Residents of Port Isabel will be getting new neighbors late next year as an ocean view gated community continues development. “Las Joyas at Port Isabel” which will host a 6-acre property on Highway 100, is being built by Paez Development, one of the leading developers in South Padre Island for more than 15 years, as a response to a rise in inquiries for affordable, life style-related housing and recreational needs in the area. “Basically the apartment complexes in Port Isabel are showing above ninety-five percent occupancy,” said Las Joyas PI Manager Pablo Paez, adding, “We have done market research studies that show that a lot of people working in the area are commuting back and forth from other areas in Cameron County even as far as Harlingen to get to work, so most of those people are living in those areas because they haven’t found residence here that is both available and affordable. The idea behind Las Joyas is to provide a home for them and others interested in living here.” The other target clientele is the winter Texans, who Paez says are showing a growing interest in living by the ocean. The project has been considered for over two years but the uncertain market delayed the idea’s progression. However, steady improvement in the South Texas economy was a major factor in moving the project forward. The homes will be assembled above TEMA construction regulations and the decisions for concrete pilings and a concrete foundation slab allow for a stable underpinning over the unsteady beach grounds. Because of recent weather, the roads being constructed within the gated community has slowed development, but the apartments are expected to be opened during the first trimester of next year.

Estevan Medrano

Birders flocked to the Monte Bella Park on Monday to witness the release of two broad-winged hawks. The birds’ release was the result of a joint effort between the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri, and the Gladys Porter Zoo.
Dr. Thomas deMaar, the zoo’s head veterinarian, said the birds were recovered in St. Louis after both suffered broken shoulders in August and were unable to fly. “By simply bandaging the wing against the body the bones were able to heal several weeks ago,” deMaar said. According to deMaar, shoulder fractures are a common injury among birds when part of their wing strikes on object such as a power line.
After their injuries healed, deMaar said the birds underwent several weeks of rehabilitation at the WBS to practice flying and hunting live game. Although the birds are “young of the year,” meaning they had hatched this season, deMaar said that they had already amassed adult feathers. The birds let skittish chirps from their short curved beaks as their amber eyes widened when deMaar reached for them. DeMaar grasped them firmly by their feet to release them one by one at the park.
The first bird flew high into the air before settling into a grove of trees. The second bird flew low to the ground then seemed to gather his bearings on a nearby mesquite tree. The WBS contacted the zoo to release the birds because the hawks’ migratory path had passed. DeMarr said that the since the hawks’ recovery was too late to join the migration through Missouri, the best option was to release them in South Texas so they could continue their journey south. According the zoo, broad-winged hawks typically migrate to South America and Northern Mexico during the winter months.
Birder and photographer Gwyn Carmean said she had seen the hawks fly through Brownsville about a month ago. Cynthia Galvan, the zoo’s marketing director, said the zoo spends about $30,000 annually for rehabilitation of wildlife brought to the zoo. But deMaar said that most of the time when encountering wild birds, the best course of action is to leave it where it’s found. With the wind at their backs, deMaar said the hawks had made a full recovery and should make their way south soon.

CHRISTINA R. GARZA

Until recently, the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle population was rebounding so well that scientists and conservationists fully expected the animal to swap its “endangered” status for “threatened” in the very near future — and possibly be taken off the endangered species list altogether by 2020.
According to Pamela Plotkin, director of Texas Sea Grant, the turtle’s numbers had been growing 12 to 17 percent each year thanks to conservation efforts, with population models projecting the same upward trend for the foreseeable future.
Then in 2010, the year of the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, something big happened that caused Kemp’s ridley nesting on the beaches of Texas and Mexico to plummet, she said.
An updated population model, presented for the first time at the Second International Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Symposium on Nov. 18 and 19 in Brownsville, confirmed that the population is no longer increasing but in fact is in steep decline.
“We have seen somewhere between a 40 and 50 percent decline in the number of nests that have been laid in Mexico, and we’ve seen similar a decline on the beaches in Texas,” said Plotkin, interviewed during the symposium.
Multiple factors
To what degree the oil spill is responsible for the turtle’s reversal of fortunes will probably never be known, she said. The consensus among experts, however, is that it was definitely a factor.
Another symposium presentation, based on National Resources Damage Assessment-funded research that sampled Kemp’s ridley skin and shells, revealed a “significantly different” chemical composition in turtles exposed to the spill compared to turtles that were not exposed.
Other NRDA-funded data is being held back pending resolution of the lawsuit against BP. When that data is released and researchers are able to speak more freely, Plotkin suspects “we’re going to see some linkage to the disaster.”
But that’s not all that’s been hurting the Gulf, she said.
“There are many things in the Gulf of Mexico that are stressing the ecosystem,” Plotkin said. “Since 2008, we’ve had some wild fluctuations in environmental conditions. There have been some years where we had so much freshwater coming down the Mississippi that it altered the salinity of the waters, and could have impacted the blue crab populations that the Kemp’s ridley feed on.”
This was followed by severe drought in 2011, which resulted in less freshwater and therefore greater salinity, or saltiness. These fluctuations impact the nursery grounds for blue crabs and other organisms the Kemp’s ridley depends on, Plotkin said.
Another problem that doesn’t get talked about much are the massive algae blooms — red and brown tide —that appear in the Gulf from Florida to South Texas and that also directly affect the sea turtles and the animals they feed on, she said.
“I like to describe it as a perfect storm in the last four to five years that we’ve had in the Gulf of Mexico,” Plotkin said. “There have been changes in oceanographic conditions, changes in atmospheric conditions. All of these together have impacts. Will we ever know what the relative impacts of each of those things have been on the turtles? Probably not.”
Loss of funding
In short, the Kemp’s ridley — which had dwindled to about 300 females by the mid-1980s before recovery efforts began — is again in serious trouble. As a result, conservation action is urgently needed, Plotkin said.
The prime example is a binational recovery program between the United States and Mexico developed in 1978 to protect and increase the production of the Kemp’s ridley at its natal beaches in Tamaulipas state, where the vast majority of the turtles nest.
In 1981, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked the Gladys Porter Zoo to administer the U.S. field portion of the program, which has long been funded through the USFW.
The fact that the federal government withdrew funding this year has conservationists like Plotkin scratching their heads (to say the least), considering the huge success of the binational program—and the fact that the Kemp’s ridley is once again in trouble.
“It doesn’t make logical sense,” Plotkin said. “Nobody has explained it other than as related to sequestration.”
Without the binational program, the sea turtles will be left unprotected with their eggs uncounted and uncollected and their hatchlings in jeopardy. Besides physically protecting the turtles, the field research that ongoing population assessments and projections rely on will come to a halt.
The only thing that saved the binational program this year was $150,000 in one-time emergency funds from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission for the 2014 nesting season.

Steve Clark

A proposal to deepen the Brownsville Ship Channel in order to accommodate newer, larger cargo vessels has received the official endorsement of the chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, U.S. Army chief of engineers and commanding general of the USACE, recommended in his recent “Chief’s Report” to Secretary of the Army John McHugh that the channel be deepened to 52 feet from its current depth of 42 feet.
Bostick estimated that the project — dubbed the “Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project” — would cost $251 million, $116 million of which would be provided by the federal government, and wrote that it would result in significant economic advantages for commercial navigation in South Texas. The Port of Brownsville is the only deepwater port on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Eduardo Campirano, Brownsville port director and CEO, said having the Chief’s Report in hand is the last step in the years long feasibility-study phase, and means the project will be eligible for consideration in the next round of congressional authorizations. “It is another milestone in the process of achieving success,” he said. The project missed out on the last round of authorizations, contained in the Water Resources and Reform Development Act of 2014, because it didn’t have a Chief’s Report in hand, Campirano said. The next chance will be in 2016, when Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the WRRDA. The Chief’s Report “substantiates that the deepening project is in the national interest and merits consideration for federal authorization,” Campirano said. He said he thinks chances for authorization are good, considering several similar projects for Texas ports were authorized in 2014. Once a project is authorized, the next step is appropriation — securing funding.

Steve Clark

The historic Yacht Club Hotel will join Lighthouse Square, the city’s waterfront and its three museums as attractions that will help boost tourism here, officials said. Now, state officials are working with city leaders to help develop the city’s tourism plans. “For years, we have been trying to make Port Isabel a destination,” City Manager Edward Meza said.
Last month, tourism and economic development officials with Gov. Rick Perry’s office toured the city’s attractions to prepare a study of Port Isabel’s tourist market, Meza said. “We’re looking at what we can do to enhance (attractions) to tie it all together,” Meza said. State officials toured Lighthouse Square, the developing waterfront and museums that include the PortIsabelHistoricalMuseum and Treasures of the Gulf museum, said Valerie Bates, the city’s marketing director. The lighthouse built in 1852, now part of a state renovation project, remains one of the city’s biggest tourist draws, Bates said. “It is such an important part of our tourism outreach,” Bates said. Bates said the waterfront, home to what was once a famed shrimp fleet, is primed for retail and residential development. “We find one of the main reasons people come to our area is because of the water,” Bates said. “That’s one of the main features of our tourism.”

Fernando Del Valle

The South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation (EDC) met Tuesday morning for their regular monthly meeting. The board stepped out of their box, discussing and approving ideas that ventured into the unknown territory based on their historical undertakings.
On the agenda for the meeting was the potential approval of a $5,000 grant request made by Art Space. The idea had been discussed at the previous meeting but had been tabled pending a performance agreement. Art Space requested a grant from the EDC to fund their first paid position, which would help to ensure steady hours of operation. They have always been run by volunteers, resulting In sporadic hours for potential members and customers. The grant in question would be the first of its kind and some members of the EDC were surprised by the request and hesitant to approve based on the fact that they had not yet stepped into the territory of grant funding. After some discussion at the last meeting, they took an interest in the idea as it does to contribute to economic development, but they wanted a specific performance agreement that detailed terms of repayment if it was not fulfilled. The board stepped out of their box and approved the request, reiterating that this would be a one-time grant for Art Space and that they should focus on strategies for the sustainability of the position of the future.
Another unique request came from City Manager Bill DiLibero, who sought funding for the Tuba Concert at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 10. The Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee promised $500 from their budget to support the event, and DiLibero was seeking $1,500 more to cover the remainder of the cost. The EDC has never funded an event, and board members were concerned that although they are permitted by law, opening up to event funding would cross into new territory that is not part of the budget. They recommended that DiLibero propose the idea to the Convention and Visitors Bureau; however, DiLibero stated that their budget will not currently support the additional cost. Others recommended that DiLibero seek money from donations from private sources. Lynne Tate, President of the Birding and Nature Center, was in attendance and rallied for the project, saying, “This town wants to support things like that,” Her comments backing the event encouraged many board members to offer individual support from personal and business avenues. Ultimately, they felt that it was a worthy cause and raised a majority of the remaining cost right then and there.
Tate and Director Cristin Howard of the Birding and Nature Center were on the agenda to update the board on activities as well as on the financial status of the Center. Howard was excited to share with the board that Oct. 21 marked the one year anniversary of her employment. In the past year, they have made significant strides in finances and activity. In December, the Birding and Nature center will host a variety of events such as movies, presentations, and guided nature walks as well as a photo op with Santa and pets on Dec. 6. The Zodiac Sculptures have also been placed on the grounds for the enjoyment of the community.
The Board discussed concerns over specifics in the Draft Lease and Operations Agreement between the EDC and the Birding and Nature Center. They will be reviewing the contract with input from the Birding and Nature Center board as well as the City Council. They resolved that the City Manager DiLibero should first review the document, incorporating changes that were discussed, and then forward that to City Attorney Paul Cunningham for further revision.
And of course, SpaceX is tending to be a topic at every city meeting these days. The possibilities are endless for the collaborations and cooperatives that will prove to be invaluable to the Island’s future economy. EDC Director Dalra Lapeyre will be in contact with her counterpart Lizzy de la Gaza of the Brownsville EDC to discuss ideas for future cooperatives. Point Isabel ISD is also an important financial player in efforts with SpaceX. With so many boards and individuals bringing up positive suggestions in regards to SPaceXm board member Joanne Williams asked, “Who is really the voice of the Island with SpaceX?’ It was decided that the city manager should have the major role in collaborations and that the EDC should be the vehicle to support him in the matter.
With five of the board members terms ending on Dec. 31, there will be vacancies on th board in the upcoming year. Two will be appointed by the EDC and three will be appointed by City Council. Any interested parties should apply.
Abbey Kunkle

If you haven’t paid a visit to Padre Rita Grill on South Padre Island in a few months, you may not recognize it by the décor and the menu. British chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine and the crew behind the popular realty television program, “Restaurant: Impossible,” selected the nautical bar-style eatery owned by J. Michael and Cathy Laferty as one of their two-day restaurant improvement projects, which premiered Oct. 6 on the Food Network.
Michael and Cathy opened Padre Rita Grill four years ago, which would be a foundation for each of their passions to be expressed by uniting Cathy’s love of cooking and Michael’s enjoyment of singing on stage for customers.
“Our original idea was to provide an Island-flavored seafood and steak house,” said Michael.
The restaurant was underfunded when it opened and a number of missed opportunities and learning curves quickly led to their Island dream being submerged in debt. Cathy thought that if the restaurant could attain some recognition they could turn things around, and so they applied for the services of those behind “Restaurant: Impossible.” The establishment was rejected twice initially.
“But out of the blue, they decided to start looking for a location that was tropical,” said Cathy. “They looked in Florida and California and eventually here. They called us and asked if we’d be interested in doing a Restaurant: Impossible episode, and we were blown away. We thought it would be great for us to learn from someone like chef Irvine. I’ve always been a fan of their decorating team.”
After several interviews, Padre Rita Grill was selected to be the guinea pig for the episode titled, “Paradise: Impossible.” The two were mic’d throughout the process as they saw their restaurant undergo dramatic changes in appearance, management, menu selection. With a mix of problem solving and tough love, the project was a success.
The couple were not allowed to discuss the affair until five days after the show aired, which was two months later. Though there was some fabricated drama for the sake of good television the effects were very real as the national exposure and new mentality has gone over well for the Island restaurant. Cathy returned a few original items on the menu that long-time clientele favored ad this blend of professional experience and her personal touches have resulted in an improved establishment, which both regular customers and interested newcomers appreciate.
Estevan Medrano

Parks, recreation, and beautification are three words that, though clearly intertwined, can easily branch off into a variety of tangents that can be difficult for one committee to cover. South Padre Island Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee Jodi Hughes recently questioned the focus of the committee and brought the issue up for discussion at Wednesday morning’s monthly meeting.
JoAnn Evan’s, who recently stepped down from her eight-year run with City Council, came to the meeting to share her perspective on the original mission of the committee and where the focus should lie. She shed light on two important issues that were the reasons for the creation of the committee – the first being quality of life for the community, including residents as well as visitors. According to her, the second and more important issue regarded the planning, maintaining, and upgrading of parks. Although the beach is considered a popular park, it does not meet all the needs of residents, and Evans said, “Any good city has a good park system.” It is an environmental issue and the city needs to preserve green space.
When the committee was formed, Evans personally recruited members – about half of whom were committed to parks while the other half had an interest in recreation. The committee developed many great events, but over time, recreation became the primary focus. Evans said, “I hope, as a citizen here, that you will not lose sight of the parks.” She shared her concerns that it’s not only a present issue but that it is important for the future.
She added, “You are one of the committees that have the responsibility of being stewards of the land.” \
Chairman Hughes placed an item on the agenda because she felt that the committee had recently been asked to do a variety of things, including events that other groups have historically done.
Mayor Barry Patel echoed Evans, stressing the importance of parks to South Padre Island. He encouraged the committee to focus on three specific issues; including the development of the city park next to Travelodge, working with Cameron County to capitalize on the county parks that are already in place and the beautification of Padre Blvd.
The committee did not take any action to change the current resolution but was content with gaining perspective on the focus of the group and the issues at hand.
In an effort to promote beautification, the committee approved the commencement of a Yard of the Month program on the Island. They had previously discussed ideas for the program and made a goal to select the first winner at the beginning of the new year. The program will focus on beautification of yards, specifically what can be seen from the streets. The council approved the program with some minor revisions to what had been discussed. They wanted to discourage use of lighting and toxins that could pose environmental threats. The committee will start with one winner and is hoping for ample participation. Nominations will be accepted in December with the first winner announced in January.
Next up for the Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee are the upcoming holiday events including Breakfast with Santa, the Lighting of the Tree Ceremony, and the Christmas Parade. Their next is scheduled for Dec. 17 but will likely be moved to Dec. 10 this depending on availability of City Hall.
Abbey Kunkle

The third of four new “Sentinels of the Coast” data collection stations was installed Sunday, Nov. 9, at Brazos Santiago Pass on South Padre Island.
Crews reportedly started by lifting and driving the 140-foot-long pile into the sea floor. Lifting the top section of the structure onto the pile is expected as soon as the pile is installed.
“This sentinel, the one installed last week near Freeport and the two other systems that will be installed over the next several weeks will be added to the list of 29 existing Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON) stations that give Texas the most extensive coastal monitoring network in the country.” James Rizzo, assistant director of operations for the Conrad Blucher Institute of Surveying and Science at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, said before the installation.
“The TCOON will have a monitoring station at all six major inlets on the Texas Coast that will provide near real-time weather and water level data, a network that is the envy of coastal states in the county,” Rizzo added.
These sentinels, along with the other TCOON stations, provide continuous water level and weather data that helps coastal communities better prepare for severe weather by providing accurate data that increase accuracy of forecasts that can save lives and property.
The Sentinel of the Coast structures consist of a single pile-140 feet long with a 48-inch diameter- driven into the seafloor and an instrumentation platform located 32 feet above Mean Sea Level. Each structure is rated to withstand the forces of a Category 4 Hurricane with an 18 foot storm surge, 10 foor high wave, and winds 100 plus miles per hour. The high-tech instrumentation will be installed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration standards.
The CBI oversees design, construction, and installation of each structure on the Texas Coast. Once the sentinels are erected, CBI will install equipment and initiate operation and data collection from these new monitoring stations that will be incorporated into the TCOON. See an interactive map of the network at cbi.tamucc.edu/TCOON.
The new stations are expected to be online by June 2016.
Contractors were scheduled to move to the Matagorda Ship Channel near Port O’Conner, Texas, for the next installation.
“These new stations will allow us to monitor conditions before, during, and after a hurricane has made landfall,” said Rizzo. “The data will be used by local National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center personnel for monitoring current conditions and as input into forecast models. The data will be an invaluable resource to local, state, and other federal agencies during storm events.”
The project is possible through a $2 million grant awarded to CBI from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program administered by the U.S. Department of Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, managed locally by the Texas General Land Office.
Rizzo says that after the storm, the information will be used by numerous agencies as they assess damage along the Texas coast and the adjacent waterways. The stations will provide accurate, real-time water level, wind speed, direction, and gust information, barometric pressure and temperatures.
“This data will also assist scientists and researchers in improving models related to storm conditions and their efforts on the Texas Coast,” said Rizzo. “The accuracy of these forecasts is what saves lives.”
CBI completed the installation of two identical data collection stations in 2011, which are located at the Texas Point on the Sabine River and at the Galveston Entrance Channel North Jetty.
Since 1989, the CBI has provided real-time meteorological information essential for predicting and measuring water levels throughout the TCOON. In all, there are currently 29 monitoring stations along the Gulf Coast.

President Lynne Tate and Director Cristin Howard of the Birding Center attended the South Padre island Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meeting Wednesday to update the board on activities as well as on financial status of the center. Although the current lease contract is valid through September 2015, it was out on the agenda for discussion to address some specific issues within the document.
Howard was excited to share with the board that Oct. 21 marked the one year anniversary of her assignment at the Birding and Nature Center. The center strives for continued progress but has made significant strides over the past year. Howard said that the key to success has been the mending of fractured relationships and that they have stuck to their mission statement, which promotes education to people of all ages. Tate gave a short presentation on the financial status of the center, nothing that they have made tremendous advancement and have not needed money from the EDC in the last six months. Board members applauded their progress.
Volunteer Carolyn Cardile recently assisted in the completion of the calendar for December and January. Howard said, “On cold, nasty days (people) need something to do inside, and we have a calendar full of events.” The center will host a variety of events such as movies, presentations, and guided nature walks. Exhibits are always on display inside.
On Dec. 6, they will be partnering with Friends of Animal Rescue to do photos with Santa for a cost; and of course, pets are welcome. They will also hold a volunteer’s luncheon to show appreciation for all their hard work as well as a holiday party for Origins Recovery Center. The gift shop has been restocked, and Howard was proud to announce that at the recent Harlingen Birding Festival, the Birding and Nature Center had an $800 day. In addition, the Zodiac Sculptures Gemini, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio, can now be seen on the grounds of the center.
Of even greater significance was the discussion regarding the Draft Lease and Operations Agreement between the EDC and the Birding and Nature Center. About eight months ago, a committee was formed to review the original agreement when many members of the EDC felt that the document was too loosely written. The committee met several times and made changes in the language and structure of the document. Ramona Kantack Alcantera, who was a member of the EDC at the time, put a great deal of time into rewriting the document, remodeling it in a landlord –tenant style, with the guidance of the committee. Recently, Major Pro-Tem Alex Avlaos proposed a workshop to give input from City Council on the updated lease. The Birding and Nature Center board has offered ideas for three small changes in language, and City Manager Bill DiLibero brought up some points for consideration. He felt that some of the new language is restrictive and should be removed. Tate and DiLebero agreed that the EDC, acting as the landlord in the lease, should be paying the property insurance to protect their assets. The Birding and Nature Center will likely take over payments for electricity which will require changes in their budget. Both the EDC board and Birding and Nature Center wanted to thank Kantack Alcantera for her hard work on improving the document. Tate said the lease was intended to be a working document where adjustments could be made if needed. The EDC determined that there was more work to be done on specifics of the contract and resolved that City Manager DiLibero should first review the document, incorporating changes that were discussed, and then move forward to City Attorney Paul Cunningham for further revision.
The Birding and Nature Center recently held the Zombie Walk, which was a huge success in terms of participation. It was great for publicity and will be held again next year with goals to increase funds raised by the event. There has been significant progress in the past year, and with each new event as well as normal daily operation, Tate said, “In the next six months, we are going to really see the potential.” The Birding and Nature Center has a ways to go before they can fully fund themselves but with the rapid improvement they have a long term goal to significantly contribute to paying off the debt on the property.