THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Early Summer 2018 23 TheCoastalBend.com Editor 2018’s Summer of Recovery Early Summer 2018 A year ago, Coastal Bend business owners, especially those on the islands, were heading into the summer season with mediocre expectations, compared to average years. Some reported steady hotel bookings in the spring and an unpredictable mix of pre-bookings for June and July. A couple of retailers and restaurants that depend on tour- ism said that June was lousy, and July was even worse compared to normal years—but, of course, others had no real complaint and said that levels of business were about what was expected. Several entrepreneurs from outside the Coastal Bend were in the process of closing significant investments here, including C’est Bon Seafood in Flour Bluff and My Coastal Home stores in Port Aransas, Rockport and on North Padre Island. At the end of the summer season, and with one last, big holiday upcoming— Labor Day Weekend—Hurricane Harvey brought everything to a screeching halt. In fact, the storm served as an act of Darwinism both for the natural world and for those of us two-leggers, homeowners and business owners alike, who had to choose to either roll it up—take the insurance money and run, or just run—or to work like hell, accept major lifestyle adjustments, and buckle up for a long and difficult rebuilding process. Eight months later, the struggle to rebuild, re-inhabit, or reopen continues for thousands of our neighbors. Some are moving along at a leisurely pace, with little urgency and no need to rush contractors or overpay for speedy service. Others are fully recovered in their homes and businesses and life is largely back to normal. For most, however, it seems that the struggle to become whole again carries on due to combinations of factors that include disputes with TWIA or pri- vate insurance carriers, unreliable, incompetent or overcharging contractors—or the simple lack of availability of them in certain fields—as well as fights with landlords, mortgage holders, and permitting jurisdictions. One Port Aransas family in particular, who are partners in this magazine, have been living through the full experience of how painful, and painstaking, the effort to rebuild their home has become. While many of those similarly-situated will recognize one or two common stories, the Port Aransas Bepko’s have been sent down just about every road of resistance and delay in getting back into their home. We say, “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” and this family has endured and survived one setback and struggle after another, but are now on track to come out of the Harvey experience with a more beautiful, stronger home—along with even stronger bonds as a family and to their community. In this issue you will find the introductory segment of “Port A Rebuild” (page 47), our multi-part series that will take readers through the various stages of rebuilding the Bepko home, from assessing the damage and contriving a plan to survive the recovery, to dealing with TWIA, FEMA and the first insurance claims, to making the risky and ambitious decision to act as their own general contractor—and all that entails, including finding and securing contractors, and choosing a new look for the home as well as upgrading building features that will enhance survivability of the next big storm. In this edition we have decided to take on what will be a major, national story later this year when Jeff Henry, Schlitterbahn Kansas City and other defen- dants go on trial for charges including second-degree murder, stemming from the horrific death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab on what was the world’s tallest and fastest water slide. While Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi is not directly in- volved, its future identity could be affected by the trials’ outcomes, and more significantly, the entire future of the iconic Texas brand that Schlitterbahn has become could be in jeopardy. You will also find much lighter notes in this Early Summer edition, our biggest magazine yet at 136 total pages. The 2nd Annual Corpus Christi Comic Con, organized as a moonlighting project by three fantastically ambitious young South Texans, is striving to build on its first-year success of some 7,000 attend- ees at the Richard R. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. Based on the comic-themed convention concept that was born in San Diego, our own Coastal Bend version will this year welcome an iconic lineup of celebrities, including Lou Ferrigno, who played The Incredible Hulk on the original 70’s TV series, Helen Slater, who played Supergirl and the movie heroine that is especially close to the hearts of Corpus Christians, Billie Jean as in The Legend of, Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder, the lead artist who illustrated The Death of Superman, and many others including live action and voice actors, artists and writers. In celebration of Helen Slater’s appearance, we have headlined this edition to The Legend of Billie Jean, with our own artistic rendition of the movie poster on our cover, and a quick story and photo tour of the film’s locations throughout Corpus Christi, in The Return of Billie Jean (page 28). Our expanding Community section (page 54) has provided space to tell you about Ernesto Chavarria, owner of Chavarria Boxing Gym on South Staples, close to where it becomes North Staples, in one of Corpus Christi’s most diffi- cult neighborhoods. Chavarria’s decades-long mission to teach kids athletic skill through hard work and discipline, by way of boxing, has saved hundreds of young people from the perils of the streets, while helping them develop the character traits that lead to productive lives as adults. In Community you will also find a brief comparison of the leading candidates to replace District 27 United States Representative Blake Farenthold, who has quit the congress, and an introduction to planned interviews with the candidates that we will pursue leading up to the November election. And of course—pets pets pets—in our standing photo feature of most eligible prospective rescue animals in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. One year ago, we too were cruising into the summer season pretty much on auto-pilot, publishing a 112-page Tour Guide, the only editorial responsibility of which was to keep visitors up with what leisure activities are happening around the area, along with providing a good and useful guide to what’s where. The Summer of 2018 has come with a new set of circumstances that were no more predictable than the hurricane was a year ago, and the interim period brought emotional and financial stress, uncertainty and real pain for many of us, present company included. For our little business, coming out of the period of struggle following Har- vey, we find ourselves with a larger magazine, a bigger audience with many new delivery locations like HEB stores, and most of all, a growing audience of local readers who appreciate the effort that goes into our content, and who learn a little more about our hometown in each edition. And for that, I thank you. –The Editor