The 2018 Lighted Boat Parade, was one of the best!! The weather turned out to be beautiful for the Freeport to POC Toy Run, most of whom participated with locals in the parade. This year we had 28 boats enter, along with the Coast Guard leading down the ICW.

Thank you to Hooper’s Bar and Grill, who hosted the parade judges, serving some fabulous food.

This years Judges included Harry & Leah Bates, Larry & Rosemary Lopez, Gary Reese, Darla Parker and Michelle Davis. Winning plaques were awarded at Madden’s this year for the Best Overall decorated boat, Doug Mueller; Most Spirited, Lance Boomhower on the Mud Slinger 3: Most Unique, Eric Thomas Rogers on the Get Skinny Fishing; Best Commercial, Matagorda Bay Pilots on the Karankawa; Best Large Pleasure, Jason & Wendy Fry on the Just One More; Best Medium Pleasure, Peyton Martin on the Tritoon; Best Small Pleasure, Chris Wolf on the Zero Down; and the Distinguished Service Award, United States Coast Guard.

A HUGE thank you to Bill Tigrett, Belinda Tigrett, and Ronna Fishbeck for their extensive help in organizing and hosting this event. I learned this year, until you are behind the scenes…. You have no idea just how much work they actually do! Great Job Bill Tigrett and Team!!!!
Darla Parker, President, Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce

Here they came – boat after boat, heading towards Clark’s Marina on December 1st, the culmination of the 16th Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run! The dock was lined with volunteers waiting to unload the toy-filled boats, destined for needy children. Everyone knew that whatever the weather, Jerry Karnes and his armada of brave and generous boaters would arrive with loads of Christmas toys.

Approximately $70,000 worth of toys were delivered to brighten the holiday for over 2,000 children. Those who were invited to share in the bounty included: Port O’Connor School, Aransas Pass School, Seadrift School, Bloomington School, Port Lavaca Schools, Tivoli School, Brown Santa, Blue Santa, Foster Care, Episcopal Church, Kids Connection, The Harbor, and Lily’s Faithful Angel.

Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce would like to say THANK YOU to  Kacie Skalak and her team of workers, Karie Skalak, Weslie Mollere and  Michelle Davis, for feeding the Toy Runners and Ronna Fishbeck for helping Kacie get the food line set up and ready to serve. The Chamber has fed these gracious folks the last several years to show our appreciation from the community for helping out so much to put so many smiles on kiddos’ faces Christmas morning!

Thank You goes out to Josies Mexican Food and Fishbeck Rentals for the donation of the briskets,  Alex Doolin for preparing the meat and to the Port O’Connor Service Club for baking desserts for all to enjoy! Great team work is key to making all of this come together and go smoothly.

Mary Jo Walker
Vice President, Chamber of Commerce

The new library building is open and folks are delighted by this amazing place. It’s bright, open and welcoming while a few finishing touches are still in progress, the Kid’s Korner is now adorned with colorful coastal critters and local icons thanks to Port O’Connor artist, LeeAnn Kunz.

LeeAnn’s beautiful creations reside in many homes throughout Texas and beyond. She completed her first paintings at the age of eight, but her aspirations were squelched by a nay-saying teacher. There was no stopping her creative abilities though. After she raised her children and retired from professional rodeo racing, she immersed herself in painting. Now LeeAnn’s creations are in high demand; so high that she stops taking commissions in September just to meet the demand for holiday gifts.

Our community is fortunate to have her works adorn the Kid’s Korner at the new Port O’Connor Library. Dolphins, birds, fish and crabs welcome children to enter the reading house among with familiar sights including the Matagorda Island Lighthouse and a trawling shrimp boat.

This is just one of the remarkable features of the new library. Please mark your calendar for the Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday January 19, 2019, when we will honor our community and supporters for joining forces to complete this beautiful community accomplishment. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:00 am. -Brigid Berger, Friends of the Port O’Connor Library