Port Aransas / Mustang Island News

Port Aransas is the Winter home of many of our northern neighbors who want to escape their harsh winter weather.

On Thursday, February 28th, Plantation Suites is holding a Bon Voyage party, and all of the Winter Texans on the island are cordially invited. There will be a free buffet and door prizes, tours of the property, and entertainment will be provided by one of the island’s favorite bands, the Medicare Band. This is the second year the party has been held, and last year the turnout was enormous. We look forward to an equally as large a turnout this year.

Tourists come to our island for the fishing, the beach, birding, just to be casual and relaxed and to “get away”. However, many people have no idea about the large number of excellent restaurants here on the island, including 3 four-star restaurants. Some say we have more good restaurants per capita than anywhere in the country. So, as you make your plans to come stay with us, remember that the hotel offers an excellent free, Continental breakfast. Then, if you want to go out for a great lunch or dinner, just check at the front desk for our restaurant list and enjoy one of our local delicious restaurants. Make your reservations now!

The Port Aransas Comunity Park has installed a beautiful in-line hockey rink that is available for the enjoyment of everyone. Doug Frank, a resident of Port A and President and CEO of the Corpus Christi Rayz, a minor-league professional ice hockey team, donated the walls, bleachers, goals and electronic scoreboard. The rink has a smooth concrete floor and measures 150′ X 80′.

The rink has already been used for hockey games, but it can also be used to play with remote control cars, dances or other celebrations, and the Parks and Recreation Department is open for suggestions for other uses.  At present, there is no fee and no reservations are needed. If you are planning a trip and would like to include a fun activity for everyone in the family, inquire at the hotel front desk for directions. If you would like to plan an event, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (361) 749-4158.

At the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, travel back in time to board the Santa Maria and Pinta. They also have shipwreck exhibits of La Belle and San Esteban.  The museum of Science and History has many unique exhibits and hands-on activities. Visit the museum at 1900 N. Chaparral in Corpus Christi or check out their website www.ccmuseum.com.

The Holiday Forest at the Port Aransas Civic Center will host Santa on December 19. There will be a party for children 12 and under. Admission is free and each child will receive a gift from Santa.

A special thanks to a group from Dallas.  You guys were great.  This group traveled from Dallas to go fishing on one of the local fishing charters.  The group on the boat caught about 130 fish.  The catch was made up of a combination of sharks and red snapper.

Taken from San Antonio Express News. Written by Jessica Belasco, December 2, 2006.

There are plenty of reasons to head to the beach during the winter months.

The hotel rates are cheaper. The restaurants are less crowded.

And then, of course, there’s the shopping.

Never thought of doing your holiday shopping in Port Aransas? Well, why not? You can skip the packed malls and find original, often unique gifts, and have yourself a merry little vacation at the same time.

Those mammoth surf shops hawking T-shirts, souvenir seashells and boogie boards may dominate the main drag of Alister Street, but as Port Aransas and Mustang Island have undergone increasing development over the last few years, the shopping opportunities have grown as well. Savvy merchants have responded to the influx of tourists who bring their considerable disposable income to this tiny gulf community by opening specialty boutiques and gift shops.

And they’re not all concentrated in the nexus of Alister Street and Avenue G.

For more information on shopping check out the article in the San Antonio Express News or go to the Port Aranansas Chamber of Commerce at www.portaransas.org.

Birthday girl asks for gifts to benefit holiday toy drive
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Guests won’t bring gifts for Gabriella Hanmore when she has her eighth birthday party tomorrow, Nov. 30, at Port A Pizzeria.

And that’s the way Gabriella wants it.

The H.G. Olsen Elementary School second grader has handed out written invitations to more than 60 Port Aransas children to bring gifts only so that she may pass them on as donations to the 10th annual Port Aransas Emergency Services Toy Round Up, a program that helps lower income families in Port Aransas provide Christmas toys for their children.

Gabriella is the daughter of Erol and Laurie Hanmore. Laurie Hanmore said she and her daughter were watching a local television news segment about a Corpus Christi toy drive when Gabriella suddenly had an idea.

“She just started talking about her birthday party and how she has so many toys and doesn’t need so many,” Hanmore said. “We talked about it, and she just wants to give her birthday presents to (the Toy Round Up),” Hanmore said.

“I feel sorry for those kids who don’t have very much,” Gabriella told the South Jetty.

(By the way, the Hanmores did not contact the South Jetty about their plans. A South Jetty reporter asked the Hanmores for an interview after hearing about Gabriella’s planned party from a Hanmore family friend.)

Hanmore wasn’t completely shocked by her daughter’s decision to forgo gifts. She said she almost has gotten used to Gabriella’s unusual maturity and kind-heartedness.

“She blows me away all the time,” Hanmore said. “I was touched (by Gabriella’s decision). I want to do whatever I can to help her.”

Gabriella formally has handed out written invitations to her entire second-grade class (about 40 students), her karate class (10 kids) and ballet class (10 dancers). In addition, Gabriella’s mother said anyone who reads this article should feel free to stop by Port A Pizzeria during the party, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., drop off a toy and have some pizza.

Toys should be in their original containers and not gift wrapped, according to guidelines issued by the Port Aransas Emergency Services Toy Round Up. Hanmore said she will drop the toys with Port Aransas Emergency Services after the party.

Debbie Bridges, manager at Port A Pizzeria, said her restaurant is glad to be a part of the party and charity effort. Bridges’ own daughter got one of the invitations.

“When I read that invitation, I was really surprised,” Bridges said. “Just to see such a young girl make that kind of decision and be so unselfish, to give up all the presents and everything, I was like, wow!”

Go Deep or Don’t Go At All November 10, 2007         

 Plantation Suites / Bass Pro Deep Sea Fishing Adventure for November was a huge success. 34 fishermen, including 3 children, caught a lot of fish. Some of the fish caught on this trip included a spotted eel, a strawberry grouper and 54 sharks. The sun was shining, the water was a little rough, but everyone said they had a good time.
         Prizes were awarded after the guests enjoyed a shrimp boil catered by Mark Admire from Little Joe’s Smoke’n Grill which is located here on the island.
         A shark was the biggest fish caught and the prize was awarded to Michael Redfern. For the most fish caught, we had a tie between Phil Rainforth and Joe Rivera. Each angler caught 13 fish.  Joe Rivera also won the prize for the first fish caught.
         Door prizes were drawn and given to Duane Price, Nancy Ralter, Azenett Garza, Mike Cunningham, Bill Thomas, Virgil Bergman and Wallace Lemore. Plantation t-shirts were given to the three children that attended, Taylor and Kayla Redfern and Anna Sobey,
         Bass Pro Shop and Plantation Suites hope all that participated had as much fun as the staff did hosting the event.  We look forward to seeing old friends and new ones at our next event with Bass Pro which is scheduled for Friday, February 29 and Saturday March 1, 2008. Contact the hotel to reserve your spot for this fun filled event.