Just received information concerning the Summer Reading Program at the Library. The programs start here on Tuesday, June 7th until Tuesday, July 12th. Registration will begin on Tuesday, May 31st; see Ms. Shirley here at the Library for further information. This can be a fun morning for the kids as various speakers will be here to talk about what’s going on!

A very kind gentleman in this area donated a book to our Library that still has me in a state of fear concerning our government and its proposed actions. The book is entitled Inside Out, and the author is Barry Eisler. Mr. Eisler had spent three years in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations. Not too certain what that involved, and not too certain that after reading the book and the listing of footnotes, bibliography, and acknowledgments from the author, I would want to know. The book hits a very hot point today with the subjects of “torture” and “waterboarding” and hidden CIA prisons, and a team of assassins, the JSOC, supposedly under the control of the Vice President. The book is impossible to put down until the last page is reached, and then, you want to reread it. Beautifully written, the author’s previous career in law is quite evident in his writing.

A fun book was also a gift, Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella, and we have on our shelves another book by this author. The plot concerns a young woman, Lexi Smart, a lower echelon employee of a firm in London, who wakes up after suffering amnesia to find that she has become a high rising corporate executive with an extremely wealthy and gorgeous husband. Her struggles to learn how all of this happened in the previous three years are entertaining and also frustrating. But when she learns that she has an adorable lover with whom she is planning to live, well, Lexi’s level of confusion reaches a high. A great book for the summertime.

Wendy Corsi Staub writes mysteries filled with suspense; she has achieved the talent of providing the reader with an unexpected and twisted ending. All The Way Home tells the story of a haunted area in upstate New York; haunted not by ghosts but by the mysterious disappearance of four teenage girls previously. When the heroine returns to this small town, after being absent for a number of years, she finds herself involved once again in these disappearances when she had lost her older sister. Now she loses her younger sister along with another teen resident. And the story continues and continues.

Ladies: don’t forget, Bunco will be the first Tuesday of June, the 7th at 7:00 p.m. in the back room of the Community Center. See Shirley for more details!

We have a number of books, both hard cover and soft cover, available for sale at the prices of $1.00 for hardcover and $0.25 for the soft. They make excellent companions when you go on a trip and don’t want to worry about a due date from our Library. Do come and check them out! You won’t be disappointed.

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down” -Karin Gillespie

There were flags and motorcycles as far as the eye could see when the first wave of Wounded Warrior’s arrived in Port O’Connor Friday evening, May 20th. After finding their lodgings and freshening up, the warriors were treated to a fish fry at the Community Center. Afterwords they had the choice of a card game or fishing off the docks.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, they headed for Froggie’s Bait Dock for a morning of bay fishing. They were joined there by warriors from BMAC in San Antonio. All were greeted enthusiastically by a large crowd of thankful citizens.

Photo by Patricia Mayhall

Judge Christine Hood swore in the elected aldermen from the May 2011 election for the City of Seadrift’s City Council on Friday, May 20th. Shown from left to right: incumbent Johnny Mikolas; newcomer Jack LaBarge, and incumbent Wesley Hunt.

Seadrift City Council will be holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31. The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m. at Seadrift City Hall.

Photo by Jasmine Gordon

The Seadrift Lions Club, Boy Scouts, and members of the community lined Highway 185 in Seadrift to show their support as the Wounded Warriors drove past on their way to Port O’Connor on Friday, May 20th.
-Photo by Jasmine Gordon

ATTENTION: POC LADIES! The next session of Bunco will be Tuesday, June 7th in the back room of the Community Center. Starting at 7:00 p.m. interested women are cordially invited to join an interesting and totally eclectic group of women to play. No stringent requirements in order to play; just the ability to count the spots on the dice and have fun. Call Shirley Gordon at the Library for further information, 983-4365.

I had the opportunity again last week to take some pictures of the small flags on display in the adjoining lot to the Community Center for the Warriors’ Weekend celebration. These numerous flags, approximately 6,000, had been placed to honor the fallen servicemen during the recent conflicts in the Middle East. As the wind was really blowing, I got some interesting pictures.

Then I stopped to see and remake the acquaintance of Glo, the sculptor-in-chief and her merry and talented crew that had been working on the sand sculpture in front of the Community Center. It was such a delight to see and speak with so many of these artists returning once again to POC. And this time there was a large tent to protect the artists and their work from our weather.

As I write this, I’m checking the dates on the calendar, and am surprised to learn that there are only a few days remaining in school. I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to work with Mrs. Haynes 3rd grade class this year; as they move on up to the 4th grade, I’ll miss each one of those smiling faces and eager minds. But I’ll be returning to the next 3rd grade class when school begins again.

The reading program at the Library starts again in June. And, parents, you can now register your child for this program beginning May 31st. I understand the theme this year is to “Dig up a good book!”, and there will be various programs each Tuesday in June. See Ms. Shirley for further details.

Looks like Summer is here, if the number of people out on boats is a good indicator along with warm days and the pesky flying bugs and mosquitoes. But maybe they won’t be a big problem again this year.

Sort of wish that some of the rain inundating other parts of our country would head our way; the brown landscape is really rather depressing.

There’s a new restaurant in town; Jocelyn’s has taken over the building of the former Toastie’s, and I hear that the food is quite good. And Clark’s should be reopening shortly.

Do hope you had the opportunity to attend the reception honoring Brenda Smith, Librarian, and Mary Covarrubias, Secretary, at the School. Together, these women have spent a total of 66 years working with the students. Now that’s an achievement!

As many of you may know, a committee of dedicated women of the Service Club is working to put together a book detailing the history and the development of our community. Currently we are seeking information re the first 20 years – up to 1930 – with pictures and stories; maps of the area detailing businesses, where they were located and who ran them. A picture(s) of the first school with the teachers and students is on our list as well as information regarding the churches. And a copy of a tax bill or receipt dating back to the 20’s with a picture of the relevant property and its owners would be a delight to see. If you have this information and would be willing to share it, please contact our president, Janet Johnson, 983-4733.

The Redfish Rodeo will be held again on June 19 – 21st. Headquarters for this colorful event once again will be Hurricane Junction and “Hoop” can provide more details. There were a large number of boats entering this tournament last year and we hope to see that many again.

It was such a pleasure to see and welcome again a former resident, Lorene Webb; she spent some time here with her son and daughter-in-law, and said how happy she was to return to POC and visit with so many of her friends. Hope to see you again soon, Lorene.

If you had attended last week’s luncheon for the Senior Citizens of our area at the Community Center, you would have seen the beautiful quilts as made by Grace Stone. One was of faces of clowns and the other had figures of girls in a pinafore and sun bonnet. Beautiful work by Mrs. Stone, but she is so talented.

suekubecka@yahoo.com
361 798-0560

If the reader wishes to add any news at any time to this column, please contact me at the above address or phone number. And thanks in advance.