Everyday Heros – The Port O’Connor Community Service Club

Archived in the category: General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 19 Oct 23 - Comments Off on Everyday Heros – The Port O’Connor Community Service Club
Working at the Garage & Bake Sale, some of the Service Club’s longest-serving members: Left to Right: Nancy Childers, Kay Middleton, Marie Hawes, Pat Ekstrom and Mary Ann Claiborne -Photo by Barbara Rhyne

Working at the Garage & Bake Sale, some of the Service Club’s longest-serving members:
Left to Right: Nancy Childers, Kay Middleton, Marie Hawes, Pat Ekstrom and Mary Ann Claiborne
-Photo by Barbara Rhyne

On August 21, 1980 members of the Calhoun Home Extension Club in Port O’Connor voted to call themselves the Port O’Connor Community Service Club. The first officers of this new organization were: President, Emma Powers; Vice President, Jane Overton; Secretary, Frankie DeLoach; and Treasurer, Teresa Riley. There were 24 original members.

The Club currently has 48 members, three of whom have been members 20 or more years: Nancy Childers, Marie Hawes, and Kay Middleton. Officers are Marie Hawes, President; Alane Haardt, Vice President; Nancy Ladshaw, Secretary and Nan Burnett, Treasurer.
The purpose of the Service Club is to serve our community for the betterment of all. Throughout the years, fund raisers have been held and donations made to many groups and causes such as the Food Bank, Scouts, Senior Citizens, Friends of Youth, Scholarships, Fire Department, the Library and local school.

Birthday cards honoring many senior citizens in various nursing-residential homes and Christmas Cards have been sent throughout the years.

The Club’s first major project began in October of 1985. They began raising funds by holding bake sales, book sales, and their Club-made fried pies to raise money to create a library for our community. Opening on May 31, 1986 in the back section of the Fire Station, the library was staffed by Club members and open two days a week for two hours each day. Several years later, the library became a part of the Calhoun County library system; an addition was built and Shirley Gordon was hired as permanent librarian.

Club members created the “End of the Road Cookbook” in December of 1983. Since then, both a second and third edition have been printed, and is a steady fund raiser for the Club.

Every year the Club gifts the community with an outstanding Christmas Luncheon. This event began in 1980 in the Community Center section of the Fire Station. Then, as now, the food was prepared by Club members. As more residents began to come to the dinner, the Fire Station became too small, so it was moved to local churches. When the Community Center was built, the luncheon was held there, where it continues to be held each December.

The Garage Sale

The bi-annual Garage Sale is the most time consuming effort the Service Club does for the community. It provides the funds to accomplish other projects and re-purposes items that would otherwise be trashed. It serves not only our community, but other non-profits.

The donation center located at the back of the Community Center pavilion has a bin for donated items. There are seven Club members who check the bin on a daily basis and place items in the building. At intervals, these items are then sorted and placed into storage containers on shelving. There are approximately ten members at each sorting.
Three days prior to the sale, tables are set up and the kitchen area cleaned in preparation for the bake sale. Tables are labeled according to the items to be placed upon them.

Thursday prior to the sale, all items are removed from the storage building and placed under the tables. Approximately 35 members and volunteers are involved in this work.

On Friday, members remove all items from the storage containers and placed upon tables. Work usually starts at 8:00 a.m. and work until 3-4 p.m. They are assisted by trustees from the Sheriff’s Department, students from the high school, and Coast Guard, when available.

Before 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, members arrive (many with home baked items for the bake sale), There is always a crowd waiting for the 8:00 a.m. start. At 2:00 p.m., when the sale is over, members pack up all leftovers and then assist Restoration Ministries of Victoria in loading on trucks. Then all tables are broken down and placed in storage and all equipment belonging to the Club is put back in the donation building. Everything is usually accomplished by 4:00 p.m.

club-efforts

In addition to these pictured above, the sign outside the Community Center was purchased by the Club. There are many other less visible projects: sponsor Angel Tree children at Christmas; Provide and set up flags lining the highway into town for Warrior’s Weekend; Scholarship programs for graduating seniors; Recognition to elementary school students for all A’s & A&B’s, and perfect attendance; Help Elementary School teachers purchase items for their classrooms; Bi-annual donations to the Benevolence Fund for Thanksgiving Christmas Baskets; Memorial donations to local organizations in memory deceased Port O’Connor residents; Donate baked goods for various events in town; and work with other local organizations in support of their efforts. Currently the Club is helping with raising funds for the Community Center Facelift Project. They have been instrumental in planning, conducting grant writing for this project for over a year, Two Club members, Nan Burnett and Marie Hawes are Community Center Board members.

If you are 60 years old or older, you may want to join in one of the programs the Club initiated a few years ago: Tuesday’s Senior Lunch. Several Club members (who have faithfully served for years) serve the meal provided by Calhoun County Senior Citizens. Bingo is played afterwards, if you care to. The meal costs $5, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. The lunch is served each Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Community Center.

If you are a community-minded woman of any age who might enjoy being a part of the Service Club, come see what it’s all about, the first and third Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Community Center.

Thanks to Nan Burnett and Marie Hawes for their assistance with this article.

We need You to Help Save Sea Turtles

Archived in the category: Announcements, Events, General, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 19 Oct 23 - Comments Off on We need You to Help Save Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are cold-blooded, unable to regulate their body temperature. When winter cold-fronts blow in, sea turtles in our shallow bays become stunned and unable to move. In this cold stunned state, they get hit by boats, or wash ashore. They breathe air, like we do, so they can also drown
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Volunteer boats, especially airboats are needed to search and rescue cold-stunned turtles. Volunteers are needed to provide ground transport to get the turtles to the rehab center. Most often we transport them to Tivoli where they are picked up by Keep Aransas County Beautiful volunteers and transported to the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas.
Volunteers must attend Annual Sea Turtle Training

Because sea turtles are endangered and protected, anyone handling turtles must complete the training to be added to the federal permit. Padre Island National Seashore’s Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery will deliver two virtual training sessions. Thursday, October 26, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. You can watch it on your own or join us as we live-stream it at the POC Library; Or watch it from your home on Saturday, October 29, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. If you can help, email MidCoastSeaTurtleRescue@gmail.com or call Brigid Berger 713.

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Halloween Events

Archived in the category: Events, General, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 19 Oct 23 - Comments Off on Halloween Events

pumpkins-boo
Halloween Parade!

Seadrift Chamber of Commerce’s annual Halloween Parade will be on Tuesday, October 31. Registration at the Bridge 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Parade begins at 6:00.

The Costume Contest will be at Bayfront Pavilion at 6:15 and then Trunk or Treat after contest!
Come join in on the fun! Decorate your trunk, put on your best costume, pass out candy! Great, ghoulish fun!

Carnival

TRUNK OR TREAT Sat., Oct. 28 – 6:00 pm
King Fisher Beach
$100 Prize for Best Decorated Vehicle
Visit: www.portoconnorchamber.com. for details
7:00 pm – Best Dressed Dog Contest

Island Life… by Clint Bennetsen

Archived in the category: Featured Writers, General, Island Life
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 19 Oct 23 - Comments Off on Island Life… by Clint Bennetsen

Clint-and-CorkyThankful For Cooler Temps
A happy and sunny Fall morning from the island, everyone.  Actually, as a rare occurrence, I’m in Seadrift this early morning, having ventured across the bay a few days ago to visit with my California sister, Darla, and her husband, David, who drove down to attend the 2nd birthday of my great-niece, Grace.  I also want to wish a very heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a wonderful and special lady, Elizabeth. . . I hope you had a phenomenal day!!  I’ll head back to the island this afternoon, before a strong blowing norther arrives later tonight.

Thank the Lord, the island finally received some much needed rain the past few weeks.  It hasn’t been any great amounts, but the 2-3” that has fallen is a very welcome sight and helps out tremendously.  It’s amazing the difference in the landscape and overall feel that a good rain has on the outdoors.  Nature just seems to spring back to life, flowers begin to bloom and the mornings are cooler and fresher.  The fresh water ponds that the cows rely on for drinking water also fill up, and the underground water supply for the water wells are replenished.  No matter where you are, fresh water is simply a must-have part of life.

The tides in the bay and along the Gulf beach have been extremely high lately, I’m guessing mainly because of the strong east winds that we had for several weeks.  I know that a full moon, as well as other factors, play a part in the high and low level of tides along the coast.  Along the beach, the Gulf water was nearly to the dunes several days in a row, making it impossible to drive the beach and look for treasures.  Of course with winter approaching, the tides will begin to stay much lower with the north winds.  Mother Nature is always in complete control of the weather and all related matters, and we simply have to follow her lead and plan accordingly.

I believe that the brutal temperatures that we all endured this past summer are well behind us now, as the northers are beginning to filter down, bringing much needed cooler and pleasant temps.  I love sitting out on the porch during the early morning hours when the temps are in the 50’s and 60’s, enjoying my coffee and not having to deal with the sultry humidity and heat.  I’m a plus size guy, so my robust manly body doesn’t appreciate or take kindly to the sweltering heat.  Give me daytime temps in the 60’s and I’m a happy man!

With winter arriving in a few months, the white pelicans will begin making their migration to the coastal waters.  I enjoy seeing the shoreline waters covered with them, especially when they make their way into the lagoon in front of the cabin, feeding on the baitfish.  The brown pelicans stay in our local waters year-round, but the white ones only arrive for the colder winter months.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a wonderful day, and enjoy these cooler temps.  Please remember to always say a kind word to those special to you. . . a “thinking of you” or “how was your day”, can be priceless words to hear.

Three Coastal Artists Celebrate Port O’Connor

Archived in the category: Announcements, Events, General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 19 Oct 23 - Comments Off on Three Coastal Artists Celebrate Port O’Connor
Xandra Ann Mapp, Liz Hewitt and Sam Caldwell will offer their unique approaches to coastal art at Xandra’s new studio and gallery in Port O’Connor

Xandra Ann Mapp, Liz Hewitt and Sam Caldwell will offer their unique approaches to coastal art at Xandra’s new studio and gallery in Port O’Connor

Gallery Opening Saturday, October 21

The three artists have a strong bond with the Port O’Connor region. Port O’Connor residents have known Xandra’s work for years. The artist utilizes acrylics, watercolor, carved woods and many three-dimensional materials to compose her unique works. Her magnificent construction utilizing mirrors is an example of Xandra’s large scale art.

Liz Hewitt says she was raised on and in the waters of Port O’Connor. She loves to create beautiful works of art with many “found” materials, often of the sea and seashore. Colorful shards of ceramic, seashells, mirrors and fishing lures find their way to new life in Liz Hewitt’s art.

Sam Caldwell has been enjoying the fishing and scenery of the Port O’Connor coast since 1978. His original oils and watercolors have been printed by CCA, Ducks Unlimited and Operation Game Thief to fund conservation projects. Caldwell’s art earned the Texan the honor of Texas State Artist of the Year for 2004.

An original work of each artist will be available in a drawing. The proceeds will benefit the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department.

Xandra’s Studio and Gallery is located at 612 Adams Ave., 7th Street at SH 185 in Port O’Connor.

 

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