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 WINTER TEXANS RETURN TO THE VALLEYBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
They're back, and they are a wonderful and welcome sight to area businesses that have been adversely affected by summer storms and a slowing national economy.
“We're seeing some pretty good numbers of Winter Texans arriving in the Valley,” reports Carla Land, editor/owner for wintertexansonline.com, an online magazine specializing in news and information for the more than 400,000 winter visitors that flock to Texas each year to escape cold, blistery weather in the Midwest.
“RV parks in the Valley are indicating they are about 40-60% full to capacity at this point, and reservations are running about normal for new arrivals in the weeks ahead. The coastal bend and the Texas Hill Country are also reporting an influx of winter travelers, and most are sighing relief at the return,” Land reports.
She says there was some concern that high pump prices and a slumping economy might keep winter visitors away this year.
“Many retired winter visitors are subject to changes in the stock market because their retirement incomes are often tied to securities and investments. Combined with $4 a gallon gas and even higher prices for diesel, many were worried this year's Winter Texan season would be a bust,” she adds.
She says while the slumping economy will certainly affect spending habits of visitors this year, so far it hasn't seemed to stop them from coming.
“We're going to see a downturn in how much winter visitors feel comfortable spending this year. Some of the areas where we expect to see spending cuts include large purchases like second homes, new RVs and fifth wheels, and major gift purchases. We may see a slow down in how much they move about the state this year as well, opting instead to remain near to their primary RV park,” she reports.
But Land also reports that RV and auto-truck dealers are offering buyer incentives that may offset the slump in major purchases.
“It just depends on consumer confidence as we move into the new year. Some winter visitors will take advantage of these incentives and that could boost sales to overcome the expected downturn,” she adds.
As far as how many visitors will flood into the Valley this year, Land says she expects the numbers to be about the same as last year or a little better, an assessment that Winter Texan TV CEO Rick Mallard agrees with.
“There was a time a month or so ago that we were getting a little worried because of high gas prices. But with gas at this point being cheaper than last year, I expect we may even see more visitors this year,” says Mallard, whose closed circuit TV station can be viewed at many RV parks and hotels across the Valley.
Mallard says about 120,000 winter visitors settle in the Valley each year when winter weather sets in up north. And, he points out, winter has arrived early this year in large parts of the Midwest.
“Even a few travelers who had decided to stick it out in their Midwest homes have changed their minds now and have headed or are getting ready to head to the Valley after all,” he adds.
“When it all over I wouldn't be surprised to find it's been a better winter visitor season this year than in the recent past,” adds Land, who says there has been a slight slow down in the numbers of winter visitors since gas prices started escalating 3-4 years ago. But with pump prices as low as $1.70 a gallon across much of the Valley now, Land says visitors will probably rush down this year even if a trip wasn't in their plans a month or so ago.
“Winter Texans can be very responsible and sometime frugal spenders. But that can work in your favor when fuel prices are down and there is abundant housing, RV spaces and hotel rooms available, especially if local businesses offer price incentives,” she concludes.
A University of Texas-Pan American Winter Texan survey earlier this year indicates that the average winter visitor to the Valley spends nearly $10,000 a year to winter in the tropics.
“This is a significant economic impact on the local economy. Statewide it's been estimated that winter visitors account for nearly $4 billion in the Texas economy,” she adds. “It's good to see our winter friends return.”
Wintertexansonline.com and Winter Texan TV are two specialty companies that offer winter visitors information about travel, lodging, dining, events and entertainment in the Valley and across the State. Land says her online publication has grown since 1997 from “a few visitors” to over 2.1 million annual Web site visitors.
“We're getting more interest in our Web site this year than ever before, so that must be a positive sign,” she says.
You can visit the Web site HERE.
 BOAT PARADE ENTRIES WANTEDBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
The 22nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade has been set for Dec. 6 and boat owners are being encouraged now to register for the event and to start preparations to decorate their vessels for the much anticipated project.
The event is sponsored by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce and the Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS and the South Padre PARADE, and has been delighting visitors and locals for over two decades, an unofficial start to the Christmas holiday season.
Commercial and private boat owners as encouraged to participate in the parade, which originates at White Sands Marina in Port Isabel. Participating boats will parade before judges at the Marina before embarking on the long parade route, which visits both Port Isabel and South Padre Island. After leaving the marina, it will continue to Anchor Marina and around to Pirate’s Landing and then circles back to Sea Ranch II at Southpoint and Long Island Village. Weather permitting, the parade will continue to South Padre Island with optimum viewing at locations that include Louie’s, Amberjack’s, Wahoo and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Sailing yachts, motor yachts, fishing boats, pontoon boats, shrimp boats, canoes and kayaks or personal watercraft are all eligible to participate in the parade.
Each year thousands of spectators gather on the shores of Port Isabel and South Padre Island to view the event. Record crowds were reported last year.
One of the biggest questions fielded by parade organizers is how to go about decorating their vessels with so many electrical lights. According to the Chamber, the most aggressive method is to lash a gasoline generator to the boat deck. You can power almost any amount of lights and decorations, depending on the size of the generator. One successful technique involved the use of lighted Christmas lawn ornaments strategically placed on a shrimp boat.
Another method involves is the use of an inverter if you have an inboard engine. Inverters invert the power from your engine's DC current to AC.
Twelve volt lights can also be powered directly from your boat's starting battery or extra batteries can be used. Boat lights, automobile, flashing lights, etc. can be powered with this method. Twelve volt lights can be purchased at auto and boat supply retailers.
The most basic method, however, involves Chinese lantern type decorations which you can light with flashlights. String them around your boat to create an effective and impressive presentation. Crew members can also dress in costume. Or take advantage of modern technology and use light sticks to decorate yourselves and your boat. Your budget or vessel size can work in your favor as the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
For more information about this year’s boat parade, visit the Port Isabel Chamber Web site at www.portisabel.org.
 COULD BE DISMAL SEASON FOR VALLEY POORBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
The slumping U.S. economy is having an effect on consumers coast to coast and economists are predicting a slower-than-usual holiday shopping season as families curtail unnecessary spending and opt for smaller, less expensive gifts this year.
But consumer cut backs could also adversely affect holiday programs designed to help out the poor and economically depressed this year as contributions and donations slide in the wake of a faltering economy.
Major Dan Ford with the Valley's Salvation Army office is warning that popular programs like food canteens and the organization's Kettle collection program are expected to suffer this year, bringing in less than needed to help struggling families in the Valley.
“As consumers suffer through the economic crunch, we're expecting a downturn in donations received to help underprivileged families. Without these donations it will be hard to meet the growing need for assistance,” Ford reports, adding recent developments with Target Stores isn't helping. Earlier this year Target Stores announced they will no longer allow Salvation Army or other volunteer groups to host their donation drives in front of their retail outlets.
“We depend on these donations to help thousands of families that otherwise may not have much of a holiday season. We're facing a crisis for both our holiday food program and our toy collection drive, which helps so many local families,” Ford adds.
Nationally, nonprofit and charitable organizations are already pointing to a sour economy as the reason they are falling behind expectations for consumer support. And with more Americans out of work or subject to layoff, the need for charitable services is rising.
“It's going to be hard Christmas for many, especially those that just lost their jobs or are facing a mortgage crisis. Nonprofit charities account for the number one source of holiday assistance to families in trouble, but without a steady flow of donations, we simply won't be able to meet the growing demand to help out those in need,” adds Salvation Army Commissioner Israel Gaither.
In Port Isabel, local Salvation Army officials had a hard time landing enough volunteers to man the Kettle Drive program at the local Wal-Mart Store last year. Mayor Joe Vega, a big supporter of the Salvation Army, says that people are working harder and longer hours and that may account for why volunteers were hard to find.
“We need a steady flow of volunteers to keep those bells ringing. Without them, a lot of needy families are going to go without over the holidays,” Vega said during a volunteer meeting last season.
New this year, however, is the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program. Area businesses are being asked to erect an “Angel Tree” in high traffic areas that is decorated with numbered paper angel tags bearing the first name and age of a needy child in the Valley. Employees and customers of businesses can take one of the angel tags, purchase a gift for the child whose name appears on it, and return it to the tree location. Salvation Army volunteers will be responsible for collecting toys and gifts under these trees and distributing them to the needy families of the Valley.
Ford says the best way to fight the economic slump this season is to “give to those that may not have a Christmas”. Giving, he says, is what the holiday is all about, regardless whether the gift is large or small.
“There is a great degree of accomplishment by helping other out during the holidays. And when money and finances are tight, your gift will be so much more meaningful,” he says.
Contact the local or Valley Salvation office for more information.
 SAVING THE DUNES OF PADREBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Solving big problems starts with providing small solutions. At least that’s what one dune restoration project member said Saturday morning as dozens turned out in the chilly fall breeze to help replant vegetation in the dunes of South Padre Island, a small project that supporters hope will grow in the years ahead.
About 150 volunteers and project workers gathered at South Padre Island beach access 21 Saturday morning armed with shovels , temporary fencing and boxes of young plants in an effort to help repair dune damages sustained in recent months after Hurricanes Dolly and Ike churned up Gulf waters and caused serious beach erosion all along the Texas coastline.
Carmen Solis, a teacher at Port Isabel Junior High School, was there with her National Honor Society students to help plant the young vegetation, a project supporters say they hope will grow and eventually help to build bigger, stronger dunes.
Solis says the beach looks very different today compared to when she would come to the Island as a child with her family.
“They (the dunes) were everywhere back then. The erosion through the years has changed all of that,” she reports.
Saturday’s restoration project was funded by a $50,000 grant from the Gulf of Mexico Foundation. Nicole Eckstrom of Galveston, who now lives in Laguna Vista after leaving Galveston just ahead of Hurricane Ike, is part of an organization called Artist Boat, a nonprofit group dedicated to restoring beach erosion in Texas. Artist Boat received the grant funds to finance Saturday’s project. Eckstrom says the group lost a lot of equipment and resources when Ike stormed into Galveston and they are struggling to keep their environmental efforts moving forward.
Joining Eckstrom was Dr. Elizabeth Heise of the University of Texas-Brownsville, who helped direct volunteer efforts to plant the young vegetation at the Good Hope Circle access point within the Town limits. Heise says while the project represents a small effort, it is a start in the right direction.
Volunteers carefully placed the young plants on damaged dunes and a small fence was constructed to keep beach goers off the replanted areas.
“Eventually we’ll be putting up signs to both protect the areas and to educate the public about the work that is critical to the future of the Island,” said Heise.
About 150 people turned out in support of the project, which represents a ‘small start to a big project’. Project leaders say they hope to continue the work by replanting more eroded areas as time and money allows.
“Every big journey starts with a first foot step,” reported one of the volunteers Saturday morning. “You have to start somewhere, and this where we started today.”
TROUBLED PESO, TROUBLED ISLANDBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
A maelstrom of devastating economic calamities has assailed South Texas over recent months, specifically South Padre Island, and even the most optimistic economic forecasters are predicting another abusive obstacle to local financial stability could be compared to the proverbial last straw that broke the camel's back.
From hurricanes to rocketing fuel costs to a far-reaching national financial industry meltdown resulting in a recessive investment climate, times have been hard for the South Texas economy in recent months, and now, with a devaluating Mexican peso, things could actually get worse.
“Things were looking up for South Padre Island at the onset of the summer season, before Hurricane Dolly knocked them off their feet,” reports Calvin Vickers with the Texas State Comptroller's Office. “But the hurricane was devastating to the local economy, and at the exact wrong time of the year.”
Vickers and others are saying a late July hurricane left little time for recovery before the end of the summer travel season, and by the time early autumn arrived, pump prices had reached the $4.00 a gallon mark and the nation was being rocked by disastrous news from Wall Street that signaled the beginning of the mortgage meltdown.
“All of these factors played heavy in disrupting consumer confidence and spending habits. People pulled back the reigns on spending and it really affected popular tourist destinations,” says Enrique Marquez, communications director for the Texas Association for Business.
While the negative impact of a troubled U.S. economy has been felt less in Texas than most parts of the nation, and while South Texas particularly has fared well through the national economic slump, the sustained strain of Wall Street woes and mortgage maladies are beginning to weaken the foundation of even that small glimmer of local optimism, and South Texans are beginning to worry.
And well they should, for on the heels of the incredible string of economic hardships locally comes news that the Mexican peso has entered a time of uncertainty, as evidenced by its spiraling devaluation in recent days, to a point that Mexican Nationals are beginning to slow their cross border excursions into the Valley. Less influx of Mexican tourists means fewer dollars spent on South Padre Island, a popular destination for international travelers.
As of Wednesday, the peso had lost ground to the U.S. dollar. The exchange rate had dwindled to 13.06 pesos to the dollar, down from a low of just 9.6 to a dollar late last year. That means when a Mexican National exchanges his currency from peso to dollar, he is losing over 30% in the exchange rate today than just a few months back. To bring the impact of that reality home to the average American, consider your mortgage or rent increasing next month from $1,000.00 to over $1,300.00.
If the peso loses more ground to the dollar in the weeks and months ahead, it may become impractical for large numbers of Nationals to cross the border to spend their money, and the result could be devastating to the Valley economy.
Statistics indicate Mexican tourists account for about 22.7 million border crossings into the Valley and spend an estimated $1.7 billion in Valley communities each year. Even conservative economists admit that is a powerful influence on the Valley's economy.
No specific numbers are available for the economic impact of Mexican tourists on South Padre Island and Port Isabel, but chamber officials in both communities admit the numbers range in the millions each year.
McAllen Chamber President Steve Ahlenius says the Valley economy is in a slump. Ahlenius believes it'll be a difficult holiday shopping season for local retailers this year, largely because of the fewer numbers of Mexican border crossers and less money each will spend on the U.S. side of the border. McAllen Chamber economic development officer Matt Rusczcak agrees.
“The economic problems in the U.S. create waves of global economic problems felt around the world. The Mexican markets are being adversely affected by our problems on this side of the border. That in turn causes the peso to lose ground to the dollar,” Rusczcak says. “But the problem is complicated by new terrorist threats and the ongoing threats from Mexican drug cartel violence, making it more of a challenge for Mexican Nationals to cross the border.”
Chamber officials offered no solid number when gauging the impact so far on the Valley economy or for the declining numbers of Mexican tourists, but Carlos Sandoval with U.S. Customs and Border Security at the International bridge crossing to Reynosa says wait lines indicate the number of Mexican visitors has declined dramatically in recent weeks.
Ahlenius, Rusczcak and Laguna Madre officials say they still believe the South Texas economy is in better shape than most of the nation. But most warn that a slow economic recovery process and the continued devaluation of the peso could spell trouble for the Valley, and South Padre Island, in the months ahead.
WAR WAGES ON BORDERBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
It sounds like an action scene from a border crime thriller movie, but last Friday's raids, ambush and gun battle in Reynosa was anything but Hollywood sensationalism. It was the real thing.
Tensions have been mounting on the border for weeks now that Mexican President Felipe Calderón's anti-cartel initiative has taken hold in large areas of the South Texas-Mexico border region. Violence has erupted, kindnappings have been staged, raids have netted arrests and gun battles, and a war rages on between Mexican federal drug troops and members of Mexico's dreaded Gulf Cartel.
On Friday, federal troops and investigators raided three different locations in and around Reynosa. In one of the buildings they charged, they managed to capture the purported head of the dangerous Gulf cartel, Jaime "El Hummer" González-Durán.
Mexican authorities say it is the policy of anti-drug teams to immediately expedite high profile criminals upon capture, and the decision was made to move Gonzalez-Durán to the Reynosa airport to be placed on a plane headed for Mexico City, where he was expected to be charged and held.
But just as a caravan of authorities and their prisoner reached the airport, they were ambushed by cartel gunmen. An exchange of gunfire ensued, but police were able to eventually successful in putting the suspect on a plane to the capital city.
Witnesses report that cartel operatives blocked roadways with tractor-trailer rigs and crashed into vehicles near the airport to obstruct passageways for authorities. It is still not known the extent or number of injuries resulting from the gun battle at the airport.
González-Durán was recently vaulted to the top spot of the Gulf cartel after long serving their enforcement wing, the Los Zetas. He was said to be the head of the `Zetas,' and most recently captured the attention of U.S. Law Enforcement agencies because of a memo he purportedly issued calling for cartel reinforcements to the region bordering the Valley, and in that memo authorized Zeta forces to engage U.S. law enforcement officers if necessary to `protect' their turf.
There is some speculation if Friday's raids and arrest were largely influenced by pressure from U.S. authorities, who rallied together after the memo was released Oct. 17 threatening violence against federal and local law enforcement officers in the Valley. In a special meeting between federal and local officials in McAllen last month, U.S. officials authorized agents and officers to return fire across the border if fired upon first. In addition, rifles and automatic weapons were being issued to officers on this side of the border.
Valley authorities said last month that many cartel and Zeta members had infiltrated into McAllen and other Valley communities and many were held up in `safe houses' on the U.S. side of the border. Authorities have been trying to identify those locations and take appropriate action.
González-Durán has also been linked to several kidnappings and shootouts across the Valley in recent months, including the abduction of two Mission men who reportedly owed a debt to the cartel.
During Friday's raids, Mexican authorities report they seized nearly 300 assualt rifles, a half million rounds of ammunition, a number of grenades and several .50 caliber automatic weapons. Authorities are calling the seized arsenal the largest gun bust in Mexico's history.
González-Durán faces charges in both Mexico and the United States. It is still unclear how Mexican authorities will proceed.
U.S. authorities say González-Durán's arrest is not the end to violence or an indication the situation will improve on the Texas-Mexican border. One U.S. official who asked not to be identified says there is fear that Reynosa crime boss and Zeta member Miguel Treviño Morales, or "Zeta Cuarenta", could take over cartel operations in the region. He is a notorious Zeta member who is said to be prone to violence and confrontation.
MALDONADO ALREADY GETTING CALLSBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
What happens next in Cameron County's Precinct 1 constable's office is in the hands of County Commissioners now, but constable-elect Joe Maldonado says he's already getting calls from residents in Laguna Heights reporting break-ins and vandals, and says he's ready to step into action as soon as he secures the reigns to the local law enforcement office.
[UPDATE: Cameron County Commissioners approved the interim appointment of Maldonado. He was sworn in by Judge Carlos Cascos at the comissioner's meeting Monday afternoon and has assumed control of the constable's office.]
Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said last week he thought the best way to handle the transition of power is for the court to appoint Maldonado as the interim constable until he is officially sworn in after the first of the year. Maldonado successfully won his bid to the office in the Nov. 6 elections.
Former precinct 1 constable Saul Ochoa was forced to resign last summer after being indicted on federal drug charges. He currently faces 57 months in federal prison.
Maldonado defeated candidate Quirino Martinez handedly in the election, and received more votes than Ochoa, whose name was on the ballot only because it was too late for the Democratic Party to remove it before elections were held.
In a phone interview on Friday, Maldonado confirmed he is already getting calls from residents in Laguna Vista and Laguna Heights, as well as neighborhoods in north Brownsville.
“People are ready for some strong law enforcement presence and I am anxious to give it to them,” Madonado said.
He reports that at least one caller in Laguna Heights was complaining that someone had broken into his home “in broad daylight” to steal beer from the refrigerator.
Maldonado, who has resigned from his position with the county park police, says he has already warned deputy constables in the Port Isabel office that they would be working “long hard hours” to address the growing crime problem in the Laguna Madre region.
“I told them this (last) week that if I was going to be working at three or four in the morning, I expect them to be working as well. We must do more to control the crime wave,” Maldonado told the PRESS.
LAW AND ORDER ARE COMING TO PRECINCT ONEBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Constable-elect Jose “Joe” Maldonado says he is anxious to start serving as Cameron County Constable for Precinct One, which includes the Laguna Madre region. The ten year law enforcement veteran currently serves as a Cameron County Park Ranger, and has served as an investigator for the Cameron County Sheriff's Department.
“I'm anxious to get started. Law and order are coming to Precinct 1, and the sooner I get started the better,” Maldonado says.
The aspiring constable received the most votes in a three way race for the office, which legally is limited to only one of the candidate running. Candidate Quirino Martinez Jr., and Maldonado were the only ones who legally assume the office. The third candidate was recently convicted former Precinct 1 constable Saul Ochoa, the democratic candidate on the ballot. State law prevents Ochoa from assuming office even if he were receive enough votes, but Maldonado scored a clear win with 2,796 votes to Ochoa's 2,112 and Quirino's 1,014 votes.
There was some question as to whether the race would require a runoff election, but the Texas Secretary of State's office confirmed Wednesday that Maldonado should be declared the winner by winning the simple majority of votes cast.
Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos says a good plan would be to appoint Maldonado as `interim-constable' until his scheduled swearing in after the first of the year. But the County Judge said he wanted to present that to County Commissioners before reaching a decision.
Ochoa was the constable of Precinct 1 until earlier this summer when he was convicted of trafficking marijuana. He was arrested in a raid by federal and local investigators and was convicted in a federal courtroom in Brownsville. Under Texas law, a felon can not serve in a law enforcement position. Ochoa was ordered to serve 57 months in federal prison.
WHO IS JUDGING THE JUDGES?By LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
They say there are judges, and then there are judges - meaning some judges, for whatever the reason, are better judges than others. But have you ever wondered who judges the judges? Is anyone keeping score? Who can tell us who the `good' judges are and who the `not-so-good' judges are?
Believe it or not, in Cameron County, trial attorneys have the opportunity each year to `rate' the court-at-law judges of the local courts. It's one way, say participating attorneys, that trial lawyers can keep up with the idiosyncrasies of each judge, a measure that aids them in preparing their cases.
This year's ratings give 357th District Court Judge Leonel Alejandro the highest marks, and 440th District Court Judge Abel Limas the lowest. Among the Court-at-Law judges, Daniel Robles scored the highest points.
The Judges were unavailable for comment at press time.
SOMETHING FOWL ON THE ISLANDBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Birds and birders and wetlands - that's `what's up' on the Island this week as about 180 members of the prestigious Waterbird Society gather for the first time in the three years at a North America location for their 32nd Annual Meeting.
Over 125 professionals and students will be presenting their research at the meeting, which will include general sessions, concurrent sessions, and poster presentations of original research on waterbird biology and conservation.
The meeting started on Wednesday and concludes Saturday.
More than 180 people have pre-registered for the meeting with registrants coming from all parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico as well as other countries including Australia, Erithrea, Germany, Poland, and Spain.
The Waterbird Society is an international scientific, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of waterbirds. The Society was established in 1976 following the North American Wading Bird Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, and named the Colonial Waterbird Group. The organization changed its name to the Colonial Waterbird Society in 1986. In 1999, the organization became The Waterbird Society to reflect an expanded interest in all aquatic birds. This society was created to establish better communication and coordination between the growing number of people studying and monitoring aquatic birds, and to contribute to the protection and management of stressed populations or habitats of these species.
The meeting is open to Waterbird Society members as well as non-members through online and on-site registration. The general and concurrent sessions began at 8 a.m. Thursday. For more information, visit the Waterbird Society Web site at www.waterbirds.org.
RGV BIRD FEST UNDERWAY IN HARLINGENBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel PRESS
The changing season has once again brought back millions of migratory birds to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and the upcoming RGV Birding Festival in Harlingen showcases the annual return with special tours, seminars and birding opportunities for those wanting to get outdoors to enjoy the mild weather the Valley has to offer.
The 15th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival starts Thursday and runs through Sunday, and promises to be as rewarding and memorable as ever with a full schedule of field trips, workshops, seminars, keynote lectures, children's programs, and a trade show -- a little something for everyone.
The programs and activities of the festival are designed to be insightful as well as informative say event organizers, offering the perfect opportunity to view many of the over 400 bird varieties that frequent the Valley this time of year - a real birder's paradise. Backyard, novice and veterans will all find something of interest. Birding expertise will be expanded for backyard, novice, and veteran birders alike.
One of the highlights of the festival is the comprehensive venfdor showcase where birders can find very specific gear targeted to the professional and novice birder alike. Looking for new optics or a field guide or nature artwork? They can be found at a special `Birder's Bazaar'. Vendors will also be on hand to help you choose a gift or to pick up literature on activities and topics involving the avian world.
The number one reason to attend the event, of course, is the opportunity to bird world-renowned hotspots with some of the best leaders in the nation! The Festival's checklist consistently sports over 220 sightings each year.
Field trips for the event will be staged all across the Valley at the hottest birding spots - a birder's paradise! For more detail on the event, read about it in today's SOUTH PADRE PARADE.
 MUSIC FEST ATTRACTS LARGE CROWDSBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
The Second Annual South Padre International Music Fest attracted large crowds from across Texas and beyond over the weekend and festival organizers say they are happy with the results, a solid indication the festival is growing rapidly.
“We ran a box office at every venue this year, something we didn't do last year, and while it will take a couple of days to get the final tally, it appears as though we doubled our attendance numbers from last year. And though expected, we were blown away by the numbers that turned out for Willie on Sunday,” reports Tim Hayden, head of GamePlan Marketing, the company contracted to stage the three day festival and an Island native.
Hayden estimates about 5,000 turned out Sunday alone to see Willie Nelson and family perform at the Dunes Stage at Schlitterbahn.
“We met people from all across the nation and even from as far away as Brazil who turned out for this event. The eclectic nature of this music festival has a wide appeal and this is something we can build on each year. We're really very happy with this year's response,” Hayden added.
A check around the various venues on Saturday - there were eight official venues across the Island in all - indicated most of the 40-plus musical acts that performed had reasonably good crowds. Friday night's Ghostland Observatory performance at the Dunes Stage attracted a couple of thousand while Guy Forsyth performing at Club Pelican West may have been the `sleeper act' of the festival.
“We knew going into this that because of the level of talent we were presenting this festival, any given one of them could walk away with a big performance success. Most of them did in fact, but Guy Forsyth was one of those shows that really pleased the large crowd that had gathered. People were talking about that performance all weekend and probably will for some time,” adds Hayden.
Other highlights of the festival included a well received performance by Grammy-award winning Reggae sensation Steel Pulse.
“We knew these guys would be well received,” says Hayden. “But during the show it occurred to us that these guys were a perfect match to the Island. And they certainly proved that the crowd that couldn't seem to get enough of them.”
Hayden says Alejandro Escovedo also garnered good crowds at the Bayside Garden Stage in front of Louie's Backyard. Sandwiched between local favorites Del Castillo and Los Lonely Boys, Escovedo has racked up a good fan base after touring with Bruce Springsteen recently.
Classic rock fans got their chance to enjoy their favorite music on Saturday night when legendary rockers Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat took the stage at Schiltterbahn, delivering solid performances before a packed house. Stealing the show for the Cult was bass player Randy Sarzo, sitting in for the festival.
Sarzo, a native born Cuban, has played with the greats down through the years: Ozzie Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Ronnie James Dio, Whitesnake, and Yngwie Malmsteen. He is also an author and a digital computer animator for Sony Pictures. But taking the spotlight Saturday night, Sarzo performed a bass solo that was one fan described as one of the greatest solo bass performances of all time.
At the concluding performance of the festival Sunday, Will Nelson was well received by an enthusiastic crowd. Nelson performed a montage of his great songs through history as well as two new songs from his new album.
2008 WORLD CHAMPION SHRIMP COOKOFF WINNERS ANNOUNCED By LOGAN HAWKESPort Isabel-South Padre PARADE
Thousands turned out Sunday for Port Isabel's annual World Championship Shrimp Cookoff, and judges report this year's contestants served up some “tremendous recipes” of succulent Gulf delight, making the selection process `difficult at best'.
But by the time judges conferred over the winner entries, cookoff participants were already selling out the samples they prepared for the large crowd that attended the festival.
The new World Champion has been crowned, and the title stays right here in the Laguna Madre area.
2008 PROFESSIONAL DIVISION WINNERS:
First Place: Cap't Roys of South Padre Island
Second Place: Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport
Third Place: Pelican Station
2008 AMATEUR WINNERS:
First Place: The Brew Café
Second Place: RE/MAX Cooking Team
Third Place: Beatrix Zapata
SHOWMANSHIP AWARD:
Costa Del Mar
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:
Palm Street Pier
SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK THIS WEEKEND By LOGAN HAWKESPort Isabel-South Padre PARADE
Most Americans will get an extra hour of sleep this Saturday night when daylight savings time ends. For those that work the graveyard shift, it means an extra hour to toil at work. But like it or not, most Americans should be reminded to set their clocks back an hour before retiring for the evening, otherwise you might find yourself an hour late to church or work on Sunday morning.
Standard time returns this weekend, so if you live in the Valley, set your clocks back an hour Saturday night. The time change doesn't apply in Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands - for some lucky reason.
But regardless whether you are affected by the time change or not, just about all of us with electronic devices made before 2005 will pay an extra price.
The lucky among us will notice that our cell phones, clocks or other electronic devices will sett themselves back an hour this weekend. These "smart" gadgets are designed to reset themselves each spring and fall for Daylight Saving Time. But with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress added about a month to Daylight Saving Time, starting it earlier in the spring and ending it later in the fall.
The idea was to save energy, but a pre-2005 gizmo may not have gotten the memo. Some older devices reset themselves an hour earlier on Sunday morning - a week early.
But most devices will update themselves with the right schedule. They either have the software that updates on the right schedule, or like cell phones, they're in constant contact with a central system that sends out updates. A Verizon spokesman said that company's customers should automatically receive a software update after midnight Saturday night that changes the time at the right hour. Handheld devices from before March 2007 may require an update that can be found on the company's website.
The good news: Here's early warning that clocks should be set back an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Now, start searching for the user's manual for that old VCR - and good luck.
SHRIMP, ART, MUSIC & HALLOWEEN By LOGAN HAWKESPort Isabel-South Padre PRESS
When it rains it pours, they say. And this weekend, when it comes to special events and entertainment, you can expect a downpour in the Laguna Madre area as no less than four major events are happening simultaneously.
Things kick off Friday as kids and fun loving adults prepare for Halloween celebrations all across the area. A special kid's safe trick-or-treat program gets underway Friday afternoon on Port Isabel's Lighthouse Square when participating merchants will pass out candy to the kids. Later in the evening, of course, the kids hit the streets and neighborhoods to celebrate the holiday.
At about the same time, the Second Annual South Padre International Music Festival gets underway Friday evening at venues all across the Island. The event continues through Sunday and features some legendary performers like Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys, the classic rock groups Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult, Steel Pulse, Del Castillo, plus about three dozen other performers, singer-songwriters and bands.
Saturday is `Art Day' around the Lighthouse Square when the Frontera Art Walk exhibits the works of area and statewide artists in a fun event designed for the entire family. The art show is actually marks the unofficial kick off of the holiday shopping season when merchants around the Square offer up their new product lines and sweeten the day for shoppers with holiday refreshments.
On Sunday, the Annual World's Championship Shrimp Cookoff returns to the old Wal-Mart parking lot in Port Isabel for a celebration of the lower coast's favorite gulf dish - shrimp, prepared dozens of different ways as competitors vie for World Championship honors an bragging rights.
The most difficult thing to do this weekend may well be choosing on what to see and enjoy and what to miss in order to cover your favorites.
ISLAND PREPARES FOR STARS, SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED By LOGAN HAWKES
Port -South Padre PRESS
The stars come out at night, deep in the heart of Paradise.
At least, they will this weekend as musical greats and near-greats gather on the lower coast for the 2nd Annual South Padre International Music Fest set to kick off this Friday for three days of high quality entertainment at various venues across the Island.
Organizers of the South Padre International Music Festival are reporting more than 40 performing will be on hand to entertain the large crowds that are anticipated. Already the festival ranks as the largest single musical celebration ever staged in the South Texas.
"Last year we didn't know who would show up because nothing like this has ever happened in the Valley before," said Tim Hayden, one of the event's founders. "So we played it a little safer. We didn't spend as much on talent. We brought in mid tier talent in several different genres. We really just tested the waters."
In spite of being the debut year for the festival, last year's event has been termed a major success. But this year's festival represents a re-invention of the concept. This year a number of legendary performers will appear on stage, including Texas music legend Willie Nelson. Other headliners include Los Lonely Boys, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, Ghostland Observatory, Grupo Fantasma. Fastball and Alejandro Escovedo.
"We think that this festival can ultimately be a 40 to 50,000 person per day festival," Hayden said. "The Island is built to handle just about that many people, including Port Isabel. That's the only place in the Valley we have this type of infrastructure."
A list of the various stages and venues on the Island has been released.
 Friday Dunes Stage
6 to 7 p.m. - 60 Tigers
7:30 to 9 p.m. - Los Amigos Invisibles
9:30 to 11 p.m. - Ghostland Observatory
Bay Stage
The Garden:
4:30 to 6 p.m. - Bree Stevens
6:30 to 8 p.m. - Dog Men Poets
8:30 to 10:30 p.m. - Steel Pulse
Backyard:
10:30 to 11:30 p.m. - Miami Mami
Midnight to 2 a.m. - Grupo Fantasma
Amberjacks
5:30 to 7 p.m. - Carries Elkin
7:30 to 9 p.m. - Eric Hanke
9:30 to 11 p.m. - Airline
Wanna Wanna
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Twanguero
8 to 9:30 p.m. - Paula Neslon
10 p.m. to Midnight - Ginger Leigh
Pelican West
7 to 8:30 p.m. - Brownout
9 to 10 p.m. - Chana
10:30 to noon - Guy Forsyth
12:30 to 2 a.m. - Pelican West
Texas Moon
5:30 to 7 p.m. - Big Burn
7:30 to 9 p.m. - Danny Schmidt
9:30 to 11 p.m. - James Speer
Palm St. Pier
6:30 to 8 p.m. - Johnny Mac
8:30 to 11 p.m. - Stewart Mann & the Statesboro Revue
10:30 to noon - J. Michael Laferty
Pelican Pub & Grill Room
6 to 7:30 p.m. - Danny Green
8 to 9:30 p.m. - Third Coast
10 to midnight - Jake Cortez
Saturday
Dunes Stage
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Liberal
6 to 7 p.m. - The Las Vegas
7:30 to 9 p.m. - Blue Oyster Cult
9:30 to 11 p.m. - Foghat
Bay Stage
The Garden:
2:30 to 4 p.m. - Susan Chaffel
4:30 to 6 p.m. - Del Castillo
6:30 to 8 p.m. - Alejandro Escovedo
8:30 to 10:30 p.m. - Los Loney Boys
Backyard:
11:30 to midnight - Vallejo
12:30 to 2 a.m. - Boombox
Amberjacks
Noon to 2 p.m. - Frontera Jazz
2:30 to 4 p.m. - Stero Kitch
5 to 7 p.m. - Ginger Leigh
7:30 to 9 p.m. - James Speer
Wanna Wanna
Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Sarah Hickman
2 to 3:30 p.m. - Port O Call
4 to 5:30 p.m. - On the Roadside All-Stars
6 to 7:30 p.m. - Stewart Mann & the Statesboro Revue
8 to 9:30 p.m. - Rumtide
10 p.m. to noon - Bongodogs
Pelican West
6 to 7:30 p.m. - Sarah Hickman
8 to 9:30 p.m. - Nakia & his Southern Cousins
10 to to 11:30 p.m. - Fastball
Midnight to 2 a.m. - Pelican West
Texas Moon
Noon to 2 p.m. - Third Coast
4:30 to 6 p.m. - Nancy Cook
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Twanguero
8:30 to 10:30 p.m. - Erin Ivey
Palm St. Pier
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Lauren Ashley
4 to 6 p.m. - J. Michael Laferty
6:30 to 8 p.m. - Sarah Pierce
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Eric Hanke
Pelican Pub & Grill Room
Noon to 2 p.m. - Big Burn
2:30 to 4 p.m. - Ideophonic
6 to 7:30 p.m. - Carrie Elkin
8 to 10 p.m. - Danny Schmidt
Sunday
Dunes Stage
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Gospel Brunch Band
Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Phillip Thomas Kellogg
2 to 3:30 p.m. - Willie Neslon
Tickets are $93 for a weekend pass, $53.30 for a single day pass, and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets for the event are still available and special local resident discounts are also available. For more information, log on to southpadremusicfest.com.
SAFETY FIRST THIS `TRICKY' TIME OF YEARBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
On Friday kids of all ages will be dressing up like pirates, witches, goblins, assorted super heroes, pop singers and ghosts, heading out the door to spend a joyous evening scourging the neighbor hoods chanting `trick or treat' at doorsteps all along the way. Millions of kids will enjoy the spirit-filled night of fun and frolic, but thousands more children will wind up in emergency rooms, hospital and even morgues.
The season's creepiest holiday can also be the most deadly for kids, and the Port Isabel and South Padre Island police departments are reminding parents and motorists to be extra careful this year as a number of special weekend events could elevate traffic in both communities, adding to the dangers for trick-or-treaters and Halloween revelers.
Officials say several steps can be taken to help protect the kids:
TRICK OR TREAT SAFETY
 Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult.Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home.Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves.Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated places and don't go off the beaten track. Stay in well lighted areas.Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adultSmall children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.
Kids look forward to Halloween because of the dress-up and cool costumes but the mostly like it for the candy and treats! Who doesn't? Watch the candy intake when they get home, too much can lead to stomach aches and indigestion. That includes mom and dad as well.
Before you let the kids out the door, regardless their age, explain to them the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem like fun but they need to know the other side of the coin as well, clean up and damages can ruin Halloween. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they've made. Explain to your kids that animal cruelty is not acceptable. Kids may know this on their own, but peer pressure can be a bad thing. Make sure that they know that harming animals is not only morally wrong but punishable by law and will not be tolerated.
COSTUME SAFETY
Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof, the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids costumes won't accidentally be set on fire.Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.Kids always want to help with the pumpkin carving. Small children shouldn't be allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face. There are many kits available that come with tiny saws that work better then knives and are safer, although you can be cut by them as well. It's best to let the kids clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it, which you can carve for them.Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to, will help make them safer when they are out Trick or Treating.ADULT ACTIVITIES
Adults like to have as much fun during Halloween as the kids do! Adult Halloween parties tend to be much wilder than children's parties with dancing, alcohol use and catered food. Using common sense can make a party a great one and avoid anything that may ruin it.Keep an eye on the drinking, don't let it get out of hand. Take the keys away from anyone that may be driving. Have one person stay sober and offer to drive those people home who may be too intoxicated to drive.GETTING IN THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
The countdown to Friday's Halloween celebration is on and many local residents were busy over the weekend stringing lights, carving Jack-O-Lanterns, and hanging decorations in windows and yards in anticipation of Friday night's invasion of costume-clad trick-or-treaters.
Local retail stores like Wal-Mart and H.E.B. are reporting brisk sales of candy and decorations, and a local video rental center is reporting high demand for holiday-related movies, like “Saw” and “Halloween” franchise titles.
“I've never seen so much candy go out the door,” said a store clerk at a local retail outlet who asked not to be indentified. “I'm not in authority to give specific details, but I can tell you that I have been seeing a lot of people stocking up on candy and decorations. The candy industry must be happy.”
Perhaps it was the cooler weather over the weekend or the influence of the weekend's “Day of the Dead” celebration at the Port Isabel Museums, but Port Isabel residents appear to be `getting into the spirit' of Halloween this week as holiday approaches.
Officials with the Port Isabel Merchant's Association say they will once again be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters this Friday afternoon, an annual event in recent years. Ralph Ayers at the Purple Parrot on the Lighthouse Square admitted last year that the candy ritual doesn't do a lot to help sales at his store. But he says he has fond memories of Halloween as a youth and favors the event to help the kids of today enjoy the same kind of safe fun.
Participating Lighthouse shops will pass out candy Friday until about 5:30-6:00 p.m. Ayers says Port Isabel schools generally bus the younger kids down to the square to take part in the safe trick-or-treat program.
Another indication of season spirit is the demand for scary movies. A clerk at the Movie Gallery in Port Isabel reports horror classics and scary movies are in demand and says they expect that will continue throughout the week.
The coming weekend is full of events and activities across the Laguna Madre area, including the South Padre International Music Festival, the Frontera Art Walk in Port Isaebl and the World Championship Shrimp Cookoff.
But the kids are looking forward to Friday's traditional Halloween celebration. From walking the neighborhoods for candy to spending quality time in front of the DVD player and television to watch a seasonal movie, the season for fright is upon us.
Check the Port Isabel PRESS Thursday edition for tips on Halloween safety, and review our short list of the all time favorite Halloween videos (movies) in the event you plan on spending some time with a hair-raising horror film in front of your television.
BEST CLASSIC HALLOWEEN MOVIE RENTALS FOR 2008
The Exorcist (1973)
Recently chosen by TV Guide as the scariest movie of all time. The religious element made it a big draw in the mid-seventies.
Halloween (1978)
This early John Carpenter effort set the tone for many slasher flicks to come. None of the sequels measured up. Get the 25th Anniversary DVD version if you can.
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
A sinister host, played by Vincent Price offers a group of people $10,000 each if they'll spend the night in his macabre mansion, then does his best to see that no one collects. Directed by the legend William Castle.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
When I was a kid, this was the first horror/sci-fi film that I was forbidden to see (probably had something to do with the word "body" in the title). The 1978 remake wasn't bad, either.
Jaws (1975)
Not to be outdone by Hitchcock, Spielberg managed to make people afraid of a fish. In a totally different class from the sequels.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George Romero's seminal but low-budget 1968 zombie flick is still about as scary as they get, because in spite of the black and white, it looks real. 1978 sequel was better, but this was the first.
Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock might not be happy to hear that he started the slasher flick craze, but this is still his most popular film, and one which influenced generations of filmmakers.
The Shining (1980)
We couldn't forget this one by Stanley Kubrick, who teams up with Jack Nicholson for a gothic tale with a difference.
LOST IN PORT ISABEL To Help Holiday Weight ControlBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
The holidays are approaching and many of us will find ourselves trapped behind a family dinner table full of lavish special dishes like turkey and dressing, honey-glazed ham, Mom's apple pie; a rich assortment of delectable and high-calorie choices that lure us into temptation, and other goodies that will, as usual, lead us down a path of disgusting and inevitable overeating and - yes - weight gain. Resistance, it seems, is futile.
But there is hope on the horizon, a new program being hailed as “Lost in Port Isabel”, a community wide initiative sponsored by the Port Isabel Merchant's Committee and designed to help the weak and holiday-spirited to keep a check on those extra calories this year.
Glenda Stafford at the Blue Bamboo recently introduced the new program that is designed to help area residents keep a check on holiday indulgences. Lost in Port Isabel is a comprehensive, community-wide program that can help you work through this special time of the year without experiencing the typical weight-gain associated with the occasion. And the results can be rewarding.
“It's really very simple. When people work together, the chances of success go up. Lost in Port Isabel is a chance for people to sign up at no cost to participate in a free form program of weight loss. We hope that the plan will not only help people not gain weight through the holidays, but perhaps even lose a few pounds,” she reports.
Stafford says people can choose their own form of loosing weight - by walking, eating better food, or any other methods they want to use.
“The program basically provides a weekly weigh-in by a professional trainer to help participants keep up with their progress. How they lose the weight and by what means is up to them,” Stafford adds.
Participating sponsors are teaming up to make the program worthwhile for participants. Starting in mid November, participants will be weighed each week by a trainer from Texas Fitness Center who will serve as the official weigh master. Residents can sign up individually or as a team, with several friends coming together to accept the challenge together.
“Some people might prefer to go it alone while others might prefer to enter the program with their friends, forming a team to help them find support,” Stafford adds.
The program lasts for 12 weeks. Each week participants will be weighed and their progress can be charted. At the end of the contest, winners will receive a number of prizes donated by local sponsors, including a free, three month membership at the new Texas Fitness Center in Port Isabel.
“It's a great way to combat the tendency to eat more, gain more for the holidays. If we can get through the holidays without gaining significant weight, then it will make for a good healthy start to the new year. And that's what it's all about,” Stafford said.
For more information about “Lost in Port Isabel,” call Stafford or drop by the Blue Bamboo in Port Isabel. You reach Glenda at 943-4270. Area merchants wishing to participate can also call Stafford for details.
NAME CHANGES AT RADISSONBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Times change, and sometimes so do names.
Bill Donahue has announced the Radisson Resort on South Padre Island has changed their name and affiliation. No longer will the popular Island resort be known as the Radisson. Donahue says a temporary sign has already been placed in front of the hotel and a new electronic sign has been ordered and is on the way.
Donahue says the resort's 19 year affiliation with the Radisson name was good for the resort because, in years past, hotels needed to be part of a successful chain in order to get good referrals. But he says the Internet has changed that.
“Our (hotel) Internet site is very popular these days and is connected to all kinds of sites about South Padre Island. And we now have a regular customer base that knows the level of service we provide and return often to see us,” Donahue reports.
The new name of the hotel is the Isla Grand Beach Resort, a name carefully selected after hotel owners discovered their first choice of names, Sea Island Resort, had already been taken and copyrighted. The popular South Padre Hotel was known as the Sea Island before becoming affiliated with the Radisson franchise.
Donahue says loyal hotel customers will see a few changes at the hotel. The same level of service will be maintained and all the same quality amenities will be offered as before.
“Nothing's changing but the name,” says Donahue.
NATION'S 'CHEAPEST' GASOLINE IN HARLINGENBy Logan Hawkes
In case you haven't noticed, pump prices have been falling at convenience stores and fuel stops all across Port Isabel and the Valley, a surprising trend at a time when consumer prices are skyrocketing for just about everything from insurance to ice cream.
Analysts say that decreased demand for gasoline is the reason for lower gas prices, driven by the economic crisis. For example, as consumers worry about their investments and have less confidence in a stable marketplace, they have cut back on excessive or unnecessary spending, including the amount of fuel used in the family vehicle.
And as the demand for fuel falls, so do wholesale crude oil prices.
In mid-July, a barrel of crude oil cost $147. Today, it's down to about $70 a barrel. That's a healthy 50% drop in wholesale prices.
AAA (Triple A) Texas in Austin is reporting the statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline fell 27 cents to $2.59 a gallon this week. The nationwide average fell 20 cents to $2.63 a gallon, but in isolated communities across Texas prices for regular unleaded fuel is selling for as low as $1.98 a gallon. The lowest price for gasoline in the nation, in fact, can be found right here in the Valley, at the Stripes location at 620 W. Harrison in Harlingen. Two other Stripes locations in Harlingen have matched that price, while most fuel stops across Harlingen as selling fuel for $2.02 a gallon.
In Port Isabel and South Padre Island, the lowest fuel the PRESS could find Wednesday afternoon was at White Sands, where unleaded regular was selling for $2.39 a gallon. Stations across Port Isabel and the Island average around $2.50 a gallon for unleaded fuel. Stations in Brownsville, Mid-Valley and McAllen, like Harlingen, were selling fuel hovering around the $2.10 level.
But why the disparity between prices on the coast and in other parts of the Valley? Or as far as that goes, the prices in the Valley compared to other places across Texas?
Triple A's Dan Ronan says proximity to production and storage facilities has a lot to do with it.
“When fuel companies have to transport fuel great distances, there is the added cost of delivery. But in Texas, trucks don't have to roll that far to get fuel to the retailers, keeping the costs, and wholesale prices, lower,” he reports.
But if that's true, then why is fuel less expensive in the Valley compared to Houston, a hub for the gasoline refinery industry?
“There's a lot of intricate economics at work there,” admitted Ronan. “And many factors that are added in that determines the final wholesale price to the retailer, who then sets his price based upon what he has to pay for the fuel.”
That still wouldn't explain why fuel in Harlingen is selling for $2 a gallon and in Port Isabel the pump price hovers around $2.45-$2.50. And no one seems to have a good answer. One retailer we talked to Wednesday, who asked to remain anonymous, says he suspects there is a degree of competition between wholesalers. Prices in Harlingen may be less because a wholesale distributor may be in a gas war with another wholesale distributor, a similar situation to the gas war prices of the 70's between retailers.
“They probably figure they can roll a few hundred trucks to Harlingen, offload it all in a day, and drop the price to a point that other wholesalers will feel the squeeze. They couldn't do that when wholesale prices were at a premium. But now that crude prices are down, they have more leeway in what they can wholesale for,” he said.
Bill Day with Valero Energy in San Antonio agrees. Valero is not only a wholesaler and operates retail stores throughout Texas, they also are a refiner of gasoline with plants in and near Houston.
“We're seeing a greater competitive market at every level of the energy business right now, spurred by the incredible drop in crude oil prices. This allows for more competitive and frequent prices changes at the pump,” he reports.
But don't expect gas prices to stay low for long. Day and others speculate wholesale crude prices will slowly edge back up in the coming weeks and months, meaning higher refinery prices and much higher retail prices as well.
No one is speculating how long lower price fuel will last., or if the price has reached the bottom. But merchants and store owners across the Port Isabel and South Padre Island hope the lower prices last at least through the holidays to help spawn more travelers wanting to return to the beach and more winter visitors to flood the area.
WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP SHRIMP COOK OFF COMINGBy Logan Hawkes
In a State where good food is about as big as football in the race for the most important personal preference this fall among its resident population, news that fresh Gulf shrimp, a standard throughout Texas, may be harder to find in the near future is devastating to the Gulf shrimp lover, and could mean consumers will face elevated prices next time they visit their favorite eatery for a plate of wild crustacean.
The Texas shrimp industry is on the decline, and with fewer boats and smaller fleets heading into the Gulf this season, there will undoubtedly be a shortage of fresh shrimp in stores and restaurants from Port Arthur to El Paso. An added worry is that as wild Gulf shrimp becomes more in demand than in supply, restaurants and stores will turn more to imported and mostly farm-raised shrimp as a replacement, further degrading the reason to order a plate of shrimp next time you eat out at your favorite shrimp dive.
The City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre region will gather to celebrate the Texas shrimp industry Sunday Nov 2 when dozens of contestants and thousands of attendees will be treated to world famous shrimp recipes and a wide variety of family entertainment at the 15th Annual World's Championship Shrimp Cookoff, from 10:30 am to 6 pm. The festival also helps to raise awareness of the quality of Texas gulf shrimp .Admission to the event is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 10 years & under.
DAY OF THE DEAD CLEBRATION THIS WEEKENDLogan Hawkes
Most weekends are prime time on the coast for visits with friends and family, sharing special moments and favorite foods, perhaps even a song or two.
But this weekend will be extra special as families in Port Isabel and across the region spend a little quality time with their dear departed loved ones in a special cultural celebration known as Los Colores Del Muerte, or the Day of the Dead celebration.
Steeped in folklore and tradition, Day of the Dead is celebrated widely among Hispanic populations of the Americas, especially in nearby Mexico where the event is heralded as one of the most important days of the year.
Traditionally staged on Halloween night, Day of the Dead is a time when traditional Mexicans honor the dead, preparing special foods and adorning graveyards with decorations.
It is a holiday with a complex history, and therefore its observance varies quite a bit by region and by degree of urbanization. It is not a morbid occasion as some might think, but rather a festive time involving the entire family and community.
On Saturday, the Museums of Port Isabel will stage many activities in honor of the occasion. Most of the events will take place at the Rio Grande Railroad Park in front of the Museums of Port Isabel. The festival kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with the family musical group Ensamble La Mision performing, currently acknowledged as a state recognized musical group by the Texas Commission for the Arts. They will be performing traditional south American and world music with indigenous and contemporary instruments.
Beginning at 12:15 p.m. to 4 p. m., the Brazos Rio Grande School of Dance from Mercedes, under the director of Jesse Murguia, will present a variety of dance and musical presentations which include seasonal and popular favorites including the Nutcracker Suite, Cri-Cri Suite, Fairies Suite, Tango, Lo Nuestro Suite, Selena Suite, Merengues/Chacho/Hip Hop Suite, Michael Jackson Suite and ending with Dia De Los Muertos Ballet: “A Celebration of Life”.
Port Isabel Historic Trolley Tours Company will be on hand to transport the public from the festival to the historic Point Isabel Cemetery for self guided tours. Day of the Dead artwork and altars by area artists and residents will be displayed at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. There will also be a Children's Activity Tent with hands on art projects including Altar Making sponsored by the Laguna Madre Art League, Sugar Skull making workshop by Jessica Villescaz and Papel Picado workshop. All children's activities will begin at 1:00 p.m. until 4 p.m.
From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. there will be food and arts and crafts booths on the museum grounds. On Friday, October 24, the Lighthouse Establishment Cinema will present the movie “Creature from the Black Lagoon” a 1950s cult classic at 9 p.m. on the side of the lighthouse. Entry to the Day of the Dead Festival and Lighthouse Establishment Cinema is free.
For more information about the 6th Annual Los Colores del Muerto, call 956/943-7602.
MATAMOROS VIOLENCE INCREASESBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Violence erupted in a Matamoros neighborhood last week involving the Mexican military and a group believed to be connected to the dangerous Gulf Cartel. Heavy weapons fire and hand grenades were reportedly involved in the neighborhood shoot out, and a number of injuries have been reported.
A Mexican Web site, TamaulipasEnLinea.Com, is reporting that soldiers with the Mexican Army last Thursday afternoon engaged in a shootout with a group of unknown individuals on the street in front of El Ziggy, a bar located at Prisciliano Delgado and 12th streets in the Buenavista neighborhood of Matamoros.
Five people were injured, one of them military personnel. All the injured were transported to a Matamoros hospital. Their condition is still unknown.
Brownsville Police Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique acknowledged that there were official reports of the shootout in Matamoros, but said he could not make a formal statement about the incident.
According to the Web report however, accounts from local radio stations and people at the scene claim the gunfight involved machinegun fire and grenades and the battle lasted for about 15 minutes.
According to TamaulipasEnLinea.com, the army cordoned off a large area around the exchange of gunfire. Various suspects have been detained, including the owner of the bar, the Web site reports.
Customs and Border Protection spokesman Eddie Perez said that as a result of the violent situation in Matamoros, the agency is taking extra security precautions.
"Anytime there is an event such as a shooting, our officers go on extra alert," Perez said. "They take every precaution possible, they are alert. However, they are not on any special type of alert."
But because of those extra precautions, Perez said, travelers should expect some delay in border crossing times until the situation returns to normal in the days ahead.
BEST PLACES TO SURVIVE THE FINANCIAL CRISISBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
According to Forbes Magazine, the economic storm sweeping the country has left Americans with few places to hide.
But according to the article published this week, those looking to hunker down might want to head to Texas, where they can get the best value for their dollar.
That's because Austin and San Antonio lead Forbes list of places where your money goes farthest. Residents of both enjoy affordable housing and promising prospects for job growth in coming years. Houston and Dallas also land in the top 10, at Nos. 4 and 7, respectively.
"Texas, as a whole, is one of the few economies that's performing extremely well because of the energy and technology sectors," says Andrew Gledhill, an economist at Moody's Economy.com. Plus, he added, military bases in San Antonio have continued to draw a steady steam of personnel and federal employees to the city, spurring widespread job growth.
The state's manufacturing sector has also grown in recent years, and a reputation for affordable housing continues to lure people to the South. When accounting for median household income, a house in Dallas, for example--with a median price of about $150,000--is four times more affordable than a house in Los Angeles, the worst-ranked city on the list.
Three Midwestern cities round out the top 10: Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; and Minneapolis. The worst-ranked cities, after Los Angeles, were Providence, R.I.; New Orleans; Philadelphia; and Cleveland.
HOLIDAY JOBS COULD BE HARD TO FINDBy LOGAN HAWKES
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
Americans hoping to make extra money to pay bills or buy presents this holiday season better start looking for their holiday job now. The number of jobs available will be less than last year – and more people are expected to be vying for them – according to a recent survey by SnagAJob.com.
A survey of 1,000 American hiring managers who have responsibility for hiring hourly wor |