Donnie L. Martin, age 71, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Donnie was born May 17, 1950 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to the late Mavis Majorie Napier Martin and Lelond Martin. He was a former pastor of First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor. He was a faithful servant of Christ, a talented singer and dear friend. He will be greatly missed by all that were blessed to know him.

Donnie is survived by his wife, Shirley Brown Martin; sisters, DeNits Shorrosh and Elaine Majorie Talley; and brother, Eddie Franklin Martin.

Donnie was preceded in death by his father, Lelond Martin; and mother, Mavis Majorie Napier Martin.

The funeral was held on January 31, 2022 at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Burial was in Port O’Connor Cemetery.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.

February’s Book Club Meeting is officially “in the books”, was fantastic!! Hostesses, Terri McGuire, Darla Miles, and Pam Johnson outdid themselves in every aspect, and the beautiful Valentine decorations and warm atmosphere of laughter, camaraderie, and merriment were immensely enjoyed and appreciated!!! In keeping with February’s book, Giver of the Stars, by JoJo Moyes, which is set in the poverty-stricken Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, the Ladies started out with a hilarious group toast of two different flavors of “Moonshine” (Appalachian Apple Pie and Blockader’s Blackberry), and all agreed, through the laughter, that it was really, unexpectedly good!! They also sang “Happy Birthday” to two of their “Birthday Girls”- La June Pitonyak and Jeanette Henke!

Following the toast, the ladies enjoyed a delicious “Kentucky” meal of fried chicken, potato salad, tossed salad, a beautiful fruit tray, a variety of candy and cookies, spice cake with Bourbon sauce served in Mason Jars, wine, tea, and flavored water.

The Group then held an in-depth, interesting, and intense discussion of the book, with all fifteen ladies getting involved and “putting in their two cents” about the various characters, events, emotions, history, and ups and downs of the book. All agreed that it is a wonderful book- beautifully written, historically based, accurately depicting the horrendously austere, difficult, and impoverished lives of the coal mining mountain folks of Kentucky, and the “Pack Horse Librarians” who tried to help them.

The Ladies marveled at how the book’s characters persevered, despite all they had to endure to survive; and were still able to find joy, love, and happiness in the middle of their hardships!!

The book emphasizes how important faith, loyalty, love, and the support of family and friends are to our survival; that money can’t buy happiness; and that education and knowledge truly do play an important role in one’s success and improvement in Life. It was a fun and entertaining meeting, and everyone thanked the Hostesses for making it such a fun and entertaining event!!

The Book Club’s next meeting will be held on March 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM, and March’s book is Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson. If you would like to join “Hooked On Books”, please send your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All are welcome!!

Every Wednesday Coffee & Conversation
8:00-9:00 am POC Library
Every Friday Smart Recovery Program
7:00-8:30 POC Library Multipurpose Room
1st & 3rd Thursdays Port O’Connor Service Club
10:00 am Port O’Connor Community Center
Tuesdays & Thurs. House of Prayer
10:00 – Noon 402 11th St.. Seadrift
Feb. 18-27 Remove Abandoned Crab Traps
Feb. 19 & 20 Co-Ed Softball Tournament
Seadrift Ball Field
Tues., February 22 Calhoun County Democrats Club
6:00 pm Calhoun County Library
Sat., Feb. 25 Seadrift Market Days
8:00-Noon Seadrift Civic Center
Tues., March 1 Primary Election
Mon., March 7 Intercoastal 4-H Club
6:30 pm Port O’Connor Community Center
Tues., March 8 Hooked on Books Club
alanehaardt@yahoo.com
Sat., March 12 Farmers Market
8:00-Noon King Fisher Beach, Port O’Connor
Sat., March 12 Children’s Program
10:00-11:30 Port O’Connor Library
Mon., March 14 Chamber of Commerce
6:00 pm POC Library
Sat., March 26 Bay Praise, 6:00 pm Seadrift Bayfront

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is continuing to survey for non-breeding shorebirds along the Upper Texas Coast this season. Our current research intern, Kenlynn Volz, and I monitor Matagorda Beach, Bryan Beach, Quintana Beach, Surfside Beach, and Follet’s Island from the beginning of August to the end of March. Our target species are Piping Plover, Snowy Plover, Red Knot, Black Skimmer, and American Oystercatcher. Along with these species, we often come across other bird species as well. This past week while surveying on Matagorda Beach, we spotted a couple of Common Loons catching a ride in the gulf.

Common Loons are large diving waterbirds that migrate to the Upper Texas Coast during the winter. They can be found swimming along the gulf and hanging out in the bays as well. Common Loons have long bodies, short tails, round heads, and very large dagger-like bills. They are mainly known for their breeding plumage and are the symbols of summer in the Northeast.

During breeding season, they sport a bold black head and bill, thick black collar along with a semi-striped neck, and a striking black and white pattern on the back which contrasts with their red eyes. Sadly, we don’t get to see them here in Texas in their breeding plumage. We typically observe them in their winter plumage which is much duller. Their head and bill fade to gray with a little bit of black on top, their collars turn pale, their stripped throat becomes white, and their backs are grayer and whiter. But they are still amazing birds none of the less.

Common Loons spend most of their lives in the water and only come to land to breed, nest, or if they are hurt or sick. They mainly feed on live fish and catch their prey by diving, so they have various adaptations that make them master divers. Their disproportionately long feet and webbed toes allow them to push against the water, giving them the ultimate thrust. They have the ability to paddle their feet either in sync or alternatively allowing them to move in all directions even when they are under water.

Common Loons can change the buoyancy in their air sacs and can achieve neutral buoyancy by compressing their feathers and expelling air. They can also simultaneously extend and lower their neck and use their legs as propellers, allowing them to catch their fast-moving prey with ease.

Below is a photo of my “Granpa” John Louis Wooldridge and “Granma” Eula Gertrud Cumie McFadden. Grama was Scotch Irish and she did believe in the “Banshee”. Do you know of any “Scotch Irish” people that believe in the Banshee?

A bit hard to make out, but below is a picture taken at the Old Wooldridge Home Place. Sitting in the back yard with Granma’s chickens are J.D. Williams and Wallace and Dorothy Geraldine.
This picture was taken by Lois Marie “Sussie” Wooldridge over 90 years ago.