NNorortthh BeacBeachh NNeewwss Monthly Newsletter of the Corpus Christi Beach Association September 2008 Ike brings high water to beach

Next meeting Thursday Sept 18, 2008 4:30 pm Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com Pete Meyer and his son Kai kayak over what is normally dry sand in front of The Lanai Room at Radisson on North Beach after sea levels rose due to Hurricane Ike’s storm surge. The Breakers Many North Beach residents boarded up 4242 Gulfbreeze Blvd. which prompted city officials to recommend their homes or condos and evacuated Corpus Christi, Texas evacuation for all residents in low-lying during the days preceding Hurricane Ike, 78402 areas, including North Beach. which ended up tracking farther to the As it turned out, North Beach received Speaker: northeast and making landfall near flooding from storm surge during Ike but Galveston Island on Sept 13, causing little wind and no rain, although about 10 Kristi Pena severe damage in the entire Houston and inches of rain fell here over a three-day Public Affairs Specialist Galveston coastal area. While watching period before and during Hurricane Dolly with Corpus Christi media coverage as the hurricane made which hit South on July 23. Regional Transportation landfall, many North Beachers felt lucky to From Dolly, North Beach received high Association (RTA) have been spared the storm’s fury. winds and wave action. From Ike, moder- Early forecasts had the Category 3 ate offshore winds kept the shore break Agenda: hurricane heading towards Corpus Christi, down. During Dolly, and even more so Pledge of Allegiance during Ike, seawater levels on North Beach Speaker rose so high that the Promenade was Reading of Minutes Social Hour Menu Food by Sami Cameron covered and some streets were flooded. Treasurer’s Report ($5/person donation) The dock at the Old/New Business • Taco Soup where the Harbor Ferry ties up was de- Social Hour • Creamy Chicken Salad stroyed during Dolly, and plans to rebuild it are currently underway. Few if any North North Beach • Mini croissants • County Line BBQ Potato Salad Beach residents evacuated for Dolly, yet News Editor: • Shrimp Louis Pasta Salad many evacuated for Ike. For Ike, plywood Carrie Robertson • Anne Armstrong's cold slaw and hurricane shutters were seen on many Contact her to submit info • Desert Bars local homes, condos and hotels. “Better 361-883-7245 • Wine will be served safe than sorry” is the mantra of many [email protected] residents during the threat of a hurricane. North Beach News - September 2008 - page 2 North Beach set to receive $1,200,000 from Bond 2008 The Bond 2008 Final Project List has been finalized and #57 North Beach entry development - $200,000 posted to the City of Corpus Christi’s website online at A landscaped entrance to North Beach needs to be www.cctexas.com. constructed in the grassy area at Timon and Beach According to the PDF document on the website, Avenue to welcome people to the area. This entrance North Beach will receive a total of $1,200,000, much would have drought-tolerant landscaping, limited more than what the area received in improvements parking, and provide visitor information signage, beach from Bond 2004. use rules and historical facts. Although the North Beach area may also receive #58 North Beach sidewalks - $200,000 funding from city-wide projects, those specific to North North Beach is a tourist area and this project consists Beach fall under “Proposition Six: Park & Recreation” of construction of 8' wide concrete sidewalk with minor and include: curb and gutter replacement, shade structures and #55 Bathhouse near Lexington - $300,000 planting trees & scrubs of various species. It will This project will replace the restroom and bathhouse improve and make the area attractive to tourists by that was destroyed when the Lexington was brought in. providing safe walking areas. There is currently no place to shower off after swim- Those interested in helping to ensure that funding is ming and visitors have to use restrooms of area appropriated for these improvements are encouraged businesses which is a burden on the businesses. The to vote for Proposition Six in the upcoming November new facilities will include men’s and women’s areas elections. with restrooms, showers and other amenities. Another Bond 2008 issue that could affect North #56 Extend Promenade northward - $500,000 Beach includes a city-wide neighborhood park play- This project is a continuation of the promenade board- ground & park improvement bond for $750,000 under walk built with funding provided by the 2004 Bond Proposition Six, which could potentially be used for Issue. This phase of the project proposes for the constructing a new playground on city-owned land near Promenade to swing out and run along the vegetation North Beach’s North Pavilion and bathhouse. line farther toward the water. This will complete the beach promenade to the north end of the beach. Additional work will include benches installed for Truck stuck, driver fined comfortable sitting and viewing.

Sept 9, 2008 - (Above) A man driving a silver Nisson Frontier on the beach near Beach Avenue Park got stuck in soft sand. Police arrived and ticketed the man for driving on North Beach, which is restricted from all motorized vehicles. (Below) a tow truck pulled the pickup free and the man drove away. A police officer on the scene said the driver could end up paying about $400 in fines for the stunt. Photos : Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com

Eat free on your birthday! $12 value Now at two locations: 3117 Surfside Blvd, CC Beach 2753 West Main, Ingleside North Beach News - September 2008 - page 3 Rockport’s park could nix North Beach plans Corpus Christi TV and newspapers reported on Sept 4 that the city of Rockport will be the location of a new multimillion-dollar water park. Developers said it will bring hundreds of jobs and more tourism to the Rockport area when it opens next summer. The devel- oper of The Blue Lagoon Water Park reports that the park will include several theme rides on a 20 acre property, including slides, a lazy river and pools. Before plans for the Rockport water park was an- nounced, Corpus Christi city officials and potential The six beach cottages to be built by CCBA member investors had discussed construction of a water park on JoAnn Gilbertson look similar to these models. the north end of North Beach. Many North Beach residents were excited about the idea, believing it CCBA member plans would bring more tourism and project on Gulfbreeze development. But CCBA member JoAnn Gilbertson plans to build six a water park 1,000-square-foot “resort-inspired” town homes on going in just up North Beach. She hopes to break ground for the the road in “Beachcomber Cottages” which will be located on the Rockport could corner of Gulfbreeze Boulevard and Reef Avenue across nix plans for one the street from The Beach Place condominiums. here since it’s “It’s exciting to be the first person in many years to doubtful that the Coastal Bend could support two such start new construction on Corpus Christi Beach,” parks. Gilbertson said. She hopes that her project will be “the “I agree that the Rockport project, if it happens, will beginning of a beautiful beach-area transformation.” make it less likely that we will see a water park on Gilbertson is no stranger to North Beach – she owns North Beach,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of a local vacation condo rental business called the Texas State Aquarium. Schmid has been one of Corpuschristi-hotel.com. She and her husband moved North Beach’s main proponents, promoting several to Corpus Christi in 2006 from Fargo, North Dakota, different developments here including the rebuilding of after vacationing here the year before. “We thought, Paradise Pier on the middle section of the beach and ‘Why not live where you vacation?’” she explained. So construction of a large sports complex on the north end they sold their home and moved to Corpus. of the beach. “We were unable to get the city council The town homes include tile floors, french doors, to place the sports complex project in the bond pro- balconies, vaulted lofts and energy efficient metal gram; we have met with city leaders regarding loca- roofing. They will be built on stilts, pre-wired for solar tions other than North Beach for this project,” reported panels and be painted tropical beach colors. She Schmid. expects the first cottage to be complete by the end of December and says that the units start at $139,000. Calendar of Events For info call Gilbertson at (361) 834-1481. Sept 18 - CCBA Meeting, 4:30 pm in the Lanai Corpus Christi Beach Room of The Breakers, 4242 Gulfbreeze Blvd. Sept 26-28 - Bayfest outdoor music/arts festival. New location at McGee Beach downtown. Shuttles available. Online: bayfesttexas.com Sept 27 - Adopt-A-Beach Clean-up on North Beach sponsored by the Texas GLO and the Texas State Aquarium. Online: glo.state.tx.us/adopt-a- beach/ Oct 4-5 - Adopt-A-Spot clean-ups on North Beach with various local groups 361-834-1481 North Beach News - September 2008 - page 4 Fireworks bring families, fun, manhunt to North Beach North Beach provided an excellent view of the city- sponsored fireworks display for the 2008 Independence Day celebration held on July 4. Fireworks were shot off from the deck of the USS Lexington Maritime Museum at the south end of the beach, providing viewing from both North Beach and the Corpus Christi Bayfront. Earlier in the day, a parade was held along Shoreline Boulevard celebrating the country’s birth. After the fireworks ended, at about 11 pm, traffic became congested on North Beach as hundreds of motor- ists tried to leave at the same time. The traffic caused one Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com altercation that resulted in a The fireworks display from the USS Lexington provided excellent viewing from manhunt. Shortly after the North Beach. Compared to 2007 when rains postponed the fireworks, this fireworks display ended, years’s event was very successful and brought many to the beach. Pedro Gonzales, 31, jumped out of his vehicle, broke a window and assaulted another driver that he said had charges with bonds totaling $6,000. cut him off in traffic. Despite this one incident, many people enjoyed the According to a Mike Baird article in the Caller-Times, Fourth of July celebration on North Beach including police responding to the incident chased Gonzales many families who brought blankets, beach chairs, across the beach, where he ran into the water. CCBA snacks and beverages to enjoy the show. newsletter editor Carrie Robertson was still on the beach when the police arrived and watched as uni- formed officers skirted the coastline as Marina Patrol and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department boats prowled for Gonzales. He was found about midnight about 800 yards from the shoreline, one mile from where he entered the water, the article said. Gonzales was taken to Nueces County Jail on four On North Beach Therapeutic Massage in studio or in your home • Photography • Web design Pete Meyer Licensed Massage Therapist • Computer assistance 361.815.9754 On North Beach www.gbmassage.com 361.442.0628 4401 Gulfbreeze Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX 78402 www.thirdcoastphoto.com North Beach News - September 2008 - page 5 North Beach rocks with Texas music during ZiegFest 08

ZiegenBock beer sponsored a two-day music festival on North Beach July 25-26 called “Ziegfest.” The company CCBA member JoAnn Gilbertson, left, and her hus- held a similar festival at Lake Bryan over Labor Day and band Robin were two of several CCBA members who is planning one in Houston for Oct 4. volunteered to work the gate at the festival. For the North Beach festival, several CCBA members donated their time to sell tickets at the gates. In exchange, organizers pledged to make a $2,000 donation to CCBA. CCBA members who signed up to volunteer included Betty Black, Sami Cameron, Alexa Denck, Howard Fleck, JoAnn and Robin Gilbertson, Lea Lenahan, Wendy Pizzo, Lucy Reta, Carrie Robertson and Phyllis Thedford.

Festival organizers named CCBA as a beneficiary and pledged to donate $2,000 to the club.

The two-day festival attracted thousands of visitors The 19 different bands that played included Roger to North Beach, which brought income to local Creager, Joe Ely and Cory Morrow. In addition to businesses, as well as introduced North Beach to bringing two days of live music to the Burleson Beach many who had never been here before. Park area of North Beach, festival organizers provided portable restrooms and cleaned trash off the field where the concerts took place. “We are dedicated to leaving the area in as good or better shape than we found it,” explained Casey Lain, one of the organizers. Beautify Corpus Christi provided large recycling bins which aluminum cans were collected in. Originally, the event was scheduled to occur right on the beach with the city skyline as a backdrop. Due to high seawater levels from Hurricane Dolly, however, the concert was moved to private fields just inland from the beach, which were dry. Organizers paid the city a fee to hold the event, which included clean-up by the city. However, 10 days after the event, trash was still on the field where the event took place. After some phone calls, city crews were sent to clean up the trash. Festival organizers hope to make Ziegfest an annual The crowd seemed to really enjoy the music and the event on North Beach. Online at www.ziegfest.com. setting. Organizers hope to make it an annual event. Photos: Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com North Beach News - September 2008 - page 6 Neighbors work together to solve beach trash problem Despite heavy beach use and large amounts of trash being washed up onto the beach this summer due to recent hurricanes, North Beach is relatively clean this month. That is due to the combined efforts of the City Parks & Recreation Department’s trash crews and individual citizens. While the parks crews pick up trash on the beach and empty city trashcans about twice a week, many residents take it upon themselves to pick up trash during their beach walks and/or join organized clean- ups like the Adopt-A-Spot clean ups held the first weekend of every month or the Adopt-A-Beach clean ups held semiannually. Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com North Beach residents and landowners volunteer during a monthly Adopt-A- Where does the trash come Spot beach clean up held near the north end. From left: Al Alvarado, Alexa from? That depends on the Denck, Lea Lenahan, Pete Meyer, Sylvia Alvarado and her grandson, Ramon. weather. After a rain, much of the trash on North Beach is a result of litter washing off of city streets and being flushed into the bay through the storm-water system. Winds and currents drive the trash from the bay onto the beach. So a plastic water bottle on North Beach could have been thrown out of a car in downtown Corpus before being washed into the bay. Much of the trash is left behind by beach users who think that it is someone else’s job to pick up their trash. Many North Beach residents make cleaning the beach a part of their routine. CCBA member Bill Larkin collects beverage containers during his morning walks, depositing a plastic bag full in the trashcan at Gulfspray Beach Park before heading up to his condo. One Bag For The Beach – CCBA member Carrie CCBA members Carrie Robertson and Pete Meyer Robertson encourages people to bring one bag with adopted a section of beach near their home through them to the beach for trash. the Adopt-A-Spot program. In addition to their monthly clean up, they each bring a plastic grocery bag with them on their beach walks. “I call it, ‘One Bag For The Beach,” Robertson says, “which means that you remember to put a plastic bag in with the other things you bring to the beach. If everyone would pick up just one bag of trash when they come to the beach, our beaches would be sparkling clean. The way I look at it is, there are two kinds of people in the world – those who see a problem and take steps to fix it, and those who see a problem and shake their heads in disgust. I like to be the first kind,” Robertson explains. North Beach News - September 2008 - page 7 Homeless living on North Beach during summer Police step up patrols to help solve the problem Following complaints from residents about the large number of transient people sleeping and living in public areas on North Beach, police stepped up patrols in August, reducing the numbers significantly. “Some residents of The Breakers walking every morning, very early, saw at least six homeless men sleeping on the beach,” reported one resident. “North Beach is a tourist location. Photos this page: Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com This couple lived at Central Pavillion for weeks until complaints from Visitors taking a morning walk on the residents and media coverage prompted police to increase patrols. beach should not be encountering homeless people sleeping,” said another resident. eventually broke down. During the strong winds and Chief Bryan Smith, after viewing several photos of rain of Hurricane Dolly, they sought shelter in the car, homeless people sleeping on North Beach, replied, stranded in the flooded parking lot at Burleson Beach “Yes, we are having problems with transients in various Park. area of the city. They are difficult problems to deal Eventually, the transients moved on. In September, with. I will pass your concerns on to Captain Tisdale very few have been seen on the beach. and Commander Garcia for immediate attention." In the following days and weeks, more police pa- trolled Central Pavilion, where most of the homeless were gathering to spend the day under the shade structure. Some were sleeping there at night while others took their bedding out to the beach to sleep. Camping on North Beach is prohibited by the city, as a beach curfew is in effect from 2 am to 6 am. After police repeatedly chased the homeless out of the Central Pavilion area, three young transients moved two blocks to the south to Burleson Beach Park, where they erected a portable shade structure that they slept With increased police pressure at Central Pavillion, under at night and stayed out of the sun under during transients moved to Burleson Beach Park where they the day. They drove a small white sports car that erected a portable shade structure to live under.

The transients sought shelter in this broken down car Increased police patrols helped relieve the problem. parked at Burleson Beach Park during Hurricane Dolly. North Beach News - September 2008 - page 8 Hurricanes’ high water covers Promenade with sand Following elevated sea levels brought by Hurricanes Dolly and Ike, the mile-long Promenade sidewalk on North Beach lay covered in sand and debris. Bicycling on the Promenade was impossible and walking was not easy. Three weeks after Dolly hit, city crews arrived to shovel several inches of sand off long sections of the 10-foot-wide sidewalk. Workers said that long-term plans were to bring in bulldozers to push the sand that lay piled up beside the sidewalk farther towards the water’s edge. But before that happened Hurricane Ike brought high waters which covered the sidewalk again with sand and debris. Now, the City’s Parks & Recreation Department’s already overworked crews are faced with another big mess. Hopefully, they can clean up Ike’s mess quickly, Photos this page: Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com as having a Promenade available for exercising and The Promenade sidewalk on North Beach was cov- strolling is a quality-of-life issue for residents and ered with water during both Hurricanes Dolly and Ike which left sand and debris all over the sidewalk. tourists alike. City removes dead trees Ferry dock damaged

In early July city crews removed dead palm trees on North Beach. The 25 trees removed were some of the hundreds of trees planted last year as part of Bond 2004 that died from standing The Harbor Ferry operates on weekends this month water due to high tides last year. but no longer stops at the Texas State Aquarium. Wave action from Hurricane Dolly damaged the Harbor Ferry dock located at the Texas State Aquarium, but plans to repair it are under- way, according to aquarium CEO Tom Schmid. The ferry, which runs only on weekends this month, Time will tell whether the remaining trees will temporarily removed survive high seawater levels brought by Hurri- the aquarium from its canes Ike and Dolly this summer. Wave action from Hurricane scheduled stops. Dolly damaged the TSA dock. North Beach News - September 2008 - page 9 Local hurricane season strongest in August, September Hurricane Carla - Sept 11, 1961 Carla struck the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane, becoming one of the most powerful storms to ever strike the United States and the strongest ever to hit Texas. Carla made landfall on September 11, 1961. Due to the evacuation of over 500,000 residents the death toll was only 43. At Port Lavaca, Carla's wind gusts were estimated at 175 miles per hour. The total dam- age to property and crops amounted to over $300 million, with the heaviest losses sustained in the area between Corpus Christi and Port Arthur. The storm brought beachfront flooding to North Beach. Hurricane Beulah - Sept 20, 1967 Beulah made landfall on Sept 20, 1967, about 150 miles Hurricane Ike gave North Beach a scare when early forecasts showed it coming towards Corpus. south of Corpus near the mouth of the Rio Grande, however, damage from winds and tides was heavy on After experiencing two potentially serious hurricanes North Beach. In the Coastal Bend area there were fairly (Dolly and Ike) this season, many North Beach resi- firm indications of about 40 tornadoes. Electric service dents are paying close attention to weather forecasts was cut off to 8,000 customers in Corpus Christi. and tropical weather conditions. When tracking tropical Saltwater was moved up and forced storms, a good background on hurricanes that have hit shutdown of the Corpus Christi city water plants. Many this area of the coast might come in handy. Following is residents evacuated, and there were no fatalities in the a compilation of historical data about hurricanes that Coastal Bend area. On North Beach, Beulah destroyed affected North Beach during the 20th century. 178 buildings. Hurricane of 1919 - Sept 14, 1919 Hurricane Celia - August 3, 1970 The worst hurricane to hit North Beach was the Hurri- Reported to be the costliest in Texas history, Celia, cane of 1919, which was one of the deadliest and ravaged Corpus Christi on August 3, 1970. Celia hit land perhaps strongest storms of the century. With winds at Port Aransas, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass. The eye reaching at least 110 mph in the Corpus Christi area of the storm moved inland just north of Corpus Christi. and wave heights as high as 16 feet, the great storm Winds up to 161 miles an hour and gusts to 180 miles made landfall in Northern Kleberg County on Sept 14, an hour were reported. An estimated 13 persons died 1919. The day before, the Weather Bureau lost the near Corpus Christi. Officials estimated damage to hurricane in the Gulf, leaving residents and city officials commercial buildings, automobiles, and homes at more only guessing at its path. It is believed the center of than $500 million. More than 3,500 people left Corpus the hurricane made landfall about 30 miles south of Christi, and the low-lying regions of entire cities were Corpus Christi. An anemometer atop the Nueces County evacuated. Courthouse recorded a wind gust of 170 mph before it Hurricane Allen - August 11, 1980 was destroyed. On North Beach, only two buildings Allen made landfall north of Brownsville as a Category survived, and both took severe damage. Hundreds of 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph on August dead bodies and some survivors were washed to 11, 1980. Storm surge was reported as high as 12 feet White’s Point west of Portland. at Port Mansfield. Padre Island and Corpus Christi 1933 Brownsville Hurricane - Sept 5, 1933 sustained the worst damage. The region received 20 On September 4, 1933, this hurricane made landfall inches of rain and 250,000 residents had to be evacu- just north of Brownsville on September 5 as a 120 mph ated. Hurricane Allen spawned 29 tornados, one of the Category 3 storm. Padre Island experienced winds worst hurricane-related outbreaks. Three people died, gusting up to 80 mph. In Corpus Christi, the storm and property damage reached about $700 million. On caused moderate damage, including damaging boats, North Beach, Allen destroyed 210 structures. Because destroying the causeway from Padre Island to the of the storm’s destruction and intensity, the name Allen mainland, and creating cuts in islands along the coast. was retired from the Atlantic tropical storms list and will Corpus Christi flooded with 2-3 feet of rain in the never be used again for a future Atlantic hurricane. business district. On North Beach, Pleasure Park Pier was washed away, as was The Ship, a sailing vessel Advertise in the North Beach News! that had been renovated into a dance pavilion. Call Carrie at 361-883-7245 North Beach News - September 2008 - page 10 Welcome Back! Corpus Christi Beach Association takes the summer months off from its regular meeting schedule but is planning its first meeting of the fall on Sept 18 at 4:30 pm at The Breakers condos on North Beach. There’s a lot to catch up on after three months off, so North Beach News is extra long this month to accommodate all the editorial and advertising material we received. See you all at the meeting. - Carrie Robertson Carrie Robertson / thirdcoastphoto.com The view of North Beach from the causeway is always a welcome greeting. North Beach News editor MEMBERSHIP FORM CORPUS CHRISTI BEACH ASSOCIATION Mail form and check to: CCBA, PO Box 2361, Corpus Christi, TX 78403

Name: ______

Company: ______

Address: ______

City, State, Zip: ______Dues are $20/year for an individual, family or a business. Dues paid now cover the rest of 2008. Regular monthly meetings are held at 4:30 pm on the third Thursday of each month at The Breakers Condominium, Lanai Room, 4242 Gulfbreeze Blvd, Corpus Christi Beach

CCBA PO Box 2361 Corpus Christi, TX 78403