Laguna Madre Arts and Crafts Fair

Christ's Harbor Church Dec 06, 2014 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Admission: 0 No admission fee for visitors. CRAFTERS AND ARTISTS NEEDED!, $20.00 vendor fee, 9’ x 9’ space (two may be purchased). Microcrafters may share a space with their friends. See http://christsharborchurch.com/crafts.html for information and application. Email crafts@christsharborchurch.com for info

Christmas Lighted Boat Parade

Port Isabel to South Padre Island Dec 06, 2014 Starting: 6:00 PM Hosted by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce. Annual, first Saturday in December at 6 p.m. Decorated watercraft take to the Laguna Madre in and around Port Isabel and then across the bay to South Padre Island. Viewing areas all along the shoreline. For more information visit www.portisabelchamber.com or call (956) 943-2262.

Glow Dash South Padre Island

South Padre Island Convention Centre Nov 29, 2014 Get your beach glow on with this NEW event for SPI! Registration will open soon for this Thanksgiving weekend event! Check online at www.glowdash.net for upcoming details.

New Listing! Margaritaville #502

This beachfront condo is located in a 10 unit complex with a spacious balcony that overlooks the Gulf. Granite counter tops, wetbar and a maid/nanny's room AND Miami-Dade County hurricane resistant glass on all windows! Enjoy the views and the peace and quiet from this fabulous unit!

Jake's Flowers Annual Holiday Mixer

Jake's Flowers is having their annual Holiday Mixer. Kick off the season with food, refreshments AND 30% off storewide! Tuesday, December 2nd 5:30pm - 7:00pm

South Padre Island Holiday Parade

Join the holiday festivities and watch the SPI Holiday Parade on Friday, December 12th starting at 5pm!

Can I trim my neighbor’s tree?

Branches from a tree in my neighbor’s yard hang over our shared fence. These branches hang low and block a walkway on the side of my garage. Can I trim the branches back to the property line? You have the right to remove the over-hanging branches, but that doesn’t mean you should run outside with your saw. If you damage the tree or violate any local ordinances regarding tree trimming and limb removal, you could find yourself liable for damages or facing fines. Start by talking to your neighbor about the branches, and get his agreement on how you’ll trim the tree. Also, check with your city about any restrictions on pruning trees.

SPI Environmental Health Services Department Earns State’s Top Honor

The City of South Padre Island Environmental Health Services Department (EHSD) garnered the top honor in Texas for its work in the area of food inspection and enforcement. At the November 12th City Council meeting, Mayor Barry Patel introduced Jodie Heilman-­‐ Halter, the Texas Environmental Health Association’s (TEHA) Executive Director, who recognized the department. EHSD was the only small jurisdiction in the state to earn the Texas Environmental Health Association’s (TEHA) Award of Excellence. The City’s EHSD Director Victor Baldovinos and Health Inspectors Cipriano Torres and Willie Higginbotham received the plaque honoring their achievement. “We are extremely honored and would like to share this award with our partners, including the City of South Padre Island City Council and the all the local restaurateurs,” said Baldovinos. “Without their continued support, this accomplishment would not be possible,” he further stated. TEHA is a state association that strives to protect and strengthen the status of the environmental health profession. The Award of Excellence recognizes entities throughout Texas that achieve a high degree of professionalism and commitment to the communities they serve.

By ESTEVAN MEDRANO Port Isabel-South Padre Press Rick Wells The tedious write-in process used to determine the Laguna Madre Water District Board of Directors elections carried over into late Wednesday as votes were hand counted. Unofficial results revealed Rick Wells triumphant over Robert Vela for Position 1 due to a strong showing in South Padre Island and with mail-in ballot voters, and a surge in Port Isabel allowed Nancy Martinez to squeak out a narrow win over John Thobe for Position 2 by roughly 20 votes.

Do I have to disclose a repair I made last year?

I hired a licensed electrician last year to fix a wiring issue in my home. I’m putting my house on the market next week, and I know I’m supposed to disclose defects of the property. Since I had the wiring issue fixed, do I have to disclose it? No, you do not have to disclose a previous wiring repair. While you must disclose known defects or malfunctions of your property, the only previous repairs you must disclose are those to the foundation, roof, or other structural repairs, such as a collapsed overhang. Since the repair of the wiring issue is not one of these types of repairs, you do not have to disclose it. If you have made previous roof, foundation, or other structural repairs, you should disclose these items in Section 3 of the Texas Association of REALTORS® Seller’s Disclosure Notice. Section 4 is where you should disclose anything still in need of repair. Your Texas REALTOR® can provide more information about this form. While you’re not required to disclose this electrical repair, keep in mind that it’s always better to disclose too much than too little. You’ll reduce your risk of facing future problems if you’re up front and honest in your disclosures.

How to Save Energy in Your Home

How to Save Energy in Your Home Fall is upon us and in the months generally known for colder weather, keeping our homes warm is a top priority. Even in those geographic regions where the mercury doesn't drop below 50, knowing your home is not losing energy is a relief when you spend your hard earned dollars keeping your home warm or cool. Saving energy in your home is not a difficult process. There are many easy free and low-cost ways to save energy and money on your heating and cooling bills. Listed below are some steps you can take in your home to help conserve energy and save yourself some money in the process: Install A Programmable Thermostat:

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs you more money than any other area or system in your home. Heating and cooling makes up almost half of your utility bill, so knowing how to eliminate energy waste when it comes to heating and cooling will save you money each month. By installing a programmable thermostat you help to automatically adjust your home's temperature to when you've programmed, which helps it stay warm (or cool) when you need it to be. Seal Air Leaks: A home is rarely air tight, and checking for air leaks is a great way of determining where warm or cool air could be escaping and adding money on to your energy bill. There are a number of areas where air escapes: windows, doors, electrical boxes, ceiling fixtures, attics and more. You can help reduce or eliminate leaks by caulking and/or weather-stripping doors and windows, installing foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates, or using foam sealant on larger gaps around windows and baseboards. Taking the time to find air leaks and fix them will help save you money and keep your home warm or cool. Improve Insulation: Heating and cooling make up the majority of your energy bill, over 50 percent, so knowing your home is insulated properly can help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Checking the insulation in your home's attic, walls, floors, and ceilings will tell you how much air is flowing between the inside and outside of your home and help you determine the best way of controlling the temperature inside. One important place to look for insulation is your attic – a well-insulated attic can help slash your heating and cooling bills in both the winter and summer months by helping to maintain indoor temperatures and seal air leaks through your roof. Install Efficient Windows: Window glass is not known for being very thick, and single-pane windows are notorious energy loss culprits. One option is to replace current windows with storm windows. Storm windows "reduce temperature loss by sealing leaks and creating a dead airspace between window panes" (motherearthnews.com). Storm windows can be expensive, but their return on investment is about 10 years, which is relatively short. Another option, if installing new windows is not feasible, is to cover windows with transparent material to help improve insulation. This site has great techniques on conserving energy in your home by implementing winter window treatments. Conserve Water:

Using less water benefits you, your water bill and the environment. When you use less water, you also use less energy needed to heat the water. The Department of Energy lists water heating as the third most energy consuming function in a home. To help conserve water, you can take shorter showers and be conscious of the water used when washing dishes, food and clothes. When running the dishwasher or the washing machine, make sure the machine is filled to capacity to save water and energy on extra washes. You can also save energy by lowering the temperature on your hot water heater. The Department of Energy says 120 degrees is sufficient for most household uses. You can also save water and money by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances throughout your home. Turn Off Electronic Devices: Do you leave your coffee maker plugged in when not using it? According to the US Department of Energy, "In an average home, 75 perfect of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off." This is called a "phantom load," or the energy appliances or electronics use when not turned on. You can minimize phantom loads and save on your energy bill by unplugging appliances and electronics when not in use, or plugging them into a power strip and turning the strip off when not using the appliances or electronics Change Out Light Bulbs:

One cost-effective technique for saving energy and money is replacing the traditional incandescent light bulbs in your home. There are a number of options available that will help you save energy, and some offer longer life and greater savings than others. From halogen incandescent bulbs, to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each bulb has its benefits. Halogen incandescent bulbs are energy-efficient incandescent bulbs and can last up to three times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and are extremely affordable. LEDs are becoming more and more popular and their prices have significantly dropped in recent years. LEDs use 20%-25% of the energy traditional incandescent bulbs use, and LEDS can last up to 25 times longer, some even being touted to last up to 25 years. You also have the option of performing a home energy audit. An energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment, assesses how much energy your home consumes and helps you evaluate the best measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. There are a number of options for home energy audits, from Do-It-Yourself audits, to professional audits that include blower door tests, thermographic inspections and PFT air infiltration measurements. Find an option that best suits your needs, wants and wallet and discover how you can make your home more energy efficient and save yourself some money. If you'd like more tips on saving money and conserving energy throughout your home, here are some helpful links for more information: Windows Light Bulbs Water Energy Saving Guide

126B E. Mezquite, South Padre Island, TX

Take a look at this gorgeous townhome located in the heart of South Padre Island. Located just a short 2-3 minute walk to the beach and the entertainment district. There is a lovely, tropical pool in the private backyard and partial Gulf views from the spacious balcony. Don't miss your chance to own your own piece of tropical paradise!

The Wave - Groundbreaking Ceremony

Come to the groundbreaking Ceremony for The Wave on November 13th at 2:00pm.

Why is my house being sold all over the Internet?

I signed an agreement with one real estate broker to sell my house. But now my house is not only on his company’s website—it’s showing up for sale on a bunch of other websites, too. What gives? Maximum exposure for a home is a good thing. The more people who know your home is for sale, the better your chances of finding a buyer. “Casting a wide net” may help you find a buyer sooner, sell your house for more money—possibly even create a situation with multiple buyers competing to purchase your home. And there’s no wider net than the Internet. Most brokers have agreements and systems in place to display listings on a variety of websites, including other local brokerages and national listing portals, like realtor.com and texasrealestate.com. Look at your listing agreement. If it’s the Residential Real Estate Listing Agreement Exclusive Right to Sell from the Texas Association of REALTORS®, you’ll see in Paragraph 11 (Broker’s Authority) that it authorizes the broker to display the property on the Internet without limitation unless one of the following sections is checked. If you’d like to restrict display of your property, talk with your broker. Just realize, though, that you’ll be limiting the number of potential buyers who know that your house is on the market.

Recycle Land 2014

The Keep South Padre Island Beautiful Committee and the Environmental Health Services Department invites everyone to bring their recyclables to Water Tower Park on South Padre Island on November 15th.

Join the South Padre Island May, Robert Pinkerton Jr., in recognition of all veterans and celebrating the Marine Corps. birthday on November 11, 2014.

Join the South Padre Island May, Robert Pinkerton Jr., in recognition of all veterans and celebrating the Marine Corps. birthday on November 11, 2014.

Cactus Flower Open House & Sale

All the locals LOVE this store. You can find gifts for every occasion!

Don't Forget to "Fall Back" on Sunday