Thanksgiving is on its way! Not earth shattering news unless you are helping to put together the Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for the community’s needy! Again, the Chapel will be heading up the distribution of the Food Baskets. The deadline to sign up for the Thanksgiving Basket will be Sunday, November 7, and for the Christmas Baskets the deadline will be December 5.

All of us know that the food chain is running very slowly this year, so the efforts to purchase the necessary food items must begin much earlier. We have already been in contact with our food source for some of the food items. The Ladies Service Club is a great partner with the Community Benevolence Fund in gathering the needed resources. The three local churches are planning our annual Thanksgiving Service for Sunday, November 14, when we will receive a special offering for the Benevolence Fund.

We know there are many in our community who are sincerely needing a food basket for these special days. Please call Pastor Joane at 361/486-4622 to get your name on the list. We will be distributing the baskets for Thanksgiving on November 16 and the Christmas baskets on December 14. If you know a needy family, please help us find the most needy among us so we can reach out in a tangible way.

Anyone who wishes to help support our community with this project can make a donation at any of the local churches or at the bank, where there is a special account set up for this purpose. Please continue your generosity and the needs will be totally met!

Captain Robert will be returning to the Chapel on October 15 for the last scheduled Captain’s Class for 2021. Those wishing to be a part of these classes should call Captain Robert at 361/785-6104 as soon as possible to see if an opening is available for this class. We have been hosting Captain Classes at the Chapel since 2000 and have witnessed many receiving their licenses to become fishing guides. You may need to be one!

We are extremely busy with our Retreat Center this time of the year. On September 9-12, we hosted the area Men’s Retreat and Men’s Breakfast with about 40 participants. On September 24 and 25, Pastor Joane held a Ladies Retreat, with 80 ladies on Friday evening and 40 ladies on Saturday morning. (Yes, even though she had undergone open heart surgery on September 7, she directed this retreat!) Beginning September 29, we hosted a men’s leadership team from West Texas. On October 7-8, we hosted a Men’s Group from San Antonio. On October 14-17, we are hosting a Men’s Group from Houston. On October 28-30, we are hosting a Men’s Group from Spring.

Thanks to each of you for your prayers for Pastor Joane. On August 31, she experienced a heart attach. We got her to Citizens Hospital and had to wait in the Emergency Room for hours, because they wee not sure what was going on. On Wednesday, September 1, they tried to put in stints, but told her it was a more difficult case. On September 7, Pastor Joane underwent open heart surgery, in which they made a total of five bypasses. Doctor Knight, her surgeon, told me that it was a great success and that the cause was hereditary. We got her home on September 15, and it has been a struggle to keep her from doing too much! Without your prayers, the Chapel would be seeking a new Pastor! Thanks!
Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help anyone and everyone in this area! Our service schedule includes Sunday Bible Study at 10:00 a.m., Morning Worship Service at 11:00, and Evening Service at 6:00 p.m. We also have our Wednesday Midweek Service at 7:00 p.m.

One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and all are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

October is a month I love more than any other for multiple reasons. It is the month of my birth so even though middle age and circumstance mean my birthday is more of a gauge of what’s gone rather than what’s coming, it still is a day that is different from the others on the calendar even if it is just to mark that I’ve made it one more trip around the sun.

Then, of course, there is the assault of pumpkin and pumpkin spice everything that occurs this month and although I realize they could sell pumpkin-flavored cakes, cereals, coffee creamer, candy, shakes, and of course the classic pumpkin pie, I admit they have me captivated each year with their ‘limited time only’ business model each year where I never get to try it all but I do try to sample as much as I can…viva la pumpkin!

Halloween is the other big event, of course, that occurs and even being at the midway point on the time clock of life as it were. I still love it, even though I don’t get to dress up in masks and makeup anymore and for some reason being forty-three and 6’5 means I am no longer able to get all that sweet free candy, I still enjoy watching those humans of the younger and shorter variety enjoy what I have been so cruelly barred from.

It is probably no coincidence then, being born so close to Halloween that whenever I write fiction it dips more into the realm of psychological fear and the kind of stories you’d usually see someone like Stephen King write than say, Charles Dickens.

Additionally, my biggest online writing ‘success’ came in the form of the paranormal blog News From the Spirit World, which if you have been reading this column for its almost decade of existence now (my, how time flies!), you will have heard me mention before.

That project I have decided to start again on a different web host, mostly because as said, besides this lovely column was my biggest fruitful venture into writing as it had at one time multiple listing on ‘page one’ of Google and other search engines for a few subjects which is actually a pretty hard task to accomplish.

News From the Spirit World has always dipped more to the skeptical side of the paranormal world, as I myself although not positive the paranormal does not exist, am also sure that ninety-nine percent of paranormal reports are pure fantasy and at times, outright lies by snake oil salesmen and cons.

Besides, what other place can I write about such weird subject matter as a woman who believes she is having a romantic relationship with the Statue of Liberty or a man who claims the world will end by Wednesday next week, just in time to screw up the weekend?

I think all of the spooky vibes and terrifyingly beautiful scenery are a major part of why I love this month so a month, so Happy Halloween to all of you, and here is to kick off what I hope is a lovely holiday season for all…now give me that pumpkin spice flavored doughnut before it disappears.

Victoria College is accepting applications for its Spring 2022 Allied Health Continuing Education classes at VC’s Main Campus and Gonzales Center.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 30. Applicants must have completed all required vaccinations when delivering their applications. Applications and a schedule of Spring 2022 classes are available at VictoriaCollege.edu/HealthCareProfessions.

The following classes will be offered in the spring at VC’s Main Campus:

• Medical Assisting
• Nurse Aide
• Pharmacy Technician
• Phlebotomy
The following classes will be offered in the spring at VC’s Gonzales Center:
• Nurse Aide
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medication Aide

“These classes usually fill up fast, so those interested need to get their applications to us as soon as possible,” said Shari Gould, VC’s Allied Health Continuing Education director. “Applicants who are accepted will be notified via email Dec. 1-3.”

Prospective students can deliver their applications in person to Suite 136 in the Health Sciences Center on VC’s Main Campus, located at 2200 E. Red River Street in Victoria. Completed applications can also be emailed to
HealthCareers@VictoriaCollege.edu. Financial aid is available.

Prospective students can deliver their applications in person to Suite 136 in the Health Sciences Center on VC’s Main Campus, located at 2200 E. Red River Street in Victoria. Completed applications can also be emailed to HealthCareers@VictoriaCollege.edu. Financial aid is available.

The Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library recently purchased a beautiful rug to be used during their monthly Children’s Programs.  As a tribute to a wonderful lady, who was a longtime FOL Board Member, the FOL dedicated the rug in honor of the late Charlotte Fitzgerald. Charlotte was also a longtime member of the FOL Children’s Program Committee, and played a vital role in their Children’s Programs each month, always enriching them with her musical talents, contagious enthusiasm, and effervescent personality!!! Thank you for everything, Charlotte!!!

Smart Recovery
Life Beyond Addiction
A new program is being offered in Port O’Connor to help with addiction of all types. Meetings are held every Friday night from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at the Port O’Connor Library Multi-Purpose Room.

The meetings are open to the public.

For more information, please contact Robert Smith, Facilitator; 401-595-9228; csbobby81@gmail.com.