The Dolphin welcomes Bob Lindsey back to Port O’Connor. Although his family moved around quite a bit, Bob spent many of his formative years in Port O’Connor and most of his relatives live here. He considers Port O’Connor his “home base”.

Bob arrived back in Port O’Connor in October after living in Gemany for the past 26 years. He has had a varied business background including being a Private Investigator with his own security company; working for NBC News out of the Frankfurt, Germany bureau and coaching semi-pro and high school baseball. He was an international scout for the Cincinnati Reds from 2007 through the 2010 season.

Bob currently resides with his sister and brother-in-law, Mickie and Craig Vossler. His other sister is Donna McGuire, who many of us know from her work at Speedy Stop.

At the age of 63, Bob has decided to pursue his passion for writing poetry. Below you will find “Dreaming of Paradise”, which describes the feelings of many who dream of having a home in Port O’Connor. For a nostalgic remembrance of fishing with a childhood buddy, see “We Were the Water Warriors” in the fishing section of this issue.

The Dolphin welcomes Bob Lindsey to Port O’Connor and looks forward to more of his poetic works.

Dreaming of Paradise

By Bob Lindsey

we walked the back roads
near the beach
looking at the nice places
they are all nice places
many for sale
real estate signs
say

even corner lots
with pruned palms
weekend paradises
standing
on stilts
one, painted baby blue

we’ll have that one
we decide
she is excited
that we have found the one

I check my pockets
there is no cash
there – just old receipts from
Wal-Mart

we’ll wait a few days
before calling the real estate lady
listed on the sign

January 2012

The Seadrift Centennial Planning Committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Seadrift City Hall. However, since February’s 2nd Tuesday falls on Valentine’s Day, we will meet the following Tuesday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m.

We want to invite individuals, churches, and all organizations to come to give input on planning the Celebration Day which will be held Saturday, December 1st, 2012.

This is a very important meeting to outline and plan the day’s activities. We want people to come with positive ideas and suggestions on how best to celebrate Seadrift’s 100th Birthday.

At this time Joyce and Jerry Amason, Bill McGill, Laurie Weaver, Elmer DeForest, Helon Loep, Nan Burnett, Patrick Henley, Sabrina Williams, Janie Waghorne, and Geraldine Williams have attended meetings.

We welcome all interested citizens and former residents to help us plan a great celebration

Essential members of the Port Lavaca community gathered on Main Street despite some gloom and drizzle on January, 21st, 2012 to dedicate the Dean and Barbara Johnstone building, at 309 E. Main Street in Port Lavaca, which has been recently restored to serve as a local art gallery.

The event was attended by local names such as Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow, City Manager Bob Turner, Russel Cain, historian and long time local resident Jan Regan, the Rev. Dean Holford, Calhoun County Commissioner Neil Fritsch and the honorable Judge Michael Pfeifer.

The building, which has been a part of Main Street since it was built in 1907, was bought by husband and wife team Dean and Barbara Johnstone, who have restored other buildings on the historic street.

Built in 1907 by a man known only as Cruces, the building has survived two hurricanes and also served as the town laundry from the 1940s until the 1970s. The building, after changing hands several times was donated to the Port Lavaca Main Street Committee, who then sold it to the Johnstone’s with the promise that the couple would restore the location to it’s former glory.
Johnstone and his wife plan to restore other buildings in the future, with Dean Johnstone himself saying that the goal is to begin “restoring the tradition of Main Street businesses…(you can) feel the energy of downtown. Everybody loves a downtown, and you can (almost]) feel the nutrients in the soil.”

Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow stated that the building at 309 Main would be a boon not only for Port Lavaca, but the surrounding areas as well:
“I think [the building] is an education of our historical past, looking into the future it will also bring in tourism. It’s a great start for Port Lavaca. It will give our local citizens a heart to reach out from to other communities.”

The gallery, hosting a mixture of historical photographs, watercolors and wildlife photography will be open to the public most weekends and Dean and Barbara have plans to also hold photography classes on the property in the near future.

The event was also attended by the American Legion, with a reception held at the Texas Traditions restaurant on Main Street after the ceremony.