The Dolphin urges you to register for “The Parade That Never Was”.

Additionally, we would be honored to print a photo from your service years and information about you in an upcoming issue.

You can email to: dolphin1@tisd.net or bring your photo by our office at 2232 Monroe in Port O’Connor where we will scan your photo while you wait.

Families who lost a loved one in the war may also submit a photo.

We must receive your photo by Friday, October 5, 2012. We hope to hear from you!

Sept. 14: David Junek; Sandra Orma

Sept. 15: Brandi Hall

Sept. 16: Walker Hawes; Jacob Johnson

Sept. 17: Agnes Valigura; Leah Marie Lucey; Candace Y. Gaines

Sept. 18: John Tyson; Robby Robertson; Evelyn Lewis; Everado Castro

Sept. 19: Joyce Rhyne, Brenda Lovett; Britt Cleveland; Gary Thompson; Leafy Ann Johnson

Sept. 20: Dan Fielder; Pauline Cleveland; Rudy Morales; Natalie Harper; Dave Wallace

Sept. 21: Jayne Lenard

Sept. 22: Kim Covarrubias; Neil Pesek; Robert Carriles

Sept. 23: Chelsea Malacord; Deborah Hall; Candy Rodriguez; Catherine Willis

Sept. 24: Melissa Richerson; Noah Rodriguez; Linda Wallace

Sept. 25: Robbie Gregory; Kenneth Clark; Donna Caughman; Kim Hawkins

Sept. 26: Shelly Leftwich

Sept. 28: Amber Bricker; Andrew Arispe

Did You Know?

We all know that the best advertising is word of mouth, but next best, we think, is advertising in Dolphin Talk.  With copies distributed to over 100 businesses in Port O’Connor, Seadrift, Port Lavaca, and the Victoria area, your advertisement is sure to be seen countless times.

We publish twice monthly, and from readers’ comments, we know that many people keep their copy around for a while so they can read the various articles written by our many talented contributors. Consequently, your address and phone number stay available to them to take advantage of the products and services you offer.

In addition to our print issue, Dolphin Talk maintains a web site, www.TheDolphinTalk.com, where we can also publish your ad for a 20% extra charge above our current affordable print rate.
If you think publishing your ad in Dolphin Talk might be a benefit to your business, please contact us at 361-983-4667.

Dolphin Talk operates solely from the income generated by our advertisers and we wish to take this opportunity to thank all those who continue to make this publication possible.

And, to all of you who enjoy reading our publication, especially those who have followed us since our inception in 1996, thank you!

Thank you for reading Dolphin Talk!

Joyce Rhyne, Editor/Publisher, Dolphin Talk

Citizens of the Week at Port O’Connor School

Week ending August 31: PreK- Orion Ragusin; Kindergarten- Kayla Resendiz; First Grade- Aislin Guzman; Second Grade- Harley Peeler; Third Grade- Keven Salinas; Fourth Grade- Brooklyn Redmond; Fifth Grade- Carly Rosenboom

Week ending September 7: PreK- Jaydin Rhoads; Kindergarten- Keegan Short; First Grade- Cody Branch; Second Grade- Leah Lucey; Third Grade- Gilbert Saldivar; Fourth Grade- Faith Peeler; Fifth Grade- Hannah Tucker

Students of the Week at Seadrift School

Week ending August 31: PreK, Mrs. Hataway- Kingston Cady; K, Mrs. Kern- Natalie Hunt; K, Mrs. Myers- Briley Christensen; 1st, Mrs. Christy- Mia Montes; 1st, Ms. Stringham- Derrick Youngblood; 2nd, Miss Sistare- Joey Estes; 2nd, Mrs. Flisowski- Tres Canales; 3rd, Mrs. Hons- Erik Jaramillo; 3rd, Mrs. Petrisky- Kyler Sanders; 4th, Mrs. McGee- William Bales; 4th, Mrs. Schultz- Shelby Cady; 5th, Mrs. Canales- Joey Perez Junior High: Mrs. Henderson- Colton Krueger; Mrs. Cady- Ethan Wooldridge; Ms. Parnell- Miguel Gamez; Coach Anderson- Noah Bedwellgg; Coach Sternadel- McCade Stafford; Mrs. Charnetski- Ty Boedeker; Mrs. Smith- Samantha Mendez; Coach Lillge- Karlye Jordan; Ms. Blackburn- Mason Clark; Mrs. Beaver- Ty Boedeker

Week ending September 7: PreK, Mrs. Hataway – Jaxson Key; K, Mrs. Kern- McKenna Boedeker; K, Mrs. Myers- Dillon Morales; 1st, Mrs. Christy- Emily Lowder; 1st., Ms. Stringham- Cody Frias; 2nd, Miss Sistare- Kathy Huerta; 2nd, Mrs. Flisowski- Emma McWherter; 3rd, Mrs. Hons- Cassandra Perez-Vallejo; 3rd, Mrs. Petrisky- Nadia Vallejo; 4th, Mrs. McGee- Jason Nguyen; 4th, Mrs. Schultz- Joseph White; 5th, Mrs. Canales- Rayne Lamphier Junior High: Mrs. Henderson- Hannah Spencer; Mrs. Cady- Luis Deleon; Ms. Parnell- Arnaldo Rodriguez; Coach Anderson- Kellie Blevins; Coach Sternadel- Sierrah Wall; Mrs. Smith- Walker Canales; Coach Lillge- Cayleb Gregory; Ms. Blackburn- Joe Aguilar.

Parents & Teachers: Please remember the Dolphin is always happy to report the accomplishments of your children/students!
Send your information to: dolphin1@tisd.net.

Portrait of Augustine “Augie” Rivera by Rebecca Bretz

Preserving History

In the last issue of the Dolphin Talk, I had the opportunity to witness a significant part of the Seadrift Fishermen Legacy Project. Members of the project have set out to honor the history of commercial fishermen from Seadrift. The project is very complex: interview local fishermen, create a two-hour DVD, publish a photo narrative book, create a calendar and portrait of each fisherman. This Legacy Project will accompany the Centennial Celebration of the town of Seadrift on December 1, 2012.

I have met financial advisor, Pam Booton and videographer, Kevin Dvorak; I was excited to speak to portrait artist, Rebecca Byrd Bretz. All three are from Austin and have gone above and beyond to help.

Rebecca became involved with the Seadrift Fishermen’s Celebration in August 2011. Pam Booton and others had visited the Seadrift Art Boat gallery, and spoken with Aubrey Parker, who is the artist in residence, and manages the Art Boat for Dieter Erhard. Aubrey and Rebecca knew each other from back in the 1980s when they worked for the same company. He wanted to promote her work by displaying it in the gallery; Pam contacted Rebecca shortly afterward. She asked Rebecca if she would like to donate art to the silent auction to raise money for the project. Rebecca donated three prints for the auction, then volunteered to paint portraits of all the fishermen.

“I met Rebecca last October at the First Annual Fishermen Celebration. Pam Booton, a financial consultant from Austin had gathered together a bunch of artists from Austin to come down and support our fundraiser. The money raised would be used to preserve the oral history of the fishermen for the Centennial Day in December 2012. Pam had actually found Rebecca’s artwork at the Art Boat in Seadrift — small world,” Janie Waghorne commented. “I was amazed and awed to see her artistic talent at work. We had posted the photographs of some of the fishermen beside some of the painted portraits. It was a wonderful sight to see how she brought those fishermen to life. An outstanding artist! We feel very honored and blessed to have found her. She has such a gentle, lovely way about her. The fact that she created this and gave her time and talent without pay is commendable and so appreciated. I love that she did this in memory and honor of her great-grandfather from Sicily. That connection to her past seems so appropriate in our efforts to preserve the stories and oral history of our fishermen in Seadrift.”

Portraits:
“Poodle” Dennis Wittnebert
“Lucky Bucky” Lloyd Chatham
“Deputy Dawg” Dennis Williams
Rod Lee Taylor
Thai Nguyen
Donnie Helms
“Augie” Augustine Rivera
Marcus Blevins
Johnny Davenport
Y.Z. Helms, most recent

“The fishermen feed the world. To me, that means community. We need each other,” said Rebecca. “My great grandfather was a fisherman in Sicily, and I saw it as a way to pay tribute to my own family, in a way.”

After 2008, Rebecca accepted Aubrey’s invitation to place some of her art in the Art Boat. She had traveled to Seadrift a couple of times before October of 2011, when the Fishermen’s Celebration actually took place. “I think the people I have met in Seadrift are so kind and warm,” said Rebecca. “I’m an outsider, a stranger, and yet they made me feel so welcomed there. I find the people to be the reason to keep coming back. And I love the bay.”

The portraits of the fishermen are acrylic on canvas. Acrylic on canvas, with vivid color and texture, is her signature style. Rebecca mixes a couple of kinds of medium with the paint to alter the way it behaves and mixes together. She has always been an illustrator, beginning with pencil, moving to pen and ink, and then watercolor. Through the years, she has worked as a calligrapher, graphic designer, and art director… and nto making a great design and an award-winning piece. She also makes jewelry, crochets, and sews… but considers these hobbies.

“My passion is color and texture… and portraiture,” she explained. “The passage of time on a person’s face tells a beautiful story, and I see it as my contribution to their personal history to commit that beauty to canvas to be enjoyed for a long time.”

The portraits are on display at City Hall, so make sure to take time to go view them. You can also learn more about the Seadrift Legacy Project at www.seadriftfishermencelebration.org. I am eager to see the project executed; Jerry Weaver, Bubba Hall, Robert Sanders, Kenny Finster, John Ureste and Brad Weaver have been interviewed, but have not yet been painted. The people that have been a part of the mission are dedicated and extremely organized. The project is very ambitious and I’m glad I was able to see all of the puzzle pieces come together.

Till next time!

Augustine “Augie” Rivera