On February 23, 2022 the Seadrift City employees gave Larry Green a grand sendoff with a delicious BBQ meal with all the trimmings! Larry was presented by the Seadrift mayor a retirement plaque honoring his twenty-four years of service. He will be missed!

-Photo by Kenneth Reese

The Seadrift School 7th & 8th grade robotics team, the BAYRAT TECHB0TZ won a share of the local robotics league championship held at Palacios High School on Saturday, Feb 12.

The TECHB0TZ compete in the First Tech Challenge – Houston South League, which includes high school and intermediate school teams from Calhoun County, Matagorda County, and Brazoria County. The TECHB0TZ completed the regular season in 4th place which advanced them to the semifinals. The league championship tournament is held in a two-team alliance format, with semifinals and finals competing in best two out of three matches. For the semifinals and finals, the TECHB0TZ teamed with the Robo Sharks of Palacios High School, defeating the Cyber Sharks and Junior Sharks in the finals, and both teams advanced to the Houston Regionals in Pasadena on March 5.

The First Tech Challenge is the second tier of robotics competition created by inventor Dean Kamen with the principle of Gracious Professionalism. This is the first year the Techbots have competed at the FTC level, having just moved up from the First Lego League level.

The Calhoun County ISD robotics program is funded by the Alcoa Foundation.

-Write up by Mark Garrett & Steven Griggs

Spring and Gardening in the Air

Greetings from the island everyone. As I sit here at my little kitchen table the morning of the second week of March, I am happy to know that Spring is only a few weeks away. But as I speak, Mother Nature is on the verge of reminding me that SHE is in charge, as within the hour, a strong 30-40 mph norther, that will be dropping island temps into the mid 30’s, will be here.

I don’t know the actual stats or anything from previous average winters for our area, but this winter, my 16th island one full time, sure seems as though it has been consistently colder. Tossing aside last years February hard freeze, a rare once in several decades occurrence, this has been the coldest, and windiest, winter that I can recall in a long time. If these global warming theorists (aka idiots), would have spent the past two winters out here on the island, instead of inside a nice cozy central heat wi-fi building with their hot cafe’ latte, I’m most certain that their beliefs would have changed. I don’t know, maybe getting older just makes it seem that the winters have gotten colder, but it sure feels that way to me.

These late cold and windy northers are also a prime example of why I do not put my tomato plants in the ground early. Yes, I get excited about the arrival of Spring and want to get my different varieties of tomato seeds started early, but I know that putting the plants in the ground outside 4-6 weeks later, will mean still-to-come cold weather and very strong north winds. My concern is not so much the temps, even though too early planted tomatoes will simply become dormant until the soil warms up to 60 degrees or warmer, but the high north winds. The 25-40 mph north winds can be brutal out here on the island, tearing apart and damaging young tomato plants that are not completely protected. So I make myself wait and not start my seeds inside the little greenhouse until late February/first of March. This puts the plants in the ground the middle of April, still susceptible to some very late northers, but not nearly as much so.

I started my seeds last week, 6 different varieties and 18 plants total. I usually give a few plants to my dad and brother, ultimately putting 12-14 tomato plants in my raised beds and 25 gallon tubs. I’ve been working on my raised garden beds before putting the 5-6 week old plants in them mid April. Over the past 14 years since constructing them, they have settled into the ground, lessening my soil depth for the plant roots to flourish. I’m adding boards on top of the existing raised beds, giving me 6-12” of more soil depth. I believe that at least 12” of soil is needed for tomato plants, and closer to 20” is even better. Of course I’ll have to add more soil, compost and manure to raise the level back up to the new height, but that’s ok, it will be worth it.

It was a pleasure meeting an Island Life article fan, Billy Phoenix, at the dock last week while I was loading my boat after a weekly supply run. Billy had been out on a fishing trip with local fly fishing guide, Tom Horbey, who is a tomato growing fanatic like myself. Thank you for your very kind words, Billy, and asking me to sign your latest copy of the Dolphin Talk Island Life article. I truly enjoy writing the articles, and strive by my words to make the readers feel as though they are right there on the island. . . (figuratively of course, never literally!). Ha!!

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care, enjoy Spring and have a great day.

The Ladies of the POC Service Club are very excited to announce that our next “Big Project”, and gift to the POC Community, is the purchase and installation of a new sign for the POC Community Center!!  Since the previous sign was badly damaged by Hurricane Nicholas in September, the Club has been diligently working with Calhoun County officials for plans to remove the old one, and replace it with a brand new one!!  We currently have the design approved, and are working with the sign company to get it ordered and installed, as soon as possible!!  I think we have all missed it tremendously, and cannot wait to have it back!!  We’ll keep you posted!!!

The Club is also working hard to prepare for our “Spring Mega Garage Sale”, which will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM!! There will be something for everyone, so come one, come all, and remember that all of our proceeds go toward projects that enhance and improve the POC Community!! As you do your Spring Cleaning, please consider donating your purged items to the Service Club for the Garage Sale!!  We are happy to accept your generous donations of furniture; gently used household, decorative, and kitchen items; small appliances; clothing; shoes; toys; children’s and baby items, and appreciate every donation!!
For your convenience, we have a “Donation Drop Box” located at the front of our Donation Center, which is the building immediately behind the Community Center Pavilion. If you would like to donate furniture, please contact one of the ladies listed below so that a Club member can meet you there to receive it. As always, we greatly appreciate your continued support so that we can continue to do great things for the POC Community!!

(Please note that we cannot accept computers, electronics, mattresses, or microwaves!!) 

Alane Haardt- 291-416-6028 Nancy Ladshaw- 830-832-0510 Marie Hawes- 361-676-3093 Nan Burnett- 832-276-5948

Saturday, April 2:  Spring Mega Garage Sale!!  We will have a huge selection of items- something for everyone!!  Come One, Come All!!

Saturday, April 7:  Service Club Meeting at 10:00 AM in the POC Community Center.

Saturday, April 12, 2022: Farmer’s Market from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon; Front Beach Pavilion