It’s time to get those hummingbird feeders out.  Our beautiful fall visitors are here and they are hungry.  This is the time to give our feathered friends a little extra help to fuel their continued migration south.

Remember to always start with clean feeders.  Any time you see or suspect mildew or mold you may clean them with a bottle brush and a mixture of one part bleach to ten parts water, but rinse very thoroughly.  To refill the feeder, use a sugar solution of one part sugar (no sugar substitutes or honey) to four parts water.  Do not vary this formula.  If the sugar solution is more concentrated, there is a possibility of it being harmful to the birds by dehydrating them.  Heat the water to a slight boil, remove from heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Fill feeders with the solution after it cools.  Adding color is absolutely unnecessary, and may even be injurious.  The red color of the feeder attracts the birds. Unused sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks (a covered container).  Feeders should be cleaned and refilled with sugar water every two to three days or immediately at the first sign of mold.  To make your yard even more inviting to hummingbirds, plant some hummingbird attractant plants.

Hummingbirds are bullies, always have been, always will be.  And there isn’t just one bully; they’re all combative.  Hanging feeders in a cluster can ease some of the competition but not all.  They rarely hurt each other so just enjoy the show.

We may not want the hummingbirds to leave but leave they will.  Let’s all help them out and send them on their way with a good store of energy for their journey and look for their return in spring.
The 24th annual HummerBird Celebration is going on in Rockport through September 16. Brochures are available at the Chamber office or go online at www.rockporthummingbird.org.

Less than four months after Hurricane Carla devastated the Port O’Connor community, Edna Whittaker was hired to take a “school census”, counting all the children of school age or below. Going door-to-door, Edna documented the children of those hardy families who were rebuilding and recovering from the storm. Among the 175 children, there were three sets of twins. Two children were designated “handicapped”.

Edna took the census several times. She recorded that in the 1963-64 school year there were 211 girls and 194 boys, with 267 of the total being of school age. Her ledger book notes that she received a check in the amount of $65.50 for her work that year.

Thanks to Tim Whittaker for letting us explore his aunt’s old census documents.

Grade Name Birthdate Age
9 Apostalo, Nelda R. 2/26/1947 14
7 Apostalo, Melody A. 11/26/1948 13
10 Albrecht, Janice K. 3/27/1946 15
9 Albrecht, Sidney C. 4/23/1947 14
4 Albrecht, Alberta G. 11/29/1951 10
Albrecht, George T. 11/29/1957 4
10 Bell, L’Roy O. 7/24/1946 15
8 Bell, Betty Lynne 12/4/1947 14
6 Bell, Mary B. 9/14/1950 11
3 Bell, Steven 7/25/1953 8
6 Berger, Allan Jr. R 1/18/1950 11
5 Berger, Ronald J. 5/11/1951 10
4 Berger, David A. 4/12/1952 9
Berger, Douglas K. 4/2/1959 2
Berger, James J. 9/6/1961
4 Bujan, Gary B. 2/7/1952 9
2 Bujan, Scherry S. 9/11/1953 8
Bujan, Jon L. 6/28/1961
12 Carroll, Susan C. 2/28/1944 17
11 Carroll, Terry M. 8/31/1945 16
2 Carroll, Julie A. 8/21/1954 7
Carroll, Michael L. 8/6/1960 1
Carroll, Michelle L. 8/6/1960 1
Covarrubias, Alfred M. 10/17/1945 16
Covarrubias, Sherry A. 3/20/1956 5
Covarrubias, Claudine 7/1/1957 4
Covarrubias, Ludine 7/1/1957 4
Covarrubias, Hilda M. 11/8/1958 3
Covarrubias, Cathy R. 1/10/1962 5 days
Covarrubias, Ninfa 8/24/1944 Married
4 Clark, Richard K. 5/13/1951 10
Clark, Virginia F. 12/1/1955 5
8 Crawford, Robert C. 8/26/1946 15
7 Crawford, Richard F. 1/4/1949 13
4 Crawford, David J. 9/7/1951 9
Crawford, Millard S. 10/1/1956 5
Carriles, Manuel Jr., 6/1/1945 16
8 Carriles, Alberta 10/6/1946 15
7 Carriles, Robert 9/27/1947 13
6 Carriles, Able 11/18/1948 12
5 Carriles, Paul 4/28/1951
4 Carriles, Adella M. 7/3/1951
2 Carriles, Josephine 1/27/1953
1 Carriles, Ben 9/9/1954
5 Crabb, Roger W. 1/4/1949 13
6 Crabb, Beverly J. 2/10/1950
3 Crabb, Elizabeth A. 2/25/1953
2 Crabb, Patricia S. 8/16/1954
Crabb, Deborah J. 7/30/1956
4 Flores, Inez E. 6/15/1951 10
Flores, Gloria A. 9/23/1953 8
1 Flores, Mary F. 12/20/1954 7
Flores, Theresa M. 1/20/1957 4
Flores, Patricia S. 3/14/1958 3
Flores, Margaret 3/10/1959 2
8 Frazier, Hope R. 7/3/1947 14
1 Frazier, Mark A. 6/22/1955 6
7 Goode, Laura L. 9/15/1948 13
5 Goode, Teresa D. 8/8/1951 10
4 Goode, Judy M. 7/11/1952 9
1 Goode, Susan G. 2/22/1955 6
Goode, Henry Jr. L. 1/1/1958 4
Goode, Randall G. 6/6/1959 2
Goode, Joseph D. 10/28/1960 1
7 Gonzales, Michael R. 6/7/1948 13
3 Gonzales, Angeline M. 7/13/1953 8
Gonzales, Sylvania A. 12/20/1955 6
Gonzales, William J. 4/7/1958 3
Heinman, Joe B. 2/19/1960 1
Heinman, Tony 1/7/1962 8 days
Hawes, Stephanie C. 6/27/1960 1
9 Hawes, Theodore E. 7/6/1946 15
8 Hawes, Mark E. 12/25/1947 13
6 Hawes, Paul M. 9/21/1949 11
5 Hawes, Roger R. 11/27/1950 11
4 Hawes, Marguerite J. 4/2/1952 9
Hawes, Forrest E. 9/23/1959 2
Hawes, Sally E. 10/2/1960 1
2 Hawes, Marion L. 6/8/1954 7
1 Hawes, Madeline G. 7/5/1955 6
Hawes, Phillip E. 8/23/1956 5
11 Hawes, Mary E. 1/20/1945 16
9 Hawes, Kathleen A. 8/3/1947 13
6 Hawes, Martha P. 9/26/1949 12
4 Hawes, Anne C. 4/18/1952 9
1 Hawes, Norma C. 11/16/1954 7
Hawes, Gloria J. 9/3/1958 3
Hall, Theresa A. 2/27/1957 4
Hall, Diana J. 8/3/1959 2
Howerton, Renee D. 6/7/1957 4
Howerton, Roxanne C. 11/8/1960 1
Helms, Vernon C. 6/16/1960 1
11 Hawes, John E. 9/14/1944 17
10 Hawes, Joy C. 2/12/1946 15
Johnson, Leafy A. 9/19/1960 1
8 Lavender, James E. 12/7/1947 14
8 Leadford, Robin M. 9/7/1947 14
1 Landry, Luella J. 8/28/1955 6
Landry, Louis J. 5/23/1957 4
7 Lewis, DeWayne V. 12/31/1948 13
4 Lewis, Vonnie L. 10/23/1951 10
Lewis, Judy D. 4/24/1956 5
Meitzler, Mary D. 10/2/1960 1
Meitzler, Debbie S. 10/22/1961
McBride, Sherry L. 2/16/1956 5
11 Overton, Janie L. 2/17/1945 16
9 Overton, Debora A. 11/13/1946 15
8 Overton, Michael E. 7/11/1948 13
7 Overton, Betty J. 8/21/1949 12
Prince, Dianne L. 9/8/1955 6
Prince, Glen F. 8/9/1956 5
Prince, Gary R. 4/3/1958 3
Raby, Terry L. 9/7/1958 2
Raby, Joe Jr. D. 10/7/1961
9 Ragusin, Linda 7/7/1947 14
Redding, Virgil W. 9/31/1954
Redding, Beverly S. 1/7/1957 5
4 Ramos, Joseph D. 6/28/1952 9
2 Ramos, Patricia A. 2/2/1955 6
1 Ramos, Shirley J. 3/19/1954 7
3 Raines, Larry E. 2/23/1952 9
1 Raines, William J. 12/6/1953 8
1 Raines, Joseph A. 12/22/1954 7
Raines, Timothy L. 8/29/1960 1
Raby, Kenneth D. 7/31/1956 5
Raby, Norma J. 1/27/1958 4
3 Raby, Betty L. 5/8/1953 8
Raby, Roger A. 5/17/1956
Raby, Lori L. 1/1/1961 1
Ragusin, Freda L. 11/30/1961
Scott, Richard 11/5/1954 6
Scott, Debbie
8 Striedel, William L. Jr. 8/14/1948 13
3 Striedel, Charles K. 9/12/1952 8
2 Striedel, Kenneth M. 4/18/1954 7
Striedel, Timothy J. 6/5/1958 3
Striedel, Donna M. 8/6/1959 2
6 Smith, Terry A. 1/13/1950 12
5 Smith, Charles W. 6/24/1951 10
7 Strickland, Larry D. 8/11/1947 14
Shotwell, Billy Jr. 12/28/1958 3
1 Shotwell, Deborah 12/26/1954 7
Shotwell, Walter 11/30/1955 6
Trent, Darl E. 1/3/1957 5
Trent, Arthur J. 11/24/1960 1
10 Thumann, Frankie E. 8/24/1946 15
8 Thumann, La Vern E. 11/14/1947 13
4 Thumann, Vernon A. 7/31/1952
9 Ureste, George E. 10/6/1946 15
7 Ureste, Joe A. 5/8/1948 13
7 Ureste, John G. 5/8/1948 13
6 Ureste, Bobbie C. 8/24/1950 F 11
2 Ureste, Andrew E. 7/27/1953 8
Ureste, Samuel A. 2/2/1956 6
Ureste, Dennis M. 8/25/1957 5
10 Vasquez, Esmeralda 8/16/1946 15
6 Vasquez, Rose Mary 6/22/1950 11
3 Vasquez, David 1/4/1953 9
3 Willis, Dale E. 6/1/1954 7
Willis, Ronald L. 11/28/1959 2
6 Walton, Anita G. 12/9/1949 12
6 Walton, Charles M. 7/1/1951 10
8 Woodall, Lana G. 2/16/1948 13
5 Woodall, Esther B. 11/16/1950 11
1 Woodall, Brenda L. 1/18/1955 7
Woodall, Mark E. 2/2/1959 2
10 Wilburn, Sherry L. 1/1/1946 16
7 Wilburn, Wade K. 7/3/1948 13
4 Wilburn, Kay F. 11/18/1951 10
Wilburn, Brenda J. 9/19/1955 5
1 Zamudio, Andrew R. 11/1/1954 7
Zamudio, Steven 9/25/1956 5
Zafereo, Linda K. 10/26/1948 12
4 Zafereo, Patricia J. 12/21/1951 9
Zafereo, Deborah M. 10/14/1957 4

Volunteers are the strength of The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center, located here in Port Lavaca.  The volunteers help sustain and expand the Harbor’s programs by contributing their time, skills, resources, and dedication to servicing children and families in our community.

If you are interested in providing direct services in Calhoun County, or any other volunteer opportunities, then we encourage you to call The Harbor.  There will also be a Crisis Hotline training on Thursday, September 25, 2012 at 5:30 PM.  Please call and RSVP at 361-552-1982, and one of the staff members will be more than happy to talk to you about the various volunteer opportunities.

The Harbor Mission Statement

Our mission is to lessen the trauma to victims of sexual assault, child abuse/neglect, and other crimes and their families and to improve the response of the criminal justice system by uniting the efforts of public agencies and enlisting support from the community. By providing a safe haven for these victims of crime, our goals are to advocate for their rights and specific needs and create an environment where violence is no longer tolerated.

Patterson invites Texans to exercise their right to access the public beach; cleanup trash.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is urging all Texans to take advantage of their right to access the public beach Saturday, Sept. 22 for the 26th Annual Texas General Land Office Fall Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup. The cleanup will take place at three sites in the Victoria area.

“A right not exercised is a right that will be lost,” Patterson said. “Join us Saturday, Sept. 22 for a fun time and a great cause, exercising your rights and keeping Texas beaches trash-free.”
Volunteers should wear shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Volunteers will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. Most sites along the coast conclude the day’s cleanup with cold drinks, hot food and lots of fun.

Volunteers may register on-line at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or become a fan of the Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach program on Facebook. Texans who can’t make it to the beach but still want to support the effort can make a tax-deductible donation at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org. Sponsorship levels range from $25 to $25,000.

The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach program began in the fall of 1986, when 2,800 volunteers picked up 124 tons of trash. Since then, it has grown into one of the most successful all-volunteer efforts in the nation. In 26 years, 430,000 Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up more than 8,300 tons of trash from the Texas Gulf Coast.

The data collected from the beach cleanups played an integral part in the passage of MARPOL Annex V, an international treaty that prohibits the dumping of plastics in the world’s oceans.  In July of 1991, the International Maritime Organization designated the Gulf of Mexico and the Wider Caribbean as a “special area” where the dumping of trash, with the exception of finely ground food scraps, is prohibited.

Shell Oil Company is the statewide sponsor for the 26th Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup. Other sponsors include Apache Corporation, AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Cheniere Energy, Halliburton and the Ocean Conservancy.

Local news media sponsors for the cleanup include the following Victoria stations: KAVU-TV ABC 25, KVCT-TV FOX 19, KXTS-TV CBS 41, KMOL-TV NBC 17, and Town Square Media KIXS-FM, KLUB-FM, KTXN-FM, KQVT-FM.

For more information about how you can get involved, call 1-877-TXCOAST or visit our Web site at www.texasadoptabeach.org.

Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup check-in sites in our area:

Magnolia Beach/Indianola – Calhoun County
Check-in: Crabbin’ Bridge
Contact: Rhonda Cummins
361-552-9747
rhonda.cummins@texasadoptabeach.org

King Fisher Beach, Port O’Connor—Calhoun County
Check-in: Pavilion at King Fisher Beach
Contact: Debbie Gayle
361-552-3200 (daytime)
361-983-4647 (evening)
debbie.gayle@texasadoptabeach.org

Austwell Pier—Refugio County
Check-in: Austwell Pier
Contact: Dwight Mutschler
361-286-3762
austwellredfish@texasadoptabeach.org

WHO:    About 10,000 Texans who care about Texas beaches
WHAT:    26th Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup
WHERE:Three coastal sites in the Victoria area
WHEN:    9 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 22
WHY:    To keep Texas beaches clean and healthy

In the days following the September 11th attacks, 500,000 Americans donated blood. On this 11th anniversary, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) encourages all eligible blood donors to donate in honor of the 9/11 victims.

Thirty percent of donated blood is transfused into accident/ trauma patients. STBTC strives to keep an adequate blood supply so that patients of all types have blood available when they need it.

After all, the rarest blood type is the one not on the shelves when it is needed.

Visit a mobile blood drive in your area to help local hospital patients:

Calhoun High School
Wednesday, Sept. 19
8:30am – 4:00pm
201 Sandcrab Blvd.
Port Lavaca

Donors must present identification. Anyone who is 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with parental consent form), or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds and in good general health may donate blood. All donors receive refreshments, a mini-physical a thank you gift and are encouraged to eat before and after donation. Learn more about blood donation at www.southtexasblood.org or call 800-292-5534.