oddly enough
oddly enough
Texas artist prepares Rockport’s new big blue crab
ROCKPORT, Texas
A new and improved big blue crab is being set up in South Texas after the original 1950s artwork succumbed to weather.
Workers last week laid out pieces of the fiberglass and aluminum body, pinchers and crab legs at the entrance to Rockport Beach Park. The 25-by-27-foot creation is a salute to blue crabs that are common in Rockport, a Gulf coast community about 25 miles northeast of Corpus Christi.
Rockport artist David Allgood took about nine months to create a replica of the original landmark that was made of chicken wire and paper products. Supporters raised about $11,000 for the project.
The original big blue-crab artwork deteriorated after several hurricanes and by the late 1970s was removed and buried.
NYC fair nixes pig races and goes to the dogs
NEW YORK
Organizers of the county fair on New York’s Staten Island are making a dogged effort to prevent the spread of swine flu.
The Staten Island Advance says this year’s Richmond County Fair is forgoing pig races in response to a new swine-flu strain. Instead, the Labor Day weekend fair will feature dogs running down an elevated plank and diving into the water.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Milt Wilcox owns Ultimate Air Dogs, which is hosting the canine caper. He’s encouraging fairgoers to bring their dogs if they like to swim.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the new swine-flu strain is relatively mild. Some cases have been linked to fairs, so the health organization has encouraged people not to pet pigs.
Associated Press