On Oct. 25th, the Seadrift PreK students attended the pumpkin patch at the First United Methodist Church in Victoria. They listened to stories about how a pumpkin grows and were able to see several different kinds.

Mrs. Myers and Mrs. Kern’s Kindergarten classes at Seadrift School learned all about pumpkins. They were very lucky to visit the pumpkin patch in Victoria and to have a pumpkin investigation where they carved a pumpkin for their class.

Addison Jonas, Emma Lancaster, and Dylan Wright show off their pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

Peyton Pride had a great time picking out pumpkins!

Kingston Cady investigates the inside of a pumpkin.

Thanks to the POC PTO for a great carnival on Saturday, Oct. 26. There were a great many entrants in the costume contest. The judges had a hard time choosing between the many unusual, pretty, and scary costumes. Contests winners are shown left to right: most original; scariest; prettiest (or most handsome). Thanks to Bill and Belinda Tigrett, Peggy Elliott and Debbie Busby for helping the Dolphin get the photographs.

Girls, 0 to 1 year:

Marianna Ragusin, Maya Calzada, Sabrina Cady

Boys, 0 to 1 year:

Dalton Sandy, Jameson Washburn, Carson Williams

Girls 2 to 3 yrs: Abygail Gonzales, Riley Pagel, Avery Gosnell

Boys, 2 to 3 years: Corbin Washburn, Christian Gutierrez, Marcos Blanco

Girls, PreK: Gracie O'Shields, Kyndra Carriles, Kyrah Stringo

Boys PreK: Landon Jones, Leland Carriles, Thomas Skalak III

Girls Kindergarten: Lauren Authement, Lyric Lopez, Sofia Vasquez

Tanner Pittman, Blake Bowman, Justin Gossett

Girls 1st Grade: McKenna Guevara, Jackie Gutierrez, Jenna Branch

Boys 1st Grade: Derek Tausch, Justice Epley, Christopher Richter

Girls 2nd Grade: Aislin Guzman, Kaylee Nevarez, Kaitlyn Lashley

Boys 2nd Grade: Adam Authement, Ayden Brown, Matthew Stapp

Girls 3rd Grade: Bella Nazay, Kalynn Haring, Stella Motl

Boys 3rd Grade: Chase Harding, none, Ashton Albrecht

Girls 4th Grade: Sarah, Luke & Kyle Doggett, Maddie Hawes, Madison Stringo

Boys 4th Grade: Harley Albrecht, Joey Helms, John Rosenboom

Girls 5th Grade: McKaelyn Carriles & Kaleigh Diaz, Faith Peeler, Ashley Balensiefen

Boys 5th Grade: Evan Clifton, Triston Krenek, Blake Walters

Girls 6th Grade: Carly Rosenboom, Elizabeth Carey, Riley Hughs

Boys 6th Grade: Samuel Thumann, Thomas Hawes, Gavin Guiterrez

Adults: Scott Wheat, Gavin Gosnell, Robbie Hawes

Judges: Calvin Ragusin, Marie Hawes, Shirely Gordon & Sally Ragusin

Photos by Bill Tigrett

Brooklyn Redmond was chosen as First Place Winner in the Poster Contest at Port O’Connor’s Night Out Against Crime on October 1st. Shown with Brooklyn are (l to r) Organizer Leon Brown; Calhoun County Assistant District Attorney, Shannon Salyer; local artist Ginnie Lichac; and Justice of the Peace Precinct, Precinct 5, Nancy Pomykal. Second Place honors in the Poster Contest went to Melony Romo and Third Place, Kayla Resendiz.

Despite our Port O’Connor community resembling a lake, the rains ended, and our first ever Night Out Against Crime became a huge success.

On behalf of the portoconnorwatch.com, I want to give a special thank you to Sheriff George Aleman and his Deputies, Commissioner Kenneth Finster and the Commissioners Court, EMS Director Henry Barber, Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department and Firefighters, Superintendent Billy Wiggins, Principal Tiffany O’Donnell, Teacher Renee Hawes, PTO President Amber Walters, the Ladies Club, Pat Ekstrom and The Dolphin Talk, Joyce Rhyne.

One sign of our success was good food, neighbors chatting with one another, kids smiling and having fun. This happened because of those volunteers who graciously gave their time to help make this event a success. Volunteers like Virgil and Ursula Price, Barbara and Jimmy Crouch, Kathryn Windham, Gerald and Ginnie Lichac, Kelly Gee, Carl Ray, Bill Tigrett, Donnie Klesel, Debbie Michalek, Scott and Kelly Wheat.

portoconnorwatch.com is dedicated to the safety and security of our community. We will strive to build a lasting community partnership, educate our neighbors, and give crime the going away party it deserves. The success of our night out against crime could not have happened without the donors who gave to participate with our community. Our donors were Rhonda Singleton, Walmart; Phil and Barbara Salemi, Ace Hardware; Blane Evans, Utited Rentals; Kelly Fox, H. Fox & Co. Inc.; John Hribek, Speedy Stop; Jeremy Dyes, POC Ice For You; Virgil and Ursula Price; Kathryn Windham; Gerald Lichac; Ray and Sherry Roberds.

It is wonderful to have community involvement and neighbors who keep a watchful eye to make sure our community is safe. Our message was loud and clear that neighbors and businesses belong to the community of Port O’Connor, not to those intent on committing crime.

Please go to our web site, portoconnorwatch.com, and become a member of a community program that is about neighbors looking out for neighbors.

The Port O’Connor Cemetery Association Board is in the process of platting the Cemetery into uniform sections and wants everyone to have the opportunity to claim an area for future use if they wish. They have been unable to identify the owner of the monument pictured here and are asking for the public’s help in this matter. It is thought that this statue of the Virgin Mary and the scalloped concrete surrounding it is not a grave, but a marker set up for future use. It is located past the Cemetery entrance, just off Monroe Street and is in section “H”, which is marked by a paver at the far corner near the street. It has been designated as “H-6”. The nearest marked headstone is that of Elvira Ramos Ragusin.

If you have any information to help identify the family that has claimed this area, please contact Bob Allen at 550-7170, Marie Hawes at 920-2322, or any of the Cemetery Board members so the area can be properly designated on the plat.