The Island Moon Newspaper

The

Issue 575

Island Moon

The voice of The Island since 1996

April 23, 2015

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

It is seldom that we here in the semiarid Southwest have a gripe about too much rain, and the truth is we still don’t, but if the skies keep opening up the way they have been we may soon have boat traffic in our bar ditches.

The high water table has turned our Island into a giant bird bath and the good news is that, so far, it has not produced the rampant mosquito population that might be expected but let’s not get ahead of ourselves there.

Let’s hope it lets up for the Sandfest in Port Aransas this weekend. As of this writing Port Aransas is getting hammered again by heavy rain after heavy rain flooded streets last weekend.

Tax The Cabins!

By Amy Nuñez Lower Coast Regional Manager Coastal Field Operations Texas General Land Office Kleberg, Kenedy, and Calhoun counties are moving to assess property taxes on cabins on the lower Laguna Madre. The cabins are permitted by the Texas General Land Office and Texas Parks and Wildlife and are located both on land along the Laguna Madre and on the water.

The permits for the cabins are auctioned as they become available and in recent years state authorities have permitted size of the cabins to increase if the owners pay increased fees. The larger cabins have caught the eye of taxing authorities.

Nueces County authorities have not discussed accessing a tax on cabins within their jurisdiction.

Main street in Port A flooded on Saturday PINS

“I have heard no discussion on any such tax in Nueces County,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Brent Chesney. “I am not in the business of looking for ways to levy more taxes, I am interested in finding ways to cut taxes.”

Driving conditions on the National Seashore have been good of late according to reports of the fisherpersons who have been down there. The Jacks are still running and the rain and lack of much wind have kept the sand packed for good driving. It is surprising how many of our fellow Islanders have not been down that way.

Schlitterbahn update Crews have begun pouring cement at the Schlitterbahn park again and are working on finishing the waterway that will convey park goers from one ride to the next via inner tube. We will have a complete update in the next issue.

Tax Meeting If you want to get a rise out of an Islander all you have to do is suggest that maybe, just maybe, property assessments on The Island are not high enough. The large amount of real estate sales on The Island means that the Nueces County Appraisal District has a very efficient market from which to draw up to date sales numbers; numbers that somehow seem to reflect any increase in sales prices but never seem to drop when prices do. It’s funny how that works.

So longtime Islander Bob Maupin has decided to do something about it and is holding a public meeting to familiarize property owners with the property tax system and how to file effective appeals at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Seashore gym on Encantada.

There is a system and the more you know about how it works the better you can work within the system.

Keep your umbrellas handy everybody and say hello if you see us Around The Island.

Free

Weekly

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Photo by Miles Merwin

A little Island history

The Island in 1846

by Future General George Meade Editor’s note: Before taking command of the Union Army at Gettysburg and fighting in the U.S.-Mexican War, Lieutenant George G. Meade, known as Old Snapping Turtle by his troops, was sent to Padre Island to survey it and the Laguna Madre to determine if it was suitable for transport of men and materials for the war with Mexico. The following is his report (as best as we can make out his handwriting).

We thank Dr. Richard Watson for sending it to us.

Report on the Military Reconnaissance of Laguna Madre.

By Lt. George G. Meade,

Obstructions to the navigation The obstructions to the navigation of the Laguna Madre consist of 1) In a sandbar, or reef which extends along the southern shore of Corpus Christi Bay, from Mustang Island to about 3 miles beyond the Flour Bluffs, having a general direction of East and West, and or being about a mile from the shore.

George Meade Over this bar there are two channels, one leading directly into the Laguna, immediately at the Flour Bluffs, the other a mile to the west of Mustang Island, leading into Corpus Christi Pass. These channels, are similar in character and dimensions, both being about 100 yards broad, from 100 to 200 yards in length, having a uniform depth of 3 feet and hard sand bottoms.

After passing the sand bar, the “mud flat,” consisting of the 2nd obstruction commences. It is delineated on the accompanying sketchy a light shade

of India ink, and extends from the mainland to Padre Island, being about 6 miles long.

There are two channels over this flat, one called “El Paso,” is a deep bayou having 5-6 feet of water in it, commencing at the sand bar and extending in a southerly direction 3 miles. The Paso is narrow, averaging not more than 20 yards, and is very tortuous. The flat on each side of it has about 14 inches water, and

History continued on A4

Research Unveils – It’s More Than a Drop in The Bucket

Inside the Moon

From the University of Texas Marine Science Institute

The Texas General Land Office this week issued the following letter to permit holders.

Greetings Cabin Permit Holders and Partners, As always, we want to keep you informed of issues that may impact the Cabin Program and our Permit Holders.

As you know, the cabin, associated structures, and land are owned by the State of Texas and, because the underlying property is state property, the General Land Office ( GLO) is exempt from taxation. The GLO, however, has become aware that some coastal counties are preparing to tax the possessory interest our permit holders have in our cabins.

This initiative to tax the possessory interest does NOT involve the GLO but will affect our Permit Holders.

Since the appraisal districts made us aware of this, we wanted to pass this information along to you.

So far, three coastal counties have stated they will be working to add the possessory interest cabin structures to their county's tax roll.

Calhoun County said they would add the cabins to their tax roll in 2015. Kenedy County has stated letters will be sent regarding this issue in late April. Kleberg County

It’s the 5-year anniversary of the Deep Water Horizon Blow out and Proceeding Oil Spill, and we sat down with researchers from The University of Texas Marine Science Institute who have been studying the effects of oil and dispersants with major funding from the independentlyreviewed Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Dr. Ed Buskey is the lead researcher for a consortium formed to study the Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies (DROPPS - http://dropps.utmsi. utexas.edu). The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative recently renewed support of this consortium to the tune of $9.2 million.

What do you know now that you didn’t know before you started the research?

We have a much better handle on the rate at which microbes, like bacteria, and other small plankton can metabolize or eat the oil. Our research determined that dispersant treated oil results in the formation of tiny droplets of crude oil in the same size range as the food of marine zooplankton. We confirmed that these tiny oil droplets are readily consumed

Beach Clean-up A5

Images of planktonic marine copepods that have consumed tiny oil droplets. Image on the left under bright illumination; on right same animals illuminated with UV light which makes consumed oil droplets appear as bright spots. Credit: The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Rodrigo Almeda and toxic compounds in the oil and are accumulated in the bodies of these tiny animals, which are then passed up the food chain to larger

Fishing A7

Oil continued on A4

Its Unanimous! 100% of SMA 8th Graders Pass STAARS Language Arts Test Sports A8

Cabins continued on A3

Sandfest 2015

SandFest 2015 is taking shape in Port Aransas. The three day sand sculpting competition and festival starts at Noon on Friday. Texas SandFest is one of the largest sand sculpting contests in the U.S. attracting world-class sculptors each year. Texas SandFest Began in 1997 as a play-on-the-beach day, when Sharon Schaefer and Elleece Calvert sat in folding chairs around a card table so they could watch and help children build sand castles — or whatever they wanted to create — in the sand. A few years later, the event had developed into a 3-day festival. Dee McElroy, who had experience as a contestant at sand sculpting festivals, joined the team.

Texas SandFest gave more than $80,000 back to the community in 2014. Hours are Friday from Noon

Island Flooding A11

8th grade class - 2015 - Great job on the Reading STAAR photo by Shannon Trial

By Brent Rourk

until 5, Sat. 10 to 6 and Sunday 10 to 5 with the awards ceremony at 3:30 on Sunday in the music tent.

Seashore Middle Academy just received results from the 8th grade STAAR Reading Test and was pleased to report that 100% of the 8th graders passed that test, with 43% achieving the equivalent of a commended score. Great job SMA

and SLC for the work they have done in teaching and preparing those 8th grade students.

Speaking of SMA, Social Studies teacher Susan Bernal was just awarded the Teacher of the Week Award from Radio Station Beach 96.5. People

STAARS continued on A5

Live Music A16

A2

Island Moon

Island Artist Wins Contest for Ferry Art

April 23, 2015

Island artist Suzanne Balluck has won the Texas Department of Transportation contest for her water color of a blue gray heron bird The watercolor will be painted on the side of a ferry in Port Aransas.

It is her second time to win the contest. Winners of the fifth annual Port Aransas Ferry Art Contest include six works by Texas artists along with three entries in the youth division, the Texas Department of Transportation Corpus Christi District today announced.

Winners in the adult division are: • “The Lookout,” a watercolor painting by Corpus Christi artist Suzanne Balluck; • “Showing Off at Port A,” pastels and color pencil by Xavier Benites, Austin; • “Saturday Morning,” an acrylic painting by James A. Hamilton, Corpus Christi; • “Port A Paddle-out,” acrylic on canvas by John Olvey, Corpus Christi; • “Ferry Building,” acrylic on canvas by Pamela P. Stokes, Ingleside-on-the-Bay; • Tony Amos – “A Port Aransas Legend,” an acrylic work by Buddy Turk, Pleasanton.

Winners in the youth division are: • “Lost,” pencil and colored pencil by Zoe Campbell, Port Aransas; • “Graphic Beach,” pen by Olive Smith, Rockport; • “Ocean Sunset,” watercolor by Savannah Tardiff, Rockport.

The winning artwork in the adult division, two pieces per vessel, will be reproduced and placed on the control towers of three, 20-vehicle ferries: William Burnett, J.C. Dingwall and Mark G. Goode. Winning entries in the youth division will be displayed on the 28-vehicle Michael W. Behrens.

The artwork will be placed on the ferries around Memorial Day. Artists were encouraged to submit works that illustrate the people, places, plants, animals, environment, scenes, settings, events or activities related to TxDOT’s Port Aransas ferry system and the Coastal Bend region.

KICK BACK WITH THE BEST GULF VIEWS FROM OUR THIRD STORY ELEVATED BAR

THE COLDEST BEER ON THE BEACH FRESHEST CATCH ON THE COAST

KICKS OFF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

L O C AT E D I N PA L M I L L A B E A C H R E S O R T & G O L F C L U B B L A C K M A R L I N P O R TA . C O M

April 23, 2015

Island Moon

Letters to the Editor

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Beach Cleanup

Police Blotter

Thank you, Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and workers at the spring Adopt-a-Beach cleanup on Saturday. We were fortunate to get in the cleanup and lunch before the deluge, and picked up over 6800 pounds of trash and filled a 6 cu yd dumpster with plastic bottles to recycle. We were happy to have volunteers from Brundrett Middle School for the first time, thanks to Cyndi Christenson and the Kiwanis Builders Club. Jeff Hughes brought a large group from Eastfield College again to clean St. Jo Island.

We are thankful to Port A Pizzeria, Family Center IGA, and HEB for their help putting on the lunch. Deno Fabrie did a fantastic job pulling it together, and asked me to tell you that without all of your help, we would not be able to have a successful event.

Distribution Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Arlene Ritley Production Manager Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Andy Purvis Devorah Fox Mary Craft

The April KPAB meeting is cancelled--we need a break! We are planning a beach party and bonfire for our May meeting. Please vote on the day or days for the party. You can vote for as many days as you like. So far, Sunday, May 17 is in the lead, but many of you have not voted yet. Please vote on Doodle at this link: http:// doodle.com/pm6ds8z6tedwqnn7 If you don't want to go on Doodle, you can send me your preference. The dates to choose from are: Friday, May 15 to Thursday, May 21, at either 5 to 7 pm or 6 to 8 pm.

Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter

The vote will close this Friday, April 24, so please VOTE.

Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour

See you at the beach

Brent Rourk

Julie Findley

Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers

Cabins continued from A1

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

has also indicated they are considering taxing the possessory interest associated with cabins.

Please contact the county appraisal districts directly for more information: Kenedy County Appraisal District (361) 294-5333, Kleberg County Appraisal District (361) 595-5775 and Calhoun County Appraisal District (361) 5524560.

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

New Advertisers

Buy ‘em books and you buy ‘em books, and all they want to do is eat the covers April 19 3:30 a.m. 6100 Ennis Joslin Road Driving While Intoxicated Corpus Christi Police responded to a crash when a car went into a business located at 6133 Ennis Joslin Road. Officers arrived and determined a white 2013 Ford Focus sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed south on Ocean Drive when the driver failed to negotiate the curve onto Ennis Joslin Road.

The driver lost control and the car went over the raised median, continued across Ennis Joslin Road where it jumped the curb, and crashed into the University Book Store.

After an investigation, the 20 year-old driver was determined to be intoxicated and she was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

She was treated at Spohn Shoreline Hospital for minor injuries before being taken to the City Detention Center. The building sustained approximately $5000 in damage.

No books were damaged.

Police Calls 15300 block Barataria 4:23 a.m. April 16 Assault with injury 13800 block Doubloon 4 p.m. 13 April Unauthorized use of boat, trailer, flatbed/ theft $1500-$20,000 15400 block Fortuna Bay 6:30 a.m. April 17 Theft $1500-$20,000

Bangkok Star Thai Restaurant has happy hour weekdays 4 – 6pm with their extensive sushi menu at half price and half price sake.

Check out their menu on their Facebook and you can order to go by calling 949-4900.

They are open 11 am – 9:30 pm and closed on Tuesdays.

Bob Maupin can assist you with help in settling issues with your home appraisal.

He is certified as a property tax consultant and was a member of the Nueces County Appraisal Review Board for six years. Call Bob at 946-2092 or send him an email at remaupin@sbcglobal.net.

Business Briefs Brooklyn Pie Company now has meatball grinder subs made in house with their own baked bread and sauce. Mondays and Tuesdays buy one appetizer and get the other free but you need to ask for this deal. On Thursday, April 23rd at 6:30 you can watch the Aggies baseball team play LSU. Whitecap CrossFit Gym has moved from near Scuttlebutt’s to 15715 SPID #102 on the Island. Owner/Coach Melody Crow has been a CrossFit coach since 2010. Go to their website at whitecap-crossfit.com for more info and schedule of classes or call 960-6027.

Padre Pizzeria has half price bottles of wine every Wednesday, daily lunch specials for $7.99, happy hour 4 – 6 pm with half price appetizers and gluten free pizza.

They have online ordering and payments at padrepizzeria.com or call 949-0787 for free delivery for orders over $10.

Texas Sandfest in Port A starts at noon Friday, April 24th and is the largest sand sculpting event in the state. There will be live music and many food and crafts vendors on hand. The event will run until 5 pm Sunday rain or shine.

Padre Landscapes has plants and flowers for sale that are perfect for our Island conditions. They are located between Island Tire and where Johnny D’s was located.

Thank you for continuing to be active stewards of the Texas Coast. Please contact us with any questions.

Flour Bluff High School students will attempt to become the KEDT “Challenge” champions on Thursday, April 23rd at 7 pm.

They will be competing against Ray High School on the academic quiz show. The season began in October with 24 schools and there are six students on each team. The winners will each get a $1000 scholarship to Texas A&M Corpus Christi and the runnersup will get $500.

Riley P. Dog Publisher Dale Rankin About the Island Moon

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

Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses.

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

Did Ya Hear?

A3

Anybody know what kind of boat this is?

- Photo by Laurie Lee Yates

A typical night at Shorty's with Tiffany Tuesday and Chris Jordan

The Island Moon Newspaper

For those of you interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch, there will be a meeting Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 PM at the Police sub-station which is located at Zahn Road and 361 (on your way to Port Aransas). They will have information on how to get your neighborhood organized.

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

A Town Meeting on Taxes will be given

by Bob Maupin. Tax statements have arrived at most of our homes. If you think the value was increased too much, plan to attend on Saturday, May 2nd at 10 AM at the Seashore Learning Center Gym on Encantada,. You will learn what you need to do to protest your increases.

Where to Find The Island Moon

Birding on the Boardwalk in Port A is a guided birding tour for anyone from novice to expert. Local guide Nan Dietert gives the tour every Wednesday at 9 am at the Turnbull Birding Center at the end of Ross Avenue and it is free.

15201 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418 361-949-7700 editor@islandmoon.com

Port Aransas Lisabella’s Restaurant

Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors Port A Arts

Why Purchase From Gary Lunt, Inc.?

North Padre

Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A

All Stripes Stores

t 13 years of proven quality and service t Over 4,000 lights sold and working toDay t The only know system on the Gulf Cost which has actually passed the Building Inspector’s test using the national electric code requirements u.s. Patent 7,008,081 Issued march 7, 2006

A Mano

CVS

1 year LImIteD Warranty

Coffee Waves

Whataburger

Moby Dicks

Doc’s Restaurant

Spanky’sLiquor

Snoopy’s Pier

IGA Grocery Store

Isle Mail N More

Carter Pharmacy

Brooklyn Pie Co.

San Juan’s Taqueria

Ace Hardware

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Texas Star (Shell)

Pioneer RV Park

Port A Parks and Rec

Call for references standard 50’ models starting at $395 + tax

Gary Lunt, Inc 361-537-8333 Port aransas “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”

WHITECAP LIQUOR

Island Italian

Liquor

Holiday Inn

Wine

Beer

14414 Whitecap Blvd.

Corpus Christi, TX

Jesse’s Liquor

On North Padre Island..... near the Beach

Public Library

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Chamber of Commerce

Island Tire

whitecapliquor@yahoo.com

Duckworth Antiques

And all Moon retail advertisers

http://www.whitecap.vpweb.com

Back Porch

WB Liquor

Bangkok Star

Shorty’s Place

Flour Bluff

Thai Cuisine

Giggity’s

H.E.B.

Stripes @ Cotter & Station

Liquid Town

Woody’s Sports Center

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

361 949-9289

Subway

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

The recent rains filled this boat with water and sent it to Davy Jones' Locker. Diver Dave came to the rescue. Everybody check your bilge pumps!

Send letters and photos to editor@islandmoon.com

Pet Adoptions at Ace Weekly pet adoptions are being held at ACE Hardware on the Island Saturdays from 11-3. The events are held by Mission Pawsible Animal Assistance. Stop by and say hello and if you can’t adopt an animal they would gladly take a donation for care of the animals in foster homes.

Happy Hour 4-6 M-F 1/2 Price Sushi & Sake (Closed Tuesday) See our Menu on Facebook: Bangkok Star Restaurant 13923 SPID 361-949-4900

A4

April 23, 2015

Island Moon

Oil continued from A1

History continued from A1 all that portion comprised within the interior dotted line, has only a few inches, the most of it being dry at the extreme low water.

At the termination of the Paso, the flat assumes a uniform character, and has a minimum depth of 18 inches, with a rise of 10 inches ordinary tide, and a maximum rise of 18 inches, so that the average tide may be said to be 27 inches.

Two stakes are placed, on the flat, at the end of the Paso to indicate the direction of the channel, which is, from this point 3 miles long.

The other channel over the flat is near the head of Padre Island, and is shown on the sketch by a red line. It is so extremely narrow and crooked, as to render it unfit for use, except by boats of the smallest class – 4 feet water can be carried over that portion of it between Corpus Christi Pass and the flat over the depth is the same as in the channel on the other side.

The flat has a hard crust upon it, which being broken through, the mud is soft, and it is probably the successful passage of would deepen the channel. Towards the southern edge of the flats, the mud becoming mixed with sand renders the bottom sufficiently hard to admit of the Laguna begin forded by cattle, but it is believed it would be unsafe to attempt to ford, with wagons\ or artillery.

After passing the obstructions described above, there is a broad open channel of 4 feet water for 30 miles to the Penascal.

This channel is on the west side of the Laguna, the shore of Padre Island being generally shoal.

At the Penascal, there is a mudflat extending from Padre Island

the west side of the Laguna – again becomes broad and open, (having from 9-10 feet for about 20 miles, when the Laguna becomes shoal and a flat was found extending from one shore the other having not more than 6 inches water on its crest. At this point the examination ceased, but information was obtained, that the flat extended some 14 mile down with only 14 inches water, and beyond this, there was a good channel for 14 to the Colocado; and from thence to the Brazos Santiago.

organisms. These predictions will greatly help figure out the potential impacts of spills.

There has been a lot of talk about bacteria being able to consume lots of oil. What new results are you finding out about that issue?

For the hydrocarbon degrading bacteria, consortium scientists at Texas Tech University are studying the effects of dispersant on the ability of bacteria to degrade oil droplets – the dispersants often make such small oil droplets (micron sized) that the bacteria are not able to attach to the droplets to form films on the outside of the droplet to consume the non-soluble hydrocarbons.

Alternatively, large undispersed oil droplets may rise through the water column so quickly, that it is difficult for bacteria to attach to their surfaces.

By a perusal of the foregoing, and an inspection of the accompanying sketch, it will be seen that the last water for boating purposes obtained in the examinations, was on the mudflat below the Flour Bluffs where was found 18 inches of extreme low water and 27 inches ordinary high water.

These two quantities then, determined the draft of vessels that can draft vessels that can navigate the Laguna so far as examinations extended. Big vessels of 18 inches draft can pass at all times – ordinarily vessels of 28 inches- and by watching for the highest tides vessels of 5 feet.

Have you found any unexpected outcomes?

We found that application of dispersants can increase the amount of oil that is aerosolized, which means that the pieces of oil are small enough to float in the air. We also found that wave action and rain can greatly increase the amount aerosolized from surface slicks. No one has thought to look at the effect of rain before and it is very exciting to be at the forefront of this discovery.

Wood and Water The supply of wood and water on the mainland is very limited.

No driftwood is to be obtained on the shore and the only supply consists in a few “motts” of live oak, which are found scattered along, generally two miles back from the shore. In the vicinity of these motts, there are pools of rainwater, many of these were found dry during the recent exploration. Wells were dug at one or two places without finding good water, this information was obtained, that in the vicinity of “Salt Lakes” good water was found by digging wells.

What experiments or potential discoveries are you most excited about in the near future?

The ability for these very fine droplets of oil to turn into aerosols represents a breakthrough in potential effects on humans and marine mammals. With the renewed support from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, we’re working with health professionals to get a better handle on the potential health risks that aerosolized oil may have to first responders and marine mammals.

Do you think all the research funding will change how the oil and gas industry operates?

It is bound to. Our research and the finding that others have made are making great strides in understanding how dispersants affect the food chain and how oil released in deep water can react much differently due to the pressure and organisms present in the deep.

One of the next steps for our research is to provide information necessary to make cost-benefit determinations related to use of dispersants on oil spills.

Meade's map of Matamoros to within a mile of the mainland. Thee are two channels over it, both marked in red – the one near Padre Island, having 18 inches at the low water, the other on the western edge of the shoalhaving 2 feet at the low water and 3 feet ordinary stage.

At the southern edge of this flat there commences a reef of rocks, which extend in a southwesterly direction touching the northern Peninsular, and crossing to the opposite shore of the Laguna Penascal. This reef is from ¼ to ½ a mile broad, many of the rocks rising to the water’s edge rendering the navigation exceedingly dangerous.

The depth across this reef was found to be 12 and 15 feet, and it is probable a minute survey may prove, that there is a channel through it, having this depth of water, and free from rocks.

The rock is limestone, being composed of small shells cemented together – it is found all along the shore of the mainland, for 15 miles below the Penascal; and might be used to advantage for building purposes.

After passing the mudflat of the Penascal – the channel still on

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICE Robert E. (Bob) Maupin

Serving the property owners of Upper Padre Island concerning the value of their residential property, exemptions and personal property renditions.

My certification as a Property Tax Consultant along with six years as a member of the Nueces County Appraisal review Board and thirtyfive years on the island have well prepared me to argue appraisals and help with renditions and exemptions.

Ph (361) 946-2092 Email: remaupin@sbcglobal.net

A plentiful supply of both wood and water is found on Padre Island. The beach on the seashore is covered with drift from all parts of the Gulf of Mexico, and fresh water is obtained easily by digging. It also can be procured by going back into the sand hills and digging to the level of the sea. Some old Indian wells were found having in them excellent water. On the Laguna side of Padre Island, the shore is generally marshy, so that encamping on the Island dependence must be placed, on the wood and water on the seashore.

Dr. Buskey directs the DROPPS consortium and is assisted by UTMSI scientists—Drs. Zhanfei Liu, Brad Gemmell and Deana Erdner. Other consortium members include scientists at Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, SINTEF – Norway and Bloomberg School of Public Health – JHU.

Transportation of Troops and Supplies An examination was made of the harbor inside of Corpus Christi Pass, and an attempt to sound the bar, which was rendered ineffectual owing to the unfavorable state of the weather and the heavy sea.

This examination was made with reference to the practicality of landing troops at the head of Padre Island, should it be deemed necessary to march down that Island in occupying a more advanced position. It will be perceived by an inspection of the map, that after crossing the sandbar with 3 feet of water – 14 feet can be carried by the bar of Corpus Christi Pass – and that 3 feet can be taken into the pocket formed by the head of Padre Island, where vessels of this draft can be securely, right alongside the beach. This has good holding ground, and is protected by the sand hills of Mustang and Padre Islands from all winds, but those from the North, the sea from there is broken by the sandbar at its head. The beach of Padre Island forms an excellent natural road for 90 miles uninterrupted, it is said, by any Laguna or bayou and having, as before mentioned, a plentiful supply of wood and water. Its breadth from the water to the foot of the sandhills is about 100 yards at the water’s edge the sand is firm and hard, capable of sustaining the heaviest loaded wagon. Near the hills it is loose, and less capable of being used as a road. The middle of the Island is so broken with mounds and in many places the sand is so loose that it not practical to use it as a road for heavy trains, though it has been traversed by a single horseman. The broken nature of the ground also renders it unfit for encampment of large commands, though doubtless points might be selected, where small commands could be encamped, and sheltered from the severe winds of the north.

The impact of rain drops on the surface oil film has hardly been studied. Our research discovered that rain drops can breakup oil film to sub-surface droplets and create airborne oil droplets. Credit: Johns Hopkins University, David Murphy.

The examinations have proven the acceptability of the Laguna Madre being used in the transportation of troops and supplies as far as the sands of Castine Lolendo. From thence there is said to be a good road to the mouth of the Colorado, distant 27 miles, there being no streams in the intervening space. This road was formerly much used by the Mexican traders, who received their goods at the Concho and from thence transported them by land to Matamoros. If deemed preferable, a landing could be made on Padre Island, which could then be followed down to a point opposite the Colorado. By taking either of the above mentioned routes, some 70 miles of land transportation will be avoided.

949-0794 www.theislandsedgehairsalon.com

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XTREME™ EYELASH EXTENSIONS Michelle is a Master Hair Stylist having learned from the best and having trained top stylists herself.

She is an expert Colorist and Make Up Artist, and was the former Stylist and Make Up Artist for Miss Oklahoma.

Hours Tuesday‐Friday 10am‐6pm

Saturday 9am‐2pm

Walk‐Ins Welcome * Late Appointments Available

14813 S.P.I.D. Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (Next Door to Island Wash) Salon: 361‐949‐4890 www.michellessalon.com

April 23, 2015

STAARS Continued from A1

nominate teachers and then the Station chooses the best candidate. Bernal has taught at SMA for several years. Her classes routinely pass the 8th grade social studies standardized test (100% of the students). Great job Susan! But more than that, Susan is a dedicated professional and caring teacher.

The SMA Science Team is heading to Texas A&M this week for the state science meet. I am wishing them lots of luck in their competition.

The staff, students and several parents invest a tremendous amount of time to prepare students for this competition against the state’s best.

SMA has made it a habit to make it to state competition every year.

Speaking of standardized testing, students, parents, and friends often ask me about standardized testing. I think it is a complex subject that gets divided into the ‘Pro’ and ‘Con’ camps without sufficient research and thought. There are many questions surrounding standardized testing that frequently become the object of hot debate.

Island Moon

would we know if our children are learning the TEKS (and at what proficiency) they are supposed to know? Or do most teachers do that already? Does the test really determine everything a student should know? How talented a student is? How creative? How successful a student will be later in life? Clearly, there is more to learning and success in school than standardized testing; growth, confidence, creativity, problem solving, scheduling, prioritizing, socialization, responsibility, hands on learning, and citizenship are but a few. But why can’t standardized testing be a part of that learning?

Some people loathe state mandated standardized testing in public schools and others like it. Some people accept state mandated testing and others blatantly consider it a waste.

This controversy over state-wide standardized testing is not unique to Texas, frequently taking center stage in debates across the nation.

The concept is simple; we assess our students’ achievements and progress on the TEKS (we determine how well our students are doing in a subject area and if they have met standards or objectives established by each state.) Of course, the results are released, and teachers, schools, districts, parents, and students can compare how well they did also in relation to other schools districts, and to the state averages. How do we do that? By administering the STAAR test (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.)

If you have been in any public school you will have observed lots of scheduling, rescheduling, training, and time invested in standardized testing. Students are very aware of STAAR. So are teachers and administrators.

There is a view that we ‘over test’ our children; on a weekly and semester basis in the classrooms and then towards the end of the year with standardized tests? Is it too much testing?

Is it harmful to use valuable instructional time to administer standardized tests? Do the standardized tests give each teacher, school, district, and the state a reliable measuring stick about how well students are learning and how well teachers are teaching the TEKS? Responsible states should assess to determine how well students are achieving and progressing in their grade level. Or should they? How else

Adopt-A-Beach Volunteers Do a Whale of a Job

By Brent Rourk

There are several other fears associated with standardized testing and detractors are quick to point them out. Should standardized test results be used to hire or terminate teachers?

To determine salaries, raises, or bonuses? Are there other factors in play that positively and negatively impact student learning? (of course, there are; diet, genetics, parenting, cultural influences, early reading programs, socioeconomic status, access to the best schools, materials, and teaching, and more) Is the testing culturally biased? Have the questions become too complex?

Are some schools and districts being too defensive about testing? Is there a happy middle ground concerning standardized testing? Is it a necessary tool to HELP determine successful learning? Does it hold teachers to teaching TO the standards or TEKS? Does it handcuff teachers? Can good teachers teach the TEKS and curriculum without feeling handcuffed?

Does it help ensure that all students will be taught the TEKS? Learn them and demonstrate that learning on a standardized test? The student scores on standardized tests are included in the student’s permanent record.

Hoisting her plaque and cradling her flowers Susan Bernal smiled as she was awarded Beach Radio Teacher of the Week

Local Beaches Cleaned Again

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The results of testing can provide useful data to teachers and schools, mainly how well the students performed on a written test designed to assess their achievement on those TEKS in that grade. Could the same data be collected without the standardized testing? Testing costs money and takes time. Ask any teacher how much they like giving up additional instructional time to standardized testing. Is it worth the time? I suppose it might partly depend on how the data is used.

This writer does not pretend to completely explain all of the ‘pros and cons’ of standardized testing. Nor am I trying to defend or rebuke the arguments about testing, but rather to share questions that have regularly been asked about standardized testing. Having been in teaching and administration for many years, I have researched standardized testing, studied it, debated it, and administered it. Unless something profound (or miraculous) happens to convince Texas lawmakers to end standardized testing, it is here to stay. Again – a necessary evil or a meaningful tool? Depends on who you ask.

A group of Kiwanis volunteers prepares the registrations and food In spite of an extremely busy weekend in Corpus Christi, many volunteers donned their beach cleaning garb and headed to the Island AdoptA-Beach collection station. Kiwanis Club members waited with registration materials, gloves, bags, cold water and designated cleanup area assignments. The smell of BBQ was already pleasantly permeating the beach area as Ed Egger began burning wood to grill hot dogs for returning, hungry volunteers.

Once the stations were assigned pleased volunteers headed out to clean several miles of beach, littered by beach users and refuse deposited by currents. Dr. Jim Needham, who has been working with Adopt-A-Beach and Kiwanis for years at the Bali Park Station commented before the clean-up, “This is the cleanest I have seen the beaches since I have been working with Adopt-A-Beach.”

Why the beaches were cleaner this time remains unknown. Less pollution hitting our waters? Local users taking more time and care to clean up after themselves? Shifting currents?

Whatever the reasons, it was comforting to hear that our beaches were cleaner. Of course, after the clean-up, they were even cleaner.

King High School sent a bus load of students to volunteer. They are part of the King High School Environmental Science Program. Prior to hitting their designated beach area, students listened to a safety and marine presentation where they learned safety guidelines as well as the importance of eliminating debris and hazardous materials from our marine environments.

Volunteers came from around the Coastal Bend and varied from 8 years old to 80. Groups and individuals came out, responding to the call to help keep our world clean and safe.

After scouring the beach and bagging trash volunteers returned to the initial registration point where they were treated to lunch, complements of the Kiwanis Club and griller extraordinaire Ed Egger. Final tabulations on the amount and type of debris collected on Saturday will be available shortly.

The Kiwanis Club of Padre Island encourages all Islanders to help keep our beaches clean and to join the next Adopt-A-Beach clean-up in the fall. See http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopta-beach/ for more information about Adopt-ABeach.

One thing for sure – our children are much more than standardized test scores, and great educators never forget that, regardless of what they think about standardized testing. Our children indeed are our future, our most precious resource, and the crucible of our success as a community, state, country, and globe. The teachers who I currently work with and those who I have worked with in the past understand that a child is a complex, changing, and growing being who requires encouragement, expectations, support, nurturing, challenge, and care. Standardized tests don’t do that, teachers do.

In the meantime, April and May usher in days of testing for several subjects in 3rd through 8th grades. Parents should be aware of testing dates and support their student’s needs surrounding STAAR testing; sleep, diet, encouragement work well for starters. I hope all Island children have performed well on their STAAR tests.

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The Endless Summer (CC Edition)

By Erica Rose Bertero Erica Rose Bertero is a local writer/blogger and Assistant Professor of English at Del Mar College. Visit her blog, “BEACH GAL BARED” at www.beachgalbared.com. She can be reached at beachgalbared@gmail.com.

South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii……and now – The Endless Summer has found its way to Corpus Christi, Texas!

Celebrating its 50th anniversary as the surfing world’s most definitive and iconic film, The Endless Summer was the beginning of what would change surf culture and history for a generation in the 1960s and for many generations to come. The film was released in 1966, with Bruce Bowen at the helm, following Robert August and Mike Hynson on their surfing adventures around the world. What they would capture on film -- the people they would meet, the geography, the WAVES, was unlike anything surfers had seen before.

50 years later, The Endless Summer will be celebrated and honored at the Texas Surf Museum here in Corpus Christi, Texas! TSM is proud and stoked to announce that it will be the home of “The Endless Summer Collection” exhibit coming to us from the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) in San Clemente, California. The exhibit will feature over 100 items, from the legendary movie posters to Robert August’s passport!

The Grand Opening is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2015 at the Texas Surf Museum. If you are a member of the museum, you will be able to take part in a TSM Members Only Reception at 10:30am – 11:30am. Members will be able to preview the exhibit and visit with Robert August, star of The Endless Summer and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, one of the starts of The Endless Summer II. (If you aren’t a member of the museum, this might be a good time to join!

I’ll share some information on how to do this.)

The preview will be followed by “The Endless Shrimp Boil” hosted by Robert and Wingnut

April 23, 2015

Island Moon

from 11:30m to 1:00pm. You can purchase tickets for this event that includes food, two drink tickets, and admission to the exhibit. Finally, the ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 1:00pm and the exhibit will be open to the general public.

Shipwrecks Texas Style Editor’s note: When it comes to beach combing in South Texas there is always one thought in the back of everyone’s mind; maybe I’ll find a Spanish doubloon. So in the interest of channeling the inner child of beachwalkers across our state we are running a list showing every shipreck along the coast from Port O’Connor to Corpus Christi

If the fact that our very own Texas Surf Museum will be hosting this one-of-a-kind and truly historical exhibit hasn’t impressed the board shorts/bikini off of you…..then consider this: “The Endless Summer” exhibit is coming to us from San Clemente, CA. Its new home will be here in downtown Corpus Christi from May 3, 2015 to August 10, 2015.

From here, it will travel to become a part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington DC. Robert “Wingnut” Weaver shares his perspective on this event, “I am very excited to see this amazing collection in Texas.

Generations of Texans have traveled the globe chasing their own Endless Summer, and to see this historical exhibit come through here will be amazing.”

3 Months. 100 Items. One Grand Opening – and a priceless experience!

For more information on membership and/ or exhibit tickets, contact Nicole Mora, Executive Director of TSM, at nicolemora@ texassurfmuseum.org.

You can also find more information and ticket sales at www. texassurfmuseum.org.

If you are interested in sponsoring this project and/or becoming a donor, information on this exhibit’s Kickstarter campaign can be found by visiting the Texas Surf Museum’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/texassurfmuseum.

Be sure to “Like” their page and receive daily updates about this event and others!

There are many, many ways to get involved as a new member of the museum, as a volunteer, sponsor, donor, new visitor, repeat visitor – TSM welcomes everyone! Chase your own endless summer and enjoy this piece of surfing culture and history right here in Corpus Christi, TX!

Art Fiesta Weekend May 15-17 ART FIESTA WEEKEND ( 3-EVENTS) 8th ANNUAL Fiesta de Mayo-Dinner/Auctions/ Entertainment-May 15th held at the Civic Center, 710 Ave. A in Port Aransas starting at 6:00pm. This year’s Dinner, Catered by La Barataria. Live Quick Draw-(artists painting right there while you watch them, then we auction off their art)+ much more in Live/Silent Auctions& Raffles. Live Music & Open Bar. Location: Port Aransas Civic Center Reserved tables for 8 or Individual Tickets available, RSVP Deadline is May 1st.

24 Hour Emergency Service

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Call for our Daily Specials 361-993-9300 book online at www.servicemaster-tx.com

10th ANNUAL ARTFEST May 16 & 17.Artists with Original Fine Art & Fine Crafts for sale, Food & Music.10am-5 Saturday 10am4pm Sunday. Location: Robert’s Point Park near the water & the Ferry Landing. Artists this year will offer the following for sale: Original Paintings in Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, + Ink drawings & Prints made from originals and handmade note cards. Decorative & functional Pottery. Photography will be offered –framed or unframed on paper, canvas & Note Cards.

Sports bags made from Sails, Shell art, ocean theme painted items plus Dichroic Glass wall art, bowls, trays + sculpture & jewelry. Other types of Jewelry offered will include natural stones, wire sculpture, hand carved antler designs, beaded jewelry & crosses + Native American beadwork & original designs in sterling silver and copper. Wood carvings & crosses, hand painted pillows & Hand printed linocuts. These are just some of the wonderful items that will be for sale. There will also be food & beverages available & Local Musicians will be there for your listening pleasure as you stroll the artist booths.

The 32nd ANNUAL Songwriter’s Showcase May 17th 4pm till “darkthirty”. Bring a picnic

basket/cooler/blankets or lawn chairs and listen to even more wonderful Original music.

Preecher Williams & Woodie Lawson are back to organize, last years was fantastic!! The Showcase is also held outdoors in Robert’s Point Park. The venue is spectacular, you can watch & listen to the musicians as the dolphins jump& ships go by. This year’s Showcase is FREE /No Gate fee & is Dedicated to Dan Winship.

Musician’s List as of 4/15 subject to change-& Times are approximate 1. (4:00) Simon Jay 2. (4:20) James Derkits 3. (4:40) Mark Wilks & Band 4. (5:00) Perry Wing & Tim Miler 5. (5:20) Dan Brodhag 6. (5:40) Carol Elliott 7. (6:00) Todd Dorn 8. (6:20) Ty Dietz & Tony Saracene 9. (6:40) L.Leon Sands 10. (7:00) Ruben Limas 11. (7:20) Garrett & David 12. (7:40) Guy Le Roux 13. (8:00) Mark Borde 14. (8:20) Billy Snipes 15. (8:40) Hamp Brockman & Janet Drew 16. (9:00) Tyler McCumber 17. (9:20) Woodie Ray Lawson & Band Reach the Art Center at 361-749-7334 or artcenter@centurytel.net or www. portaransasartcenter.org

Oyster Shell Recycling Program Looking for Volunteers Did you know that the first oyster shell recycling program for the Texas Coastal Bend was developed out at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi?

This program is the first in Texas to reclaim more than 575,000 pounds of shucked oyster shells from Water Street Restaurant, Niko’s Steakhouse, Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant, and Groomer’s Seafood and return them to our local waters, providing substrate to form new reefs and habitat for fish, crabs, and other organisms.

The project is co-coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Pollack of the University’s Life Sciences Department and Gail Sutton, Assistant Director of the Harte Research Institute. Pollack, along with Sutton and Dr. Paul Montagna, developed the first oyster shell recycling program for the Texas Coastal Bend in November 2009.

The Department of Life Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies are looking for volunteers to help restore an oyster reef habitat on Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Goose Island State Park, 202 Palmetto St. in Rockport, Texas.

Volunteers will bag up reclaimed oyster shells and carry those bags to the water to build an educational oyster reef. This innovative project recycles oyster shells back into the Gulf of Mexico waters and creates a habitat where young oysters can attach and grow, ensuring an abundance of the mollusks for future commercial harvests.

Participants should wear closed-toe shoes (old tennis shoes are perfect), clothes that can get wet and dirty, sunscreen, and a hat. Work gloves and shovels will be provided.

Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt for signing up. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

To RSVP, call the Harte Research Institute at 361.825.2020. For more information, go to http://www.oysterrecycling.org/.

April 23, 2015

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Island Moon

Backwater Adventures

Cinco de Mayo and Ocean Life Celebration

On the Rocks

By Joey Farah

By Jay Gardner

Farah’s Fishing Adventures The biggest beach party of the year is coming up May 1-3 at the North Packery Channel Jetty! The Cinco De Mayo Longboard Pro is so much more than a great surf contest. Surf contest, Beach Volleyball tournament, horseshoe competition, and SUP paddle board 5k race and wave riding contest, live music and kickoff party as well!

All of this is the continuous positive spirit of James Greer. In his brothers memory Kevin Greer and the Atomic Omelet and Grill are hosting this huge celebration of our surf and ocean side community for the benefit of the James Greer Scholarship Fund, the Texas Gulf Coast Surfing Ass., and Texas A&M Islanders Woman’s Volley Ball. You will only have to walk up with your toes in the sand to feel the positive energy surrounding this event. Starting on Friday at 11am tears of joy and screams of excitement will echo from the ocean as local surfers share the joy of surfing with visually impaired members of the Light House for the Blind. If you have never ridden a wave you are missing one of the most pure and touching feelings in the world. The energy of our Mother Ocean rolls up to the edge of the world we walk on and picks us up and lets us fly like the birds above and the fish below. Every single trouble in life is gone as soon as the wave starts to push you. Big Sign up party, live music, and Merchandise Raffle Friday night at the Boat House Bar here on the Island. You can support the cause with your attendance.

Saturday is going to be a non-stop beach party day! The surfing starts off early on the beach, with long and short board heats running all day with men, woman, and kids divisions. The Volleyball, horseshoe, and SUP events will be hot all day as well. Look at the schedule for where you want to be. There will be a central area surrounding the event as well as thousands of families making camp. For thousands of years cultures around the world have gathered around water in celebration of seasons, life, family, and faith. Native Americans pilgrimaged here to the Coastal Bend every spring for large celebrations. They believed that one could connect with loved ones from the past just as the sun broke the horizon at sunrise and sun set.

This is also a celebration of life and a whole lot of fun! A friend told me the other day something that I never realized, that the ocean holds power and as the waves crash on the beach positive Ions are released into the air. This is why when the waves are big everyone is alive with excitement, even non-surfers. This is why we breathe deep when we step out of the truck and look out across the sea. This is why you should make camp in the sand and join the Cinco De Mayo Celebration at North Packery Channel on May 1-3. Check out the full schedule of events, registration, and activities on the website or Facebook. See you one the Beach!

Big reds are still the best game out there with live shrimp and popping corks.

Some exciting news on the conservation front, looks like we’re going to get a new artificial reef out of South Padre Island. This is going to finally get my mantra of “an artificial reef out of every Texas port” down the road and realized.

TPWD is about finished with the permit for the Port O’Connor reef, and hopefully they will put materials down starting in August. Over the next year, they will be getting the permit for a new site that will be 13 miles north/northeast out of the Brazos Santiago pass. Due to local suggestion, and basic logic, we’ve decided to put it up north a bit to discourage temptation of the neighbors to the south from poaching our newly created reef. This will be huge, at 1650 acres (YEAH!!) although it won’t be reefed all at once. We figured it’s better to go ahead and get a large site, that way in the future we’ll have a pre-approved site for just about anything they can sink. Good stuff!

This weekend is my company’s annual fishing tournament. Randy and Emily will be in from Tampa, and my folks will be in from H-town.

Hopefully we can get the skiff out and find some fish despite this rain we’ve had. A lot of rain typically shuts the bite down for a couple of days while the fish get used to the new osmotic levels. They have a hard time keeping salt, actually, and it slows them down a bit. I’m sure Joey can tell you all about it. In any case, weigh-in is around 3pm, and I’ll see you there.

After that, my schedule lightens up a bit, which is good because I’m chomping at the bit to hit the sand and drive south. If you’re down south on the upcoming May weekends, say hello when you see me On the Rocks.

Live shrimp and popping corks have continued to ROCK! over the fissile rocks of Baffin Bay

We have found some big reds close along the shoreline of the King Ranch

What’s Really In Your Marina Dock Contract?

BoatUS Consumer Protection Looks at the “Risk Shifting” of Marina Dock Contracts Be sure to read your dock contract carefully, or you may be surprised to find that you can be held legally responsible for damages and injuries, payment after damage caused by the marina. even if you or your boat were not the cause. Once the waiver is signed, a boat owner has in It all could be in the fine print of the marina essence agreed that the marina isn’t responsible or boatyard dock contract that hundreds of if marina staff is negligent, for example, of thousands of boat owners sign this time of year gouging the gelcoat while hauling out the boat. as the boating season returns. Before boaters “Indemnification” applies to boating guests or sign any dock contract, the national advocacy, invited workers. A boat owner agrees to defend services and safety organization Boat Owners the marina and pay any damages the marina Association of The United States (BoatUS) has may owe if one of these parties is injured – even some tips for recreational boaters searching for if it’s the marina’s fault. a marina for their boat.

“Requirement of Insurance With Additional “While the enforcement of dock contract Named Insured Clause” asks the boat owner to provisions vary and your options to walk away add the marina as an additional insured on the may be limited, it’s important to know how a boat policy at the owner’s expense, essentially dock contract’s language can contain various asking that the marina be protected the same provisions that may affect your insurance way as the policyholder is – sort of like adding coverage and ability to recover for damages,” your Uncle Bob to your policy. That means the said BoatUS Consumer Affairs Director Charles marina is also covered, if, while hauling your Fort. boat, a marina staffer bumps the vessel into a BoatUS has identified a trend with some steel bulkhead and causes damage, much in the marinas including “risk shifting” language in same way if the boat owner had done the same their customer dock contracts that transfers thing. But note that it’s the insurer that decides the responsibility for defense and payment of to add this coverage and at what cost. Don’t claims to the boat owner and the boat’s insurance assume the insurer will pay. policy, even when the cause of the accident “Let’s also remember that the vast majority of and responsibility for the resulting damages marinas want to keep customers and reputable rests with the marina or staff. This includes marinas and yards will often pay when they “Exculpatory Provisions” which attempts to damage a customer’s boat. But you should hold the marina harmless for negligent activity, always immediately report a claim to your “due to fire, theft, vandalism, collision, marina own insurance company,” added Fort. “It’s also equipment failure, windstorm, rain, hurricane not a bad idea to share a marina contract with or other casualty loss.” your insurance company before you sign it so Other clauses, such as “Waiver of Subrogation,” may prevent an insurance company from suing a marina or boatyard to recoup its claims

Wow! I don’t need to tell you that we’ve had some frogfloaters lately folks, all the mosquitos buzzing in your ear can tell you that. I took a peak at the National Weather Service website and saw that Corpus Christi is somewhere around 14 inches of rain for the year total (since January 1st). That puts us at about half of our yearly total already!

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been quite enough up in the water shed to fill the lakes, as Lake Corpus Christi is at 67%, and Choke Canyon is at a lackluster 26% for a combined capacity of 37% (whomp whomp). Pretty dismal despite

you know where you stand, as some insurers, such as BoatUS, may provide coverage for risk shifting provisions.”

the flooding we’ve had around here this past week. At least Lake Texana is at 100.6%, so that’s kind of a bright spot. Next time someone heads up north to H-town, make sure and take a photo of the lake as you drive over it and email it to me. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen it full, or what it looks like when it is actually full.

My pond lilies are really enjoying the pulses of rainwater though.

The migrating birds have been hit and miss around here lately. With the storms, we’ve had a couple small fall outs, but they don’t last very long as the winds are turning around and heading back towards the north typically within a day. It’s been more like a few hours pause than an actual fallout. Despite that, the birds have been around. I’ve had an orchard oriole that has been skulking around my place for about a week. Haven’t seen his girl around; just him. Make sure to get those oranges out for the orioles. My kiskadee is obviously sitting on a nest, as she comes and drinks from the pond like clockwork on the hour, and then goes straight back to the big oak tree. In addition, I have a few hummingbirds exhibiting the same behavior, only they bomb a couple houses over.

Be nice if they had a nest there, although with the rain and the wind, it’s been/going to be a tough nesting season. In addition, with the high waters, our shorebirds are going to have a hard time nesting on the spoil islands, shoals, and other typical nesting places. This may drive some of the birds to find higher ground to nest on, as well as non-conventional places than they would otherwise nest. The causeway, for instance. If you see some skimmers or other shorebirds attempting to nest out there, please contact our buddy David Newstead at the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program at 361-885-6203 and let him know.

A seven to eight foot blacktip shark jumped out of water and bit this fish at the first sand bar

Moon Phases

Tides of the Week Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) April 23-29, 2015

Day

Th

F

Sa

Su

M

Tu

W

Th

23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30

High /Low

Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low

Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

Moon Visible

12:30 AM 9:33 AM 1:24 AM 10:34 AM 2:25 AM 11:23 AM 3:34 AM 11:56 AM 4:49 AM 12:18 PM 7:13 PM 11:07 PM 6:03 AM 12:34 PM 7:31 PM :43 AM 7:11 AM 12:50 PM :50 PM :58 AM 8:14 AM :04 PM 8:10 PM

0.0 1.8 0.1 1.8 0.3 1.7 0.4 1.6 0.6 1.5 1.0 1.2 0.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 0.8 1.4 0.7 1.4 1.0 1.3 0.6

6:57 AM Set 12:06 AM 7:58 PM Rise 11:11 AM 6:56 AM Set 12:56 AM 7:58 PM Rise 12:05 PM 6:55 AM Set 1:41 AM 7:59 PM Rise 12:58 PM 6:54 AM Set 2:23 AM 8:00 PM Rise 1:50 PM 6:53 AM Set 3:01 AM 8:00 PM Rise 2:42 PM

20

6:52 AM Set 3:37 AM 8:01 PM Rise 3:32 PM

67

6:51 AM Set 4:12 AM 8:01 PM Rise 4:23 PM

75

6:50 AM Set 4:46 AM 8:02 PM Rise 5:14 PM

83

29 38 48 58

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April 23, 2015

Island Moon

SPORTS Sports Talk

Five Early Thoughts from the 2015 MLB season

By Dotson Lewis

Special to the Island Moon Dotson’s Note: Here are three current subjects of interest to me. Hopefully you are interested in at least one of them. If not, next week we will get into the NBA play-offs…that is if any of the Texas teams are left. Of course, we may also consider another subject(s). If you want my thoughts on any sports subject, let me know and I will share them with you.

A-Rod Alex Rodriguez is really good at baseball: It appears A-Rod has turned back the clock.

The soon-to-be 40-year-old New York Yankees slugger entered play on Saturday batting a ridiculous .344 with four homers and 11 RBI. The man who was suspended from baseball for the entire 2014 season due to PED use has come back with a vengeance. He has been the lone bright spot for an otherwise very ordinary Yankees roster. More on them later.

The Kansas City Royals are for real: The Royals are showing why their magical 2014 World Series run was no fluke. They sit with an impressive 9-3 record to start the season and boast one of the deepest rosters in the game.

They currently have seven players hitting over .300, including Lorenzo Cain, who’s batting .462 to start the year. Their bullpen may also be the best in baseball, as Wade Davis and Greg Holland have established themselves as maybe the best late-inning tandem in the game. The Royals should be primed for the World Series in October.

Mike Trout is a transcendental talent: Last week the Angels slugger became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to enter the 100 home run/100 stolen base club.

At 23 years and 253 days, he surpassed Alex Rodriguez, who accomplished the feat at 23 years and 309 days. Now that Derek Jeter has retired, Trout is quickly becoming the new face of baseball. Already a league MVP and threetime All-Star, Trout appears to be on the fast track to Cooperstown.

The New York Yankees look old and inept: Where are the Bronx Bombers? It is hard to recognize the way the Yankees have played these past few years. After missing the playoffs in back-to-back years they are finally beginning to find out what happens when you give 30-plus year-old players multi-year contracts. They will contribute for the first few years and then father time eventually wins out. Currently, the Yankees only have one player in their starting lineup

Britt McHenry Britt McHenry's ESPN Coworkers Want Her Fired.

ESPN announced on Thursday that Britt McHenry has been suspended for one week after a video of her berating a tow truck company employee went viral. Many have criticized the network for essentially giving McHenry a slap on the wrist, and some of her coworkers apparently want her fired.

A writer claims to have spoken with several ESPN employees including producers, production people and on-air talent who feel McHenry’s verbal assault should have cost her more than what essentially equates to a oneweek vacation. Here’s what some had to say: One high level producer said “She’s the worst.

Hopefully she’ll be fired soon.”

Another ESPN employee says, “[What she did] reflects on all of us at ESPN. She will be fired soon. If not, I’ll be shocked.”

“She came off more than rude in that clip. It seems like she needs some humble pie,” says another ESPN staffer. “ESPN can find a million Britt McHenrys to replace her.”

One famous ESPN’er (who also didn’t want to be named) said, “Put it like this, she’s replaceable.”

There are two sides to every story, and it can’t be ruled out that possibility the tow truck cashier was equally rude to McHenry. The video that was shown was edited.

That said, McHenry should have stopped insulting the woman the second she realized she was being recorded. McHenry has since apologized for the incident, but people are always going to associate her with the rant.

Aaron Hernandez W106228

Aaron Hernandez during the trial under the age of 30. He is Didi Gregorious who has been a failure to this point. The Yankees are going nowhere fast. Baseball is a young man’s game and things have also changed within the game. Teams are now keeping their own players, and the crop of free agents has been getting worse and worse every year. It is time for the Yankees to catch on with the rest of the league and begin to develop their farm system again.

The Detroit Tigers are primed for a deep October run: There is no team in baseball hotter than the Detroit Tigers. As of Sunday they were 10 and 2 on the season (the best record in MLB), and boast maybe the best hitting lineup MLB. In the batting order slots two-through-six are the toughest. They are Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, J.D Martinez, and Yoenis Cespedes. They even have a nice platoon situation working in center field. Depending on the throwing arm of the opposing pitcher, Anthony Gose and Rajai Davis both fill in more than adequately when they are called inserted in the line-up. The pitching appears to be solid as well. The top three are David Price, Anibal Sanchez and the newly-acquired Shane Greene who have been doing the job well in the early going. If Justin Verlander comes back from his triceps injury and gives Detroit anything close to what he once did, this is a 100-win team this year. They may be very well a serious threat to win the World Series.

Aaron Hernandez is no longer No. 81 for the Patriots-for the rest of his life he’ll be known as inmate W106228 in the Massachusetts penal system after being found guilty of the murder of Odin Lloyd Hernandez, linked to the scene by footprints and DNA, was committed to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Walpole, Mass., as inmate W106228 for what he did by Corliss Landing. The jury, seven women and five men, agreed with prosecutors that Hernandez, joined by two confederates, killed Lloyd in a brutal manner. The autopsy determined that Lloyd was shot in the back, one bullet recovered by his buttocks. Gunshot wounds were identified in the right abdomen and right forearm. Two .45-caliber bullets penetrated his body by the nipples, one projectile piercing his heart. Three of the shots were fatal.

Dotson’s Other Note: The one person I left out of the foregoing is Aaron Hernandez’s infant daughter. I believe it is in her best interests to never know that he was her biological father.

My thanks to Landon Silinsky writer for Yardbreaker and to TMZ.com for much of the information contained in the above articles.

Your suggestions, comments, questions and concerns regarding “Moon Sports Talk” are appreciated. Call the Benchwarmers 361-5605397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 3-6 p.m. or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

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By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon He was a storyteller if there ever was one, the kind of guy who looked for laughs. Smart as a whip and educated beyond most. Why didn’t he use his law degree, because he moved to New York and fell in love with the fight game? He was attracted to boxing. He loved the colorful personalities, the raw animal instincts of fighters. They owned the will to make something out of themselves with their fists, when lack of intelligence became an issue. He was referred to as “One of the foremost historians alive,” by the Boston Globe newspaper. He liked knowing more about the history of boxing than anyone else and always took the time to dazzle you with his knowledge about the sweet science of the squared ring. He was endearing, loud, and owned a great gravelly voice. He made his living at ringside and learned the sport insideout from the darkest recesses of the gym. He spent time with magnificent champions and the neighborhood bums who fought so poorly you could sell advertising on the bottom of their shoes. If you were standing in a crowded room and he entered, you knew immediately.

He never shied away from a microphone and always had an opinion. He could be flamboyant yet cunning and, at times, as different as an overhand right-cross from a left-hand jab.

When he smiled, his eyebrows moved up his forehead at the corners and his nose protruded out even farther. His eyes were penetrating and alive when speaking. He worked the crowd with swagger as if he were the heavyweight champion of the world. You believed every word he said. His trademark became a brown fedora and his prop, a stogie.

Bert Sugar authored and edited over 80 books mostly about boxing, while editing and publishing Boxing Illustrated and Ring Magazine. He also wrote about Harry Houdini, wrestling and for Smoke Magazine. His most read books included Inside Boxing, Great Fights, Bert Sugar on Boxing, The Ageless Warrior, and Sting like a Bee. He was also the co-writer with Angelo Dundee on Dundee’s book entitled My View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing. He was a radio and television commentator who never turned down an interview. He’d rather talk than breathe. It wasn’t a big fight until he arrived.

Bert’s popularity soared while playing himself in several films. His roles in “Night and the City,” “The Great White Hype,” and “Rocky Balboa,” were outstanding, and his interview in the movie “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson” was poignant and educational. He spoke about boxing in the early 1900’s like it happened yesterday and managed to secure parts in several movies. Bert Sugar was like Apple I Pad, a little ahead of his time. He forgot more about boxing than most of us will ever learn. His most favorite line may have been, “Did I tell you about the time…?”

Story time with Bert Sugar was about to begin.

I called it “Sugar Time.”

Herbert Randolph “Bert” Sugar was born on June 7, 1937, in the City of Presidents, Washington, D.C. He used the name Bert as a young man, because he grew tired of his classmates kidding him about his first name, Herbert. He attended public school and then enrolled at the University of Maryland. After graduation, he was accepted by the University of Michigan where he earned business and law degrees by 1961. While at Michigan, he wrote for the Michigan Daily and played rugby.

Bert moved to New York City and joined the advertising business. After ten years with different agencies, Bert moved on to his writing and love for boxing.

In a 2011 interview with BoxingInsider. com, Bert talked about the sport of boxing today, “What America wants to follow is the heavyweight division. We have since John L. Sullivan. We obsess over big men. I love the state that boxing is in, except for the heavyweight division which has been called off because of lack of interest.”

A dear friend and onetime fellow sports radio host, Henry Hernandez, shared his recollections of an interview he had with Sugar. “I spoke with Bert Sugar one summer afternoon in 2005 on a Friday,” said Henry. “It was my first week on the air and I was nervous, but the next half hour was radio magic.” You could hear the excitement in Henry’s voice as he described his experience. “We spoke about boxing, baseball and many other things. It was also fascinating to learn that it was Sugar who had written the Nestles Chocolate jingle used in their add commercials…N. E. S. T. L. E. S….Nestles

Bert Sugar makes the very best…Chocolate! He also confirmed a story I had read about why the old-time newspaper reporter’s all wore hats while working,” exclaimed Henry. “Bert said that most of the newspaper offices of his early days had cracks in the floor between where the reporters were typing their stories and the composing room above. When the typesetters dropped bits of lead they would sift down on the reporter’s heads.” I thanked Henry for his thoughts. Henry responded, “Bert Sugar could not have been more gracious.”

It’s sad that Bert passed away as his sport was also dying. On Sunday March 25, 2012, at the age of 75, Bert Sugar left us quietly. He died from cardiac arrest while fighting lung cancer, at northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York. Bert left behind his wife of 51 years, the former Suzanne Davis, one daughter, one son, and four grandchildren.

He had been in and out of the hospital several times in recent months. “I sort of fell apart,” said Sugar to Michael Woods of ESPN.com: Boxing. “You live like an idiot, it catches up with you. I had everything but terminal acne. I gathered they’d given up on me. You live like hell for all those years; it’s going to be hell at the end,” sighed Bert.

In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate. What we have left are his words, thoughts, and humor on paper, film, and tape.

Until the end, Bert suggested, “You’re not going to go undefeated, so have a plan on when things don’t go well; stay upbeat and positive.” That was the essence of boxing, and in turn, Bert Sugar.

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 Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session each Thursday night from 6-8 PM on ESPN 1440 KEYS.

The day the Director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Ed Brophy, called in 2005 to tell him the news of his induction, Bert asked if he could call back; he was watching his Michigan Wolverines play in the Rose Bowl. Sugar was inducted in January, 2005, and on May 10, 2010, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Bert Sugar was one of the reasons we shortened the word fanatic to fan. If he was anything, it was a sports fan. He collected all kinds of sports memorabilia, from a 700-pound block from the original Yankee Stadium to rare autographs.

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