White Pelicans and Cold Fall Island Meals Arrive

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and staying bundled up and warm during these cold mid-Fall northers that we are having. The winds on the island during these last several hard blows have really been strong. Steady 25-35 mph winds with gusts over 50 make it feel so much colder, and scatters everything around the yard that isn’t secured or anchored down well. I make certain to put another line on the boat at the dock in front of the house during these hard northers, as the entrance into the lagoon faces north, and on many occasions there have been waves with white-caps inside the lagoon. . . that’s hard to imagine but it definitely happens. And the much higher than normal tides we have been having makes it worse.

I always make sure that I’m stocked up with extra full propane tanks beginning this time of year, as the propane is my heat source for a small heater upstairs at night, and separate tanks keep my water heater and stove going. During the warmer summer and beginning of Fall, I take all of my showers outside in the late afternoon using non-heated well water straight from the ground, but it’s definitely too cold for that now. With the beginning of winter still over a month away, it sure seems as though the cold, nasty weather is starting very early this year. I think that Mother Nature may have forgotten that the season of Fall was supposed to at least make an appearance.

I’m just now beginning to see the arrival of the beautiful American white pelicans around the island. The brown pelicans stay here year-round, but the white ones only arrive and stay here during the colder winter months, migrating south and east along the Gulf of Mexico. I enjoy watching squadrons of these white pelicans as they soar across the sky above the island, going back and forth from the bay side to the gulf. And if I’m really lucky, a large group of them, 50-60, will swim from the bay shoreline into the lagoon to feed on mullet, creating a beautiful sight of majestic white pelicans right in front of the house.

I’m starting to see a few ducks flying across the bay as well lately. Their numbers will increase as the weeks pass, and even if I don’t see them I’ll know they are here because of the early morning and late evening sound of air boats running the shoreline. I’m not a duck hunter, those things seem to fly the best during the nastiest of weather, but occasionally someone will drop off a few to me, and I’ll enjoy a nice meal of fresh duck.

My most enjoyable meal out on the island during the cold winter months, are fresh from the bay fried oysters. There are several small oyster beds inside the lagoon, plus they also attach underwater to the posts of my pier. So several times a winter I’ll put on waders and take a 5-gallon bucket and hammer into the water and get a few dozen oysters to open for a meal. Any type of fresh caught local seafood is always the best!

In closing, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Enjoy the time with your friends and family, and please be safe in your travels. That’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day.

CHRISTMAS SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON:

The next big Service Club event is the Christmas Senior Citizens Luncheon. Please plan to join us for a delicious meal prepared by Service Club members, along with some entertainment! The luncheon will be held on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 10 A.M. at the POC Community Center. If you cannot attend but would like to have a meal delivered, please contact Alane Haardt (281-416-6028) or Diane Cooley (903-467-6335) BY NOON ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4.

COMMUNITY-WIDE GARAGE SALES:

Last month, we reported on the success of the fall Garage Sale. At the Club’s October meeting, further changes were made to garage sale procedures in order to reduce costs and club member work time required to hold this event.

One major change has been approved: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING OR STORING ANY FURNITURE DONATIONS PRIOR TO THE GARAGE SALE. Beginning with the April 2020 garage sale, furniture donations must be delivered to the Community Center while a Service Club member is present on the Thursday or Friday preceding the Saturday garage sale date.

For the April sale, this means furniture donations need to be brought to the Community Center on Thursday, April 2 or Friday, April 3, just before the garage sale date of Saturday, April 4. No furniture donations will be accepted on Saturday. PLEASE DO NOT DROP FURNITURE OFF AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER PAVILION OUTSIDE THESE DATES, AND UNLESS A SERVICE CLUB MEMBER IS PRESENT!

NEXT SERVICE CLUB MEETING: Thursday, December 5, 10 a.m. at the POC Community Center (Note our business meeting will be short, as we will be decorating for the Christmas Luncheon on Thursday!)

The Service Club meets twice monthly from September – May on the first and third Thursdays, and once a month June – August on the first Thursday; always at 10 a.m. at the Community Center (enter through the back door). All are welcome – members can be full or part-time POC residents and we’d love to have you join us. The Service Club is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Port O’Connor community by providing support and funds for programs and events for the betterment of this community. If you are looking for a way to give back to the Port O’Connor community, come join us!

Hope you are not too full of turkey on Saturday, November 30th, to participate in the Second Annual Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt!!!  Since Golf Carts were legalized in Port O’Connor in 2011, the use of golf carts on the streets has increasingly become an issue.  Our goal is to increase awareness of golf cart rules and safety while still having fun!

Registration ($15 per person) will begin at 8:30 am, at King Fisher Park pavilion. There will be a Mandatory Safety meeting at 9:30 am. At this time, golf cart legalities, safety, and the rules for the “hunt” will be discussed. The ending location will be at 3:00 pm at Josie’s Mexican Food, where prizes will be awarded for the scavenger hunt winner, as well as a Grand Prize winner.
To include our business members in the fun, a raffle prize will be at each stop, where tickets can be purchased for $1 each. ALSO, for each $5 spent at the business location, the purchaser will be award an EXTRA ticket for the Grand Prize!!

All participating golf carts must be legal, and any violations of the rules or safety hazards will result in disqualification. Remember, you can still be safe, while having fun!!  All proceeds from this event will be put towards our 2020 Annual Fireworks Display, to be held on July 4, 2020.

If you would like to be a business sponsor, or for more information, you may contact Kacie Skalak at 361-250-0087, Darla Parker at 713-857-0482, or Troy Wygrys at 361-460-7054. You can also pre-register for the Scavenger Hunt on the Chamber website at www.portoconnorchamber.com .

OK, we have made it thru October, things in Port O’Connor have slowed down, but still a lot going on. I hear fun was had by all at the Chamber sponsored “Trunk or Treat”. Mary Francis Bauer brought it to the attention of the Chamber, that some areas had a Trunk or Treat, which was one central place for people to gather and decorate for children, when Trick or Treating. This was her 3rd one; she has organized and headed this up for the past 3 years. There was between 50 and 60 vehicles decorated and handing out goodies. The winners of the $100.00 for best decorated went to Sandra Chapman, Kendra Metzler, Haden Wilson, Mia Metzler and Kingston Metzler. Thanks to all who joined in this event and especially Mary Francis.

Upcoming this month on November 30th, the 2nd Annual Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt, from 8:30 am -4 pm. Go to portoconnorchamber.com for more information, and you can pre-register, and pay online. If you are a business and no one has contacted you, please contact us. Looking forward to good weather.

The Annual Lighted Boat Parade on the ICW, will be December 7th at dusk, beginning at Froggie’s Bait Dock and ending at Clark’s, this also is on our website and you can register online. Now is the time for you, your children and your friends to get together and start planning how to decorate and join in the fun. If you have never entered, it will certainly put you in the Christmas Spirit.

December 13th, the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party will be held at the Port O’Connor Community Center at 6 pm. Everyone is invited to come out and join in the festivities. The election of 2020 board members will be held; you must be a member in order to vote. If you want your name on the ballot, please contact the Chamber as soon as possible.

December 18th & 19th will be the nights to have your Christmas decorations on, judges will be coming around. Sign up to have judges come by your display.

Also the membership drive will begin in January of 2020, Before it was March to March, but you will now be receiving applications in January.

New Members:
Marty’s Landing
Brookie’s Cookies

Have Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Contact the Chamber —info@portoconnorchamber.com–website--portoconnorchamber.com–361-983-2898
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Charles Grant Harper III, “Rocky”, 73, of Katy Tx, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2019. He was born on August 22, 1946 to the late Mary and Charles Harper Jr in Jasper, Alabama.

Charles was known by friends and loved ones as Rocky but his most cherished title of all was Gramps.
After high school Charles proudly served in the US Army.

He was known as a loving and devoted father who took great pride in his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughter Krystal Muñoz (Jason) of Katy, son Charles Harper of Galveston, sister Jeanna Guptill, brothers George Harper, James Harper, John Harper, grandchildren Jacob Harper, Julian Muñoz, Drake Muñoz, Mackenzie Harper, Caedyn Harper, great-grandchildren Dj Harper, Valencia Harper, Leo Muñoz. Charles is preceded in death by his mother Mary Rather, father Charles Harper Jr, sister Sara Connor.

The Celebration of Life was held on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 12:15 p.m., after which he was escorted to the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038, where he was laid to rest and a grateful Nation will bestow him with honors.