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December 7, 2017

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Issue 712 The

IslandMoon

Around The Island

By Dale Rankin

Inside the Moon

Holiday Home Tour A2

If anyone ever wondered what a Blue Northern looks like or why they are called that, all they had to do was look north out across the bay mid-afternoon Tuesday and they would have their answer. Angry ominous clouds stretched from horizon to horizon, and by Wednesday morning Cold Front Charlie had come roaring in like a lion.

Water temperature has been hovering around 70 degrees, but the National Weather Service is calling for seas of seven to ten feet along our beaches, and that is on top of the foot-and-a-half tides we have been having. The big waves had not materialized by press time Wednesday, but if you go out there grab your dinghy and hold on tight!

Friday night’s weather for La Posada is predicted to be passable with light wind and slight chance of rain, Saturday is set to break free and clear with rising temperatures and light wind. It looks like it will be a good year for a boat parade!

It’s working!

It is amazing how quickly and effectively the added law enforcement presence on The Island has cut down on the number of thefts in only a few short weeks. Since mid-September the Island Crime Blotter which we run each week had anywhere from a dozen to two dozen thefts, mostly from unlocked vehicles and open garages. But with the addition of a patrol boat from the sheriff’s office to Island canals, and bike patrols from CCPD working Island streets, in just a few weeks that total has dropped to less than half a dozen per week and falling -- even in the time of year when we usually have the most Island thefts. We thank the sheriff and the PD. Keep up the good work!

Look out Snook!

We had a report last weekend of a foot-long snook caught from a deck well back into the canal system. While fisherpersons hereabouts report that catching snook between the jetties is not all that unusual, catching one in a secluded Island canal is. Snook are described as trout on steroids and are said to be great table fish. If you catch one in a canal, send us a photo with the location. Lights in Island canals continue to be filled with large numbers of fish, often of good size.

Black longhorn

It seems the black longhorn steer who escaped into the Wilds of Padre Island during Hurricane Harvey has found himself a home in the open grasslands in Kleberg County and the Padre Island National Seashore. There have been a few sightings of late as startled folks think they are seeing a ghost of the Wild Horse Prairie Past. It wasn’t all that long ago that Civil War soldiers returned to South Texas to find thousands of these feral animals living in the open country to our west and began pushing them up the trails to railheads in Dodge City where they would sell them and use the money to buy some red eye from Miss Kitty in the Longbranch…or something like that. Anyway if you see a black longhorn wandering the plains down south it's not because you drank too much eggnog.

Is nothing sacred?

In what has to be an Only in Texas deal the race for State Agricultural Commissioner took an ugly turn this week when a challenger accused the sitting Commissioner of a “War on Texas Barbeque.” Oh the humanity! Few things in Texas will spark a punch in the nose quicker than accusing someone’s mother

Seashore Happenings A7

www.islandmoon.com

A little Island history

Opening of Corpus Christi Pass Plan from 1967

History cont. on A4

By Dale Rankin

The damage caused to the Packery Channel Jetties has the channel in the news these days, but Packery was not the first attempt to cut a permanent pass from the Laguna Madre to the Gulf of Mexico. When the dredging of Packery Channel was approved in 2000 it was the culmination of years of attempts to make a water pass through The Island.

In 1967, the same year Hurricane Beulah cut The Island into more than a dozen pieces and opening the pass, a study was commissioned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to determine the feasibility of opening Corpus Christi Pass on a permanent basis.

By 1970 the pass had silted shut but before the plan could be put into effect Hurricane Celia roared

through the Coastal Bend and opened it again.

The exact location of Corpus Christi Pass has moved around over the last few decades. What was originally Corpus Christi Pass was actually a series of passes which began at the bay side of what is now Fish Pass and ran parallel to the beach all the way down The Island to what is now the end of Whitecap Boulevard. The last remnant of the historic Corpus Christi Pass is Lake Padre. The pass historically was considered the dividing line between Padre and Mustang Islands. That line now is Packery Channel which was originally part of the Corpus Christi Pass system.

1960s

But as far back as the 1960s there was an acknowledge need for a permanent water-exchange pass

First Friday A16

Two Crucial Days in The Island’s Future

Waterpark and hotel could go on auction block in February

Around cont. on A4

Live Music A18

Corpus christi pass open from Beulah, 1967.

The Veranda at Schlitterbahn helped the Island kick-off the holiday season of giving this week by hosting both the start of P.I.E. Holiday Home Tour and La Posada's Kick-Off party. Both groups raise money for

charitable organizations during the holiday season. Photo by Debbie Noble

By Dale Rankin

The future of the Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort Development and 270 acres of surrounding land was forever altered by legal action on two fronts 130 miles apart over two days this week, with the next two decades of the future of North Padre Island hanging in the balance.

On Monday Federal Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta signed an Agreed Order among the various interested parties that lifted a stay that will allow IBC Bank to foreclose on the waterpark and hotel if no deal is worked out to move the park from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy by January 31. IBC Bank was the orginal financer of the park and is the first-position lender in case of foreclosure on the park and of 92-room hotel. The bank loaned a total of $28 million to the project.

“If there is no sale or other agreemnts with IBC with respect to the hotel and waterpark by then, IBC will be allowed to exercise its rights,” said Michael Colvard, an attorney for the bank.

The January deadline includes only the park and hotel. The court appointed trustee, Dawn Ragan, has

until May to file a plan for the entire development, including the nine-hole golf course and surrounding land along Dasmarinas, which are not included under the January deadline.

In a statement Tueaday, a Schlitterbahn spokesperson said:

“We anticipate full resolution of ownership issues of the Schlitterbahn resort, waterpark and country club

in Corpus Christi; we are confident in the trustee and in the value of the park and resort. Schlitterbahn, as the operating group, plan on delivering outstanding events, honoring reservations, and operating a full waterpark season in Corpus Christi. We are blessed with a talented team, a great community, and devoted fans in Corpus Christi. We appreciate

Auction of land near Schlitterbahn at the Nueces County Courthouse Tuesday.

Time to La Posada!

Boat Parades Friday and SaturdayThe 43rd Annual La Posada Season

is now officially underway. The kickoff party at the Veranda Tuesday night played to a packed house as Islanders brought toys to donate and bought auction items to help raise money for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program. The kickoff party is a relatively recent addition to the week of celebration, added in 2011 and has quickly become an Island favorite.

From event organizer Doug Seefeldt

Wow! What a great night! The La Posada Kickoff Party and Auction was a great success! It was an awesome evening, with a packed house full of support! We want to thank our auctioneer team, Kenny and Clairice Stowe for their love and support. Thank you, Schlitterbahn Riverpark Resort and Amy Gazin (director of Marketing) for a wonderful job of hosting the event. Thank you,

Packery Repairs Estimated at $6

Million

Work to fix the damage done to the Packery Jetties by Hurricane Harvey could cost as much as $6 million according to information provided to the Island Strategic Action Committee Tuesday. Rushing outbound water through the channel during the storm undermined the jetty and sidewalks in about a dozen places primarily along the south side of the channel.

ISAC members voted to send the matter to a subcommittee before committing the $6 million requested by city staff which would originally be paid for by the Island’s Tax Increment Re-investment Zone #2 with that fund being reimbursed if from the Federal Emergency Management Agency if funds become available.

Foreclosure cont. on A4

La Posada cont. on A4

Fishing A11

Photo by Debbie Noble

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 2

14254 S.P.I.D. (361) 949-6769

Call 361-949-7281 Mary Melick Real Estate

Gulfstream Beach Condo

14810 Windward #521 $221,000

Gorgeous views!Beautiful Updates!VERY WELL PRICED

2017 P.I.E. Island Holiday Home Tour

Photos by Debbie Noble

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 3

Moon MonkeysMike Ellis, Founder

Distribution

Pete Alsop

Island Delivery

Coldwell Banker

Advertising

Jan Park Rankin

Classifieds

Arlene Ritley

Production Manager Abigail Bair

Contributing Writers

Joey Farah

Andy Purvis

Mary Craft

MayBeth Christiansen

Jay Gardner

Todd Hunter

Dotson Lewis

Ronnie Narmour

Brent Rourk

Photographers

Miles Merwin

Jan Rankin

Mary Craft

Ronnie Narmour

Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus)

Riley P. Dog

Publisher

Dale RankinAbout 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

14646 Compass, Suite 3

Corpus Christi, TX 78418

361-949-7700

editor@islandmoon.com

Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper

Port Aransas

Sand Piper Condos

Sea Gull Condos

Gulf Breeze RV

Pioneer RV

La Palmilla Golf Club

Stripes (1A)

Kody’s Restaurant

Amano

WB Liquor

361 Bar

Moby Dicks

Spanky’s Liquor

IGA Grocery Store

Port A Glass Studio

San Juan’s Mexican Restaurant

Wash Board Laundry Mat

Drop Anchor Bar & Grill

Port A Parks & Rec

Public Library

Chamber of Commerce/ Visitor’s

Center

Woody’s Sports Center

Back Porch

Shorty’s Place

Fisherman’s Wharf

Giggity’s

Tarpon Inn

Gratitude’s

The Gaff

Wild Horse

Treasure Island

Where to Find The Island Moon

Trinity By the Sea Episcopal

North Padre

All Stripes Stores

Black Sheep/Barrel

CVS

Whataburger

Doc’s Restaurant

Snoopy’s Pier

Isle Mail N More

Island Italian

Brooklyn Pie Co.

Ace Hardware

Holiday Inn

Texas Star (Shell)

Jesse’s Liquor

Scuttlebutt’s Restaurant

Subway

Island Tire

Padre Pizzeria

And all Moon retail advertisers

WB Liquor

Flour BluffH.E.B.

Whataburger on Waldron

Ethyl Everly Senior Center

Fire Station

Police Station

Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

Letters to the Editor

2017 Holiday Home TourPresented by Padre Island Enrichment Club

This year’s tour was a huge success thanks to the gracious homeowners of 10 beautifully Christmas decorated homes here on the island. These homes give everyone a good taste of what it is like to live here on the island and brings out the giving nature of the Christmas Spirit. A special thanks to Schlitterbahn Resort for hosting the venue where all the fun extra activities were held that the tour had to offer this year. Such as a silent auction, live music and a raffle drawing for a $500 visa card which was won by Vicki Marsden.

Tour goers started at Schlitterbahn having breakfast in the Veranda Restaurant with the “Build your own Bloody Mary Bar”. Once they purchased a ticket and map, the fun really began as they started to tour the amazing island homes. Each home had something special to offer; both in character and decoration ideas. From trees made of lights and fishing poles, duck filled bath tubs, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Mardi Gras themed Christmas trees, a Jimmy Buffet bedroom and themed tree to match, homemade seashell ornaments and those special ornaments made by their children.

Upon talking to some of the homeowners, their favorite ornaments and favorite Christmas memories are made with their children. That is very fitting since the Holiday Home Tour is about raising money for a Scholarship fund. Padre Island Enrichment Club gave three $2000.00 scholarships this year to High School students living on the island that would like to further their education through trade school or college. The Holiday Home Tour is one of four fundraisers that we do each year. After expenses this year’s tour’s net profit is $5,360.35. This is about double from last year. The PIE Club also supports other charities through cash donations each year.

Thank you to everyone that gave so generously to make this happen.

Katherine Pierce

EPA Adds More Gas to Ethanol

This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked the public how much ethanol it wanted to be added to the nation’s gasoline supply, and recreational boaters as well as many other owners of gasoline engines and vehicles spoke up against increasing ethanol volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Friday, EPA set the 2018 RFS at 19.29 billion gallons, a 0.05 percent increase over the 2017 standard. Signed into law in 2005, the RFS requires an increasing amount of biofuels, such as corn ethanol, to be blended into the gasoline supply.

In August, EPA originally proposed a slight lowering of the overall ethanol mandate. However, bowing to pressure from the ethanol backers, the agency actually notched the mandate higher “We think the EPA’s decision unfairly supports the ethanol industry over protecting consumers, recreational boaters, and the environment. If ethanol is as good for America’s fuel supply as Big Ethanol would like you to believe, then why do we have a law that forces more ethanol each year into the market? The RFS no longer works for Americans.

When it was written, RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since 2005, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecasted, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate, in 2010 EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 (15 percent ethanol) into the marketplace. However, only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats. As higher blends enter the gas supply, the chance of misfueling increases.

Did Ya Hear?

New AdvertisersWolfe Construction, Inc Roofing Specialists is now offering 0% financing for 12 months on the deductible. They offer free roof inspections and they require no payment up front for roof replacement. They offer a five year warranty and labor warranty. They have 40 years of experience and are local. Call 949-1180.

Business BriefsThe Fire Truck Santa Parade will start at Briscoe Pavilion at 5:45 pm on Sunday, December 10th and go through the Seapines subdivision streets. From there they will to Whitecap and turn right on Dasmarinas-Aquarious-Tesoro-cobo de Bara-Port Royal-Camino de Plata-Reales. They then head to the north end of the Island Cabana-Compass-Headsail-Jackfish-Seahorse-Aloha-Suntan-Ambrosia.The Flour Bluff ISD Natatorium is now offering lap swimming to community members beginning December 11th. The swim times during the school year will be Monday – Thursday 6:15 pm – 7:45 pm. The cost is $50/month January – October and $25/month November and December. This is a new state-of-the-art facility. You can register and make payments at www.ticketracker.com. It is located at 2702 Waldron Road.Dragonfly Restaurant will

have Santa visiting on Friday, December 8th at 6 pm. There will be free grilled cheese sandwiches for the kiddos.Grammy Award Winner Jason Mraz will be performing a solo acoustic show at the American Bank Center on March 26th. Tickets go on sale Friday.A Christmas Carol is being performed at the Harbor Playhouse until December 17th Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $18.Corpus Christi Ballet presents The Nutcracker on December 9th and 16th at 7:30 pm and December 10th at 3 pm at the Selena Auditorium. Tickets start at $7.Funtrackers Family Center will host a Community Christmas on Friday, December 8th 6 pm. Every child will receive a present from Santa.Boardhouse Surf & Skate in Port A is having their Re-Grand Opening on Saturday, December 9th starting at 6 pm. Food and beverages will be provided by Irie’s Island Food and Hamlin Bakery. Padre Island Enrichment Club gave three $2000.00 scholarships this year to high school students living on the Island. The Holiday Home Tour is one of four fundraisers that they do each year. After expenses this year’s tour’s net profit is $5,360.35. This is about double from last year.

Need help with Christmas lights? Call 696-2269. The cost is $20/hr.

By Mary "Scoop" Craftmkay512@aol.com

Ethanol has been demonstrated to cause harm to many gasoline engines at the present 10 percent ethanol level, especially legacy outboard motors, decreases fuel efficiency, increases fuel costs for consumers, and has questionable environmental benefits.

David Kennedy.

BoatUS Government Affairs Manager

Southside Leadership Council

Inspired by the Island’s United Political Action Committee, and Strategic Action Committee, and the Flour Bluff Citizens Council, the Southside Leadership Council, including all of District Four and District Five, developed successfully in 2017 with two objectives.

First, ‘do necessary research, develop and exchange ideas, determine and approve solutions’ with the following topics advanced by well educated community leaders ready to give in 2018 civic organization speeches with contact by e-Mail: Community Health-Physically Fit Campaign Guy Watts JD/PhD ‘guy watts1@outlook.com’, Foundations Julie Galbraith BS ‘cjjc@hotmail.com’, Povery Dr. Jimie Owsley MD ‘jimie owsley@yahoo.com’, Obesity Frank Dietz ‘frdietz@yahoo.com’ and/or Dr. Loyd Stegemann MD ‘ihstegemann@yahoo.com’, Secondary Education Dr. Janell Bennett, Ph.D ‘janellsample@yahoo.com, Del Mar College Ed Bennett CPA ‘ed@southtexasmis.com’, Texas A&M-CC Dr. Gerald Sansing Ph.D ‘gsansing@ gmail.com’, Flowers-Gardening Margaret Fratilla MBM ‘margaretfratilla@gmail.com’, Political Funding-Local, State, Federal Judge Mike Westergren JD ‘mike@westergren.com’, and Truth About Learning On Line Ray Rose M-Ed ‘ray rose-smith.com’.

Second, ‘work with governmental, education, military, business, professional, and civic entities to provide needed leadership to provide determined solutions for community issues.’ 2018 promotional leadership by P.I. resident and community leader Julie Galbraith will encourage each member to: (a) schedule civic organization speeches; (b) send articles for citizen review to southside area newspapers: Caller-times. Island Moon, Flour Bluff Messenger, CC Biz News; and (c) effectuate positive solutions with area officials, civic organizations, business associations, and secondary-college-university schools.

Guy Watts has been 2017 District Four Co-Chair and just elected for 2018 District Four Co-Chair has been former IUPAC Vice-President Ray Rose, who respectfully invites well educated Islanders with other community issues to attend Southside Leadership Council meetings at 7:00 a.m. on the first Monday of each month (except January 8th) in Rudy’s Bar-B-Q at the SPID-Airline central point of Districts Four and Five.

Respectfully submitted by Guy Watts.

Schlitterbahn ResponseI was visiting my hair stylist on the Island and

the Island Moon newspaper was delivered. As I waited for my new hair color dye to take, I read the headlines about Schlitterbahn Water Park. Honestly as an Island Resident and member of the POA I strongly believe we were let down by the Henry family. Many residents did not favor the construction of a water park and the one son of the family was truly a traveling salesman with a great pitch for the well-known family owners of Schittlerbauhn waterpark. The litigation; the lawsuits; and temperament of all involved shows the Island Community that those ALL involved do not care about the victims here we are tired of the negativity surrounding the outcome of said project. those residents who were finally sold on this debacle h--- of a mess investment feel cheated. Residents that I have talked to do favor the bridge and the mini Riverwalk many want to take their bay boats through under the bridge on mini excursions with family. Sincerely, I attended downtown management meeting in CC two years ago for the Destination Bayfront project developers came in from as far as SF, CA and Austin. I thought the building of project was at no costs to taxpayers I was wrong. I do think the islanders feel a lot of our revenue doesn’t come back to us unless we approve of bonds et al. The CC City Council owes Islanders projects without attached bonds because at the end of the day they make good on tax revenues. Yes, we do want a mini San Antonio replica riverwalk CC City Council and sooner than later!

Linda St Amand

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 4

Send Letters and Photos to editor@islandmoon.com

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NewspaperOnline version available at

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History cont. from A1

between the Gulf and Corpus Christi Bay. A study was commissioned in February of 1967 by the firm of Turner, Collie & Braden based in Houston and presented to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in June of that year. The idea of cutting the pass was done in an attempt to reduce salinity levels in the Upper Laguna. It was part of a larger plan to combat hypersalinity in the Laguna.

The study concluded that a pass could be cut through Mustang and Padre Islands but jetties would be needed to keep it open in the long term.

The Plan

It called for “heavy stone revetments…to fix the Gulf mouth of the pass and protect it from wave attack.” It also called for the revetments to be at the terminus of jetties which would be a total of 1400 feet in length, bordering a channel that would be ten-feet deep by one hundred feet across on the Gulf side of the beach and sixty-feet wide and seven-feet deep on the bay side. The side slopes would be at ratio of one vertical to three horizontal.

Heavy stone revetments would run from the Gulf end of the jetties to a distance of 1000 feet landward with layers of stone weighting up to three tons and to a thickness of six feet. Lighter stones weighing up to 400 pounds would then be placed inside the rocks from the Gulf mouth to the point where the channel emptied into the bay.

The jetties would be 400 feet apart on the Gulf side and extend a mere 400 feet out beyond the beach. The exact length would be determined not by designers but by the budget. The total budget for the project varied from $2.7 million for 1000-foot jetties to $5.4 million for 2200-foot jetties with half of the costs being the actually construction costs of the jetties themselves and the remainder for engineering, inspections and labor.

Annual dredging was anticipated to cost between $66,000 and $100,000.

But over the years as The Island was battered by hurricanes and attentions shifted to rebuilding rather than new construction the idea for a permanent Corpus Christ Pass was forgotten. Jetties were built at Fish Pass but lost the battle with Mother Nature and silted shut.

It wasn’t until 2005 when a hurricane tidal surge washed the last plug of sand from the nearly complete Packery Channel that The Island had a permanent water exchange pass.

Around cont. from A1of being a communist, or someone declaring a War on Texas Barbeque. To head off a War on Barbeque the Texas Legislature passing HB 2029 (the “BBQ Bill”) explicitly exempting Texas’ BBQ restaurants from Texas Department of Agriculture’s weights and measurement certification regulations at point of sale allowing barbeque joints to serve up their heaping helpings without having to pay higher taxes for their generosity.

The challenger accuses the current Commissioner (quick can you remember his name) of applying the tax anyway and therefore you got yourself a War on Texas Barbeque. He goes on to say “this great Texas institution is under full assault,” and “As Texans, there are few things we treasure more than our BBQ,” “fix this travesty...big-government…career politician…”Around here bud, thems fighting words.

It’s time to La Posada everybody. We’ll be out and about so say hello if you see us Around The Island!

Forclosure cont. from A1

La Posada Parade Route Map

Corpus Christi Pass When it was Open.

everyone's dedication and will do our utmost to be deserving of your continued confidence.”

Tuesday foreclosure

Then on Tuesday just after 1 p.m. a crowd of about a dozen people from private attorneys, city attorneys, investors, and potential buyers gathered on the south steps of the Nueces County Courthouse where in less than twenty minutes 270 acres of land surrounding, but not including, the park was auctioned off for $9 million. The only bidder for the land was Axys Capital Management of Austin which was owned $18 million against the land after they provided the financing for the second tranche of financing when cost overruns during the park’s construction required more cash in 2015.

The Axys land was sold in two parcels with Axys as the only bidders. The first is a forty-acre site along SPID which includes the connection to the proposed $11.5 million Park Road 22/SPID Water Exchange Bridge. The second is a 230-acre parcel of undeveloped land around and west of Aquarius Street. The strategic value of the two parcels was reflected in the price.

The smaller piece, the 40-acres along SPID which would include about half of the canal approaching the bridge from the west side sold for $6 million. While the larger piece, 230 acres which according to the area’s master plan would be residential, sold for $3 million. The higher price for the smaller parcel reflects its importance as the lynchpin of a planned 25-year, $550 million development on 500 acres of land running from Lake Padre on the east to the Laguna Madre west of Aquarius Street and including the park, surrounding land, and 3600-foot long planned canal with retail and residential development connecting both sides of the roadway via the water exchange bridge.

Lost in the blur of activity on Tuesday was the fact that the crucial portion of the canal site west of SPID, between the proposed bridge and its connection to the existing canal system near Whitecap, is now under the ownership of two separate entities who will be responsible for funding their portion of bulkheading the canal in order to secure city funding to build the $11.5 million bridge. City officials have sent developers a Memorandum of Understanding Requiring a $5 million guarantee that bulkheading the canal west of SPID will happen before the city will release the funds to begin construction of the bridge.

Axys officials on several occasions, to city officials and in the San Antonio courtroom last week, have signaled they are ready to move forward with construction of bulkheads on the portion of the canal they now own. IBC officials, whose funding for the bulkheading is now crucial to the future of the bridge, have not commented on their willingness to commit the funds.

Based on the current cost of a linear foot of waterfront property on The Island, the portion of the canal between the bridge and Whitecap would create about $15 million in new land value alone and would also be a crucial part of the Island’s future. The canal was dug this year by developer Paul Schexnailder, who is pushing for a single unified master plan for the entire 500 acres, but he no longer controls the land where the canal is located. The current canal does not have bulkheads and stops fifty feet short of connecting to the existing Island canal system.

When and if the canal’s bulkheads are done could determine whether the 500 acres is developed under one plan or whether the portion of the land west of SPID is sold off piecemeal to various owners, and will determine whether the water exchange bridge is built. That canal site is now under split control with Axys Credit and IBC Bank, each having about half under their control.

With Axys officials on record as favoring moving forward with the water exchange bridge, and the required bulkheads, the question after Tuesday is whether IBC officials will decide to construct bulkheads on the crucial portion of the canal they now control, the portion nearest Whitecap, without which the canal from the bridge cannot connect to the Island canal system.

La Posada cont. from A1American Airlines, a new business sponsor for donating 100,000 AAdvantage Miles. This event is only possible because of all our wonderful sponsors and volunteers, donating their products, services and time. I don't have the total money raised yet, but I know it's going to be a record year in support of the Marines Toys for Tots. Thank you again for all your support of the La Posada events. Now it's time for the Parades, Parties and the Joy of Giving thousands of toys.

The Padre Island Yacht Club invites you to their Open House this Saturday night from 6:00-9:00 pm to view the Lighted Boat Parade. There will be hot chocolate, coffee and cookies served. Come and enjoy one of the best places to view the parade and please bring a new toy.

Thank you, from the La Posada Foundation and Padre Island Yacht Club

Coming up

Next up are the big events; the Lighted Boat Parades that hit canals on the north side The Island this Friday December 8 and the south side canals on Saturday December 9. The event collects toys for the Marines Toys for Tots program and in 2016 collected more than 7000 toys and $18,000 kids in the Coastal Bend!

How to donate

This year the need is even greater with so many families displaced and homes and belongings destroyed….It will be a very difficult Christmas for many children in our area and organizers are asking for your help. It is generous donations and support from Islanders that allowed them to hold the auctions at the Kickoff Party to raise money for the children in the Coastal Bend. If you have a product, service, artwork, vacation rental or additional items that you would be willing to donate, please contact them at laposada.foundation@yahoo.com. The La Posada Foundation is a 501c3 non-

profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. If you are buying toys to donate for the event, remember that the older kids need toys too. Remember the kids 10 and up when you shop for toys.

Collector boats with Marines onboard make the rounds during the two nights of the parade to collect toys from Island decks. If you're interested in being a Collector Boat Captain; please contact Bob Muir at bob.laposada@yahoo.com.

Boats are gearing up

This year's entry themes are Christmas Spirit and Island Spirit. Awards will be given for 1st & 2nd place for Christmas Spirit and Island Sprit in the following categories: Power boat: 30' and over, 29' and under, Sailboat All lengths.

Fleet Award: Top boat across all categories 30' & over, Top boat across all categories 29' & under

How to register

To register for the 2017 La Posada Lighted Boat Parade, go to www.laposadacc.com and print the registration form & boat information. Registration forms can be picked up and/or dropped off at Padre Island Mail Plus or North Padre Island Hardware, emailed to nick.laposada @yahoo.com or mailed to La Posada Foundation 14493 SPID, A-249, Corpus Christi, TX 78418.

La Posada Events

December 8, – La Posada Lighted Boat Parade on the North end of the Island

December 9, – La Posada Lighted Boat Parade on the South end of the Island.

The La Posada events are sponsored by the La Posada Foundation and the Padre Island Yacht Club.

Hanson Donates $25,000 to Hurricane Relief Fund

Hanson Professional Services, INC, (formerly Naismith Engineering) and their

employees donated $27,535 this week to Mayor Joe McComb’s relief fund for

Hurricane Harvey victims. The company initially donated $15,000 to the fund and

employees donated an additional $12,535.The fund is focused on providing relief to coastal communities in five counties, with emphasis toward their infrastructure and

revitalization efforts.

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 5

Stuff I Heard on the Island

The BACK PORCH

The BACK PORCH Bar

TheBACK PORCH

Bar

132 W. Cotter St. PortA ON THE WATERFRONT

Tides of the WeekTides for Bob Hall Pier: December 7 - December 14

Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time Moon /Low Time in Feet Sunset Visible

Th 7 Low 11:15 AM -0.4 7:07 AM Set 10:55 AM 86

7 High 8:14 PM 1.8 5:34 PM Rise 10:13 PM

F 8 Low 12:14 PM -0.1 7:07 AM Set 11:43 AM 76

8 High 8:51 PM 1.7 5:35 PM Rise 11:15 PM

Sa 9 Low 1:19 PM 0.1 7:08 AM Set 12:26 PM 66

9 High 9:18 PM 1.5 5:35 PM

Su 10 Low 4:25 AM 0.9 7:09 AM Rise 12:15 AM 55

10 High 7:33 AM 1.0 5:35 PM Set 1:05 PM

10 Low 2:34 PM 0.4

10 High 9:36 PM 1.4

M 11 Low 4:48 AM 0.6 7:09 AM Rise 1:12 AM 44

11 High 9:59 AM 1.0 5:35 PM Set 1:42 PM

11 Low 4:03 PM 0.7

11 High 9:50 PM 1.3

Tu 12 Low 5:20 AM 0.4 7:10 AM Rise 2:08 AM 34

12 High 12:20 PM 1.2 5:36 PM Set 2:17 PM

12 Low 5:37 PM 0.9

12 High 10:02 PM 1.2

W 13 Low 5:53 AM 0.1 7:11 AM Rise 3:02 AM 25

13 High 1:56 PM 1.3 5:36 PM Set 2:53 PM

13 Low 7:08 PM 1.1

13 High 10:11 PM 1.2

Th 14 Low 6:27 AM 0.0 7:11 AM Rise 3:55 AM 17

14 High 3:00 PM 1.5 5:36 PM Set 3:29 PM

By Dale Rankin

CLOSED UNTIL MARCH

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

There a lot going on here on our little sandbar this

week, here’s some of it.

Preemptive strike

First let me head off some trouble. Each year along about the second Sunday night of December, I’m regrouping after a long weekend of La Posada parties when my phone blows up with folks from all over The Island informing me that the whole place is on fire and burning fast. Their proof is the parade of fire trucks with sirens ablasting from one end of The Island to the other. The first couple of times this happened, I rushed out to the car and I could hear the sirens and horns and see the reflections of red lights off in the distance. Since news often follows sirens, I rushed over only to find a long line of fire trucks and emergency vehicles slowly making their way around The Island. That will happen this Sunday, but I won’t go looking for the source.

Starting at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, December 10, on Encantada near Primavera the Nueces County Emergency Services District #2 will hold their annual Christmas Parade with sirens announcing their route and Island dogs joining the chorus. They will make their way along Aquarius and on up to the north end of The Island and the route will take well over an hour, during which time I will have been called about six times if history is a good indicator.

In the past when I informed callers I had written about the parade, most demurred and said, “Maybe they didn’t read all the way to the bottom.” So this year I’m putting it right at the top so if anyone says they didn’t read all the way to the bottom, I’ll know they are pulling my leg. The parade is for a good cause and of course we like parades, but it is a parade and not the end of the world as we know it.

La Posada parties

Island Moon founder Mike Ellis used to say that Island parties are like seven-layer bean dip, they start out all structured stratified, but by the end of the night they are all mixed together and people who were strangers at 6 p.m. are making plans for foreign vacations together by 8:30. It’s amazing how being in the Island environment brings people together.

Which brings me to the First Rule of Island Parties – If you have heard about the party then you are invited. You don’t need a formal invitation because first of all there probably never was one made up, and second if you heard about it then you already know someone who is going. If you see a good party going on at a deck across the way jump in your boat or drive around and go jump in the fun. That’s how things work around here.

Schlitterbahn

A big topic of conversation around here this week is the goings on at the Schlitterbahn waterpark and surrounding environs. For a complete details on this week’s changes, see the story in this issue. I think what we saw this week is a break in the logjam that has been the result of friction between the ownership parties and from I can tell things are moving quickly.

The issue right now is what is going to happen with the proposed water exchange bridge under SPID. I think it is fair to say that whatever the opinions of the coming of the waterpark may have been and may be by Island residents, there is almost universal support for the bridge and the canal leading to it from both sides of the roadway. The city council appears to be on board, the money is in place, and the bid is in, the holdup now is on the side of the private owners of the land. The crucial piece of land is between the bridge site, located where the green for #11 used to be, and Whitecap. This section is where the canal will go that will connect Lake Padre to the existing Island canal system and after this week that piece of land is owned by two separate entities – Axys Capital out of Austin, and IBC Bank. The future of the bridge is now squarely in their hands. If they agree to finish and bulkhead the canal we will have a bridge. If either doesn’t, we won’t. The council is not going to fund a Bridge to Nowhere and without that piece of the canal puzzle in place the bridge will never get built.

It is a bit unsettling to know that after events this week the future of development on our Island is largely in the hands of two out of town entities with few ties to The Island, but that seems to be where we find ourselves.

But I believe things are moving in a positive direction, the next sixty days will tell the tale.

Thoughts From Dr. Tom

Respiratory InfectionsThis issue, I want to

talk about when do you need to be seen and what to watch out for from respiratory infections. It seems after the kids return to school and we

break for Thanksgiving we usually see an uptick in respiratory infections. This year looks to be no different than prior years.

Your average respiratory infection starts out as a viral infection. Viruses are little subcellular particles that are picked up by the respiratory tract either from your hands to your mucus membranes are direct aerosol contamination from a cough or sneeze etc. These then infect the cells of your respiratory tract and start making virus with your cells like a science fiction movie. The body’s immune system then sees your cells as something it would like to destroy. This process creates huge amounts of inflammation as the body fights off the virally infected cells. Sometimes this is mild like the common cold and sometimes is severe like the influenza and other less famous viruses.

The down side of all this is that some folks will then proceed to develop secondary bacterial infections in the secretions that are generated by the fight between your immune system and the virus that started it all. If that happens then we tend to get worse and not all bacterial infections will just resolve on their own. Sometimes bad ear, throat, sinus and lung infections can occur. If they do then often we need to intervene to recover better and faster.

Influenza, which is one of the most virulent viral respiratory infections is bad about causing numerous issues from bronchospasm

and secondary pneumonias. It can be fatal in those that are old, young, weak or immunocompromised. The flu shot is your best chance at preventing it. The flu shot does not always work. In fact the H3N2 virus that hit Australia this summer is not prevented by the flu and there is some worry that could be a problem here this winter. The antivirals will still help to treat this strain if caught early.

So what to do? My advice is to watch your cold symptoms if you have severe aches, fever, rapid onset of cough or heavy amounts of inflammation rapidly then I would come in and get tested quickly. If there is exposure or symptoms or suspicious then we will want to be aggressive. Treatment for flu needs to be started in first 48 hours to be the most affective. The antivirals work for prevention in household contacts also. Steroids can be useful to decrease inflammation in any viral respiratory infection and your treating doc can make that decision with you based on your specific case. Antibiotics are reserved for patients with bacterial infections both primary and secondary. When they are needed they are needed but we don’t like to give them out for things that appear to be just viral because it has an adverse effect on antibiotic resistance. If you just have the sniffles treat it with over the counter remedies like antihistamines decongestants and cough meds. If it is escalating then come see us. We are always available.

Looking forward to this cool front, the boys are thrashing me this year with the stick and string. Coop in the lead. Maybe the old man can do some catch up with the longbow and even the score. Necks should be swelling and the old bucks should be traveling a little after mid week. Hope you have great week.

Telltale Signs That the Used Boat You’re Buying Could be a Storm-Damaged LemonWhile many of the more than 63,000 boats

damaged as a result of 2017 hurricanes will be repaired and have more years of life on the water, some used boat buyers in 2018 could end up with storm-damaged lemons. The nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States cautions used boat buyers that some boats affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are beginning to hit the market, and that getting a prepurchase survey (called a Condition and Value survey) is very important.

The boating group offers eight tips to help you spot a boat that might have been badly damaged in a storm:

Trace the history. When a car is totaled, the title is branded as salvaged or rebuilt, and buyers know up front that there was major damage at some point in the car’s history. But only a few states brand salvaged boats – Florida and Texas do not – and some states don’t require titles for boats. Anyone wishing to obscure a boat’s history need only cross state lines to avoid detection, which can be a tipoff. Look for recent gaps in the boat’s ownership, which may mean that it was at an auction or in a repair yard for

a long time.

Look for recent hull repairs. Especially on older boats, matching gelcoat is very difficult. Mismatched colors around a repaired area are often a giveaway and may signal nothing more than filler under the gelcoat, rather than a proper fiberglass repair.

Look for new repairs or sealant at the hull-to-deck joint. Boats that bang against a dock during a storm often suffer damage there.

Evidence of sinking. Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure.

Corrosion in the electrical system. Corrosion on electrical items, such as lamps, connectors and behind breaker panels might mean the boat sank recently. Does the boat have all new electronics? Why?

Look for evidence of major interior repairs. Fresh paint or gelcoat work on the inside of the hull and engine room is usually obvious. All new cushions and curtains may be a tipoff, too.

Look for fresh paint on the engine. It may be covering exterior rust as well as interior damage.

Ask the seller. In some states, a seller isn’t required to disclose if a boat was badly damaged unless you ask. If the seller hems and haws, keep looking. 

December 7, 2017Island MoonA6Senior Moments

America Debuts New Military Mega-Base in South Korea

By Dotson Lewis

Special to the Island Moon

Anecdotingly

By Abigail Bair

Bag Heroes

Send letters and photos to editor@islandmoon.com

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I feel like I should start off by warning you, gentle reader

that this entire column is about a topic that no one is entirely comfortable discussing. It’s considered gauche to talk about dog excrement, (unless you’re screaming at ISAC about why a local dog park is the environmental equivalent of a poop tsunami) but it’s important to think about how we dispose of all waste. I made a pretty grave mistake in that respect, and you could be making it, too.

Working this past year for the Island Moon, I’ve been exposed to lots of articles regarding the safety and preservation of wildlife – especially marine animals. I don’t know how many pictures we’ve printed of poor turtles trapped in various kinds of refuse. Plastic grocery bags and six pack rings appear to be the worst offenders. For years, I’ve been physically unable to throw out those rings without cutting them to little shreds, trying to be sure nothing would get caught in them. The grocery bags were tougher. I made a resolution to stop using them entirely after chasing an HEB bag halfway across Arizona (I was convinced everyone would know it was mine due to my Texas license plates). I started bringing my own canvas totes to the store. I was successful about 30% of the time. While it was better than nothing, I was still hauling an awful lot plastic home with me. I heroically reconciled this failure by using the grocery sacks to pick up dog poop.

To be clear, our family disposes of an awful lot of dog excreta. I know there’s been a ton of accusations flying around the Island regarding dog owners’ overall ineptitude when it comes to picking up waste, but from what I know about the sheer amounts our two dogs produce, I’d say Islanders are doing a heck of a job. It would take about five days for Stadler and Rowlfie (who has a definite “spread the Rowlf” philosophy on bathroom activities) to blanket this place with an inescapable minefield of dog fewmets. You have to do the math before you get to do the yelling, folks.

In many ways it would be better to leave doodie on the ground to naturally disintegrate and provide fertilizer to some species of plants. However, there are also compelling reasons to pick it up. Feces can spread disease, but more importantly, stepping in it while wearing flip flops is just awful. Even if I had a day where I got lazy, and stopped caring about the foot health of my fellow humans, Stadler’s preferred bathroom moment is at a four-way intersection with cars at every stop sign. She is not a crypto-crapper – she loves spectators. Her de facto

audiences, however, rarely return the sentiment. Try not picking up poop while under the watchful glare of four car-loads of people who have been forced to wait for a dog to finish her business sometime. You can call me from the hospital and let me know how it went.

Digressions aside, for a long time I thought I was doing a very good thing by reusing those troublesome plastic grocery bags as free dog poop containment units. It wasn’t upcycling, but it was a start. One particularly pusillanimous Thursday, however, I was playing my usual game of Lara Croft Poo Raider*, when I realized that there was a good chance that I had just hermetically sealed and preserved a big load of dog waste for the foreseeable eternity. When I got home, I looked up decomposition rates of plastic bags. Google helpfully said that it takes 10 – 1000 years for them to fully rot in a landfill. I love Stadler to bits, but I really don’t think the next 100+ generations of humans need to deal with disposing of her droppings. Clearly, I was not the hero I thought I was.

I took my problem to the Rev, adding “and what if the dog poop actually makes the turtles want to eat the plastic bags. That can kill them. I don’t want turtles to DIIIIEEEEE!” I shrieked, appalled at my personal foray into total idiocy.

“There is no accounting for the taste of turtles,” the Rev calmly agreed, and immediately began shopping for biodegradable waste bags on Amazon.

As in all purchasing ventures these days, the amount of options was overwhelming. You can get everything from sacks that disappear completely in 18 months, to compostable bags, to ones you can flush down your toilet. Mom and I had a good laugh at the flushie ones. There’s no way a Rowlf offering would go down a standard sewer pipe. The products had a varying price point, but on average, the biodegradable bags ran about 3 to 15 cents each. It’s quite a leap up from free, but not prohibitively costly either.

We wound up buying one of the less expensive products. The new bags will biodegrade completely in a landfill within ten months. In my experience, poop turns to dust in about five weeks -- although the process can be hurried along if you run it over with a lawn mower. This makes for total waste disposal in under a year. Plus, the new containment units are made of a thicker material than the old HEB bags. It’s nice to use something that doesn’t have small holes in it. My chances of Dirty Sanchez-ing myself have decreased astronomically.

I feel much better about the whole situation. I’m still worried that somehow the turtles will get ahold of the bags and decide to feast on poo stew, but I’m not sure that I can stop them either. Turtle Epicureanism is weird on a good day.

We have to pick up the dog poop. It’s part of responsible dog ownership. We also ought to be accountable for our world, and what we leave behind. I would definitely prefer that my legacy be something other than a nine story high stack of grocery sacks full of dog poo. I suppose it could be worse -- but not very much.

*I duplicate Croft’s target-shooting-from-horseback move, except instead of horses, rifles, and targets I use a bicycle, bags of dog poop and conveniently open city trash cans. It’s a lot less sexy when I do it.

Dotson’s Note: Behind fences, gates and walls topped with razor wire, USAG* Humphreys is a “little piece of America” where U.S. military personnel and their families enjoy the comforts of home while soldiers train for battle ready to “fight tonight.” My thanks to David Axe, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys- Public Affairs Office, MSN News, Won Gon Park, Col. Patrick Seiber, Dr. Bruce Bennett and Jon Letman for contributing to this report.

United States Fortress in Korea

The United States is quietly consolidating its forces on the Korean Peninsula into a new fortress south of Seoul, to defend against an attack from the North.

While President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wage an escalating war of words over Pyongyang’s nuclear-weapons program, the U.S. military is quietly transforming its forces on the Korean Peninsula, boosting their ability to defend against an attack from the North.

The centerpiece of the transformation is a sprawling new installation south of Seoul, where the majority of the roughly 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea are based, or soon will be. Camp Humphreys, 50 miles south of Seoul, is an American fortress on the Korean Peninsula—and the key to U.S. war plans.

In the case of open conflict with the North, Camp Humphreys “would enable the rapid deployment of augmenting U.S. forces to the [Korean military] and their expeditious projection to the forward area,” wrote Won Gon Park, an analyst for the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.

By air and road, U.S. troops would stream from Humphreys to the front line. Meanwhile, potentially hundreds of thousands of American and allied reinforcements would flow to the base before departing for the front. Gathering senior leaders at Humphreys should help to streamline wartime planning, Dr. Bruce Bennett, an analyst with the RAND Corporation said, “If you’re strewn out all over the peninsula, it’s hard to have a classified conversation.”

As recently as 2003, U.S. forces in South Korea were scattered across 174 bases. Arguably the most problematic was the Army garrison at Yongsan in Seoul, a fast-growing city of 10 million that lies just 30 miles from the border with North Korea—well within range of Pyongyang’s heavy artillery.

To escape urban congestion and reduce the garrison’s vulnerability to artillery, in 2004 the Pentagon brokered a deal with the South Korean government to expand Camp Humphreys—then a modest-size outpost—and concentrate U.S. troops and their families there. The military aims to cut its installations in South Korea nearly in half to just 96 by 2020.

The $11-billion expansion is nearly complete. A veterinary clinic, a dental clinic, and a food court opened in October. Camp Humphreys boasts new headquarters buildings, an airstrip, firing ranges, barracks, motor pools, communications facilities, schools, day cares, retail stores, several churches, and even a golf course. At 3,500 acres, Humphreys is as big as a small city. The military projects the camp could soon house 36,000 troops, dependents, and civilian contractors.

The base is just a few miles from Pyeongtaek harbor and equally close to Osan air base, streamlining the flow of the reinforcements by sea and air. “The greatest utility of Camp Humphreys comes from the seamless employment of joint forces during contingencies thanks to the collocation of ground, naval and air forces’ installations,” Won wrote.

The ability to quickly ship in additional troops and their vehicles has become more important in the last year. The Army used to keep hundreds of tanks and other vehicles in storage in South Korea. If war broke out, several thousand soldiers from a U.S.-based brigade would leave behind their usual equipment and rush to the peninsula to activate the stored vehicles.

But the Pentagon decided it wanted to quickly expand its tank force without waiting for new vehicles to roll out of factories. In 2016, it shipped the stored vehicles to a base in Georgia and matched them up with an existing infantry brigade.

Now that unit has joined with other brigades taking turns deploying—tanks and all—to South Korea to bolster U.S. forces on the peninsula. Increasingly, the visiting troops pass through Camp Humphreys. “Even though we’re not on a war footing, so to speak, the operational tempo remains high,” Col. Patrick Seiber, an Army spokesman, told The Daily Beast.

But there’s a downside to concentrating so much military power at one facility. While Camp Humphreys is beyond range of North Korea’s cannon artillery, it’s still within range of the North’s rockets. Pyongyang recently named the base as its number one target. “Wherever you create a high-value target, you tempt the enemy to strike that,” Bennett explained.

Humphreys isn’t defenseless against rockets. The Army keeps Patriot air-defense missiles at nearby Osan air base. The ground-combat

branch also stations long-range Terminal High-Altitude Air-Defense missiles around 100 miles south of the camp. At any sign of a major North Korean mobilization, the U.S. military plans to fly civilians off the peninsula and disperse combat units into the countryside.

Ironically, Camp Humphreys’ growing importance could raise the strategic stakes on the Korean Peninsula. In a recent op-ed, Bennett recommended that the United States respond with overwhelming force to any attack on the base. “North Korea should understand that if it does target Camp Humphreys, the United States may well respond by targeting the North Korean regime leaders.”

Welcome to Camp Humphreys South Korea

Located within the seaport city of Pyeongtaek, along the western coast of South Korea, and approximately 40 miles south of Seoul, Camp Humphreys is home to the Army's most active airfield in the Pacific and the center of the largest construction and transformation project in the U.S. Department of Defense's history.

In addition to its airfield, there are several U. S. Army tactical and direct support units located on Camp Humphreys, including the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, elements of the 1st Signal Brigade, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, 65th Medical Brigade, and many other military units and commands.

Transformation and Re-Stationing

To posture forces in support of U.S. and ROK national interests on the Korean Peninsula, both governments agreed to consolidate U.S. Forces Korea into two enduring hubs, the largest of which is Camp Humphreys. By moving into less congested southern areas of the peninsula, the U.S. Army has improved readiness and efficiencies, while further enhancing its partnership with local communities.

In the past few years, the Camp Humphreys military community population has more than tripled in size, from 10,000 to 36,000 soldiers, civilians, and their family members. Main construction projects underway included unit headquarters buildings, vehicle maintenance facilities, barracks, family housing, medical facilities, a military communications complex, a commissary, a post exchange, schools, and child development centers.

Several new barracks, family housing units, and supporting underground utility systems have been completed and occupied - including newly constructed elementary and middle/high school campuses.

These initiatives facilitated transformation of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and the achievement of common strategic objectives. They are assisting in the attainment of the ROK-U.S. Alliance's objectives ensuring credible deterrence and maintaining stability while improving USFK (United States Forces Korea) capacity to respond to future defense initiatives.

* United States Army Garrison

Dotson’s Other Note: For quite a while, I have been very concerned about the North Korean affair. In the past few weeks when discussing the Korean situation, many of my active duty friends have mentioned Camp Humphreys. I did a little research and lo and behold, now I feel much better about what we are doing in “Frozen Chosen”. I thought some of you loyal readers might, after reading the foregoing, also feel more comfortable about the North Korean mess; “Remember Pearl Harbor!”

Thank you for reading and commenting on Senior Moments. I can be reached at: dlewis1@stx.rr.com and/or Land Line: 361-949-7681 or Cell: 530-748-8475.

Please Note: The next Veterans Round Table Meeting will be Tuesday, December 12, 9-11 AM, 3209 S. Staples. All Veterans, their families and anyone interested in Veterans affairs, are invited. Coffee & doughnuts are provided. Hope to see you there. Also our Veterans Radio Round Table is on the air on KEYS AM 1440, 8 – 9 AM, Saturdays. The next will air December 9, 2017. Please listen and call in. The listener/text line is: 361-560-5397…It’s your show.

Hang in there/Have fun!

Entrance to Camp Humphreys

Port Aransas VFD Receives Donated Fire Truck

Port Aransas Volunteer Fire Department received a much needed fire truck Wednesday donated by the Philomont Volunteer Fire Department from Virginia who drove the truck to Port Aranas from Virginia.

"When we saw the flooding and damage on the television we went to county fire chief and asked what we could do to help," said Philomont Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rick Pearsall.

"The fire service is a brotherhood and everyone does what they can to help each other."

The truck is a 2001 fire engine that can be used to fight structure fires, respond to vehicle accidents and medical emergencies. The donation was facilitated through the Texas A&M Forest Service Helping Hands Program that allows the transfer of firefighting and rescue equipment and vehicles to volunteer fire departments in need.

When Harvey made landfall in August, Port Aransas VFD was left with several damaged fire trucks and many of their firefighters dealing with damage to their own homes. Officials deployed an online assessment tool on August 29 to determine what needs local fire departments had as a result of the storm, and sought both monetary and equipment donations to help those departments impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and Port Aransas VFD was among 20 Texas departments identified as damaged or destroyed.

Stadler models her new biodegradable poop bags.

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 7

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Island Moon on a Spoon

Fish of the Seven Fishes

By Chef Vita Jarrin

Growing up I was raised believing that Christmas is the time of year to bake and cook extra-ordinary dishes that you don’t typically make on a regular basis. Being Sicilian, the recipe box came out and it was time to bake the type of cookie recipes that took three day to make. From cooking raw almonds down into a paste, and then letting them cool overnight, in time to make enough dough to hand out trays of cookies to family, friends and in my mom’s case, every Doctor that took care of her throughout the year. The nurses waited anxiously for her to drop of the loaded cookie trays at least twice a year… Christmas and Easter. The reason behind this belief, is that Christmas is the time to show people who mean something special to you, some love and appreciation for being in your life. The main ingredient is love and Christmas is the perfect time to spread the love through food.

In our Italian / Sicilian culture, Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally known in the Italian American community as the Feast of Seven Fishes. This is a Roman Catholic tradition that was created to abstain from eating meat certain times of the year. On Christmas Eve, the dinner menu is based solely of dishes made with fish and not meat. The table is filled with fish salads, fried fish dishes, baked, grilled, stuffed, raw … you name it. Of course there were veggie sides to accompany this hearty fish menu. Some of our staple dishes had traditional ingredients as well. Such seasonal ingredients consisted of fruits, nuts and vegetables harvested in the fall and winter months. Wine was made from grapes harvested in the fall and Christmas was the first time the wine could be served after fermenting in the barrel for about 90 days. Fresh Olive Oil made of green olives was used for salads, and dressings, since it was a bit bitterer than older, cured oil. Fall and winter veggies included, artichokes, cordons, which are like jumbo celery stalks (sprouts has these), boiled and then fried or sautéed with garlic, olive oil and parsley, asparagus, green beans, various root vegetables. The meal always ended with fruits and nuts. Pears, grapes, oranges, tangerines, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds etc.

The fish dish I remember us making and enjoying the most was a salted cod dish known as Bacalla. It was salt cured cod, sold unrefrigerated in bags and before cooking it, it needed to soak in cold water for about a week, changing the water at least twice a day, to remove the excess salt. This cod went from looking like a flat board to a springy fresh piece of fish. When I moved to Texas, I couldn’t find this type of cod, therefore I decided to Improvise with fresh cod. I encourage you to try this dish whether for Christmas or any other meal. It

dusted in flour, lightly seasoned and fried, and then baked with tomato sauce and black olives. It’s delicious and fairly easy to make. ;)

Ingredients:

3 lbs. fresh caught cod

Salt & Pepper to taste

2 C all-purpose flour

¼ C light olive oil

¼ C vegetable oil add more if needed

2 Cans (28 oz.) of Cento petite diced tomatoes

3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion finely diced

2 cloves garlic minced or whole

Fresh basil roughly chopped

Salt & pepper to taste

2 Tbs. Sugar

¾ - 1 C vegetable or chicken stock

(If too thick add additional stock)

6-8 oz. black cured olives (HEB Olive Cart)

Chili flakes for a little kick (optional)

Directions:

Make sauce first. Preheat oil, add onion and garlic. Cook for about three minutes and add tomato product & stock. Bring to a boil, add sugar, basil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes. Turn off and add olives. Cover and let rest.

Pat cod dry, season with salt and pepper on both sides. Lightly toss in flour and set aside (do not put on top of each other) flour and moisture will make fish stick together. Preheat oven to 375. Preheat oil. When oil is hot, but not smoking, gently add fish in the oil and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, until golden. Have a dish ready with paper towels. Drain any extra oil off on this paper coated dish. In a casserole, add a couple of ladles of tomato sauce. Place fish on sauce and ladle sauce over the rest of fish. Bake fish for about 30 minutes uncovered. Remove from oven and let cool about 10 minutes before serving.

Tip of the week:

You can use other white meaty fish in place of cod. Meaty fish goes well with a heavier tomato sauce. You can add shrimp in between the filets of fish to add more flavor and or use other olives for color and flavor contrast.

The ideas are endless! The important thing is to Have Fun! Try New Things! Happy Eats… Enjoy!

Fish of the Seven Fishes

Greetings from the Padre Isles Property Owners

Association By Becky Perrin

Executive Director

Padre Isles Property Owners Association

Editor’s note: The following is a summary of a presentation presented to the POA Board of Directors meeting at its monthly meeting.

The POA has been working on a Common Area Map and it is near completion. The map identifies 58 canal ends, 7 boat ramps, 17 medians and 40 cul de sacs, a total of 122 common areas. A key will be added to the map to identify each area. Once the map is complete it will be posted to the web page.

The Security EXPO was held November 13, 2017, at the Seashore Learning Center. Over 40 people attended the EXPO. Presentations were made by Dynamark, Alliance and Alarm Security. Each agency had the opportunity to discuss security services their agencies provide.

It is time to start planning the Winter Newsletter and the POA would love to hear from the community. Is there a subject that you would like us to address? Are you an aspiring writer and want to help with the newsletter? If so, please call Becky at the POA office.

Election time is right around the corner. On March 10, 2018, three new board members will be elected to the POA board. Ballots will be mailed out to all members no sooner than 90 days prior to the election and no later than 10 days prior to the election. The POA plans to host meetings in January and February to provide the opportunity for the community to get to know the candidates.

The POA is asking community members to be on the look out for illegal dumping especially on vacant lots and common areas. Please notify the police and the POA office if you are aware of illegal dumping here on the island.

Friday before Thanksgiving someone set fire and melted the port a potty located at Billish Park. The police department was notified and an arson report was filed. A replacement port a potty was delivered yesterday and is now back in service. The police are continuing their investigation.

The Accountant for the POA resigned this month. An advertisement will be placed in the Island Moon in search of a new agency to provide accounting services for 20 hours each month.

The POA previously utilized a debit card, the card was canceled in October and the bank account associated with the card was closed in November. The POA is in the process of securing a credit card with a specific dollar limit to be used for POA business.

If you are interested in attending the Security Patrol Meeting, Canals and Waterways or the Policies and Bylaws Committee meetings log on to the POA website and check out the dates and times of the meetings. Instead of just checking out the schedule, fill out an application for one of the committees and become a committee member.

It has been over 2 years since the Encantada Culvert drainage was inspected. With the recent hurricane it just seems like a good time to have it looked again to ensure that it is flowing as it should.

La Posada Kick-off Party

2017 La Posada kick-off party at the Veranda featured live and silent auctions to raise money for the Marines Toys for Tots foundation. Photos by Jan Rankin

Seashore Happenings

Mrs. Jessica Fuller, the SLC Running Club sponsor, encourages the students to strengthen the upper and lower body through calisthenics. Then it’s outside for a run to

build endurance!

In the spring, the running club trains and participates in the Beach to Bay Relay marathon. Last year, the running club was able to create 2 Beach to Bay teams, but the

runners this year are showing the possibility of adding on a third student team!

The Port A Parrot Heads had their Christmas Party in the Tiki Room at Giggitys last weekend. Photo by Ronnie Narmour

December 7, 2017Island MoonA8

SPORTSSports Talk Special to The Island Moon

Important Things to Know About Basketball Officiating

By Dotson Lewis

By Andy Purvis Special to the Island Moon

Dizzy Numbers

Dotson’s Note: After last week’s article which

I guess I should have called Basketball 101, the most asked question is/was, how could that Ref make that call? Parts of this report were excerpted from many basketball officiating organizations’ policies and procedures guides.

What Are Those People in Stripes Supposed to Be Doing?

1. The officials’ role is to control the game. The official must make sure that the integrity of the game is always upheld, that the game is kept under control according to the rules of the game, sportsmanship and personal enrichment (allowing players and coaches to learn and grow with the game). If you lose control and do not conduct yourself in a proper and professional manner, then the integrity of the game will disintegrate.

2. Officiating is about making sure no player or team gets an unfair advantage. This is at the heart of officiating. The rules are written to insure that no player or no team gets an unfair advantage or is placed at an unfair disadvantage. You absolutely must, in all cases, ensure that you uphold the integrity of the game. Rules should be reasonably applied to ensure this principle is upheld.

3. Much of officiating is being a people person. Know how to deal with people. Remember that listening is an important skill (two ears, one mouth, listen twice as much as you speak). If you're asked a question, answer it. Treat everyone at the game with the same respect you want from him or her. Show and earn respect.

4. Keep safety number one. The rules not only empower but also require officials to penalize rough play. Even if a potentially dangerous situation is not specifically covered in the rules, an official is obligated to make whatever correction is necessary to ensure player safety. In this overly litigious age, erring on the side of safety is not only the morally correct course but the one that will help keep the official out of court as well.

5. Don't make excuses. Be accountable even if you have the best possible excuse for making a mistake, the mistake won't be corrected because you have an alibi. Instead of wasting time and mental energy coming up with an excuse, your first course should be doing whatever the rules allow you to do to rectify the situation. If you try and fail, it’s a mistake. If you repeat the mistake, it’s a decision.

6. You have an obligation to hold yourself to a higher than normal ethical standard. How you conduct yourself (character and integrity) away from the court is as important as how you act on the court. Poor decisions or bad behavior in everyday life can eradicate all of the good will and good impressions you earn when you’re officiating. Integrity is defined by how you act when you think nobody is watching. Be a legacy minded leader.

7. Expect criticism and learn how to handle it. Most comments from spectators, players and coaches should go in one ear and out the other. Granted, that’s easier said than done. But turning a deaf ear to such criticism is crucial to maintaining focus and keeping a positive attitude. Constructive criticism from chief officials, assignors and veteran officials should be sought. If you solicit comments after working with a respected veteran, be prepared for what you might get. Never stop growing and learning.

8. Officiating builds skills for a lifetime. Be the best “you”; the qualities that make a great official are also the qualities that make a person a good employee, spouse, parent and friend. Teamwork, loyalty, sacrifice, knowledge, competiveness, decision-making, accountability, integrity and honesty are just a few of the positive skills and qualities that can

be learned, developed and implemented through officiating.

9. Never let your signals convey your emotions. Too many officials view fouls or rules infractions as personal affronts. Instead of acting dispassionately, they allow their body language or voice to convey that displeasure. Your facial expression and voice should not suggest you're happy or unhappy to be enforcing a penalty.

10. Understand the intent and spirit of the rule. Knowing why a rule was written will help you enforce it. In some cases, the intent is obvious (e.g. safety). In other instances, a rule is intended to ensure that neither team nor athlete is placed at an unfair disadvantage.

11. When you blow the whistle, blow it hard. In almost every situation in virtually every sport, the rules dictate that an official's whistle causes play to cease. Since that is the case, you might as well blow it hard. A strong blast of the whistle conveys the message that play should be stopped. A weak whistle casts doubt about your confidence and judgment.

12. Understand that you will make mistakes. Don't make excuses. Officials make mistakes, and sometimes they are terrible mistakes; however, we must accept them as part of the challenge that calls for us to make a multitude of split-second decisions under very stressful conditions. To expect perfection is too heavy a burden for any person to carry and ultimately will take the joy out of officiating for even the best official.

13. Don't criticize other officials. Under no circumstances should an official point out his or her partner’s inadequacies or offer a negative opinion about another official to a coach or player. Let your work and the work of others speak for itself. If an official you've worked with or observed asks for a critique, be honest but supportive. If your opinion is not sought, don't offer it.

14. Be professional. No matter the level, dress the part; act the part. Soiled, aged, discolored, ill-fitting and wrinkled uniforms cast a negative impression before a game even starts. Your appearance before and after the event is important. You may not receive credit for looking professional, but you will receive criticism for looking unprofessional.

15. Know your role. You are part of a bigger picture - don't showboat. Actions designed to draw attention away from participants and onto officials are unprofessional and unacceptable. Use only the approved mechanics and signals.

16. Be prepared and plan for the unexpected. Don't anticipate the call; anticipate the play. That sounds like a contradiction, but it's not. If you can "feel" what's coming and adjust your position or your visual focus to the right area, you'll see what's happening better and you'll have improved your opportunity to make the correct call if needed. Top basketball referees recognize the times teams are going to apply full-court pressure or change defense.

17. Be a student of the game. Good officials read the rulebook often. The more often you read it, the more ingrained the rules will be in your mind. Attending clinics allows you to keep up with changes in philosophies and mechanics.

Dotson’s Other Note: Well, there you are, the foregoing 17 only skims the surface as to what we, the basketball officials, have been told and/or thinking. All of this is in our minds while participating in the semi-controlled riot, which is fondly known as a Basketball Game. I have worked countless basketball games, and more than once in every game, I have silently asked myself: “Why in the world are you here on the court again…you’re smarter than this!” Your comments, suggestions, questions and concerns regarding Sports Talk articles are greatly appreciated, please call the Benchwarmers at 361-560-5397 weekdays, Mondays thru Fridays, 5-7 PM, or contact me. Phone: 361-949-7681 Cell: 530-748-8475 Email: dlewis1@stx.rr.com

Have fun -30-

Continued from last week...

“You can’t teach a quarterback to stand in there and take that hit. They either have it or they don’t,” said Edwards. LaVell could work with anybody, as evidenced by his success with Jim McMahon and Steve Young, both great quarterbacks but polar opposites. Both would lead their professional teams to a Super Bowl victory. Former BYU and Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl quarterback, Jim McMahon, told Sports Illustrated, “There’s no question it’s the system that makes the quarterback here.” McMahon had wanted to go to Notre Dame. He had grown up as an Irish Catholic. Jim grudgingly agreed to sign with BYU, because he wasn’t recruited by the Irish. He would later play successfully with the Chicago Bears. Steve Young, the great-great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was not only born in Salt Lake City but had played on a run-first high school team located in Greenwich, Connecticut. “LaVell knew very little about me except my name,” said Steve Young. “I didn’t know if he was going to offer me a scholarship or not.” Young actually followed McMahon to BYU and then to the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. Young was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Everyone tuned in to see just how many points the Cougars could score on Saturday nights. During Edwards’ 29 seasons as head coach, BYU won 257 games, ranking him as the sixth all-time winningest coach in college football. Edwards now had a seat at a table that included other winning coaches like Tom Osborne, Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Bear Bryant, “Pop” Warner and Amos Alonzo Stagg. From 1979-1985, the Cougars won ten straight WAC Championships. Edwards produced four College Football Hall-of-Fame players, a Heisman Trophy winner (Ty Detmer), seven Sammy Baugh Trophy winners, two Outland Trophy winners, five Davey O’Brien Trophy winners, 34 All-Americans, 11 WAC Player of the Year recipients, and 24 Academic All-Americans. In 2004, LaVell Edwards himself would be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

After winning the College Football National Championship in 1984, Edwards received head coaching offers from the NFL’s Detroit Lions and the University of Texas Longhorns at Austin. He turned down both jobs.

Cougar Stadium was renamed the LaVell

Edwards Stadium before his final home game as the head coach. Edwards retired in 2000. His career win-loss record at BYU will be recorded as 257-101-3. His bowl record stands at 7-14-1. Only Joe Paterno of Penn State won more games with a single program. In 2003, Edwards received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the American Football Coaches’ Association. LaVell Edwards was also asked to carry the torch of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Edwards’ coaching tree is impressive. It includes Mike Holmgren, Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, Norm Chow, Brian Billick, Kyle Whittingham, Kalani Sitake and Andy Reid. He also touched a lot of people. “LaVell Edwards brought the passing game to college football” said Gil Brandt. “He made it possible for teams with lesser ability, like BYU, to compete for a championship on all levels.” “LaVell Edwards was one of the best friends that I had in the coaching world,” said Tom Osborne, former Hall-of-Fame coach at Nebraska. LaVell Edwards worked on the NCAA Rules Committee with my friend, Southwest Conference Hall-of-Fame official, Dotson Lewis. “He was a fine human being,” said Dotson. “I was there when they played in the 1997 Cotton Bowl against Kansas State. BYU won 19-15 and finished 13-1 that season. He was considered by most

an offensive genius, but I always thought he recruited so many offensive players that his defense suffered.”

While in Logan, Utah, LaVell had met Patti Covey from Wyoming, and they married. They raised three children: Ann, John and Jim. Together they loved and enjoyed 14 grandkids and 11 great-grandchildren. In 2002-2003, Edwards, a devout Mormon, served an 18-month Mission trip to New York City with his wife.

According to friends and family, LaVell Edwards fell several

times, finally breaking his hip on December 24, 2016. He died five days later at his home in Provo, Utah, December 29, 2016. He was 86.

He loved to go fishing. Not so much to catch fish, but to enjoy the quiet of the outdoors and the time it gave him to think and plan.

LaVell Edwards never tried to put round pegs into square holes. He was honest and patient with his guys. He never forgot where he came from.

Edwards had a great sense of humor and was fun to be around. Some unknown author once said, “It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, and a lifetime to forget them.” History may never forget LaVell Edwards.

Andy Purvis is a local author and radio personality. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com for all the latest info on his books or to listen to the new radio podcast. Andy’s books are available online and can be found in the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. Andy can be contacted at purvis.andy@mygrande.net. Also listen to sports talk radio on Dennis & Andy’s Q & A Session from 6-8 PM on Sportsradiocc.com 1230 AM, 96.1 FM and 103.3 FM. The home of the Houston Astros.

My Friend-Joey Crawford

I have my fourth book signing December 16th from 1-3 PM at Small Planet Bakery on Saratoga. I have asked the Islander Basketball coaches to join me in signing

autographs. For every book sold I will give the buyer two free tickets to any Men or Women’s home basketball game for this year. I will have seven books to choose from. They

would make a great Christmas gift for the sports fan in their lives. Andy Purvis

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 9

The Traveling Moon Gets Around

Doing Everything a Home or Business Needs

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Island Residents David & Katherine PierceReferences Available Upon Request

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The Moon went traveling to the Grand Canyon with Les Muse and his nephews.

Tracey Cazalas and Lillie Mae Cazalas took the nieces/granddaughters, Millie and Perrie, for a week long trip to Disney World for Millie's 9th birthday. It was Perrie's

first exciting trip to Disney

Walter and Whitney Park took the Island Moon to the Tennessee Titans verses Houston Texans game last Sunday.

Terry and Aurelia Kearns of Seascape Villas transit the Panama Canal.

December 7, 2017Island MoonA10

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that are diverse in the kinds of bait available. Brown pelicans dive for shad and small mullet, terns for tiny minnows, white pelicans for small minnows and grass shrimp, herons for crabs and mullet, those little shore are specially designed to feed on their favorite bait as well. Sand worms, shrimp, minnows, clams, bugs, and so much more. The entire symphony is what you want to sit in on and listen to it all while you dance your lures to those notes in your head. Matching their rhythm and intensity. If you see bait active along the surface then top waters or fast moving soft plastics could be hot, swirls and visible schools of fish in the mid water column may lend to a heavier jig head and a slower retrieve. Too many times I find myself trying to slow my anglers down and have them match the speed of the baitfish around them. Gamefish wanting to conserve energy do not want to chase their food. I like imagining their ambush spots and placing each cast just within striking distance of anticipated predators in hiding. Stalk those deep water edges on your next few outings and you will start to find patterns of schools of fish holding tight around deep water spots.

If you can’t seem to think of the perfect

Christmas gift for your outdoorsman or FANATIC FISHING FAMILY GET THEM A CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A FISHING TRIP. Every year a few handfuls of gifts show up under trees and in stockings that are much more than a guided fish catching trip. We plan our days around teaching you new spots and how to understand how the bay and its gamefish move, feed, and successfully get caught! Give me a call if you want to treat your friends or loved ones to a great adventure fishing or duck hunting our backyard. Get out there and get in the CHRISTMAS SPIRIT and go get wet.

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A11

Backwater AdventuresBy Joey Farah

Farah’s Fishing Adventures

By Jay Gardner

On the RocksYesterday was my last ISAC

meeting as a representative of the Water shore and Beach Advisory Committee, and by the time this hits the stands,

I’ll have termed off that committee as well. It’s been a few years, but I think I was sworn in by Joe Adame back in 2012? And then was re-appointed by Nelda several times. Has it really been that long? Geez…. So many meetings! But anyway, I feel like we got a lot done, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve on several subcommittees, namely the ISAC TIRZ #2 subcommittee, and the WBAC Beach Maintenance subcommittee. Lots of projects to get done yet, and I would like to keep the momentum that we’ve all built up over the years going down the road.

Packery Channel

To that end, I’m sitting here reading the original Ordinance 024270 that was passed by the City Council back in 2000 creating the TIRZ for Packery Channel. This is back when Nueces County Judge Neal was Mayor Judge Neal. I’m sure that they all thought that twenty-two years would be plenty of time to get it up and running and get it all sorted out, but here we are sliding into 2018 with only four short years to go in the TIRZ, and we’re still trying to figure out the mechanism through which to fix the hurricane damage that has occurred recently. The original Plan didn’t include the means to “maintain” the infrastructure of the channel, only maintenance dredging. Kind of an oops, and I’m surprised no one has caught on yet and revised the Project and Financing Plan. Speaking of the Financing Plan; that is something that we’re going to have to get on top of, and I mean pretty quickly.

The original estimates had a lot more development occurring in the TIRZ than has occurred to date. While there have been some new developments (what the tax collection was based on), there haven’t been as much as projected. We’re a little short, plus the money is not in an interest bearing account;

we’re not making anything on the investment fund for Packery Channel. Things like this need to be cleaned up, and the City Staff has shown initiative and willingness to work with the committees and get this headed down the road towards the new future. Nothing against those folks back in 1995 when Packery Channel finally hit the front burner: they turned it into a reality through a lot of hard work, lobbying, and plain old elbow grease. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and bear the responsibility to keep the project repaired and functioning as it was supposed to, which is both as a water exchange pass, AND as an economic generator. Packery Channel is today’s lynch-pin for development on the Island, and one of my favorite places in the world to fish and visit.

PINS fishing

Last weekend was a glorious send-off to what has been a great stretch of beach fishing. The driving down the Seashore has been a 9.5 out of 10, and the fishing has been great as well. Roadkill Willie, Topdog, the Zeps, Keith Flory and myself got out on the sand last Saturday after anxiously watching a pompano window all week. It did not disappoint. We had to work a little for them, but we managed 70 pompano between us through the day. There was a lot of laughing amidst the “work”, and we had a blast. The great thing was that we didn’t even have to go past the 17MM. Rachel topped it off with one of the biggest bonnet head sharks we’ve seen in a while. Keith even got in on the bonnet head action.

Well, that was fun while it lasted. If you haven’t been outside in the past 24 hours, the Indian summer that we were enjoying came to a screeching halt and we went straight into February. I know, it will likely warm up a little next week, but for now, I hate it. Sorry, you loyal readers know that I don’t mince words often. Enough of this, I’m headed to the house to curl up in a blanket on the couch. Drop me a line at tarponchaser@mail.com and I’ll see y’all next week On the Rocks.

It has finally cooled off and it’s starting to feel like winter! Recent warm weather had fish acting lazy and doing pretty much whatever they wanted.

Now with cooler temperatures out gamefish will be forced to govern their body temperatures by moving in and out of deep and shallow water. Baitfish will be affected more so and drop into wintering areas. This will concentrate bait and

gamefish in and around these classic winter areas. Deep water with good access to shallow flats is important. The ICW is the best example. It’s deep water and grassy edges are where many fish fall off to when it gets cold. The shallow flats just adjacent are a perfect place for baitfish to come out of the shallows and get warmed up after a front passes and the sun comes

out. For anglers working the drop offs along the ICW is a lot of fun. Casting soft plastics along the break and making drifts just off of the channel will put you in the zone for catching Late Fall trout and redfish. As you drive along the ICW pay close attention to birds, not just sea gulls but all species. Start fishing in zones that have a mix of birds. This will land you in areas

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Keith Flory with a bonnet head shark.

Building good stringers a few fish at a time is how we are feeling the box these guys were wade fishing The Meadows.

Live shrimp on the bottom how long the packer he channel brought this nice redfish to the boat

Our Island’s own Mike Kasper with a giant Baffin Bay redfish caught on the

North Shoreline with Captain Joey Farah.

December 7, 2017Island MoonA 12

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1 of 1 12/6/17, 10:34 AM

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1 of 1 12/6/17, 10:35 AM

Evil Puzzle 3,333,333,333

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1

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4

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1 of 1 12/6/17, 10:35 AM

Find the solution athttp://onlinecrosswords.net/2255

Free Printable Crossword Puzzle #1This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle #1 for Dec 6, 2017

Across1. Jabber vociferously4. Puts in the scrapbook10. Beliefs14. Rock widow15. Do not deviate16. Site of Buckner's blunder17. Map of Asia abbreviation18. With 56-Across, hint of thispuzzle's theme20. Only good part of a badmovie?21. Scraps for the trough22. Like Jabba the Hutt23. Eschews25. Part of this puzzle's theme27. Transmits money29. Noise made by agrasshopper30. Works on the second draft31. ''Go away!''32. Pretentious sort36. Fire or army, e.g.37. Part of this puzzles' theme38. This may be inflated orbrusied39. ''The Wizard of Oz'' actorBert41. Runs well, as an engine42. Creator of a decimal system44. Civil rights leader Medgar46. Beauty parlor procedures47. Contents of this puzzle'stheme50. Man of many morals51. Senator Hatch52. Anagram of ''tone'' thatmeans ''within''53. Something to grind,idiomatically56. See 18-Across59. Don't mind your ownbusiness60. Fork spike61. Magical brew62. Musical acumen63. Places for props64. Fortifies or braces65. Grain in a Salinger title

Down1. It may be practical ordelivered in a nightclub2. Soon, ere now3. This puzzle'sconstructor, you'd think4. Dividends5. Makes ornate6. Closes7. Green and herbal, fortwo8. Commit a faux pas9. ''Capeesh?''10. Weather mapconnectors11. Less outgoing12. ''Octobri ___''(encyclical of Pope LeoXIII)13. Wise guys?

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1 of 1 12/6/17, 10:52 AM

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Sudoku

Sheriff Jim Kaelin (left) and State Representative District 32 Todd Hunter (right) came to The Island Monday for the kickoff of the reelection campaign of County

Commissioner Brent Chesney who is currently running unopposed in the November 2018 election. Chesney is running for his second term in Precinct 4 which includes

North Padre Island and Port Aransas.

The holidays offer the Coastal Bend and South Texas a time of community togetherness and celebration. I wanted to take the opportunity to continue to touch on some of the highlights of the holidays in our area, as well as ways families can join together in the spirit of the season. I also wanted to take a look back to the White Christmas of 2004, and how that event has impacted our area.

Continuing in the season of giving

During the holiday season, many families choose to participate in the holidays by giving back to the community. This could include volunteering at a local food bank or soup kitchen. The Coastal Bend and South Texas (Food Bank) are currently taking volunteers to help sort and process food donations that have been made during this busy holiday season. The Food Bank, which began operations in 1982, does not only serve Port Aransas and Corpus Christi – it is estimated that 19,000 people from around the Coastal Bend and South Texas have access to food from the Food Bank weekly. You can find more information on their hours, location, and practices at https://coastalbendfoodbank.org/volunteer/. Other options to participate in the season of giving include simple things such as assisting with clothing donations to individuals in need. Metro Ministries, for example, offers weekly volunteer opportunities such as sorting clothing donations and are now accepting donations for hygiene kits and hardcover books for all ages. There are endless ways to help those less fortunate, which can range from starting a canned food drive in your neighborhood, volunteering at local senior centers, or simply bringing extra canned goods or clothes to donation centers around the area.

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 13

By Todd Hunter, District 32

STATEHoliday Giving and the Rare

Snowstorm of 2004The South Texas Christmas Miracle: A

Look Back

In 2004, a rare weather event occurred on Christmas Eve, which was eventually known as the “South Texas Christmas Miracle” and “White Christmas in South Texas,” among others. South Texas had already been experiencing an unusually cold air mass from the north that day, with temperatures in the low 30s. A disturbance developed along the western

Gulf of Mexico, creating the opportunity for snow to fall in the southern area of the state. While there was some light snowfall on Christmas Eve morning just to the north of our area, the bulk of the snow began accumulating later in the evening, c o n t i n u i n g t h r o u g h o u t the night and blanketing much of the area by Christmas morning. I n

Corpus Christi, the snowfall broke the 4.3 inch record set back in 1895. Approximately four inches fell in Port Aransas. It was the only white Christmas in the area since 1918, when 0.1 inches were recorded as falling. In 2014, the United Parcel Service (UPS) filmed a commercial in our area, commemorating the White Christmas event in the Coastal Bend.

As always, I want to hear your ideas and suggestions as we get closer the start of next session. These ideas and information are important forms of feedback and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact my office.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

- State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32

Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.

HUD and the State of Texas Launch Program to Help Hurricane Victims

FHA programs intended to suspend foreclosures and give Texans time to recover

As homeowners in the 50,000 square miles of Texas hit by Hurricane Harvey the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) this week launched a public awareness campaign to inform owners of homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey that help is available to avoid foreclosure and to finance repairs.

Texans who are having trouble making payments should contact their service providers to learn about available resources or call the FHA Resource Center at (800) CALL-FHA. Reach out now to get help.”

Over one-quarter of home loans in Texas are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), an agency within HUD, which offers a range of payment and other relief options for borrowers living in Presidentially Declared Major Disaster Areas (PDMDAs). Borrowers who are having trouble making mortgage payments should contact their servicers to discuss available resources. In addition, HUD-approved housing counselors can assist in connecting impacted homeowners with the right options for relief. HUD also offers help for borrowers and loan servicers through its FHA Resource Center, (800) CALL-FHA. Among the relief provided to homeowners affected by Hurricane Harvey, FHA has recently announced an extension to its 90-day foreclosure moratorium until February 21, 2018 to the FEMA designated Individual Assistance Areas in the PDMDAs. FHA-insured homeowners may qualify for this relief if they live or work in a PDMDA.

FHA also currently offers the following assistance:

• Forbearance and loan modification options - HUD offers different forbearance and loan modification options for FHA borrowers affected by disasters. Borrowers having trouble making regular payments should contact their loan servicer as soon as possible for more information.

• Fees and credit reporting - HUD requires lenders to waive late fees on affected FHA borrowers and cease any negative credit reporting during the forbearance period.

• Mortgage insurance for disaster victims - HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA-insured mortgage financing to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs.

• Purchase and home rehabilitation program - HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes

to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home.

• Collaborations with other federal agencies - HUD regularly shares information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties - this includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

State Sales Tax Revenue Totaled $2.8 Billion in

NovemberState sales tax revenue totaled $2.78 billion in

November, 11.1 percent more than in November 2016, according to figures released this week by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

“The double-digit growth in sales tax revenue compared to last year was fueled, in part, by increased collections from oil- and natural gas-related sectors,” Hegar said. “Higher oil prices have spurred increased well drilling and completion. Collections from retail trade and restaurants were also up, reflecting growth in consumer spending.”

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in November 2017 was up 9.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Sales tax revenue is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections. Motor vehicle sales and rental taxes, motor fuel taxes and oil and natural gas production taxes also are large revenue sources for the state.

In November 2017, Texas collected the following revenue from those taxes:

• motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $415.3 million, up 9.2 percent from November 2016 (vehicle purchases to replace cars damaged by Hurricane Harvey continued to boost those tax collections);

• motor fuel taxes — $308.2 million, up 1.7 percent from November 2016; and

• oil and natural gas production taxes — $354.6 million, up 39.9 percent from November 2016.

Snow on the beach, 2004

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 14

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Safe Online Shopping Tips This Holiday Season

By Kelly Trevino

Regional Director, Corpus Christi Better Business Bureau

The online holiday shopping season had a record breaking start after Cyber Monday sales posted the largest single day of online sales ever in the United States. That’s according to software company Adobe. Although you can’t beat the convenience of getting all your gifts from the comfort on your home, shopping on your computer comes with its own set of challenges. Whether it is stealing your personal information or stealing your recently-delivered package right from your porch, this time of year gives criminals plenty of opportunities to sour your holiday spirit.

Better Business Bureau handles more than 10,000 complaints each year about Internet shopping. BBB serving the Heart of Texas offers these tips for safe online shopping for the holidays and all year long:

• Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page.

• Think before your click. Be especially cautious about email solicitations and online ads on social media sites. Many sketchy retailers advertise great deals or trendy clothing that don’t measure up to the promotional hype.

• Beware of phishing. Phishing emails can look like a message from a well-known brand, but clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware and/or identity theft. One popular scam claims to be from a package-delivery company with links to “tracking information” on an order you don’t remember making. Don’t click!

• Shop with a credit card. In case of a fraudulent transaction, a credit card

provides additional protections; it’s easier to dispute charges that you didn’t approve. Debit cards, prepaid cards or gift cards don’t have the same protections as a credit card.

• Keep documentation of your order. Save a copy of the confirmation page or email confirmation until you receive the item and are satisfied. Be sure to know and understand the return policy and keep this documented with your purchase records.

Also, with this time of year being peak season for package delivery companies, there are plenty more opportunities for real-life Grinches to steal your Christmas gifts right from your doorstep. A report by home security company, August Homes Inc., says 11 million packages have been stolen in the past year. BBB recommends the following to make sure your online order makes it under the Christmas Tree:

• Track your packages: Follow shipments from the seller to your front door with online, text message or phone call tracking offered through the delivery company. Sign up for alerts to be notified of delays or exceptions and when the package has been delivered.

• Request a signature: This package delivery feature will likely come with a fee, but without a recipient’s signature, the delivery service won’t be able to leave a package exposed on a doorstep.

• Check with your employer: Some employers will allow package delivery to your place of work for safe keeping.

• Ask your neighbors: If you know people that work out of their home or stay at home that live near you, ask them to look out for your deliveries.

• Remember, if you’ve been the target of a scam or suspect scam activity, report it to authorities and at bbb.org/scamtracker to warn others.

Kelly Trevino is the regional director for the Corpus Christi/Victoria area of Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas. Kelly is available for media interviews and speaking engagements. You can reach her by phone: (361) 945-7352 or email: ktrevino@corpuschristi.bbb.org.

                                   

                                          Michelle Matthews   

 

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GIFTS CERTIFICATES AVALIABLE

You Can Help Santa’s SeniorsIt’s the time of year again for our Santa’s

Seniors gift drive again for our isolated, lonely and financially strapped seniors in our community. We need your help to make this a great success again. We have this year over 600 names.

Please visit one tree location below and select a seniors wish card of the tree. Bring the gift back to the location of the tree or to Michelle’s Salon, the sponsor of this program. Last year our Island residents and Flour Bluff residents purchased 387 gifts for our seniors. Let’s see if we can do it better this year. Donations can also be made at Michelle’s Salon if you prefer and we will buy the gifts. Deadline for the gifts is December 15.

Trees are located at: Michelle’s Salon, Mirador Retirement Center, Brookdale Senior Center and Fallas in Flour Bluff. If you get more locations we will post them again.

Thank you for participating. For questions please call 510-0073. Or call if you know a location who wants to participate and we can place a tree.

Customers will not be able to pay their utility bills on the city website, over the phone, or in person at City Hall beginning Thursday, December 7 until further notice.

The City of Corpus Christi’s Utility Business Office will be undergoing a software transition during the next few weeks and until further notice, utility payments can be made only through the following options:

• H-E-B and Speedy Cash locations in Corpus Christi

• Mail (utility statement provided envelope)

• On-line bill pay service through your bank or credit union

Customers will NOT be able to temporarily use the following payment methods:

• City website payment portal

• Interactive phone payment system

• Pay in person at City Hall

Customers should not be alarmed if the billing statements have a new appearance, account

Rockport-Fulton Takes a Break to Enjoy Holidays on the Bay!

Hurricane Harvey took its toll on Aransas County, but it didn’t take away the spirit of this small coastal town. The holiday season is approaching and there is a lot to do despite the devastation and destruction that the hurricane brought just over 2 months ago. The holiday season officially starts on Saturday, December 2, when Downtown Rockport and the Rockport Harbor come alive with an all-day celebration of “Tropical” Christmas. “Cast in Bronze” will be returning for a 3rd season with the Tropical Christmas event. Cast in Bronze is a show that has been seen around the world in such places as Epcot Center and on NBC’s Today show. Back by popular demand for their 5th year is the “Capt. Rex Pirate Show Local performances from our area schools, and other live entertainment will continue throughout the day. Shop and dine while you enjoy. Enjoy the “Pirate Costume Contest” for toddlers to 5th graders. Watch kids create their own ornaments, see them dig for coins in the “Run for Yar Treasure” hunt, and visit with Tropical Santa. Downtown Shops will be will be decorated and open for business. There is a “Tree Trimming Contest” at the festival grounds at Rockport Harbor, and a Historic Costume Style show with fashions modeled by the docents from the “Tour of Homes”. In the center of the grounds will be Inflatable Slides. The fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Don’t miss the lighting of the 75 ft. Community Tree or the Illuminated parade starting downtown and ending at Rockport Beach. The grand finale of the evening is magnificent fireworks display over Little Bay

Enjoy the Christmas Tour of Historic Homes on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3 Sponsored by the History Center of Aransas County. Four private homes and three historic venues will be open 1-5 pm for visitors to enjoy. Historic homes and venues (from 1850’s -1950’s) throughout Rockport and Fulton will be featured. Docents will dress in historic costume and present the history of each home. Venues to be included are: History Center for Aransas County, Mullinax-O’Malley Home, Hill-Daniel Home, Shivers Barnard Home, Heritage Place, Sarver-Pfister House, and Fulton Schoolhouse Museum.

Christmas in the District will be held in Downtown R o c k p o r t D e c e m b e r 9, from 5pm – 8pm. This will be the 3rd Annual C h r i s t m a s in the District presented by the merchants of downtown Rockport. Stroll the shops under the glow of Christmas lights & take advantage of special holiday sales from participating merchants! Visits from Santa & The Grinch and live music make this event fun for the family & all ages! There will also be an outdoor Christmas movie showing, sponsored by the Rockport Center for the Arts, from 6-8pm. A variety of Downtown shops will also be open late on Dec 2 for Tropical Christmas.

On Dec. 10, Fulton Mansion will be having Holiday Symphony by the Sea performed by the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra with the Rockport-Fulton High School Choir on the lawn of the Fulton Mansion. To show support to the area after Hurricane Harvey, this year the concert is FREE and is Aransas County ISD Education Foundation’s gift to the community. 500 chairs will be available on a first come, first served basis, so bring your lawn chair or blanket to ensure that you have seating on the lawn.

As Old-Fashioned Christmas in Fulton, another fun family event takes place Thursday, and Friday December 14 and 15. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Fulton Park welcomes guests and locals alike. There will be Goody Bags, A Toddler Bounce House and a Bounce N’ Race Bounce House! On Thursday evening, Mayor Jimmy Kendrick, will open the ceremonies. There will be live entertainment by Boo the Clown and cookies, hot cocoa and apple cider will be served along with popcorn and cotton candy. Friday night, Fulton Alderman, Les Cole, will conduct the opening ceremonies followed by a reading of “Twas the Night before Christmas” plus an appearance by Santa, and much more. Enjoy free lemonade,

Utility Business Office Transition Project Underway for City of Corpus Christi

Utility Billsnumber, arrival time, due date, or receive duplicate billing statements due to the software conversion. Because of the inconvenience to our customers, no late penalties or shut-offs for non-payment will occur until the transition is complete.

The Utility Business Office anticipates the bulk of the transition to be complete the week of December 18th and will notify the public when payment services are available. Customers are encouraged to continue to make their monthly City utility payment utilizing one of the methods noted above.

We are excited to complete this transition which will streamline the billing process and improve your payment experience. As always, the City of Corpus Christi strives to provide the best customer service, and we thank you for your patience in advance.For information regarding your utility bill, please contact the Customer Call Center at (361) 826-CITY (2489). Additional information and updates can also be found at www.cctexas.com/billing

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 15

The Great OutdoorsGame Warden Field Notes

Return to Sender

A Comal County sheriff’s deputy notified game wardens of the discovery of what appeared to be an animal carcass in an illegal dump site. The deputy also stated he had found a blood-stained cardboard box in the pile with a shipping label that included the address of a home less than five miles from the dump location. The wardens confirmed the carcass was that of a white-tailed deer, and decided to travel to the address listed to see if there was any link between the home and the illegal dumping. The wardens met with the homeowner, who declared adamantly he did not allow hunting on his property. The wardens observed kernels of corn in the driveway, typically used to bait deer, but the homeowner denied any knowledge of how the golden nuggets got there. The wardens looked around the property and soon found a pop-up blind, a mineral block and a 50-pound bag of deer corn. The homeowner was completely flabbergasted by the findings. A subsequent investigation led to a friend of the homeowner’s son, who had set up the blind, hunted and killed a white-tailed buck deer without the knowledge of the homeowner. The 20-year-old “friend” admitted to having killed the deer and dumping the carcass. He had quartered up the deer, but the wardens discovered that the meat had been left in a garage refrigerator for eight days and had spoiled. The man was cited for possession of an illegally-killed game animal, littering and failure to keep game in edible condition. Additionally, civil restitution will be assessed on the 11-point buck. The cases are pending.

No Sale

The week prior to deer season, a concerned citizen reported seeing deer legs sticking out of the back of a pickup truck. The caller knew the owner of the vehicle and provided Hardeman County game wardens with an identification. Upon arrival at the suspect’s residence, the warden observed a man take off running with a set of antlers in each hand. The warden caught up to the suspect after a short foot pursuit. After detaining and securing the subject, the warden discovered a second suspect behind the residence washing blood out of the back of a pickup truck that fit the description given to him by the complainant. During interviews, the suspects admitted to shooting six deer the previous night, and selling five of them to a local deer processor. They planned to keep the sixth deer for themselves. The two subjects offered to take the sixth deer back to the processor and attempt to sell it. A Childress County game warden was called in to assist with the sting operation since the processor was located in his county. The subjects sold the deer to the processor for $50 as planned and, once the transaction was complete, the wardens made the bust. During questioning, the processor admitted these illegal sales were common and had occurred in the past. A total of 60 citations and warnings were issued to all involved, including: hunt for hire, buy/sell game animal, possess illegally taken wildlife, possess without wildlife resource document, improper cold storage books, possess in closed season. Several more cases are still being investigated. Tickets and restitution are pending.

His Tag, You’re It

Crockett County wardens on patrol entered a hunting camp with several vehicles, but no one present. The wardens found two fresh deer carcasses that, based on the tags, were killed by the same individual a day apart. One of the two deer was tagged incorrectly. Knowing the occupants of the camp were likely out hunting, the wardens left and returned to the camp the next morning where they encountered a hunter at the gate leaving the property. The hunter said he was headed to town to buy ice and a hunting license. He claimed he had not yet been hunting, even though he had been in camp for three days. As the warden drove into the camp, he saw two men cleaning a freshly killed, but untagged, white-tailed deer. He began questioning the hunters about the two deer that were tagged differently; one correctly and one incorrectly. The hunter, whose license tags were on both deer, began making excuses and telling contradictory stories. The warden became suspicious that the hunter who left to buy a license had killed the second deer, and used a tag off of his father’s license. He asked the father to provide a handwriting sample and after comparison, determined the tags on the two deer were completed by two different individuals. Only one of the tags was completed by the father, yet his name was on both of the tags. After several hours of questioning, the father admitted that his 27-year-old son had killed a deer without a license the previous morning. The father had given his son a deer tag from his license. The son, returning to camp after purchasing ice and a hunting license, discovered that his father had confessed. The wardens counted more than 10 violations committed by the three Houston men. Appropriate cases were filed against all three men in camp for possession of untagged deer, improperly tagged deer, and hunting under the license of another. The deer were seized and donated to several Ozona residents. The 10-point antlers were seized for evidence. The cases and civil restitution are pending.

Never Fails

On opening night of deer season, Nov. 4, Sabine County game wardens deployed an age old tactic for catching road hunters, Bucky the deer decoy. The dummy deer was placed alongside the road in the Moore Plantation WMA within easy range of opportunist night hunters. While waiting, a white SUV slow rolled to a complete stop and the driver took a shot at Ol’ Bucky. Once he realized the deer was fake, he proceeded to drive off. The warden jumped out and ran towards the vehicle yelling “Texas Game Warden” and “Stop.” The vehicle accelerated away from him and was immediately pursued by the other wardens. Local law enforcement from Pinehill and Hemphill located the vehicle on a dead end county road and detained its occupants, a male and a female. A single shot .223 caliber rifle was discovered in the back floorboard with a spent shell casing still loaded

in the chamber. The female passenger was cited and released to her mother. The male driver was arrested for evading detention and arrest with a motor vehicle, hunting deer at night, hunting deer with a light, and hunting from a vehicle. All the cases are pending.

Bad Habits

In January 2017, a Montgomery County game warden received a call about deer parts that had been dumped on private property. He made contact with a suspect and found that he had killed two deer, not tagged either and dumped their remains on the private property. The suspect pled not guilty, went to trial, and was convicted of possession of untagged white-tailed deer and littering. Recently, the warden got another call from the private property owner about deer parts dumped on the property again. The warden made contact with the same suspect and once again found him to be in possession of an untagged deer. The suspect admitted to catching the deer in a trap before killing and processing it. He further admitted to dumping the deer remains at the same location as last January. The suspect received four citations for littering, illegal means and methods, hunter education violation, and unrelated charges. The cases are pending.

Facebook Fail

On Nov. 6, a Karnes County game warden received a phone call about a local resident that had killed a white-tailed buck deer and was not planning on tagging the deer. The warden found posts on Facebook of the suspect with the deer, and verified the individual did not have a valid hunting license. During a brief interview, the suspect told the warden he had purchased a license and tagged the deer. The warden then informed the hunter that he had already verified that he did not have a license. Hunting without a valid hunting license was filed and the 10-point buck was seized.

Busted Text

A Wheeler County game warden noticed a vehicle shining a light from a county road coming from Oklahoma into Texas. Once the vehicle passed, he followed and he heard two shots fired. The warden stopped the vehicle and separated the two female occupants. They denied knowledge of any weapons in the vehicle or any shooting from the road. The warden retrieved a rifle from the back seat with a spent cartridge still in the chamber as well as ammunition, two cans of beer, a head lamp with the red light still on, and a cell phone with a text displayed on the screen that read “Cop got us.” Adamantly denying any involvement of shooting, the two stuck with their story of being the only two occupants of the vehicle. After further investigation, it was found that two other subjects had gotten out at some point and made it back into Oklahoma. Charges of Class A hunting from a vehicle were filed on both females and the passenger also received a public intoxication citation. The warden is currently working with Oklahoma game wardens for possible illegal hunting from the same group near the state line.

Police Blotter

13800 SPID (JFK Causeway) 8 a.m. November 28 Fraudulent use of identifying

information

13300 block SPID November 30 Midnight Possession of controlled substance

14300 block SPID November 30 Midnight Public intoxication

13800 block Topsail 8 a.m. November 29 Fraudulent use of identifying information

13900 block Mizzen 5 p.m. November 28 Theft

13800 block Flintlock 10 p.m. November 29 Burglary of a vehicle

15100 block Crossjack 1 a.m. November 30 Burglary of a vehicle

13800 block 11 p.m. November 29 Burglary of a motor vehicle

14000 block Fortuna Bay 1 a.m. December 2 Public intoxication/Possession of a

marijuana

15600 block Cuttysark 4 p.m. December 1 Burglary of a habitation

Big Bend Ranch State Park is Fourth Texas State Park to Receive International Dark

Sky Park DesignationBig Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) is the

latest Texas State Park to be designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Joining neighboring Big Bend National Park, they form one of the largest contiguous areas under dark-skies protection in the United States.

“Big Bend Ranch State Park’s achievement in becoming an IDA International Dark Sky Park is an important step forward in the conservation of some of the darkest night skies remaining in the lower 48 states,” said IDA Executive Director J. Scott Feierabend. “Along with neighboring Big Bend National Park, we have now secured the protection of natural nighttime darkness over an area larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island.”

Located in the remote and rugged Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, BBRSP is bounded by the Rio Grande with the steep mesas of Mexico to the south and vast rural ranchland to the north. At 315,000 acres, BBRSP is the largest park in the Texas State Park system. The park lies within the Chihuahuan Desert, which is home to a diversity of plants and animals, and has a deep human history.

“Big Bend Ranch SP is known for its remote location and the feeling of being in the wilderness. Preserving the dark sky is key to that experience and something all visitors treasure,” said Mark Lockwood, Region 1 Director with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

BBRSP joins Copper Breaks State Park, South Llano River State Park and Enchanted Rock State Park in holding the prestigious IDA designation.

As part of its certification effort, BBRSP inventoried and assessed the condition of all outdoor lighting in the park and created an effective management plan for current and future lighting installations. The park also developed a program to educate park visitors and area residents about the importance of dark

night skies and the benefits of quality outdoor lighting. Additionally, BBRSP has invested in its staff by offering professional development opportunities and materials related to dark skies.

As part of its dark-sky initiative, BBRSP will launch a Dark Sky Steward program to involve the public in helping monitor the condition of the park’s night skies over time. The program enlists volunteers with an interest or expertise in astronomy and astrophotography to gather observations of the night sky from various locations in the park. The observations and images generated by our volunteers will be used to track the quality of the night sky, as well as for promotional and educational purposes in interpretive and outreach programs. The park will host an event to celebrate our designation in the near future.

Contact Amber Harrison at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center at 432-424-3327 for more information on the Dark Sky Steward program and visit the Dark Skies Program page on the TPWD website to learn more about the initiative.

The IDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, which advocates for the protection of the nighttime environment and dark night skies. It does so by educating policymakers and the public about night sky conservation and through the promotion of environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. The IDA established the International Dark Sky Places conservation program in 2001 to recognize excellent stewardship of the night sky. Designations are based on stringent outdoor lighting standards and innovative community outreach. Currently, 16 Communities, 57 Parks, 11 Reserves, three Sanctuaries and four Dark Sky Friendly Developments of Distinction are recognized with International Dark Sky Places designations.

Texas Oil and Gas Production Statistics for September 2017

Production for September 2017 as reported to the Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) is 69,238,482 barrels of crude oil and 519,180,463 mcf (thousand cubic feet) of total gas from oil and gas wells. These preliminary figures are based on production volumes reported by operators and will be updated as late and corrected production reports are received. Production reported to the Commission for September 2016, was: 71,404,018 barrels of crude oil preliminarily, updated to a current figure of 81,380,845 barrels; and 561,242,466 mcf of total gas preliminarily, updated to a current figure of 657,952,137 mcf.

The Commission reports that from October 2016 to September 2017, total Texas reported production was 997.000 million barrels of crude oil and 7.6 trillion cubic feet of total gas. Crude oil production reported by the Commission is limited to oil produced from oil leases and does not include condensate, which is reported separately by the Commission. Texas preliminary September 2017 crude oil production averaged 2,307,949 barrels daily, compared to the 2,380,134 barrels daily average of September 2016.

Texas preliminary September 2017 total gas production averaged 17,306,015 mcf a day, compared to the 18,708,082 mcf daily average of September 2016. Texas production in September 2017 came from 179,660 oil wells and 90,530 gas wells.

Counties ranked by number of barrels of crude oil.

1. MIDLAND 7,664,186

2. KARNES 5,018,318

3. UPTON 3,821,707

4. REEVES 3,805,631

5. MARTIN 3,793,976

6. LA SALLE 3,566,214

7. REAGAN 2,859,848

8. ANDREWS 2,706,092

9. GONZALES 2,615,961

10. LOVING 2,510,368

Jake the duck hunting dog is a favorite at Shorty’s.

Michael Farrah catching his first duck ever

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 16

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 Antique Classic Car Club (PIACCC) is open to all vehicles 25 years and older: Antique, Classic, Roadsters, Hot Rods, etc; who would like to meet to plan meetings, socials, rallies, tours, car shows on and around the Island. Please contact piaccarclub@aol.com for information on the upcoming meeting. Please include your contact information and the type of car owned.

Youth Development Foundation of Port Aransas.  YDF meets at noon each Thursday at Stingray’s, 401 Beach Ave., Port Aransas.  For more information please email youthfoundporta@gmail.com.

Padre Island Ukulele Club – We meet every other Tuesday night! Call or text Danny Salazar at (316) 877--‐7071 for the next meeting date. Beginners Workshop: 6 to 7 PM and Open Jam: 7 to 8 PM. All Skills levels welcome. Location: Island Joe’s Coffee and Gallery, 13919 SPID, right here on the island. A $3 per person donation covers the workshop, materials and the open jam. Loaner ukuleles available at no extra cost. RSVP online. PadreIslandUkeClub@gmail.com

Padre Island Yacht Club (PIYC) – is welcoming new members. We have boat slips available now for members. Contact Ignacio De Lenda at  idelanda@att.net  for slip rental information. Padre Island Yacht Club members enjoy small and large boat Cruises, small boat Poker Runs, Cruises to area restaurants, Progressive Dinners, 4th  of July Fireworks up close, extended boat cruises to Palacios, TX, South Padre Island, Ingleside, Rockport, Fulton, and other areas. Please come, join us! Contact James Thompson, Rear Commodore in charge of Memberships at, jmtislandtime@gmail.com to attend.

KIWANIS Club of Padre Island. Kiwanis meets at Veranda Restaurantat Schlitterbahn at Noon on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Padre Island Rotary Club. Padre Island Rotary Club. Of the things we think, say, or do…..Is it the TRUTH?....Is It FAIR to all concerned?... Will it Build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS?....Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned? If you can meet this 4-way test the Padre Island Rotary is looking for you! We meet the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Veranda Restaurant Schlitterbahn at 5:30 pm. Contact is Linda Walsh, Secretary, lawalshva@yahoo.com or 361-445-7999.

Island Strategic Action Committee. Is a 14-member committee which meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Veranda at Schlitterbahn. The committee’s purpose is to advise the Corpus Christi City Council on matters pertaining to The Island. All meetings are open to the public and the public is invited to address the committee during the public comment period.

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 The Veranda 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.

P.I.E. Padre Island Enrichment Club is a ladies only social club open to all owners/residents of North Padre. We hope to enrich our members through social activities and community involvement. We have monthly luncheons (2nd Friday) along with groups

of bunco, bridge, spades, craft club and book clubs. We enjoy raising money for scholarships for local graduating seniors as well as other worthy causes in our community. For more info please contact Rebecca Robbins 303-434-0947.

Island United 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. Meetings are open to the public. IUPAC meets meeting the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Island Time Sushi Bar, contact: Nick Colosi   618-889-9160  ncolosi@yahoo.com.

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. If you find an animal in peril they can help. 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas. Contact Alicia Walker at 337-290-0251 or alicia.walker@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.

Padre Island Book Wine & Spirits. This is the Island book club. We meet the first Wednesday of each month at Island Time Sushi Bar and Grill at 7:00 pm. Wonderful group of ladies that like to read, love socializing with the girls and drinking wine! Come out and join us we would love to have you! Contact Linda Walsh, lawalshva@yahoo.com or 361-445-7999, or just show up!

Island Emmaus reunion is open to anyone that has been on a Chryslis or Emmaus walk. Please join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6pm at Island in the Son united Methodist church located on hwy 361. For more information call Eileen Moeller @ 830-708-8367 or Eileenmoeller@sbcglobal.net

Parrot Heads of Port Aransas  - is a local chapter of the Parrot Heads in Paradise Inc., a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to assist in community and environmental concerns and provide a variety of social activities for people who are interested in the music of Jimmy Buffett and the tropical lifestyle he personifies. Founded in 2009, the club motto is “Partying with a Purpose’’. To join or ask questions go to portaransasparrotheads.com or  email or call   Deno “Moon Dog” Fabrie, President at 361 749 0256 or dfabrie@yahoo.com.

Padre Island Women’s Golf Association. All skill levels are welcome. Call Fran more information: 361-877-2551

The New Neighbors League: New Neighbors League is a women’s social organization open to women of the coastal bend, promoting fun & friendship. New Neighbors League holds monthly coffees, luncheons, as well as monthly activities such as Ladies Night Out, Couples Dinners, Movies, Cards, and Golf to name a few. Visit our website at newneighbors.com or email us at ccnewneighbors@gmail.com

Flour Bluff Padre Island 4H Flour Bluff Padre Island 4H (FBPI4H) is a club for kids in 3rd grade-12th grade. We meet at 6:30 pm the first Monday of every month in the FB Intermediate cafeteria. 4H provides opportunities and experiences where young people learn by doing. Please visit us on Facebook at Flour Bluff Padre Island 4H or our website at FBPI4H.com.

Survey: Nearly Half of Affected Texas

Residents Say they are Not Getting the

Help They Need to Recover from

HarveyTwo-thirds (66%) of residents across 24 Texas

counties report that they suffered property damage, employment disruptions and/or lost income due to Hurricane Harvey, finds a new Episcopal Health Foundation/Kaiser Family Foundation survey. One in nine residents in these hardest-hit counties remain displaced from their homes three months after the storm.

The survey also finds nearly half (45%) of those who suffered losses across the region say they are not getting the help they need to recover, and four in 10 (42%) say they are not confident that relief funds will reach those most in need.

While Harris County and the entire region suffered major damage, the survey results show that the storm disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic residents, low-income residents and people living in both the “Golden Triangle” area, which includes Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur, and in the “Coastal” area including Rockport and Corpus Christi.

The new EHF/KFF partnership survey probes deeply into the experiences and views of residents in Houston, Harris County and the many other Texas communities hit hardest by the storm and its aftermath. The partners also conducted five focus groups in Houston and Beaumont as part of the project, which aims to provide leaders\working on relief efforts with reliable information about Texas residents’ needs and priorities for ongoing recovery.

“The conventional wisdom that Texans hit by Hurricane Harvey have recovered is wrong,” said Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “The people in the hardest-hit areas are telling us that they still face major hurdles before their lives return to normal

Flour Bluff ISD to offer Community Lap Swimming

at the Natatorium Beginning Dec. 11

Beginning December 11th, Flour Bluff ISD Natatorium will offer daily lap swimming for community members. This is a great opportunity for our community to build a life-long love of swimming while enjoying the District’s new state-of-the-art Natatorium facility. Lap swim times during the school year will be Monday through Thursday from 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Summer and Holiday Hours will be Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Facility will not be open during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

“We’re very excited to offer lap swimming to our community,” said James McMinn, Flour Bluff ISD Assistant Athletic Director. “As we kick-off this new program, we encourage participation so we can assess the continuation of lap swimming on a long-term basis. It is our goal for this program to be a long-standing event for our community.”

Lap swimming will include certified lifeguards on duty and lockers available to store valuables. All participants will be required to have a signed lap swim waiver on file and present a current drivers’ license or state issued ID each time they utilize the facility. Proper swimwear is mandatory and all participants must shower-off before entering the pool.

The monthly cost of the program is $50 per month for January through October. November and December will have discounted rates of $25 per month.

To register and pay for the monthly swim fee, individuals will need to visit www.ticketracker.com. No registration or payments will be received at the Natatorium.

Fun at Port Aransas Art Center’s First Friday

First Friday. Photos by Ronnie Narmour

Flora Berger, Jyntheia Kleypus, Patsy Kraushoph and Rick Pratt at First Friday

Jack Gant, Arnold Govella and Jim Hinson at First Friday.

Karen Winship at First Friday

Kenny Fain at First Friday.

Lynn Amos and Michael Amos at First Friday.

Mark Admire and Ronnie Narmour at First Friday.

Mark Grosse and Rick Pratt at FIrst Friday

Mary Rose, director of the Port A Art Center at First Friday last week.

Sally is one happy elf.

Moon Classifieds

Crossword Solution

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 17

Here’s how to place a Classified Ad

To place an ad you can call me at 361-834-1382 or

Email your ads to: moonclassad@twc.com

Costs start at $10 for 25 words, 20 cents a word after that. Your ad can be

centered for a small additional charge. Ads with payment can also be taken to

our office at: 14646 Compass St., Suite 3

Deadline for classified ads is no later than NOON on Tuesday

PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE PUBLICATION

We accept American Express, Visa,

MasterCard

Legal & Business Notices Legal & Business Notices

Do you need to place a legal or business notice? You’ll find that our rates for running your notice cost less than many other publication in Nueces

County. Call Arlene @ 361-834-1382 The Island Moon Weekly

for more information The Island Newspaper since 1996

Legal Notice

Seashore Charter Schools will

hold a Public Hearing on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at Seashore Middle Academy, for the

School FIRST rating. Seashore Charter Schools received A -

Superior rating with a score of 100 from the Financial Integrity Rating

System of Texas. This is the highest rating and score a school

can achieve.

Wanted

Need Help with Christmas

tree lights $20 hr.

361-696-2269 For Sale

FOR SALE 16’ Steel A-Frame Ladder

Like new - $295 361-816-4898

Services BBQ Grill Cleaning

Time to clean your

BBQ for the Holidays!

BBQ ALL YEAR-ROUND !!!

Renew Your BBQ For Healthier & Safer Grilling

ECO-Friendly Booking Appointments Now

Call Us Today !!! Coastal Bend Grill Cleaning

361-99-GRILL (994-7455) 361-813-1929 (CELL)

CoastalBendGrillCleaning.com

Cleaning & Janitorial Services

G & M Unlimited Janitorial Commercial & Residential

Offices – Apartments – Homes Move Ins – Move Outs

Weekly – Biweekly Insured & Bonded 361-215-2663

Free estimates Seven days a week Computer Repair

Scott’s Computer Repair PC/Mac Repair Networking

Home Security Camera Installation Cable TV & Internet Wiring Fast 24 Hour Turn-Around

Home or Business Free Pick Up and Delivery

Call 949-4604 or 425-5627 Pet & House Sitting

ISLAND PET SITTING

Pet Sitting Service on the Island References Upon Request

361-537-3637 Pool & Spa Services

ATLANTIS POOL AND SPA SERVICE Weekly Pool Maintenance – Repairs Renovations - Chemicals – Supplies

Residential – Commercial 25 Years Experience – Insured Free Delivery! Free Estimates!

Island Resident Owned Call 361-949-8899

Power Washing ISLANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

We power wash Houses, Driveways, Fences, Decks &

Sidewalks Call us now to schedule an estimate

361-949-2773 Aqua Pressure Cleaning

Since 1996 Commercial – Residential

Single Level to Hi-Rise Buildings & Homes Sidewalks & Patios Parking Lots Tile Roofs/Stucco Walls New Construction Mildew Removal Deck Cleaning/Sealing

Call for free estimate & demo WWW.AQUAPCLEAN.COM

361-225-2367 Insured for your protection

Roofing Wolfe Construction, Inc.

Insurance Restoration Specialists Roofing Residential & Commercial

Bryan Wolfe 361-949-1180

15809 El Soccorro Loop Corpus Christi TX 78418

Tree Trimmers CC TREE SERVICE

361-443-4852 Tree Trimming & Removal Stump Grinding

A+ BBB Accredited Fully Insured

www.cctrees.net Yard Care

All King Services

Professional Lawncare For Commercial & Residential

Initial Clean-Up – Trimming/Pruning Rock Installation

Weekly/ Monthly Property Maintenance Palm Tree Trimming

Free Quotes Greg Phelps 361-461-9021

Island Owned & Island Resident Islandscape Maintenance

* Lawn Maintenance * Power Washing * Palm Trimming * Fall Cutback * Lot Mowing * Decks * Installation

FREE ESTIMATES 361-949-2773

ISLAND CREATIONS LANDSCAPING

Creative Grass & Rock Yards Lot and Yard Maintenance

Tree Trimming Call 361-960-0327

Home Builders Additions & New Construction

DIANA HOMES, INC.

Additions – New Construction Remodeling – Construction Consulting

Winner of the People’s Choice Award In the 2016 Parade of Homes

Member of the BBB Member of PIBA

www.dianahomesinc.com dianahomesinc@gmail.com Call 949-2092 or 442-3516

Decks/Docks/Boat Lifts

Island Landscaping Decks & Docks Specializing In :

Designs/Remodel Doors, Windows, Walls Decks, Docks, Shade Structures Boat Lifts Concrete Drives & Patios

Members of Builders Assoc. & PIBA 361-949-2691

IslandLandscapingDecksAndDocks.com Artistic Construction

Decks, Docks, Pilings, Boat Lifts, Painting, Remodeling, Welding,

Blacksmithing, Handyman. Licensed – Insured – PIBA Member.

Decades of experience. 361-444-4702

Sunnie@ArtisticConstruction.cc Fence Repairs

Need your wooden fence repaired?

Either a little section or a new replacement

Free Estimates!

Give us a call at: 830-708-6749

Home Maintenance/Repair ISLAND NATIVE

MASTER CARPENTER 30 years+ experience

Doors – Windows – Decks – Cabinets Sheetrock – Tape and Float

361-815-7900 ISLAND CREATIONS CONCRETE

Professionally installed concrete driveways, sidewalks and patios Decorative Stamping & Staining

Call 361-960-0327 NEED A CARPENTER?

First class work at low rates Storm Shutters, Cabinets, Framework,

Sheetrock, Stucco, and much more! Call 361-960-0327

Re-Parrot We’ll fix it right – For a song!

Home maintenance repair & light

remodeling Free Estimates

Located on “The Island” G. Michael Wall 361-779-6621

Tony Wall 361-271-9499

Real Estate Rentals PORT ARANSAS CONDOS TO RENT

WINTER TEXANS WELCOMED Special Daily, Weekly or Monthly Rates Fully Furnished – Pool – Walk to Beach

Island Condo Rentals 361-558-6148

FOR RENT 2 Bedroom 2 Bath on Canal

Shaded Carport Minutes from Beach – No smokers

$1300 Call Ken 361-548-4839

Office Space Available OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE

FOR LEASE Up to 1600 sq ft is available at:

15217 So. Padre Island Dr. Ste 110 Call 361-225-0220

Boat Slips

College student looking for reasonably

priced place to store 22’ sail boat in water

361-696-2269 BOAT SLIPS

ON PACKERY CHANNEL Available immediately

Personal or Commercial Use Call 361-332-9978

National Alliance Of Mental Illness Support Groups

The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)

Offers free support groups locally 1st & 3rd Fridays 7:00-8:30 PM

at OLPH Church, 5830 Williams St. Individuals with mental health

conditions meet in the Youth Center Portable, and families of loved ones

with mental health conditions meet in Portable Room 1.

2nd & 4th Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 PM 6:00-7:30 PM individuals with mental health conditions meet at the Family Counseling Center, 3833 S. Staples,

Room 218. No Registration - Walk-ins -18 and

up namigreatercorpuschristi@gmail.com or

Jim at 281-300-3837 Al-Anon & AA Meetings

Is alcohol causing a problem in your family?

Try Al-Anon Al-Anon meets at 7:00 pm Sundays at

Padre Island Baptist Church Friends and families of problem

drinkers find understanding and support At Al-Anon meetings

An Al-Anon group meets each Thursday at 7:00 PM at

Island in the Son United Methodist Church

10650 Highway 361 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

MEETINGS The Sunset 7 AA Meetings are held on Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 7 PM

at : The Presbyterian Church

On the Island 14030 Fortuna Bay Dr.

In addition on Sunday AA Meetings are held at 8 AM at

The Pavillon on the Boardwalk Near Padre Bali

Snoopy’s (361) 949-8815Scoopy’s (361) 949-7810

13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Under the BridgeOpen Sun-Th 11 a.m. - 9 p.m

Fri-Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Now Accepting Visa Mastercard & Discover

Scoopy’s HoursOpen 7 Days a Week

11:00 - 10:00

Season’s Greetings

PADRE ISLES PROPERTY OWNER’S ASSOCIATION DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM THE

CANALSCompetitive Sealed Proposals for the removal and disposal of debris in the canals resulting from Hurricane Harvey will be

received at the Padre Isles Property Owners Association (POA) at 14015 Fortuna Bay Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78418 until

4:00PM, December 20, 2017, and held for a private bid opening. Persons desiring to submit a proposal are encouraged to attend a pre-proposal meeting at the POA office at 1:30PM December 13,

2017. The proposal shall demonstrate the Offeror’s ability to deliver

the “best value” to the POA.Proposal documents may be requested by calling the POA office

at 361-949-7025. The POA reserves the right to reject any and all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding. No bids may be withdrawn for a

period of 60 days without the consensus of the POA.

Seashore Charter Schools will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, December 18, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at Seashore

Middle Academy, for the School FIRST rating. Seashore Charter Schools received A -Superior rating with a score

of 100 from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. This is the highest rating and score a school can

achieve.

Christmas. Kudos to Renee, K.K., Jason, Coby and Andy. They did a great job.

♫♪♫ And, that’s the truth ♫♪♫

accents his blues licks. Mike brought a couple of sidemen who live the blues daily: Antone Perez and Art Galvan. It was a captivating performance and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of this guy. He’s good. And on Monday I ran by Shorty’s to wish celebrity bartender, Renee Garland, a happy birthday and get some pics of the gang’s handy work decorating the club for

ON THE LOCAL FRONT

Paradise lost. Bad mood rising…

Reality has set in. Our enchanted slice of paradise is broken and the grim truth is… it’s going to take a long time to fix it. I am thankful for the progress we’ve made and the vigilance of our community, but I’m starting to detect some emotional roller coaster rides around here lately. I’ve listened to people describe what we’ve been through since August 25 in the same terms as though we’ve been to war and are experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome. We’re actually shell shocked. I pity the poor folks who are left in such a state that they’re unable to escape this bedlam if only for a minute. I feel fortunate that I got to get away

to San Antonio for a really fun, carefree weekend. It made all the difference in the world and I’m going to give my best effort to get off the island again as soon as I can. When the tell tail signs start rearing their ugly heads (angry,

impatient, suspicious, unsympathetic and uncaring emotions), I know it’s time to blow this pop stand. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a quest for survival. There’s a young family with a small child I’ve watched walking the streets, taking a short cut in front of my house. I initially thought I’d better keep an eye out because they looked like they might steal something. These poor guys look like they’ve been through the ringer and I’m embarrassed I haven’t offered them some help in some way. We’re all in this big mess together and we ALL need to pitch in and help each other out, even if it just means showing some kindness and understanding. I’m no saint and I don’t want to sound preachy, but I know when I’m being a jerk. I apologize world. I’m gonna try harder. I bet that kid of theirs would enjoy some cookies and milk the next time I see them. There’s a lot to be thankful for and I need to remind myself more often. It’s time to focus on the positive and show some tolerance… at least for me.

Pay attention here, this is important…

There are a couple of homegrown benefits on the horizon and they are being put together by a couple of fellows I consider to be really good guys. Ken Yarbrough is a selfless man. You can find him most days in the trenches at Port

A Parks and Rec or maybe directing a play at the community theater. He’s a giver. And when he put the call out for some help for the Port A Community Theater, which got hit pretty hard by Harvey, I paid attention. In his own words, “Ok. Port Aransas Community Theater is a part of a fund raiser being held on January 12 at Harbor Playhouse in Corpus to help the Rialto theater in Aransas Pass, the Aurora Theater in Corpus and, the Rockport Little Theater are all being hosted by the Harbor Playhouse. This is the first event ever of its kind and it will benefit these theaters mentioned with rebuilding from Hurricane Harvey. We need you to save the date, attend the event, or how about joining us on stage in song?If you have been a part of PACT and would like to be a part of this event PM me on Facebook and let’s talk! We need a PACT choir!!!! January 12!!! Harbor Playhouse at 7pm. $20 admission. Rehearsals are January

11th and 12th before the show.” And on January 25, all around good guy Rick Pratt is putting on a show to benefit the Port A Museum and Farley Boat Works. Rick is the curator of our museum and was our lighthouse keeper for many years. He’s also a pretty fair guitar picker and a die-hard music lover. This show will be held at the Third Coast Theater at Sea Shell Village on Ave G. Rick has assembled an all star line-up with Joe Ely, Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines, Terry Allen, Bukka Allen, Bale Allen and Richard Bowden. Tickets went on sale this week. They are $100 and the theater only holds 160 people so I’d get on it if I were you. Here’s their website: https://portaransasmuseum.org/benefit-concert/, I highly recommend both of these shows as they will benefit three of the places that make Port A distinctly Port A.

Parks & Rec has got it going on…

And speaking of Parks and Rec, Pam Green send her monthly newsletter for December and it’s chocked full of groovy Christmas stuff like the “2017 Enchanted Holiday Forest” with the theme: “The Heart of Port A” on Dec. 16-17 in the Community Center and the “Christmas Tree Lighting” on Dec. 7 with caroling by the H.G. Olsen Elementary School and Brundrett Middle School choirs. Or how about an “Evening Breakfast with Santa” on Dec 19 (6:30-8:30) where Santa will give each child a goody bag. Plus you can go birding on the trails at the Port A Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture with experienced birder, Leslie Hoekstra on Saturdays. They will also have a” Noon Year’s Eve Party” on the 31st. Check out the Port A Parks and Rec website for a directory of all their activities: www.cityofportaransas.org/parks_and_recreation.cfm.

Scattered shots…

James Little was forced to cancel his show at Giggity’s last Saturday due to a double hernia and they booked a fellow at the last minute from Wichita Falls who now lives in Rockport, Mike O’Neil. Mr. O’Neil comes with pedigree. He was the main man with the great Texas Blues Runners which also featured the phenomenal

C h a r l i e Rouzer on B-3. Mike O’Neil is a guitar player’s guitar player. He plays all the notes and I’m not talking about some r e p e t i t i o u s noodling. I’m

talking a highly skilled master who has more fills than a dentist. He plays tasty licks and LOTS of them. Plus, he’s got a voice that superbly

By Ronnie Narmour

ronnienarmour@gmail.com

The GaffOPEN VERY SOON!

Three Chords and the Truth

Port Aransas Construction

Est. 1999

Residential/Commercial

(361) 453-0147

December 7, 2017 Island Moon A 18

Expert Computer Repairs

Port A. Proud

Live Music

Scarecrow People, Sleeping With Sirens + 3 Bands @

House of Rock

Thursday, December 14 Free Beer Band @

Giggity’sOddfellas @ Rockit’s

Scarface @ Brewster StreetFabian Rivera @ Cassidy’s

Irish PubScarface, Paul Wall, Slim Thug @ Brewster StreetSwimming With Bears + Bands @ House of Rock

Friday, December 15Jam Band @ Giggity’s

Stevie Start @ Angry Marlin

Another Level @ Brewster Street

Oddfellas @ Rockit’sClarissa Serna @ Vino

Mio SocialMonkeys on a String @

Cassidy’s Irish PubOddfellas @ Pelican

Myndfields @ Rockits

Saturday, December 16 Todd Dorn & the Sea Drifters @ Giggity’s

Carlos Almaraz @ Angry Marlin

Metal Shop @ Brewster Street

Beat Bodega @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub

Philip Griffin Band @ Pelican

Jerry Ward @ Mikel MaysSplendiferous @ Rockits

Sunday, December 17 Antone & the All Stars @

Giggity’sFundaze @ House of RockDamon Ballweg @ Pelican

Monday, December 18Open Jam @ Giggity’s

Tuesday, December 19Paul Taylor @ Giggity’s

Open Mic @ House of Rock

Wednesday, December 20 Magnus @ Giggity’s

Scarecrow People @ House of Rock

John Eric @ Pelican

Thursday, December 21 Free Beer Band @

Giggity’sParker McCollum @

Brewster StreetTy Dietz @ Cassidy’s Irish

PubRudy Llanes @ House of

RockCovertones @ Rockits

Friday, December 22Ty Dietz @ Giggity’sStevie Start @ Angry

MarlinLyrical Bynge @ Executive

Surf Club

Tonight Thursday, December 7 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’sSomethin’ Silky @ Rockit’sJosh Ward @ Brewster StreetMichael Perez @ Cassidy’s Irish PubVista Kicks, No Rehearsal, Smash Decadence @ House of Rock

Friday, December 8Starlite & the Moonbeams @ Giggity’sStevie Start @ Angry Marlin3rd Coast Rhythm Section @ It’ll Do SaloonAPEX @ Rockit’sMyndfields @ Brewster StreetSugar Still @ Cassidy’s Irish PubZack Walther Band @ PelicanReverend’s Daughter @ RockitsWrecks, Brick & Mortar, Moth Wings, Mistics @ House of RockMario & the S.O.B.’s @ Oso Pier & Grill

Saturday, December 9 Selfie @ Giggity’sJerry Ward @ Angry MarlinSing Along Piano Bar @ Brewster StreetMyndfields @ Rockit’sFalco & the Wolf @ Cassidy’s Irish PubT.J. Broscoff @ PelicanThrough Fire, Dangerkids + 3 Bands @ House of RockA.J. Cruz @ Mikel MaysCruise Control @ RockitsKevin Hill’s Live @ Oso Pier & Grill

Sunday, December 10 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’sThe Daze, Jack Nelson @ Pelican

Monday, December 11 Open Jam @ Giggity’s

Tuesday, December 12 Paul Taylor @ Giggity’sOpen Mic @ House of Rock

Wednesday, December 13 Stevie Start @ Giggity’sJohn Eric @ PelicanSplendiferous @ Brewster Street

HAIR BY HEIDI

at Trinity By the Sea Trojan & Ave E.(512) 914-8846

PORT A. PROUD

GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BARLIVE MUSIC

Free Beer Band Dec. 07 Starlite & the Moonbeams Dec. 08 Selfie Dec. 09 Antone & All Stars Dec. 10Open Jam Dec. 11 Paul Taylor Dec. 12 Billy Snipes Dec. 13

722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX

LIVE MUSICEVERY NIGHT

All You Can Eat FRIED

FLOUNDEREveryday 11-7

OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas

COME BE A PART OF HISTORY AT THE OLDEST & FRIENDLIEST!

132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront

CLOSED UNTIL MARCHMERRY

CHRISTMAS!

Treasure Island

315 N. Alister (361) 416-1020treasureislandporta

XMAS PARTY & TOY DRIVE

SAT. DEC. 9TH FOOD & LIVE

MUSIC

Christmas on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Coby, Renee and Andy did a great job decorating Shorty’s.

Ken Yarbrough is one of the driving forces at

PACT.

Mike O’Neil played the blues at Giggity’s last Friday with Anton Perez and Art

Galvan.

Ray Summy and Selfie will play Giggity’s on Saturday.

Renee Garland and K.K. Knapp celebrate Renee’s

birthday at Shorty’s.

Rick Pratt, curator of the Port A Museum,

will host a star studded benefit on

Jan. 25th.

Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines will perform at Third Coast Theater on Jan.

25.Joe Ely will play the benefit at 3rd Coast

on Jan. 25.