A Honor Roll

First Grade: Jasmin Banda, McKenna Boedeker, Maci Bryan, Briley Christensen, Layton Davenport, Braylyn Galloway, Natalie Hunt, John Jacobs, Alexandra Mallory, Mackenzie Moncrief, Dillon Morales, Trevon Ragusin, Nevaeh Rangel and Lily Waghorne.

Second Grade: Andrea Hataway, BreAnn Kelley, Emily Lowder, Trinity Morgan, Jonathan Nguyen, Braeden Ragusin, Mia Salazar and Annabelle Thurman.

Third Grade: Tres Canales, Andromeda Gilliland, Ayden Maddux and Jacob Nguyen.

Fourth Grade: Noah Estrada

Fifth Grade: Ireland Williams

Sixth Grade: Keegan Brumfield and Casey Wooldridge.

Seventh Grade: Heather Glover, Krislyn Key, Anna Sachtleben & Joseph Thigpen.

Eighth Grade: Torri Mikolas, Abigial Morgan & Kelsey Vannoy.

A-B Honor Roll

First Grade: Caden Clendennen, Brilee Crittenden, Kylee Green, Karlye Jordan, Kyle Koliba, Ethan Saenz and Destiny Starkweather.

Second Grade: Cody Frias, Athyn Morales, Edgar Munoz, Nevaeda Munoz, Gabi Pride, Sydney Rasmussen, Aaron Rios, Tyler Salinas, Diem Tran, Philip Vazquez and Natalia Zarate.

Third Grade: McKenzie Bierschwale, Keaton Cady, Arin Cleary, Zayda Estrada, Creasie Gohlke, Kathy Huerta, Desi Miller, Hector Perez, Blake Reyna and Nate Saenz.

Fourth Grade: Julissa Banda, Lysette Estrada, Destiny Garza, Terrick Martinez, Ryder Morales, Jayda Nguyen, Nataly Rodriguez, Nadia Vallejo and Joel Zarate.

Fifth Grade: Spencer Allen, Shelby Cady, Sierra Callaway, Dorean Dieringer, Shaley Edwards, Katie Frazier, Caleb Gregory, Fernie Mendez, Matthan Morgan, Jason Nguyen, Andrew Ragusin, Jacob Ruiz, Chris Salinas, Jacob Vivas and Joseph White.

Sixth Grade: Dylan Beaver, Madison Bierschwale, Emily Cain, Canion Epley, Ashley Hockett, Ethan Mikolas, Hunter Mitchell, Danny Munoz, Amber Rodriguez, Liliana Torres, Abigail Vallejo and Jasmine Wooldridge.

Seventh Grade: Haley Bales, Noah Bedwell, Andrew Chavez, Karley Gregory, Daniel Martinez, Danielle Morales and Chloe White.

Eighth Grade: Mycheala Bierschwale, Layne Blevins, Raquel Clinton, Shelby Deforest, Sean Estes, Victoria Gilliland, Abbigayle Luna, Savanah Marek, Hector Morales, Dustin Nguyen, Carlos Pena, Jennifer Rodriguez, Felix Ruelas, Erika Ruiz and Ethan Wooldridge.

Port O’Connor School All A Honor Roll

Top Row: Shayla Teel, Blake Walters, Leah Lucey, Shane Branch, Matthew Stapp, Melany Romo, Alex Lopez, Adam Authement, Brooklyn Redmond. Front Row: Rylie Ragusin, Aiden McClelland, McKenna Guevara, Justice Epley, Stephen Bowman, Mackenzie Smith, Hagen Rhoads.

Port O’Connor School All A & B Honor Roll

Top Row: Madison Stringo, Tarah Munsch, Anthony Luna, Joey Helms, Harley Fowler-Albrecht, Sarah Doggett, Brenley Walters, Eli Romo, Jocelynn Miller, Ally Luna, Esmeralda Garcia, Evan Clifton. Middle Row: Collin Branch, Jessie Lashley, Harley Peeler, Damian Guzman, Ashton Fowler-Albrecht, Elizabeth Carilles, Aislin Guzman, Kyle Doggett, Cody Branch. Bottom Row:John Rosenboom, Keegan Short, Angela Salinas, Christopher Richter, Kayla Resendiz, Antonio Gloria, Jenna Branch.

Winners of the County Soil to Spoon Contest Kayla Resendiz - 1st place, 1st Grade; Aiden McClelland- 2nd Place, 1st Grade; Luke Doggett- 1st Place, Kindergarten. Kayla was the County Winner over all first graders.

Bringing Up Grades Award Jackie Gutierrez

Fisherman’s Chapel Chili Cook-off Winners James Gaile, first place; Pastor Erny McDonough accepting second place award for his wife, Joane’s chili; and Julian Garcia, third place.

We “marched forward in March” with many special events. Our Chapel Ladies enjoyed a special “yogurt breakfast” and used our Retreat Center on March 22. On March 23, we dedicated our new Yamaha Grand Piano, which was donated by the Peters family.

Captain Robert conducted another successful Sea Academy on March 21 through 28. But, the highlight must have been the celebration of Pat Prather’s birthday with a chili cook-off. Winning bragging rights was James Gaile, with second place going to Joane, and Julian Garcia came in third. I got disqualified with my rendition of “Wolf Brand” which just shows you how badly these judges treat me! Next year will be different – I’ll get better judges!

April is going to be even better than March! We celebrated Communion on the 13th, and are looking forward to Sunrise on Easter. Following the service at the beach, we will be hosting a time of fellowship as we await the 10:00 a.m. Bible Study. During the Morning Worship, our children will be singing under the direction of Michelle and Debra will be singing with pictures she has taken as background. The annual Easter Egg hunt will be immediately following the morning service, and we will be continuing the Easter celebration with our 6:00 p.m. service.

On Saturday, April 19, all the community men are invited to attend our Men’s Breakfast at the Chapel at 8:30 a.m. David will be in charge of this special event and there will be plenty of breakfast! Pastor Joane and I will be attending our District Council in Houston, April 21 through the 25th. Hermano Jesse will be filling the midweek service for us on Wednesday (4-23) at 7:00 p.m. Our Friday Night Youth will be different on April 25; they will be joining the Friends of the Library Spaghetti Dinner at the Community Center (School Gym if the Center is still occupied) at 6:00 p.m. and returning to the Chapel following until 10:00 p.m. We trust all will be a part of this “Friends of the Library” event! On Saturday, April 26, our Chapel Ladies will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a “Waffle Bash”! Everyone bring your own toppings – Kim will bring the special devotional.

Our Fisherman’s Bible Institute has completed this year’s studies and Pastor Joane will be leading a special Graduation with a meal on Sunday, April 27, at 6:00 p.m. These students have worked hard to achieve this goal and everyone should come and congratulate them and enjoy the fellowship provided.

May is not far away and Captain Robert will be here for another Sea Academy Class on May 2. All interested students should contact Captain Robert at 361/816-3010 or the Sea Academy at 361/758-6184.

Mother’s Day will be celebrated at the Chapel with Pastor Joane ministering in the morning service and we will honor all our mothers with a special meal. Evangelist Gene and Mona Summers will be sharing that evening’s activities with us! Come and bring your mom to this great event!

We will be helping with Warrior’s Weekend again this year, making another 2,000 breakfast tacos for Saturday, May 17. We will be “cracking eggs” on Friday, May 16, and everyone who can help on Friday or Saturday will be welcomed!

Can you believe any group of people can be so busy – Yes! We are, but we are busy helping people! The Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help prepare people to reach Heaven for eternity! We do that in many ways so that everyone can be involved. You will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

This year is starting off extremely fast and “Chocked Full” of exciting activities. The “Warriors Week-End” is only a month away and the Warriors Weekend Volunteers meet at our Church Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, April 8. They are in need of more volunteers and homes to place some Warriors and their families.  If you can help, let them know.

The Church has sold the property that was given to the Church and will use the money to further God’s work in Port O’Connor.
The Church Youth are continuing their Wednesday Evening meetings and the participation is increasing.  The “TEAMKIDS” , those children in the first grade thru the fifth grade are enjoying “Jumping The Hurdles” and learning about the life of Christ.  The Youth Group is preparing for this Summers Camp at Camp Zephyr June 30 to July 4.  The Children’s Camp will be June 16 – 19 at Palacios Baptist Encampment.

This past Sunday the Church experienced a large crowd in the Morning Worship Service.  There were many visitors and a lot of our past members were in town and visited with us.  It was a joy talking and having fellowship with past members of 25 to 30 years ago.

The Choir is rehearsing for their Easter Special Music they will be singing during the Port O’Connor Easter Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday morning April 20, 2014 at 6:45 a.m.  I sure hope the weather is nice this Easter and if it is, we should expect 400 to 500 people to join with us in an exciting and inspirational service.  Bro. Erny McDonough, Pastor of Fisherman’s Chapel will be delivering the Easter Message and Bro. Raymond Grant will lead the congregation in Easter Hymns.  You should bring a chair, if you have one, and wear a light jacket.  Last year we had several golf carts in the audience.  Thanks to Cathy’s and Fisherman’s Chapel, there will be Hot Homemade Rolls and Hot Coffee after the service.

It is this time each year that the Church has their Annual Easter “Annie Armstrong” Offering for North America.  Our Goal is $500 and will be given to the Missionary Activities in the United States and Canada.  The National Goal is $70 Million.  100% of the money is used directly in the Missionary Field starting new churches and assisting schools and colleges in Christian education.

The Church enjoyed a very big Birthday Bash this past Sunday Evening.  The “Bash” celebrated with all those who had birthdays in January, February and March.  Bro. Donnie Martin gave a devotion and everyone enjoyed a meal of “Beans & Cornbread” and an array of desserts and salads. After the meal everyone enjoyed the Fellowship.

Don’t forget the Annual “EASTER EGG HUNT” for all Children, in all ages, on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. There will be special areas for the different ages.  Surprise awards and refreshments for everyone, including parents, grandpatents and great grandparents.

See You In Church Sunday.

Don’t forget the Annual “EASTER EGG HUNT” for all Children in all ages, on Saturday, April 19th!

Last week I was wondering what to make this month’s column about, mostly due to me dealing with various pressures that come with daily life, something that happens to us all.

Usually I can pick a subject matter and bash out five hundred words or so on it with ease.

However, this month I wanted to talk about substance abuse and addiction, a subject I deemed too heavy for the Dolphin Talk’s readership.

Then I was talking to a friend who moved to Las Vegas and she told me this was the anniversary of her dad’s death.

I recall her father well; the first time I met him was when I was a teenager at my best friend’s house as he was a friend of my friend’s father. I recall how he introduced himself to my girlfriend at the time with the nickname of “Butterball” and kissed her hand.

Later I would find him to not only be a humorous man but a man who was smart in his own right and also a good Human Being, something that is hard to find in our modern times.

Sadly this man, who’s real name was Ron, was troubled by the demon of alcohol abuse.

Besides the good times I had around the man I also witnessed the pain and behavior of his disease. I remember him putting a small amount of tap water at the bottom of his empty Wild Irish Rose bottle, trying to get the last few drops out of it.

At the time I thought it was amusing, but later on, after I confronted my own demons of addiction I found it to be something else, something I can relate to all too well.

My past is littered with bad and hard times and to find a buffer from that I turned to drugs and alcohol. I have spent thirty plus years in denial about that, even when I quit the heavy drugs and just did the “safe” stuff like beer and marijuana.

Somewhere right now one of the five thousand plus that receive this publication might be going thorough the same thing, or are living with or love a person who has these kinds of issues.

I wanted to write about this because I feel the need to reach out to others who might need this help, to try and save the Butterballs of the world before the disease does it’s final dance.

Sounding preachy is usually not my normal method of operation, but in this case I think it is important enough to examine.

One thing I wished to put out here to my reader’s is whether you are an addict, know an addict or deal with an addict in some facet of your life, you must know about the pain that comes with every drink or indulgence.

These people are running from ghosts of their respective pasts as well as themselves in most cases. If you know a person in this particular pickle you might be scanning these words while saying: “I have tried and supported till I’m blue in the face but he/she never moves forward.”

This is because the change has to come from within, not from the outside. The person has to want it and want it bad; they have to face every fear and button every button, no matter what the cost or pain.

Butterball was a light in this world like every soul ever born from man or beast or plant, he had his own load to carry which he found too heavy and the help he sought in the bottle made him weak, not strong.

However, there is hope for every butterball out there if they want it; there is a light for every dark corner in their minds and a place where their soul can rest without all the pressure and debauchery of self destruction.

I realize this column might stir up some emotions in some of the readers so I am wiling to correspond with anyone who is struggling with this and might even write a second Fish out of Water column about that (without your identity being known of course).

So please feel free to write me at my public email about this subject matter (or anything else you may want to ask for that matter):

thomasspychalski@hotmail.com