“The History of Port Isabel” presented by Gabriel Godines

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present “Telling Our Stories”, the 2011 series on Thursday, April 28, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 317 E. Railroad Ave. at 6:30 p.m. This month’s topic will be “The History of Port Isabel”, presented by Gabriel Godines.

Mr. Godines has given lectures on the History of Port Isabel several times and actively gives tours through the Museums of Port Isabel for various school groups. As the Museums of Port Isabel Curator of Education and Programs, Mr. Godines has been involved taking steps toward educating the great history of the Rio Grande area to the public as well as helping to organize the Telling Our Stories events.

Starting out as a Museum Aide, Gabriel Godines used hard work and dedication to further his career as Curator of the Museums of Port Isabel. Mr. Godines is actively in the Historic Preservation Board, the merchants committee, the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation Board, the Cameron County Historical Commission, and the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce Board.

Historically, Port Isabel has always attracted the attention of humans. From the Native Americans, Spanish Conquistadors, bandits, and Pirates; Port Isabel has etched its importance in history over the years.

Please join us as we learn about the history of Port Isabel. All locals and visitors are welcome to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

“Telling Our Stories” is a free presentation open to the public which is held by the Museums of Port Isabel. These presentations are set on the final Thursday of the month from January through September at 6:30 pm. Our thanks go out to the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, the Port Isabel Merchants Committee, the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation, The El Paseo Arts Foundation, the Economic Development Foundation,  and the City of Port Isabel for their continued support.

Sponsored by: The El Paseo Arts Foundation

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundations goals are to help preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits.

For more information on Telling Our Stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Gabriel Godines at 956-943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com you can also send an email to ggodines@copitx.com.

“FISHING HERITAGE” presented by Mike Cateora

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2011 featuring Mike Cateora with the “Fishing Heritage” on Thursday, March 31, at 6:30 pm inside the Treasures of the Gulf Museum.

Mike Cateora is actively the Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board and Vice Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board. For roughly 84 years, Mr. Cateora’s family has been involved in the fishing industry, going back as far as 1927. A Port Isabel native, Mike went into the family business where he devoted 25 years into the shrimping and fishing industry. Today, Mike Cateora is part owner of Cuevas Bait and Shrimp Company with business partner Jose Cuevas.

For years Port Isabel has always drawn the attention of fisherman well beyond the 1400’s from the Native Americans who inhabited the land to the avid sports fisherman that frequent the island today. Fishing in many ways has sculpted this area into one both Port Isabel and South Padre Island have embraced. Native Americans would use Padre Island as an unofficial home away from home where fishing was the main objective as well as gathering oysters and other shell fish. During the 1950’s at the peak of the industry, Port Isabel was known as the “Shrimp Capital of the World”. Today with fewer shrimp boats still in active use due to the importation of shrimp, Port Isabel has had to evolve in many ways from a fishing community and turn to tourism as a way to stimulate economic growth, but we still cherish those memories of old. That large catch of shrimp and fish your father or uncle brought back, that story of how the largest fish you had ever hooked just somehow got away. This great fishing heritage of ours is what made Port Isabel and its people.

Please join us as we tell the history of Port Isabel’s great fishing heritage.  All locals and visitors are welcome to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

“Telling Our Stories” held by the Museums of Port Isabel is a free presentation open to the public. These presentations are set on the final Thursday of the month from January through September at 6:30 pm. Our thanks go out to the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, the Port Isabel Merchants Committee, the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation and the City of Port Isabel for their continued support.

This event is sponsored by: Coastal Mail and Southwind Inn Hotel.

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundations goals are to help preserve and educate our local natural history through presentations and exhibits.

For more information on telling our stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Gabriel Godines at 956-943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com you can also send an email to ggodines@copitx.com.

The Museums of Port Isabel and the City of Port Isabel invite you to enjoy a day filled with live entertainment, vendors, food, family fun on the grounds of the Historic Port Isabel Lighthouse! Queen Isabella Market Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge to the event. Vendors offering collectibles, antiques, local art, jewelry and more will be lining the sidewalks around the lighthouse. A tent with tables and chairs near the live entertainment will offer the opportunity to sit down and relax while enjoying some tasty tamales, baked goods or other dishes local vendors and restaurants will be offering. Or just roll down the grassy hill of the lighthouse! Relax and let us entertain you during a family fun day in Port Isabel!

The Port Isabel Lighthouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission just $1.00 during Market Day. And plan to visit the Port Isabel Historical Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, just a short walk across Highway 100 where admission is also just $1.00 to each site.

If you are interested in a vendor booth, please call the Museums of Port Isabel, Jeannie Marie A. Flores at 956/943-7602 or email museumdirector@copitx.com. For more information, click here: http://portisabelmuseums.com/mopi/programs/queen-isabella-market-day/.

A morning under the Big Top! A day of learning, laughter, and fun. Come out and experience the 2011 edition of the Kelly Miller Circus as we fill your day with an exciting learning adventure.

The journey begins as we pull onto the Circus grounds at 7:30 a.m. and begin the transformation into an educational wonderland. As the hustle and bustle of Circus life envelopes the grounds, you become lost in the unloading of equipment and animals. The giant elephants help raise the Circus Big Top and free guided tours are given to let everyone take part in the excitement. The huge creatures are so fascinating to watch. Many people have spent the entire day enjoying their playful antics. You can observe the elephants as they play together in their “elephant pen” unchained! The silly games they play will delight and amaze you.

The elephants are awesome but don’t forget the rest of our Circus family. Our horses, camels, llamas, ponies, and miniature Sicilian donkeys are equally enjoyable. They perform for you, along with the other amazing acrobats and aerialists from around the world, in the two main Big Top Circus performances.

The friendly personnel in the Animal Department will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the Circus animals on display. What better way to learn about the animals than by having a live example in front of you to observe and to ask questions about?

If you have ever wondered what a camel’s foot looks like, or how much an elephant eats, come out and see for yourself. The fun will be there for everyone, and what you learn you can take home for free.

Tickets are on sale now, $10.00 when purchased in advance from the Museums of Port Isabel, City of Port Isabel, Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce and the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce. We hope to see you at the Circus!

The Museums of Port Isabel invites you to celebrate Mardi Gras at their 14th Annual Fundraiser on February 11, 2011 from 7 – 10 p.m. The evening will feature lots of great food and drink, a festive Mardi Gras atmosphere and live entertainment. Through out the evening items featured in the Silent Auction will be on display in the museum. Tickets are available now and are $50 per person. All funds raised contribute to the preservation of the history of the Laguna Madre area and are tax deductible.

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Live Music by: The Frontera Jazz Quartet will be performing at the Museums of Port Isabel Annual Fundraiser on Friday, February 11, 2011 from 7-10. The Frontera Jazz Quartet, or FJQ for short, has been performing in the RGV, Mexico, and across Texas since December 2006, including at the Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi (2007-2010), The Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival (2007-2010), The SPI International Music Festival (2008, 2009), the Elephant Room in Austin, TX, The Irish Pub in Matamoros, the US Consulate in Matamoros, and many other festivals, private events, clubs, and restaurants. We are extremely honored to have this group be apart of our event. Going with the Madi Gras theme, Clay Moore who heads the Frontera Jazz Quartet has a special Madi Gras flavor that will be added to the music. Clay has opened for many internationally-known artists including Bill Frisell, Eric Johnson, Spyro Gyra, and Chuck Mangione.

For more information on ticket sales, silent auction donation, or sponsorship contact Jeannie Marie A. Flores at 956/943-7602 or email museumdirector@copitx.com.

Sponsored by: Quik Stop, South Padre Bank

Participating Food & Beverages: White Sands Restaurant, Reyes Seafood, Marcello’s Restaurant, L & F Distributors, Costa del Mar, Pirates Landing, Valerie Godines, Manuel’s Restaurant, Mary Gorball, H. E. B.

Silent Auction Items & Donors:
1.       Thomas B. Leeman “T. Leeman Company” – TAOS Church Oil Painting $400
2.       Carolyn Hauschildt “Art Sea Gallery & Goods” – Tote Bag w/Wallet $35
3.       June Williams “Silver Breeze” – Hand Made Lace Necklace Piece $95
4.       Jay Carlsen “Tocco Modern Living” – Fish Painting $129
5.       Ben Khajeh “Ben’s Liquor” – Wine & Cheese Basket $50
6.       Vicki Muhs “Gabriella’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria” – 2 Gift Certificates $25 each
7.       “PI Nails” – Gift Certificate Pedicure & Manicure $40
8.       Mr. & Mrs. Doyle Wells – “South Padre Island Adventures” Gift Certificate 1 Hour 1 Person Horseback Ride $45
9.       Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wentzel – “Coastal Winds” La-Tee-Da Effusion Fragrance Lamp w/Fragrance $80
10.     American Diving’s Original Dolphin Watch – 2 Gift Certificate – Dolphin Watch Passes
11.     Fast & Fair Car Care – 1 Gift Certificate – $50 Treasures of the Gulf Gift Shop
12.     South Wind Inn – Gift Certificate – 2 Day Stay $100
13.     Designer Consigner: One of a Kind Necklace & Glass Whale’s Tail
14.     Purple Parrot: Sting Ray Art Print
15.     Vida’s Barber Shop & Beauty Salon: Gift Certificate – Free Hair Cut
16.      Tex-Mex Tours / Osprey Fishing Charter / Black Dragon Cruises: Gift Certificates of two (2) each $438
Thriller, Deep Sea Fishing, Bay Fishing, Pirate Adventure Cruise, Sea-Life Safari, Port of Brownsville Fiesta Cruise
17.      Island Cinema: Gift Certificates of ten (10) $50
18.      Isla Grande Beach Resort: Gift Certificate – Friday Night Seafood Buffet for two(2) $50
19.      Welcome Aboard: Orange Sea-Life Beach Bag $25
20.      Dazzles: Turk & Brown Silver Necklace & Earring Set $30
21.      Coral Reef Lounge: Cap & Polo Shirt $20
22.      Cactus Flowers Interiors & Gifts: $100 gift certificate
23.      Bridgeview Flowers & Gifts: Tropical Silk arrangement $59.95