The Calhoun County Republican Party would like to invite the public to our Lincoln Reagan Dinner on October 5, 2024.
Social Hour begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Bauer Community Center in Port Lavaca.  The dinner and speaking program begins at 6:00 p.m. including Don Huffines with the Liberty  Foundation, LJ Francis with District 2 State Board of Education, and the candidates for the 13th Court of Criminal Appeals and many others.
Please call (361)552-6313 or (361)920-5467.

The October meeting for Calhoun County Democratic Club will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at the Calhoun County Library, in the community room, 200 W Mahan St., Port Lavaca.

Social/potluck is at 5.30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

Got questions? Concerned about democracy? Come and join us. You can RSVP for our monthly meetings here:
mobilize.us/calhouncountydemocrats/event/457242/

The November Monthly meeting will be on November 12, 2024.
More info:
CalhounTXDemocrats.org
calhouncotexasdemocrats.substack.com
Linktr.ee/calhountxdemocrats
Info@CalhounTXDemocrats.org

It is wonderful to see people contributing their skills and time to improve the shared spaces we all enjoy. Quite a productive workday was held during morning hours despite the August heat. The community garden is getting a fresh start for the fall planting. Kudos to all the volunteers for their dedication and hard work!

The POC Community Garden especially thanks Bobby Allen and Eddie Debowski. Their efforts with the mower, mindfulness, and hard work made a significant impact on the garden’s appearance. Thanks to them and everyone who pitches in to make the community a better place!

The annual meeting on September 24th is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the year’s demanding work and discuss exciting plans for the future. The new shade structure will make a fantastic spot for the gathering of existing members and anyone interested in joining. Please mark your calendar to attend.

Darla Miles
darla121#hotmail.com

“Beacon of Light…Anchor of the Community”
Library News:
POC Library Hours: Phone Number: 361-983-4365
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

September is library card sign up month. It is like a golden ticket to endless opportunities, whether you are diving into new skills, exploring stories, or tackling misinformation. Libraries offer such a rich variety of resources, from makerspaces to digital collections, and having a library card opens all these possibilities. Plus, with access to books, e-books, and audiobooks, it is easy to keep your mind engaged no matter where you go.

THANK YOU to Our September Donor-
The Anderson Family donated a lovely statue and painting to the library. We appreciate your generosity.

Wednesdays:
o 8:00-9:00 AM – Coffee & Conversation – We made a pot of coffee espresso-ly for you.
o Bingo – The fun follows the 8 AM coffee event every Wednesday. Thank you to our generous sponsors.
o LOTERIA (Mexican Bingo) to follow bingo.
o 1:00-3:30 PM – Mah Jongg – Today’s forecast: 100% Mah Jongg.
Thursdays: 1:00-3:00 PM – Bridge – There are two kinds of bridge, rubber which is normally played at home for leisure, and duplicate bridge which is used for competitions.

Friends of the POC Library:
There are many exciting volunteer opportunities at your local library. Volunteer to assist with or participate in the upcoming boat show. This could involve anything from setting up booths, baking, or selling baked items for the Friends’ booth. It is a fantastic way to support the library while enjoying the local event. Also, every second Saturday of each month provides a wonderful chance to engage, contribute and feel connected through participation with the library’s Children’s Program. Volunteering for these events not only supports the library but also fosters a strong sense of community and involvement. If you are interested, reach out to the library for more details on how to get started!

A tremendous thank you to Ron Simpson and Dwayne Fishbeck who participated in the Port O’Connor Red Snapper Roundup Fishing Tournament for their generous donation to the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library! Their support means so much and helps ensure the library can continue offering valuable resources and services to the community. It is wonderful to see such community spirit and generosity in action. We are all grateful for their contribution!

The Port O Connor Friends of the Library are holding a raffle to raise money for library activities
including a planned expansion that will allow patrons even more opportunities. Raffle prizes will include lodging in POC, guided bay fishing trips, a kayak and more. For additional details see the Friends of the Library table at the Boat Show. Tickets will be $50 individually or 5 for $200. These will be on sale by board members until the crawfish festival in April when the drawing will be held. If you have questions or need a ticket, see us at the boat show or check out our Facebook page!

Children and adults participated in Paint the Sidewalk in front of the library on Saturday, September 14th. The chance to express creativity and artistry was exciting and rewarding. They drew and painted with sidewalk chalk and the results are visible right away. It was quite a cheerful activity that made the environment feel even more welcoming than it already is!

Mark your calendar for the next event on Saturday, October 12th, Fun for Fall.

A big thank you to Beacon 44 RV Park, Doug and Mary Jo Walker, and the annual Cornhole Group for their generous contribution from the Labor Day tournament. Your donation to the Friends of the Library Children’s Program is deeply appreciated and will make a significant impact on our community’s children. Your support is truly valued!

Submitted by Darla Miles. Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library, Publicity Committee/Historian
www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org
Facebook Page: Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc.

Super Saturday Children’s Programs
Please note that the 2024-2025 Children’s Program Dates fall on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Mark your calendars for fun at the library!
• October 12th Fun for Fall
• November 9th Friends of First Responders
• December 14th Christmas Party
• January 11th Game Day
• February 8th Super Bowl
• March 8th St. Patrick’s Day
• April 12th New Growth
• May 10th End of the Year Party

As I write, our nation once again pauses to remember the lives lost on September 11th, 2001, in the tragic events at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and aboard 2 American and 2 United Airline flights. Reflecting on that day, three groups of people come to mind: The terrorists, the victims, and the heroes.

The unprecedented act of ideologically driven hate by the Al-Qaeda jihadists – the terrorists – brought me to my knees. I had never witnessed such callous hatred as when three aircraft full of people crashed into the towers, and the Pentagon disappearing in balls of fire. When those towers dropped out of the sky I wept as I also do now, reflecting on the day.

The attacks that day took the lives of 2,977 people. These victims were husbands, wives, sons, daughters, neighbors, business associates, friends, and 441 first responders. Among them was my friend, Irv Isenberg, who responded to the call for help from Williamsville, New York, 420 miles away from NYC. Irv would join the huge group of first responders from all over the country in a search for survivors. Five years ago, on November 11th, he succumbed to cancer linked to his service after 9/11. His wife, referring to Irv as a “silent super-hero,” wrote, “A week before his death in Roswell, before he became comatose, I asked him if he was sorry that he responded to the site. He said, ‘No, I would go again today if the tones came out. Those people needed us.’”

I will never forget the American spirit which shines brightest in such times of testing. The bravery of those on flight 93 who were able to fight the terrorists on board forcing them to crash the plane into a field far from its intended target. The bravery and selflessness of first responders who ran into those towers and other structures to help their fellow man are unforgettable. The courage of boys who became men that day, donning the uniform of military service to set things right, is inspiring.

As a nation, we remember some aspects of the day through various, but many have forgotten too. Among the forgotten is the God we turned to in the days and weeks after 9/11. We sought His peace and comfort until the shock began to wear off. He is worthy of honor in good times and bad.

Today, after standing with, and representing first responders at the Patriot Day Service in Port Lavaca, I returned to Port O’Connor to read to the first-grade class at POC Elementary. Before I read to them, I asked them what they knew about this day. Some knew a lot. I asked them what they knew about hate and celebrated the fact that they knew nothing of hate – I praise God for their innocence. I told them that on that day I saw the greatest demonstration of hate mixed with the greatest outpouring of love as first responders ran in to help others because it was the right thing to do. I expressed my hope that they would grow up to be people like that.

You should have heard them as each one shared what they wanted to be when they grew up – all revolving around helping others. Such beautiful hearts reflect the future heroes of our nation. Let us take a lesson from them about love and hate.

The day the towers fell was a dark moment into which the light of the American spirit shone brightly. Our future as a nation depends on the survival of that spirit in and a return to the God we ran to on that day.

We’ll talk again soon! Bro Rich