Archive for May, 2007

May Day and Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texans don’t need much encouragement to kick up their heels and celebrate. And this Saturday, several state parks celebrate May Day and Cinco de Mayo.

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
is a stately, one hundred thirty year old manor, that faces Aransas Bay. And Saturday, May fifth, this jewel of the Gulf Coast Region celebrates spring, with May Day festivities. If you’re so inclined, go ahead and show off the moves you’ve learn on “Dancing with the Stars” when you trip the light fantastic around the maypole. Or play period games with the kiddos, enjoy old-fashioned pie-eating contests and create beautiful flower crafts. There’s live music, a petting zoo…from 10 to 4 pm.

Not to be outdone, Sebastopol House State Historic Site in Seguin, located in the Prairies and Lakes Region of the state, offers it’s version of May Day festivities. It is a free family event packed with music, a maypole dance, demonstrations, a climbing wall, games, free kid’s prizes and much more! Families are invited to come enjoy time together at this historic setting from 11 to 4.

Cinco de Mayo marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. And on Saturday, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, offers family activities with a Hispanic theme including games, dancing, music and food, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Reduced admission for adults, and free for kids under 12 years.

For entrance fees and directions to these events, go to the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Magazine Sweepstakes

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

How many times have you thumbed through a Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine in a waiting room or at a friend’s home, and thought: I’d love to have this delivered to my home? That can be arranged. Plus, everyone who subscribes now is automatically entered to into a
drawing…

…to win a thousand dollar Academy Sports and Outdoors gift card. Which they can then go and select whatever outdoor gear they want, and hopefully get out and enjoy themselves this summer.

Darcy Bontempo is Director of Marketing at Texas Parks and Wildlife. The magazine offers readers plenty of inspiration to learn about and play in the outdoors.

There are going to be some really special stories to focus on. In May, which is the birding issue, we’re going to have a story about Hawk Man; a very interesting character that’s well worth learning about.

June is the coastal fishing issue, and there’s a wonderful story on kayak fishing, as well as one on river rats – people that really know how to fish Texas rivers. And then in July, we move to lakes. And that’s the state of lakes.

This issue will give our readers insights into the life cycle of lakes, as well as some fascinating stories. So, there are all kinds of things you’d never know if you didn’t read Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

No purchase is necessary, but everyone who subscribes to the magazine by July 31st is automatically entered. Find a link to the complete rules and information on how to enter the drawing when you log onto passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

TPWD TV Series — May Highlights

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

The month of May brings fish stories and park stories to the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series. Writer/producer, Alan Fisher, gives us a rundown.

The first week of May, we’re featuring a recent inductee to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame – Richard Hart.

About every other Monday I get a call from Dick, and I hear this voice say, ‘Wait until you hear what we caught this weekend.’ And it’s usually not so much what he caught, as it is what the other person caught.

Dick Hart, not only holds a couple of world fishing records for fly fishing, he’s done great things for the sport in terms of education and mentoring. And, he’s been a benefactor for the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. And the week of May sixth, we have another inductee into the Fishing Hall of Fame – Buddy Bradley – who’s an excellent bass fisherman. And he’s actually done a lot in the science of bass fishing.

But I found out also, that you could work on the condition response of the fish and make the fish – trigger the fish – to strike when in reality he’s not hungry at all.

The week of May thirteenth, we take a visit to the Pineywoods, both at Tyler State Park and at a Lone Star Land Steward winner. The week of May twentieth, we visit Palmetto State Park in Central Texas, and the last week of may, we’ll pay a visit to Mother Neff State Park, which is often considered the first official state park in Texas.

Check your local listings.

That’s our show…the Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series, and provides funding for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries center…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.