March Book Club Hostesses

March’s Book Club Meeting was held at the home of hostess, Annie Seay, and was co-hosted by Debra Stewart, Cindy Boone, and Melanie Martinez, all of whom treated the Ladies to a light, lively, fun, and informative afternoon. March’s book, Queen Bee, by Dorothea Benton Frank, is fraught with humor, twists and turns, Southern hospitality, family strife, love lost and found, parenting woes, death, bee keeping, female impersonators, and a difficult matriarch known as the “Queen Bee”!

To start things off, the Hostesses served a huge spread of “low country” foods, straight out of pages of the book- Pickled Shrimp and Pimento Cheese on Ritz; “Southern Living” Lemon Chicken drizzled with bee’s honey; Pastrami Sandwiches with half-sour pickles; Sushi, Edamame, Mrs. Smith’s Frozen Apple and Chocolate Pies; Chocolate Snack Packs; “Ants on a Log”; and Oreo cookies. To wash it all down, the Hostesses served Iced Tea, Wine; Mead “Honey Wine”, and Chilled Water. What a Feast!

The Hostesses cleverly made the book come to life by using “Bee related” decorations; “Bee Facts; favorite “Bee sayings and quotes” shared from the book; and led the group’s loud, lively, and laughter-filled book discussion. The Hostesses also surprised everyone with a guest speaker- Daniel Emery, who is a real life Beekeeper. Mr. Emery brought his beekeeper suit, beekeeper equipment and paraphernalia, and spoke about the actual process of beekeeping. His presentation was interesting and entertaining, and everyone loved it.

At the end of the meeting, all agreed Queen Bee was a great read; the food and beverages were out of this world; the Beekeeper presentation was excellent; and all thanked the Hostesses for their hard work and excellent planning in making it such a fun and interesting afternoon!

Our next Book Club Meeting is on April 11, 2023 at 2:00 PM, and the Book of the Month is Bet Your Bottom Dollar by Karin Gillespie. If you are interested in joining “Hooked On Books”, please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All Ladies are welcome!!

The Calhoun County Republican Club will be hosting Jesse Hubbell, Chief Appraiser for the Calhoun County Appraisal District, on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Calhoun County Appraisal District is responsible for appraising all real and business personal property within Calhoun County. Tax rates and ultimately the amount of taxes levied on property are determined by the governing bodies of each of the taxing authorities. There is much debate in the Legislature about passing Property Tax Relief. Come hear from our Chief Appraiser!

A catered meal is available with a reservation for $12 beginning at 5:00 pm. Please call (361)552-6313 to RSVP for the dinner.

This meeting is open to the public. Email CCRCLUB@proton.me for more information.  Location:  Drifters Hall.  5287 Fm 3084, Port Lavaca, TX 77979

The April meeting of the Calhoun County Democratic Club will be held Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at the Calhoun County Library, in the community room, 200 W. Mahan St., Port Lavaca
Social/potluck is at 5.30pm and the meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The following meeting will be Tuesday May 2nd. More info: CalhounTXDemocrats.org

Victoria College will offer computer courses beginning in March at VC’s Emerging Technology Complex, 7403 Lone Tree Road in Victoria. The courses are: Microsoft Word Basics in a Day; Microsoft Excel; QuickBooks Desktop Version; and Learn Microsoft Excel Level 1 in a Day. For information: 361-582-2528.

The Jackson County Master Gardeners Association will hold its 2023 Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, March 25, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Jackson County Service Building Auditorium, 411 N. Wells Street in Edna, TX. Annuals, perennials, shrubs, tropicals, succulents, baskets, planted pots, birdhouses, make-and-take fairy gardens, a raffle and more will be available. Plants for sale are those known to flourish in the Texas Coastal Prairie.

Proceeds go toward college scholarships for careers in horticulture or agriculture and the maintenance of the Texana Educational Garden.