Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce

A big thank you to our “Taste of Town” contributors at the Annual Chamber Christmas Party in December, Cathys, Kacie’s Kitchen, Josie’s and Pullin Premium BBQ provided some delicious food and deserts. We would also like to thank our DJ Loco Motion for supplying some wonderful holiday music and fun dance tunes.

Are you hungry for some crawfish? Well then make sure you plan on attending the 10th Annual Crawfish Festival and Cookoff on April 30th. There will be plenty of crawfish and cold beer. Admission is $5.00 and this year we are working on conducting pre-sales for admissions, beer tickets, meal tickets etc. We will keep you updated as we continue to make this the best festival ever!! Vendor and cooker registration information is available on our website. If you would like to volunteer or if you have any questions, please email Crawfish@portoconnorchamber.com

Our 2022 membership drive is underway, and we hope you will consider joining the Port O’ Connor Chamber of Commerce. You can find the membership application on our webpage at https://business.portoconnorchamber.com/member/newmemberapp. Thank you to our 2022 members: Vasquez Construction, Bugman Inc., Sea Tow Middle Coast, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Sue Glover, Roger & Karen Krause, Jim Vass, Ricki & Francey McKinney, Jim and Amy Severson, Shane & Kathy Simon, Goldman, Hunt & Notz, LLP, Lynn and Ronnie Luster, Craig and Suzanne Williams, American Inn and Suites, Marg Braudaway, Waterloo Rod Company, Bay Flats Lodge, PCS Coastal Services, POC Hardware and Supply, Marty’s Landing, Captain Lawn & Tree Service, Mary Ann Claiborne, Russell Cain Real Estate, Port O’ Connor Rentals, Coastal Boat Services Unlimited, Roger and Elyse Ross, Redfish Addiction, Sister’s Gift Shop, Larry Wheeler Guide Service, Nervous Water Fishing.

Below are event dates you will want to mark on your calendars. Also, the Chamber Board meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 at the POC Library. We welcome everyone to attend and participate.

Farmers Market 2nd Sat. each month
Crawfish Festival & Cookoff April 30, 2022
Memorial Days Kids Fishing Tournament May 28, 2022
Memorial Day Kite Flying Contest May 28, 2022
July 4th Fireworks Display July 2, 2022
Fourth of July Parade July 4, 2022
Scavenger Hunt July 23, 2002
Trunk or Treat October 29, 2022
Poker Run November 26, 2022
Toy Run/Lighted Boat Parade December 3, 2022
Annual Christmas Party December 9, 2022
Lighted House Contest December 14 & 15, 2022

Please continue to visit our webpage at www.portoconnorchamber.com for more information on local events.

The “Hooked On Books” Ladies took time away from reading long enough to enjoy their annual Christmas Party on December 14, 2021, and had a fantastic time!!

POC’s Book Club, “Hooked On Books,” held its first meeting of the year on January 11, 2022, and it was a great way to start the New Year off!! January’s book, Miss Ella of Commander’s Palace, by Ella Brennan and Ti Adelaide Brennan-Martin, is about the world-famous New Orleans based Brennan Family Restaurant Dynasty.

In keeping with the French Quarter location of the Brennan restaurant, “Commander’s Palace”, the Hostesses carried out a Cajun themed fare!!! The food was fantastic, the drinks were fantastic, the Book Discussion was fantastic, the Fun was fantastic, and the trip to “Commander’s Palace of Port O’ Connor” was a BLAST!!!!
Hostesses, Cindy Hanson, and Ursula Price did an excellent job planning and executing the beautiful event!! Prior to the meal, they treated the Ladies in attendance to “Stingers” (Ella Brennan’s favorite drink consisting of Brandy, Cream de Mint, lime juice, and mint leaves served over ice); Pomegranate Mimosas; and Prosecco Sparkling Champagne.

The Event’s Menu consisted of delicious Gumbo and Rice, served with Shrimp Toast (all from our wonderful POC Beacon 44 Seafood Market}; an excellent salad of Romain lettuce covered with savory Ridgeway Dressing; and a scrumptious dessert of Emeril Lagasse’s famous Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce and vanilla ice cream, plus beverages of tea and water. Everything was divine, and the Ladies graciously thanked their wonderful hostesses!!

Following the meal, the Group had an in-depth and interesting discussion of the book, in addition to viewing You Tube videos of a chef explaining Cajun versus Creole Cooking, and a musical rendition of “The Second Line,” which were both frequent topics in Ms. Brennan’s book. The Ladies all agreed that the book was immensely entertaining and enlightening; and the affair was a wonderful way to spend the beautiful winter afternoon.

The Club’s next Meeting will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 8, 2022; and February’s Book is Giver of the Stars, by JoJo Moyes. If you are interested in joining “Hooked On Books, please send your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All are welcome!!

To the Christmas Jar Ladies:

I can’t thank you enough for honoring me with your “Christmas Jar” this Christmas. Your generous gift is deeply appreciated. I bought a few gifts, had my dog groomed, and have enough left to do one or more other things. I don’t know who you are, but I do know you are all very special.

Joyce Rhyne

Dear Dolphin Talk,

The letter from Kimberly Clark about her beloved father Kenneth was such a tribute to his faith, to his commitment and the love for his beloved wife Grady Jean and family. Kenneth was a friend to many and helped many. His life will live on in his children and other people he helped in life’s journey. Young people should always respect their parents and learn from them as Kimberly has.

Over the years I have dealt with Kenneth on many real estate deals. He always told me to be a straight shooter and you will go far in life. Thank you, Kenneth for all the lives you touched.

Russell Cain

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (exception at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests; therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication. Dolphin Talk, PO Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982 dolphin1@tisd.net

We are in our Month of Birthdays – celebrating pastor Joane’s arrival about 16 years ago! We think, in total agreement with her ideas, that a day of celebration could never be enough – she deserves at least 30 days – but since it’s January, she gets 31 days!

We were blessed to have Jessica Gonzales, who is doing amazingly, from Florida here for the special celebration. Jessica is a hometown girl who successfully completed a year in a Houston Rehab ministry. After excelling in that assignment, she was asked to go to Florida to help start a ministry there. They had 21 ladies in that program as of yesterday and the Lord is placing Jessica in a special leadership role. If you know anyone who needs real help with addictions, please allow us to help you and you may be amazed at what the Lord will do in your life as well!

The celebration continued with a family birthday gathering at Vicky’s home. Vicky outdid herself with a delicious meal. I wish I could say that she learned her great cooking skills from us, but I learned a new dish while helping her put the finishing touches on a superb meal.

Not to be outdone, the Chapel Family came together with us on Birthday Eve and enjoyed a potluck dinner on Wednesday evening. There was so much excellent food that we had a hard time passing the leftovers around so nothing would be left at the Chapel. Everything was so special and thoughtfully accomplished, from the decorations to the cleanup. What a great evening!

Then it was off to Houston, to celebrate her birthday with her sister, Linda. Time with family is always time for rejoicing and this trip was no different. Ther will be additional opportunities for people to wish her best wishes for the rest of the month! BUT, she deserves all the full people are making over her for she is a remarkable lady, a great wife, mom, and grandmother, and an exceptional Pastor and preacher of God’s Word! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PASTOR JOANE!

When one drives by the Chapel, they will wonder what is going on! We had S&J Construction from Seadrift put a new front on our building! I am sure the old front was built by the Apostalo brothers (Paul and Henry) when they rebuilt the lumber yard after Hurricane Carla in 1961. (It hit Port O’Connor on 9/11/61.) We bought this building from Joe Bright, who had the Intercoastal Lumber Yard. That was over 26 years ago and it has been Fisherman’s Chapel ever since! We have been wanting to update the exterior for several years and now have got it done! Thank God and come see what the Lord is doing at the Chapel!

With the passing of another year, we are planning the Annual Meeting of the Members. It will be on February 27, at 6:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend. We will be sharing the reports of God’s Blessings and the enemy’s trials in that meeting. We will also be electing our Board of Directors who serve this congregation as Pastor’s Confidents.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to reach this community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have very many opportunities to be a blessing to those who attend. We have Bible Study for all ages (both youth and adults) each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., which is followed at 11:00 a.m. by Morning Service. We regather at 6:00 p.m. and are encouraged to face the week with Jesus each Sunday evening. On Wednesday’s we meet at 7:00 p.m. for a time of fellowship and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We also maintain the food pantry, and what we call “Chapel Mart” for things this community provides in the way of clothing or furniture.

Anyone who needs additional assistance or special prayer should call Pastor Joane at 361/648-4622 or Associate Pastor Erny at 361/218-6693. all will receive a warm welcome at the Chapel and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Reelin’ for Ryon’s Recovery Benefit BBQ & Dance

Saturday, February 5th – Yorktown Community Hall
60 Community Hall Rd., Yorktown, TX

Meal Served – 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Silent Auction – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Live Auction starts at 5:30 p.m.
Music by Nick Russell & The Twisted X’s
Tickets- $20 – BYOB

Benefit for Ryon Preslar Port O’Connor Native, 48 year old husband & father
who has been hospitalized since July 4th
In Need of a Lung Transplant

If you wish to purchase a ticket or make a donation, please contact Sharon Preslar at
361-983-2240
Thank you for your consideration.