Robert Dale Looney passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 from complications of Pneumonia He was born July 18, 1961 in San Antonio to parents Elmer and Mabel Looney The family moved to Port O’Connor in 1962 and Dale lived the rest of his life here.

He was preceded in death by parents Elmer and Mabel Looney and brother Leonard Looney He has one living sister, Marie Hawes.

“O Christmas Tree”

Just saw the word, “O Tannenbaum” on the first page of a newspaper. It took me way back in history.
Bob Thormalen taught three classes in his room at the old Seadrift School House. He did teach us to sing “O Tannebaum. Ve trazinc dine blakie” or something like that.

He also sang “Star of the East” one year for Christmas time at our Old Baptist Church in Seadrift.
Some of our old members that have gone on before are: Mimie Milam, Joyce Helms, Evelyn Dierlam and Francis “Tootsie” Morgenroth. We will join with them and Bob and Myrtle for a Big Reunion some day.

Dorothy Geraldine Wilson
Seadrift

Thank you, Josie’s.

POC Dolphins and PTO want to give a big shout out to Josie’s Mexican Food and their Annual Turkey Cook-off. Such a great community event and fun for the kids too. If you missed it, you missed out. Thank you Josie’s for donating the profits to POC PTO.

POC Elementary will have an early out on December 18th at noon after the class Christmas parties (sorry, no guests allowed). The students will return to school from Christmas break on January 5, 2021. We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Thank you
Candice Stryker

Farmer’s Market

Be sure to check out the Port O’Connor Farmer’s Market, the second Saturday of each month. Browse dozens of vendors from 8:00 a.m. until noon, under the pavilion of King Fisher Beach. You will find delicious baked goods, homemade jellies and sauces, plus all sorts of hand crafts for sale. We even saw some folks selling pasture-raised meat goats and chickens. -A fun way to spend a Saturday morning, and maybe take some something unique.      -Photo by Susan Wallace

The Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area will be conducting prescribed burns in January and February.

The Wildlife Management Area has been doing research and baseline monitoring programs, have had bird watching tours, implementing habitat management practices (including the upcoming burns), and some infrastructure work. We anticipate having open visitation in the future. The State Park side is still several years out from opening. That portion is still privately owned right now. That area will handle more of the daily public use.

Check out our Facebook page.

Daniel Walker, TPWD

Friends of the Port O’Connor Library Wreath-making class.

The Magic of Chester Island

The Friends of Port O’Connor Library, Inc. present THE MAGIC OF CHESTER ISLAND, an evening with Audubon Texas Wardens, Tim and Peggy Wilkinson, on Monday, JANUARY 11, 2021 at 6:00  PM at the Port O Connor Library meeting room. The presentation is free to the public but due to Covid regulations please register if attending at libraryfriendspoc@gmail.com or sign the register at the library.

Just three miles from the Port O Connor front beach, thousands of beautiful water birds are returning to nest on a small dredge spoil island. Chester Island (commonly known as Bird Island) is one of only three islands in Texas consistently supporting more than 10,000 breeding pairs of colonial water birds.
Texas has one of the most biodiverse, yet threatened coastlines in the nation. Stretching over 600 miles, much of the Texas coast is suffering from severe erosion, lack of freshwater inflows, and pollution. This rich ecoregion is the wintering grounds and stop over sites for over 98% of the long-distance migratory bird species in North America. The coast is also a stopping ground for the litter pollution carried through Texas’s river system, meaning many of the conservation issues on the coast are at the mercy of the choices made by those across the Lone Star State.

For more than 80 years Audubon Texas’s coastal wardens have been safeguarding the magnificent birds that live, breed, and nest on 80 islands on the Texas coast.

Audubon wardens and TERN   manage these islands, patrolling and censusing bird populations by boat during nesting season, controlling fire ants, planting shrubs and trees, and monitoring predator activity and erosion. In addition to managing the islands, wardens communicate with local media, organize volunteers, educate citizens, and work with recreational and commercial anglers. For decades this model of community-based stewardship has sustained one of the most effective bird conservation programs in the country. Audubon‘s coastal management program has been recognized through the Governors’ Blue Ribbon Committee on Environmental Excellence.