Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

This recipe was shared with us by Capt. Ed Altman. The recipe, know as War Cake, Depression Cake, and Boiled Raisin Cake, dates at least to the Civil War, but was revived during World War II due to the rationing of some typical cake ingredients.

Put into a saucepan the following:
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Seeded Raisins
1/3 Cup Lard
1/4 tsp. Grated Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Ground Cloves
Pinch of Salt

Boil together 3 minutes. When cold, add 1 scant teaspoon of soda dissolved in hot water, 2 cups of Flour in which 1/2 teaspoon of Baking Powder has been sifted.

Bake in moderate (325 degree) oven in a greased and floured 8×8 inch pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (50-60 minutes); let cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn out of the pan onto a serving plate.

The Port O’Connor Chamber’ Kite Flying Contest at King Fisher Beach was a great success again this year. Shirley and James Harper and Roni Ragusin ran the event again this year. We had a lot of our usuals come out and fly their kites, along with some new ones this year. We could not have asked for better weather.

We started the contest at 1:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Memorial Day. This usually gives the children who enter the contest time to exchange their fishing poles (Kids Fishing Contest) for a kite. There were all different kinds of flying kites. No two were the same. We had huge trick kites and small airplane kites and everything in between. Everyone who entered the contest received a trophy this year. We would like to thank everyone who came out and participated.

Special thanks to the Chamber for sponsoring the event and providing the trophies. Also, a thanks to Shirley’s Small Fries Daycare for the cold water, which was much enjoyed on a hot, windy day. There were a couple of people who were chosen as judges from the crowd on the beach that day. A young man from San Antonio was happy to come over and help in the judging and Jade Maugham from Victoria also helped judge. Extra special thanks to them. As always, we look forward to next year’s event.

                          -Roni Ragusin

Sat., July 20 Classic Cars/Concert
12:00 pm Port O’Connor Community Center Pavilion

July 17-20 Poco Bueno

Thurs., July 25 Public Meeting San Antonio Bay System
5:00 p.m. Seadrift Library

Thurs., July 25 Calhoun County Democrats Club
6:00 p.m. IBC Community Room, 311 N. Virginia, Port Lavaca

Fri., July 26 Ladies Event at King Fisher Beach
5:00 p.m. All ladies/girls invited. 983-2619

Sat., July 27 Roll Off Bin for MUD Customers
8:00-4:00 16th & Harrison, Port O’Connor

Mon., July 29 Blood Drive
4:00-6:30 pm Port O’Connor Fire Station

Thurs., Aug. 1 Port O’Connor Service Club
10:00 a.m. Port O’Connor Community Center

Sat., Aug. 3 Port Lavaca Market Days
8:00-3:00 Bauer Community Center, 2300 Hwy 35 N.

Mon., Aug. 5 Calhoun Co. Republican Club
6:00 p.m. Episcopal Church, 213 E. Austin, Port Lavaca

Mon., Aug. 5 Cooking with Seafood
6:00 p.m. Bauer Exhibit Hall

Tues., Aug. 6 Seadrift City Council
7:00 p.m. Seadrift City Hall

Tues., Aug. 6 Bunco
7:00 p.m. POC Community Meeting Room

Aug. 9-11 Sales Tax Holiday

Fri., Aug. 9 Deadline for August Dolphin Talk
5:00 p.m. dolphin1@tisd.net

Sat., Aug. 10 Market Day by the Bay
9:00-4:00 Seadrift Civic Center

Sun., Aug. 11 Christmas in August with Ric Gorden
11:00 a.m. Fisherman’s Chapel

Mon., Aug. 12 Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce
6:30 p.m. Port O’Connor Community Center

Wed., Aug. 14 VJ Day Fly the Flag!

Wed., Aug. 14 POC Improvement District Board Meeting
7:00 p.m. 39 Denman Drive

Thurs., Aug. 15 Cemetery Association Town Meeting
7:00 p.m. Port O’Connor Community Center

AA meets each Saturday night at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Port O’Connor.

POC Lions Club meets the second Wednesday of each month, 12 Noon, at Cathy’s Restaurant

Commissioner’s Court meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 10 a.m., 1st Floor of the Court House, Port Lavaca.

Crossroads Astronomy Club meets at 7:00 p.m., third Mondays, at U of H, Victoria, Room 223 info: wes81461@yahoo.com 935-2016

Calhoun County Quilt Guild meets the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building.

Open Arms (Families Surviving Infant Loss) meets every third Tuesday at Central Church of Christ, 801 E. Airline, Victoria, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Calhoun County Democratic Club meets the last Thursday of the month at IBC Bank, Port Lavaca, at 5:30 p.m.

Calhoun County Republican Club meets first Monday of each month (except Sept. when it will meet the 2nd Mon.) 6:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church Community Room, 213 E. Austin, Port Lavaca.

CASA (Christians Against Substance Abuse) meets each Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Call 361-652-7451 for meeting place.

Friday Night Youth every Friday except the first Friday of each month, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Fisherman’s Chapel, Port O’Connor

First Baptist Youth Group (Port O’Connor) meets every Wednesday night from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Grades 7th – 12th

POC Sports Association meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at POC Community Center.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (N.A.M.I.) meets 3rd Monday each month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Parkway Church, Victoria. Support group meets at Laurent Towers fountain from 6-8 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month.

Port Lavaca Market Days returns to Port Lavaca beginning August 3rd. This is a fun-filled day for the entire family with music, food and craft vendors. Market Day begins at 8:00 a.m. and continues until 3:00 p.m. in the Bauer Community Center parking lot at 2300 Highway 35 N., Port Lavaca.

New vendors are welcome. For more information or vendor applications, visit www.portlavacamarketdays.com or call the Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce at (361) 552-2959.

Market Days continue the first Saturday of every other month. After August 3, the next Market Day will be held on October 5th, and then on December 7th, Christmas on Main Street will be held.

Who, years ago, could have imagined that one person shooting off a bag of fireworks on the beach for the entertainment of his family and friends would grow to become the big event that the Fourth of July Fireworks Show has become? And this year, thanks to the efforts of Fireworks Chairman Donnie Haynes, the show will be bigger than ever.

This grand celebration of Independence Day will be held this year on Saturday, July 6th at King Fisher Beach. The fireworks begin at dark, but come early, bring your lawn chair, and stake out your viewing spot on the beach. Of course, the display can be seen for miles, but looking up at the beautiful lights bursting almost over your head is an experience you won’t want to miss.

“The Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce has invested 25% more on fireworks this year, insuring that the show will be the biggest and best yet,” said Bill Tigrett, Coordinator of the Fund Raiser Campaign. “This will be the 45th Year the Chamber has been sponsoring this Fireworks Show.,” he said. “And it’s always been free to the public, to all who want to celebrate Independence Day with us.”
But “free” is not exactly “free”. The cost for this year’s show will be $25,000. If you are a Port O’Connor resident or property owner, you may have already received an invitation to assist with a financial gift. You may have also seen donation boxes at local businesses. “We need you,” say the signs and ads. “Any amount, large or small, is truly appreciated,” said Mr. Tigrett. “The celebration is more costly each year,” he said, “but we want to continue to celebrate the Fourth of July in a grand manner, signifying this grand occasion, and share with all who would like to be a part, and we do ‘need you’ to help keep it going.”
Donations should be directed to: POC Chamber Fireworks; Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce, Post Office Box 701, Port O’Connor, Texas 77982.

Plan to come early Saturday, July 6 and enjoy some fun at the beach. Local and out-of-town vendors, offering food and other items of interest, will be set up on King Fisher Beach all day. You can also enjoy visiting our restaurants and other businesses, checking out the fish being brought in to the docks, and strolling the bird walk at Boggy Nature Park.

Although you can find everything you need here, you may want to come prepared to settle in and watch the show with lawn chairs/blankets, insect repellent, and your own chilled beverages and snacks. The Chamber makes every effort for this to be a fun-filled and safe celebration for you and your family. Ample security will be in place and emergency personnel will be stationed nearby. Port O’Connor welcomes you to come enjoy this exciting Fireworks Show.

Keep in mind that the beach road will be one-way all day and the road will be closed just before the show begins.