For all of you fun loving ladies that enjoy throwing the dice; Bunco met on Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 p.m. in the back room of the Community Center. Hostesses for the evening were Annette Leach and Peggy Elliott to help set up an amazing table of diet threatening appetizers and desserts. One of the champions for the evening was Biddie Hileman, who was then accompanied by the prize winning play of Sally Jones and Shirley Gordon. So, all you local Ladies, if you’re interested in having a good time without that masculine interference, do plan on attending the next evening of good food and conversation and even some playing on Tuesday, April 2nd. Contact Shirley Gordon at the Library for further information.

TOMORROW IS THE DAY! For the very First Arts & Crafts Festival as staged by the Lions Club on SATURDAY, March the 16th. Vendors are prominent with many booths displaying for sale so many items, both artistic i.e., photographs by a well-known “lens” woman as well as several paintings by an established local artist. Additionally, there will be books of all types for sale by the Friends of the Library as well as a huge, huge bake sale being prepared by members of the Lions Club. Held at the Pavilion of the Community Center, this is an event not to be missed.

April is coming shortly and the Service Club will once again be holding their semi-annual BIG BIG BIG Garage Sale on Saturday, April 13th! Contrary to rumors the County Barn is NOT full, so please contact Chairman, Lydia Strakos 983-2341 or 983-2003; Debbie Busby 512 914-9521; or Janet Johnson 983-4737 for storage of those items when you clean out those ungainly-filled closets and other hidden areas. All items, be they kitchen equipment or unbelievable paintings or gorgeous clothes that have gotten too small or large, are more than welcome at this Sale; and all monies from this Sale as well as the accompanying Bake Sale go to fund the many worth-while projects of the Service Club. See you there on the 13th of April! You may just find that item you’ve been searching for many years! I did!!

Has anyone noticed what’s happening with places for sale here in Port O’Connor? I’m not saying that there is really a stupendous increase of sales on many homes; however, I’ve noticed that a building lot has just been sold on Maple Street; a new building of steel structure is going up on Harrison; BUT evidently, the property with the Port Motel has been sold. Watching the destruction of the various buildings of the old Port was sad as one remembered so much being there; originally, the old Port Motel was on Washington and Adams Streets as owned by Ed Payne; and now there shortly will be nothing. Just trust I can get the pictures as needed.

Gas prices keep wandering up and down with the price of it changing every day on Wall Street. Really makes you wonder! Just hope that it will not cause a problem competing with the next soon to be established Fishing Tournament!

Do hope that the Pennsylvania Ground Hog was correct with his prophecy of only 6 weeks more of winter following February 2nd. And I’m certain that the residents of those Eastern states are praying for the end of winter and not having to shovel snow on Easter Sunday as I did one year.

In my Library column I wrote of earlier life as described by the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”. We here in Port O’Connor often have that ability to enjoy a more simpler life; i.e., when the community bonds together to support a benefit dinner or attend the Christmas Musicale as presented by our Elementary School. Often this type of an event brings our community even closer and much more cognizant of this superb life without the stop lights or the busy streets with stores on every corner. We have the opportunity to enjoy our lives fully hour by hour, and when we want excitement, Victoria or Rockport are only one hour away.

kubeckasue@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

San Antonio Bay__February, 2013, Bob Lindsey, fifth generation Texan currently residing in Port O’Connor, Texas was licensed as Waterkeeper for San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper.

San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper is part of WATERKEEPER Alliance, which is a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.

The WATERKEEPER Alliance was founded in l999 by environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and several veteran Waterkeeper organizations.

San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper’s goal is to educate the public and promote the preservation of our wetlands and waterways for proper commercial and sports fishing and other recreational uses such as swimming, boating and other watersports to further the appreciation of these beautiful natural resources. The SBW will also engage community volunteers to monitor and pro-actively protect the water-ways of San Antonio, Espirto Santo, Lavaca, and Matagorda Bays by identifying violations of the Clean Water Act and reporting the findings to the appropriate authorities.

Lindsey stated, “We are already receiving calls from citizens about dead dolphins, endangered birds, and pollution concerns. A local school teacher, Laurie Weaver, helped us photograph, document, and alert the Mammal Stranding Network about the seven the dead dolphins found on our bay shores.”

SBW recently received a $5,000 grant to purchase a boat to assist in monitoring the bays but they still need a generous donor to supplement the grant. Lindsey stated that he welcomed any contribution. The San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper is part of a 50l.c3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Updates concerning San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper can be found on their Facebook page. You are encouraged to “like” the page and leave comments or information.

Valentine’s Day: Valentine Candy Bouquets were presented to Robbie Bess, Librarian (right) and April Townsend, Secretary to County Commissioner Kenny Finster, (left) for their on-going support of the Friends of the Seadrift Library.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee is an unbelievable classic of the 20th Century. Set in 1935 in a small town in Alabama, the book not only details life in this era but one that is disturbing to the “status quo”.  Atticus  Finch is a late 40’s year old attorney in this town and is not only deeply concerned with the day-to-day happenings of his professional life but the happenings of his two children, Jes, his 12 year old son, and Scout, the 8 year old daughter.  Courtesy and caring about others are foremost in the daily life in this Southern town as exampled by the tipping of hats by gentlemen to the elderly ladies living nearby, and the ‘Sirs’ and ‘Ma’ams’ as voiced by children to their elders.  Communication at this time is done by an operator on the telephone who plugs in each party; no telephone books or direct dial are available.  Radio programs are foremost in each home to learn of the news of the day, primarily those coming from Washington D.C.  But when a resident in a nearby area who is black is falsely charged with the rape of a woman living next to the city trash pile with her neer-to-do father, the town explodes with anger aimed at not only the father but the children.

If you only read one book this year, do read this; it may not only give you an example of life in an earlier time, but perhaps one that should/could be today without the advent of cyberspace!  Or do you remember going to town only to buy groceries (those that you didn’t can or meats that you didn’t raise) and having the back seat of the car or the old pickup filled with boxes (instead of plastic sacks) and a 100 pound sack of potatoes?  Or picking up the Sunday paper that was at least 4 inches thick following Sunday morning Church?  Possibly this was much milder era, one that seemed to be devoted to the betterment of the participants.

UNDERTOW as written by Sidney Bauer, the pen name for an Australian writer, Kimberly Scott, brings to the forefront racial bias, a subject that has been discussed for many years, and sadly, is still on the front burner.  However, please, the reader must note that this is strictly my impression to the story that follows; others may not agree, and after all, these reviews are just my impressions; no one else’s.  This is an extremely sad plot of a mother taking her daughter and friends for a birthday party on a day’s sail aboard a chartered boat off the coast of Massachusetts.  Somehow, one of the girls drowns, despite her swimming ability, and as she is the daughter of a major local politician, a law suit evolves.  Then, thrown into the suit, is the fact that the mother, who has chartered the boat for her birthday daughter, is black and the other girls are all white.  I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth as I have no other information to believe about the author than she is not an American but from another country.  Written in 2007, I would hope that we as a country have progressed much further than what this author has cast.

Just a quickie: we have an unbelievable array of books for purchase at our Library, both hard cover and soft cover, of all types of fiction and even nonfiction.  Come see us before you take your trip!  And we welcome all you visitors to our Library; we may be small but we have a lot of good books and DVDs!  Just takes a Library Card!

And remember:  Our Library is open on Monday and Tuesday from 9-1 & 2-6; on Wednesday, we open at 1:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m.; Thursday from 12:00 Noon till 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.

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

Paul McGee, Leah Griffin, Capt. Ken Griffin, Ronna and Dwayne Fishbeck at the Houston Fishing Show.

PORT O’CONNOR, TX — While it may be assumed that serious gulf water anglers know the advantages of fishing the waters of Port O’Connor, the Port O’Connor Visitor Center is taking no chances. A contingent of volunteers provided information to the crowds of enthusiasts at the 38th Annual Houston Fishing Show, held March 6th through the 10th at the George R. Brown Convention and Exhibit Center.

Leah Richter-Griffin, Executive Director of the Visitor Center, reported that hundreds of show attendees stopped by the double-sized booth at the show, “We met so many great people who were sincerely interested in fishing in Port O’Connor.” Attendees were given special area maps, brochures and information from participating businesses based on their inquiries. “We were pleasantly surprised at the reception. It was interesting to find so many people who had heard about POC, but had never been fishing here.”

The POC Visitor Center, located at 2337 W Adams in Port O’Connor, paid for and constructed a 10’x 20’ booth in a high traffic area of the show. “We wanted to provide maximum exposure to Port O’Connor and to the many businesses that contributed to our participation,” said Bret Williams, President/CEO of novusweb, llc, the owner of the Visitor Center. “We had great volunteers, too, that manned the booth at their own expense, just to help promote Port O’Connor.”

Names and addresses of attendees will be provided to participating businesses in order to help them solicit more business from those coming to POC. Leslie “Waddie” Stringo, an area fishing guide and show volunteer, was enthusiastic about the turnout, “It was so great to personally meet potential clients at the show. Once we get back to POC, we’ll have an amazing list of prospects for future business, too.”

The Port O’Connor Visitor Center will also be sending an email to the show attendees that registered for the daily free gift drawing held each day of the show. The items given away were donated by The Treasure Chest, Family Affairs Creations, Stringo Guide Service and Unlimited Logos.

About the Port O’Connor Visitor Center

In 2012, novusweb llc created the Port O’Connor Visitor Center to provide helpful information and assistance to tourists and others interested in visiting the POC area. The center provides help with guided trips, vacation rentals, maps, real estate, shopping and more as a free service to visitors. These efforts are funded by participating area businesses. The center also provides information, news and area events to over 4,000 monthly online visitors at www.PortOConnor.com. The Port O’Connor Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday of each week.