Weekly Events:
Wednesdays: 8:00 am-9:00 am Coffee & Conversation at POC Library
Wednesdays: 9:30-10:30 am Bingo followed by Loteria
Wednesdays: 4:30 pm Boy Scouts meet at Scout Hall in Seadrift
Wednesdays: 1:00-3:30 Mah Jongg, POC Library
Wednesdays: 5:30 Team Kids
Thursdays: POC Bridge at Library 1:00-3:00 pm
Saturdays: 7:00 pm Friends of Bill W at First Baptist Church POC
Monthly Meetings:
1st Sunday Intercoastal 4-H
5:30 pm Port O’Connor Community Center
2nd Monday Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce
6:00 pm Port O’Connor Library
3rd Wednesday Seadrift Chamber of Commerce
6:00 pm Seadrift Train Depot
3rd Thursday POC Water Board Meeting
1:00 pm 39 Denman Drive
1st Saturday Roll Off Bin
8-2 or until full Behind the POCID office

Sun., Nov. 17 Community Thanksgiving Service
6:00 pm St. Joseph Catholic Church, Port O’Connor
Wed., Nov. 20 4-H Canned Food Drive 5:00-7:00 Speedy Stop
Thurs., Nov. 21 POC Service Club 10:00 am POC Community Center
Sun., Nov. 24 Dedication of the Cross after 6:00 pm service Fisherman’s Chapel
Thurs., Nov. 28 Thanksgiving
Tues., Dec. 3 Democratic Club 6:00 pm Calhoun County Library
Thurs., Dec. 5 POC Service Club 10:00 am POC Community Center
Thurs.,Dec. 5 Seadrift Community Choir 6:00 pm Trinity Shores, Port Lavaca
Fri., Dec. 6 Senior Citizens’ Christmas Luncheon 11:00 am POC Community Center
Sat., Dec. 7 Seadrift Nutcracker Market
2:00-7:00 Market, Pics w/Santa, Seadrift Choir, Light Christmas Tree
Sat., Dec. 7 Toy Run Arrives
Sat., Dec. 7 Lighted Boat Parade 6:30 pm Insracoastal Canal, Port O’Connor
Sat., Dec. 7 Seadrift Community Choir 6:00 pm Bayfront Park, Seadrift
Sun., Dec. 8 Seadrift Community Choir 8:00 am St. Patrick Church, Seadrift
Sun., Dec. 8 Seadrift Community Choir 6:00 pm First Assembly of God, Seadrift
Wed., Dec. 11 Seadrift Community Choir 7:00 pm Salem Lutheran, Port Lavaca
Fri., Dec. 13 Seadrift Community Choir 2:00 pm Seadrift School
Sat., Dec. 14 Farmers Market 8:00-Noon King Fisher Beach POC
Sat., Dec. 14 Seadrift Community Choir 7:00 pm St. Joseph Church, Port O’Connor
Sun., Dec. 15 Seadrift Community Choir 11:00 am First United Methodist, Seadrift
Sun., Dec. 15 Santa at POD Fire station
1:00-3:00 Fire truck rides, weather permitting
Sun., Dec. 15 Seadrift Community Choir 6:00 pm First Baptist, Seadrift
Dec. 18 & 19 Port O’Connor Lighted House Judging Call 361-983-2898 to enter
Thurs., Dec. 19 POC School Christmas Program 6:00 pm School Gym

In his opening statement to a small crowd at the POC Library, Reagan Faught, State Parks Region 2 Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) emphasized that public input into the planning of the new Powderhorn State Park (PSP) is essential in making this natural resource into “Your Park”. The public comment meeting was held on Tuesday, September 24 and was the second in the series of public comment meetings the department has conducted.

A cadre of other TPWD staff were on hand to answer questions including a park planner, engineer, architect, GIS specialist as well as PSP Superintendent Sarah Affeldt, and Lead Ranger, Stephen Demarcus. Justin Fleury, Planning & Geospatial Resources Program Director, provided an overview of the history of the property, its features, and the updated park plans.

The 2253-acre park includes 3 miles of Matagorda Bay shoreline, 2.5 miles of Powderhorn Lake shoreline, tidal marshes, freshwater wetlands, coastal prairie, and an enchanting tunnel of ancient live oaks.

“ The park plan includes 90 overnight tent and RV camp sites, 30 day use sites, fishing and kayaking areas, and 8 – 12 miles of hike and bike trails. The old ranch house, which was refurbished by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation after the property’s acquisition by collaborating conservation organizations, will be utilized as a gathering place for small groups. The main entrance will be on the north side of Highway 185 between The Sanctuary and the VEC transmission station. To reach the State Park, the entrance road will traverse Powderhorn Wildlife Management property for about 3 miles to PSP visitor center with fencing separating the two properties.

The parks staff has worked to incorporate the public’s input from the first series of public comment meetings, and provide planning to address concerns including utility capacity, emergency planning, law enforcement, and traffic safety. Much has yet to be done but a tentative date for the start of construction is September 2027 with the park opening in late 2029 or 2030.

An immediate task at hand is the hiring of a full-time office manager whose duties will include purchasing, budgeting, and oversight of the customer service support team. The job will soon be posted on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website (https://tpwd.texas.gov/jobs). Currently the park has a total of four positions but expects to employ up to eleven when the park is fully open.

Let’s make Powderhorn Our Park! TPWD is accepting questions and comments for this phase of the project until Oct. 31. They may be submitted to: Justin Fleury, TPWD park planner, justin.fleury@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-4367; Sarah Affeldt, Powderhorn State Park superintendent, sarah.affeldt@tpwd.texas.gov, 361-557-0006; or Reagan Faught, Texas State Parks regional director, reagan.faught@tpwd.texas.gov, 361-790-0303.

Sarah Affeldt, Powderhorn State Park Superintendent
and
Lead Ranger
Stephen Demarcus.

On your mark, get set, go! It’s October 10 and this group of veterans is getting ready to enjoy a weekend full of memorial and fun-filled activities at Polebender’s Lodge which is right on the Victoria Barge Canal. Front and far left is Arturo G. Garcia who is CEO and Co-Founder of Combat Marine Outdoora. He is a wounded veteran who served as a Master Gunnery Sergeant from 1987-2012. He is disabled 100 percent because of his service to our country. We salute all our veterans especially on Veterans Day. Thank you for your service!

All of CMO’s trips are provided at no cost to our veterans by sponsorships and private donations. Not only is CMO in every state, but is in New Zealand, Africa, Alaska, Argentina, and Mexico.

You can visit their web site at www.combatmarineoutdoor.org. -Tanya DeForest