Often referred to as “The Forgotten War”, the Korean War (June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953) was a war against Communism and ended with Korea officially divided into two nations, North (Communist) Korea and South Korea.

To honor the heroes who served in the Korean War, a parade has been scheduled for February 1, 2014 in Downtown Victoria. Korean War Veterans are encouraged to participate in this parade, which is being sponsored by Warrior’s Weekend.

If you are a Korean War Veteran, you are asked to give Warrior’s Weekend and the general public the opportunity to recognize your service by riding in the parade. Please contact Ron Kocian ron_kocian@hotmail.com or barbarabreazeale@gmail.com (572-0001).

Local clubs and organizations are also welcomed and encouraged to participate. Please use the above contact addresses/number.

Clint & Barnacle

Quiet And Cold On The Island

Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and had a wonderful Christmas with the family and friends. The weather and tides cooperated, so Barnacle and I were able to run in Christmas Eve for a family get-together at my sisters in Seadrift, and then back out to the island the next day. It was nice seeing everyone, I think it had been 10-12 days since I had been to the mainland.

Well winter is definitely in full swing already. Had ice on the island for only the second time in the nearly eight years that I’ve lived full time out here. That was a cold few mornings two weeks ago, especially the first morning being 30 degrees with a 28 mph wind, making for an 18 degree wind chill, and basically staying at that for the entire day. That’s too dang cold! The following morning was a bit colder actual temperature, but didn’t feel nearly as cold with little to no wind. But I did have to boil water and pour into the chickens’ containers as they were iced over. Once every four years is about as often as I care to deal with those cold conditions, but the way this winter is shaping up, it could be much sooner than that.

This is the very quiet and tranquil time of the year on the island. People coming out are few and far between during the winter months, not wanting to deal with the cold and windy conditions or the unpredictable very low tides.

It is this time of the year that would keep most people from having any desire to live alone on an island. It’s pretty much all about “you” time and only you during these harsh winter months. Quiet and alone solitude is the way of life on an unpopulated barrier island Dec-Feb, with often times only the seagulls and beautiful white pelicans for company. But of course I personally would not have it any other way. As I’ve said many times, there is a huge difference in being alone versus being lonely. I rarely get lonely out here, making it a point to stay busy and always having some type of little project going on and keeping my time occupied.

Speaking of new projects, I’ve decided to get a new batch of chickens in April, and this time I’m gonna start off with day old baby chicks, instead of buying them already six weeks old. I’ve been working on building their brooder, a 5’x 5’ enclosed area, about 20” high, to raise them in until they are old enough to move over to the chicken pen/coop location. I’ll have to provide them with heat for at least the first several weeks at night, using a small generator to power a red bulb heat lamp. This will be something new for me, but I’m looking forward to raising a flock of 30 chickens from the time they are baby chicks.

Of course I will need to get rid of the current 42 older chickens that I currently have, but they will still have 8-12 months of decent egg laying in them. Anyone that might be wanting free chickens, please contact me by email, ccbennetsen@yahoo.com. The only catch is that you will need to come to the island with a container and haul them back home, but you can take as many as you like. My only other alternative will be to dispatch them for crab and fish bait, not something that I look forward to doing. Contact me if you are interested.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day.

The 19th. Annual Sweethart Banquet sponsored by Port O’Connor First Baptist Church, will be Thursday, February 13, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at the Port O’Connor Community Center. Enjoy a delicious charcoal broiled steak dinner with all the trimmings for $8.00. Entertainment will be by Port O’Connor’s own “Danny Bourg and the Classics”.

The Community Center will be gloriously decorated and many door prizes will be awarded. All couples married over 50 years will be recognized and the couple married the longest time and the couple married the shortest time will receive a gift.
Port O’Connor’s “Citizen of the Year” will receive a beautiful plaque. Everyone will enjoy singing together “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”.

This night of entertainment and a steak dinner promises to be the outstanding 2014 lead-off event of the year in Port O’Connor.

Tickets are available now from Pat Ekstrom 983-2030, Brenda Smith 983-2272, Debbie Michalek 648-7075, Evelyn Lewis 983-4216, Pat Turk 983-4343, Mary Nell McGee, 983-2837, and Doyle Adams 983-4866. Purchase your tickets early as only a limited number may be sold.
-Doyle Adams

We need to appeal the recent rate change with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Without any cost to us, we can submit a signed petition of at least 10 percent of the ratepayers for TCEQ to hear our appeal.

We would need approximately 170 signatures for a petition to be presented to TCEQ. TCEQ would inform us if our rates are too high or too low. Also, appealing this rate and future rate increases would send a message to the District that we have a voice.

I am sure you received the letter of explanation for the rate increase and minimum usage charge from the (Port O’Connor Improvement) District. Did that letter offend you? The letter made many feel that if we don’t vote “Yes” this May, the District will continue with rate increases, and if you were at the January 9th meeting, it sounds positive that the rates will be increased again.

Please email me or call me if you would like to sign a petition to appeal the rate change. Also, we would need a few individuals to participate with the committee to help steer this petition; please let me know if you are interested.
We only have 90 days from the first of January to present our appeal to TCEQ. Future information will be provided in the Dolphin Talk.

Leon Brown, lsbkaw@tisd.net, 361.983.2060

The Seadrift Lions will host their first ever Crock Pot Cook-off on Saturday, February 22 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Seadrift School Cafeteria. If you love to use your slow-cooker, this is an event you will not want to miss!

There will be five categories: 1) Soups, 2) Chili, 3) Casseroles, 4) Meats, and 5) Desserts. Entry fee is $10 per category, and you may enter as many categories as you like. Judging will be done by public vote, 1 vote per person per category. For only $5.00 per person, everyone is invited to come in and sample any and all of the dishes entered. Bread, crackers, and cornbread will be furnished by the Lions. There will be one winner for each category.

Money raised from this event will benefit Lions Club Community Charities. Complete rules and entry form are available from the Lions by email at SeadriftLions@GMail.com or by calling Peggy Gaines at (361) 920-1743. Entry forms must be received with full payment by Wednesday, February 19.

Dig out your slow cooker and your favorite recipes and get cooking!