Since February marks the 16th anniversary of the establishment of this publication, we would like to take up a little space here to say “Happy Birthday” to the Dolphin and to thank our readers for your continued support.

In 1996, four ladies met to plan the first issue of Dolphin Talk Port O’Connor News. The meeting was led by Margaret Jennings, who presented her hand-written goal, plan and policy for this publication. The goal was: “To furnish a medium of communication among citizens of the community and a source of information to our many visitors who are so important to all of us.”

Throughout the years we have kept this goal at the forefront, but have expanded the “community” from the confines of Port O’Connor, to include neighboring Seadrift and most of Calhoun County. And, as space permits, we include activities and events that may be of interest to our community, although not in our immediate area.

The original “policy” was to run brief editorial/feature stories concerning local issues. We have expanded on that as well, as we have been fortunate to have attracted several feature writers and have also given space to those who have opinions to share on important issues that are not strictly local.

The “plan” as laid out by Mrs. Jennings, has been strictly followed: : “The News will be distributed free; the cost of publication will be covered by advertising; publication will be twice a month.” We are most appreciative of our advertisers who make this publication possible and if you enjoy the paper, we encourage you to trade with them and tell them you saw their ad in Dolphin Talk.

You are encouraged to share your club and church news with us, as well as special family events, such as births, graduations, reunions, and honors. We do not charge for printing any of these, including obituaries.

As we begin our 17th year, I would like to thank all who have contributed throughout the years and all who are now contributing to making this publication informative, educational, and inspirational to our “community” and our visitors as well.

And most importantly: Thank you for reading Dolphin Talk!

Joyce Rhyne, Editor

Seadrift Scoutmaster Patrick Henley

Scoutmaster Patrick Henley of Seadrift Boy Scout Troop 106 received the Silver Beaver Award at the Annual Recognition Dinner of the South Texas Council BSA in Robstown on January 27th. Henley has been associated with Troop 106 all his life. He started Scouting with Johnny Lee Holder and completed his Eagle Rank in 1975 with leaders Pete Hall and George Andrus. All three of his mentors are Silver Beavers.

Henley became scoutmaster in 1995. He has been honored with Order of the Arrow, Old Indianola District Order of LaSalle, District Award of Merit, Scoutmaster’s Key, and the James E. West Fellowship Award.

A lifelong Seadrifter, Patrick Henley is the youngest son of the late James D. and Inez Henley. A 1976 Calhoun High School graduate, he graduated from University of Houston, Victoria, in 1985. He manages the Henley family cattle operation. Henley has been a maintenance electrician for Formosa Plastics Corporation for the past 20 years.

The new year brings a sense of hope and determination to the Port O’Connor Sports Association. At the January 13 meeting, POCSA officers decided that 2012 is the year to make things happen since the organization secured their 501c3 non-profit status in late 2011. The group formed five years ago and has shown their dedication to the community with their popular annual fundraiser: POCSA BBQ Cook-Off on Memorial Day weekend.

Members met twice in January to discuss taking necessary steps forward to achieve the ultimate goal of creating a Sports Complex on five acres near the Community Center, land that has been allotted by the County for their project. At a meeting on January 20, the POCSA met with two people crucial to the forward motion of the project.

Bernie Klein, architect and Port O’Connor resident, is working with POCSA to form the master plan concept drawing for the Sports Complex. He is working with the group to incorporate the different aspects of the complex together, making the most of the land available. He will also help the group to decide how the construction can be done in phases. Once completed, POCSA will present the plans to the Calhoun County Commissioner’s Court for approval; then Phase 1 of the project can begin.

POCSA also invited Henry Pongratz, local grant writer, to assist with obtaining more funding for the project. He discussed the process of applying for grants and benefits of smaller foundation grants for specific projects as well as larger grants. He is working with the group to gather information needed for grant applications, such as budget information, the concept drawing, and documenting in-kind services – work and materials donated by individuals and companies.

The Port O’Connor Sports Association hopes to gain more momentum toward their goals by increasing group membership as the year progresses. The POCSA meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at POC Community Center. If you are interested in becoming involved in the POCSA, make plans to attend the next meeting on February 20, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

Seadrift School Campus Spelling Bee Winners: Karley Gregory, first place; Joseph Nguyen, second place; Abbigail Morgan, third place; and Krislyn Key, alternate.

Seadrift School held its Campus Spelling Bee Tuesday, January 31 with twenty-five students participating. The winners of the elementary division are fifth graders, Karley Gregory and Krislyn Key, and third grader Matthan Morgan.

The middle school division winners are eighth grader, Jeremy Cady, sixth grader, Abbigail Morgan, and seventh grader, Joseph Nguyen. These students advanced to the final rounds of the spelling bee to determine the campus winners.

The winners of the bee are first place, Karley Gregory, second place Joseph Nguyen, third place, Abbigail Morgan, and alternate Krislyn Key.

These students will represent Seadrift School at the District Spelling Bee in Port Lavaca on February 21.

Matthan Morgan (center) was a winner in the Elementary Division.

Jeremy Cady (center) was a winner in the Middle School Division.

Spring Island Planting Draws Closer

Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and getting settled into the new year. I’m almost to the point where I’ve stopped writing 2011 on my checks and everything else.

I’m sitting here Sunday morning, very happy to have gotten over two inches of rain last night on the island, thank you Lord. It has been many months since that amount has fallen out here. My rain tanks are almost at their full 1,100 gallon capacity now, enough to sustain my inside cabin water use through Spring.

The mild winter we have had thus far has me eager to begin preparing for my spring garden, and my attempt to grow a three pound tomato. Last week I started all my tomato seeds in small sponges that sit in a dome covered tray of shallow water. Each sponge has a tiny hole in the center in which I place two seeds, to double my chances of successful germination. I started enough seeds for 48 plants, twelve varieties, in hopes of ending up with thirty strong healthy plants to go into the ground. I’ll have ten plants of the Big Zac variety specifically to grow that three pounder, fingers crossed. Two years ago I hit 2.74 lbs, so I know it can be done.

When the seed sprouts and breaks the top surface of the sponge, I remove the dome and place the trays under fluorescent gro-lites for 16 hours each day. If you have a very sunny window sill or spot, they could be placed there also, however I have found that the gro-lites work much better. I adjust my lites to be only about one inch above the top of the tiny seedlings as they continue to grow. This additional light source ensures that the seedlings will become strong, stocky plants ready to go into the ground about six weeks later.

When the seedlings are three weeks old, I transplant them, sponge and all, in 4” peat pots, always trimming the bottom leaves and burying half of the plant into the soil. Transplanting into a larger container and burying half of the plant helps provide a stronger root system when that plant goes into the ground at 6-8 weeks old. I have used this method of starting my seeds, and small cuttings, for the past three years with great success. I purchase these Bio Dome seed starting kits from Park Seed Company, and use the jumbo 18 sponge ones for starting all my tiny tomato seeds. I’ll also grow some potatoes, squash and peppers that I’ll seed directly into the ground, but the tomatoes started from seed are my gardening passion.

Some nice seashells, sanddollars and starfish are beginning to wash ashore on the beach, a normal occurrence during the winter and into the spring months. At the prodding of a good friend so that visitors could openly see my collection, I took three days and re-arranged my shell, sea-bean and beach/island find treasures in the kitchen. I used three shadow boxes plus fashioned a simulated beach, using actual sand from the beach, to now display everything. I’m very happy with the way it turned out.

After wanting to start one for several years, I also put up a bottle tree in the yard. I just sunk a 4×4 post in the ground, drilled holes all around it from top to bottom, and wedged pieces of small half inch pvc into the holes. As I find colorful bottles on the beach and around the island, I’ll slide them onto the bottle tree to add a little color to the yard. I’ve got a lot of time on my hands out here.

I want to say hi to Bob and Judy Capalety, a wonderful retired couple from California that I recently met in Rockport, where we shared some delicious homemade lemon ice cream. Bob is a retired Fire Dept. Battalion Chief, and he and Judy travel throughout the United States about half of the year, sightseeing and enjoying life.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and think about putting a few tomato plants in the ground or in large pots before too long.

-Clint Bennetsen is the only full time resident on Matagorda Island Peninsula, and writes a monthly column about his life in this newspaper.

For comments or questions, you can contact him at ccbennetsen@yahoo.com or dolphin1@tisd.net.