It’s nearing the end of the year, and there is so much going on this Holiday season!

The Chamber has been working very hard coordinating the replacement of the roof and purlins of King Fisher pavilion. As we all know, the saltwater air is very ruthless on metals, and the pavilion purlins have vastly rusted.  Plans are in the works for the replacement of these and hopefully the pavilion will be completed by mid-December,

Don’t forget that the Chamber presents the monthly Farmers Market each 2nd Saturday of the Month.  November and December are great months for getting some of your Holiday shopping done! We have so many talented vendors there with their homemade and homegrown products!

We want to congratulate the winners of this year’s Trunk or Treat! For the 5th year in a row, 1st place went to Sandra Chapman, from Lockhart & POC. Their booth consisted of several activities as you walked through their scary haunted boot. Honorable mention went to The POC Service Club and Cindy Fitzgerald. The winner of this year’s doggy costume contest went to Benny, who was a scarecrow, matching his master, Cindy Fitzgerald.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 7th, for the annual Lighted Boat Parade. This annual event happens right after the arrival of the Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run. Everyone and all size boats are welcome to join in! Registration and a parade map can be found on the Chamber website at www.portoconnorchamber.com.  The parade will start (6:30 pm) at the little jetties, running westwards down the Intracoastal, ending at the end of Larry’s Harbor, where judging will be. Join us at the Hurricane Junction afterwards for the presentation of awards. Awards will be given for Most Spirited, Most Unique, Largest, Medium, and Smallest Pleasure Boats, and Best Overall.

Monday, December 9, will be the Annual Meeting of The POC Chamber of Commerce. At this meeting, 5 board members will be voted on. If you would like to join the team, we are looking for someone that loves Port O’Connor and wants to see it thrive, loves to be involved and enjoys volunteering, we would love to have you! Please let us know if you would like to be involved or on the ballot as a board member. 361-983-2898,

Another Holiday event coming soon will be the Annual Lighted House contest. For all those who love to decorate their homes and businesses for Christmas, this is for you! To be considered for the judging, please call or text your name & address to 361-983-2898.  Judging will be done on the evenings of December 18th & 19th.  Make sure to keep those lights on between the hours of 6-10 pm!

The Chamber Membership Drive will begin in January, running through March 1st. Memberships are $100 for Business members; $199 for a Business Member with advertising; and $35 for an individual or couple membership.  Make sure to save the date of February 28th for our Annual Member Appreciation Casino Night.

New Members this month include Shorty’s Home Improvement, specializing in small jobs, maintenance, roofs, repairs, decks, porches and small remodels. 361-553-9309. End of the Road RV Resort is a new RV park in POC, full hookups with daily, weekly, and monthly rentals. 361-235-7089. Fish Stories POC is a new barndominium rental, 5 bedrooms with a pool and playscape. 361-983-2671 to book.

We are the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce are grateful for our wonderful members all year long, but especially during this season. We appreciation all the hard work, ideas and optimism that you bring to this organization. ‘Tis the season for abundance of joy and giving. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

James (Jim) Henry Busby of Port O’Connor, TX, left this earthly world unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep Monday, October 21, 2024. He was 74 years young.

Born February 11, 1950, in Dallas County to George and Mabel Busby, Jim was the youngest of three siblings. He grew up in Austin, TX, and graduated from McCallum High School in 1968. He attended Southwest Texas State University, graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement. Jim’s career in law enforcement spanned 31 years, beginning in Barrow, Alaska, where his brief stay made him realize Texas was the only place for him. His career included positions with the State of Texas Attorney General’s office, the Travis County Sheriff’s office, and the Travis County DA’s office before he retired to Port O’Connor in 2003.

Jim was a simple man who loved his family, friends, and country. He enjoyed hunting, going to the gun range, and watching golf and racing. He loved the outdoors and could always be found piddling around in his shop or sitting on the patio listening to music. He enjoyed cooking and loved hot sauce (the spicier, the better). Jim was an avid reader and a strong supporter of the Port O’Connor Library.

Jim was a straight shooter; you always knew where you stood with him. He could be stern at times, but his love was unconditional. Jim was many things to many people, and he will be truly missed by all who knew him.

Jim is preceded in death by his loving wife, Debra Busby; his parents, George and Mabel Busby; and his brother, Billy Busby.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory two sons, Justin (Emily) Busby and Ben (Aimee) Busby; one stepson, Matt Wall; three grandchildren, Hunter, Tyler, and Finley; a sister, Georgeann (Busby) Reynolds; along with several nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Steve and Cherise Branch and Bill and Belinda Tigrett for always checking in and being there for Jim.

The family is currently planning a memorial service Spring 2025 in Port O’Connor, TX, more details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jim’s name to the Port O’Connor Library (https://www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org/) or the Coastal Conservation Association (https://ccatexas.org/find-your-chapter/port-oconnor/)

Model T’s on display.
Around 9 or 9:30 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, lined up on Broadway in front of the Seadrift Art Boat.

Annual “Senior Citizens’ Christmas Luncheon”:  Please join us for the Club’s Annual “Senior Citizens’ Christmas Luncheon” to be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 11:00  a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be Door Prizes, Christmas Carols, Laughter, Delicious Food and Desserts, lots of Christmas Cheer, and Great Fun With Great Friends! You don’t want to miss it!  The Service Club will deliver meals to those who cannot attend the Christmas Luncheon due to a medical issues.  To sign up, please call Alane Haardt at 281-416-6028.

Awards for 4H Students:  The Club awarded add-ons to 12 POC students for their 2024 Calhoun County Fair 4H Animal Projects- Bryce Sandy, Christopher Richter, Dalton Garner, Elizabeth Tolar, Kolt Lieker, Madden Guevara, McKenna Guevara, Orion Ragusin, Rainy Ragusin, Reid Thomas, and Waylon Thomas.   Congratulations to these fine young people- we are very proud of you!!

Trunk or Treat:  The Club’s Booth at POC’s “Trunk or Treat” was manned by Maeghen Strahm, Terry Twomey, and CeCe Fitzgerald, who enjoyed handing out candy and treats to all the kiddos who showed up.  A huge “Thank You” to these Ladies, to all who participated, and to the POC Chamber of Commerce for putting on this fabulous event!

Memorials:  The Club made donations to the POC Cemetery Association in memory of Jim Busby, Linnea Lamden, and Mary Covarrubias. .

POC Community Benevolence Fund:  The Service Club made its biannual donation to the POC Community Benevolence Fund, which benefits those in our Community who are in need.

Farmers Market: Please stop by our Service Club Booth at the next Farmer’s Market on December 14, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon. We will have delicious baked goods, potted plants, handcrafted items, “Service Club Cookbooks“, and “POC- End of The Road” License Plate Covers, and more.  All make great Christmas presents!

Service Club Meetings:  Club meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, with the next ones being November 21, 2024. December 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the POC Community Center!!  Please join us- all Ladies are welcome!

Medical Equipment For Loan:  The Club stocks medical equipment of various kinds to loan out to those in need.  For inquiries, please contact one of the Ladies listed below.

Spring Mega Garage Sale:  Our next Garage Sale will be on April 5, 2025, and we are already preparing for it!  We appreciate your generous donations of household, decorative, and kitchen items; small appliances; gently used clothing; shoes; toys; children’s and baby items; furniture, lawn and sports equipment, etc.  For your convenience, we  have a “Drop Box” in front of our “Service Club Donation Center.”  For questions, or to donate, please call one of these ladies:  Alane Haardt- 281-416-6028;Nancy Ladshaw- 830-832-0510;
Marie Hawes- 361-920-2322.  or Nan Burnett- 832-276-5948

On October 13, Bob Allen celebrated his birthday at Cathy’s n Port O’Connor with friends. This was his 93rd birthday.

Bob has played an important role in Port O’Connor. Working with the Calhoun County Historical Commission, he was instrumental in having Port O’Connor Cemetery recognized by the Texas Historical Commission. Bob recorded the whole cemetery and located many missing graves.