The December 3, 2013 meeting of the Bunco Group was held with a number of players all quite interested in celebrating the start of the Christmas Season. This meeting meant a no-host dinner composed of various covered dishes for all to enjoy. And following the sampling of all dishes by this energetic group, they all drew numbers to distribute their gifts. Play for a very short time then got underway somewhat lazily as all players were still enjoying their dinner. Next meeting will be January 7, 2014. And if you decide you want to participate in this funloving activity, contact Shirley Gordon at the Library for further information.

BRRRR! I guess Winter is here, even unofficially, when we get mornings of 35+/-! I know it’s more than a little chilly walking my little Schnauzer, especially when I head into the North wind! Granted, we’ve been forecast a chilly Winter by the Farmer’s Almanac, just wish the sun would come out too! But that really doesn’t stop those bundled-up fishermen! And if you want to see what the winds do here, check out the attached picture of the Santas by Cotton’s place.

Our local chapter of the LIONS CLUB organization, though currently small locally, has a lot on its upcoming schedule including the Second Annual Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Contact the President, Joyce Jordan, 655-7999, for further information concerning that event. And if you think you’d like more information concerning this active group, the first meeting of the New Year will be Wednesday afternoon, on January 8th at 4:00 p.m. in our Bank.

If you enjoyed listening to our School children singing at the Sr. Luncheon on the 6th of December, they performed again on Friday, the 10th at our local Bank, and once again, at the annual Christmas Program as staged by the Elementary School on Tuesday, December 17th prior to Christmas Vacation. Do hope you had the opportunity to be there and hear these excited singers as coached by Diane and Jim Cooley, wonderful residents who have taken over the musical training of these kids. The responses from these kids are phenomenal, and they enjoy as do you their performance.

Why is it that there are so many people who seem to be suffering from lack of confidence or personal insecurity complexes that they must raise their voices to denigrate so many others? Sadly, this is not just a local problem, although it has become very apparent within the last few days, but a global problem as well. For those who have this lack of confidence, they must exert themselves into a position of control and power, and heaven help so many others. Often you find this in a store where someone blocks the way on an aisle and refuses to move; this is their power over you. What is even more sad is that this push for control is coming at the most glorious season of the year, our Christmas Holidays.

I welcome any correspondence from any organization re their happenings or information to add to this column. Also welcome any remarks from our readers, good or otherwise.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

Christmas season is always a very busy time at the church, as well as in the home. There is shopping for gifts, baking for company and parties, sending out Christmas cards and the usual duties around the home and the church. I really wonder if we stop and realize what Christmas is? Do we really act and push ourselves to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? After all, it is His birthday. The appropriate thing to do is, on Jesus’ birthday, at least have a family prayer around the tree and thank Jesus for His birthday and to bless you and your family this coming year.

The church enjoyed a very fun time last Sunday evening at the annual Church Christmas Party. The church enjoyed a beautifully decorated fellowship hall. And a “feast fit for a king”!! All of the food was prepared and donated by Grady Jean Clark as the Clark’s gift to the church. Grady Jean, in turn, dedicated the entire affair to the Church Hospitality Committee, which she chairs. There was delicious foods and many cakes, pies and candies. Everyone was filled with food and then the party began.

Everyone brought a gift wrapped in a grand Christmas style and Debbie Michalek had all who brought a gift to draw a number. When your number was called, you choose any gift around the Christmas table. You had to open the gift and show it to everyone. (Because when your number is called, you may choose to take their gift instead of picking an unwraped gift.) If you get a great gift, the odds are, someone will take it from you. A lot of laughs and a lot of strange gift exchanges, all in fun!

The Church Choir Christmas Music Presentation was this past Sunday morning, December 15. The Choir presented “The Story of Christmas” under the direction of Raymond Grant. The choir sang a total of twelve Christmas hymns, which were enjoyed by all.

The Church will be observing the Ordinance of “The Lord’s Supper” on Sunday morning, December 29, in the 11:00 am service.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas this year and a healthy and Happy New Year!!

See you in church Sunday !!

Sponsored By The Port O’Connor Lions Club

Vendors – Check this out and join us by renting a booth or two! Booth spaces under the Pavilion are now all reserved. We have had a great response. But – there is still time to make your reservation for booth spaces outside the Pavilion at $20. for an approx. 15’x15’ space.

TO BE HELD WHEN: Saturday, March 8th, 2014

WHERE: At The Port O’Connor Community Center Pavilion in Port O’Connor

SALE TIME: Open to Public 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Plan now. Start your special crafting or gathering your items for sale. Additionally, please tell a talented friend about the event so they can start preparing. Not everything has to be completely hand made. We are just looking for good quality sale items. Please bring your own equipment and get ready for this event.

Patrons – please mark your calendar for this fun event. We will have plenty of special and exciting items you may find you can’t live without for your purchase from vendors coming from different towns.

For registration forms and additional information or for food vendor details:

Please phone Joyce Jordan, President, at Cell #361-655-7999.

Ginnie Lichac, President of Friends of POC Library (left) and Librarian Shirley Gordon (right) accept the $3,850 donation from Jim ‘Hoop’ Hooper.

The fifth annual Chili/Gumbo Cookoff was a huge success!  Jim Hooper very proudly and  enthusiastically handed a $3,850.00 check  to Shirley Gordon, Port O’Connor Librarian, and Virginia Dell Lichac, President of ”Friends.”  This handsome sum earned from the benefit hosted by “Hoop” at Hurricane Junction on a warm Saturday afternoon in October, will be added to the POC Library Building Fund and is one step further ahead in building a new library in Port O’Connor.

Shirley and the Board of Directors of “Friends” wish to thank “Hoop” especially for his contribution and everyone else who attended the event to help make this dream come true!  The six judges who did the chili/gumbo tasting, the nine cooks who brewed up their favorite recipes, the donors of an eclectic assortment of fantastic Silent Auction items, and folks that bid on the selections and went home with a treasure they couldn’t resist are all most appreciated!    Once again, this annual cookoff  turned out to be a fun affair which will benefit the entire POC community in the years to come.

Plant identification, barrier island ecology, water quality, wetland soils, phytoplankton sampling and endangered species are just a few of the topics covered in the Mid-Coast Chapter Texas Master Naturalist initial training program. If you love the gulf coast and yearn to learn more about it while embracing the commitment to conserve and preserve it, then you will definitely want to join the Mid-Coast Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program is a volunteer training program sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. With forty four chapters state wide, the Mid-Coast Chapter encompasses eight coastal counties: Calhoun, Aransas, Matagorda, Refugio, San Patricio, Goliad, Victoria and Jackson. The goal of the program is to develop a group of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources in natural areas in their community. Certified master naturalists can be found supporting our local environment in a variety of ways such as conducting van tours at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, emptying fishing line recycling containers in Port O’Connor, patrolling for nesting Kemp’s Ridley turtles on Matagorda Island, weeding out invasive species at Mad Island Marsh Preserve, monitoring water quality on the Colorado River, introducing children and adults to the wondrous species which live in gulf waters at the Rockport Aquarium and in many other ways and locations.

Each spring the chapter conducts initial training for those who wish to become a member. Conducted by local experts, the initial training program consists of eight classes held in various unique and exciting locations in the Coastal Bend including Matagorda Island, Welder Wildlife Refuge, University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and Coleto Creek Reservoir. Most, but not all, of the classes will be on Saturdays. The fee for the training is $150 per person, which covers all fees and materials. Visit our website for a complete agenda and details www.MidCoast-TMN.org/Training/Basic

If you love the Texas Gulf Coast and desire to learn more while helping to conserve and preserve it along side like-minded good-hearted folks from all walks of life, then sign up for the training and become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist. Classes begin February 1, 2014 and space is limited to fifteen. For more information visit our website www.MidCoast-TMN.org or contact Dick Klopshinske at membership@midcoast-tmn.org