs, then quarterback Cody Brewer took a keeper off right tackle on a third and one.
Police Blotter 13300 block JFK Causeway 4 p.m. Nov. 16 Assault with injury 13900 block SPID 12: 30 p.m. Nov. 17 Shoplifting under $50
“This game will get ugly. FB by 50+” “Patriots are weak, watched them barely beat a weak Rio Grande Valley team, and then man handled by Vela. QB has legs but they are very predictable and pass first, run second. Flour Bluff secondary should get some good plays in this game.” “Flour Bluff has a team that can compete at a high level. OC hasn’t opened the play book up yet. Flour Bluff scored at will and only penalties stopped them.” “Poor, poor Mission Veterans. This will definitely get ugly real quick. Don’t see them scoring more than one touchdown throughout the game. Flour Bluff will give them on chance, not even with their backups on the field. Lord have mercy on those Patriots. Easy pass to the third round for Flour Bluff. Flour Bluff 49+” “Another rout due to weak region. Next week it will get just a slight bit tougher, but the Bluffs district has a lot of easier games than most due to the annual valley matchups.” Dotson’s notes: This should be a very interesting game. Tickets went on sale to the public Wednesday morning and there are some tickets left. Flour Bluff has added extra bleachers, so if you want to go to the game, suggest you contact the Flour Bluff High School Athletic Office as soon as possible. That phone number is: 361-694-9276. Good luck to the Hornets. We will attempt to keep you up to date on Texas High School Football playoffs. Comments/Questions, call the Benchwarmers 361-560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com
San Antonio to Host Final Four in 2018
15200 block Windward 8:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Theft $50-$500
San Antonio this week was selected to host the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four Collegiate Basketball Tournament. This major sporting event is expected to generate $250 million in economic impact. The City of San Antonio credits the Texas Events Trust Fund as a key factor in their selection.
15200 block Leeward 9:05 p.m. Nov. 14 Purse snatching/credit card abuse/criminal trespass/assault bodily injury to public servant
San Antonio was one of eight cities selected to host the NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Tournament. This is the fourth time the city has been selected to host the tournament.
14300 block SPID 9 p.m. Nov. 17 Terroristic threat
13900 block Man O War 8 a.m. Nov. 18 Criminal mischief under $50 15400 block Cruiser 5:20 p.m. Nov. 18 Theft from vehicle $500-$1,500 13800 block Eaglesnest Bay 10:20 a.m. Nov. 14 Credit card abuse
2018 Youth Sailing Championships Coming to Corpus Christi
By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon
12th Man
Most of you who are reading this article may not be old enough to remember this event when it happened. Maybe your father or an uncle has told you the story. For most college football fans, it is worth telling again. There have been many stories on how the expression of the “Twelfth Man” was created in the game of college football, but most of those stories refer to the “fans” as the Twelfth Man since football is played with eleven to a side. The term Twelfth Man was used by the Minnesota Gophers’ football fans as early as 1900. Of course in this part of the country, the Texas A&M Aggies refer to their fans as the Twelfth Man and the story goes that because of injuries, the 1922 team stood a chance of being shorthanded of players until a fellow from the Corp of Cadets named E. Gill King, came down out of the stands and put on an injured player’s uniform, to become an additional player in case he was needed. King had been a marginal football player who left the team early to play basketball. King never played in the game, but he nevertheless represented the Aggies’ Twelfth Man.
The second team for Rice put up another touchdown and final score that day would be written Rice 28, Alabama 6. Moegle had averaged 21.4 yards per carry and found time to sit on the bench for almost 18 minutes during the game. The Owls outgained ‘Bama 448 yards to 225. Moegle was voted the Outstanding Player of the Game. Lewis and Moegle will forever be a part of Cotton Bowl history. A few days later,
Moegle and Lewis
Another Twelfth Man The following is another one of those stories. You see, sixty years ago there was this one fellow, a twelfth man, who actually got in the game, well sort of. It was a crisp fall Friday afternoon in Dallas, Texas, as the 1954 Cotton Bowl got underway between Rice University and the University of Alabama. A reserved seat could be had for $4.80. The one o’clock start on January 1st, New Year’s Day, had become a tradition. Not one of the 75,504 in attendance could have guessed what was in store. Coach Jess Neely’s Rice team brought their 8-2 record into the house that Doak Walker built (Cotton Bowl). Coach “Red” Drew’s Alabama record stood at 6-2-2. These two teams exchanged punts to start the game, and then the scoring began. Future Hallof-Fame quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, Bart Starr, not only ran the Alabama offense but was also a fine defensive back and punter for the Tide. When’s the last time you saw the words “Triple Threat” used in college football? In the first quarter, Starr intercepted a pass for the Tide and put them in position to score. That touchdown was scored by the Alabama fullback #42, Tommy Lewis. The extra-point try was blocked and ‘Bama led 6-0. It was all Rice after that as halfback #47, Dicky Moegle, a 19-yearold junior from Taylor, Texas, proceeded to rush for 265 yards in just eleven carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 79, 95 and 34 yards. It was quite an impressive display of running by the All-American.
Not the good kind of Twelfth Man On the first play of the second period, Moegle took the handoff behind his right guard for 79 yards and a touchdown. Rice now led 7-6. A few minutes later, Moegle was off again on what would be credited as a 95yard touchdown. This run was not without confusion. As Moegle outran everyone in the open field, an embarrassed Tommy Lewis got up off the Alabama bench, without his helmet, and blindsided Moegle as he passed in front of the Crimson Tide bench at about the 42-yard line. Down went Moegle as Lewis retreated to the bench. Alabama Head Coach “Red” Drew starred at him in disbelief. Head referee Cliff Shaw, an Arkansas native, ruled that Moegle would have scored a touchdown without the Lewis intervention, and the score at halftime now stood Rice 14, Alabama 6.
both players were invited and starred on the Ed Sullivan “Toast of The Town” variety television show.
After the fact Dicky Moegle was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. He was drafted in 1955 by the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys before retiring, after seven seasons. Moegle’s 265-yard rushing record in the Cotton Bowl stood until 2008, where it was eclipsed by the University of Missouri running back, Tony Temple, who rushed for 281 yards. What most did not know or have forgotten is that Lewis apologized to Moegle at halftime. The fans of Alabama hailed him as a hero. Tommy Lewis continued his career after college with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He later became part of Coach “Bear” Bryant’s very first coaching staff at Alabama. Lewis recently passed away on October 12, 2014. Alabama’s Twelfth Man was 83 years of age. Sometimes greatness is about struggle, not victory. It’s about finding out what’s inside, the reason for being who we are. Perhaps every team needs a Twelfth Man. 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.
Alabama had indeed illegally used their Twelfth an on the field of play. This play became known as the “Twelfth Man tackle.” The crowd booed when Lewis was allowed to stay in the game, as there was no automatic disqualification penalty in effect at that time. After the game, Lewis was asked why? “I guess I’m just too full of Alabama,” said Lewis. “And I couldn’t stand to see him make another touchdown. I lost my composure and I tackled him.” In the third period, Moegle scored again from 34 yards out and the runaway was on. Moegle was not finished, as he was tripped up after a 20-yard jaunt by a lone defender, in the fourth quarter. That tackle saved another touchdown.
The Corpus Christi Yacht Club and the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau are pleased to announce that the 2018 ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships was awarded to the United States and will be hosted by Corpus Christi Yacht Club in Corpus Christi, Texas. The 2018 ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships is the largest youth sailing event for Olympic hopefuls. More than 375 youth sailors, ages 15 to 19, from around the world will compete in nine Olympic training classes including the Laser Radial, International 420, 29er, RS:X and FL16. The event will take place over 8 days in July of 2018. The planning committee, represented by Mark Foster, past Commodore of Corpus Christi Yacht Club, presented the bid proposal earlier this month at the 2014 ISAF Annual Conference in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Other countries bidding to host the International event were Argentina, Azerbaijan, China, Italy and Poland.
This truck got stuck in an underpass on IH 37 heading to downtown Corpus Christi Wednesday. Photo by Karl West
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ISAF currently consists of 138 member nations who are its principle members and are responsible for the decision making process that governs the sailing world. The economic impact of this world class event for Corpus Christi is expected to be in excess of $1.75 million.
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(361) 949-8815 (361) 949-7810
13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418
November 20, 2014
A9
Island Moon
The Travelling Moon
Brooklyn Pie Co Brings Islanders Another Pizza Option New York Style Pizza Opens By Brent Rourk Sporting a generous smile and a fine mind for figures, Richard knows pie and he knows π. Consulting notes about the square inches his pizzas contain, he excitedly commented not only about the hefty sizes of his pizzas but also about the ingredients. Hello to the new Island eatery Brooklyn Pie Co and owner Richard Perales. So why another business offering pizzas when most might think that there are already two fine Italian/pizza restaurants on the Island that offer good pies and ingredients? A great Island Italian ‘Italian Sausage’ pizza has many fans here and the Thai Surprise Pizza at Padre Pizzeria screams ‘Devour me!’. Easy, according to Perales. “Growth on the Island, especially with Schlitterbahn, along with being able to purchase our Brooklyn Pie Co pizza by the slice create a need for three types of pizzas” claimed Perales, a 4 year Islander.
New York Style and the 28” Monster What is this third type of pizza? It is a thin New York style, tasty crust pizza made fresh daily with typical and not so typical ingredients. “You have to taste the crust.” Touted Perales. His pizzas size up at 14” for a medium and 18” for a large. But perhaps the most unique aspect of Brooklyn Pie Co is the monster 28” pizza. Perales explained, “We sell pizza by the slice starting with a giant 28” pizza that is cut up into 6 slices. Customers can choose what ingredients they want on the slice and in 5 minutes it is ready. We also have three types of basic pizza sauces.”
Jane Krone and Mary Jo Matthews from Port Aransas took the Moon to the Holy Land. These shots are in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
When asked if he intends to sell the 28 inch pizzas ‘whole - to go’, Perales answered, “Maybe in the future but I have to find a box big enough to hold the pizza that can be carried through normal size doors.” Math!
Marilyn Reads the Moon
Ready to toss your delicious pizza Perales, an Austin transplant originally from Laredo, Texas, has an engineering background but several years ago he became a part owner in Brooklyn Pie Co in Austin, giving him both the taste for the New York style thin crust pizza and the experience for opening his own pizza parlor on the Island.
More Inches in the π Using his engineering background, Perales quickly checked his notebook and offered the size of one of those 6 slices in square inches. “Each of the 6 slices in the 28 inch pizza contains 102.6 square inches. A regular round 12” pizza has 113 square inches, so one slice is almost as large as an entire traditional 12” round pizza”, clarified Richard. How does one calculate the area of a pie in square inches? Well, A=π∙r². That’s pie for ya and a lot of area!
Nichole Jayson took the Island Moon to Hollywood, California where they visited Grauman’s Chinese theatre.
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Dr. Christi Kresser
Striking Brooklyn Bridge Wallpaper and the New York style pizza take the customer back east For additional math calculations that might factor into your decision to try a pie at Brooklyn Pie Co, their 14” medium pizza has 153.8 square inches, their 18” large pizza has 254 square inches and their monster 28” pizza has 615 square inches. An appetizing bunch of square inches. Picture it as a rectangle 20” by 30”. That is enough pizza to amply fortify a small army or large family.
Toppings With 20 specialty pies and 45 different pizza toppings, the most difficult decision a customer has in facing a Brooklyn Pie Co menu is what to order. The combinations of toppings are almost limitless – a great opportunity for math students (and teachers). Add to that calculation three different sauces. No doubt Richard has already calculated the possibilities. When talking about popular Brooklyn Pie Co pizzas Richard promptly declared, “The Margharita Pizza, the Mamma Gallo’s, and the Greek Town are all popular. The Gyros in the Greek Town is amazing.”
Additional Offerings Brooklyn Pizza Co also offers salads (the Caprese Salad is clearly Richard’s favorite) and wings with 13 different sauces ranging from mild to the blistering and perilous Ghost Pepper Sauce; a euphemism for liquid fire definitely not for the faint of heart. Appetizers, tenders, drinks, and 3 desserts (with another secret dessert TBA) round out the menu. Perales boasts a selection of beers that ranges from Bud Light to a variety of micro-brews. The suds specialty is a selection of beers from Brooklyn Brewery that duo perfectly with a giant slice of your favorite pizza and a football game on their flat screen. “I am a big Aggie fan”, admitted Richard, but he will also tune in to Longhorn games when available. When not tossing pizza, Richard spends time with his wife Carolina, a doctor at Spahn South, and his 2 year old son. Though he admits he is not the champion dough tosser in his eatery, he can get the job done. Head down and watch them toss the π, er pie. Brooklyn Pie Co opens TODAY! They will also be offering delivery service soon. They are located at 15326 S.P.I.D. behind La Palma. Call 361-949-1100. See www.brooklynpie.com. Welcome to the Island Brooklyn Pie Co.
RAY HERRERA DIRECTOR
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A10
Island Moon
November 20, 2014