CANCELLED: Music by the Bay called due to weather

By MARTHA McCLAIN
Special to the PRESS

With a wet and cold weekend forecast in store for the Laguna Madre area, the annual Music by the Bay outdoor festival has been canceled in Laguna Vista.

Originally scheduled for Saturday night, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a 60 percent chance of rain, winds up to 10 miles per hour and temperatures in the 50s.

With the cold front that arrived Wednesday night, rain is predicted for Friday which would leave the grounds at Roloff Park wet for the event, City Manager Rolando Vela told Town Council members Tuesday.

The festival may be rescheduled to coincide with July 4 festivities, he said.

In other Town business at Tuesday’s council meeting, the board adopted a resolution urging State Rep. René O. Oliveira (D-Brownsville) and Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) to file legislation to address the problem created by the City of Brownsville’s aggressive annexation of land. A lawsuit challenging Brownsville for their annexation practices has been filed in district court. Port Isabel and Laguna Vista officials say the annexation is crippling their ability to grow, leaving the cities landlocked. The council met in executive session Tuesday to discuss the matter.

Additionally on Tuesday, the Council:

• Approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant program application to the Texas Department of Agriculture in the amount of $230,870 for improvements to Orange Lane.
• Voted to approve a resolution for the appointment of a labor standards officer and civil rights officer for the contract/grant to improve Ebony Lane.
• Adopted a resolution naming April as National Fair Housing Month.
• Approved a resolution to oppose Senate Bill 343 which attempts to erode the authority of home rule cities by requiring the state legislature’s permission to enact local ordinances.
• Took no action on a proposed contract that would develop park on a portion of land owned by Laguna Vista off of Highway 100.
• Heard the city manager’s report that Easter by the Bay is scheduled on April 4 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and that the final weigh-in for the Health Challenge is scheduled March 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The winners are to be announced on April 4.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.