Please mark your calendars for the annual 2013 membership meeting coming up on Thursday, June 20 at 2:00pm at the Community Center. New officers will be elected and lots of exciting news will be discussed as we move ahead to our goal of building a new state-of-the-art library right here in Port O’Connor! All members are encouraged to attend this important once-a-year forum. And if you are interested in becoming a member, we invite your attendance also. There will be new membership applications available at the meeting. See you all there!

Virginia Dell Lichac, President

Watching those huge pieces of heavy equipment demolish the office and boat barns of the Port Motel several weeks ago was somewhat of a sad experience. Sad, because this meant the ending of a portion of Port O’Connor that had been a vital part of our area for a number of years. But the buildings had been vacant for some time, and all units had been razed except for the office building, one motel unit, and the boat barns.

The Port Motel, formerly Payne’s Courts had been located across the street from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at the corner of Adams and Washington Streets. When Carla struck in September of 1961, many units were destroyed and those remaining were uninhabitable. The owner at that time, Ed Payne, recognizing the still present need for comfortable spaces for our visitors, re-built the motel at 14th & 15th Streets on Commerce. And they remained in operation for a long time until the last few years.

Construction will begin on this site shortly to develop a 10-unit townhouse-condominium project under the direction of the owner, Dwayne and Rhonnie Fishbeck, new residents of Port O’Connor from the Weimer area. There will be five units facing Commerce Street with an additional five units sited behind the first group; I’m looking forward to seeing the day-to-day construction take place as I am lucky enough to have a front row seat. And, the last unit of the Port Motel is still standing and will become a temporary office for the Developer-Owner, so that a vital part of Port O’Connor remains.

Thanks to 136 volunteers, 2,700 pounds of trash was collected at Magnolia Beach during the Spring Adopt-A-Beach effort. Special thanks goes to Waste Management of Houston for donating the dumpsters and disposing of all the bags of trash and miscellaneous junk.

-Rhonda Cummins, Calhoun County Extension Agent

Lisa Scottoline, a Professor of Law as well as a trial lawyer, is the author of many books featuring the attorneys of Rosato & Associates, an all female law firm in Philadelphia. These books are tightly plotted but written with a comedic touch, whether in the plot or character development. Currently Ms. Scottoline has turned her talents away from the gal lawyers to several stand-alone books featuring some very unusual but honest characters and a plot that grabs.

Her latest is COME HOME, and it, like the two previous novels, pulls you in and holds you while reading. Each of these books typifies an extraordinary happening in the lives of the major characters, but these happenings are the kind that the reader can relate to. COME HOME details the story of a recently divorced Jill Farrow, a pediatrician, her teenaged daughter and her ex-stepdaughter who has become extremely distant. Drawn into the investigation of the sudden death of her former husband, Jill Farrow begins to make inquiries on her own. The results of her interests soon create a deeper problem for all concerned. Somewhat terrifying, the book details the problems that can result from a new family with step-children, which the author acknowledges in her personal life.

IF LOOKS COULD KILL by Kate Wilhelm is a tour-de-force of the magazine industry as written by the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan. Ms. Wilhelm is not just familiar with the ins and outs of putting together a magazine, but she pokes fun at the people involved with all of their foibles and hang-ups. Fun to read, the plot is not deep, but will keep you reading.

A NOTE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MOTHERS: The Summer Reading Program at the Library will begin Tuesday, June 18th and will run until July 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Registration for this occasion can begin on June 4th at the Library. And there will be two movies shown this Summer; the first: on Saturday, June 15th at 10:00 a.m. and the last on Saturday, July 13th at 10:00 a.m. Do plan to come as popcorn and a drink will be offered. See our Librarian for further information.

The film made of Beverly Lewis’ THE CONFESSION will be shown on Hallmark Channel, Saturday, May 11th at 8:00 p.m. This film is directed by Michael Landon, Jr., and the book is available at our Library for check out.

Don’t forget to stop and see the many books we have for sale; soft cover is $0.25 and hard cover is $1.00; and there are lots of bargains there.

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down.”
Karin Gillespie

Winning the West: Firearms in the Texas Coastal Bend
Exclusive to the Museum of the Coastal Bend through August 31, 2013.
Exhibit open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2200 East Red River, Victoria.
361-582-2511