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The Island MoonPublished by Island Moon Publishing, LLC

15201 S. Padre Island Drive Ste. 250Corpus Christi, TX. 78418editor@islandmoon.com

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Island Area News ● Events ● Entertainment

June 21, 2012

The Only Island with more than 50 lots sold this year Next Publication Date: 6/28/2012 Year 15, Issue 428

Around The IslandBy Dale Rankin editor@islandmoon.com

By Dale Rankin

Rain two days in a row, that’s got to be some kind of an Island record for June. It wasn’t much and it mostly just left big spots on our cars and puddles just big enough for the dogs to get their feet wet but its still water from the sky.

We could really feel summer kick in this year when the air temps jumped up in early June and stayed there. We have had beautiful water coming in through the Packery this week but so far it has not made its way into the canals which still look like the Mississippi River after the spring floods. Beach driving has been good and water temperature has been cooler than normal for this time of year.

Beach rulesThe City of Corpus Christi has now adopted a

countywide Erosion Response Plan that puts in place a 350 foot building setback line located 350 feet landward of the Line of Vegetation along the Gulf beach. The building setback line will prevent new construction of residential or commercial buildings from there to the dune line. It is long overdue to have one plan for the entire area rather than the hodgepodge we’ve had historically and we want to thank Greg Smith for the work he has done to make this happen.

Windstorm and FEMA mapsThe next big items governing Island

development will be over Windstorm insurance rates, a fight which looks like it may be resolved with a lawsuit, and the new FEMA maps which are done but won’t become public until at least August. According to early information from the city those new maps may remove some crucial areas of The Island from COBRA zones which would mean they become eligible for federal flood insurance.

The main area to watch is the Tortuga Dunes development along Zahn Road. City engineers who have seen the FEMA maps say that because of the improved dune structure there that area may be changed from a COBRA zone to a High Velocity Zone which would make it eligible for federally backed insurance, the lack of which has been a hindrance to development there.

Other areas of The Island may also be changed since we have built up our dune structure over the past decade. The way an area is zoned by FEMA is related to height above mean sea level but the real determining factor is whether an area will get waves of 1.5 feet during a high tide event (hurricane). If so, then it is a COBRA zone.

We will publish the new maps as soon as they become available because they are the first new FEMA maps for The Island since the mid 1980s and will have a huge impact on Island development for many years.

Parking your dogThere is a move afoot to build a dog park at the

existing Aquarius Park. The effort is in the early stages and the organizers will need something in the neighborhood of $40,000 to make it happen. We will keep you up to date on the park’s progress and maybe the Moon can help raise some of the money in the next few months.

The beach has always served as our dog park here on The Island but now with the new Aquarius providing a way for everyone to get from one side of The Island to the other a dog park is an idea whose time has come. Here’s saying hurray for Fido having his own park.

We’ll see you at the Island Moon Market this Saturday at the seawall parking lot. In the meantime say hello if you see us Around The Island.

Inside the Moon...

Fishin’ With Farah A3 Trash Heap of the Week A10 Live Music A14

4th of July Watercraft Parade

The Padre Isles 4th of July Watercraft Parade is less than two weeks away. When it comes to parades our Island has three great ones, the La Posada Boat Parade, the Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade, and the Padre Isles 4th of July Watercraft Parade.

This year’s July 4th parade will be the 13th Annual event and will take place on Wednesday, July 4 starting at 7:30 p.m. in the canal at the Padre Island Yacht Club.

Island Moon founder Mike Ellis and Islanders Ann Weber and Harald Meyer started the parade after a particularly brutal La Posada Lighted Boat Parade which left everyone a little frostbitten. The idea was pretty simple; do a parade in the summer when it’s hot but at least predictable – unless of course there’s a hurricane which would mean the parade would go by very quickly. The only change this year is a later starting time to avoid the heat. The muster will begin at 7:30 and the parade at 8 p.m. Any kind of watercraft is invited from boats of all types and sizes, to windboards, Stand Up Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. No pre-registration is required, the only requirement is that you show up.

A panel of judges (some judge spots are still available) will crown Mr. and Mrs. Independence Day as well as the watercraft which are the Most Patriotic, and Most Enthusiastic. The judges, and a great party, will be on the docks at the homes of Ann, Harald, and neighbor Sue Ramsey at 13766 Three Fathoms Bank. This is a great annual gathering which has been going on for well, thirteen years, and a good place for longtime Island residents to see old friends and new Island residents to meet longtime Islanders. Don’t be shy.

There is also a move afoot this year to have a cardboard boat race prior to the parade. This is in the planning stage, which is to say waiting for someone to take charge, so we’ll see.

But if you have something that floats now’s the time to decorate it and get ready. For questions call Harald at 361 937-2423. With this year’s parade in the middle of the week and later in the evening, even people who work that day can still take part. It’s time to launch the boat and fly the flag folks, we’ll see you on the water!

Power to The Island

Power Grid That Feeds The Island is Getting a Makeover

By Sara Hendricks

You live on an island where the salt air leaves a fine crust on your skin. If you haven’t got a bandana, the salty perspiration drips into your eyes and stings like crazy.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that without a cleansing rain that same fine crust of salt lies on electricity transmission lines and transformers, resulting in loss of power. And that can spell doom for appliances – refrigerators in particular, said Ernie Resendez with Affordable Appliance Repair in Port Aransas.

“If the power goes on and off real fast the compressor doesn’t have time to equalize,” he said.

According to AEP’s public relations man, nature is to blame.

“The island is on the front line where Mother Nature causes problems,” Andy Heines said.

Last year, during the statewide drought, crews were spraying down the power lines with de-ionized water because of saltwater contamination, he said. Don’t try this yourself, Heines warned. As an appliance repairman at Coastal Bend Appliance said, you can turn yourself into a lightbulb.

Getting power to the people of Port Aransas is stymied by contamination on the insulators that cause flash-overs, which damage the insulators, said David Solis, AEP’s station manager for Corpus Christi and Victoria.

And rust – the bane of automobiles, boats and anything metal – plays havoc with the transmission or high voltage side of things, he said.

To alleviate that problem, they’ve switched from an air-insulated substation to a gas-insulated one, putting most of the equipment in a controlled environment. They’ve also added

Power Continued on A 5

Kevin grinned at me as he reared back with the rod and flung his custom-made lure up towards the rig. Two pops, “chug, chug” and the water

around the lure exploded violently and his drag screamed line out headed towards Cuba. After a few minutes of some fancy footwork around the deck, Kevin finally got some gumption on the fish and got it headed towards the boat. We eventually saw some color, and then got it within gaff range. What is it? A yellowfin tuna? A grander blackfin? Amberjack? As it came out of the darkness below the boat, we saw that it was a horse-eye jack. Fun fight, but not really the groceries we were after. Bummer. Time to do another drift and cast again.

Offshore report-no weedAlrighty campers, here’s your offshore report.

Those of you folks out there that are responsible for cleaning the Sargassum off the beaches should be happy about this news; we went 80 miles out and didn’t see a patch of the stuff larger than a skateboard. While there were a few areas that had some scattered weed to it, there really just wasn’t much out there. This falls in line with what we experienced last year chasing those mahi offshore. May was the best month (heavy sargassum and flatter seas) with the early part of June being pretty good too. By the end of June last year, the Sargassum had slacked up, and by the early part of July we couldn’t find any of the stuff within 50 miles of the coast. Too bad the water just off the beach is dirty color, and in fact it’s dirty out to 14 miles out of Packery. There was an interesting rip out there, with

On the RocksBy Jay Gardener

clear water, then a dirty water “finger”, then some bluish water, and then straight to brown. Unfortunately, checking my records from last year, there’s another culprit keeping the dirty water nearshore.

Cool water upwellingUpwelling is headed our way again this year.

Tyler went down to South Padre to celebrate Rob’s birthday, and said the water was very dirty and chillier than normal. It’s some phenomenon that seems to repeat itself year after year, and many folks seem surprised about it when it rolls around again. If you want to do your own investigations, go online to http://lighthouse.tamucc.edu and go to the TCOON site and start picking at the stations. I suggest you start with the one on Bob Hall Pier.

The upwelling event brings in some cooler water from the bottom of the Gulf, and unfortunately it carries with it a lot of silt which is causing the nearshore waters to continue to be very dirty. Beach fisherpersons have

historically had a tough time catching anything more than hard heads in this water. At this writing, the upwelling coming from down south is “pinching out” and hopefully it will entrain

On the Rocks Continued on A 4

Kevin Eager and horse-eye jack

Construction Boom Hits The Island

There are currently more than forty houses under construction on The Island. Vacant lots are going at a premium as inventory is used up. Many of the new homes are Spec homes but most are

sold by the time they are completed. Since January 1st, 51 lots have sold on The Island.

Here is a pic we took of a deer out on a spoil island in the Lagoon this week, it’s the third deer seen in the last few weeks traveling off the island to the mainland, summer

conditions and drought are tough on all Island residents. Photo by Joey Farah

Island Moon MarketThis Saturday June 23

The next Island Moon Market is set for Saturday, June 23 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Michael J. Ellis Seawall. More than forty vendors have signed up this time and the site will be moved to the seawall in front of the parking lot.

Vendors with everything from Texas wine to homemade jams, jellies and even homemade habanera ice cream will be on hand, and as always there will be live music at the Sandbar.

The markets will be held there the fourth Saturday of each month through the summer. So in case you needed one now you have another reason to head to the beach.

Photo by Brent Rourke

Yard of the Month A9 The Flats A10

Deer Island

A 2 Island Moon June 21, 2012

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Gone Fishin’Positive Energy

Capt. Joey Farah (361)442_8145 Facebook: Farah’s Backwater Fishing Adventures

A blanket of grey clouds shielded the morning sun except a few that broke through like golden bars onto the surface of the water. The cool wind in my face with the smell of fresh rain gave preview of a great morning ahead. Hudson Wells was celebrating her eleventh birthday with her dad Brennan with the hopes of hooking up with a few nice trout and maybe a redfish. Hudson is no novice, she told me of her last fishing trip hauling grouper and snapper into the boat in Florida. The boat slid into the quiet shoreline and I poled us high in the flats. Local high tides have pushed game fish to spawn up in the shallow grass one more time before the summer heat thins them out. I could feel the magic on the water, my son Joey IV was on the boat learning to deck hand, we had a beautiful young birthday girl, and we quietly set anchor in one of my favorite secret coves.

Brennan hooked the first trout and brought it to the boat, the action and vibration of feeding fish attracted fish from around the area and soon we had started a feeding frenzy. With the sound of each bait hitting the water trout were darting up to our baits and fighting over them. I saw Hudson’s line tighten and her shoulders drop, before I could say a word she reeled down and brought the pole up and set the hook. A black back streaked across the surface and white gills flared and spit frothy soup up around the boiling fish. In a second the fish darted towards us trying to throw the hook, Hudson reeled and wiggled and turned the big trout’s head at the boat. She played the fish to the net and I gave her HIGH FIVES. Her eyes sparkled with excitement but were not as bright as the proud beaming smile on her father’s face. A few casts later a Monster Gator Trout took her bait and ran straight for the boat. She kept up with the fish then raised its head to the surface, the BLACK BACK AND HEAD SHOOK UNDER OUR FEET. The old wise trout spit the hook and bolted off into her memory. That was Mother Nature’s guarantee that this young lady will be back in the hunt for years to come.

Sometimes I can feel positive energy radiate from people and situations. Brennan owns and operates our HORSES ON THE BEACH riding stables. There is a special connection one gets to the land and the sea when threading the fine line between those two worlds, even cooler when you are sharing it with someone on horseback. I knew that all the great memories and good times he has provided for others would be repaid today. The next time she set the hook the rod bent double and the drag screamed out “REDFISH”. Her redfish pulled under the boat and put up quite a fight, but in the long run he was destined for a hot barbecue pit. Scattered storms ran us to hide under a bridge a few times and lightning eventually sent us back to the dock, but it was a story I could not have dreamed up any better. This won’t be Hudson’s last Trout Hunt I think she got that special feeling today that I felt in the wind. Stop by the stables south of Bob Hall with the kids. They have affordable horse rides and a free petting zoo area. Being at the Stables will push the love and respect for animals deep into your child’s heart. I asked Hudson witch horse was her favorite and she turned, smiled, and replied…..” ALL OF THEM”

Happy Birthday Fish Hunter Hudson.High tides have swept clean water into our bay,

hopefully when they reseed some of the Brown Tide will be drained out again. Expect good fishing along the shorelines of the King Ranch while the water is up. As the tide drops out next week schools of trout will fall into the deep guts and channels following baitfish and herds of

shrimp marching out towards the open Gulf. I have been targeting trout at first light with live croaker and piggy perch around deep structure and drop-offs. As the winds pick up and the heat turns on I will move to sand pockets in 4 to 5 feet of water. Texas Rattle Weights have made a big difference in the distance I’m throwing and the noise and vibration I’m sending out with my live bait. Live piggy perch are becoming more plentiful at our local bait shops, they are small and hard to cast without the added weight of the rattle. They are somewhat neutral in buoyancy so they won’t grass up or keep your bait on the bottom.

Down south, Baffin Bay looks nice. Pockets of clean water have produced some great days and the extreme shallows have been full of redfish and drum for sight casting. Areas such as the flats of Yarborough Pass and the Meadows are holding large schools of both. During the low tides of last week many anglers found large schools of drum and reds in the deeper water, chasing them with trolling motors and live shrimp brought a lot of fish in and BOAT BANGN. Start off on the large rock piles with live bait and then drift the shallows with live shrimp under a popping cork for a mixed bag of trout, drum, and reds. The Land Cut is still in good shape and gave us a great day last Saturday, we were looking for flounder but limited out on Trout. Enjoy the great weather and get the kids outside for summer. Follow our casts on Face book at Joey Farah’s Fishing!!

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Josh Foster and his son with a limit of trout from the King Ranch shoreline this week in the

afernoon.

Brennan and Hudson Wells with a great BIRTHDAY TROUT.

Hudson Wells with a nice redfish headed for the PIT!

Did Ya Hear?Send your business news to

mkay512@aol.com

New Advertisers-Duckworth Antiques & Furniture on Cotter

in Port A opened in March and houses an eclectic variety of vintage and made to look vintage items. Owner Tiffany has made Fridays the day for those with a sweet tooth to visit because that is when she sells her homemade pastries, as well.

Island Shades makes custom blinds, shutters and shades for homes or boats. Call Islander Rich at 779-2680 for free estimate.

Black Sheep Bistro offers a unique dining experience every day for lunch and dinner. Sundays brunch is served 11 am – 2 pm. They are located on Park Road 22 near Whitecap. For party info and catering call 949-4819.

The Barrel Wine & Tapas next to Black Sheep Bistro is described as a place with casual sophistication. One of the Island’s favorite bartenders, Angela, is there to serve you daily except Sundays when the bar is closed. Beer and wine is served and for those who like the stronger stuff, set-ups are $1.75. It is currently open, daily at 5 pm, however, the grand opening is Saturday, June 30th.

Business BriefsThe Island Moon Market at the seawall in

front of the parking lot has nearly fourty unique vendors this Saturday, June 23rd 8 am – 5 pm. You can find one-of-a-kind gifts and tasty treats. The beach and shopping it don’t get better!

The Island Moon Newspaper T-Shirts are now available for $19.95 and can be mailed for an additional $5.05. The shirts have a picture of the Moon logo on the front and “The Voice of the Islands since 1996” on the back. Look for them at the Island Moon Market at the seawall this Saturday.

Restaurant 361 in Port Royal has been renovated and flat screen TVs has been added. Happy hour Sunday – Thursday open to close.

The Barrel Wine & Tapas

A 4 Island Moon June 21, 2012

Located in the Loma Alta Plaza 14254 SPID, Suite 109

949-4848

Offering Gourmet Take-Out Meals

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Hours: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Visit our website at www.AuntSissysKitchen.com For weekly menus

Full Service Catering Available

For Private Parties

Recipient of the People’s Choice Award

2011 Taste of the Island

Located in the Loma Alta Plaza 14254 SPID, Suite 109

949-4848

Offering Gourmet Take-Out Meals

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Hours: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Visit our website at www.AuntSissysKitchen.com For weekly menus

Full Service Catering Available

For Private Parties

Recipient of the People’s Choice Award

2011 Taste of the Island

Full Service Catering and

Gourmet Take Out

Joan Sowash

(361) 949-4848AuntSissysKitchen@stx.rr.com

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Peewee’s Animal Shelter is located at 1307 Saratoga and has been in operations since May, 1997. Peewee’s presently houses over 300  animals, including dogs, puppies, cats, kittens as well as, pigs, goats, rabbits and other barn animals. Peewee’s relies on donations only for its operation.

Shelter operations are accomplished strictly by donations. Peewee’s does not get any government, city or federal funding. Peewee’s helps those animals no one else will - the sick and the stray. The volunteers at Peewee’s work tirelessly to rehabilitate poor orphaned pets in the hopes that they will find new, loving homes. The dogs and cats are spayed/neutered, given regular heartworm preventative, and are on flea & tick prevention and medications as needed. Peewee’s does not discriminate due to age or health conditions of the pet. Please visit Peewee’s Pet Adoption World & Sanctuary at 1307 Saratoga Road. You can call them at 361-888-4141 but they do not have staff to answer phones so please leave a message.

Peewee's Animal Shelter

out of the system in the next couple of weeks. I’m hoping this is the case, because in years that this upwelling event sticks around for a month or two we typically have a red tide event. Yeah, I said it, knock on wood that we don’t get the coast-killing disease again this year. Bad ju-ju Sarah. Our fish stocks have been taking a beating from that stuff for the past several years. Time will tell.

Mostly choppy to occasionally sportyBack on Scotts’ boat, aptly named the

“Shortbus”, we were drifting Falcon rig and not getting the results we wanted. Jeff was hammering the blue runners, as was Bumpy (Christian). We were putting the resulting chum down with no positive results either. The original plan was to troll out to Dutra rock and drop for swordfish, but the weather didn’t cooperate. As Bizzy said, “the seas were mostly choppy to occasionally sporty”, which means you spent more time getting splashed and hanging on to the boat than you did fishing and enjoying yourself. We slow trolled through the night, taking turns at the helm and on the bean bags trying to get a few winks. Morning found us tired and ready to head home. We got one small knock-down on the troll that resulted in a bonito being released. We picked up and headed to the secret snapper hole, and had our limits within a few minutes. Maybe we’ll just do that next time, LOL.

Despite the dirty water, there are still scattered reports from the beach and jetties of occasional catches. I have been really busy all week, but I’ll be trying to get out and hit it this weekend. Laura McKee is in town to check on the new niece, congrats again to Helen and Blake on their first. I’ll see the rest of you crazy characters out on the rocks.

On the Rocks Cont. from A1Kemp’s Ridley Turtle Nest Count

Kemp’s Ridley Turtle So far this year, 201 Kemp’s ridley nests

have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

1 Bolivar Peninsula

7 Galveston Island

0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside

4 Surfside Beach

0 Quintana Beach

0 Bryan Beach

1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach

0 Sargent Beach

0 Matagorda Peninsula

0 Matagorda Island

2 San Jose Island

8 Mustang Island

114 North Padre Island, including 105 at Padre Island National Seashore

56 South Padre Island

8 Boca Chica Beach

The 2012 nest total sets a new record for the number of Kemp’s ridley nests documented in Texas in a year. The previous record of 199 nests was set during 2011. Record keeping for nest tallies in Texas began in the early 1980s.

Seven Tips to Help Your Landscape Beat the Heat this Summer

By Melinda MyersSummer has arrived and for many gardeners

that means heat, drought and watering bans. This can be hard on gardeners as well as their landscapes. The good news is that there are ways to help plants thrive despite these seasonal challenges. Adjusting landscape care accordingly during the summer months can not only provide relief for lawns and gardens, but also for the gardener. Here are some low maintenance eco-friendly ways gardeners can keep their landscapes looking their best throughout the summer months, while beating the heat:

Water plants thoroughly to promote deep drought- and pest-resistant roots. Wait until the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist or footprints remain in the lawn before watering again.

Avoid light, frequent watering that encourages shallow roots. Shallow roots are less able to tolerate drought and more susceptible to disease and insect problems.

Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or shredded bark mulch over the soil in garden beds and around trees and shrubs. Mulching conserves moisture, keeps roots cool and moist, and suppresses weeds.

Mow lawns high. Taller grass produces deeper roots that are more drought-tolerant. A deeply rooted lawn is also more resistant to insects, disease and other environmental stresses.

Always mow lawns often enough, so you remove less than one third the total leaf surface. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They add nitrogen, organic matter and moisture to the soil.

Use a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, like Milorganite, to give gardens and lawns a nutrient boost. This organic nitrogen fertilizer remains in the soil until the growing conditions are right for the plant.

Remove weeds from garden beds and borders as soon as they appear. These “plants out of place” steal water and nutrients from your desirable garden plants. Plus, they can harbor insects and diseases that are harmful to your garden plants.

And don’t forget to take care of yourself while caring for your landscape during the heat of summer. Drink lots of liquid, use sunscreen, and work during the cooler morning and evening hours.

Then when the gardening tasks are done for the day, grab a glass of lemonade, take a seat in the shade and enjoy the beauty of your handiwork.

Todd Hunter addressed the Kiwanis Club of Padre Island last Wednesday.

June 21, 2012 Island Moon A 5

Who Are the Moon Monkeys

Mike Ellis, Founder

Distribution

Pete Alsop

Island Delivery

Coldwell Banker

Advertising

Jan Park Rankin

Raeanne Reed

Office

Lisa Towns

Classifieds

Arlene Ritley

Design/Layout

Jeff Craft

Contributing Writers

Joey Farah

Devorah Fox

Mary Craft

Maybeth Christiansen

Dr. Tom Dorrell

Jay Gardner

Todd Hunter

Danniece Bobeché

Ronnie Narmour

Dr. Donna Shaver

Photographers

Miles Merwin

Office Security/Spillage Control

Riley P. Dog

Editor/Publisher/Spillage Control Supervisor

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 15201 S P I D. Suite 250. For more information call 361-949-7700 or contact the Moon at 15201 S Padre Island Dr., Suite 250, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 or by e-mail to editor@islandmoon.com.

Letters to the Editor

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“YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”

“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved” W. Bryan

Destiny called on my wife Darcie six months ago. We were living comfortably in San Antonio, planning the construction of our home a stone’s throw from the Guadalupe River.

My, my, how life can change.

With a wonderful, childlike exuberance, she came to me during one of our many morning walks with the news that a position within her company had opened up in Corpus Christi. Wow, only six months earlier we had visited the beaches of Mustang Island and had pondered a dream of someday living in a place like this.

It surely seemed that destiny was calling. Within a few weeks, we were moving into our little slice of heaven on North Padre Island. Without hesitation, we began our search for one of the most coveted items we believe any Padre Islander can own. “The Sticker”. You know. The one that says Padre Islander on it. The one that makes you officially not a tourist.

Of course, we found our sticker and in the process, discovered new friends, new places to eat and above all, new opportunities to live our dream, our destiny if you will. Not long after our arrival, we received a call from The Padre Island POA that literally brought destiny to our front door. We were asked to create a brand new event on North Padre Island. The very first Island Moon Market. We dove at the chance!

As is her strength, Darcie launched headfirst into the challenge. We had only three weeks to secure the location, assemble the vendors and spread the word throughout The Island that something wonderful was about to happen. We both have full time jobs, so the prospect of a successful event hinged on teamwork, long hours and a willingness to persevere in spite of the many challenges we would face.

Darcie was relentless. She insisted we attend every market show within 200 miles to recruit vendors. She worked every night on emails, phone calls and marketing design. Miraculously, we landed one of the area’s biggest sponsors and got the blessing of The Parks and Rec Department. We talked to anyone that would listen about coming out to The Market and

Marketlending their support. In the end, we got it done.

Our first Island Moon Market was a resounding success in every sense of the word. The vendors came, the people came and everyone went home happy.

Well, almost everyone.

You see, as with most attempts at change, there is usually someone lurking in the corners to tell you that change is unacceptable. That you can make change, just do it somewhere else.

Not exactly the type of welcome we expected. But ok, if a small minority of people do not want The Market, we will move it.

So move it we have. Seems now though, that’s not good enough. It appears the only option that would satisfy the small minority would be to move it to some other part of The Island. Moving the location is not an option. So we face our first real quandary. Do we fold this thing up or do we take a stand for the majority; for the people of this Island that have made it clear that they welcome this change?

As Padre Islanders we all have a voice. Are we a voice of the few or the voice of many? We have an opportunity to do something special here. Darcie and I believe that community decisions are made by a common thread of agreement by the majority, not the selfish interests of the few.

We have the resolve to stay the course. What we need now is the support of the people to make our statement clear. The Island Moon Market belongs here!

“Before success comes in any man’s life he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps, some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do”. Napolian Hill

We will not quit. If The Island Moon Market is not for you, we respect that decision. But if this Saturday, you find yourself wanting a change, maybe something a little different to do, come see us at the Windward Seawall. You won’t be disappointed and you just might have a good time.

Phil Mason

POAEditor,

Over the past several years, and at least twice during the past two weeks, residents have taken the time to write the Moon about their dissatisfaction with the POA. As a member of the Board of Directors (past three years), a former member of both the Architectural Control Committee (five years) and the Homeowners Advisory Committee (nearly three years), an active volunteer for the monthly litter since the program started in 2007, and many other volunteer hours dedicated to the POA, I believe that I am more than qualified to comment on the services the POA has provided to the Island.

Initially I was at least mildly disturbed when reading a letter to the editor that knocked the POA. Not so anymore. I have come to realize that either a very few or none (and probably closer to none) of the authors of the letters has volunteered a single hour toward the improvement of life on the Island. Rather than volunteer a few hours of time and effort, the authors have chosen to observe and criticize. I recall that on one occasion a resident accused litter critter volunteers of stealing a fishing pole from her vehicle, yet she never responded to me when I offered to pay for the pole if she could just tell me when it was that she was assisted in the delivered of her other discarded material to the site. I received no response.

To those of you who have a negative view of the POA and its efforts to uphold the covenants, I invite you to come visit us in our volunteer efforts. No organization is perfect, and that includes our POA. Bring your criticisms with you. Help us do better. Give us just a few hours a month of your time and effort. Perhaps along the way you might find out just what it is we do each day (even weekends). Our Homeowners Advisory Committee has no members, the Architectural Control Committee can always use another active member or two, and litter critter volunteers are always welcomed. We also have a new Dog Park Committee.

I am in no way suggesting that those who have submitted letters of complaints toward the POA have not had legitimate complaints. Many are indeed valid. However, merely complaining does not mean anything will change. Come join us and make a difference.

Dave Kurz

breakers, so when there’s a problem, fewer people are affected. On the distribution side -- the lower voltage side where lines feed into homes and businesses -- plans are to rebuild the structure and the breakers this fall.

“The intent is not to cause any interruption” of power, Solis said. They’ll do the same at the substation on Mustang Island next year, he said.

AEP, which provides electricity to 11 states including Texas, says they feel our pain.

Billy Ashcraft, supervisor for distribution systems, didn’t have a dollar figure but says the company has spent a lot of money upgrading the systems to keep power flowing onto the islands.

“We replaced six poles in Humble Channel (just off JFK Causeway in Flour Bluff) to upgrade the circuit from the naval base to the islands,” Ashcraft said of the recent construction.

The wooden poles are now fiberglass with larger insulators. The poles tie into the west end of Port Aransas. The east end of the island got an upgrade when they replaced the whole line on that side of the island. Ashcraft says they are also trying to move the stainless steel switching cabinets to above ground so power can be restored more quickly.

There are still hundreds below ground and homeowners have landscaped over the boxes, so crews have to use fault locating equipment to find them, he said. The National Weather Service, though, predicts the area will move into an El Nino pattern, bringing with it more moisture than we had last year.

Lara Keys, NWS meteorologist, said the Corpus Christi area’s normal rainfall for this time is 12.08 inches. We’ve had 11.47 inches so far in 2012, compared to last year’s 6.39 inches.

“We’re still in drought conditions,” Keys said, “but now we’re in a neutral pattern.”

Power Continued from A1

Got Skills? Make Your Hoop Dreams Come True at the Pepsi Bay Ball Ballyhoop 3-on-3 basketball competition raises money for

Special Olympics Texas athletes Are you the Best on the Bay? Prove it at the

23rd Annual Bay Ball Ballyhoop set for July 21-22 in Corpus Christi. Ballers from all over the state will vie for the title in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in several categories, including men’s open, women’s open, Unified, and more.

Bay Ball will be held at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi in the Dugan Wellness Center, Island Hall and the Moody Field House. The entry fee is $160 per adult team and $100 per youth team (all youth players must be under 18). Proceeds support Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) – South Texas area athletes.

Sign up today. Registration/packet pick up is July 20 at Academy Sports + Outdoors, located at 5100 South Padre Island Drive. Competition begins at 9:00 a.m. on both days; awards will be presented on Sunday. For more information, call Alice Fulton-Garza (agarza@sotx.org) at 361.857.5679 or Melissa Matherne (mmatherne@sotx.org) at 512.491.2927.

About Special Olympics TexasSpecial Olympics Texas (SOTX) is a privately

funded non-profit organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect. SOTX provides continuing opportunities for more than 44,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the Lone Star State to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. To learn more, visit www.specialolympicstexas.org or call 800.876.5646. Engage with us on: Twitter @SOTexas; fb.com/SpecialOlympicsTX; youtube.com/specialolympicstexas.

Seeking Vendors for “Christmas in July” Arts

and Crafts SaleIsland in the Son United Methodist Church will have a “Christmas in July” Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to “shop ‘til you drop” among the great selection of unique items for sale. A Vendor information packet with registration form is available by emailing or calling the church at islandintheson@yahoo.com or 361-749-0884. This year we will be limiting the number of vendors in certain categories (e.g., jewelry, candles, etc.). Tables will be reserved on a first come, first served basis, and only after payment is received. Deadline for registration is July 18.

Island in the Son UMC is located at 10650 Highway 361 on Mustang Island, 2 miles north of Packery Channel between Newport Pass Road and Beach Access Road #3. “Come as you are!”

Hey Everybody…Leave Them Birds Alone!

It’s summer and that means beaches and boats and birding. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program wants to remind everyone enjoying the birds to do so at a proper distance.

Birds have settled in on small islands throughout our bays to nest, incubate their eggs and raise up little birds. And they need plenty of space to do so.

If birds are disturbed during this nesting time, they may fly off the nests, leaving eggs or baby chicks vulnerable to predators and heat.

Disturbance can lead to the loss of an entire season’s breeding effort for thousands of birds, and potentially the complete abandonment of the island by birds in several of the following years.

And remember: Fish, Swim and Play from 50 Yards Away!

The Gaff Pirate Music Festival

The Gaff’s July 4th Pirate Music Festival, will demonstrate that Wednesday is an excellent day for a pirate

party. This family-friendly music event, fit for pirates and land-lovers alike will offer plenty of fun and activities, and will feature some of the Gaff’s favorite bands.

Transistordale (www.transistordale.com), Mama Tried (www.MamaTriedTX.com), and Cassette Tape (www.thebeeroom.com/artists/cassettetape) will be included in the line-up. The live music and fun games will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m. The Gaff is known for delicious pizza, cold beer, and unique events, such as Pirate Pub Crawls and Beltsander Races.

The event is being sponsored by www.StayInPortA.com, Chilla’s Gifts and Storage, SeaExtreme with Capt. Cacy, Bron’s Beach Carts, and other local businesses. Free booth spaces for non-profit organizations will be available at this event. Vendor spaces and sponsorships are still available for the festival. Rae of Light, a business consulting and event planning company, is organizing the event.

More information about The Gaff is available at www.gotothegaff.com. Non-profit organizations, and other potential sponsors and vendors should email raeddrady@gmail.com or go to www.ewmediagroup.com.

Send the PAC your questions for the

CandidatesBefore each election, the PAC sends

questionnaires to all the candidates to find out their stance on issues affecting the City and the Island. We’re beginning to compile our questionnaire now, so please send your questions to us at jjhartpac@gmail.com.

A 6 Island Moon June 21, 2012

The Hero From Eden, TexasBy Senator John Cornyn

This month we observed the anniversary of two historic milestones in

American history: the 68th anniversary of D-Day and the 237th birthday of the U.S. Army. While Texas’ contributions to our nation’s military history are countless, perhaps one of the most famous was that of Texas native General James Earl Rudder and the men of his Second Ranger Battalion.

West Texas beginningJames Earl Rudder was born in 1910 in Eden,

Texas, a small town in Concho County that would play a significant role in shaping the man he would become. In Rudder: From Leader to Legend, historian and biographer Thomas M. Hatfield writes that Eden, deep in the Texas Hill Country, was “a virtual incubator of patriotism, a place where people’s pride as Americans gave cohesion to community life.” As a young boy, Rudder would listen to the tales told by the older men of Concho County, many of whom had fought in the Civil War, driven cattle to points north of Texas and fended off Indian raids along the way. Hatfield writes, “Their stories depicted boldness in the face of danger, comradeship, injury, and sometimes death.” Rudder had “come along just in time to see and talk with the men who had fought to preserve and extend civilization on the American frontier.” According to Hatfield, “In all the goals that he would pursue, Earl Rudder was branded as a product of Eden, Texas.”

Rudder attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in 1928 before transferring to Texas A&M where he graduated in 1932 with a degree in industrial education. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry in the United States Army Reserves. Rudder’s Class of 1932 was hit hard by the Great Depression and jobs were hard to come by for graduates. Rudder returned home to Eden and began work on a highway road crew where he rekindled friendships with childhood friends who had not gone to college. Later in life, Rudder’s soldiers would recall him as someone who appreciated the importance of working with your hands and someone who enjoyed a good “rapport with people in all walks of life.” Hatfield wrote, “Rudder was more likely than most executives to recognize that seemingly ordinary tasks often require exceptional skills.” In a letter Rudder received 9 years after the end of World War II, a noncommissioned officer wrote, “I always admired the way you could mix with your subordinates and still retain their respect as their commander.”

Rudder married Margaret “Chick” Williamson of Menard in 1937. He would go on to teach and coach high school and college football before being called into active duty in 1941.

Preparing for D-DayBy 1943, Rudder had been

promoted to lieutenant colonel and was assigned to organize and train the Second Ranger Battalion formed at Camp Forrest, Tenn. The battalion consisted of men from units across the country who had traveled to Camp Forrest after hearing of the achievements of Darby’s Rangers, the first American soldiers to see combat in the European theater. Hatfield writes, “the men quickly realized that the battalion had a commander who cared about their welfare and demanded two things:

superb physical performance and soldierly conduct.” Rudder began a 2-year, intensive training program that focused on amphibious assaults and infantry fighting. He told his men, “First I’m going to make men out of you. Then, I’m going to make soldiers out of you and then, I’m going to make Rangers out of you.”

In January of 1944, the 2nd Ranger Battalion, along with the 5th Ranger Battalion, arrived in Great Britain. Rudder reported to London to receive his mission for D-Day. He was to lead the first assault waves of Rangers upon the Pointe du Hoc, a strip of steep and jagged 100-foot cliffs that jutted off the Normandy Coast, and destroy a German gun battery.

On the morning of June 6, 1944, Lt. Colonel Rudder led three companies of the 2d Battalion—Dog, Easy and Fox—through the Channel seas toward the Normandy coast. The Rangers, covered by naval gunfire, climbed ropes fired by rockets to scale the cliff. The Germans tossed grenades, cut the ropes and kept up fire, but the first Rangers reached the top of the cliff within 10 minutes. As more Rangers reached the top, Rudder directed them to expand the perimeter, and the gun battery was quickly located and destroyed. Rudder was wounded twice. The toll on the battalion was heavy. By late afternoon, only 70 of the 230 Rangers who made the assault were still alive. Through the sacrifice and determination of Rudder’s Rangers, the Allied forces were able to secure a foothold that would ultimately lead them to rid the world of Adolf Hitler.

A Good AggieRudder went on to command the 109th Infantry

Regiment. After the war, he was promoted to major general. One of the most decorated soldiers of World War II, Rudder received, among others, the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, and the French Legion of Honor with croix de guerre and palm. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1967 and later served as the mayor of Brady, Texas, Texas Land Commissioner and finally, as the president of his alma mater, Texas A&M. Rudder passed away on March 23, 1970.

As we pay tribute today to the men and women of the U.S. Army and the heroes of D-Day, may we remember the sacrifices of Rudder’s Rangers and the Texas hero who led them on the mission that would change the course of history, Major General James Earl Rudder.

Happy hour 4-6 pm Tuesday through Friday

Social Security Column

Get Your Social Security Statement OnlineBy Samuel Trimiar

Social Security Public Affair Specialist

If you would like to get a Social Security Statement, which provides estimates of your future benefits, it is now available online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

“Our new online Social Security Statement is simple, easy-to-use and provides people with estimates they can use to plan for their retirement,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “The online Statement also provides estimates for disability and survivors benefits, making the Statement an important financial planning tool. People should get in the habit of checking their online Statement each year, around their birthday, for example.”

In addition to helping with financial planning, the online Statement also provides workers a convenient way to determine whether their earnings are accurately posted to their Social Security records. This feature is important because Social Security benefits are based on average earnings over a person’s lifetime. If the information is incorrect, the person may not receive proper benefits.

The online Statement provides you the opportunity to save or print the document for future reference, or to have handy for discussions with family members or a financial planner.

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, users are giving the online Statement a score of 89, making it competitive with our other top-rated, best-in-government online services, such as the Retirement Estimator and online retirement application.

To get a personalized online Statement, you must be age 18 or older and must be able to provide information about yourself that matches information already on file with Social Security. In addition, Social Security uses Experian, an external authentication service provider, for further verification. You must provide identifying information and answer security questions in order to pass this verification. Social Security will not share your Social Security number with Experian, but the identity check is an important part of this new, thorough verification process.

When your identity is verified, you can create a “My Social Security” account with a unique user name and password to access your online Statement. In addition, your online Statement includes links to information about other online Social Security services, such as applications for retirement, disability, and Medicare.

For more information about the new online Statement, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

323 N. Alister Port A 361-749-7334 artcenter@centurytel.net

JULY WORKSHOPSBASIC METAL JEWELRY MAKING : THURSDAYS July dates- 5th, 12th, 19th 26th

Time:9:30am-12:30 Instructor:Norma Gafford Cost: $25 per Day- 3 student min. Register & pre-pay a week before each workshop. The word jewelry is derived from the Latin word 'jocale' meaning plaything. Come & learn to work/play with copper, brass, bronze, aluminum, & silver, & to create your own unique jewelry. Learn basic skills in wire and sheet metal: wire findings, bead wrap, links. Come learn a lot & have Fun!!

June 21, 2012 Island Moon A 7

Scoopy’s VerandaSun - Sat 11am - 10pm

Carry-out Available!

13313 S. Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78418

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

Beginning October 1, 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature in House Bill 2702 shifted the remainder of the oversight of Railroad Safety from the Railroad Commission to the Texas Department of Transportation. This transfer left the Railroad Commission with no regulatory authority over the railroad industry.

The Railroad Commission today is composed of three elected Commissioners, who serve six-year staggered terms. The six year staggered terms provide for one Commissioner to be elected every two years. If a Commissioner is unable to or decides not to complete their term, the Governor has the ability to appoint a Commissioner until the next General Election.

If you are interested in learning more about the Railroad Commission of Texas you can go to www.rrc.state.tx.us . I will be reviewing other agencies in the weeks ahead. They will include the State Preservation Board, Texas Education Agency, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a number of others.

If you would like to learn more on your own about the Sunset Advisory Commission or other agencies undergoing the sunset review process, you can go to www.sunset.state.tx.us.

If you have any questions regarding the Railroad Commission of Texas or the sunset review process, please don’t hesitate to contact either my Capitol or District office. My offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

Legislative UpdateTodd Hunter, District 32

Sunset ReviewTexas Railroad Commission

Over the past few weeks, I have been outlining Texas’ sunset review process. The agencies I have covered so far are the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, Texas Lottery Commission and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. As a reminder, in order to identify and eliminate government waste, duplication and general inefficiencies in state agencies, the Texas Legislature established the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (Commission) in 1977. The sunset review process is designed to review each of these agencies every twelve years. This review is done by taking up a certain number of the state agencies each session when the Texas Legislature convenes.

In last week’s article, I covered the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee, which represents one of our state’s smaller agencies. This week I thought we should take a look at one of our state’s larger agencies, the Railroad Commission of Texas. The Railroad Commission of Texas was created in 1891, and tasked with regulating the state’s rail industry in the 1800’s. With the Railroad Commission having been created in 1891, it makes it the state’s oldest existing regulatory agency. Over the years, since the Railroad Commission’s creation, the agency has been tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of a number of additional industries.

Today, the industries that the Railroad Commission oversees include Alternative Energy, Gas Services, Oil and Gas, Pipeline Safety and Coal/Uranium Mining. Now, you may have noticed that the one industry I did not mention was the railroad industry. Beginning in the 1970’s, the Railroad Commission’s role in regulating the rail industry began to change by shifting from economic based regulation to safety based. As a result of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970, the responsibility for rail safety was placed with the Federal Railroad Administration. This Act laid the ground work for the Railroad Commission and the federal government to establish a rail safety program in 1983. The following year, the Railroad Commission ceased its historic role in the economic regulation of the rail industry which it had possessed for nearly a century.

Rep. Hunter represents Aransas, Calhoun, Nueces

(Part) and San Patricio Counties. He can be

contacted at todd.hunter@haouse.state.tx.us or at

512-463-0672.

By Dotson Lewis

dlewis1@stx.rr.com

Senior MomentsDel Mar College Senior Education Computer

Program

Senior of the Moment

Joann Weddle

Joann Weddle is a contestant in the Ms. Coastal Bend Senior Pageant. She is sponsored by the Ethel Eyerly Senior Center in Flour Bluff. Joann would like to thank everyone in the Island/Bluff area for the privilege of representing them in the Pageant. She believes that no matter your age and status in life, there is a God who cares for you. She says “The most important things in life are the people whom you love and care for.”

You are invited to attend the 17th ANNUAL MS. COASTAL BEND SENIOR PAGEANT – June 24, 2012

The Reigning Ms. Coastal Bend

Elva Short Ms. Coastal Bend 2011

17th Annual Ms. Coastal Bend Pageant Coming Soon

The City of Corpus Christi Park and Recreation Department’s Senior Community Services Division will be hosting the 17th Annual Ms. Coastal Bend Senior Pageant on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at the Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center at 3:00 p.m. Contestants will participate in four events: interview, evening gown, talent presentation, and present a statement that conveys her “philosophy of life”.

Contestants are from Corpus Christi and Portland, TX. The ages of the contestants range from 61 to 77 years of age.

The goal of the pageant is to motivate and encourage senior women to utilize their full potential and to share a positive outlook on life with others. The pageant is based on the belief that “Seniors are the foundation of America...It is upon their knowledge, experience and resources that the younger generation has the opportunity to build a better society.”

The local winner will represent the Coastal Bend in the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant, and the statewide winner will compete for the national title. The reigning Ms. Coastal Bend Senior is Elva Short.

Ms. Coastal Bend Senior Pageant is a non-profit organization and depends on the support of the community. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and at the door. Pre-sale tickets are available at any local senior center and City Hall – Senior Community Services Office.

Moments Sports TalkFootball season is not far off. The best game

in town is High School Football. We are in the midst of getting ready for the season. The players are conditioning, the coaches are working on their Xs and Os and the Zebras are studying the rules new and old, and reviewing game videos. There are some very interesting new rules and points of emphasis. Player safety is of prime concern. We, the “Third Team on the Field” will be ready. Will you?

Moments of ConcernRecently seen headlines: “Theives snatch

funds from disabled veterans.” There have been two recent cases in Corpus Christi where money was stolen from disabled veterans. We veterans need to be alert to possible skullduggery and report any suspicious activity to the Veterans’ Administration immediately. Please call: 800.827.1000

Moments Reminder (Hope to see you there):

Ethel Eyerly Father’s Day Dinner/Dance

4:30-7:30 pm Friday June 22nd.

Tickets $5 each. For reservations call 361-937-3218

654 Graham Road (Flour Bluff)

Activities at Ethel Eyerly Senior Center

Monday

Silver Haired Fitness 10 am

($7 month, Ladies Only)

Computer Interest Group 12:30-2 pm

Wii Bowling 12:30 pm

Tuesday

Bingo 10 am ($.50 Cards)

Silver Life Fitness (Co-Ed) 11 am Zumba

Table Tennis & Table Games 12:30 pm

Wednesday

Silver Haired Fitness 10 am

($7 month, Ladies Only)

AARP Chapter 4181 1 pm 2nd & 4th Wednesdays

Thursday

Silver Life Fitness (Co-Ed) 11 am Zumba

Wii Bowling 12:30 pm

Quilting Guild 2nd Thursdays

Friday

Silver Haired Fitness 10 am

($7 month, Ladies Only)

Table Tennis 12-5 pm

Bingo 12:30 PM ($.50 Cards)

Line Dancing 2 pm

If you have questions and/or comments regarding “Senior Moments” please contact Dotson at the Email address shown above, or Phone 361-949-7681; Cell 530-748-8475

2012 Ms. Coastal Bend Senior Pageant ContestantsPictured (left to right): Front row - Linda Long, Norma Lichtenberger, Shirley Wolf, Susan Luna,

Joann Weddle and Luz Pelletier. Back row – CJ Johnson, Estella Amador, Susie Hargress, Juany Martinez.

A 8 Island Moon June 21, 2012

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Trivia Question of the Week from last issue:How did settlers on the Texas Coast make peace with

the Karankawa Indians? The Karankawa Indians carried out one of the

earliest treaties between Native Americans and settlers in Texas, and also one of the few which both sides kept to.

In 1824 a settler named John White, not the same John White who lives on The Island today, and two others had settled in the Austin Colony near the Colorado River. A group of settlers traveled by yawl to the mouth of the river with the intention of purchasing some corn and on the trip they were captured by Karankawa Indians. To save his life White told the Indians he would go up river and purchase some corn there, then return to trade with the Karankawas and rescue his companions. The Indians consented and White set out in his yawl. The agreement was that when White returned back downstream he would set the prairie grass ablaze ten miles inland so they would know it was him returning.

White returned to the settlement and told the others what had happened and a Captain Jesse Burnham raised a company of thirty militiamen who headed back downriver. They found White’s two companions sitting in a boat on the river who reported that the Indians either at the mouth of the river or across the bay on a peninsula. Burnham divided his men into two groups, one half of the men marched about a mile further down the riverbank, while the other remained where they were. That group set the prairie on fire and in a short time a large canoe filled with Indians was seen coming up the river. As they disembarked on the riverbank they were all killed.

A short time later the same tribe of Karankawas approached the settlers. They said they had grown tired of the war and that their numbers were diminishing in the face of Austin’s settlement and they wanted peace.

They proposed to meet Austin at La Bahia to make a treaty. Austin collected one hundred volunteers and met them at a creek four miles east of La Bahia where a treaty was signed by which the Indians promised not come go east of the San Antonio River and the Indians were as good as their word.

Comanche attack in CorpusThe treaty however, did not stop the Comanche

Indians from raiding the early settlements along Corpus Christi Bay. When Colonel H.L. Kinney settled his ranch on Corpus Christi Bay it was on the extreme frontier of the southwest settlements of Texas and as such was exposed to

regular raids by the Comanches.

In late 1844 seventeen Comanches under the command of a chief named Santa Anna attacked some houses on Kinney’s ranch and after killing or driving off the inhabitants retreated into the brush. Colonel Kinney with eleven men gave pursuit and after a few miles overtook the Indians on the open prairie. The men dismounted and the fight was on.

During the fight Santa Anna suddenly ran out in front the Texians line holding his shield of hard buffalo hide up for protection. The Texians all fired at him but their lead rifle balls only

rattled off the shield. It quickly became obvious why Santa Anna had done this. The Texans now all had to reload their rifles and while they did this the Comanches charged. Colonel Kinney alone among the combatants managed to mount his horse. Immediately one of Kinney’s men was killed, another speared with and shot in

several places with arrows. A young clerk of Kinney’s was speared and his horse killed. The colonel dragged the man up behind him on his horse as the same instant an Indian’s spear went completely through the rider spearing Kinney in the back. At the same time an arrow went through both sleeves of his buckskin hunting shirt.

While trying to get free of the spear another Indian drove

a spear though Kinney’s rider killing him instantly. Kinney drew his pistol and shot the Indian dead on the spot. The Indians could not compete with handguns in a close in fight and retreated leaving seven dead on the field with ten more severely wounded.

The fight was the first in a long line of skirmishes between Kinney and the Comanches during the early years of the Corpus Christi settlement. We will have more on Colonel Kinney in our next issue.

What are all the cameras we see mounted on utility poles at Island intersections?

Trivia Question of the Week

By Dale Rankin

18 Holes of

LibationsAmusements

Minature Golf

361 749- Taco (8226)2034 State Highway 361

One Bite & You’re

Hooked

Great Seafood

and Burgers

Open 11 am - 2 amKitchen Closes @ 1 am

Wednesdays Prime Rib with Twice Baked

Potato

Johnny D’s 15605 SPID n 949-2500

Hours:Open Tues- Sat 4:30 - 10 PM

Sunday 4:30 - 9 PM Closed Monday

We can cook your catch!

Featuring 7 Draft Beers on Tap

Happy Hour4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

$2.00 PintsFull Service Bar

Great Daily Dinner Specials

Located on Padre Island, Johnny D's offers Island dining at its best. Serving Corpus Christi with the freshest local seafood and culinary masterpieces, order the rack of lamb and you'll be calling your friends from the table! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 10pm and Sunday 4:30 to 9pm

15600 SPID On the Island 949-2500

HOURS-Closed SUNDAYS & MONDAYS TUES-SAT 4:30 till 10:00 Daily Features. Fresh Fish.

We will cook your catch.

Check our website for daily specials and more information

www.letseat.at/johnnydsrestaurant

Johnny D’s 15605 SPID n 949-2500

Hours:Open Tues- Sat 4:30 - 10 PM

Sunday 4:30 - 9 PM Closed Monday

We can cook your catch!

Featuring 7 Draft Beers on Tap

Happy Hour4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

$2.00 PintsFull Service Bar

Great Daily Dinner Specials

Located on Padre Island, Johnny D's offers Island dining at its best. Serving Corpus Christi with the freshest local seafood and culinary masterpieces, order the rack of lamb and you'll be calling your friends from the table! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 10pm and Sunday 4:30 to 9pm

15600 SPID On the Island 949-2500

Dystrophy and Community Volunteers Attend MDA Camp

They are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. And they run the gamut of everyday people.

From wide-eyed, first-year volunteers to big-hearted professional fire fighters, to expert nurses and doctors, they all come together for one cause: the joy, laughter and dreams of the children who annually enjoy Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Summer Camp in Rockport, Texas.

Since MDA’s first camp in 1955, thousands of volunteers from throughout the country have annually helped children with neuromuscular diseases enjoy extraordinary weeks at MDA camp. It’s no different at Camp Aranzazu in 2012.

Bowling? Got it. Soccer? Yes. Water games? Check. Arts & Crafts? Indeed. Camp dances, karaoke, swimming, and scavenger hunts round out the activities campers enjoy during their week at MDA camp scheduled for June 24th – June 30th, 2012.

“MDA summer camp is the week that our kids think about year-round,” said Sandra Pearson, MDA Executive Director. “For one week out of the year, they get to be in an environment where having a neuromuscular disease is the norm, not the exception. They have the chance to experience barrier-free activities and make friendships and memories that last a lifetime.”

The campers are featured guests in what is a loving and inspirational playground known as MDA camp. Stories are plentiful among the

long-standing volunteers, medical personnel and the children, who truly are the stars of each weeklong camp session. They will inspire you. They will amuse and amaze you with their stories of summer camp experiences.

About MDAMDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated

to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive healthcare and support services, advocacy and education. See the award-winning MDA “Make A Muscle, Make A Difference” PSA.

In addition to funding more than 330 research teams worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics; orchestrates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; facilitates extraordinary local summer camp opportunities for thousands youngsters fighting progressive muscle diseases. Known globally for the MDA SHOW of STRENGTH™, the Association is the first nonprofit to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association “for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.”

In the greater Coastal Bend area, people with muscle diseases can receive excellent medical and health care services through the MDA clinics at Driscoll Children’s Hospital and Christus Spohn Memorial.

Colonel Henry Kinney

Karankawa Indian Camp

Little Big BrotherThe London Daily Mail is reporting that remote

controlled surveillance drones disguised as tiny insects are already likely being deployed by the U.S. government.

They call them MAV’s – micro air vehicles – and according to the Mail they use the same physics used by flying insects and they fly in swarms which are not detectable by radar.

The story first surfaced in 2007 when reports of bizarre flying objects hovering above anti-war protests sparked accusations that the U.S. government was secretly developing robotic insect spies. A claim by officials that the little buggers were actually dragonflies, which they obviously were not, only made things worse.

Then the following year, the US Air Force unveiled insect-sized spies as tiny as bumblebees that could fly into buildings to “photograph, record, and even attack insurgents

and terrorists.” Around the same time the Air Force also unveiled what it called “lethal mini-drones” based on Leonardo da Vinci’s blueprints for his Ornithopter.

Granted that you have to be careful about believing everything you read in the Daily Mail but the University of Pennsylvania GRASP Lab recently showed off drones that swarm, a network of 20 nano quadrotors flying in

synchronized formations.

The SWARMS goal is to “combine swarm technology with bio-inspired drones to operate with little or no direct human supervision in dynamic, resource-constrained, adversarial environments.”

We’re not sure what that means but really how hard

would it be to disguise a flying drone as one of our pterodactyl 747-sized Island Mosquitoes?

Just because you’re paranoid that doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

Dale Rankin

June 21, 2012 Island Moon A 9

Left or right, you’re always home.

1

2

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Island Office (361) 215-8629

Hair Salon

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Amy Stylist

Real Estate RoundupBy Mary Lou White

As I drive the streets every day, I cannot help but notice all the new homes under construction. At work, the number of lots being

sold is a far cry from 2010 when lot prices kept dropping and we went weeks without any sales whatsoever. To address this dramatic change in circumstances, I have chosen to interview some of the Builders, who work on the Island and are heavily invested in our future. I crossed paths with Roland Bryant and he agreed to an interview, even though he does not advertise and follows the old adage…actions speak louder than words. If there is one profession that will keep you humble, it is the building business. Farmers and Builders have several things in common. They spend months investing hard work and money into an endeavor that will only pay off at some point in an uncertain future. Profits are NOT guaranteed. Unforseen circumstances can totally change the end result. Weather, world economics, product shortages and politics can all tip the scale towards or away from a favorable outcome.

The Early YearsUniversities teach many professions, but

to my knowledge, not one has a “degree” in homebuilding. Having spent my whole life surrounded by men, and a few women, who undertake this occupation, it requires knowledge in management, logistics, finance, legal, engineering, advertising, bookkeeping and psychology, to name a few. Builders usually start out slowly and gravitate to full time employment over a number of years. In the case of Mr. Bryant, he was raised in Corpus Christi, where his father was a carpenter. Obviously, if you are raised around construction and you watch buildings and homes being created from simple lumber lying on the ground, there is a strong fascination with the skill and creativity that is required to make that happen. After four years of military service with a stint in the Philippines, Roland attended college in Kingsville, Texas and worked in Pharmaceutical Sales for thirteen years, as he eased into the building business. He made the final commitment to full time building, 30 years ago, in 1982. Those early homes were pole houses built in Flour Bluff, containing about 1300 square feet with a sales price between $57,000 and $59,900.

Lessons LearnedAs with all things, experience comes into

play and certain situations become a consistent pattern. After building about 250 homes on the Island or in Flour Bluff, plus multi family units and commercial structures, Roland Bryant has determined which features work best to his advantage. He works primarily with Jon Hall at Prime Design to provide a floorplan that serves the needs of the buyers, to the best possible criteria. Features that sell well include a room with a small closet that can serve as an office, fourth bedroom or that can serve the buyer in whatever capacity they choose. According to Roland, the higher costs are in the kitchen and bathrooms. Those last few square feet, that can be constructed without extra baths or heat and air units, are relatively low cost compared with the advantages they provide to the homebuyer. His Island homes will always have the Master Bedroom downstairs and include a nice tiled shower in the Master Bath. Every phase of construction will be certified by a licensed engineer and checked by an inspector from the City of Corpus Christi, which uses the Southern Building Code. All special requirements for Island windstorm conditions are done without question. Building setbacks are checked and forms are set to prepare for the foundation. Water, sewer and gas lines are installed prior to the pouring of the slab. Roland is one of the few builders that always installs gas outlets in every home. Each outlet carries a price tag of $450, mainly due to the high cost of copper. Most all homes constructed on the Island rest on a “post tension” slab. Roland always uses hydraulic pump trucks to pour the concrete slabs, with a representative from the Engineer’s

office on site during the pour, to insure consistent quality and proper certification. He feels the extra expense is well worth the quality assurance. Once the lumber has been delivered, the framing carpenters can begin to construct the frame of the structure. Windows and doors are installed and the roof rafters are set in place. Roland believes the roof framing truly determines the skill of the carpenter. Knowing how to cut the angles and fit the joints of the roofing members requires years of training. At each juncture, inspections must be made, before any component can be covered and the next step undertaken. Once the roof is complete, the home looks fairly finished from the outside. However, that is only an illusion because many weeks of work are needed to “finish out” the interior. Wiring, heat and air ducts and rough plumbing must be completed and inspected. Then, insulation work is followed by another inspection, before sheetrock can be attached. The trim carpenters are next on the scene, to install cabinets, interior doors, shelves and all interior trim work and mouldings. Again, skill is the primary ingredient to a professional quality job. Flooring, final electrical, plumbing, and heat/air work, plus exterior driveways, walks, fencing and landscaping lead to a final inspection on four major components. The Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing. The ultimate prize is a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the City that allows the new homeowner to move in. Roland says he allows 5 to 6 months to complete the whole process. Delays are common when the builder has to compete for quality sub-contractors and city inspectors.

“Spec” Homes Versus Custom Homes“Spec” homes are just that. It denotes that a

builder is investing in a home and “speculating” that he will sell that home quickly upon completion. Years of experience have taught Roland that First Impressions are the key to success. Women immediately move to the kitchen upon entry and men immediately head for the “water”, if the home is on a canal. The next area of interest, for women is the master closet and for men the garage holds their attention. This process allows the “potential” homeowner to envision their possessions and their family inside the spaces provided by the builder. This same process is done in advance, when a builder sells a “custom” home. The homebuyer must be able to envision their future home from the floorplans alone and from previewing previous homes built by the homebuilder. Roland’s advice to potential “custom” buyers is to enjoy the whole process and assume it is an adventure. If it seems “fearful” or overwhelming then the buyer might want to consider taking another route to homeownership. Those years of experience do count for something. It involves assembling a list of quality subs that possess the age and skill to create a home for the ages. Being informed is a good thing.

Island Real Estate Ticker

8 Commercial Properties For Sale From $150,000 to $4,557,465

2 Multi-Family Units For Sale From $385,000 to $2,500,000

128 Island Lots and Land For Sale

55 Land Parcels on a canal or water From $99,000 to $1,850,250

73 Land Parcels not on the water From $25,000 to $299,900

230 Homes For Sale

118 Attached Homes For Sale From $42,500 to $495.000

112 Detached Homes For Sale

71 Detached Homes on a canal or water From $224,900 to $2,200,000

41 Detached Homes not on the water From $142,000 to $513,000

Hurricane Season updateNOAA models are indicating

conditions becoming more favorable for a tropical wave or area of low pressure entering the Bay of Campeche from the western Caribbean Sea by the end of this week. The models greatly diverge on how this feature evolves once it reaches the warm southern Gulf of Mexico waters on Thursday.   The South Texas weather pattern will transition next week as abundant Gulf of Mexico moisture  works northward from midweek to end of the week, where areas east of Highway 281 can anticipate scattered showers and thunderstorms through Saturday.   

The Island Gardeners awarded Terry and Cris Summers yard of

the month for June.  Their beautiful blooming landscape is located at

13842 Hawksnest Bay.  Please drive or walk by to see their colorful yard.

 If you know of a yard deserving yard of the month and The Island Gardeners has not found it yet,

please call Dianne Gimpel @ 949-7684

or Karen Easton @ 949-7736. 

Yard of the Month

A 10 Island Moon June 21, 2012

Home Remodeling and More...

28 Years Experience l Commercial & Residential

On The Island

Duane Ebert Cell: (361) 658-2459 Bus: (361) 949-0661

Member

Padre IslandBusiness Assoc.

Season’s Greetings & Happy HolidaysSeason’s Greetings & Happy Holidays

Home Remodeling and More...

28 Years Experience l Commercial & Residential

On The Island

Duane Ebert Cell: (361) 658-2459 Bus: (361) 949-0661

Member

Padre IslandBusiness Assoc.

Season’s Greetings & Happy HolidaysSeason’s Greetings & Happy Holidays

High Quality Work at Competitive Pricing!

27 Years Experience ● Commercial & Residential

On Padre Island Duane Ebert

361-658-2459 | 361-949-0661 decksanddocksnorthpadre.com

Member Padre Island Business Association

Just inside Port Aransas City Limits.Handmade Arts, Glassware, Clothing, Jewelry.

And much more… Come out & see us.“Don’t worry–You have a place for it!”

New Shipment Arriving from Oaxaca and Tlaquepaque!

Textiles, Blouses, Alebrije, Glass, Equipales & Paintings

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749-1828

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Huge selection of Costa del Mar sunglassesShimano

Yeti CoolersGuy Harvey Clothing

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Fishing Tackle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Rates, Best CartsBron’s Beach Carts located at 314 East Avenue G. Best cars in Port Aransas.

Great service, friendly people.

Call 361-290-7143 for pricing and reservations.

Bron’s Beach Carts

Island Shades•  CELLULAR SHADES•  PLEATED SHADES•  NATURAL SHADES•  ROLLER SHADES

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Trash Heap of the Week

A Floating Mess in the Cuttysark Canal

This week our Trash Heap of the Week goes waterborne. Residents along Cuttysark walked out on their decks Wednesday to find this giant mat of manicured and quite dead palm fronds floating around after someone trimmed their palm trees and used the canal as their trash heap.

We’ll have to hand it to them; it’s certainly a lot easier to just dump those things in the canal than to haul them off. The only problem they have now is they have to deal with Maybeth. Expect this Trash Heap of the Week to be picked up by the time you read this.

Night at the Flats

Get yours for only $19.95 plus $5.05 shipping and handling. Or you can purchase them at The Island Moon Markets held the fourth Saturday of every month. Shirts come in grey or white short sleeve T-Shirts sizes L. XL and XXL. Tank Tops come in Aqua and White in sizes Med and Large.

To order by mail please send your checks made payable to J. Park to The Island Moon, 14493 S.P.I.D., PMB 220, C.C., Tx 78418.

The Island Moon Newspaper T-Shirts are here!

$19.95While Supplies Last

Only