So much excitement is in the air at the Community Center now that we have reached our goal for the first phase of our FACELIFT PROJECT. Work will not begin until late fall when rentals are more sparse for the pavilion, but big changes are being planned. The biggest change will be the addition of 4 more stalls in each restroom. That will be a much needed improvement. There will also be more storage space, a food prep area, improvements to the small kitchen, a new pull down counter door, paint, sidewalks, new tables (20 being donated by the POC Community Service Club) and chairs, plus other repairs and cleaning. If you have been a contributor to this much needed undertaking, THANK YOU SO MUCH. It won’t be long before things will start to happen at the Pavilion.

We are not resting on our laurels! We have already been working on plans for PHASE II which is the main building. Bids have been received and grants and fundraisers are in the works. The tentative amount we are hoping to raise for this part is $75,000.00. No construction is planned for the main building. The kitchen will get new appliances, counter tops and paint. New flooring will be installed throughout the building. The youth room will get new counter tops and all will be painted. This is just a partial list. There are outside improvements that are planned as well.

Our next planned fundraiser will be our second annual, bigger and better. CLAY SHOOT on October 13-14, 2023. If you participated last year, you certainly want to enter again this year. More details will be available as we get closer to fall. Mark your calendars now so you won’t forget.

We take donations anytime and they are very much appreciated. This project benefits our small community in so many ways. Organizations that rent the complex bring much needed revenue into POC. People are able to use it for free for community meetings, funerals, senior citizen luncheons, and so much more. This complex is the cornerstone of POC. Help us insure it is here for many years to come. Take donations to POC First National Bank or mail to PO Box 812, POC, 77982. Please make checks payable to POC Community Center Fund, Inc. Payments can be made online through PAYPAL,POC Communty Center. Become a supporter of the FACELIFT PROJECT and donate today.

The Seadrift Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society was so pleased to be able to donate $300.00 to the Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association (AKA the Heritage Center). The Center served over 3,200 meals last month – which was a record!

(Pictured in center is our 8th grade NJHS President – Clay Brumfield and Rebecca Jernigan – Executive Director CCSCA, and all of the 7th & 8th grade NJHS members).

Since the year 2000 Calhoun County has honored those who sacrificed for our freedom. May 27th was another historic event in our county to honor our war dead. Jeff Miller, an American veteran, once said, “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”

It was a picture-perfect morning that Saturday on May 27th when members of the American Legion, our U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud, our County Judge Richard Meyers, Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow, first responders and local police, the area JROTC, and a myriad of well-wishers came together for a Memorial Event at the Port Lavaca Marina. There were speeches, a roll call of our war dead, and a flag-burning ceremony that all made a fitting salute to those who helped make our country great.

In the photo are pictured members of the American Legion with JROTC officers holding flags and on the far right is U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud giving a Memorial Day speech.
-Tanya DeForest

Island History and Summer Holidays

Greetings from the barrier Matagorda Peninsula Island. I hope that everyone is doing well, and adjusting to this south Texas pre-summer heat. I swear, the older I get, the hotter and more unbearable these summers seem to get.

While I’m thinking about it, I’m often asked about why I refer to this island as both a peninsula AND an island. . . ok, here we go. The proper name, and the reference indicated on every coastal map I’ve seen, is this location being called Matagorda Peninsula, and this is the original proper name. However, in 1962 the Corp of Engineers, in order to make a large vessel and deep water navigable passageway from the Gulf of Mexico into Matagorda Bay, so tankers could access the local refineries, cut an approximately 3/4 mile long swath through the peninsula, creating what is commonly referred to as the Big Jetties.

In the Corp of Engineers accomplishing this several year long project, the southwest end of this 1,400 acre section of “peninsula”, by definition, became an island, completely surrounded by water on all sides, (Matagorda Bay to the north, Big Jetties to the east, Gulf of Mexico to the south and Pass Cavallo to the west). This is why I have always referred to this barrier island as Matagorda Peninsula Island. OK, enough about that.

I hope that everyone enjoyed their long Memorial Day weekend a few weeks ago, and did not lose sight of the true and dedicated meaning of this holiday, and of the many brave soldiers that lost their lives defending our freedoms. We should give thanks every day for these heroes.

The island was certainly busier on Memorial weekend than normal. Of course the weather was very nice, and that is always a deciding factor on how many weekend islanders make the trek across the bay to spend time at their places out here. It always makes me smile when Sunday afternoon, or Monday in some cases, gets here and everyone is packing up to return to the mainland. . . YAY!!

I’m very happy with the progress of my tomato plants this year, they are all doing very well. I’ve been picking and eating ripe cherry tomatoes right off the plant, they never make it inside the house. The larger variety tomatoes are starting to ripen now, the larger ones take 80-90 days to ripen, from the time they are planted into the ground. I’m seeing several large tomatoes that could hit the 1 lb+ mark in weight, and I’ll know for sure when I go in for supplies and hopefully be able to weigh them at the Post Office. These large beefsteak varieties are Big Zac, Steakhouse and Mega Marv.

Well, that’s it from the island for now. Everyone have a fun and safe July 4th weekend, and don’t forget about the POC fireworks display on front beach on Saturday night, July 1st.