Weekly Events:
Wednesdays: 8:00 am-9:00 am Coffee & Conversation at POC Library
Wednesdays: 4:39 pm Boy Scouts meet at Scout Hall in Seadrift
Wednesdays: 1:00-3:30 Mah Jongg, POC Library
Thursdays: POC Bridge at Library 1:00-3:00 pm
Saturdays: 7:00 pm Friends of Bill W at First Baptist Church POC

Sat., Oct. 21 Fun for Fall POC Library
Sat., Oct. 21 Victoria Electric Annual Meeting
1:00 pm 704 Mallette Drive, Victoria
Thurs., Oct. 26 Sea Turtle Rescue Training
9:00 am Port O’Connor Library
Sat., Oct. 28 Seedrift Market Day
8:00-Noon Seadrift Train Station
Sat., Oct. 28 Halloween Carnival
3:00-5:30 pm Port O’Connor School
Sat., Oct. 28 Trunk or Treat
6:00 pm King Fisher Beach, POC; 7:00 pm Best Dressed Dog Contest
7:00 pm Best Dressed Dog Contest
Sun., Oct. 29 Gospel Sing-along
6:00 pm First Baptist Church, Seadrift
Tues., Oct. 31 Halloween Parade; then Trunk or Treat
6:00 pm Seadrift Bayfront
Wed., Nov. 1 Fruit & Citrus Tree Seminar
6:00 411 N. Wells, Edna, TX
Thurs. November 2 Service Club
10:00 am POC Com Cntr
Sat. Nov. 4 Thanksgiving Crafts & Games POC Library
Nov. 5 at 2 a.m. Daylight Saving Time Ends
Monday, Nov, 6 Calhoun County Republican Club
6:00 p.m Drifters Hall, 5287 Fm 3084, PL
Sat., Nov. 10 Farmers Market
8:00-Noon King Fisher Beach, POC
Sat., Nov. 11 Veterans Day
Sunday, Nov. 12 POC Community Thanksgiving Service
6:00 pm First Baptist Church, POC
Mon, Nov. 13 Veterans Day Program
9:00 am Seadrift School
Tues., Nov. 14 Hooked on Books
2:00 pm alanehaardt@yahoo.com
Thurs. Nov,15 Service Club– 10:00 am – POC Community Center

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”-unknown

Two years ago, thirteen soldiers died defending freedom. They were killed by a suicide bomber. It happened during our withdrawal from Afghanistan at the Kabul Airport. The date was August 26, 2021. It was a sad day in America. It was sadder still for the families who lost their loved ones. Of the soldiers, one was in the Navy, another in the Army, and the eleven others were in the Marines. Their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

Coming into Seadrift on Highway, 185 you will see a beautiful memorial set up in memory of these fallen heroes. There are thirteen flags representing each of the thirteen who died that day. An additional three flags representing each branch of service our heroes served with are displayed. In addition to the flags are two signs that read “Our 13 Heroes You Are Not Forgotten.”

Our thanks of appreciation for setting up the memorial goes to the Seadrift City Crew for setting up the flags and to the County for donating the signs. -Tanya DeForest

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the 2023 Port O’Connor Boat and Fishing Expo scheduled for October 6th-8th. Come see all your favorite boats, kayaks, tackle, rods, accessories, apparel, guides and everything Port O’Connor has to offer! Make plans to visit the ‘Culinary Corner’ for cooking demonstrations and the Community Center for our guest speakers. Follow our Facebook page @POCBoatandFishingExpo for up to date information and the list of exhibitors!

The Expo hours are Friday 1:00pm-7:00pm; Saturday, 10:00am-7:00pm and Sunday, 10:00am-2:00pm.
This event is free to the public thanks to the support of our sponsors: Jeco’s Marine and Tackle; Freedom Boats; Ron Hoover RV, Marine & Equipment Centers; First National Bank of Port Lavaca; Infinium; POC Washateria; and Formosa Plastics.

Approaching Fall and Beach Rides

Greetings from the off-grid Matagorda Peninsula barrier island, located approximately 5 miles off the coast of Port O’Connor, TX., with West Matagorda Bay to the north, and the Gulf of Mexico bordering the south side. Many people that are not associated with an isolated homesteading lifestyle, are not familiar with the off-grid concept, and what it mostly entails. Not to worry, in a not too distant future, writing, maybe a tad closer to my 20 year island anniversary, I shall explain in depth, what I like to refer to as “living beyond the sidewalks”, and the peaks and valleys that this lifestyle encompasses. So stay tuned!

Fifteen more days. . . just fifteen more days, as of me sitting at my little kitchen table and writing this, and glorious Fall will officially begin. Umm, YAY!! I distinctly remember telling myself last summer, that it was the hottest summer yet for me out here, at that time. Well, I can toss that hottest summer theory out into the lagoon now! The present summer has not only been the hottest, but by FAR has been the driest, with a mere 3.1” of rain falling on the island since June 1. Simply brutal conditions. Thank the Lord that a consistent Gulf breeze, along with shade and cool drinks, and a few Dewalt 20 volt fans, have helped during the hottest times of the day throughout the summer.

Corky and I have been making regular trips down to the beach to enjoy the cooler surf breeze, and so Mr. Dog can run in the water and chase little beach birds. The tar balls that had littered the beach a month or so ago have pretty much disappeared, thank goodness. The beach has been pretty clean lately, but a few seashell and sand dollar finds can be appreciated if you slowly walk with the sand beneath your feet. During the sea turtle nesting season, primarily April-July, I always keep an eye out for turtle tracks leading from the surf towards the dunes, and then back out again. Corky and I just enjoy the serenity of riding in the golf cart and walking along the beach, taking in the sights and sounds of the surf, and never knowing what treasures you might find washed ashore.

I’ve seen one hummingbird scout buzzing around the porch this week, so I filled my two feeders with sugar water, hoping that a few of them will make a stop-over on their trek south this Fall. This past Spring I had more hummers than ever before, so I’m hoping the trend continues every year now. It’s entertaining watching them fight for the feeders and hearing their unique chirping noises.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day. And please remember to tell those close to you, those that make you happy and smile, that you appreciate them. Life offers no promises. . kind words are priceless.

Clint Bennetsen is a retired police detective, now residing full time on Matagorda Peninsula Island for nearly 18 years. Clint writes his monthly Island Life column in the Dolphin Talk newspaper, telling of his adventures, beach finds and off-grid lifestyle. Clint can be reached for questions or comments at dolphin1@tisd.net, or ccbennetsen@yahoo.com.

Pastor Jack Cochran
Caring and Sharing

While listening to Pastor Jack talk about what he does as a pastor, I could easily tell that he takes being a pastor quite seriously. I’m sure he’s very aware how precious life is, and he aims to do his very best to make a difference in his church and in the community.

Welcome, Pastor Jack, to Seadrift’s First United Methodist Church! He came to pastor in Seadrift in July. He knows he has a lot to learn about everyone, especially his church.

The two favorite things Pastor Jack loves to do are caring (pastoral care) and sharing (public speaking). Here’s what he had to say about his ministry: “I just want to be a toolbox for God. I want Him to work through me and my congregation to create a church that is accessible and open to all of God’s children.”

Pastor Jack Cochran is a graduate of Rivera Kaufer High School in Rivera, Texas. He earned a degree in communications from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Pastor Jack tells his story about how he became a pastor: “Right after college I jumped feet first into youth ministry. After five years of youth ministry, I became a pastor.”

Pastor Jack has a cat named Nebby who is his “forever furry” friend. Commenting about his furry friend, Pastor Jack said, “I am owned by a picky and plucky cat named Nebby. It’s his world and I just happen to be living in it.”

Hobbies of Pastor Jack’s are as follows: on-line video games, tinkering with vintage electronics, and listening to true-crime podcasts.

Service times at Seadrift’s United Methodist Church are at 11:00 a.m. every Sunday. A warm invitation is extended to all.
-Tanya DeForest

Seadrift’s First Baptist Church

Something very special is happening at Seadrift’s First Baptist Church and the Corporon family is right in the middle of it. August 6th was the beginning of the family’s coming to pastor the church and it also marked a new beginning. You see, attendance had declined to just a small number of people. Now, when the doors are open on Sunday morning for their worship service 100 people or more walk through those doors!

Pastor Aaron and his lovely wife Heidi are ready to serve. They both love to study. Heidi is working on her bachelor’s degree through Tyndale Theological Seminary and is well versed in reading and writing Hebrew and Greek. Pastor Aaron is a graduate of Frontier School of the Bible in La Grange, Wyoming and is working on his master’s degree of Divinity from Tyndale Theological Seminary.

Pastor Aaron and Heidi have been married twelve years. They are the proud parents of two sons: Edward who is 10 and Alexander who is 9. The boys are featured in the Kid’s Corner column at left.

Heidi was born in Utah and raised in Brazil. Her parents are missionaries in Brazil where Heidi grew up. She and her family lived in the jungle among the Wai-wai people. Her dad is working on a translation of the Bible and has published apps for an indigenous hymnal and dictionary. Her mom does a lot of work among the women helping them learn from the Bible.

Pastor Aaron was born in Texas and grew up in Colorado. Seadrift’s First Baptist Church is Pastor Aaron’s second church where he has served as lead pastor. His aim is to teach the scriptures in a way that everyone understands. The nearness of our Lord’s return is a topic that weighs on his heart. Pastor Aaron made this comment: “Since Jesus ascended back into heaven, we have not seen this amount of prophetic fulfillment that we have seen in the past 100 years.” He believes that the Rapture of the Church may be very near.

The service times at First Baptist Church are 9:45 a.m. for Sunday School and 11:00 a.m. for their worship service. Their children’s programs are held in the church gym on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 to 7:00 p.m. -Tanya DeForest

Rich and Tina Schaller

Rich Schaller, along with his wife Tina, were called into full time ministry at First Baptist Church, Port O’Connor in June of this year.Early in August, after retiring from 24 years at FedEx, Pastor Schaller began the work here in POC.

Pastor Schaller formerly served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Westhoff, Texas where he ministered for 17 years. He has been serving in Christian ministry for 28 years, beginning with Coleto Baptist Church in Victoria where he served seven years as a music minister and discipleship leader among other things. After a four year sabbatical, Pastor Schaller returned to the pulpit as a supply preacher in November of last year.

With a heart for people and the Word of God, it is Rich’s hope to lead First Baptist into a deeper relationship with the people of Port O’Connor. “My vision,” said the pastor, “is to be a church with an outward focus. Jesus came to redeem people and to restore the relationship between God and man which is damaged by sin. First Baptist Church exists to share that good news with the people of our community through words and actions. It is my hope,” the pastor continued, “to build a stronger and more meaningful relationship with the people of Port O’Connor – One soul at a time. I am excited to see what God’s going to do next in POC and I look forward to meeting those who call this little slice of fisherman’s paradise home.”

Rich and his wife Tina have two grown children and five grandchildren and are grateful to God for the privilege to serve such a warm, loving and welcoming community of believers and residents in Port O’Connor. -Diane Cooley