Citizens of the Week at Port O’Connor School

Week ending December 16: PreK- Antonio Gloria; Kindergarten- Matthew Stapp; First Grade- Ethan Redding; Second Grade- Maddie Hawes; Third Grade- Dalton Alford; Fourth Grade- Carlos Sanchez and Oscar Resendiz; Fifth Grade- Gavin Gosnell, Cierra Harper, Adriana Carriles, Zoila Garcia, Drake Dyes, Mitchell Arlitt, Marshall Arlitt, Craig Lopez, Madison Posey

Week ending January 6: PreK- Harley Maraggia; Kindergarten- Melany Romo; First Grade- Leah Lucey; Second Grade- Sarah Doggett; Third Grade- Evan Clifton; Fourth Grade- Sierra Posey; Fifth Grade- Adriana Carriles

Students of the Week at Seadrift School

Week ending December 16: Pre-K, Mrs. Myers- Brilee Crittenden; K, Mrs. Kern- Nevaeda Munoz; 1st, Mrs. Christy- Olivia Gillespie; 1st, Ms. Stringham- Desi Miller; 2nd, Miss Sistare- Erik Jaramillo; 2nd, Mrs. Flisowski- Ryder Morales; 3rd, Mrs. Hons- Adrian Munoz; 3rd, Mrs. Petrisky- Dustin Miller; 4th, Mrs. Gray- Madison Bierschwale; 4th, Ms. Adams- Ethan Mikolas; 5th, Mrs. Canales- Noah Bedwell Junior High: Mrs. Henderson- Jacob Medina; Mrs. Cady- Bradley Malone; Ms. Parnell- Caleb Aguilar; Coach Anderson- Dustin Nguyen; Coach Sternadel- Chris Morales; Mrs. Charnetski- Esgar Rodriguez; Mrs. Smith- Tiffany Galloway; Coach Lillge- Caleb Gregory; Mrs. Rivera- Tiffany Galloway; Mrs. Beaver- Noel Munoz

Another year has come and gone. 2011 was a very good year in Port O’Connor. And looking for 2012 being even bigger and better. This year the Chamber is hoping all businesses will achieve the goal to “Build Business Together and Make It Work for All”. The slogan of “The Best Kept Secret” seems to be a thing of the past; it is always interesting to me as to how people visiting Port O’Connor, found out about it. The biggest majority say they heard of what a wonderful place it is through a friend that had been here.

New & Renewing Members:

Costa Bonita Properties, LLC

Miss Kitty’s Fishing Getaways

Salty Dog Outfitters Guide Service & Lodging

Vasquez Construction

Leroy & Joanne Taylor

Mr. & Mrs. William Smith

Kimberly Burdette of Baltimore, Maryland and William Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were united in marriage on December 31, 2011 at Port O’Connor’s King Fisher Beach.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Pomykal presided at the ceremony which was held at the end of the pier.

William was scheduled to deploy (January 4) to Africa with his unit of the U.S. Army.

Ever hear the saying everyone talks about the weather but nobody does any thing about it? If one substitutes the word climate for weather, that might start a debate. The debate might be heated. There is controversy about climate change, well about what is causing the change.

When one thinks about it the only thing constant in this universe is change. The stars, the planets and even the universe are constantly changing. Isaac Newton said that gravity causes most of it. But that can’t be all, because Albert Einstein says gravity isn’t alone; it is intertwined with time. And we all know that time is constantly marching on.. Tomorrow, however, just about now it will be the same time.

Because we are in a most wicked drought, ponds and rivers are drying up. Lakes are disappearing. Some can remember back in 2007 we had more rain than we needed. We had the year’s average amount of rain by the end of August. One thing though about the current drought is that there are far fewer mosquitoes now than then.

A few years before that, the yard was mostly mud where I live. Things just change. We all hope that the rain gets back to normal pretty quickly. Washing cars hasn’t helped too much so far. Maybe we should all have a car wash day and really break the dry spell.

A couple of years ago, while paddling the Missouri river in Montana and listening to tales of Lewis and Clark, one of the locals said, “You know that the Gulf of Mexico was up here once.” That was taken with a block, rather than a grain, of salt.. How could the Gulf be several hundred miles north?

Once home, the geologic record was checked. Couldn’t let those northern cowboys pull my leg, even if the Lonesome Dove guys came from here.

It was a surprise that the story was true. There was something called the Western Interior Seaway during what the geologist call the Cretaceous Period. That period began about 135 million years ago and ended about 70 million years ago.

You will have to take their word for it. It was so long ago that even my great grandfather didn’t tell me about it. We can trace our ancestors back only a few hundred years. Those geologists must have a really long family tree.

In that period the earth just rose and fell so that the Gulf went north and the Arctic ocean came south. They formed this long, rather narrow, sea that went all the way through North America. So Mother Nature can change things pretty drastically if you give her enough time.

Personally I am glad that it was long ago. I like living on land like it is now however, it is true that things eventually will change. The change might be for better or for worse, so we should make the best we can of whatever way it is at the present.

New Years customs are alike in some respects. The time is a bit different due to the lunar calendars or one like ours but what seems to be most significant is the desire for peace in the majority places of the world. Family values and traditions are the important leaders along with religious beliefs.

Kissing on New Years Eve when the clock strikes twelve continues to be a popular event in many countries. What is a slap or two when it’s all in the life of the party?

Noise is fairly common also. That dates back in ancient China when parades of lavish costumes, dancing dragons and firecrackers are quite a show for all to enjoy. But did you wonder what the noise makers and the demon dragon displays are all about? It’s because evil spirits dislike noise! Peach blossoms bring beauty and peace. Shoppers in the markets buy fruits for the family and kumquats for good luck in China. This all happens between January 21 and February 20 of the lunar calendar.

England too has a tradition of listening for the musical tones of Big Bend dinging out the Westminster chimes at the stroke of twelve to bring in the New Year. Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus host timely celebrations while children delight is entertaining all by singing Auld Lang Syne.

Germany has a most unusual custom of predicting good fortune by spilling molten lead in cold water. If the particles of lead are in the shape of a penny, it means wealth and good food.

Leave it to the Dutch to add in the festivities with logic. On New Years they burn their Christmas trees. That not only signals the refresh start that replenishes the forest but it cleans house at the same time. Also, it drives off the old year spirits.

The Portuguese have an unusual custom at New Years. They pick and eat twelve grapes at twelve o’clock! Then the children go out caroling.

Jewish New Years varies each year with Rosh Hashanah lunisolar period of the first two days of the seventh month. Also, it is the custom for farmers to visit Jerusalem before the rains come. Then all must account to God for their behavior. Yon Kippur offers ten days for apologies.

In Poland New Years is a large celebration as Saint Sylvester Eve. That tradition dates back one thousand years when the Pope escapes from imprisonment by the evil dragon Levittan. That saved the land and people before the dragon devours all and sets fire to the heavens to cause the end of the world.

Sri Lanka’s New Years is celebrated by breaking your neighbor’s coconuts. This happens on April thirteenth and fourteenth. Also sweets to be eaten and games such as cricket (cudu) are enjoyed.

Likely none can top the drop of the lighted crystal ball high above Times Square in New York City. Millions watch on television and hundreds of thousands crowd Times Square to bring in the New Year on the eve.

All over the world, each country has its own customs and traditions. Most are slightly unlike while the others and some are quite different. But the exception is hope and peace. May all those resolutions come true.

Bob Jamison wishes to all the Happiest of New Years and peace on earth. God bless our military and welcome home!
jbobalong@yahoo.com