Another successful event, under our belt… the first POC Boat & Fishing Expo! What started as the mention of an idea, turned into a phenomenal event! This show brought in over 80 (87 to be exact) vendors to our community, displaying what Port O’Connor has to offer. Even more important, it gave our Chamber business members an opportunity, free of charge, to showcase their business and what they offer here in POC. It also gave many vendors, of the fishing and boating world, who had heard, but never been here, the opportunity to visit and see what it is all about! The Expo brought in over 2000 attendees throughout the weekend!

A huge “Cheers” to our Captain Sponsor, Jeco’s Marine & Tackle, for helping us get this off the ground its first year! We absolutely could not have done this without you! Thank you also to First Mate Sponsors, Freedom Boats and Infinium; Steward Sponsors, First National Bank of Port Lavaca, Compadre’s Design Inc. and Ron Hoover Marine & RV of Rockport; and Lil’ Deckhand Sponsors, POC Washateria, Formosa Plastics, and The Spot Coastal Gifts.
Besides vendors, another hit to the Expo were the Guest Speakers and Culinary demonstrations. Thank you to Speakers Adam J, Freestyle Fisherman, Deb Powell, of POC Rod & Gun, Merrill Solesky of Fishing Tackle Unlimited and Owen Gaylor, local Fly Fisherman. Other Thank You’s go to our Culinary demonstrators, Captain Rob Peel of Texas Fins & Feathers (Seafood Stuffed Flounder), Pam Johnson of Texas Saltwater Magazine (Alfredo Rotel Sauteed Fillets), Kathy Pullin of Pullin Premium BarBQ (Chili Enchilada Dog w/ Poblano Pepper Jam), Debbie Ulrich (Tortilla Crusted Queso Fish), and our very own local chef, Kacie Skalak (Herbed Shrimp Pasta and Southern Shrimp & Grits). All their recipes will be posted on the POC Boat & Fishing Expo Facebook page!

Again, another great job to the Chamber Team for organizing, volunteering, working, and cleaning up. It was a FANTASTIC 3 day event. We already have sponsors and vendors reserving their spots for next year! First weekend in October… mark your calendars now!

Congratulations to Chris Hernandez as the winner of our 2023 Polaris Ranger 570 SP Premium Crew seat, with Camo package. The Chamber has been selling tickets throughout the year, and the winner was drawn at the close of the Expo. Chris bought her ticket (one of them) at the sale between Speedy Stop and the POC Hardware Store. Congratulations Chris! We hope you enjoy your new ride!

Coming up next is Trunk or Treat, on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Please, decorate your car, trunk, boat, cart, truck or whatever and join us at the north end of King Fisher Beach on Park Ave. Trick or Treating starts at 6:00 p.m., with a $100 prize winner to the best decorated. Also, at 7:00 p.m., at the Chamber tent, there will be a “Best Dressed Dog” costume contest! Start getting creative now!

Speaking of creative, start making plans to decorate your boat for Christmas! Join us for the Lighted Boat Parade on December 2, 2023. Any size boat is welcome. It’s a great display of Christmas on the water! Many participants of this event come from the Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run, held that same day. Over 100 boaters make their way with toys for the underprivileged kids along the Texas Coast. If you are interested in helping them raise money for toys, please consider purchasing a raffle ticket. Lots of great prizes available, and all with just a scan of a QR code. Follow their Facebook page for more information… Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run. Raffle will be held on November 5, 2023.

Welcome to our newest Chamber members: 10th Street Lodge, Dean & Peeler Meat Market, Victoria, A Plus Party Rentals, Victoria, and POC Upholstery. Please check them out on the Chamber business listings on our website at www.portoconnorchamber.com.

Do you enjoy good Gospel music? Tapping your feet? Humming along? The fifth Sunday sing-along is almost here with lots of music, great fellowship, and even coffee and dessert! Where might you ask? Well, the gathering place is at Seadrift’s First Baptist Church, October 29th at 6pm. You can come and go as you please.

Did you know? The fifth Sunday sing-along started 25 years ago as a fellowship dinner at First Baptist after Sunday morning service. Music came later at 6pm on Sundays.

Questions? You can call the church secretary at 361-785-3411.

Charles and Julie Champlin

Wrapped in God’s care, armed with fortitude, and sent out with a lot of prayer, missionaries Charles and Julie Champlin live in Boa Vista, Brazil. Boa Vista is in north central Brazil. Charles and Julie work with the Wai-wai people. A lot of their work has been with Bible translation and reaching into the hearts and lives of the people around them.

Seadrift’s First Baptist Church hosted Charles and Julie at their Sunday evening service on September 24th. People in the congregation listened attentively as Charles and Julie took turns explaining the work that has been done in Brazil. They have been in Brazil for 26 years! As Julie stated, “When God calls you to a people group to share the Gospel, He gives you a love for them.”

Charles and Julie have four grown children. The youngest, Heidi Corporon, is the wife of Seadrift’s First Baptist Pastor Aaron Corporon. -Tanya DeForest

Letter to the Editor:

As a winner of several Boat Parade awards in years past, it has come to my attention that I have been the subject of salacious accusations in the POC social media and local watering holes. Such allegations suggest that such winnings were the result of having relations with one of the judges. This letter is to implore those story tellers to put down their Ranch Water and join me in entering a boat in this year’s Boat Parade!

Let’s all support those individuals who work hard to make the annual Toy Run and Boat Parade a great success. Having a record turnout for both of those events will greatly aid these individuals in achieving their primary goal: To collect as many new toys as possible so that they can then be distributed by the Angel Tree Program to needy children all along the Texas coast. Please consider participating in the Toy Run, entering a boat in the parade, and contributing new toys to the Angel Tree Program.

Hope to see you at the captain’s meeting!

RV Baron

Dolphin Talk,

On the night of Sept. 15, I watched out of my window some oddball weather. It was lightening in the north heavy, then it moved across the eastern sky to the south. At times it looked like the sky in the east was on fire.
Very odd weather.

Dorothy Geraldine Wilson
Seadrift

Editor’s Note:

Dry Thunderstorms can occur when there is little moisture near the surface. In such cases, the rain evaporates before reaching the ground, resulting in no rainfall.
However, lightning can still occur within the storm clouds, generating visible flashes of light without accompanying rain or audible thunder
.
Thankfully, since this writing, we have received some much-needed rain.

OCTOBER CLAY SHOOT CANCELED! Unfortunately, there was not enough support for our second annual Clay Shoot fundraiser and it had to be canceled. This was very disappointing because we are getting close to reaching our second goal of $75,000.00 for the update on the main community center building.

The flooring and counter tops will be going in soon in the building, so we can begin to see some results from all the hard work that has gone into raising this money.

Work on the Pavilion cannot begin until late November when outside activities will be over for the year. Once that begins, it should go quickly providing weather cooperates. January and February aren’t usually known for bright, sunshiny days! Maybe we will be lucky in 2024.

Please consider supporting the Facelift Project on this very important community asset. Be a part of insuring that these buildings will last long into the future. Donations can be made at First National Bank in POC or on PayPal. -Diane Cooley