Arzola fondly remembered




Retired city secretary Esther Arzola, a beloved community figure who was one of the longest-serving city employees of Port Aransas, has died. She also was the longtime owner of the Island Café and Smokehouse in Port Aransas. Arzola, 74, died of complications due to diabetes on Wednesday, July 29. Mayor Keith McMullin said she was a kind and caring person […]

Free meal



A brown pelican opens its mouth wide to catch a piggy perch thrown to it by an angler on a bulkhead at Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor in Port Aransas on a recent day. While pelicans are known to hang around, waiting for handouts from fishermen, wildlife authorities say it’s generally best not to feed wild animals and let them hunt […]

Number crunch

City working to come up with tax rate


Port Aransas city staff has proposed a tax rate that’s a decrease from the current rate but is an increase of 2.3 percent above the effective rate. Meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, the city council reviewed the 2015-16 budget hammered out by the staff and, at Mayor Keith McMullin’s suggestion, asked them to find savings that would bring the proposed […]

Cart businesses: We seek compliance




Whether they do it verbally or with a hands-on tour with a golf cart and a map, rental company representatives in Port Aransas say they try to make customers comply with city ordinances on carts. According to the Port Aransas Police Department, golf cart ordinance violations are up from last year, the man violators being tourists and the violations being […]

Council wants restrictions on drivers’ cell phone use




Proposing an ordinance banning hands-on cell phone use is a good way to get Port Aransans talking. Several residents interviewed recently by the South Jetty said they’d favor such a law. “I would personally argue that operating a several-ton vehicle at a velocity of over a mile a minute is serious multi-tasking by itself and shouldn’t be burdened by additional […]

Art

Reception Friday opens 2015 merit winners show

Merit winners of the annual Tiddle Caylor All Member Show held in March will be featured at the Frist Friday reception at the Port Aransas Art Center on Friday, Aug. 7. Enjoy refreshments and live music and meet the artists from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The first place 2015 Merit Show winner is Sally Mitchell of Rockport. She is a […]

Food and music set at boat works



Bring your favorite beverage and a side dish and join the folks at the Farley Boat Works for the Second Saturday event on Saturday, Aug. 8. Barbecue chicken is on the menu and the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. at the boat works located at 716 W. Ave. C. Local musicians will be on hand to entertain and play some […]

Island Agenda



Daily • Port Aransas Community Park Swimming Pool, 700 ClarkParkway: Open swim: Tue.- Sun. 1-6 p.m.; Lap swim: Tue.-Fri.7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 12-6 p.m. Closed Monday. Call361-749-2416 for more information.• Computer Center, Free internet. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m.-4p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; closed Sunday. Hours subject tovolunteer availability. 430 N. Alister St. 749-4011.• Port Aransas Art Center: […]

Stuff to do and see

Parks and Rec Roundup

The following are upcoming events and activities sponsored by the Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department. For more information or to register for events, call 749-4158. This Week Interval Training Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7 a.m. at the Community Center, 408 N. Alister St. Personal trainer Karen Decker leads the class for all ages and fitness levels. $3 per session, […]

Political Cartoon