On November 28th, folks toured the garden and were served beverages and light refreshments as they perused the donations for the silent auction to benefit the Port O’Connor Community Garden Club. Auction proceeds will be used for future projects. Calhoun County Agricultural Extension Agent Haley Hayes delivered a lecture about winterizing a garden, lawn, and beds to the crowd who braved the chilly wind to attend the event.

Many thanks to our volunteers who show up and make improvements to our community garden. They surely spread much “hap-pea-ness” as they do crushed granite. Another worthy project was fence building for a future mural. We appreciate our “grass-roots” volunteers!

Want to support us but could not make the event? #GivingTuesday donations can be mailed to POCCGC, PO Box 1400, Port O’Connor, TX. 77982. We are a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, so your donations are tax deductible. Please contact Cindy Hanson at 361-676-3093 with any questions.

This has been a great week for the POC COMMUNITY CENTER FACELIFT PROJECT PHASE II. A grant in the amount of $1,000.00 has been received from the Bauer Foundation. Three monetary donations, one for $700 from the BUNCO LADIES, one for $2,500.00 from an anonymous donor and another in the amount of $15,000.00 has been received from the POC COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB. Those hardworking ladies have supported this project from day #1 and have gone above and beyond to insure that the entire project will be completed. If you have shopped at their Farmers Market booth, attended one of their garage sales, or participated in a fundraiser, you have contributed to the renovation and restoration of the POC Community Center. Thank you to each and every person who worked to raise the needed funds or donated to see that the project could be completed. Many groups and individuals have given time and money since we began to raise money in August, 2022. Phase II, that covers the main building, is nearing completion. The recent donations make it possible to complete the painting inside the building and replace chairs. The new floors and kitchen countertops have been installed. On your next visit to the complex, check out all the new improvements. Everything looks amazing.

Phase I hopefully will be started in January, 2024. It should take approximately 3 months to complete. We are currently still fundraising for Phase I because prices and costs of services have significantly increased since we set a goal and started raising money last year. While we did set a goal 20 % higher than the original estimate and we were able to reach it, the current cost of completing the project exceeds that by several thousand dollars! Presently, we have set a new goal of an additional $20,000.00. If you love POC and would like to contribute to the PHASE I part of the plan which consists of additional restroom stalls, kitchen redo, new prep area for catering and general painting and cleaning, plus new chairs and tables, be part of making sure this very important place that hosts so many of our community activities lasts for years to come. Donations are being accepted at First National Bank, POC. =Diane Cooley

The Chamber thanks everyone who was able to join us bring in this Christmas season with the Nutcracker Market, Santa, cocoa and carols from the Seadrift Community Choir!

We wish everyone a happy, healthy and truly blessed holiday season!

We love you, Seadrift.

The Calhoun County Republican Party and the Calhoun County Republican Club will host a Republican Primary Candidate Forum on January 15, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Drifters Hall, 5287 FM 3084, Port Lavaca.

This forum will be open to the public. All Republican Primary candidates on the March Primary ballot will be invited to participate. Questions for the candidates will be selected by committee. No questions will be taken directly from the audience. However, there will be time to speak with candidates before the Forum begins. If you have questions for the candidates, please email them to ccgopoffice@proton.me, or drop off a written copy at the Republican Party Headquarters, 2025 Hwy 35.

A catered meal is available at 5:00 p.m. for $12 with a reservation. Please call (361) 552-6313 or email CCRCLUB@proton.me to RSVP for dinner or for more information.

The January meeting for Calhoun County Democratic Club will be held Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at the Calhoun County Library, in the community room, 200 W Mahan St., Port Lavaca.

Social/potluck is at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

The speaker will be Aaron Arguijo, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Senate. This will be the third Senate candidate we have hosted.

More on him here:
aaronarguijo.comballotpedia.org/Aaron_Arguijo
You can RSVP for the meeting here: mobilize.us/calhouncountydemocrats/event/457242/

The following meeting will be February 6, 2024.

More info:
CalhounTXDemocrats.org
calhouncotexasdemocrats.substack.com