The POC Community Garden is also very lucky to have such generous support from Jason’s Irrigation Service from Cuero. Jason Gaskamp’s donation of time and effort for Phase 2 waterspouts for our eight new beds will make tending the new beds much more manageable with easy water access.

The Port O’Connor Community Garden Club hosted a community gathering on November 22 at the garden. The morning event highlighted Melstan Feed in Port Lavaca. Attendees enjoyed delicious pastries before the event and afterwards a raffle was held for many generously donated door prizes from Stanley Dierlam and his vendors John Salem with BWI, and Adam Stovall from Fertilome / HIYield.

While some early attendees strolled through the garden soaking in the pleasant fall weather, others signed up for membership and everyone submitted tickets for the raffle door prizes. Officers were introduced and an engaging Question & Answer session was soon held. An amazing and informative session by this well-rounded, very experienced gardening panel focused on both the technical and practical aspects of gardening. A wide range of topics related to successful plant growth and pest management was related to participants at this educational meeting.

Overall, the panel provided a wealth of knowledge based on years of experience on various gardening techniques and resources to community gardeners. Both sustainable practices (organic growth) and the use of modern gardening techniques (chemical products when necessary) were offered as solutions. Stanley Dierlam, John Salem and Adam Stovall clearly aimed to provide both foundational knowledge and actionable insights, making it beneficial for gardeners at various levels of experience. By focusing on a mix of traditional practices and modern techniques, a comprehensive toolkit for successful gardening was offered to attendees, which made for an excellent educational meeting.

L to R: Stanley Dierlam, John Salem and Adam Stovall

Meeting Shade

What a great Thanksgiving celebration! Not only did the Chapel celebrate with passing out Thanksgiving Food Baskets to needy families, but we also received special donations from several groups! The POC School did an amazing job of providing over 1,800 units of food, the Service Club brought multiplies of donations, the Bunco ladies contributed with a special gift, the First Baptist Youth and 4-H Club worked together to bring in many pounds of groceries! I am sure I missed some of the items that were provided but special thanks to all who participated. The Community Thanksgiving Service held this year at the Catholic Church was a great success and a special offering was received. Funds keep coming in, so next month I will attempt to provide an accurate accounting. Twenty-eight families received baskets and again we say a special thanks to Dick’s Food Store in Seadrift for their assistance in obtaining the food!

We distributed the Christmas Baskets on December 17 to needy families who have been identified through friends, neighbors, and family members. Our unique efforts truly make a difference in families’ lives. There will be extra in the Christmas Baskets because we understand the need will be greater with the holiday school schedule.

The Dedication of the Cross was the result of ten (10) years of effort and obedience! We were honored to have over 75 people attend this special event. We appreciate the effort of the many who assisted this Cross project. Please read the article about the Cross which is the story as well as I can remember it. This effort cost many people of this community a great deal of time and money and we are humbled and appreciative! POC Cross stands as a beacon of hope for all who are on land or at sea!

Christmas activities are many and varied. For the first time, we had a Live Nativity at the Cross on Friday on December 13 and December 20. It featured not only the Nativity Scene but also a fire in the pit with hot dogs and S’mores ready for all to enjoy.

On December 15 we celebrated Christmas Sunday. The morning events spotlighted the birth of the King of Kings. The evening was our annual Chapel Christmas Party. We had our traditional food, white elephant exchange, and of course, the “dirty Santa” will show up! It was a time of great fun, food, and fellowship.

We will not have any activities on Christmas Day at the Chapel because we want all our families to celebrate with family activities! Get together, play games, eat great food, and exchange love! It’s Jesus’ Birthday, so it will be great if you have a cake for the Lord and even gifts!

We are planning a New Year’s Eve gathering at the Chapel at 6:00 p.m., with a time of reflection, praise, and fellowship! Everyone is invited to set a couple of hours aside to celebrate the coming New Year!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to exalt God’s Special Gift, a Baby, Who came to earth for one reason – to pay the redemptive expense for our redemption! One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, whether it is at our Sunday Bible Class at 10:00 a.m., the Morning Service at 11:00 a.m., or the Sunday Evening Service at 6:00 p.m.. We also meet each Wednesday for a time of fellowship and a special Word from Scripture. All are urged to attend and to “Come, Help Us Grow!”

POC’s “Hooked On Books” Book Club held their Annual Christmas Party, and donated their money collection to the “Friends of the POC Library” to be used for their “POC Library Expansion Project”. Here pictured are Book Club member Alane Haardt (right) presenting their donation to Linda Orrick, Vice-President of the Friends of the POC Library.
The Ladies wish everyone a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy Holiday Season”!!

The Club has enjoyed discussing some interesting books and being entertained by gracious hostesses. November’s meeting was hosted by Brenda Berger, Val Tiemann, Melanie Martinez, Darbie Morris, and Lisa Berger. The ladies put together an amazing CSI-type afternoon for attendees discussing the suspenseful The General’s Daughter, by Nelson DeMill.

December’s Hooked on Books Club Meeting and Annual Christmas Party was a delightful and festive gathering, brimming with fun, laughter, and holiday cheer. A heartfelt thank-you goes to the hostesses—Annie Seay, Debra Stewart, Val Tiemann, Michelle Lippold, Marie Hawes, Nan Burnett, and Alane Haardt—who truly outdid themselves in every way. The stunning decorations and warm, welcoming atmosphere made the event a memorable celebration of friendship and the season.

The event began with a meet-and-greet, followed by a delicious spread of appetizers, desserts, and beverages that everyone enjoyed while sharing stories and laughter. The holiday spirit was in full swing as attendees discussed Janet Evanovich’s Visions of Sugar Plums: A Stephanie Plum Holiday Novel. The hilarious story, featuring the hapless bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, provided plenty of laughs as participants related to her holiday stress and chaotic adventures. From hunting a bail-jumper named Sandy Claws to working with the charming and magical Diesel amid cookie-wielding elves and holiday mayhem, the book delivered sharp humor and an entertaining escape. The grand finale of the novel, featuring a party with Sandy Claws and his quirky elves, added to the holiday cheer and merriment.

The festivities wrapped up with a lively and spirited and entertaining Chinese Christmas Gift Exchange, filled with laughter, playful stealing and plenty of good-natured fun. It was a delightful way to celebrate the season, leaving everyone in high spirits. Many thanks to Annie Seay for her warm hospitality. Wishing all a Merry Christmas 2024 and a Happy New Year 2025!

December meeting of the Hooked on Books Club

Every holiday season, the spirit of giving comes alive during the Annual Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run. This year the boats dealt with cold, wind and rain as they made the 72-mile trek from Freeport to Port O’Connor. Weather cannot stop this group as they continue to spread holiday cheer to children in need.

After the presents were unloaded and the sun went down the boats lined up for the annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade. The participants shifted their focus and adorned each vessel with strings of colorful lights, festive garlands, and sparkling ornaments. The parade was not as lengthy as in past years, but all the activities resulted in a colorful celebration that left a lasting impression on participants and spectators. We really appreciate Charlie and Susan Upshaw for volunteering their home to host the judges for this event

Thank you, Darla Parker, Michelle Davis and Bridgett Burnet, for your efforts and time with installing the lighted trees at the community center.

The King Fisher Pavillion, an important staple in the community recently underwent renovations. The replacement of the roof and purlins has revitalized the venue, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming space for events and gatherings for years to come.

The Chamber Membership Drive will begin in January, running through March 1st. Memberships are $100 for Business members; $199 for a Business Member with advertising; and $35 for an individual or couple membership. Make sure to save the date of February 28th for our Annual Member Appreciation Casino Night.

Get ready to indulge in delicious food, entertainment and a fantastic community atmosphere at the Annual Crawfish Festival. Mark your calendars for April 26th where friends and families come together to celebrate good times and great flavors.

We appreciate our renewing and new members this month. Audiential specializes in your existing media efforts by creating tailored placements designed for every unique audience. For more information on this business and our other chamber members please visit our website at www.portoconnorchamber.com.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!