Section a for web by Mary Craft

Final Voyage of the Kinta S.

Issue 544

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The voice of The Island since 1996

The Island Moon

September 18, 2014 Around The Island By Dale Rankin

Time for The Island to decide

You got to beat that drum Lizzy!

All Island registered voters encouraged to attend

editor@islandmoon.com Over in Scotland voters are deciding whether to sever 300 years of unity with the United Kingdon. Party leaders in England are lining up to promise the Scots many good things if they will vote against independence… maybe there’s a lesson for Islanders in there somewhere. Meanwhile, Island dogs got a shock this weekend when water suddenly began falling from the sky. They didn’t know what it was. They just stood out there in the yard and batted their eyes. It was rain is what it was. Rain we say! The kind that would have made Bill Starbuck proud; or as it will be known for the next couple of weeks – skeeterjuice. When the rain comes in the mosquito population can’t be far behind, so get out the skeeter spray folks.

Legislative priorities In just over three months the Texas Legislature will kick off in Austin and the City of Corpus Christi has lined up its priorities for the session. In no particular order here are some of them. • $80 million to revamp the Port Aransas ferry system and build passing lanes on SH 361. • Revamp the Texas Insurance Windstorm Association to include more ratepayers instead of majority of industry people. Lobbyists for the four large insurance companies who write 57% of the windstorm policies in the state are spending up to $12 million in lobbying prior to the session to hold off an attempt by the fourteen coastal counties in Texas to open the windstorm underwriting process to smaller, more cost effective insurance companies. At the heart of the fight is whether to place keep the fourteen coastal counties in a separate risk pool or place them in a statewide pool. • City lobbyists are also pushing for law changes that would allow cities to access local sources of energy for desalinization plants. • They are also pushing for legislation that would allow cities to regulate windfarms within their boundaries.

Island Moon Newspaper ArtWalk returns After a hiatus the Island Moon Newspaper ArtWalk is returning on Saturday, October 25 at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Vendor booths will be on a first come/first served basis. To reserve a booth e-mail Jordan at jgreer@schlitterbahn.com

Island Political Action Committee Endorsement Meetings Are this Week

The election season is upon us and the Island United Political Action Committee is holding their endorsement night in the races for Mayor and City Council District 4 at the Holiday Inn, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 18; the following week the IUPAC will hold its meeting to endorse candidates in the At-Large races at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, also at the Holiday Inn.

Election continued on A12

Port Aransas Art Center Helping Islanders discover their inner artist By Linda Walsh Have you ever just wanted to pick up a brush and paint a beautiful picture on a canvas but didn’t because you don't know what colors you should have on your pallet, how to blend them, or where to put your first stroke? Many people feel this way; I did and so did some of my friends. Then, we heard about Wine, Whine & Design. A monthly, Sunday evening three hour class put on by The Art Center of Port Aransas, for people just like us. Not only do they guide you step by step on colors, blending and where to put your first and last stroke, you can drink your favorite wine while creating! How fantastic is that! Well, I now have four originals hanging in my home and I am proud to sign my name to them. I will continue to attend every month because it is so much fun, and I feel like an artist now, but I still need the classes so I can continue to improve.

Art Center continued on A9

Drones Banned at PINS

The last day of the season for the park will be Sunday, October 12, but a portion of the grounds will be open for the ArtWalk.

We’re number 137!

Say hello if you see us Around The Island.

155-Foot Sunk

Kinta S will be home to sea life, attraction for divers and anglers

By Dale Rankin About twenty boats battled sporty seas late Wednesday morning to witness an historic addition to the underwater landscape off the Central Texas Coast. By late morning the center of attention, the 155-foot coastal freighter Kinta S, was on site, towed ten miles out from Port Aransas by a tender vessel, but by mid-afternoon the ship was still afloat, late for its rendezvous with the Corpus Christi Nearshore Reef located on a 160-acre site about equidistant from the Port Aransas and Packery jetties in 73 feet of water. The flotilla of private vessels and from Texas Parks and Wildlife battled 3-4 foot seas and waited anxiously for the

Reef continued on A4

Texas Hurricanes and Windstorm Insurance

The National Park Service embraces many activities in national parks because they enhance visitor experiences with the iconic natural, historic and cultural landscapes in our care. Sometimes new kinds of activities appear. Each new activity needs to be examined to see how it could impact park resources or the visitor experience. Over the course of the last year the use of quad copters and drones has risen dramatically across the United States. To examine potential impacts Jon Jarvis the Director of the National Park Service issued an interim policy earlier in 2014 banning the use of unmanned aircraft at all national park sites until a determination could be made. Management Policies 2006 1.5 and 8.2.2 state the National Park Service will not allow new park uses until a determination has been made that the new use will not cause unacceptable impacts on park resources and values.

Drones continued on A8

Inside the Moon

Lobbyist: Island Rates Need to Go Up “20-30%”

By Greg Smith

We are getting close to the end of another hurricane season. For the Atlantic season which includes the Gulf of Mexico the peak activity date is September 10. For we Texans the date is earlier, August 18, using the 51 storms that have struck the Texas coast since 1891. In fact only six storms out of the fifty-one that hit our shoreline struck after September 17. As the hurricane season winds down the Texas Legislature season is starting to heat up.

meetings to discuss changes in our Windstorm Insurance. Much of the talk was the same as the past. State Rep Drew Springer said “We’re charging so much below what the private market charges for the risk and we have to come up with something more reasonable. “ One lobbyist representing about forty percent of the Texas homeowners market said “premiums are getting closer to market rates but still need to go up another 20 to 30 percent” at the House of Representatives hearing.

Beginning January 13, 2015 the next session begins and will end on May 31. Last week both the Texas House and Senate had Interim Committee

Windstorm continued on A15

For all we suffering coastal folks paying these wallet busting insurance premiums this is tough talk. Are these

Sailing The Potomac A5

On the Rocks A6

A little Island history

The Mother Lagoon and Spanish Treasure

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of excerpts from the book Islands on the Edge of Time by Gunnar Hansen who visited The Island in 1991.

the volume here; much was coming from passing ships, oil spills, and the offshore oil wells. Throw it- or spill it – into the Gulf and it will wash up on a Texas beach.

By Gunner Hansen

There was other debris, big stuff – a boiler from a ship and three mooring buoys, six feet across. And endless trash – plastic, cans and bottles, rope six inches thick, barrels, a bird with a six-pack plastic wrapped around its legs.

Back on the beach I began to notice flat asphaltum pancakes a foot and a half in diameter – big cow flops of congealed oil. They were everywhere on the beach, mostly in small pieces the size of coins; the bottoms of my shoes were soon black. Evidently this asphaltum occurs naturally, seeping out of the sea bottom in the southern Gulf of Mexico and washing up on the beach. In fact the Kawakawa Indians had decorated their pots with it. But the seepage would not account for

Further Island Moon Artwalks will be held weather permitting through the winter months with regular monthly events next year. WalletHub analyzed the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States this week and pronounced Corpus Christi as the 12th least educated city in the country based on nine key metrics including educational attainment, the percentage of workers with jobs in computer, engineering and science fields, and the number of enrolled students in the top 200 universities per capita. Here’s how we placed with 1 being the best and 75 being average. 138th – Percentage of High School Diploma Holders 136th – Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Holders 133rd – Percentage of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders 134th – Number of Doctors per Capita 126th – Percent of Workers with Jobs in Computer, Engineering and Science Fields 74th – Public School System Ranking 127th – Percentage of College or Associate's Degree Holders

Weekly

Big Shell Beach stretched roughly6 from the twenty-two to the twentysix mile mark, in the convergence zone for the coast. South of there , the littoral drift was northward, carrying sand and debris from the

Fishin' with Farah A7

History continued on A4

Island Legends By Jackie Bales

Twistin’ Hooties…

Election 2014 A12-A14

“Don’t you come into my place with your foul mouth”, it was Jessie Mathews dusting of her hands on her flour sack skirt. She padded back inside on her bare feet, I don’t remember her in shoes. I’m wondering what just happened. She grabbed the guy by the seat of the pants and scruff of the neck and tossed him over the front rail. That was a good five foot drop. I decided to take the back way around. It was Mathews fishing center in the post hurricane Celia era. Ralph Plumbley acquired the property and named it the Sports Center (We always marked our time periods my named hurricanes) it must have been 1965. And me? I’m just the kid that sells gas and shrimp on the front dock.

Jessie Common sense will tell you to avoid Jessie when she has her “mad on”. She served as Supreme Commander when she worked somewhere. Pete Peterson was the manager but he

Legends continued on A4

Live Music A18

September 18, 2014

Island Moon

The Travelling Moon

Above: Islanders Ralf andf Bavaria Heckenbach are vacationing in Germany during the Worldcup which was won by Germany. Ralf & Bavaria in Germany in front of King Ludwig the II’s Castle (this castle is on an Island at Lake Chiemsee Left: Bavaria and her cousin and friends after a win of the German game !!! The Island Moon traveled across the pond to England with Lillie Mae Cazalas and Mary Van Wyk. Here they are at Stonehenge.....one of the many awesome places to see in the U.K.

Island Jewelers Creating Custom Jewelry Since 1972 Don't Sell Your Gold!

On a frosty morning this week, the Island Moon and Tom Cullinan were on the bank of the Missouri River in Great Falls, Montana.

Eric and Breanna Faust brought the Island Moon with them to Pikes Market in Seattle Washington, also to the Original Starbucks, Brees favorite. They have enjoyed Island life for over 3 years. Eric, a recent TAMUK Engineering graduate has accepted a job in Washington , they will be missed!

On-Site Repair Watch Batteries Link Adjustment

Watch Repair Ring Sizing Starting at $15

Loma Alta Plaza • Next to Scuttlebutts Open Tuesday - Friday 11-6, Saturday 11-5 361-867-8028 • www.islandjewlerssouthtexas.com

BAY AREA FELLOWSHIP IS NOW

THIS MONTH AT...

JOIN US SEPT. 7TH - 24TH!

BAY AREA FELLOWSHIP HAS A NEW NAME! Bay Area Fellowship is now CHURCH UNLIMITED! Pastor Bil and Jessica Cornelius invite you to join us at one of our weekend services to see how we’re taking the limits off church and changing lives like never before!

JOIN US SUNDAYS AT 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM

(LIVE SATELLITE FEED AT 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM)

CHURCH UNLIMITED • Padre Island Campus 15205 SPID • Corpus Christi, TX 78418 WEARECHURCHUNLIMITED.COM

September 18, 2014

Moon Monkeys Mike Ellis, Founder

Letters to the Editor

Pete Alsop Island Delivery Coldwell Banker Advertising Jan Park Rankin Classifieds Design/Layout Jeff Craft Contributing Writers Joey Farah Devorah Fox Mary Craft Maybeth Christiansen Jay Gardner Chad Peters Todd Hunter Dotson Lewis Ronnie Narmour Brent Rourk Dr. Donna Shaver Photographers Miles Merwin Jeff Dolan Mary Craft Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)

Higher Education The Padre Island Business Association joined with FBBA, NWBA, and the Southside Business Council to adopt in June, 2011 the 'Higher Education Resolution' stating:

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 Sandpiper Condos WB Liquors

Stripes @ Beach Access Rd. 1A A Mano

All Stripes Stores

Coffee Waves

CVS

Moby Dicks

Whataburger

Spanky’sLiquor

Doc’s Restaurant

IGA Grocery Store

Isle Mail N More

Carter Pharmacy

Island Italian

San Juan’s Taqueria

Ace Hardware

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Texas Star (Shell)

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

"TAMU-CC's ever expanding infra-structure is truly phenomenal; yet, the jury in the MALDEF suit twenty-years ago found and the Thirteenth Court Of Appeals agreed that the State of Texas discriminates against South Texas students as to higher education doctoral and professional program opportunities. In 1992, the Chancellors of the University of Texas and Texas A&M Systems responded by recommending for now TAMU-CC ten Ph.D programs; yet, we have twenty years later only one professional program and just five of the proposed doctoral programs: Educational Leadership, Counseling, Curriculum, Marine Biology, and Nursing. We also have Harte, but we still do not have the other five proposed doctoral programs of Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Psychology, Reading, and English, which is dismal when one considers that there are four hundred and seventy-six doctoral programs in Texas. PIBA, FBBA, NWBA, and Southside Business Council urges expansion of TAMU-CC doctoral, professional, and postgraduate research programs." On September 10, 2014 at the annual State Of The University meeting , President Flavius Killebrew responded by announcing the 'Momentum 20/20' plan with the goal of TAMU-CC becoming an 'emerging research institution' just as Texas Tech, U of T Arlington, U of T Dallas, U of T El Paso, U of T San Antonio, University of Houston, and University of North Texas. The 'results leadership' is vital to our community's economic growth and student opportunities. Guy Watts

Steel

Port A Arts

North Padre

Public Library

Celebrate the Importance of American Freedom

In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1776, which established Celebrate Freedom Week. Texas public schools are encouraged to spend the week focusing on the importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, in their historical contexts. Local school districts honor Celebrate Freedom Week during the week of Sept. 17, Constitution Day, to commemorate the signing of the historic document in 1787.

Andy Purvis

Port A Parks and Rec

mkay512@aol.com

Although the Constitution was written long ago, the founding document still plays a significant role in our daily lives as it guarantees the precious liberties and fundamental rights for all U.S. citizens and puts “governance in the hands of the people.”

Arlene Ritley

Pioneer RV Park

by Mary Craft

The Constitution is a crucial thread in the fabric of our country’s history. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor once said, the Constitution changed world history “for the perpetual benefit of mankind. In 1787, no country in the world had ever allowed its citizens to select their own form of government, much less to select a democratic government.”

Distribution

Lisabella’s Restaurant

Did Ya Hear?

Beach Goo

A reader sent these photos taken along the seawall last week. We contacted Paul Silva with the local office of Texas Parks and Wildlife who said the foam occurs naturally during high winds with large amounts of Sargassum weed in the water. Silva said the wind causes protein in the water to come to the surface and the wind blows in toward the beach.

Port Aransas

Island Moon

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

We made a very large investment in our island home in 2008. It is obvious this city’s building codes are ridiculous when you allow contractors to use steel or galvanized dipped steel to be used in any construction of a home built on salt water, just so the contractor can save a few bucks on fasteners, trim, flashing, and other inferior products. Our home was built in November of 2001 by a well established island contractor, and still is (in my opinion) a newer home. The implications of this action (or non – action) creates a snowball effect costing homeowners several thousands of dollars to rectify this mess. Allowing contractors to build homes, decks, docks, piers, and other home components out of steel is equivalent to allowing them to build fireplaces out of wood. It is obvious this city has no interest in protecting the interests of the tax payers investments. All hardware and fasteners should be no less than 304 stainless steel alloy! Can’t anyone see the ripple effect? Docks and decks are falling apart in front of our eyes, rusty eye soring steel around eves and chimneys, all do to materials rusting away. How many physical injuries has this caused by people falling through deck planks and falling off ladders? Hey, maybe the tax assessor would have a stronger case when he wants to raise real estate taxes if the homeowners homes weren’t falling apart. Maybe the resale values would be more stable with building codes in place that make sense.

Along with our profound freedom comes the responsibility of increased civic education and citizenry. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt expressed the urgency of educating our prospective leaders in justice and civic involvement: “Our children should learn the general framework of their government and then they should know where they come in contact with the government, where it touches their daily lives and where their influence is exerted on the government. It must not be a distant thing, someone else’s business, but they must see how every cog in the wheel of a democracy is important and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.” Civic education is important to society because civic virtue fosters engaged citizens who understand our democracy and the liberties the rule of law protects. Ensuring that our children receive a solid foundation in civics is essential to producing the next generation of responsible citizens in our communities. In the spirit of Celebrate Freedom Week, the State Bar of Texas offers resources designed to help educate the public about the law. The State Bar’s Law Related Education (LRE) Department has helped train over 6,000 educators on civic education programs and curriculum by using technology that will captivate and prepare students for responsible citizenship. Trey Apffel

Port Aransas Art Center Schedule Weekly Classes MONDAYS- SOFT PASTELS- NANCY THYRE ~ RESUMES SEPTEMBER 8th 9:30 am -12:30 pm-Cost:$15.00 non-members\ $13.50 members Learn this very fun and artistic medium. Nancy has a great lesson plan each week or complete something of your own. Use our pastels to get started if you don’t have a set. TUESDAYS DROP IN & DRAW -PAT DONOHUE - 9:30am-12:30pmCost:$15.00 non-members $13.50 Members Come, learn to draw or improve your skills, you will have a great time! Bring your drawing supplies. (First Tuesday is portrait drawing if you don’t want to do a portrait you may bring something else) FRIDAYS -BEGINNING / INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR -KAY BARNEBEY 10am-1pm Cost: $25 for one or 4 for $80 Come, learn to paint or advance your painting skills with this great instructor Supply List available, A/C also has paints/brushes you can use to get started & you can buy paper here as well.

WORKSHOPS WINE WHINE & DESIGN– September 21st 5-8pm Instructor-Norma Gafford Cost: $40 Donation to the Art Center’s Land/ Building Fund BYOB & Snacks We provide the rest. Stress free, fun & creative! Paint an Island Hut scene- one step at a time. Trace patterns & paint in simple steps guided by an artist. The Art Center provides all materials16X20 canvas, brushes, paint & wine glasses. Sign Up Now LEE RICKS -2 DAY WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP October 17th & 18th 9:30am-4:30 w/ lunch break Cost: $125 includes both days Pre-pay by Oct.3rd Complete a painting a day to be proud of! Supply List available 10 Student minimum. Sign up soon & enjoy learning from this talented instructor! Contact the center at 361749-7334 323 N. Alister Port A artcenter@ centurytel.net

Believe me, when spending over half a million dollars on a house on Padre Island, nobody cares if they need to spend a couple of thousand dollars more to protect their investment for the long term. Would you folks build an igloo on the equator? Probably not, same reason I wouldn’t build a steel house on the Gulf. Just curious if the superintendent is appointed or elected, I may want to apply for this position before my house falls down. Regards, Frustrated investor from Chicago, Bob Kujawinski Cleveland Corporation President

The Belt Sander Races at the Gaff are still a big island draw

New Advertisers Padre Island Burger Company will be on the Texas Bucket List TV show on Sunday, September 21st on CBS at 6:30 am. The restaurant is deservedly competing for the best burger in Texas. Check it out and see which Islanders you can spot. Tim Burdick Photography & Gallery in Port A specializes in portraiture, commercial and real estate, aerial, fine art, weddings, viedeography, events and more. Call 813-1963 for more info. The gallery is located at 722 Tarpon Street. Al Amin Shrine Gun Show will be held this weekend at 2001 Suntide Road Saturday 9 am – 5pm and Sunday 9 am – 4 pm. The next show will be November 8-9.

Business Briefs The Fall 2014 Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup will be held September 27th 9 am – noon but you should arrive before 9 am to pick up cleaning supplies. The cleanups here will be in Port A at Avenue G on the beach, Padre Balli Park Office and Island National Seashore Malaquite Visitor Center. Registration forms are available at http:// www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach. Espresso Time inside Mail & More now has Pumpkin Spice Latte (16 oz.) for $3.25 to get you in the fall mood. And be on the lookout, coming soon is the Peppermint Mocha Latte and a Creamy Eggnog Latte. They are open bright and early at 6 am and they have WIFI. If you are not able to attend the Island United PAC meeting Thursday, September 25, stop by the POA office to cast your vote for the at-large Council candidates. The Black Marlin in Port A at Palmilla Beach Resort has burger night back every Thursday. They have happy hour Monday – Wednesday 3 – 6 pm with $3 pints, $4 wells and $5 wines and cocktails. The Port A Parrotheads are hosting their 5th Annual Wings Over Port A two day party September 26-27 for $60. The event includes dinner, auction, live music, bonfire and afternoon pub crawl. Check out their website for more info. Paradise Computer Services in Port A is the place to go if your computer is slow, not working right or you just want to look into getting a new one. And the best part is you don’t have to leave Port A. JB German Bakery was closed for two weeks but re-opened Tuesday. The American Diabetes Association Fund Raiser will be held at the lower level of Doc’s Seafood & Steaks on Saturday, September 20th 8pm - midnight. Live music by Jeff Anderson and the Ceveza Libre Band will begin at 9 pm. There is a $5 cover. Rally for the Cure Awareness event will be held at Palmilla Beach Golf Club on Monday, October 6th. The entry fee is $85 and includes greens fee, cart, appetizers and on-course games. Call the golf shop at 749-4653 to sign up. Someone told me at the last PIBA mixer that they met my husband which surprised me since I don’t have one. She said she was a newcomer and assumed that the Rankins and the Crafts did the Moon. That made me think that there are others out there that may think the same thing. So to set things straight, Jeff Craft is the graphic guru that lays out the paper. We are not related or married but we do “craft” the paper together each week.

Legends continued from A1

Island Moon

September 18, 2014

History continued from A1

didn’t cross up with Jessie. She made things run like a finely oiled machine. She never liked to sit in a chair that didn’t rock. Rocking and thinking was her game. The gears in her mind keep turning and we were all fine with whatever she decided.

southern Gulf of Mexico; north of this zone the drift was southerly bringing its load from the north and east. The beach here was primarily shells, evidently delivered by the converging littoral drifts and then exposed as the onshore winds carried the sand off the beach and into the dunes. The dunes were large, thirty feet or more – as big as they got on Padre Island or anywhere on the U.S. coast.

I walked around back of the wharf to avoid any additional drama and WOLA… It was Jessie serving beer out the back door and admonishing the crowd. “I want another GIRL PEARL, I mean a PEARL GIRL”, it was Bob White impressing Jessie Mathews with his wit. Like the rest of the charter Jessie and sisters Viola and Ollie boatmen, he was celebrating the by. Back in the day we went “house hopping” ritual of the daily fishing spirits. Jessie didn’t “cotton” to no rude behavior. She during holidays. Margaritte Moore, Bill and Bo was happy to serve them on the porch but they Horn, Olline Mathews (my mother) and Jessie’s might not want to come inside. The mood was house were known for the best vittles. festive and here came Edgar Norris Dreyer with Being elected for cutlery duty, I was busy the Panama hat. He was singing and dancing washing pots and pans… “I set right here in as if on Broadway. Cricker Mathews excused this rocking chair”, Jessie informed me. “I himself at the sight and took his leave. Less Hill wasn’t gonna leave for no hurricane”, referring was silently taking it all in, his big-o eyebrows to Hurricane Celia. Everyone else left but I just twitchin’ like incoming radar. Casparis wouldn’t go”, she continued. “The lights went looking on, chewing on that cigar. He would out and it kept getting worse. This ol’ house never light it, just chewed it all day. Casparis was a huffin’ and puffin’… I found a six pack had the secret of catching Pompano at the North of beer in the ice box and popped every top on Jetty. He took that secret with him when he it. I set in this rockin’ chair and rocked while passed at 104 ½ years old. To me he was Mel I drank every one of those beers (she usually Brooks. You knew, right there and then, that didn’t drink beer). Then the place started fishing is good even if you don’t catch anything. shaking and it sounded like a jet plane. BOOM, Jessie Mathews and Ruth Mathews were the roof blew off so I crawled under the table. cohorts in running things behind the counter. And then it all stopped. I looked up and saw Ruth set there twisting up Hooties while stars in the sky. A couple of birds flew in. I got talking constantly to no one in particular. She up and tried to get things together and BOOM could twist more Hotties than could be sold. I it started again and the rain was coming in couldn’t keep up. Jessie would twist a hootie the house in sheets and the wind was blowing or two and go about other business. She liked everything around”… The eye had just passed silence mostly, when she didn’t have anything over. “Are you going to stay next time”? I to say. I think that is why Jessie and Ruth got asked. “Well”, she reflected, “I don’t recon I along so well. Oh… What is a Hootie? Well, got no reason to stay”… it’s a Mackerel and Kingfish lure made of kite Jessie May Thompson was born in 1916. string. “And a few strands of Sessile Rope”, Jessie descends from William T. Thompson and Ruth correct me politely. Jessie always had Ira Belle Grisham. She was born to Samuel B. a way of making you feel special when she and Dealie Thompson. She had two sisters; needed something done. I was their Dock Viola (1913), Ollie (1914). She married John Boy. Even when I had to clean the rest rooms, Edward Mathews, son of Thomas Mathews and no problem. You could see the water down Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mathews. Johnny was born below. With no sewer system, it was an “inside in Port Aransas in 1905. Jessie and Johnny had outhouse”… four kids; Charlie, Johnny Martin, Mary Dee Things were quite different at home for Jessie. and William (Billy Boy, my step dad). Pattie I came to know her differently in later years. Smith could tell you more. She is the keeper of She liked to put on a big spread for holidays the family tree. and was a sweet talking grandma to her many Jessie Mathews taught me good work ethics. grandbabies, one of which is my brother In my early years she was often my boss. In Stewart Chase Mathews. She cooked the turkey later years my mother became her daughterwhile the men watched football (she didn’t trust in-law and by brother her grandson. I had the a man in the kitchen). She did let her husband, privilege of knowing Jessie as the Matriarch Johnny Mathews, help. He stirred the pots but of a large family. She was a kind mother and he was a really good cook himself. Johnny grandmother. She had a soft side in spite of her Martin was in his favorite chair and Coach gruffly nature. A true legend not to be forgotten. Doyle Marek was long time accepted member One of many “Island Legends” to remember of the family. Mary Dee would drop in with when we meet again. Same time next time. her entourage and many others would stop

I stopped at thirty miles. Behind the island here, Laguna Madre so shallow that it was hardly a lagoon. It was a wind-tidal flat, more sand and blue-green algae than water, only an inch or so deep at best, with sand hummocks rising from it. Since the lagoon formed about five thousand years ago, this section has been slowly accumulating sand. Some contend that ranching contributed to the process, the cattle destroying much of the island’s plant cove rand freeing sand to migrate. About a hundred fifty years ago a section of the lagoon finally filled. Nowadays it is under water only when the wind blows from the right direction, but otherwise it’s almost continuous sand except for the twelvefoot deep Intracoastal Waterway scooped out of it. Here the sand sheet crosses to the mainland and forms the dunes that drift west across the Brownsville highway. The lagoon is a haven for birds, the oases of spoil pumped up in the channel dredging offer ideal nesting sites for black skimmers, terns, white-faced ibis, snow and reddish egrets, great blue herons, laughing gulls, and the only breeding colonies of white pelicans on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The lagoon is unusual for its salinity. With no significant river input, it is the largest hypersaline basin in the United States. The salt content in areas can be close to that of the ocean, about 35parts per thousand, or as low as 2 ppt. (The south end of the Great Salt Lake, in Northern Utah, by comparison, is about 50 ppt, which is considered hypersaline. At its north end the salinity is about 180 ppt.

The Mother Lagoon Even so, The Laguna Madre is rich in sea life, a true Mother Lagoon. What it lacks in biologic diversity (many plants and animals cannot survive the salt), it makes up for in sheer numbers. It is a summer nursery for young brown shrimp and pink shrimp, which as adults are a large part of the commercial shrimp fishery in the Gulf. And there are fish:, skipjack, pinfish, striped mullet, spotted sea trout, Atlantic croaker, and redfish. Its annual finfish catch is high as a million and a quarter pounds. There was a time when the lagoon produced more fish than all the rest of the Texas coast; today it is second to Galveston Bay. As much as 90 percent of the fish and shellfish harvested in Texas depend on Laguna Madre and the other estuaries for their survival. In particularly hot, dry weather, though, the salinity in Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay can soar as high as 75 or 85 ppt; some locations have measured as high as 100 ppt. at these levels it kills the fish. At thirty-three miles I found a hardhat. Behind it a large overwash area had cut down the dunes and carried the sand all the way across the island to Laguna Madre. The island was narrow

here, less than a mile. Two miles to the south lay another, more massive, overwash channel. No vegetation covered the dunes near the overwash – they were bare and unstable. There bars ran offshore here, maybe thirty yards apart. And there had been wrecks, some debris was disable on the receding ride. Now they were small iron skeletons with just a sharkfin metal triangle sticking out of the water, rusted and covered with seaweed. The rest was submerged and ghostly.

Spanish treasure Ships have been running aground here since the first Western exploration of the Gulf. On April 29, 1554, three ships laden with silver and gold were driven ashore in a storm somewhere nearby, spread out along about five miles of beach. The Santa Maria de Yciar, the San Esteban, and the Espiritu Santo carried about three hundred men, women, and children in addition to sugar, medicine, silk, and more than one and a half million pesos worth of precious metals. Though at first the Kawakawas had appeared friendly to those who reached the beach, they were soon killing the Spaniards. The survivors began to walk south, heading for Mexico, stalked by the Indians. As if the attacks were not enough, the Europeans did not know how to live off the land. As they marched, they died of thirst and hunger, eating the remains of their companions as they died. It is a familiar story; it goes on to say, probably apocryphally, that as the Kawakawas saw them eating their dead, they decided the Spanish must be tasty. From then on the Indians engaged in a running battle with the retreating Spanish, and the Kawakawas’’ fame as cannibals was established.

Greatest salvage operation in history By late July, about three months after the wrecks, a Spanish salvage fleet of six ships and a hundred men arrived and began to recover the lost treasure. In later years some would call it the greatest salvage operation in history. They worked on the San Estaban first, for it was still partially out of the water. Dragging the bottom for the other wrecks, they found the Espiritu Santo and divided their crew to work both ships simultaneously. A few days later they located the Santa Maria de Yciar. Like the Espiritu Santo, which had split at the bow when she hit the sand, the Santa Maria had broken up and spilled her cargo onto the sandy bottom; some of the boxes of silver were already buried. The two ships lay in no more than eighteen feet of water. The salvage operation ended on September 12, with the eleven divers taking an oath that they could see no more treasure. They had recovered about thirty-six thousand pounds of silver and a small amount of gold, less than half the riches. About fifty thousand pounds of precious metals remained on the bottom to haunt treasure hunters to this day. Occasionally someone finds a coin, and once again the local papers wonder about the Spanish treasure.

Next issue: Treasure hunting with Gene French.

Reef continued from A1 it difficult, if not impossible, to maneuver in the choppy water. But by mid-afternoon the problem was solved and the Kinta S made her final voyage.

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The formation of the artificial reef was done through the hard work of members of the Saltwater-fisheries Enhancement Association (SEA) who raised the money to buy and prepare the boat for sinking at the reef, where more than 400 tons of cement pyramids, squares, and other structures placed last year have already begun to attract a substantial fish population. large yellow tank placed atop the Kinta S’s top deck to discharged its supply of compressed air and allow the ship to take on water and end her days on the surface and become a sub-surface home to fish and an attraction to divers.

The University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) teaming up with (SEA) and Texas Parks and Wildlife to film the sinking of the cargo ship, Kinta S., to create a new artificial reef off the coast of

By mid-afternoon word came through from crews working on the tender which towed the Kinta S out that a tow line had wrapped around one of the propeller shafts of the tender, making

Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. The crew will monitor the artificial reef to track how fish and other organisms begin to colonize and populate the Kinta S. vessel.

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September 18, 2014

Stuff I Heard on the Island

by Dale Rankin Everything was fine until the live shot crashed. I was at the headquarters of the Homeowner Taxpayer Association on the Northside of San Antonio on election night. The HTA was against everything City Hall did, including the building of the Alamodome with a special transportation sales tax; the dome is technically a giant bus stop. I was the only one left at the HTA office because when the tally came in the dome passed, the HTA lost and their members left. For many 9 p.m. was after their bedtime anyway. The anchor threw it to the winning headquarters and there was much yelling and sign waving then – nothing. White noise. Back to the anchor who says, “We lost our transmission, and now we go to Dale Rankin at the headquarters of the losing side. They throw it to me and you could hear crickets chirp. There was no joy in HTA that night. Finally, after I tap danced for about four minutes the anchor, who clearly still didn’t have the other live shot up says, “Dale, what do you think will be the name of the new dome?” I resisted the urge to say, “You stupid hairdo! How the @#%$% would I know. I’m standing by myself in the campaign headquarters of the side who doesn’t want to build the thing in the first place! They would like to call it the Alamohole!”

Slate politics

Antonio is looking for water denied it by a group so mad at the City Hall they were willing to burn the city to save it.

It all started with taxes The taxpayer revolt started with city taxes and spread to the county and the Bexar County Austin delegation, and the tax increases that spawned it were not as hefty as the ones we are seeing now here in our local governments. The Nueces County Commissioners Court ran this notice this week: “The Commissioners Court will conduct a public hearing on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 4.03 percent for Nueces County.” A 4% tax hike this year on top of three in the past three years that means this group of commissioners have raised county taxes by 14% during its tenure. The city this week ran this notice: “Adopting the Fiscal Year 2014 Property Tax Rate. Ordinance setting a property tax rate of $0.585264 per $100 valuation which is effectively a 7.71% increase over the effective tax rate.” That is a tax hike of over 15% in city taxes in two years. That is on top of asking voters to fund another $99.5 million in street bonds. Now comes the College District asking for voters to approve the issuance of $157,000,000 of bonds. A million here and a million there…

FBISD

I relate this story to convey the power that the HTA had at that time and the genesis of that organization was rooted in a set of circumstances much like those around us today here in Corpus Christi. That is to say, people are frustrated, even fed up, with the continual raising of taxes and feel powerless to stop it. If you look at the city ballot for the November election you see the beginning of slate politics; a group of like-minded candidates running on a similar, often identical platform based around frustration with rising taxes. From what I can tell the group on this ballot doesn’t know it’s a slate and is not running as one; but the beginnings of a burgeoning tax revolt are there, and if the San Antonio model provides any guidance, it will grow. Homeowner Taxpayer groups are like runaway Grand Juries; once they start they take on a life of their own and you don’t know where they are going. This makes them, like most singleissue organizations, dangerous and potentially harmful in the extreme. The San Antonio group barely missed on a Spending Cap Referendum that would have hamstrung annexation and turned modern-day SA into an enclave city surrounded by smaller towns which bound the outer city limits of the metropolis where their citizens use the city streets and other services for which they pay nothing. Dallas has this problem. They became so frustrated with City Hall that they opposed anything and everything the City Council tried to do. This attitude culminated in a preposterous decision which could still prove to be the undoing of the now bustling metropolis. The issue was water and the city taxpayers approved bonds to build Applewhite Reservoir to store water from the Medina River Basin for the city’s water supply. The city began stockpiling water rights in 1957 and began construction in 1989; then in 1991 a petition from the HTA put the project on a ballot and voters killed it - voting to spend $30 million to restore the site to pasture land when the lake could have been finished for $11 million. But the big problem was with the loss of the project Corpus Christi being one. Now a parched San

Over at the Flour Bluff school district the tax hike was held to 1% - more on that in future issues – but we are seeing slate politics there as well, at the single entity which accounts for 51 cents of every dollar of property tax paid by taxpayers in the district. For years the FBISD school board has had the unsettling habit of having incumbent board members resign in the months leading up to the next board election so the remaining board members can appoint the new member of their choice who then has the advantage of running as an incumbent. This has ensured that the members of the ruling oligarchy, chosen by the board first and the taxpayers second, control the board. If you don’t believe they are doing this on purpose look at these campaigns signs, displayed collectively to send the unmistakable message they are running as a slate of candidates bound together to keep the Old Guard in control. Sign here

A clear pattern While many of these events may seem unrelated on the surface ultimately they are not. As control is concentrated and complaints about rising taxes ignored governance reaches a critical mass and explodes spraying anger into the political fan which distributes it to any and all political bodies. I can tell you from having a front row seat that it isn’t pretty and can degenerate into class warfare very quickly. And like a runaway Grand Jury you don’t know how much damage it can do to an area until it is too late. Just ask a thirsty San Antonio.

‘We might be speaking French today instead of English’ GLO symposium chance to learn about impact of La Salle’s ship La Belle prior to Austin visit Putting pieces of the past together: it’s what historians do. And that’s precisely what happened when a million-plus fragments were recovered from a 300-year-old shipwreck along the Texas Coast and reassembled – the subject of a session at this year’s Save Texas History Symposium, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office. Timbers, shards, artifacts, bolts, bullets, bones – and even a partially intact human brain – were what remained of a ship belonging to a famous French explorer foundational to Texas’ early history. The resurrection of La Belle – one of Robert LaSalle’s four ships – will be the subject of a talk by state archaeology expert Dr. Jim Bruseth. “Texas as we know it may never have existed if La Belle would have remained afloat,” Bruseth said. “The supplies and men on board would have helped secure La Salle’s colony. We might be speaking French today instead of English.” Titled “Making Waves on Land and Sea: Legends and Controversy in Texas History,” the Symposium is set from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the William B. Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Ave., in Austin (just north of the Texas Capitol). Bruseth will be joined by historian James P. Bevill who will share information about the Texas Navy and its role in defending a newly formed nation from the Mexican fleet. Their session is from 1-2:30 p.m. La Belle was one of René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle’s four vessels used to explore the Gulf of Mexico and colonize the mouth of the Mississippi River. On a mission to start a French colony under the aegis of King Louis XIV, La Belle wrecked near present-day Matagorda Bay circa 1686. The wreck was a factor in the failure of La Salle’s colony, which was largely intended as a hedge between New Spain and French land claims in North America. For three centuries the wreckage lay untouched and unseen in the bay’s concealing bog. It was discovered by Texas state archaeologists in 1995. It took more than a year to recover the

Island Moon

more than 1 million pieces, making it one of the most ambitious archaeological projects of the 20th century, as well as one of the century’s greatest finds. La Belle is also the subject of an upcoming exhibit at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. “La Belle: The Ship That Changed History” special exhibition is scheduled to run from Oct. 25, 2014 to May 17, 2015, and will showcase conserved hull timbers and artifacts recovered from 1995-96. Returning to Austin for its fifth year, the 2014 Save Texas History Symposium will investigate notable and notorious characters who color Texas history. Other speakers and subjects at the GLO’s Save Texas History Symposium include: • Carol Wilson on governors James E. “Pa” and Miriam “Ma” Ferguson; • Dr. Thomas Hatfield on Land Commissioner, WWII vet, and A&M President James E. Rudder; • Dr. Jerry Thompson speaking on Mexican folk hero and outlaw Juan Cortina; • Dr. Bruce Winders, Alamo historian, on Mexican General Santa Anna; • James L. Haley on Quanah Parker, a Native American who lived in two worlds; • Chuck Parsons on the legendary John Wesley Hardin; • Mike Miller on former Land Office employee, and well-known short-story writer O. Henry; • Jeffrey Stuart Kerr on the embattled birth of Austin as capital of Texas. The cost is $62 per person, which includes a barbecue lunch buffet (with vegetarian option). For additional information contact James Harkins at (512) 463-3289 or james.harkins@ glo.texas.gov, or D’Anne Stites at 1(512)4636740 or danne.stites@glo.texas.gov. To register online, or for further information, visit http://www.glo.texas.gov/save-texas-history/ symposium.html. Seating is limited.

Potomac River Sailing By Sail Offcourse I pulled out of the Marina as the first pink to golden rays of daybreak were painting the morning skyline over D.C. After clearing the breakwaters protecting the marina I looked back behind me and waved goodbye to the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool. I had enjoyed seeing the millennium fireworks there on the mall and would miss the concerts at the Kennedy Center. Looking across the river I my gaze went up the hill to the Iwo Jima Monument overlooking Arlington National Cemetery then back down to the Pentagon. Turning around facing each cardinal direction I blessed all four directions of the compass. Looking up gave praise to the great spirit for giving life then waved my hand over the water and thanked Mother Earth for a wonderful journey. As a Native American I do my best to remember the old customs and apply them to my everyday living. It does help one to think about the wanton waste of society, and how to leave as small of a footprint as we can while here in our earth suits.

bent down and grabbed up the full pack and wanted to know how much he did owe me? I said he owed me nothing just enjoy! With a wave he climbed back up the ladder, gave it some gas leaving me bobbing in the exhaust smoke.

Approaching the power plant to the north of Marine Corps Base Quantico I saw a storm coming fast from the west. My Marine radio crackled and the Silverton Motor Yacht that had passed me up was issuing a May Day. He had lost power and the storm was blowing him across the river! Quantico responded and sent a large RIB with twin motors out to his rescue as I watched the rain coming. I got my rain gear on and tried to get the sails lowered but was hampered by being in a walking cast on my foot! The wind came and I had to give up and tried to tack back in forth behind the Island huge power Moon plant to block the wind. It took everything I had to keep the sail boat stable and sailing. It only lasted a few agonizing minutes but I must have tacked ten times while the front moved over.

Satisfied I had done this right I raised my sails and sailed south past Arlington and down under I-95. From here the scene is beautiful rolling hills down to where going past Monticello high up on the hill. I thought of Thomas Jefferson’s quote “I am constantly roving about, to see what AI6have never seen before and shall never see again” and how this applied to me. Then another Letters to Riley quote of his came to mind “I am never satiated with rambling through the fields and farms, examining the culture and cultivators, with a degree of curiosityBy which While my dilemma was going on I got to watch Rileymakes P. Dogsome take me to be a fool, and others to be much wiser than I the Guys catch and tow the stranded motor Foundation, International Falls, Minnesota. It was a Igood week am.” How wise a man he was thought! boaterthere back tosend the seawall outside My friends will them to me. Don’tthe Marines for we Island dogs. I There marina. They tied his Silverton up outside the a forget…hotdogs…International Falls. Just then my thoughts were all shattered and went to Stingrays up in Port Aransas where Island th Jetties against some pilings for mooring a barge. I was brought back tomethe here supply and now a send anything to the cats. Stoopid cats my friend Deb slipped a good of by Don’t As I came on down the river they waved me in vessel coming up behind me blowing his horn pizza bones. There were a lot of like he yelling was warning mesquare to get out of his way! from the Gazebo and offered me a slip inside humans at a little Drivers thing on Ithe wall with peoplewho all has no idea that next to the Gazebo. They asked if I was hungry Perfect thought a captain notice and to come join them for a hamburger. I liked th dressed alike running around on a vessel under sail has the right of way! What place. effort C it. are funny. anHumans awful racket he was making with a big bow the idea of not having to cook after the persisten the storm had placed on me. They all wanted wave off the bowother of his yacht. I looked I got coming kicked out of two the boatbutoverthat and was it wasokay an older 70’s style to shake my hand and said they knew I was a places time motor yacht with a flyleft bridge. because my humans with The captain was sailor as they had watched me the wholeCorpus me. Sometimes in andas I thought about the storm was blowing. standing wavingdogs andget honking hole in t sometimes we by don’t. I can’tperson. I tried to getting waked this insane The other captain came up and wanted tocanals know w figure out. to the edge of the channel as I dared where a shop was that he could walk to soCommit get asitclose as to and he changed course with me! Great I thought procure a mechanic to get his boat going have My humans left me and the Little again.the sooner o now I Dog am going run down Yappy home to twoget nights in a by this maniac. He was informed he was not in a town but on told the row but we even. Iback peed and the pulled up close a base and he was not allowed to just wander Instead he got throttled police st floor andtothe Little Dogany Cigarettes?” enough yell, “DoYappy you have about. One of the officers offered to take him to looking pooped the back porch. We dogs for volun I curbed my desire to throw some insults his the only shop on base to inquire about repairs. got our ways. is to to ultim way and said sure, figuring he would be gone They took off walking around the marina I tried toif blame spot on main pol sooner I paidthe thewet tribute he was asking. He the parking lot. The others all started laughing the cat but the cat ratted me out. was, climbed down off the fly bridge with no one about the captain’s ignorance of where heHe also Stoopid Cat! the at the helm pinning me between his big gas I told them about my chance meeting with cameras I then I got toand go the back and see Dr. guzzler channel markers! I grabbed my fool, in which they all got a good laugh. departm him b Christi again I found should open pack andbecause threw them at him hitting him in promised the officer in charge I would help another one They of thebounced pounds Ioff lost. the hands. his open hands and with the problem of this captain being there by Ifell think it might been Ithe in the water!have Luckily had an extra pack getting this boat going. They wanted to know if pizza bones. Or it could have so Simpso there so told him not to try and catch them and I could fix it and I said sure I saw it running been the stuff I found when I taken ov it cannot be that bad! I would toss them in his cockpit! He backed up went trash diving in the office now can andweek. I made perfect toss right in with him. He last Boya did I get in trouble

Island Dogs

non-poli top of th

for that. But I scored a piece of an old hamburger that made my stomach feel funny.

And s Aransas Wildlife Where Guys GoTrespass property Refuge Clean-Up gon For Haircuts now sign here September This 27 is my nice human friend Deb. a flock o

I got to stop writing now my nose is starting to throb from hitting the space bar. Please send me some hotdogs. Just put them in a box with Not Hotdogs on the outside and send them to the Save Riley P. Dog

The Mission-Aransas Reserve is requesting volunteer help at this year's Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Clean-Up on National Estuaries Day, September 27.

The ISA ATVs be only if th to distin high-spe to the Ci

Volunteers will leave from Fulton Harbor on the Skimmer at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 27., and return to the Harbor around 2:00 p.m. We'd like to fill the boat this year with 35 volunteers. Free lunch will be provided to all volunteers.

A recen 8% faile matter b suffered because due to co

All volunteers should be comfortable climbing Before AIer into and out of the boat using a ladder and Under the tolerate working in warm temperatures. DressBridge for the weather and bring a water bottle. Hats, Serving South Texas Seafood for The nex long sleeves, pants, and shoes that stay on your a local b Over 30beYears Lots of li)le guys. Want to see my schedule feet in the mud, are recommended. We will a new bu providing latex gloves, trash bags,Daily sunblock, right now? Go to BarberJoeSexton.com -‐ the near Open 11:00 - 10:00 and bug spray, but feel free to bring your own. Two more clicks and your appointment is water to Work gloves and long-handled trash grabbers set. Or, simply call 361-‐500-‐8955. So if yo are useful as well.

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September 18, 2014

Island Moon

On the Rocks By Jay Gardner The plan was to dump the skiff and head out for a fishing adventure with Eric, as he was back in town for a visit from Jacksonville. Unfortunately, the rain gods had a different plan, and we spent the first half of the morning on the front porch while we watched almost 3 inches of the wet stuff pour off the roof and flood the yard. While it was nice to get a frogfloater, the timing could have been a little better, like during the week instead of on a Saturday. But you take what you can get. We eventually got a break in the clouds and headed down the KRS to see if the redfish were schooling up and moving yet. We didn’t find much besides more wind than we felt like dealing with and a surprise drum, so we headed up north around Packery. The reds were moving there, and we got into some in shallow water on topwaters. I’m sure Joey has more tips for you, but the redfish run is about to go gangbusters through all the passes. Remember the limit is 3 with one oversized (over 28”) and don’t forget to call 1-800-792-GAME or now you can text “TPWD” to “TIP411” to report folks who are taking more than their limit. Seems it happens every year, and TPWD can’t be everywhere all the time, but they get results when they get reports. As I write this, the M/V Kinta should be headed for the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico at the Corpus Christi Reef, thanks to SEA and TPWD. This will make a great addition to the SEA/ CCA/TPWD reef that was deployed last season. We’ve had a few good trips and received some good reports that the reef is producing fish. Kudos to all involved getting this accomplished. In a few years, this will be an awesome reef as the marine encrusting organism’s fire up the food chain and bring the bigger fish around. By the time you read this, we will be on the eve of a South Texas half-day Holiday that is known as the south zone dove season opener. You will see more camouflage in small towns than at a military base. Dove season (and hunting in general) has been the lifeblood for many of these towns, and businesses from Odem and Taft to Mathis and Freer are ready and waiting for the season. We will be

headed out to Alice to see who’s forgotten how to load their shotgun during the break from last season. Next weekend is the highly anticipated Sharkathon tournament that will be held down on the Seashore. Shark fishermen are scrambling to build “shark towers” to go on the back of their pickups, re-spooling reels with thousands of yards of line, and wiping out supplies at local sporting goods stores. I enjoy the cause of the tournament (conservation), and I finally was able to get CCA-Texas involved with supplying the latest round of shark tags for both Sharkathon and the Texas Shark Rodeo. Please check out both of their websites. There have been over 390 sharks tagged this season already in the Texas Shark Rodeo, with arguably some of the best shark fishing yet to come this fall. The latest tally shows that our friends Danielle and James from San Antonio are near the top, with Danielle at the very top leading all the boys in total sharks caught and points. Way to go Dani! Keep it up for another couple months! I’ll take another opportunity to embarrass my good friends Amy and Jason Ozolins for tying the knot recently. We are ALL very proud of you two. We’ll be the crazies out at the Briscoe King Pavilion this weekend holding a Texas reception for them, so make sure and avoid that area. The “Season” is about to kick off full swing folks. Y’all make sure to make some time and get out there and enjoy it, this is a perfect time of year. After we finally stop getting these little systems heading into Mexico that dices out the surf, I’ll see you On the Rocks!

New Device Improves Snapper Catch and Release Survival, May Lead to Longer Fishing Season

A new study, being conducted at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, could eventually mean more days on the water for anglers looking to catch red snapper. “This year the red snapper season was reduced to nine days, when at one time it was yearround.” said Dr. Greg Stunz, Director of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at A&M-Corpus Christi. “The reduced number of days can be devastating to businesses that depend on access to the fishery for their livelihood.” Since the season is so short, and there is a twofish bag limit, red snapper are often required to be thrown back after they are caught. “The current accepted practice of capturing these deep-water fish leaves fish floating behind the boat and unable to submerge to eventually die,” said Stunz. “They need to be returned to the water and preferably descended back to depth quickly to have a reasonable chance of survival.” Stunz and his team of researchers have been experimenting with a device to do just that. It clips on to the fish so it can be lowered back into the water quickly. When the device reaches a certain depth it opens safely releases the fish. Stunz said this type of deep-water fish is very sensitive to changes in pressure, and pulling them up quickly from deep water causes a rapid expansion of gases. Often when simply returned to the water, these fish suffer a very a high mortality rate.

every brought up a fish from deep water, and seen bulging eyes and a bulging stomach, have witnesses barotrauma. “All of the gasses have expanded in their blood stream when they are brought up,” said Stunz. “You can vent them using a hollow needle and release the air, but if you don’t know the proper technique, it can do more harm than good.” Stunz’s team is already seeing high success in a controlled laboratory environment. “We have done early experiments in the laboratory in hyperbaric chambers and there was some real promise in our results,” said Stunz. Stunz and students will be testing the new device in Gulf waters over the next two years. A U.S. Senate committee looking at the effects of over-fishing and a shortened season for red snapper, found that charter operators, marinas and recreational anglers contribute $12 billion each year to the Gulf Coast economy. “This research may help to curb the problem of shorten seasons and bag limits for the most economically important reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico,” Stunz said. The hope is to eventually get the devices into the hands of anglers and commercial fisherman and boost the population of the red snapper. “Red snapper is the king of fisheries in the gulf,” said Stunz. “All indications are that this will work out on the water.”

The study, funded by a $205,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is centered on how to release the fish back without killing them, which could eventually lead to a higher population, and more fishing days. Stunz says the primary goal is to determine if rapid recompression, using forced descent with a weight, can effectively reduce barotrauma and increase year-round survival of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, under "real-world" fishing conditions. Any sportsman who has

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Danielle with a tagged shark 2

Pirate Parade

Padre Island Burger Company

will be featured on a segment of “The Texas Bucket List” this Sunday, September 21. It will be on KZTV, CBS at 6:30 a.m. If that’s too early for you, be sure to record it and watch it later. The show can be seen in 19 different Texas cities as well as in Colorado, Nevada & North Carolina. Be sure to tune in and support your locally owned restaurant! Go to: www.thetexasbucketlist.com for more information.

Padre Island Burger Company 14414 State Hwy. 361 ~ 361-949-3490 Yard of the Month

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The Island Gardeners awarded yard of the month to Slade Dietz and Dwayne McQuade at 14888 Coba De Bara. This pie shaped lot shows off a cute olive green stucco home with a brown tin roof. The owners have made huge improvements in the few years they've owned the home, not only to the physical appearance of the house but also to the landscaping front and back. The curb appeal is great but the waterfront terracing is gorgeous. Ride by this home by car or boat and enjoy! As always suggestions for yard of the month may be made to Dianne at 361-563-0951

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September 18, 2014

Island Moon

Backwater Adventures By Joey Farah Farah’s Fishing Adventures Every year our first tropical storms come and bring us the flush of a bull tide. Sometimes it may stay with us for a long time. The influx of water triggers bait and game fish to get on the move as we have been talking about the last few weeks. This week the waters are still up and the bait is starting to scatter, making the fishing sometimes hard to pin down. The best ways to find good catching in your fishing is to fish were groups of game fish are concentrated with large bodies of bait activity, and look for larger mature fish hunting the edges of shorelines and shallow grass flats. This is the time when magic things happen out on the water, when giant redfish appear from the sea and burn drag into our memories. This is a special time when your soul can recapture the bay without the constant roar of outboards. Everyone will be out on the ranch shooting doves, and preparing for hunting season in the next few weeks so the bay is yours.

The funnels When tides are high one of the best places to fish is the funnel areas. There are many obvious “funnels,” Packer Channel, the Intracoastal Canal, the many channels in the Upper Laguna Madre’, and more. Sometimes the best funnel areas are not that conspicuous. The edge of Corpus Christi Bay, the small natural guts out in the large expanse of Emmorts Hole, Night Hawk Bay, and the Old Causeway along Laguna Shores. These are just a few places that have produced this time of year in high tides for decades. The movement of water is important in finding these places where fish are moving through in concentrations, but also key in catching them when they are willing to feed. When the wind and current are moving in opposite directions fish don’t like to feed. When they are moving together fish and bait are alive with action. Watch small changes in the tide to move water off of the extreme shallows that baitfish are moving up and into at high tide. Some of the back lakes and marshes along the back of Mustang Island are holding redfish in the back during high tides and then concentrating them as they fall out into deeper

Riding a Late Summer High Tide in a matter of minutes? Well what I like to do is slip up shallow and target medium sized sand pockets along shorelines. Pods of bait will be migrating up the shorelines and flow over these perfect hiding spots. The game fish that are stationary will hunt in ambush along the edges of the beach. The migrating redfish schools are flushing bait out of the grass as they move along. One can keep an eye out for schools of Orange and jumping baitfish. In the last few weeks we have encountered both with both frustration and reward. If those big reds have their nose down looking for shad then they are hard to catch on Piggy Perch. If the sea weed is not bad top waters are a hit along the King Ranch right now. Drifting along relaxing and casting top waters and big gold spoons can be some of the best fishing we have, if you catch one most of the time it’s going to be a good one. The pin perch are big and hungry right now so when you are using soft plastics a straight tailed bait will not last long, they will bite it off. Use a paddle tail, they are eating the small minnows during daylight hours right now anyway. The first and last hours of the day shrimp patterns have been great like the DOA SHRIMP at sun up is the way to go down in the Land Cut and in the shallow sand pockets along the shoreline. Look for semi clear water, the pockets of brown tide are still holding fish but they are dormant because the lack of circulation and high salinities. These tide are flushing out our bay and are a good thing. The fishing is great and all you have to do is get out with an open mind and keep your eyes on the water. If you have any questions, want to improve your skills, or have family or friends coming in let me know I would love to share some of these nice days on the water with you. Thank You Keep those hooks sharp and your line tight.

water at low tide. Wade the lakes and shallows with small top waters and spoons, especially in the mornings with high tide. Then move out to the drop-off when the tides are dropping to catch them waiting for small baitfish to move out to deeper water. Soft plastics are best for working the deeper edges of the channels and drainages. Live finger mullet and other small baitfish are the best live bait. Live shrimp will be eaten by the large pin perch that are on the hunt just This monster redfish came from a big school out along the about everywhere. Key signs King Ranch Shoreline. that you are looking in the who wants to improve their angling skills with right spot are groups of brown pelicans, turns, an all lure trip. Find the funnel areas alive with and sea gulls resting along the bank. They don’t bait fish and the big ones will be close to hand. move far away from the dinner table. You can watch them start to raise up into the sky and Sitting up Shallow look for bait as the lunar feeding times draw Many anglers dream of walking the pristine closer. The ultimate fish funnel continues to be shallows of Baffin Bay hunting their trophy the Land Cut. The action with soft plastics and speck of a lifetime. This is always shattered by top waters is amazing right now. The action is the extreme cold weather, and the battalion of fast and some great quality to boot. There are a bay boats racing across the bay in the spring. few days in the later part of this month and the Now is the time that those big speckled trout beginning of next that I have open for anyone find peace in the shallows and spend most of their time sitting and hunting the skinny water. The amount of bait that is available to them is absolutely amazing. There are thousands of tiny baby shrimp and baitfish in the grass far away from the swarming school trout. These mature fish will slip around all day and slurp up minnows that are too small for us to match a lure to. What do we do when there is so much bait that the game fish can get what they want

Trout and reds still hanging close to the Packery area working the tidal changes has paid off.

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43-inch Red Emmorts hole with live piggy perch.

Tides of the Week

Tides for Corpus Christi (Bob Hall Pier) September 18-24, 2014

Day

High /Low

Tide Time

Height in Feet

Sunrise Moon Time Sunset

High

2:11 AM

1.9

7:16 AM Rise 2:29 AM

Low

6:07 PM

7:30 PM Set 4:03 PM

High

2:34 AM

1.8

7:16 AM Rise 3:20 AM

Low

8:28 AM

1.4

7:29 PM Set 4:43 PM

High

10:51 AM

1.5

Low

7:02 PM

0.6

High

2:47 AM

1.7

7:17 AM Rise 4:11 AM

Low

8:39 AM

1.4

7:28 PM Set 5:20 PM

High

12:16 PM

1.5

Low

7:51 PM

0.7

High

2:54 AM

1.7

7:17 AM Rise 5:02 AM

Low

8:55 AM

1.3

7:27 PM Set 5:56 PM

High

1:26 PM

1.6

Low

8:36 PM

0.8

High

3:02 AM

1.6

7:18 AM Rise 5:53 AM

Low

9:12 AM

1.2

7:25 PM Set 6:30 PM

High

2:26 PM

1.6

Low

9:18 PM

0.9

High

3:12 AM

1.6

7:18 AM Rise 6:44 AM

Low

9:28 AM

1.0

7:24 PM Set 7:05 PM

High

3:22 PM

1.7

Low

9:58 PM

1.1

High

3:23 AM

1.6

7:18 AM Rise 7:36 AM

Low

9:45 AM

0.9

7:23 PM Set 7:40 PM

High

4:17 PM

1.8

Low

10:40 PM

1.2

Moon Visible

33 24

Island Creations Remodeling

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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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Drones continued from A1

Policy Memorandum 14-05, dated June 19, 2014, provides interim policy guidance until this determination has been made. A determination has been made to ban the use of unmanned aircraft Padre Island National Seashore. Below is the section from the superintendent’s compendium 2014 that address this issue: (xix) Launching, landing or operating an unmanned aircraft from, over or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Padre Island National Seashore is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent. Definition: The term “unmanned aircraft” means any device used or intended to be used for flight in the air without the possibility of

direct human intervention from within or on the device. This includes but not limited to the following devices: remote controlled model airplanes, quad copters, and drones that are used for any purpose, including for recreation or commerce.

Determination The Superintendent has determined that unmanaged or unrestricted recreational use of UAs within Padre Island National Seashore will conflict with, or impact, a variety of park uses including visitor experience of unimpaired view sheds; the disturbance, displacement or harassment of park wildlife to include threatened and endangered species, present potential for impacts or damage to sensitive coastal areas, creation of public safety hazards per operation near roadways or large aggregations of visitors, and visual or aural impacts to wilderness character and values within the park. Padre Island N.S. is situated along the Central Flyway; Padre Island is a globally important area for over 380 migratory, overwintering, and resident bird species (nearly half of all bird species documented in North America). Thirteen of these species are considered species of concern, threatened, or endangered (i.e. Piping Plover, Interior Least Tern and Peregrine Falcon).

Club News

The Island Moon provides this space for Island organizations. If you are a member of a club and want to get the word out about your events and/or projects send them along and we will get them in. Be sure to include a brief description of what your organization does and a contact person for those interested in joining. Send the info to editor@islandmoon.com and we will include it. Or call us at 949-7700.

Padre Island Business Association. The association is a not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to advertise and promote Padre/Mustang Islands, Flour Bluff and Corpus Christi while advancing the interests of the business community. It is managed by a 9-member board of directors. A membership luncheon is held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Holiday Inn-Padre Island starting at noon. Mixers are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. The association annually has two fundraising events – Taste of the Island in the fall and a Wine Tasting in the spring.

Padre Island Uke Club – NOW Meets Every Other Week! Next meeting: Tuesday, September 30th from 6:00 to 7:30 at Island Joe’s Coffee and Gallery located at 13919 SPID…right here on the island. More than 40 beginner uke players attended the last meeting so you’ll want to arrive 10-15 minutes early to get a good seat. Everyone is invited to this workshop called, The 7 Chords and 60 Minutes That Will Change Your Life. You’ll learn to play Singing in the Rain in just 20 minutes. By the end of the hour, you’ll play 5 more songs. A $3/person donation covers the workshop, an instruction book and loaner ukulele (if you need one). RSVP online or call Barber Joe Sexton at 361-500-8955. PadreIslandUkeClub@gmail.com

Cassandra Strom hosts a Creative Referral Network that meets every Friday at Boathouse Bar and Grill from 8:30 to 10:00 am. Association phone number is 361-949-9498. Website is padreislandbusiness.org.

P.I.E. Padre Island Enrichment Club, Inc,P.I.E. strives to enrich the lives of Padre Island women through social activities and community involvement. Full membership luncheon meetings are held the second Friday of each month at the Holiday Inn. Members may also participant in special interest clubs (bunco, bridge, spades, books, etc) that meet throughout the month. For more information about PIE, please contact Katherine Pierce, President, at 361 960-0327 or Sandy Leber, Membership Chair, at 361 949-7145.

Rotary Club of Padre Island –The Rotary Club of Padre Island is always looking for new members seeking to put “service above self”. If you are interested, please come join us and see what we are all about.

KIWANIS Club of Padre Island. The Kiwanis meet at noon each Wednesday at MikelMays at Bob Hall Pier. For more information contact Karen Wilson at 361-4464626. e-mail at karenwilson61@gmail.com.

The Padre Island Rotary usually meets every Tuesday at noon at the Boathouse Bar and Grill (upstairs), 15241 Leeward Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418. For more information contact Jacqueline Carlson at 361-331-8618 or jcarlson@jmcarchitecture.com.

Island United Padre Island Political Action Committee: Maximize representation of Corpus Christi residents on Padre and Mustang Islands in area government by promoting and supporting, by the endorsement process, proactive and unified voting in non-partisan races and other issues and referendums put to public vote.

Remaining Rotary Activities for September include sponsorship and participation in the annual Walk/Run For Children on Padre Island September 20th at Bob Hall Pier at 9:00AM. Contact any Rotarian for more information on these community service events. Island Strategic Action Committee. Is a 14-member committee which meets (usually) at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Comfort Suites on Windward Drive. The committee’s purpose is to advise the Corpus Christi City Council on matters pertaining to The Island. Padre Island Dog Owners Group (PI DOG) Meets monthly for dog and owner activities, training and education. Free! To join, visit padreislanddogpark.com or contact Lyn (lyn.edler@gmail.com) or Bev (bevhoffman@aol.com). Saturday, September 20, 2014: 9:00 am Coffee & Dog Walk at Billish Park. Bring leash, water for your dog, poop bags, etc. Padre Island Yacht Club - Padre Island Yacht Club (PIYC) is a private club whose membership enjoys boating and extended cruising, as well as numerous social events. The membership hosts nearly 100 social events each year, including Happy Hour every Friday night from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. PIYC is accepting new membership applications, and prospective members are invited to attend any Friday Happy Hour event. Contact Mr. John Diggins (Rear Commodore in charge of memberships, jdiggins@flash.net) to receive information about attending Happy Hour and PIYC. PIYC also maintains a marina with 26 boat slips (40’ X 14’ with 30 amp service) and courtesy docks. Contact Mr. Barratt Sturtevant (PIYC Dock Master, bcsturtevant59@gmail. com) for any interest in the marina. PIYC also hosts the annual La Posada Lighted Boat Parades and several related events whose mission is to gather toys and other donations for the U. S. Marines “Toys for Tots” campaign. For additional information about PIYC and its mission, go to our website, PIYC.org.

September 18, 2014

Island Moon

Contact Persons: President – Linda A Walsh lawalshva@yahoo.com 361-445-7999. Secondary Contact Person: Member – Brent Hess, bhess0604@gmail.com. 361-774-0089. Meetings: Open to the public, meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Parrot Heads of Port Aransas is a not-forprofit organization whose purpose is to assist in community and environmental concerns and provide a variety of social activities for people who wish to volunteer. Founded in 2009 the club motto is “Partying With a Purpose.” To join go to portaransasparrotheads.com or call LuAnn Ferguson, 361 749-5141 or 817 2917034. POA - Padre Isles Owners Association. The Association’s primary responsibility is to maintain the Common Areas, assess and collect the annual fees and provide information and assistance to property owners. .. Membership in PIPOA is automatic for anyone acquiring record legal title to any property within Padre Isles. Their office is located at 14015 Fortuna Bay Drive on The Island. (361) 949-7025, padreisles@pipoa.net ARK – Animal Rehabilitation Keep. Located in Port Aransas the ARK is affiliate with the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Center. They handle the rehabilitation of most species of wildlife in the area with an emphasis on marine animals. They care for abut 1300 animals each year, including about 300 sea turtles and more than 100 species of birds. If you find an animal in peril they can help

SPORTS High Percentage Shot

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon

You never asked guys that tall to dribble. It was like asking a two-year-old to hold a ripe tomato, nothing good was going to come from the event. He was extremely tall, lanky, and red-headed. He was even too tall for the military. When growing up, his mother went from “Baby, eat your food” to “If you eat one more thing, I’m going to spank you.” This fellow was a rebound machine, the Windex man; he always cleaned the glass. He was so tall some thought he needed oxygen. Writers nicknamed him “Foothills,” because he was the next step between the flatlands and the mountains. He was so big he wasn’t born, he was founded. He was labeled college basketball’s first seven-footer and the kind of player that the fans “let have it” every time out; what more could a basketball player want? If you let this guy in the building, he could score. He ran from rim to rim, and his height was his weapon of choice. This fellow scored so easily he needed to announce when he was going to pass the basketball. He played during a time in college basketball when players who stood over 6’5” were viewed as freaks, oddities, and different. He was different all right and gained national renown for his athleticism in blocking shots, rebounding, and scoring the basketball. Coach Henry Iba built his Oklahoma Aggies team around this big guy, and they won two National Championships together.

It’s still two points Bob Kurland has been credited as the first player to use the dunk as a way to score in a basketball game. Nobody celebrated a dunk in the 1940’s. The game of basketball was thirty years away from its first slam dunk contest. He never thought a slam dunk was anything more than a high percentage shot. “You only get two points,” said Bob. “It happened by accident,” said Kurland in a story captured by the Orlando Sentinel, in 2012. “We were playing Temple University in 1944. The ball happened to be under the basket and I got it up and stuffed it in. That started it; I guess…It was an unintentional accident. It wasn’t planned.” Robert Albert “Bob” Kurland was born December 23, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri. His family moved to Jennings, Missouri, a suburb close by, where he grew up. And I mean grew up! At Jennings High School, Kurland faced the same issue of most tall guys, where their coordination rarely catches up to their size, until they are older. At 6’6” as a freshman, Henry Iba decided to take a chance on Bob. Iba told him, “I’ve never seen anyone like you before. I don’t know if you can play basketball or not, but if you come to school here, enroll and stay eligible, I’ll see that you get a college education.” Kurland enrolled in 1942. When legendary coach “Phog” Allen from the University of Kansas found out Kurland had enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, he chastised Kurland as a “glandular goon.” Iba gave him a #90 jersey and started Kurland immediately skipping rope to improve his agility. Iba also had him work a speed bag to increase his hand-to-eye coordination and required Bob to take dancing lessons to help his footwork. Slowly Kurland gained the ability to block shots, and run the court. His teammates began to look for him in an effort to feed him the ball. These were the days of no shot clock, and holding the ball was a way to slow down the game, to give below average teams a chance to win. Scoring did not come easily at first for Bob, and he practiced continuously. Kurland swore he took 600 hook shots with his left hand in one afternoon, after practice. “The first 100 didn’t hit anything,” said Bob. “The next 100 didn’t all go in, but after that I started to connect.”

Held him to 58 In a February game played in 1946, against St. Louis University, Kurland was matched against another future Hall-of-Fame basketball player known as “Easy” Ed Macauley. Ed was a freshman who stood 6’ 8” tall and played for the Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks after graduating from college. Kurland poured in 58 points that night against a devastated Macauley. Ed told The Tulsa World in 1996: “I kept a newspaper clipping from that game in my billfold throughout my pro career. Every time I thought I needed to be humbled, I would look at that box score and remember I was the guy who held Bob Kurland to 58 points.” Oklahoma A&M Aggies (now known as the Oklahoma State Cowboys) were coached by

legendary Henry Iba. The Aggies won back-to-back NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships in 19441945 and 1945-1946 seasons with Bob Kurland in the middle. The Aggies became the first college team to win back-to-back titles. Kurland was voted a three time All-American and a two-time National MVP. In 1946, Kurland received the Helms Foundation College-Basketball-Player-of-theYear Award and the Sporting News Playerof-the-Year Award. During the 1945-1946 seasons, Bob led the entire NCAA in scoring, with 643 points, an average of 19.5 points per game. The play of 6’ 10” George Mikan of DePaul, 6’ 10” George Kok of Arkansas, and 7-footer Bob Kurland created additions to the NCAA rule book. These three and other big men often just swatted away shots before they reached the rim or jerked down rebounds while the ball was above the cylinder. To put a stop to these, the NCAA instituted the defensive goal-tending rule at the end of the 1944 season. Two of these behemoths (Mikan and Kurland) met at the end of the 1945 season in Madison Square Garden. This game was played during wartime to raise money for the Red Cross. Kurland’s Aggies had beaten Kok’s Arkansas team in the regional finals, 69-41. Oklahoma A&M continued on to beat New York University in the NCAA Finals and DePaul won the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). Mikan, who outweighed Kurland by 20 pounds and wore thick glasses, fouled out in the first half after scoring only nine points. Kurland scored 14 points in a 52-44 Oklahoma A&M win. Kok continued to play after-college professional, and Mikan ended up winning five NBA Championships with the Minneapolis Lakers. Mikan was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, in 1959. Kurland played for the Gold Medal winning men’s basketball teams that represented the United States Olympic Team in London, England, in 1948, and also in Helsinki, Finland, in 1952. Bob never played in the ABA or NBA. Kurland was drafted by the St. Louis Bombers in 1947, but followed many players from his era to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) ranks. The simple fact is, at that time you could make more money playing in the AAU than you could in the newly-formed NBA. Many NBA players complained that they were not getting paid on time. Kurland worked for Phillips Petroleum and played for the Phillips 66ers. The team was based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Bob Kurland played on this team for six years and the 66ers won three AAU Championships (1947, 1948, and 1950). In 2006, Bob Kurland was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. A dear friend of mine, Dotson Lewis, played against Kurland and the Phillips 66ers in 1946. The final score was 7-5. “Bob Kurland simply blocked every shot attempted by our team,” said Dotson. Bob Kurland died at his home in Sanibel Island, Florida, on Sunday, September 29, 2013. He was 88. Kurland retired as a senior marketing executive, from the Phillips Company, in the mid-1980’s. He is survived by his wife Barbara, two sons, Alex and Ross, two daughters, Dana and Barbara, and seven grandchildren. In 1961, Bob Kurland was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. His newest book “Greatness Continued” is now available to order online at bn.com, Amazon.com, Google Books, Booksamillion, etc. You may also purchase all three books at Beamer’s Sports Grill 5922 S Staples or the local Barnes & Noble store. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for more info or contact him at purvis.andy@mygrande.net.

2001 Suntide Road (I-37 Exit 7) Corpus Christi

Sept.20 & 21 Nov. 8 & 9 Dec. 13 & 14 Saturday 9 to 5

Tony Amos is the Director. 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas. 361 749-6793, 361 442-7638. afamos@mail.utexas.edu. Island’s PIPPs Chapter of Corpus Christi Red Hat Society. In 2004 a group of Island ladies got together under a Palapa and founded the Padre Island Palapa Pals (PIPPs). Our only rule is that there are no rules! We are all about fun and friendship. We meet once a month for lunch and various fun outings from cupcake making to CPR.

Now Serving Saturday Brunch 11am-2pm

Sunday 9 to 4

September 18, 2014 First Friday at the Art Center

Island Moon

Art Center continued from A1

• Host, with Port A Chamber of Commerce, the Birding Fest Reception

They held two camps this summer, one in June and one in July. Youth Art Camp Island Style was for children in the 3rd -5th Grades and was held in the afternoons Monday through Friday in two week long camps. The Art Center also offers many different medium art classes throughout the week for adults. When you visit, pick up a schedule of classes. For those of you that are retired and looking for something fun to do, you can always volunteer at the center, they are open seven days a week.

• Art Center Spring Break Children’s Art Camp • Art Center “Dining with the Chefs” Series of 5 luncheons/fundraisers • Sushi Tasting Fund raiser • Port A “Sandfest” Ticket sales and parking • Art Center “Fiesta de Mayo” fundraiser • Art Center ARTFEST

Pink Peas & Pasta

Looking for something new and different for date night, or just an outing with some friends, the first Friday of each Month is an Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Wine and finger foods are served, and a local music group is always there to entertain. Just drop in, roam around and enjoy the music and the hundreds of paintings, photographs, original jewelry and pottery. You will be surprised to see some of your friends there from The Island as well as Port Aransas, you will also make some new friends. It is a very happy group and an easy going atmosphere, it’s Artsy Folk! Karen Winship, President of the Board of Directors and her husband Dan, have played an integral part since the inception of this wonderful center. You will read below the history of The Art Center, and how they are raising funds to purchase land to create a new, much larger facility. It will allow for expansion in the education and classroom settings as well as a pleasant gallery. The architects rendition is shown here and it is just beautiful.

The latest fundraiser for the Art Center is called Pink Peas & Pasta and it is hand-carved from alabaster, donated by sculptor Ron Piercy, in association with the Felder Gallery to be raffled as a fundraiser for the Art Center’s Land/ Building Fund for their expansion. “I like what the Art Center does for the community,” Mr. Piercy says, “and happy as an artist to be able to give something back. A sculpture of this scope would typically sell for $10,000.” Tickets are still available at $100 each and as an incentive you can become an “Alabaster” Member for $175 and receive 2 Tickets OR you can buy 4 tickets and get one free! Also remember –don’t let the fact you might not have room in your home for this beautiful dramatic sculpture you could always donate it to your favorite worthy cause like a hospital etc. OR to the Port Aransas Art Center’s permanent collection in their new future home! Mail: P.O. Box 1175 Port Aransas, TX 78373 This article is written to shine a spotlight on another valuable organization in our area to help them gain the recognition and the support

• Art Center Songwriter’s Showcase • Two Children’s Summer Art Camps • Texas Wildlife Photo Contest Winner’s Exhibit every other year • Art Center’s Barefoot Art Sale • Art Center sponsored PA ARTABOUT-city wide art walk • Art Center SOUTH TEXAS INVITATIONAL art show they truly deserve. Let’s get together as we always do as a community and help them reach their goal of a new and much needed Art Center so they can continue to give all of us, not just the local artists, but the art lovers and students, a place to visit, learn and appreciate true beauty. Sign up for a Wine, Whine & Design program, go visit The First Friday Open House, enroll in one of the many art classes, or just donate a few dollars!

• Art Center Student Art Show for students from four area independent school districts • Art Center Scholarships for graduating high school seniors The Port Aransas Art Center is located at 323 N Alister Street, Port Aransas, 361-7497334. Mailing address is: P. O. Box 1175 Port Aransas, TX 78373

History The Art Center was formed in 1995 by a small group of artists with a vision to provide a place where artists and art lovers could gather to encourage, educate, and support each other in a pleasant gallery and classroom setting where fine art could be produced and presented for sale. The Art Center soon outgrew the small gallery and classroom space and, after a year, it was moved to a larger location (2400 sq. ft.) where it is presently located. Over the past 18 years, the Center has grown both in activities, exhibits, and community interest. The Art Center now has over 400 members, and of these, more than 225 are artistmembers who show their work at the Center. Numerous area businesses and individuals participate as event sponsors. Now the Art Center requires a much larger space (4000 sq. ft.) to accommodate its phenomenal growth and to offer a more varied approach to the artistic development of artists, children, senior citizens, the community, and area visitors, including many Winter Texans.

Youth Art Camp One of the other programs offered is the Youth Art Camp Island Style. Executive Director, Mary Rose said “It was so great to see how engaged and excited the kids were as they learned something different each day from the various Artists who taught them in different mediums. They worked with clay, made mosaics, built a wood frame & did a painting on wood plus more traditional paintings, designed a piece for glass fusing, painted on a handmade canvas bag and so much more! The artists were so wonderful to share their time and talents. The Art Center has been putting on summer youth art camps for 18 years and this summers were particularly spectacular.”

Activities, including community activities in which the Art Center participates: • Twelve First Fridays per year • Art Center Adult Student Art Show • Port A Dine Around • Art Center “Hearts for the Arts”

Pink Peas and Pasta

• International Crane Foundation Children’s Exhibit

Catch the view from our elevated bar.

BURGER

NIGHT

HAPPY

HOUR

MON–WED 3–6 PM

THURSDAYS 5–9 PM

$3 PINTS & $4 WELLS $5 WINES & COCKTAILS

258 SNAPDRAGON • PORT ARANSAS • 3 61.74 9. 4 6 5 3 • OPEN DAILY • BLACKMARLINPORTA.COM

LUNCH 11–3 DAILY • DINNER 5–9 FRI & SAT • ELEVATED BAR 3–8 SUN–THURS & 3–9 FRI–SAT

A10

Island Moon

September 18, 2014