March 5, 2009 RSS feed / Island Life

Book Club to discuss Russo novel

The Ellis Memorial Library Book Club will meet on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the library, 710 W. Ave. A. Meetings are free and open to the public. The book to be discussed is "Empire Falls," by Richard Russo. More...

Fit as fiddles

This group just finished a session of Yoga for Seniors at the Pollock Center on Friday, Feb. 27, with instructors Mary Jo Doherty of Saginaw Mich., front left, and Tom Kelly of White Bear Lake, Minn., front right. More...

Tickets on sale for JELM dance

Put some spring in your step at the JELM Center Spring Dance, Wednesday, March 18. Tickets are on sale now for $5 each at the JELM office, 129 S. Alister St. More...

Winter Texan celebrates 99th

Madonna Johnson, a Winter Texan from Savoy, Ill., celebrated her 99th birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Port Aransas. An open house was given in her honor at Pioneer RV Park. Johnson is staying with her niece, Ruth Burnett. More...

Calvert seeks to bring change to city

Candidate for Place 1

Elleece Calvert, candidate for Place 1 on the city council, released the following statement. More...

SPRING BREAK GUIDELINES

Port Aransas is bracing for an onslaught of visitors during the Spring Break season, which begins on Friday, March 6 and continues through Monday, March 22. More...

Fish fun

Christopher Ayala, 4, and his new acquaintance Brennan, 3, recently boarded the Mustang for a birding and dolphin sightseeing tour with Capt. Billy Gaskins and Capt. Bryan Curry. More...

Cloern to speak at UTMSI tonight

Tonight, Thursday, March 5, the University of Texas Marine Science Institute will host the second of the 2009 Laura Randall Schweppe Endowed Lecture Series in Marine Science. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The talk begins at 7 p.m. More...

Commercial yard

The Port Aransas Garden Club has chosen The Port Aransas Brewing Co., located at 429 N. Alister, as February's commercial yard of the month. Owners Bob and June Petitt and Catie Petitt stand outside the side entrance to the restaurant. More...

Sushi benefit postponed

A sushi and wine tasting to benefit the Art Center for the Islands has been postponed. Originally scheduled for Monday, March 16, the event has been pushed back to Monday, May 4. More...

Birders flock to paradise

There is a difference between turkey vultures and buzzards, which actually are American vultures. There are no green birds, or blue birds, at least not in the pigment of their feathers - those colors are refracted by light. More...

POLICE BLOTTER

CITY OF PORT ARANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 5:58 p.m. • A 57-year-old man from Tucson, Ariz., and a 43-year-old man from Port Aransas were cited for open alcohol containers in a vehicle at the intersection of Avenue G and On The Beach. THURSDAY, FEB. More...

Port Aransas detective arrests assault suspects

Port Aransas Executive Lt. Darryl Johnson recently arrested 47-yearold Noe James Hernandez and 28- year-old Jason Try Hendershott, both of Aransas Pass, and charged them with aggravated sexual assault. More...

Input will be sought on ways to shorten wait time for trolley

'Dr Pepper' trolley route set for Gulf Waters

Riana and David Noyes had finished touring the Western United States a couple of weeks ago, and they drove their recreational vehicle to Port Aransas to have a look around. More...

ISLAND OBSERVER: TONY AMOS

An alternate route to San Antonio

I have recently been driving the Joe Fulton Corridor as an alternative way of getting to I- 37 and points north. I recommend this as an interesting diversion from the old way to get to or from SA. More...

WIC mobile unit due here Monday

Representatives from the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutritional program will be in Port Aransas on Monday, March 9. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Family Center IGA parking lot, 416 S. Alister St. More...

Marine Science Institute promotes Kathy Quade

Kathy Quade has been promoted to the position of assistant director for administration at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. More...

Yoga on the beach March 14

Rejuvenate your body and spirit at Yoga on the Beach Saturday, March 14. Nancy Myers will instruct the free class beginning at 8 a.m. next to the Horace Caldwell Pier at the end of Beach Street. More...

February sales tax rebate up slightly

While statewide sales tax revenues were up 3.9 percent in January this year compared to January 2008, collections from the retail and construction sections have declined, according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. More...

'Social Security' held over

The Port Aransas Community Theatre is extending its production of "Social Security" for three extra performances due to full-house attendance at past shows. The final performances will be Thursday through Saturday, March 5 - 7, at 7:30 p.m. More...

Amos' treasures going on the block

Two fundraisers for the Animal Rehabilitation Keep are planned for this weekend. On Saturday, hunt for beach treasure without ever touching the sand. Tony Amos' annual Beach Treasures Sale and live auction will begin at 9 a.m. More...

PASTOR'S PEN

Do good for others

Gal 6:9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up. More...

'Praying in Color' is Bible study topic

Vernett Safford will conduct two special Bible study sessions, titled "Praying in Color," in the JELM Center library, 113 S. Alister St. The first session, on Monday, March 9, will begin at 7 p.m. More...

Account set up to help with cost of funeral

A fund has been set up at Value- Bank to help defray funeral costs for the family of Miriam Ainscough of Port Aransas. Ainscough died on Thursday, Feb. 26. (See obituary, this page.) More...

JELM Center March Calendar

Monday 8 a.m. Aerobics Pollock Center 9:15 a.m. Beginner's Line Dancing Pollock Center 10 a.m. Writer's Workshop JELM Library 10:45 a.m. Advanced Line Dancing Pollock Center 10 a.m. Writer's Workshop JELM Library 12:30 p.m. More...

Schedule of Fundraisers

for the Port Aransas Relay for Life Walk Friday, April 24, at Roberts Point Park

For information about Relay for Life, events or fundraisers, call event chair Lisa Shelton at (361) 249-6792. For team information, call team captain chair Sanda Anderson at 749-2348. More...

Breaking ground

Members of the Port Aransas City Council, city employees, elected officials and a host of residents gathered in Charlie's Pasture Tuesday morning, March 3, to celebrate the groundbreaking for the first phase of construction of the Port Aransas Natu More...

Bargains galore

Boatmen's sale is Saturday

It's not to late too reserve a space at the Port Aransas Boatmen's Association Bargain Hunters Sale, set for Saturday, March 7, at the Port Aransas Civic Center, 700 W. Ave. A. The vendor fee is $100. More...

FOR THE BIRDS

Festival highlights joy of birding

It is difficult to explain the joy of birding to a non-birder. But, in wanting to share the beauty I see in birds, I find myself seeking ways to do it. More...

Preparing for future -- from a couch

I am staying, for a few weeks, on my best friend Delaney's couch here in Chicago. It's a couch I've stayed on so often that I could, by squatter's rights, lay claim to it. More...

Election Calendar

March 9 ................... Last day to file March 10 ............. First day to receive applications for mailed ballots March 17 .......Last day to withdraw March 18 ......Drawing for ballot order March 25 .............. More...

Unclaimed bikes

Port Aransas Police officer Derral Harvill has about 34 bicycles that have been recovered from various locations in the city. Anyone who has lost a bicycle can call the police department to see if their property has been located. More...

Bloodmobile ready to roll into town

The Coastal Bend Blood Center is making it easy for Port Aransans to give blood this month. Today, Thursday, March 5, the mobile blood unit will be in the parking area at city hall, 710 W. Ave. A, from 2 to 5 p.m. More...

CONSTABLE'S BEAT

NUECES COUNTY, PRECINCT 4

SUNDAY, FEB. 22 2:15 p.m. • A deputy issued a citation on the beach for an expired inspection, no insurance and driving while license suspended. 3 p.m. • A deputy arrested a man on the beach for two outstanding warrants. More...

Two to trolley

Sue and Lou Gonzalez, first year Winter Texans from Minneapolis, Minn., rode the trolley for the first time recently to get an idea of the layout of Port Aransas. More...

Old island recipes

With the Old Town Festival this weekend, I thought it would be fun to share the recipes from two of the island families that have been here on the north end of Mustang Island for a long time. More...

A tricky tree

While South Texas can hardly compete with New England, the mountain states and much of the Midwest with respect to spectacular displays of fall color on native trees and shrubs, there are a few exceptions. More...

The art of wood

Ron McGee of Salem, Ohio, carves snakes and other animals on a bald eagle-headed walking stick that he is making out of a piece of diamond willow. McGee and several other Winter Texans get together regularly for wood carving sessions. More...

March Calendar of events

First Friday Art Reception, March 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Third Saturday Art Sale, March 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. More...

Environmental issues topic of lecture series

Dave Sullivan of Port Aransas will speak on environmental issues at the Brown Bag lecture on Wednesday, March 11. The presentation will begin at noon in the Pollock Center, 129 S. Alister St. More...













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