Inside the Moon

Island Holiday A2 On the Rocks A11 Snowy Plover A14 Three Chords and the Truth A16 Issue 872 The 27° 37' 0.5952'' N | 97° 13' 21.4068'' W Island Free

The voiceMoon of The Island since 1996 December 31, 2020 Weekly www.islandmoon.com FREE Photo by Debbie Noble Around The Flour Bluff Island 2020: The Biggest Island Plays Veterans By Dale Rankin What a year it has been Around The Memorial in Island. It has been a year of change and it seems 2020 in retrospect News of the Year Fourth Round of will be a tipping point in Island development. As things go our little Playoffs sandbar has fared better than many Water Exchange Bridge Island Grocery Store parts of the country as the Covid virus January 2 brought new visitors to our shores and Canal Set to Open many of whom bought property and decided to stay. Buc Stadium As 2020 winds down realtors, showdown contractors, mortgage lenders, and The Hornet Football Team beat appraisers report booming sales Victoria West 28-21 in Alamo with a lack of inventory becoming Stadium to advance to the Fourth a problem not only on Padre Island Round of the UIL State Playoffs. The but in Port Aransas and across the Hornets will play the Corpus Christi city. Condominiums have been in Veterans Memorial Eagles in the 5A big demand as well as empty dry Division 1 Regional Final Playoff lots which are now regularly selling on Saturday, January 2, 2:00 p.m. at in the $80,000 and up range. The Corpus Christi Buc Stadium. few waterfront lots still available are disappearing quickly and single- In the First Round the Hornets family home building continues at claimed a Bi-District Championship the brisk pace we have seen for the The new canal dug in 2020.. Photo by Jason Cox. with a win over the Brownsville Pace past several years. Vikings. The Hornets then defeated By Dale Rankin The project was five years in the making but as 2020 the Southside Cardinals 31-21 in The Year of Covid brought visitors wound down the IGA Market grocery store on SPID is the Area Round to advance to the Two of the biggest projects which began on Padre Island to The Island that had never been stocking the shelves and hiring employees in preparation Regional Semifinals then became in 2020 are related and both have been more than a decade here before and property prices for opening in early January 2021. Regional Semifinal Champions with in planning. comparatively lower than those the win over Victoria West. The project was plagued from its beginning in 2015 by in metropolitan areas across the In mid-2020 crews began excavating 3200 linear feet of state and federal regulations regarding the man-made state encouraged them to buy. As a new canal that will connect the existing Island canal Ticket Information wetlands where the Balli Center is located. Construction lockdowns began in cities across system to the long-awaited Water Exchange Bridge which delays related to the Covid virus and the newly installed Online Pre-Game Ticket Sales. Texas in the spring traffic across began construction in late 2020. By years end the new sewer line caused the projected opening of the store by the JFK Causeway reached peaks canal had bulkheads in place and work was well underway Public Ticket Sales began on November to be pushed back but as the year wound down at levels never seen before with on the Water Exchange Bridge. Wednesday, 12-30, and run through 86,000 vehicles in a single day. developers Lori and Moshin Rasheed have the store ready Midnight Friday, 1-1-1 Canal cont. on A4 to open its doors. The high traffic counts and packed Three years and up need a ticket area beaches led county officials to (student = 3yr old – 12th grade). restrict beach traffic and eventually Gameday Ticket Sales Begin at close beaches to discourage visitors. Bob Hall Pier Lively Beach Opens 12:30 p.m. on game day at Buc In this issue we chronicle the many Stadium. Gameday Ticket Price: new commercial developments Destroyed for Business on $10.00 Adults and Students on Padre Island. The year saw the CCISD Social Distance Seating first new waterfront hotel open its Guideline at Buc Stadium is as doors at Lively Beach and similar Zahn Road follows: developments underway. The biggest new projects are the completion of 4 People to a Group (Pod) / Mask the privately-funded canal to the site On Required of the Water Exchange Bridge along Only CLEAR bags are allowed in SPID and the beginning of work on stadium the bridge. Over time those projects collectively move forward plans No Re-Entry to Stadium once you that have been on the Coming Soon leave agenda for decades and should lead No Refunds to the development of a new marina on Lake Padre in 2021. Radio and Audio Stream Information The saddest story of 2020 has to be Hurricane Hanna tore the “T” structure off the end of The first new development on the Padre Island beaches the dismantling of the turtle rescue Bob Hall Pier in July and damaged the pier to the point The game will be be broadcast live since 1983 opened at Lively Beach on Zahn Road in 2020. program at Padre Island National the county officials voted in December to tear it down on the radio on 1230 AM and 95.1 The $20 million project at the site of the former Tortuga Seashore. The program and its and rebuild. The pier will be closed through at least the FM. Download the Tune in App and Dunes housing development opened as a hotel in August annual turtle releases have become summer of 2022 and likely longer as the current structure search Corpus Christi Sports Radio with 46 units. When complete Lively Beach will have 138 part of the heart of Island life but must be demolished and planning work on the new pier 1230 to listen. For live coverage of rooms available in six separate pods with 23 rooms each. for reasons they have not articulated has yet to begin. the game follow Flour Bluff Sports. the managers at PINS have decided Bob Hall cont. on A4 Go Hornets! to essentially defund the program to the point that it will not be the same beloved program. It is sad to see what is happening but there seems to be A little Island history little that Islanders can do to reverse the process. One of the lessons of 2020 is that 2020 Marks the Apex of the PINS Turtle Rescue Program the issue of traffic control on SPID between the JFK Causeway and Planned reduction in patrols, public releases, monitoring of nests and funding spell Commodores has to be addressed. The number of accidents has doom for the program as 2021 begins increased dramatically in 2020 as By Dale Rankin traffic counts jumped and the speed limit remained at 55 mph. When the 2020 looks to mark the end of scheduled for implementation in traffic light was placed at the SPID/ the Kemp’s ridley turtle recue 2021 will may mean the retirement Aquarius intersection city traffic program as Islanders have know it of the long-time manager of the engineers told the Island Strategic for more than thirty years. program Dr. Donna Shaver leaving Action Committee that at least one Barring a change in policy at the future of the program in doubt. more traffic light would be needed Padre Island National Seashore the The park service has not responded to to slow traffic between that location Sea Turtle Science and Recovery a request to rescind the cuts meaning and the Commodores intersection Program at the park faces severe they will take effect in the new budget and the number of serious crashes budget cuts in the 2021 funding year. there in 2020 bears that out. There cycle placing its future in doubt. At the heart of the looming cuts is currently bond money set aside to the program is a study issued in to rework the roadway, including The cuts which if implemented June, 2020 by the Regional Office the access road, from Jackfish to will see a reduction in patrols of the National Park Service and Commodores in 2021 and city monitoring the nests of Kemp’s competition for a portion of the $7.8 planners are also gathering traffic ridley turtles, a reduction, if not billion settlement from the Deepwater data for a redesign of the SH 361/ elimination of the popular turtle Horizon oil spill in 2010 between the Commodores intersection. releases which have been a staple of the park for decades, and the turtle rescue program at PINS and It’s been an interesting year and the stoppage of the long-held practice similar programs on the East Cost of pace of change here looks like it has of relocating the nests to safe the United States. moved into a higher gear –whether incubation areas to avoid them we longtime Islanders favor it or not. being in danger from vehicular Turtle releases like this jone will become a thing Hang in there everybody and say beach traffic. The cuts as currently of the past in 2021. hello if you see us Around The Island History cont. on A4 in 2021. December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 2 Holidays Around the Islands

Christmas Day at the beach. Deer on beach by Mike Thompson. Photo by Mary Craft.

Miss Sally is very much feeling the season to be jolly at Gratitude in Port A. Photo by Ronnie Narmour.

During a trip to Avignon, France, Diana Vondra was inspired by the whimsical Spoonbills By Morgan Faulkner. sight of trees, fences, and road signs covered in colorful yarn (yarn bombed). She immediately thought of Port A and began contacting friends for bollard Islander Andy Taubman visited Gater measurements and help planning. Country in Beaumont where Gary With blessings from Scott Cross and the Saurage, the owner showed him Big Boy Nueces County Coastal Parks department, the Gator who was recently recolcated they started 5 years ago with 82 Bollard from Port Aransas. Big Boy had to fight Buddies. This year marked the 5 year for his place in the pecking order, but now anniversary and has grown to a cast of complete, he is getting along well with the volunteers and supporters and a record local alligator crowd. breaking 211 creative and colorful Buddies. You have until March to get out to Horace Caldwell Pier in Port A to take some photos, take a walk, and make some memories. You can follow the off- season adventures of the Bollard Buddies by following them on Facebook at @ YarnBombingInPortA. MichaelPlaying from Bur 8-Midnight s Band Debbie Noble Free Entry Free Champagne Toast at Midnight

(361) 949-6744 Birds by Texas Surf Camps.

ballon drop and free champagne toast at midnight New Years Eve at

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Entrée choice (1 for each person) Drink Menu • 12 oz prime rib-garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed Sangria Long Island WWW.ARUBABAYRESORT.COM green beans Well rum, gin, vodka, rita mix • Blackened Redfish-lemonLorem ipsum beurre blanc sauce, dirty Top with sangria NO COKE NEEDED rice, sauteed green beans • Pork Osso Bucco-garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed Champagne Margarita green beans Sugar rim, gently shake and strain, no ice • Blue Corn Crusted Chicken with Chipotle Honey Tequila, champagne, triple sec, lime Glaze-garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans • Panko Crusted Flounder-poblano cream sauce, wild Padre Breeze rice, sauteed green beans Pineapple Infusion, with cranberry and pineapple juice

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ONLY 11 REMAINING TO SELL! (210) 418-4819 blacksheepbistro.net [email protected] | 361.331.0798 15201 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 3 Moon Monkeys Letters to the Mike Ellis, Founder Did Ya Hear? Editor By Mary Craft Business Briefs The Island Market IGA received their first 18-wheeler delivery of groceries Wednesday of this week. Looks like next week we might see a shopping cart traffic jam in the grocery aisles.

Distribution Paul’s Seafood Market will be getting Pete Alsop live crawfish on Thursday, December 31st. Island Delivery The cost is $5.75 per pound.The hours are Coldwell Banker 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and they will be open New Year’s Day. They have locations in Port A Advertising on Alister and in the Bluff. Jan Park Rankin Bob Hall Pier I read the letter by Tom Cullinan in the Classifieds December 24th paper. I have to say that I Island Market IGA gets its first delivery. Arlene Ritley completely agree. Surely County funds could Production Manager be used for other projects that better serve the Abigail Bair resident community. Let private industry build Doc’s Waterline is hosting a New Year’s Eve Party with entertainment by the Michael Burtts Contributing Writers and manage a pier that mainly serves tourists. As an island resident, I would much rather have Band 8 p.m. - midnight. There will be Happy Joey Farah a community park with a pool like the one in Hour pricing all night and a free champagne Andy Purvis Port A. toast at midnight. Mary Craft Stephanie Ewing Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce is Emily Gaines sponsoring a New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display Jay Gardner Dem Bums 7 p.m. at Roberts Point Park. Pastor Kris Bair The 1st Annual New Year’s Eve Party Todd Hunter Your Dem Bums column in the December 24th Shuttlin’ the Island will have a hop-on hop Dotson Lewis edition of the Island Moon brought back fond off route 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. The locations with Dr. Tom Dorrell memories. stops are Angry Marlin, Black Sheep Bistro with Ronnie Narmour I was born a mile from Yankee Stadium in 1942, music by Trisha Lynn, Pelican Lounge music by Jerry Ward & Friends, Snoopy’s, The Slip Brent Rourk but somehow became a Dodger fan. In 1955 we music by Ty Dietz and Costa Sur will have a DJ. The price for the Moon’s Padre Shuttle (not were living in Long Beach, NY. Interesting that affiliated with Island Moon) will charge $10 for the whole night. The stops will have drink Photographers I lived on a barrier island as a kid and am now specials, a backdrop for pictures plus more. You can find the schedule on any participant’s Miles Merwin (Emeritus) retired on a barrier island. Saw many games at Facebook page. Debbie Noble Ebbets Field. Will never forget the thrill of that JB’s German Bakery will have their last day on the Island Thursday, December 31st 8 am Jan Rankin 1955 Series. The Family moved to Los Angeles - 2 p.m.. There will be special deals including beef Rouladen and stuffed bell peppers (my in 1957 and a year later my beloved Dodgers Mary Craft personal favorite). Mike Marty will be on the accordion at 10 am. Baked goods will be half off followed. Talk about a happy kid. after noon. They will be opening their new location at 4141 S. Staples in about two months. Ronnie Narmour Office Security/Spillage Control (Emeritus) Brush set out on the Island is January 6th - 10th. The VFW Post Moore-McDonald in Port A has finally opened at 311 N. Alister. The Post was severely damaged by Harvey and the building was torn down.

Riley P. Dog

Publisher Dale Rankin About the Island Moon The Island Moon is published every Thursday, Dale Rankin, Editor / Publisher. Total circulation is 10,000 copies. Distribution includes delivery to 4,000 Island homes, free distribution of 3,000 copies in over 50 Padre Island businesses and condos, as well as 600 copies distributed in Flour Bluff, 1,400 copies on Mustang Island and Port Aransas businesses. News articles, photos, display ads, classified ads, The pic is of autographs I collected of people payments, etc. may be left at the Moon Office. mention in the book. It includes ‘55 Series participants Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese and The Island Moon Newspaper Yogi Berra. 14646 Compass, Suite 3 Thanks again for reviving the memory! Corpus Christi, TX 78418 Ted Mandel 361-949-7700 Studio [email protected] Hi Dale, Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper Thank you so much for the nice article about our little recording studio here on the island. Morgan and I do this as a hobby and do not charge for our services, so if there are any Where to Find The budding singer-songwriters out there who would like to be recorded, look me up I'm in Island Moon the book. And, all of our songs are on YouTube. Just look for the Morgan Baldridge channel and you can listen to our albums. Thanks so much. Port North Donald Flint Aransas Padre Three Dog Studio Gulf Stream RV All Stripes Stores Pioneer RV Black Sheep/ Beautiful Port Stripes on 1A Barrel Aranasas My Coastal Home CVS WB Liquor Store Dollar General Island Wine Room Doc’s Restaurant Kody’s Snoopy’s Pier Newly opened VFW Post Coffee Waves Isle Mail N More Moby Dicks Island Italian IGA Brooklyn Pie Co. Treasure Island Ace Hardware San Juan’s Restaurant Texas Star (Shell) Wash Tub Spanky's Woody’s Sports Scuttlebutt’s Center Restaurant Back Porch Bar Subway Shorty’s Place Island Tire Fisherman’s Wharf Padre Pizzeria Gratitude The Gaff And all Moon Trinity By the Sea retail advertisers Episcopal WB Liquor Flour Bluff H.E.B. Ethyl Everly Senior Center Stripes on Flour Bluff & SPID

Send letters and photos to editor@ Photos by Debbie Noble islandmoon.com December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 4 History cont. from A1 Canal cont. from A1 Initial funding for the bridge was approved by coming from bonds ($11 million), the Island Dr. Shaver served as the Principle Investigator In June, Padre Island National Seashore voters through a bond election in 2004 and the Tax Increment Refinance Zone ($4 million) for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural released a recent program review of Padre project was given up for dead at several points and the city’s Capital Improvement Fund ($5 Resource Damage Assessment for nesting Island’s popular Division of Sea Turtle during its evolution from underground culverts million for the lift station). The bridge project Kemps ridley and their eggs for five years Science and Recovery. for water exchange into a the current bridge is projected to be finished by early 2022 but with the goal of long-term restoration funding consisting of three support arches over a forty- could be in place by the end of 2021 marking for the species. The National Park Service review not only underscores the importance of this program foot wide waterway and two adjacent pedestrian the culmination of efforts from the Island The Kemps ridley population was severely to the park, but also outlines goals to paths. Strategic Action Committee and eight separate impacted by the spill in the Gulf but a review city councils. strengthen its mission, clarify its priorities, The total cost of the project, including a of the process shows that when the funding and expand opportunities for the program’s wastewater lift station, is $20 million with funds in the aftermath of the spill was doled out shared stewardship. the Trustees in charge of distributing money were from programs on the East Coast and The National Park Service’s only plan Shaver was excluded from the decision- forward is to strengthen the program, which making process. It wasn’t until a webinar is built by the support of our employees and much later that Dr. Shaver found out that the volunteers. project proposals that she had submitted were Sincerely, not included in the funding and that no long- term funding would likely be made available Charles (Chuck) Lassiter for the Texas sea turtle projects Chief of Interpretation and Education Instead a review of her program was launched Public Information Officer which resulted in the 51 page report in June, Padre Island National Seashore 2020. Not long after the release of the report, embraced by the current Superintendent of When we contacted Brunnemann last week Padre National Seashore Eric Brunnemann, for comment he referred us to the above which was in many ways complimentary of statement and to the regional park office the turtle rescue program, the Los Angeles in Colorado which did not respond to an Times reported that $300,000 in grants raised information request. Sources at the park say by the program and making up about 30% of overtime for the turtle program has been cut its budget were being diverted to other uses. off meaning that turtle patrols end at sundown The report contained language that didn’t and that beginning in the 2021 turtle nesting bode well for the future of the program. Since season some, if not most, turtle nests will be that time, park sources say, the park under left where they are found rather than being Brunnemann’s leadership has further reduced relocated to the safe incubation areas used in essential funding for the program including past years. Bridge location. New bulkheads under construction 2020. all overtime during the busy turtle nesting The only primary information coming out season. in the aftermath of the June park service The June report states: report came from a statement issued soon after its release by the Public Employees for The park’s sea turtle nest protection/ Environmental Responsibility (PEER) group relocation/egg incubation program can which Shaver has turned to for help and be credited for improving the science which has filed a request with the National and techniques for hatchling production. Park Service that the study on the turtle However, the program does implement very program be rescinded. But as the end of 2020 intensive and invasive techniques to reduce approaches and the new budget year begins potential egg and hatchling mortality on only the park service has not responded other than one percent of the worldwide population.” the above statement. According to the PEER Shaver is currently under a gag order from the statement PINS officials have already ordered park and could not be reached for comment, limits on rescuing stranded sea turtles and however, in the 2019 article in the Island reducing the number of public releases of sea Moon she explained the problem. As we first turtle hatchlings. In addition, the PEER report reported in June, 2019, friction between the goes on to say: turtle program at PINS and federal authorities Besides fewer hatchling releases, supposedly who control its funds goes back several to save money, Review actions include – years. Shaver said then that over the previous three years funding from the National Fish • Confining rescues of stranded sea turtles and Wildlife Foundation, the funding arm to park boundaries; which awards grants to programs across the • Discouraging further work with country based on policy recommendations threatened loggerhead and green turtles; from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration, has been cutting back on the program’s grant money. • Reducing nest relocations even where Water Exchange Bridge design. beach driving is allowed and eliminating “The NOAA rules don’t like the process beach patrols on weekends, when visitation we use of ‘relocation,’ Shaver said. “So the is highest. Bob Hall cont. from A1 National Fish and Wildlife Federation follows that lead and started cutting back our funding It further states that: Park Superintendent three years ago.” Eric Brunnemann has embraced the Review Word came in late 2020 that the Federal and ordered a 30% cut in sea turtle program Emergency Management Agency will not aid Relocation as applied to sea turtles refers to funding and other steps limiting program in funding the estimated $20 million cost of the process of removing turtle eggs deposited operation. rebuilding the pier. County officials said in on the beach by breeding females and December they plan to use the savings from a incubating the eggs in facilities like the one When we asked Brunnemann for a refinancing of county bonds to raise the money located in Shaver’s office and the turtle pins comment in June, 2020 we received the to pay for the new pier without the necessity of forty miles down the National Seashore, until statement quoted above. PEER alleges that a tax hike. the hatchlings are ready for release. Brunnemann did not share the NPS Review Bob Hall Pier today with Dr. Shaver before distributing it and “They want the eggs to remain in the sand announcing its implementation. PEER filed a where they are laid until they hatch,” Shaver legal complaint on Shaver’s behalf under the said in 2019. “But we can’t do that because federal Information Quality Act demanding we have vehicles driving on the beach. They that the Review be retracted “due to many started reducing our funding because we use misleading findings, inaccuracies, and actions relocation but I have told them until I am blue that violate law as well as NPS policy. One in the face that we can’t remove vehicles from of many issues is new restrictions placed on the beach at the National Seashore.” the scope of sea turtle research, in violation of Removing vehicles from the National the agency’s Scientific Integrity Policy.” NPS Seashore could be a violation of the deed did not respond in the 60 day window allowed restrictions in the conveyance documents for their response to the complaint meaning it granting ownership of the land at PINS to will take effect as scheduled in January 2021. Possible designs for rebuilt Bob Hall Pier as presented to county officials. the National Park Service possibly resulting Shaver told the Island Moon in the June, in the return of the land containing the entire 2019, article that by the budget year 2025 park to the Texas General Land Office who the program would be $600,000 short of its sold the land the National Park Service. Those budget. deed restrictions allow for the state to take ownership of the park land if the National “I’ve worked my whole career to make this Park Service restricts public access to the program a success,” Shaver said then “It’s park in any way, including but not limited to time to train the next generation of scientists driving on the seventy miles of beach. to take over. But right now I don’t know what we are going to do.” The June, 2020 report in effect says that the cost of maintaining the PINS turtle rescue So as 2020 draws to a close the future of program is too high considering that the the turtle rescue program is dire at best as Kemp’s ridley turtles nesting there make up Shaver nears retirement and administers at only 1% of the total worldwide population. the National Park Service and Padre Island Program supporters point out that the nesting National Seashore are moving toward budget grounds of the turtles in Mexico are volatile cuts that will leave the program struggling to placing the future of the endangered species survive, at least as it has operated for the past in jeopardy, the reason the program was four decades. founded at PINS. The PINS program began Barring a change of policy public turtle with releases of hatchlings on beaches there releases in the 2021 nesting season will be and over the decades the turtles who were eliminated or reduced to a single event putting released there have been tracked and some an end to what has become a tradition at the return to their beach of origin each year. The park drawing thousands of spectators for June report appeared to be the latest move in each event and signaling that the Sea Turtle the efforts to curtail the PINS program. We say Science and Recovery Program at Padre “appeared” because officials at the National Island National Seashore will fade into island Seashore are not commenting beyond this history. release they sent in June, 2020: The National Park Service would like to issue the following statement:

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Tides of the Week 2020 Tides for Bob Hall Pier December31- January 7 Island on the Move Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time Moon T he Year /Low Time in Feet Sunset Visible Th 31 Low 9:03 AM -0.7 7:19 AM Set 8:41 AM 99 T hat Was 31 High 6:37 PM 1.6 5:45 PM Rise 7:21 PM F 1 Low 9:44 AM -0.8 7:19 AM Set 9:29 AM 97 1 High 7:18 PM 1.6 5:46 PM Rise 8:22 PM Sa 2 Low 10:25 AM -0.7 7:20 AM Set 10:12 AM 92 2 High 7:41 PM 1.5 5:47 PM Rise 9:24 PM Su 3 Low 11:09 AM -0.5 7:20 AM Set 10:51 AM 86 3 High 7:59 PM 1.3 5:47 PM Rise 10:25 PM M 4 Low 11:57 AM -0.2 7:20 AM Set 11:28 AM 77 4 High 8:11 PM 1.2 5:48 PM Rise 11:26 PM The new Aruba Bay Waterfront Resort development on the east side of Lake Padre is nearing completion as 2020 winds down. The project includes a marina, and Tu 5 Low 3:26 AM 0.6 7:20 AM Set 12:03 PM 68 residential components and is being developed by Bright Star. 5 High 6:14 AM 0.7 5:49 PM 5 Low 12:53 PM 0.1 Flour Bluff Project Island Starbucks 5 High 8:20 PM 1.0 The Starbucks Coffee Company store opened W 6 Low 3:20 AM 0.4 7:20 AM Rise 12:28 AM 57 Kicked Off in 2020 at the Packery Pointe development at the 6 High 8:50 AM 0.8 5:50 PM Set 12:39 PM A new short-term rental recreational vehicle intersection of SPID and Aquarius Street in park located at 2926 Laguna Shores Road 2020. Construction began in mid-2020. 6 Low 2:12 PM 0.5 along the east side of Laguna Shores 6 High 8:23 PM 0.9 Road, south of Glenoak Drive, and north of Th 7 Low 3:47 AM 0.0 7:21 AM Rise 1:31 AM 45 Caribbean Drive, got underway in 2020. The development by Owen A. Norton covers 7.01 7 High 11:22 AM 1.0 5:50 PM Set 1:16 PM acres with 73 recreational vehicles sites. 7 Low 4:58 PM 0.8 7 High 8:12 PM 0.9

Hardknocks Sports Grill

2020 T he Year Beaches & COVID T hat Was Island Beaches Crowded Then Closed During COVID Pandemic Hardknocks Sports Grill on Padre Island is nearing opening as 2020 comes to a close. It will feature 14’x12’ projection screens, as well as, numerous TVs where more than 20 events can be viewed at the same time. As an added bonus a golf cart road “Hardknocks Drive” will allow parents to be able to pick up their Seashore Middle School students by vehicle or golf cart. There is a stairway connecting the two parking lots. Twenty-four New Homes at Porto Villageo on State Highway 361

Big Crowds packed the beaches on Padre Island and Port Aransas during early stages of the COVID outbreak. Staff Photo Copyright Island Moon.

Sign of the times. Easter Sunday on Padre Island 2020.

Area beaches were packed in the spring of 2020 as closures related to the Covid 19 virus began. Then as the crisis worsened the beaches for the first time ever were closed to the public to discourage travel.

They’re BACKKKKKKK Our Warm, crispy, delicious, hand crafted paninis are back on the menu. Choose from: • Fig Jam, Brie, Prosciutto The Corpus Christi City Council cleared the way in 2020 for the development • Sicilian Slammer of twenty-four single-family homes at the Porto Villageo development just inside • Caprese the Corpus Christi City Limits on State Highway 361. According to information provided to the council the developer of the project, • Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese listed in city filings as J3PV investments, is affiliate with the Cinnamon Shore developments just north of the city limits in Port Aransas and the new homes Served with chips & a pickle will be similar to the ones there. 14254 S Padre Island Drive Ste 101 | 361-589-4130 A6 Island Moon December 31, 2020 Senior Moments How Some New Year's Eve Epiphany Topography It’s 50 years ago last spring, But why should we be surprised? I have this Traditions Got Started Mr. Walmer’s English class. picture of Adam and Eve, fleeing from the Mr. Walmer stood about 5’2”, had really stubby Garden, crying, “My, how the topography has By Dotson Lewis fingers which he liked to use like a conductor changed!” Special to the Island Moon (we being his orchestra), and though he was Or Cain, holding a bloody knife over Abel’s Dotson’s Note: Whether you’re celebrating fermentation technique, however, according to quite bald on top, he maintained a moustache dead body, sneering, “My how the topography in Tokyo, Corpus Christi, New York, El Paso Imbibe Magazine. which he frequently rubbed under his nose has changed!” or Wurzburg, New Year’s Eve follows a pretty with his stubby forefinger. His mannerisms The use of champagne for celebrations has its were eccentric, his sense of humor wry, and And the Israelites in the desert after about the much similar procedure. People dress up in roots in the Christian ritual of consuming wine their best and/or loudest duds, break out the he was a genius, without doubt. He also made first week of the Exodus, wailing, “My how during the Eucharist as the blood of Christ. frequent jokes about his stash of Playboy the topography has changed!” bubbly and sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the stroke In A.D. 496, a wine from the Champagne of midnight. If it’s a particularly rowdy party, magazines (noting with a laugh, of course, that David takes aim and slings that little rock region of France was used in the baptism of he read them—we were not fooled). some other things may happen. Thanks to Tia the Frankish warrior Clovis, according to right at Goliath’s forehead, and when the Ghose, Anthony Aveni, , Christopher Merret, champagne.fr, a website run by the Champagne He was also a taskmaster—teaching only the giant falls, he yells, “Hey, guys, look! The Robert Burns, Kolleen Guy, Live Science and Committee of France. From then on, wines college-track students. If you’re reading my topography has changed!” (Saul, of course, Academic Press for the facts contained in this from the Champagne region were often used columns and enjoying them at all, you can refused to believe him.) report and to ……for the photos. at such religious events as consecrations, and thank Mr. Walmer. Job loses everything and all he can do is How Did These Traditions Arise? at coronations and soirees, according to the After four years of hard work with Walmer, sit on an ash heap and demand that God tell website. Many of these rituals have ancient roots and we were eager by April to give back! him why the Lord has unfairly changed Job’s topography. are similar around the world. It turns out that "After the French Revolution, it became a part Senior English was Brit Lit, and we were well many are designed to ward off evil spirits as we of the secular rituals that replaced formerly into that spring pilgrimage of characters known The Prophets warn Israel again and again enter the darkest time of the year, said Anthony religious rituals," Kolleen Guy, associate as Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Most of about changing topography. The Psalms are Aveni, an astronomer and anthropologist at professor of history at the University of Texas at us didn’t realize that the set-up had been put the people’s response to changes, or lack Colgate University in New York, and the author San Antonio and author of "When Champagne into place. When Mary Ann McCarter (the thereof, in topography. of "The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Became French" previously told Live Science. most ditzy of us, so of course, she grew up to The Angel Gabriel comes to Mary and says, Our Seasonal Holidays," "You could 'christen a ship' without a priest, be an FBI agent) raised her hand and asked, “Girl, get ready. Your topography is gonna for example, by using the 'holy water' of at the beginning of class, exactly WHERE AY SOUND champagne," Guy said. change!” So she goes to visit her Cousin Canterbury was, no one was surprised, least of Elizabeth, whose topography has already "This is a transitional period," Aveni told Live By 1789, the French had taken the two elements, all Mr. W. experienced an unexpected change, and they Science. "I’m looking at my window at all the the bubbles and their prized Champagne-region He rubbed his moustache violently and made commiserate. snow. The worst of it is just beginning because wine, and put the two together for royal parties some comments about “south-southeast of it’s winter. The sun goes away, and when the The rest of the New Testament testifies to and celebrations. Champagne, however, didn’t London,” but Mary Ann had been thoroughly sun goes away we have to get it back; we have topographical changes in the making then-- become the ultimate New Year’s celebration coached to keep pestering him, and finally he all these rituals designed to get the sun back." beverage until producers of champagne tried to and to be looked forward to. And they aren’t gave in to her and pulled down the wall map of all nice ones, either. From popping open a bottle of champagne to link the bubbly to festive occasions with family, England--on which, unbeknownst to him, was watching the ball drop in Times Square, here and the rise of the middle class increased the taped a Playboy centerfold. The point is this—the topography changes are the roots of just a few of the many New purchasing power of ordinary people. and either you adapt or you don’t. Those not in on the joke (me, included) sat Year’s Eve traditions. Auld Lang Syne gape-mouthed. Walmer held the bottom of the So make your expectations for 2021 accordingly. I wouldn’t count on that wall Smooch Your Sweetie Another classic tradition is to sing "Auld Lang map several long seconds with his back to us map to carry the same picture you saw on it Syne," a Scottish poem that was recorded on and then released the bottom rod. The map last time—topography changes. paper officially in 1788 by the Scottish poet snapped back up with loud flapping noises and Robert Burns. The melody itself, however, we waited, holding our collective breath. And you know what? THAT is the real is a much older folk song that was known in Finally he turned around and said with deep “normal,” more or less, in any year—even a Scotland, and the Scottish Museum set Burns’ seriousness, “My, how the topography has 2020 one. words to the tune when he sent it in. changed!” He rubbed his moustache again and This Sunday we’ll be remembering the "There is an old song and tune which has the class erupted! topographical change of Mary and Joseph and often thrilled through my soul," Burns said in “My, how the topography has changed!” that baby, brought to us by three Wise Men, reference to the popular melody in his 1788 who understood that changing the topography letter, according to the Burns encyclopedia. Landmarks falling apart in hurricanes. can be a very good thing. Worship starts at 10 Shopping malls deserted. Traffic at times a.m., livestreamed on the Island Presbyterian Burns admitted to drawing inspiration for almost disappeared. Masks everywhere. Church Facebook page, where you’ll also find "Auld Lang Syne" from an old man he heard Hospitals full to overflowing. Families a link to join us on Zoom. Come join us as we singing the song, and other variants of the song separated by social distancing and death. celebrate Epiphany—the topographical change had appeared earlier in the 1700s. Puckering up at the stroke of midnight is a Elections disputed. Facts rejected. Life turned that happens right after Christmas every year. venerable tradition with ancient roots. Many In English, the literal translation of Auld Lang topsy-turvy. cultures considered the transition from the Syne is "old long times," but it means something My, how the topography has changed! warm to the cold seasons to be an intensely more along the lines of "once upon a time." vulnerable time, when evil spirits could run With its touch of nostalgia, it soon became amok, Aveni said. a mainstay at British and Scottish funerals, Many of our traditions, including kissing, farewells and group celebrations. It didn’t make originally come from the English tradition of it across the pond as a New Year's tradition "saining," or offering blessing or protection, until 1929, however, when the Guy Lombardo during the period of Yuletide, Aveni said. orchestra played it at a hotel in New York, Yuletide was originally a pre-Christian Germanic festival that eventually became synonymous with Christmastide in Europe. Kissing*, in this environment, was thought to bring good luck as people entered the vulnerable, transitional period of the New Year, Aveni said. "You want to be closest to those who support you," Aveni said. A Bit of the Bubbly

Work on the Riley P. Dog Park got underway in 2020. The park on city land at the west end of Whitecap is scheduled to be open by the summer of 2021.

Above, is a Monkey, not a Moon Monkey, singing "Auld Lang Syne" *Dotson’s Other Note: Boy oh boy! Did it do it for me! 12 o’clock (midnight), December 31st 1949/January 1st 1950, in Sugamo Prefecture, Japan. I would like to hear your favorite story(s); Popping champagne corks at the stroke of I am compiling a celebration memories book midnight is a mainstay on New Year’s Eve, and would like very much to have yours. Thanks whether at swanky parties or home celebrations. for reading and commenting on the articles in In general, overindulgence and excess are The Island Moon. Contact me at dlewis1@stx. hallmarks of New Year’s celebrations around rr.com or call/text: 530-748-8475. the world, Aveni said. But when exactly did Please note: The Weekly Veterans Round Table the peach-colored, bubbly beverage become Meetings will resume live on January 9, 2021 at synonymous with New Year’s Eve? Del Mar College CED (masks required) in Room Despite its French name, champagne’s signature 106 and not on Zoom, on Tuesdays 9-11AM. All fizz traces its origins back to England in the veterans, their families and anyone interested 1500s, according to "Wine Science: Principles in veterans’ activities, are invited. The Veterans and Applications" (Academic Press, 2008), Radio Round Table is on the air on KEYS AM Live Science previously reported. [Champagne 1440 & 98.7 FM, 8 – 10 a.m., Saturdays. The Facts for the New Year (Infographic)] next show will be January 2, 2021. Please listen and call in or text. The listener/text line At that point, people figured out how to create is: 361-882-5397…It’s your two hours, please bubbly bottled drinks. In 1662, Christopher let us hear from you. Merret reported to the Royal Society of London that adding sugar to bottled wine created a fizzy beverage, thanks to the yeast in the wine, which consumed the sugar to produce carbon dioxide. It took about a century to perfect the Marine Masters Mobile Marine Service We’ve been providing Certi ed Technicians quality marine repairs at • Yamaha • Honda your place since 2001. • Suzuki • Mercury • Evinrude • Mariner Operator Owner • Johnson • Volvo Jon Reynolds

Sargassum weed washed up on the beach north of Packery Channel in early June. They 361-949-7570 361-728-1745 were the first big mats we have seen in a while. Photos courtesy of Jace Tunnel and [email protected] Corpusfishing.com. A7 Island Moon December 31, 2020 Cinnamon Shore South Breaks Ground on Resort- 2020 Style Pool Complex T he Year

T hat Was The Island Moon will turn twenty-five in 2021. The paper began publication in 1996 and went from a fortnightly to a weekly in January Cinnamon Shore South on State Highway 2012. 361 in Port Aransas broke ground in 2020 on its new swimming pool complex and at years end the $1.3 billion expansion at the new site is Padre Island Got an Islander Finds Waterpark Ride well underway. Art Gallery The new heated, pool is set to open in May Message in a Bottle Comes Down of 2021, and will feature a landscaped, resort- A place for Island artists A work crane removed style setting. The development is being done From the Caymans to most of the Padre by the Sea Oats Group and CEO Jeff Lamkin. to sell their work Plunge ride at Waves Cinnamon Shore South, known as “South,” is Kleberg in five years Resort in 2020. The located one mile down the beach from its sister community, Cinnamon Shore North. With 150, Longtime Islander David Hoffmann was ride never re-opened Gulf-side acres, South is about three times walking along the beach in Kleberg County after Hurricane Harvey. larger than the original community, which was when he found a clear glass bottle with a note The “Waves” sign also established in 2007. Aside from the pool the inside. The note read: came down in 2020 as development will have a 14-foot-wide dune the park failed to open crossover, a 7-acre lake, a 1-mile, lakeside trail, for the summer season and a Town Center with restaurants and retail. and rocks were put in place to block access to the property. As the year winds down the future Harbor Bridge to of the park and the property is still unknown. Mustang Island Reef Barges Removed 10.4 miles from Packery From San Jose Channel Island

“Hello, Padre Island Art Gallery owner Debra My name is Avery Posner. I am 3 years old. I Nichols, right. put this bottle into the ocean on Grand Cayman on June 7, 2015. The Kinta was sunk at the reef site. The Padre Island Art Gallery opened its doors Please let me know when and where you found in 2020 giving Island artists a place to show and my bottle and note. Concrete portions of the Harbor Bridge that sell their work. The gallery is the brainchild soared over the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Thank you.” of Island artist Debra Nichols who owns the since 1959 are now under eighty feet of water The bottle and its message now reside at the as part of a 160-acre artificial reef 10.4 miles gallery with a partner. The gallery sells the work Six barges left on St. Jose Island by of local artists on a consignment basis. Island Moon office. east-north-east of Packery Channel. They were Hurricane Harvey were removed in 2020. added in 2020 to the Japanese ship Kinta which was sunk there in 2014. A8 Island Moon December 31, 2020 SPORTS Sports Talk Special to The Island Moon The Magic of the Knuckleball Best Bowl Games By Andy Purvis By Dotson Lewis “It’s like watching Mario Andretti park a car,” Virginia and had slipped into a coma. Joe and Dotson’s Note: The following are my top three, and-two near midfield instead of punting. said Ralph Kiner. “It giggles when it goes by,” Phil spent every off day traveling back and I could list at least 25, but don’t have the space. LenDale White was stuffed after gaining only laughed Rick Monday. “Trying to hit it was forth to be with their dad. During one of these Thanks to Bill Morgan (former SWC SID) for one yard and the Trojans turned the ball over to like trying to eat Jell-O with chopsticks,” stated visits, Joe mentioned to Phil that he had heard the facts contained in this report and to Bill Texas with 2:13. This was a highly criticized Bobby Murcer. What are these guys talking that even patients in a coma can sometimes be Morgan for the photos. decision since it now gave Young and the about? Phil Niekro’s knuckleball, that’s what. aware of their surroundings and what is being Longhorn offense a short field to work with. What kind of pitch did you expect from a guy said. So, the Niekros asked their dad to blink 3. 2003 Fiesta Bowl: #1 Miami who was born on April Fool’s Day? Phil and his if he could hear them and to their amazement, Hurricanes vs. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes Facing a tired USC defense that had not shown younger brother, Joe, learned how to master the he blinked. Then he raised his arm and brought they were capable of stopping Vince Young’s knuckleball, in their backyard, from their dad, it back down. The boys scrambled to find a rushing attempts all day, the momentum was Joe Sr. To this day, Phil’s 318 career wins are pencil and paper. Remarkably with time, their back on Texas’ sideline. Young used the same the most ever recorded by a knuckleball pitcher. dad scribbled these two words, “Win happy.” script from the last scoring drive as he calmly Add Brother Joe’s victories and they have a Phil automatically takes this to mean he needs led his team deep into Trojan territory. When total of 539 wins together, the most combined to return to New York and make history by facing the pinnacle play of the game, a fourth- wins by brothers in Major League baseball. collecting his 300th win and therefore make his and-five from the 8-yard line, Young took the father happy. ball himself for the touchdown run. Only twenty-four pitchers have reached the 300-win milestone and all are in the Hall of On the last game of the season, with 299 wins, When college football fans think of Then for an encore, he rushed again for the Fame except Roger Clemens. Between 1982 Joe and Phil make a deal. Phil will start the controversial games, this one should be at the top two-point conversion making the score 41-38 in and 1990, six new members joined the 300- game and Joe will come in and save the game, of everyone’s list. These elite and undefeated favor of Texas. Young was 9-for-13 passing and win club. They are as follows: Gaylord Perry, so both will be associated with Phil Niekro’s programs battled for four quarters before things rushed for 45 yards on their final two scoring Phil Niekro, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Don milestone. The Yankees jump out to a 7-0 lead became “must-see-TV.” Miami (12-0) lost their drives. Sutton, and Tom Seaver. Not too bad a group to through eight innings and Phil’s 300th win star running back Willis McGahee to a nasty USC had the ball back with only 19 seconds be associated with. It must be pointed out that looks to be in the bag. In the top of the ninth injury late in the game, but tied the score at 17 left and although they were able to get to the these pitchers benefited from raised pitching inning, the Yankees score again. In the bottom with Todd Sievers’ 40-yard field goal at the end Longhorns’ 43-yard line, a field goal from this mounds and increased use of relief pitchers, an of the ninth, Phil recorded the first two outs, and of regulation. distance was highly unlikely. The very next play expanded strike zone and new stadiums, which in trots Joe Niekro to close it out. But it’s not suppressed offensive production. to be. Joe comes out as the pitching coach and The Hurricanes controlled the ball first in time expired on an incomplete pass and Texas refuses to take the ball from Phil and informs overtime and scored five plays into their mobbed the field. Final score: 41-38. him that if he gets another out, he will be the possession when Ken Dorsey connected with 1. 2007 Fiesta Bowl: #8 Boise State oldest pitcher in Major League history to throw Kellen Winslow for a seven yard touchdown. Broncos vs. #10 Oklahoma Sooners a complete game shutout. Joe then suggests in Ohio State (13-0) needed 10 plays, including jest that Phil give the batter an intentional walk, a 17-yard conversion on fourth-and-14, and a as he heads to the dugout. Phil Niekro used his huge controversial call going their way to keep famed knuckleball on the final pitch for the win. the game/drive going. While walking off the field after the game On fourth-and-3, quarterback Craig Krenzel was over, Joe ran into his brother’s arms with attempted a pass to Chris Gamble, but it was a message about their dad. The hospital had broken up by Miami’s Glenn Sharpe. Miami allowed George Steinbrenner and the Yankees started to celebrate when a flag was thrown to broadcast the game through the telephone (late) for pass interference. A few plays later, This matchup was billed as “David vs. Goliath” lines and into their father’s hospital room. Krenzel scored to tie the game, 24-24. as the undefeated Boise State Broncos (12- Their mother listened to the broadcast by Phil In the second overtime, Ohio State did not need 0) from the unheralded Western Athletic Rizzuto and Bill White and relayed the events any theatrics on their opening drive, scoring Conference took on one of college football's as they happened to their father. During the on a Maurice Clarett five-yard touchdown most elite programs: the Oklahoma Sooners seventh inning, Joe Sr. had awakened from his run, making it 31-24 Buckeyes. Needing a (11-2). What proceeded was one of the most coma, turns to his wife and said, Sonny (Phil) touchdown to send the game to a third overtime, unbelievable game I have ever witnessed. But this story is not so much about wins as is pitching a pretty good game.” Their father Miami had first-and-goal from the one-yard The Broncos built a 28-10 lead midway it is about the things that really matter, love, continued to get better and lived two more line. After two unsuccessful rushing attempts through the third quarter before the Sooners faith, family, and fate. All the truly good stories years, including being able to watch Joe pitch and an incomplete pass, they faced fourth down. came storming back. Oklahoma ripped off three begin and end in the heart. You see, as Phil in the 1987 World Series with the Minnesota Dorsey scrambled and threw the ball in unanswered scores (and needed three attempts moved closer to the magic 300-win plateau, Twins. Steinbrenner saw an opportunity to magnify desperation but it fell to the ground as Ohio for a successful two-point conversion due to Phil Niekro left us on December 26, 2020. the event. The “Boss” loved nothing more than State players poured out onto the field to penalties) to tie it, 28-28 with 1:26 remaining Phil had been suffering from cancer and died touting his Yankees. In September of 1985, celebrate their controversial 31-24 national in the game. in his sleep. championship. the Yankees traded for Phil’s brother, Houston After receiving the ball, Boise State quarterback Astros pitcher, Joe Niekro. Andy Purvis is a local author and radio 2. 2006 Rose Bowl: #1 USC Trojans vs. Jared Zabransky’s very next pass was intercepted personality. Please visit www.purvisbooks.com #2 Texas Longhorns and returned for a touchdown giving Oklahoma for all the latest a 35-28 lead with only 1:02 on the clock. info on his books The Sooners’ sidelines were in pandemonium or to listen to the due to the 25 unanswered points, and had new radio podcast. confidence that their defense could hold on for Andy’s books are the victory. available online and can be found On Boise State’s ensuing possession, they were in the local Barnes faced with converting an improbable fourth- & Noble bookstore. and-18 from the 50 with 26 seconds left. Andy can be The undefeated and top-ranked USC Trojans Zabransky passed complete to receiver Drisan contacted at purvis. (12-0) faced the second-ranked and also James for 15 yards and then James lateraled the andy@mygrande. undefeated Texas Longhorns (12-0) in an epic ball to Jerard Rabb to pull off the "hook-and- net. Also listen to clash for the 2006 National Championship. ladder" play as Rabb ran the remaining 35 yards sports talk radio on Neither team faced a deficit more than 12 and dove into the end zone to tie the game in Dennis & Andy’s points in this closely contested back-and-forth jaw-dropping fashion. Q & A Session scoring affair. USC, led by quarterback Matt from 6-8 PM on In overtime, it took only one play for Adrian Leinart and running backs LenDale White and Sportsradiocc.com Peterson and Oklahoma to get back on top, as he Reggie Bush, trailed Vince Young’s Longhorns 1230 AM, 95.1 and ran 25 yards for the touchdown. After driving to 10-16 at halftime. The third quarter saw the 96.1 FM. The home the six-yard line the Broncos needed to convert Trojans pull back into the lead, 24-23 after two of the Houston Astros. a fourth-and-two to keep the game going. The During this time, their father, Joe Sr., was White rushing touchdowns. Boise State coaching staff reached into their bag sick and had been placed in a hospital in West In the final quarter with 6:42 left, Texas of tricks once again: wide receiver Vinny Perretta fell behind even further, 26-38 when Leinart had the ball tossed to him and it appeared the connected with Dwayne Jarrett on a 22-yard play was a run until Perretta lobbed the ball over scoring strike. Now it was time for Vince the defense and found Derek Schouman for the Young to take over this game, much like he did touchdown. Catch of the Week in the 2005 Rose Bowl. He dink-and-dunked Down 41-42, most teams would kick the extra his way down the field with short passes and on point and send the game into a second overtime. his second rush of the drive he found the end Not the underdog Broncos. They lined up for zone with a 17-yard dash. Texas trailed 33-38 a two-point conversion to win it all. Zabransky with 4:03 remaining. took the snap and faked a throw to the right side On USC’s next possession they gambled and where he had three receivers set, but instead he tried to ice the game by going for it on fourth- handed the ball off to Ian Johnson with his non- throwing hand for an unbelievable scoring play known as the “Statue of Liberty.” Boise State wins 43-42. This game had it all: High powered offenses, interceptions returned for touchdowns, multiple trick plays, and even a marriage proposal at the end. Dotson’s Other Note: Boise State vs. Oklahoma edges out the competition for the best BCS bowl game because it reads like a Hollywood script and it will be tough to replicate this kind. Don’t forget to send me you top Bowl Games lists. Suggestions and/or comments, please call, text and/or email me. Email: [email protected] Mobile: 530-748-8475 -30- Have Fun and hang in there

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December 31, 2020 Island Moon A11 The Island Outdoors On the Rocks Backwater Adventures By Jay Gardner By Joey Farah Geez Louise, what a year! Changing gears, the water in the Laguna has not Farah’s Fishing Adventures I’m not even going to attempt come back up recently, and we’re not expecting to land this year-end puppy, it to any time soon. I ran into fellow Moon So many things to be grateful for this New made it back. We took her back safely, don’t because it can’t be done in this space, and it Monkey Joey Farah the other day, and we each Years, number one is that 2020 is over! The last overlook caution. can’t be done appropriately with giving the mentioned the low water but didn’t have time ten months have been a drastic change in life as Fishing in a stinging wind I’ve had some proper attention to losses, deaths, bad juju, to tear off into the subject. He did mention that we knew it, more important how our children slam dunk trips fighting limits of black drum. births, changes, evolutions of society, beauty, the boat rescue folks have been prevalent on the are growing up compared to ourselves. Keeping These big strong and tasty fish are schooling wins, achievements, and fragility of things water lately, and I mentioned that folks who are them in the outdoors in hunting, fishing, and in the bays around the deep natural guts and we’ve all seen and experienced. I don’t need to driving by “video game” (GPS) are getting into water sports is the best way to keep the American channels along the Flour Bluff shoreline. In tell you that the “new norm” is not necessarily trouble due to lower than normal water levels. Way of life together in these challenging times. Port A, the edges of the Redfish Bay Area in what many of us wanted or expected, but glass You can’t drive your same tracks all year long. Starting this New Year’s celebrate our freedom the Lydia Ann Channel are full of drum along half full or go crazy? There are standing islands of seagrass in the by getting out and enjoying some awesome the drop off. With live shrimp scarce get the middle of the flats that I haven’t seen there in I know, starting out an article on an ethereal winter fishing! best quality dead shrimp you can find. Marker decades. This the some of the lowest sustained plane of consciousness leaves a lot to be 37 has flash frozen shrimp that water levels that I’ve seen in quite awhile, and expected in the second paragraph, however, it’s are perfect, as well as HEB. I suppose that it goes along with the highest been quite a ride. Those of us still six feet up Don’t waste time and money water levels as well. Global warming is real and not six feet under have a lot to be thankful on pounds of nasty orange dead folks, we had better get used to it. for, and hopefully a lot to look forward to. shrimp. The sand trout have Those of us still around just keep trudging along Dr. Phillipe Tissot is closely monitoring the migrated into the bay now and through our days and weeks with our tasks and temperature of the Laguna in anticipation of a are thick around both the JFK chores, but we have to keep in mind of future cold stunning event that might affect the green and Packery Channel as well goals and good times ahead. Alas, I slipped sea turtles that have become very prevalent in as all the docks and shorelines right back into waxing poetic. Enough drivel our local waters. The number of green turtles of Port A. Use small pieces of Jiggity Jay. that have moved into the bays have been just dead shrimp, squid, and dime short of staggering over the past few years; they Business first: next week we are supposed to size pieces of cut bait. Bottom are basically everywhere now. When I was get cranked up with the first ISAC meeting of rigs with a size 2-5OWNER fishing with rockstars Ty Dietz and Matt Hole the year. We had some forward momentum Circle hook. the other day, we saw at least a half dozen in at the last meeting, and we will get it back on Those calm days on the water the small space we were fishing. If the water tracks and down the road to meet the goals have found me throwing soft temperature will cool down slowly over a few that we are expected to accomplish over the plastic lures along all the fronts, then the turtles will find their own refuge coming meetings. Our Councilman Greg Smith channels in the Laguna Madre and be fine. If we get a blue norther and we hit recently iterated that our charge still stands and Ella started her day off with this great black drum, winter and the natural deep flats in 3-5 near freezing water temps suddenly, then they I’ve heard from other people within the City feet of water. My best colors have will be in trouble. Stay tuned to the weather, drum fishing is in full swing along our Island! that they are looking to us to finish the work that now switched to the brighter and if you’re on the water when it’s cold and has been started regarding short term rentals. see lethargic turtles, call the Texas Stranding We need to pass that baton to the next level and The game plan I have been Network at 1-866-TURTLE5 or the Sealife get on to renewing the TIRZ #2 and repairing following in the past few Center at 361-589-4023. the Packery Channel and other big projects weeks has put limits of fish looming on our horizon here on the Island. I’m Well folks, gotta run for this week. The break in my box and some great hoping that ISAC committee members have has flown by too fast with family and tasks and trophies in hand. With the already turned in their homework regarding the chores, and the wintertime projects that I always changing winter weather I Area Development Plan to the City as I have, write about and never get done. I haven’t even have to be able to adapt to and that all Islanders have been online to the started that list this season. Ha! Drop me a line all conditions. Playing your City’s website and submitted their comments at [email protected], have a happy and best hand at the right time regarding the draft plan as well. We will be safe New Year, and we’ll see you next week On is everything in the Coastal covering that next week as well as the rest of the Rocks! Fishing Game. Here are a a robust agenda. Maybe one of these days we few good hands. will meet in a truly public forum again, but for Windy cold front days now, we must get business done. require a sound vessel, this time of year mistakes made on the water can take lives quickly. Just a few frantic minutes in cold water and weather can bring the best of athletes to their demise. Long time Local Mr Fred Fox took his family out for some Never be ashamed to wear fishing and hung this giant black drum on peeled shrimp with a lifejacket. This week I Capt Joey Farah. Humble channel. saved a young lady that was kayaking from the canals out in the Intracoastal. She had no lifejacket, chartreuse, pearl, white, and pinks. These are and was only wearing a bikini! She looked great the natural colors that bait fish turn when they stroking her canoe along with the swift current are cold. My go-to is the 3/8ths ounce short and wind. We passed her around Doc’s two shanked Jog Head from DOA on the smaller 3” miles downwind of home, she would not have DOA CAL SHAD. This isn’t a sales speech it’s just what works best every day on putting fish in the box when working the edges of the ICW canal. With each cast imagine your bait having to fall farther down towards the bottom each time you bring it out away from the shallows. The next three months are a special Baltimore Orieloes in Port Aransas. Photo by Texas Surf Camps. time for saltwater anglers. These are the days of stalking the shallows on foot or drifting across shallow mud flats, hitting the largest of speckled trout, at their heaviest. This is the best time to land that trophy trout of a lifetime. It’s not easy and most of the pictures you see are not really the classic 30” fish. These are the days when we strategically enter the area My New Mexico Peeps with a trout and drum slam!! knowing the water, the bottom, and Great winter family fishing is here! the daily habits of the fish, not just lining up and walking and casting. Just as trophy hunters stalk wild game, I teach my customers to fish one cast at a time. Searching each sand pocket like a chess match, studying the lunar feeding tables and playing long hours on the water. When that thump echoes through your rod and into your bones it stops your heart. When you see those massive hill plates light up Fully Guided • All Tackle Provided with frothy white water and they leap free of the ocean trying to shake your bait, you will (361)442-8145 also be hooked. Hooked into a love affair with Texas Coastal Fishing, here it is a way of life, let me help you enjoy the best things in life here on OUR LITTLE ISLAND this New Year. Send letters and photos to Follow all of our hookups on Facebook at Joey Now Featuring... Farah’s Backwater Fishing. Call anytime to [email protected] Live Music find YOUR day on the water. Get wet! NEW YORK STYLE & Karaoke & Friday and Saturday HOME OF THE Nig h ts! 13313 S Padre Island Dr. Dolphins at Robert’s Point. GIANT Photo by Steve Coons SLICE

PADRE ISLAND SOUTHSIDE 15326 S. Padre Island #106 6181 Saratoga Blvd. #107A Corpus Christi, TX 78418 Corpus Christi, TX 78414 361.949.1100 www.brooklynpie.com December 31, 2020 Island Moon A12 Police Blotter Free Daily Printable Crossword Puzzles Moon Crosswordhttps://www.onlinecrosswords.net/printable-daily-crosswords-1.php December 21 - 29 Free Printable CrosswordCrossword Puzzle #1 Solution on classifieds page Find the solution at This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle #1 for Dec 29, 2020 https://onlinecrosswords.net/2549 Traffic Across 56 traffic stops 1. Man of means 142000 block SPID 4 p.m. December 28 6. Sanction in wrongdoing Crash 10. Kind of roll or shot 14000 block SPID 6 p.m. December 27 DWI 14. Pacific salutation 13300 block SPID 7 p.m. December 25 DWI 15. Interoffice communiqué 13800 block Doubloon 8 a.m. December 29 16. Verve Crash 17. Fluctuates wildly 15500 block SPID 4 p.m. December 26 18. Grievously injure, in a way Crash 19. Bona ___ (authentic) Whitecap/SPID Midnight December 23 20. One way to follow a pattern Crash 21. Clever one Portillo/Vincent 11 p.m. December 25 Crash 24. Bermuda border 26. Some bits Disturbance 27. Least loony 14300 block Commodores Midnight 29. Primitive shelters December 27 31. Verdi heroine 143000 block SPID 10 p.m. December 28 32. Riding whip Bar Check 34. "Roll 'em!" followers 143000 block SPID 9 p.m. December 28 Bar 39. March middle Check 40. It has an S-shaped neck 142000 block SPID 9 p.m. December 26 Bar 42. Delicate cut Check 43. Yankee first name 14000 block SPID 11 a.m. December 26 45. Poet St. Vincent Millay 14400 block Compass 4 p.m. December 25 46. Shredded, as lettuce Violation of Court Order 47. Type of chatter 13700 block Primavera 8 p.m. December 24 49. Reprimanded (with "out") 14900 block Whitecap 4 a.m. December 28 51. She's a college grad Down 15200 block Windward 2 a.m. December 28 55. Lamb Chop's friend 1. Some floor votes 22. Item in a book 44. Genial 15200 block Capstan 4 p.m. December 25 56. Savvy individual 59. Harbor craft, perhaps 2. Natural emollient 23. Give the boot 48. Versatile piece of Whitecap/SPID 11 p.m. December 23 Public 3. Amazing lad 25. Desist partner furniture Intoxication 62. Word with "American" or false 4. "What have we here!" 27. Not tacit 50. Consecrate 15000 block Windward 10 p.m. December 5. Quarters of some 28. Adjutant 51. Brookner or Ekberg 23 Noise Ordinance Violation 63. Be fervid 64. Buy alternative quartets 29. Vast multitude 52. Fabric for cold climates 15800 block SPID 6 p.m. December 25 6. Capital on the Jabbok 30. Current with 53. Lusitania sinker Fireworks 66. River duck 67. Word before or after where 7. Part of the California flag 33. Virginia dance 54. Gangsters' gals 16100 block Seagrape Midnight December 68. Little screecher 8. Throw off 35. Michaelmas daisy 55. They may hit the ground 25 Noise Ordinance Violation running 69. Pangolin's diet 9. F-14, e.g. 36. One needing no advice Suspicious Person 57. Go it alone 70. Children's connectibles 10. Obfuscate 37. Irish republic 11. Similar 58. Kind of fight 11800 block SH 361 10 a.m. December 25 71. Some construction junctions Web38 Sudoku. Made - Billions haste of Free Sudoku Puzzles to Play Online http://nine.websudoku.com/ 15200 block SPID Midnight December 29 12. Lowest point 41. Chip variety 60. Secondhand 13. They may buckle 61. Picks up on 15800 block SPID 11 a.m. December 27 65. A wool producer 15700 block Gulf Beach 8 a.m. December 26 Newport Pass/Gulf Beach 6 p.m. December 27 City Repaired Fifty- Beach Access Road 3/Gulf Beach 4 p.m. Sudoku December 27 Year-Old Bulkheads Crimes against Property Sudoku answers are not available. 15400 block Seamount Cay 6 p.m. at the West End of Play at your own risk! December 28 Theft $750-$2500 2020 Whitecap Going Easy On You... 152000 block Main Royal Noon December City crews repaired and rebuilt 2,830 feet of Medium Puzzle 2,207,089,276 28 Burglary T he Year concrete bulkheads surrounding the Whitecap 14200 block Encantada Midnight December Wastewater Treatment Plant and a portion of 26 Theft the Padre Island Yacht ClubWeb Sudokuat the - Billionswest ofend Free Sudokuof Puzzles to Play Online http://grid.websudoku.com/ Whitecap Boulevard in 2020. Crimes against Person 1 of 1 T hat Was 12/29/2020, 1:35 PM 13900 block Port O Call 9 p.m. December 27 Terroristic Threat 15100 block Tesoro 10 p.m. December 26 Case of Palmira Harassment 13700 block Hawksnest 1 p.m. December 25 Avenue Houses Still Assault (two counts) 14200 block Bay Bean Noon December 24 Unresolved Assault with Injury A lawsuit challenging the construction of five houses in the 15900 block of Palmira Avenue in the Coquina Bay Subdivision has yet to be resolved as 2020 comes to a close.

Forms for running concrete around the Knuckle-CrackerHard Puzzle 1,156,552,450 © Web Sudoku 2020 - www.websudoku.com new bulkheads.

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ISLAND’S EDGE 1 of 1 12/29/2020, 1:33 PM S  f Her Come get your Project Manager Mitchell Koutny shows Dyson Holiday where concrete will be placed. Pro Blow Out The repairs involve sinking composite sheet Mind-Numbing Frustration piling on the water side of the existing bulkheads © WebEvil Sudoku Puzzle 2020 6,777,327,101 - www.websudoku.com and running three and one-half feet of concrete to secure both the sheet piling and the steel cable tiebacks. The sheetWeb piling Sudoku is- Billions shaken of Free into Sudoku Puzzles to Play Online http://nine.websudoku.com/ $35 place by placing a vibrating plate on top of the Text Roni vertical piling then gradually worked into place. To Book Your Luxury Appointment Future of 1 FBISDof 1 12/29/2020, 1:33 PM 15033 S Padre Island Dr Land Uncertain 361.244.5748

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Area resident Karon Connelly is seeking to halt construction of the five houses primarily on the grounds they are not consistent with the design of surrounding existing homes, in part 6.7 acre tract owned by FBISD. because they use a concrete retaining wall about six feet high to raise the houses to required elevation, and because, the suit alleges, that the The future of 6.7 acres of1 landof 1 along Whitecap 12/29/2020, 1:34 PM homes violate deed restrictions in the Coquina is still up in the air was 2020 ends. The land was Bay Subdivision regarding required distance bought by the Flour Bluff School District more between homes of similar design. than twenty years ago but so far the district has announced no plans for its use. The value of the Fully Guided • All Tackle Provided In a late 2020 hearing a judge allowed land will increase as the canal under the Park construction of the houses to continue pending Road 22 Water Exchange Bridge is opened. (361)442-8145 a trial date which has not been set.

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1 of 1 12/29/2020, 1:34 PM December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 13

Full Transparency and Disclosure National Blood Donor Awareness PIPOA News by Marvin Jones, President Month By Todd Hunter, District 32 As always, let me have No Wake Signs- The PIPOA has one As the new year begins, I Some of the basic donor requirements for your thoughts. You can remaining No Wake Signs to give away to would like to recognize January as National the Blood Center are you must be at least 17 reach me at marvin@ members that will post them in a conspicuous Blood Donor Awareness Month. This is a years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 lbs. pipoa.net or call at 469- place on their decks or docks. Please call the nationwide initiative to celebrate and recognize (115lbs. if 17 years of age), be in general 231-3485. You can also PIPOA office to make arrangements at 361- blood donors. National Blood Month has taken good health, and have an I.D. at the time of call the PIPOA office with 949-7025. place each January since 1970. Donating blood the donation. For more information about any questions you have at 361-949-7025. saves many lives and improves the health for the basic qualifications to donate blood visit Boat Trailer Stickers- The 2021 Boat https://www.coastalbendbloodcenter.org/basic- Executive Director- The PIPOA Board of many people. A decision to donate blood can Trailer Stickers are available at the PIPOA qualifications/. Directors has hired an Executive Director. office. Please remember, you must have a save a life, so this week I would like to talk He is Gary Klepperich. Mr. Klepperich is boat trailer sticker on your trailer to park on about how to donate blood. To learn more about the Coastal Bend Blood a former Marine. Furthermore, he has 20 the boat ramps. According to the American Red Cross, one Center, please visit their website at https:// plus years of experience in the property www.coastalbendbloodcenter.org/ . Also, to see Bulk Trash pickup- Please check the City donation can potentially save up to three lives. management business. We look forward to Furthermore, every two seconds someone more statistics, visit the American Red Cross him joining our team. His first day will be website for the new schedule for bulk trash Website at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ pickup on the Island. in the U.S. needs blood. The blood supply January 4, 2021. is necessary for surgeries, cancer treatment, . Let’s use this month to inspire us to donate blood to save lives. 2021 Board of Directors Election- The Holiday Hours at the PIPOA Office- The chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Each following persons have registered to run for office will be closed on Thursday, December donation is essential for the lifesaving care that If you have questions regarding any of the the three seats up for election. Drew Diggins, 31, and Friday, January 1. The PIPOA Staff can be provided. information mentioned in this week’s article, Ken Hughes, Jim McFadden, Vicki Marsden wishes all the members a very Happy and please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or Healthy New Year! A way to donate in the Coastal Bend is through McGinley, Ray Singleton, Dennis Sprout, and the Coastal Bend Blood Center, which was District Office. Please always feel free to Frank Stover. Seven members are seeking established in 1969. The services the center contact my office if you have any questions three seats. provide include donor recruiting, community or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if education, drawing, processing and distribution. you would like to contact my office regarding The Blood Center provides services to 19 constituent services. As always, my offices are medical facilities in the 10- county service area available at any time to assist with questions, of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512- Swearing-In Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, and San 463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603). Patricio. The Blood Center offers opportunities - State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32 Ports to donate blood throughout the service area Scheduled for Newly seven days a week with bloodmobiles. Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house. Elected Mayor texas.gov or at 512-463-0672. and City Council 2020 By the numbers T he Year Members January 12 How The Island Voted The elected members of the Corpus Christi City 2020 T hat Was Council will be sworn into office at city hall on Editor’s note: Here are the voting T he Year Tuesday January 12. The ceremony starts at 10 numbers for Padre Island and Port Aransas a.m. and be viewed on the city’s website. The as reported by the Nueces County Clerk’s T hat Was City of Port new council is as follows: Office for the November General Election. • Paulette Guajardo - Mayor Turnout Aransas and Port Port Aransas • Michael Hunter - At-Large Padre Island 6249 of 8642 registered 2,387 of 3,337 registered voters 71.53% of Corpus Christi • John Martinez - At-Large voters 72% • Mike Pusley - At-Large Nueces County 127, 754 of 213,401 Nueces County Sheriff Settled Suit Over registered voters 59.87% • Billy Lerma - District 1 JC Hooper (R) 1667 74% City of Corpus Christi Harbor Island • Ben Molina - District 2 David Torres (D) 587 26% • Roland Barrera - District 3 Mayor Nueces County Water Control and Year-long legal fight • Greg Smith - District 4 Carolyn Vaughn 1298 25% Improvement District No. 4 Board of Directors essentially left both • Gil Hernandez - District 5 Joe McComb 2290 41% Paulette Guajardo 1400 21% (Top three win) partyies where they City Council At-Large Russ Miget 499 13.56% started FBISD Board of (Top three finishers win) John Morris 601 16.34% Ed Reed 658 17.89% The City of Port Aransas and the Port of Trustees Approve Mike Pusley 2730 28% (winner) Corpus Christi ended a year-long legal spat Michael Hunter 2898 29% (winner) Jo Ellyn Krueger 625 16.99% in 2020 over development on Harbor which a COVID-19 One- Suzette Freeman 937 25.47% is located across the Corpus Christi Ship John Martinez 546 6% (winner) Channel from Port Aransas but is inside its Time Payment for Efrain “Frank” Arriaga, Jr. 637 7% Charles Plunkett 359 9.76% city limits. The fight centered around the United States Representative District 27 port’s plans to build a desalinization plant Patricia Pena-Noyola 896 9% and Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Employees County Member District 4 (Runoff) Michael Cloud (R) 1645 71% port on Harbor Island and whether the Kaylynn Paxson 1740 37% Ricardo “Rick” De La Fuente (D) 583 25% city could prohibit or restrict either. Under The Flour Bluff Board of Trustees has approved an interlocal agreement agreed to by the a one-time payment for the many extra duties Jim Klein 704 15% State Representative District 32 that FBISD employees have taken on due to governing bodies of both parties the city Greg Smith 1646 35% Todd Hunter 1736 75% withdrew its opposition to the Port’s plans COVID-19 since the start of the school year in and promised not to aid and abet any person August. Full-time employees, employed after Dan Grimsbo 670 14% Eric Holguin 571 25% November 1st, will received a $500 one-time or group that objected to such plans. State Senator, District 18 payment; part-time employees will receive County Offshore $250. Nueces County Sheriff Lois W. Kolkhorst 1648 73% Employees can expect to receive the one- JC Hooper (R) 4762 79% Michael Antalan 627 28% Deepwater Port time payment on December 18th via direct deposit. Employees without direct deposit will David Torres (D) 1338 21% Nueces County District Attorney Approved receive the payment via a check mailed to the Flour Bluff ISD Board Jon West 1594 71% employee’s home mailing address. Mark Gonzalez 652 30% 21 nautical miles out Place 6 City Enters Stage 1 (Only contested race) President from Port Aransas Jennifer Welp 2440 75% Donald Trump 1646 69% The Port of Corpus Christi Authority Drought Response Kathy Gromoll 1051 25% Joe Biden 692 29% Commission in late 2020 approved a lease U.S. Senator agreement and related pipeline easement Drought Contingency State for up to two deepwater mooring buoys State Representative District 32 John Cornyn (R) 1624 69% located approximately 21 nautical miles Plan Mild Water Shortage Mary “MJ” Hegar (D) 659 28% from the entrance to the Corpus Christi Ship Todd Hunter (R) 4859 80% Channel. Watch in Effect Eric Holguin (D) 1396 20% Precinct 19 - City of Corpus Christi The project by Bluewater Texas Terminals, State Senator District 20 Mayor The combined capacity at Lake Corpus Christi LLC (BWTX) offshore deepwater port Carolyn Vaughn 11 project — a 50/50 joint venture between and Choke Canyon Reservoir has fallen Judy Cutright (R) 4523 75% Texas-based Phillips 66 and Trafigura Group below 40%. In accordance with the City’s Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D) 1545 25% Joe McComb 42 2018 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), the Pte. Ltd., is currently in the permitting stage Paulette Guajardo 5 and is subject to final investment decision following Stage 1 – Mild Water Shortage Watch Federal conservation actions are effective immediately: by the joint venture partners. President Corpus Christi Council At-Large • Residents can use their irrigation system Mike Pusley 22 once a week, on resident’s trash collection Donald Trump (R)) day, before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Joseph Biden (D) Michael Hunger 30 • Hand watering is allowed on any day Howie Hawkins (Green Party) Myron Grossman 11 using a shut off nozzle. Deanna Michelle King 10 U.S. Senator • Foundations can be watered once a week City Council District 4 with a hose or drip irrigation. John Cornyn (R) 4519 73% Kaylynn Paxson 14 • During Stage 1, commercial car washes Mary “MJ” Hegar (D) 1513 25% Jim Klein 12 and landscape nurseries are not impacted. United States Representative The City encourages residents to follow these District 27 Greg Smith 22 water-wise conservation measures: Michael Cloud (R) 4598 75% Dan Grimsbo 2 • Avoid water run-off on streets and Ricardo “Rick” De La Fuente (D) 1366 sidewalks 23% • Check for water leaks around your home • Wash full loads in your laundry and dishwasher A little bit goes a long way. To learn more about water conservation and find other helpful They’re BACKKKKKKK resources, visit cctexas.com/conserve. To report water violations, visit the City’s website Our Warm, crispy, delicious, hand crafted paninis at www.cctexas.com and click on the “report” are back on the menu. tab or contact the Water Hotline at (361) 826- 1600 Choose from: • Fig Jam, Brie, Prosciutto The new sign at the VFW post in • Sicilian Slammer Port A is going up. • Caprese • Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Send letters and photos to editor@ Served with chips & a pickle islandmoon.com 14254 S Padre Island Drive Ste 101 | 361-589-4130 December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 14 Sticking to your New Year’s Nature Notes Resolution Snowy Plovers: Let It Snow! By Taylor Bennett By Emily Gaines | PR Coordinator for BBB serving the Heart of Texas Since the beginning of August, Gulf Coast Bird Snowy Plovers are slightly smaller than Piping • Understand the cost. Many gyms use Observatory has been monitoring non-breeding Plovers and are often rounder and fluffier. The the beginning of the year to promote shorebirds. GCBO’s intern, Sarah Belles, and I biggest difference between them is their legs. introductory offers or free trial periods. survey along Matagorda Beach, Bryan Beach, While Snowy Plovers have gray legs, Piping Be sure to ask when these promotions end Quintana Beach, Surfside, and Follet’s Island. Plovers have orange. Both plovers have black and what the regular cost will be moving We monitor for threatened, endangered, and bills during the winter, but the Snowy Plover’s forward. species of high concern. Our main target bill is thinner and stays black year-round while the Piping Plover’s bill is thicker turns partially • Check with health professionals. The best species are the Piping Plover, Red Knot, Black orange during breeding season. thing to do when considering a weight Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, and Snowy loss supplement, smoking cessation aid Plover. Snow is uncommon here, but we can Piping Plovers tend to have a plain face or other health product is to consult your always look forward to seeing Snowy Plovers! without markings while the Snowy Plover have doctor. They may be able to provide Snowy Plovers are small shorebirds that feed a slightly dark eyeline. During the breeding recommendations or guide you away and roost along sandy beaches. Snowy Plovers season, Snowy Plovers will sport a black patch After much anticipation, 2021 is almost here. from potentially harmful products. You can be found year-round in Texas, but we only beneath its eyes, a thin black collar, and dark While many used their time at home in 2020 to can also use FDA resources to learn see them in the fall and winter at our survey band across their forehead, making it seem try new hobbies and bake plenty of sourdough which products were recalled for using sites. We have yet to have any nesting pairs and they have a unibrow. Snowy Plovers also has bread, the new year provides a time to reflect dangerous ingredients. we mainly have Wilson’s Plover nest during the different calls than Piping Plovers. Snowy Plovers make more of a kwip sound, while the on what you hope to achieve in the coming • Assess your finances. Review your breeding season. Piping Plovers have a distinguished peep-lo. year. Exercising more, focusing on health finances to see which areas need and improving finances are among the most improvement. Request a copy of your Snowy Plovers mainly feed on insects such common resolutions each year and will likely credit report through one of the three as beetles and flies. They feed on the shore or be the top goals again in the coming year. credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, in mud flats and are often observed feeding Luckily, there are steps you can take that Equifax or Experian. You can also use in wrack or debris that is washed up on the will make sticking to your resolutions easier! BBB.org to find reliable financial advisors shore. Their thin bill acts as tweezers making Finding the perfect gym, knowing which health to help you build your credit and manage it incredibly easy to snatch up bugs. They also products you should use or avoid and using your money. feed on marine worms, small clams, mole crabs, and amphipods or sand fleas. Unlike trustworthy financial resources are great ways • Consult trustworthy sources. When Sanderlings, which feed in flocks, Snowy to start 2021. Keep these tips from your Better deciding on a company to assist you Plovers tend to be solitary feeders, though they Business Bureau in mind as you set your goals: financially, find their business profile on are often seen feeding alongside Sanderlings BBB.org to view their rating, customer • Take a tour. Touring a gym can give you a and Piping Plovers. Their different bill sizes reviews and complaint history. The Texas better idea of the equipment, trainers and allow them to feed on different things, so there Attorney General’s office is also a reliable classes available. Use this opportunity is plenty of food for everyone. to learn additional information about the source for learning your debt collection Snowy Plover roosting amongst a flock of facility, such as busy times or how often and relief rights. Semipalmated Plovers at Colorado River Snowy Plovers and Piping Plovers blend in with the sand in order to hide from predators. showers and equipment are cleaned. Happy New Year from BBB Serving the Heart Mouth Flats along Matagorda Beach, TX. But this also makes them incredibly vulnerable Some gyms even offer virtual tours. of Texas! Photo by Taylor Bennett. to people, vehicles, and dogs. Snowy Plovers often roost in groups with other shorebirds in Snowy Plovers have both breeding and open sandy areas, but one of their favorite spots wintering plumage, but we mainly only see to roost are within tire ruts. Please look before them in their winter plumage. They are pale you drive or walk along the beach and also keep Ask Ralph gray-brown with white underparts which makes your dogs on a leash. On behalf of Gulf Coast them blend in perfectly with their sandy beach Bird Observatory, thank you for reading and we habitat. Snowy Plovers and Piping Plovers look hope you had a safe and happy holiday. How Do I Defend My Business? similar in their winter plumage, so they are somewhat difficult to distinguish in the field, but there are a few key differences between the By Ralph Coker two. Q. Is cyber security a big There are many other security measures. threat to small businesses and how can I Do not click on unknown links, attachments, defend my business? photos, music or video in emails, smart phones, texts, or websites. Keep computer The Barnacle Line A. Yes, small businesses are targets for operating systems and browsers up to date. cyber theft. Typically, about half of small By Del Smith Use antivirus software and firewalls and businesses surveyed report being victims in update them automatically. Forbid employee Minutes before midnight found us on deck, the last year. Cyber criminals target small Every once in a while, some personal use of business PCs. Use dedicated waiting and hoping that we could see the fire businesses because they usually have less event takes place that forever PCs for banking activity and do not allow works from downtown. Looking around we secure digital systems. A common serious burns a memory in our soul. Out internet surfing or email activity. Never allow could see an almost unbroken, three-hundred threat is theft of a small retailer’s customer there in front, so that you can bring up to your the same employee to reconcile accounts and sixty degree ring of the-lights-of-man, lining the credit card numbers. That is typically done minds eye for instant review, without having to make payments. Reconcile accounts daily bay. Overhead were the cool, frosty stars and by sending malicious emails to business have something happen to trigger it. We all have and immediately report unauthorized activity constellations in their endless cosmic dance. All employees inducing employees to download these memories, these events of our past life to your bank. Regularly back up computer of this was reflected on the polished, slate-gray malware that compromises the point-of-sale that we call on again and again. It is my hope files to avoid lockout or wipe out by malware. surface of the water. system. The business is responsible for such that the majority of those remembered events Enable popup blockers because criminals use customer loss which averages about $21,000 are of the GOOD variety. Those that bring that I guess it was the beauty of all of this that got them to install malware. per theft. warm little spot to your heart and not the type of me to wondering why is this moment so special. Keep current with news and alerts about that round-eyed glance over the shoulder to find Why is it this particular spot, on the orbit of Another common theft is sending bogus cyber crime and risks. Consider cyber out what is catching up with you. this thinly, polluted-atmosphered planet as it emails pretending to be from the business liability insurance. Alert employees about circles around this particular sun, in it’s eons old owner or CEO authorizing an employee It was here in this season of endings and cyber crime techniques and red flags to look journey through this place we call the universe? to make a payment to a designated bogus beginnings, that a couple good memories got for. Most hacks are caused by employee In view of that, it seems as though that this one supplier, usually by wire transfer because it is added to my list. complacency about always using good cyber particular moment is artificial. It is a man made hard to trace the party receiving the payment. Hopefully, one of them also got added to yours. security procedures. Like worker safety, that moment of time. Not having any relationship to The bogus email address is identical to That, being the January third sunset. For me, I requires frequent management reminders. the reality of all of that which surrounds us. I the authentic email address except for an have to put that as the most spectacular setting Computer systems are available to do that suppose it is mans inveterate need to, somehow, inconspicuous difference like an “i” instead of the sun that I have ever witnessed. The colors, automatically. measure the passage of time. Much as a prisoner of an authentic “L”. Employees should textures and variety filling the southwest sky for marks the walls of his cell, mankind must have confirm large payments with a phone call or Banks are concerned about their business those long, glorious minutes placed it as number some method of preserving and legitimizing face to face contact with the owner or CEO. customer’s cyber security. Ask you bank to one on my favorite mental sunset list. For those time. It is this spot, this time, we tell ourselves, help audit your system and procedures. of you that were fortunate enough to view this, that it all begins.---- So that it all has meaning. I am sure that it will be a special memory, too. “Hey, Cellmate, we got to start a new line of What a great way to cap off the millennium marks tomorrow. Let’s make a BIG mark and hype and fuss. For it was, for me the year and have a party!” millennium ending madness that brought about Riley P. Dog Park Shoe Drive the other special memory. So it began. First were the illegal candles, rockets and old out of date flares shooting up, For many years now I haven’t succumbed for out of this ring of lights all around the bay, in Fundraiser Continues the need to be with a large group of people, the seconds before midnight. Then the large in developing nations who need economic just to bring in a new year. Somehow the Riley P. Dog Park is conducting a shoe drive organized fireworks began downtown Corpus opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone. So thought of all the noise and confusion, the over fundraiser October 26th-January 11th to raise Christi, Ingelside, Aranas Pass and Port A.---- far we have 52 bags, but we need 100.” consumption of both food and drink, the semi- funds for the opening of our island dog park. All sending fiery trails through the sky and on forced joviality, the blaring of horns in my ear Riley P. Dog Park will earn funds based on By donating gently worn, used and new shoes the misty, quiet, reflective water. We sat there and the dodging of champagne corks is not the the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, to the Riley P. Dog Park Shoe Drive Fundraiser, swiveling our heads, trying to take it all in. way to close down a year. My preference is to used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs the shoes will be given a second chance and Not wanting to miss a moment of this display. be placed in some special spot by myself, or will issue a check for the collected shoes. make a difference in people’s lives around the Then the grand, glorious finale of the downtown with one or two others close and dear so that I Those dollars will benefit our island dog park. world. celebration came with a breathless, “WOW!”. can reflect upon the past and wonder about the Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used –- As this wondrous light show faded into our About Riley P. Dog Park future, less all of the whoop-la and madness. and new shoes at 14646 Compass St. Suite memories, came the thunder of those final Call me a reclusive, if you will. I, however, feel 3 on the porch. All donated shoes will then Our goal is to establish a fenced-in, off-leash explosions rolling across the water in it’s losing that some occasional reclusiveness is good for be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs dog park where well-behaved canines and race with the light that was created the sound the soul. ---- Besides all of that midnight frenzy network of micro-enterprise (small business) citizens can exercise and socialize in a clean safe at the same time, far across the bay. This finale is waaay past my bedtime. partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro- environment without endangering or annoying then allowed us to concentrate on the much entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain people, property or wildlife; to develop a So I loaded up my ancient and somewhat shabby longer, but slower paced fireworks at Port A. and grow small businesses in developing beautiful, well-maintained space, open to all dog sloop and set sail north on a light east breeze. Then it was over with. Then there was only the countries where economic opportunity and lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the Sunset found us, (myself and companion), west bay with it’s ring of lights, resting underneath jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the park’s rules and restrictions; to view this park of Shamrock Island, by ourselves; hook down this starry sky, with it’s placid, mist shrouded shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are as a community project, in partnership with the and rigging for night, in the dying breeze. Brie, waters, unknowing, unmoved, uncaring about used to feed, clothe and house their families. City of Corpus Christi, designed to satisfy the caviar, blood red wine and a good book to read, this man made, frenetic celebration of a moment One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned needs of dog-owners and non-dog owners alike. were our activities while we waited for NPR to enough to send to her son to law school. in time. Contact tell us that the long awaited event was about to “We are excited about our shoe drive,” said occur. Then came, to punctuate our silent reflections Jan Rankin, President of the Riley P Dog Park. Jeanie Valenzula, Officer | Riley P. Dog Park of the mind, out from the fog and mist, marking “We know that most people have extra shoes Office: 214-621-4848 it’s own passage of time, the lost, lonely, forlorn in their closets they would like to donate to us. cry of a loon. Email: [email protected] By doing so, we raise money for our island dog park, and we have the chance to help families Trust NOW OPEN! 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Padre Island Drive Ste. 108 | 361.949.3298 15481 SPID Just past FULL CLASS SCHEDULE ON OUR WEBSITE AT ISLANDFITNESSCC.COM Whitecap on Right 949-0208 Send Letters and Photos to Residential and Commercial Services [email protected] Termite * Ants * Rodent * Critter * Roaches * Spiders * Fleas and follow us on Facebook: The Island Moon Newspaper December 31, 2020 Island Moon A 15 Moon Classifieds #872 Here’s how to place a Services Services Services Home Maintenance (Contd) Classified Ad Appliance Repair Pool & Spa Services Tree Trimming (Contd) Painters To place an ad you can call me at ATLANTIS POOL AND SPA SERVICE Islandscape Maintenance Al's Painting 361-834-1382 or Weekly Pool Maintenance – Repairs Interior & Exterior Painting Email your ads to: Renovations - Chemicals – Supplies Sheetrock repairs [email protected] Residential – Commercial Over 20 years experience 25 Years Experience – Insured Small jobs welcome No texts please Free Delivery! Free Estimates! Free Estimates Costs start at $12 for 25 words, Island Resident Owned 361- 563-0680 -N- House Appliance * Lawn Maintenance * Power Washing 20 cents a word after that per issue. Call 361-949-8899 For a small additional charge, your * Palm Trimming * Fall Cutback Roofing Repair Wade In The Water Pool Services ad can be centered, made larger or * Lot Mowing * Decks ROOFING PROS! Most major brands & appliances Cleaning • Repairs • Builds pictures or clip art can be added. * Installation Custom Home Exteriors, Inc. Remodels • Hot Tubs • Warranty Station Ads with payment can be taken to Also offering complete dryer FREE ESTIMATES Don’t go OTB for pool & spa chemicals! Tom Sheehan 361-949-2100 our office at: vent clean outs 15715 SPID #101 361-949-2773 Engineer Inspected/Windstorm Certified 14646 Compass St., Suite 3 Mention this ad for Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Lawn Care Quality “Owens Corning” Shingles Deadline for classified ads is no later discount on repairs FREE WATER TESTING Island Homeowner than NOON on Tuesday Cutting Crew Lawn Locally owned and operated since 2010 Roofing Padre Island PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED 361-960-0911 Maintenance Call 361-658-8581 BEFORE PUBLICATION Computer Repair We Can Help In Fall Cleaning Since 1985! We accept Scott’s Computer Repair Power Washing Let Us Help Get Your Yard In Shape A+ ROOFING & REMODELING American Express, Visa, PC/Mac Repair Networking ISLANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE We Specialize In Using AC – Electrical – Fencing MasterCard Home Security Camera Installation We Power Wash Professional Lawn Equipment Foundation Repair Legal & Business Notices Cable TV & Internet Wiring Houses, Driveways, Fences, Decks & ● Mowing, Trimming Painting – Plumbing Sidewalks Residential & Commercial Do you need to place a legal or business Fast 24 Hour Turn-Around ● Edging, & Tree Pruning Call us now to schedule an estimate notice? You’ll find that our rates for running Home or Business ● 4wd Tractor 361-438-4095 361-949-2773 your notice cost less than many other Free Pick Up and Delivery ● Large or Small Lots Wolfe Construction, Inc. MORGAN publication in Nueces County. Call 949-4604 or 425-5627 ● Pressure Washing  Insurance Restoration LAWN CARE & POWER WASHING Call Arlene @ 361-834-1382 Driveways, Decks, Homes Specialists Cleaning Service Mow Weedeat Blow Roundup The Island Moon Weekly ● Deck Repair  Roofing DUST ANGELS Driveways Sidewalks Porches for more information We can repair garage doors  Residential & Commercial Fences Decks Roofs CLEANING & MORE Over 24 years of experience Bryan Wolfe The Island Newspaper since 1996 Matt Morgan We are a professional cleaning company Free Estimates – Insured 361-949-1180 361-402-3047 to service your every need! We take pride in our work! 15809 El Soccorro Loop Help Wanted [email protected] We offer full service from vacation Corpus Christi TX 78418 Need Custodial Care Provider Specialty Rug Cleaning Call Robert 361-800-3535 rentals to residential and commercial Stucco Repair Immediately cleaning, construction cleans lawn SPECIALTY RUG CLEANING & REPAIR PRO MOW 2 Hours each evening in service, power washing and Persian – Oriental – Area Rugs SERVICES GOT CRACKS? Port Aransas $12/hour maintenance needs. We are also Cleaning, repair CALL THE STUCCO PROS Primarily toileting and meal support 361-800-2583 offering holiday help with hanging lights Remove smells AT 361-949-2100 for disabled adult male & decorating. Persian rugs done by hand Complete Lawn Al-Anon & AA Meetings Call 206-898-3575 (PST) • 12 years on the Island Appraise – Buy/Sell Maintenance Is alcohol causing a problem For Sale • Keeping the personal touch! 361-991-9999 in your family? ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR SCOOTER Call us today! Free estimates Tree Trimming Tree Trimming Try Al-Anon Used 1 time. Paid $1,200, Asking $800. 361-226-3832 Fall Cleanup Al-Anon meets at 7:00 pm Sundays at Non negotiable. Cash only. Has instruction 361-429-0007 Padre Island Baptist Church booklet included. Must pick up from North “Service With A Higher Purpose” Follow us on Friends and families of problem Island location Electrical Facebook If interested please text: drinkers find understanding and support 361 ELECTRIC “New to the Area, At Al-Anon Meetings 913-406-3716 Residential & Commercial Not to Lawncare” An Al-Anon group meets each Game Lease Service Calls Home Maintenance Thursday at 7:00 PM at Leasing 550 Acre Ranch Licensed & Insured St Andrew by the Sea For two deer hunters during deer hunting Island Resident Foundation Repair 14238 Encantada Ave. season only 361-903-2111 We Raise Sunken Concrete ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS La Mangana & Hein Rd. Laredo Texas COMMERCIAL CUTTERS STREEM COMPANY MEETINGS Call Mr. Martinez Tree Trimming & Stump Grinding FOUNDATION REPAIR The Sunset 7 AA Meetings are held on 956-237-6135 Services Polyurethane Foam Injection Leveling Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 7 PM Services Jobs Completed In One Day Fully Insured – Free Estimates at : Air Conditioning & Heating 361-906-1468 The Presbyterian Church 361-446-3980 On the Island ACH Diagnostics 14030 Fortuna Bay Dr. Air Conditioning & Heating Service In addition on Sunday AA Meetings Service – Sales – Installation are held at 8 AM at Basic Service Call $49 The Pavillon on the Boardwalk Don’t forget about your heating system Near Padre Bali Fall is around the corner Fall checks are $49 also NEED A NEW SYSTEM? Consider the following options: 10 year parts and labor warranty Coil corrosion protection Wi-Fi thermostats Ultra violet light TX TACLB 023885E 361-816-4924

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AIR CONDITIONING SINCE 1986 Prompt Professional 24 Hour Service No Overtime Charges • All Makes and Models • Commercial & Residential • 10 Year Part & Labor Warranties on ALL New Equipment • Financing available (361) 949-9545 Serving Padre Island & Flour Bluff Since 1986 TACLB013184C December 31, 2020 Island Moon A16 saw was at Treasure Island with Dreaming In Three Chords and the Truth Color. DIC is led by the lovely and talented Debra Scott-Brown, who is a live wire. She has golden pipes and just flat nails a Fleetwood Mac By Ronnie Narmour or Sade song like it was her own. They used to [email protected] play Giggity’s often, when they were open, and I’m glad to see Treasure Island has picked up on them. That’s a good band right there. DO NOT MISS LIST Coming this weekend… Coming this weekend, we have New Year’s Eve! Check out the LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT box. Be safe out there and here’s hoping for a better year in 2021. One show that really caught The good news & the bad news… my eye is Diamond’s Edge at Rockit’s. They are an upbeat, very danceable band with strong Here we are finally at the end of 2020 and Doug Brown and Debra Scott-Brown of vocals and driving beats. Don’t forget to eat your good riddance to the year that was. The bad black eye peas! We need all the luck we can get. news is we spent the majority of 2020 dodging Dreaming in Color played Treasure Island a deadly virus that, to date, is still the biggest Starfish we found on San Jose’ Island on Saturday. ♫♪♫ And, that’s the truth ♫♪♫ stain on our horizon with over 81 million cases last week. No starfish were harmed in the globally and nearly 20 million in the US alone. making of this photo. The experts warned us to wear masks and stay Gentry Powell sent us a couple of live lobsters, home for the holidays, but we didn’t. And in since we weren’t able to spend the holiday about two weeks, we’ll see the carnage from together this year like we usually do. They (the our dissidence and I suspect it’s going to be lobsters) were still alive and kicking… actually ugly… real ugly. They warned us, the worse Live Music kicking is a bit strong. They were still sort of is yet to come and I fear they are right. I had alive and there was a little movement at first. I to go into town this morning to report to the th had to stop Tracy from calling the ARK (Amos clinical trial people on my 60 day since Rescue Keep) to nurse them back to a kicking receiving the antibody infusion and the lobby Tonight state. There’s was full of COVID casualties who looked like not a living they felt awful. And the numbers continue to creature alive Wednesday, December 30 climb higher every day. The good news is there that Tracy Jerry Ward @ Doc’s are two vaccines that are finally making their won’t try to Billy Snipes @ way into our collective arms with more on the nurse, save or Scuttlebutt’s Ruben Limas @ way. This can’t happen soon enough. Could the rehabilitate home stretch actually be in sight? The politicos Blackbeard’s at some point Ty Dietz @ Vernon’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s have been battling with a much relief bill, and and I’m pretty it’s still unclear if we are going to get $600 or Open Jam @ Executive sure the ARK Surf Club Monday, January 4 $2000. Lack of money is a serious problem for doesn’t do Stevie Start @ Doc’s many folks right now. People are being evicted lobsters (or New Years Eve, Dec. 31 Eric Graham @ from their homes, children are going hungry, shrimp or crawdads.) They pretty much stick Timeline- Journey Tribute Scuttlebutt’s workers are being laid off and businesses are to sick birds and turtles I think. At some point, @ Brewster Street Tuesday, January 5 some animals are deemed food stuff and even Downtown Joseph Martinez @ Stevie Start @ Doc’s the ARK can’t save them, especially if the Brewster Southside HAPPY Mike Perez @ Scuttlebutt’s drawn butter is ready to go. We also went to Diamond’s Edge @ dinner at Lisabella’s on the eve of Christmas Rockit’s Dale’s B-Day, Jan. 6 Eve and Lord have mercy, was it delicious! We Billy Snipes @ Doc’s NEW YEAR Riptide @ Back Porch were treated to some laid back, jazzy dinner Ruben Limas @ Island Jerry Ward @ Doc’s music by the likes of John Amundsen and José Italian PORT A Billy Snipes @ Felix. John’s father, Chris, owns and operates Olivia Whitehurst @ Scuttlebutt’s Lisabella’s which is located at Cinnamon Scuttlebutt’s Ruben Limas @ 132 W. Cotter St. Port A Blackbeard’s Shore. It’s our go to place for a fancy dinner. The Chainlinks @ The Bus Ty Dietz @ Vernon’s Also during the holiday, we caught the jetty Jam Band @ Legends Open Jam @ Executive MSI got a new burnt orange sign this boat over to San Jose Island and found a boat Alley Catz Band @ Surf Club week. load of starfish on the beach… don’t worry, we Flanagans Southside put all the live ones we found back in the water. Mike Guerra @ Executive Thursday, January 7 There were a lot of sand dollars too. San Jose is Surf Club Billy Snipes @ Doc’s our happy place. Jam Band @ Legends Ruben Limas @ Island Fulton Italian On the local front… Flying Free @ Cinnamon Treasure Island Olivia Whitehurst @ Shore Scuttlebutt’s

Friday, January 1 NEW YEARS EVE Friday, January 8 Magnus @ Back Porch Spazmatics @ Brewster Jim Dugan @ Gaff PARTY Street Downtown Jerry Ward @ Doc’s Ruben Limas @ Stevie Start @ Island TIL 2 A.M. Blackbeard’s Italian Sierra Dawn @ Sierra Dawn @ 315 N. Alister (361) 416-1020 Scuttlebutt’s Scuttlebutt’s treasureislandporta Matt Hole, Voodoo Logic Saturday, January 9 Gary Kosmas and post commander Mike @ Executive Surf Club Riptide @ Back Porch Garrett pose with the new VFW sign in Ruben Limas @ Brian Winfrey @ Island Port A. Blackbeard’s Italian Mike Guerra @ Eric Magnus @ Crawdaddy’s Scuttlebutt’s going belly up daily. It’s highly unlikely that Diamond’s Edge @ when 2021 hits our Pelican Lounge Sunday, January 10 calendars on Friday, Justin & Niki @ The Billy Snipes @ Doc’s everything will John Amundsen and Jose’ Felix Exchange John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s magically be OK. It entertained us for dinner at Lisabella’s won’t. We’ve got one Saturday, January 2 Monday, January 11 heck of a deep hole this Christmas weekend. Hall of Fame Stevie Start @ Doc’s to dig out of. So in Performances (Willie Eric Graham @ PORT ARANSAS’ Scuttlebutt’s lewd of forthcoming Nelson, Buddy Guy, Los On the local front, the VFW finally got their Lobos, Bonnie Raitt, disasters, I want doors open this week. I stopped by on Monday Rosanne Cash & Kris OLDEST AND Tuesday, January 12 to wish everyone a when the post commander, Mike Garrett and Kristofferson) @ Austin Stevie Start @ Doc’s Happy New Year. Do Gary Kosmas were hanging the new sign that City Limits on PBS Mike Perez @ Scuttlebutt’s you think you might FRIENDLIEST Gary built. It’s very nice in there and a welcome Riptide @ Back Porch want to put that mask Brian Winfrey @ Island Wednesday, January 13 addition to our town since Harvey destroyed the OPEN Till 11pm • 823 Tarpon St. Port A. on now? This doom Italian Jerry Ward @ Doc’s last one. There is also another welcome addition and gloom theme is Eric Magnus @ Billy Snipes @ over at the Marine Science Institute. They have really getting old. Scuttlebutt’s Scuttlebutt’s Ruben Limas @ My Mermaid Gal a new sign with a sculpture of a marlin by world KISS Alike @ Brewster We had a very renowned artist Kent Ulberg. Also on the local Street Downtown Blackbeard’s had a tough time Ty Dietz @ Vernon’s merry Christmas… front, everybody’s pal, Rockin’ Dale Rankin Mike Guerra @ D’Canters cooking one of her has a birthday on the 6th. He won’t tell me how Groove Chili @ The Open Jam @ Executive own. I hope everyone had a old he is. Maybe you can get it out of him if Exchange Surf Club very Merry Christmas. you buy him a birthday present… he can always John Cortez @ Executive Surf Club Me and my Mermaid use a new hat. I tried to give him a baby grand Gal stayed home with our dear friend Paula piano that was up for Sunday, January 3 Rose, her dog Bailey Rose and, of course, grabs but Jan wasn’t Billy Snipes @ Doc’s our three cats Ditty, Moose and Edward. going for it. For Christmas, I got two pairs of the exact same shoe and an electric shaver which didn’t Scattered shots… exactly work on my beard but it’ll grow back I Other than John and suppose. I got Tracy an Apple Watch which is José at Lisabellas, the really complicated and she now spends her days only other show we staring at her arm. Our old friends Susan and

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