Thank you!

Thank you for your support!
I would like to express a BIG thank you to all the citizens in Port O’Connor who come out and support the First Baptist Church and the youth group. Every year I am amazed at all the people who continue to help us put on events like the Annual Easter Egg Hunt or donate to fundraisers like our recent spaghetti dinner for camp funds. I love how this town takes care of it’s own and always makes this place feel like the perfect home. Thank you all again for your support.

Candice Stryker and the First Baptist Church Youth Group

Dear Town, Church & Blood Family,

Words can’t express all the love I have felt during and since Frank’s death. I want to thank everyone for their prayers, food and for those who gave their financial support. All of you mean the world to me. And I’m sure if Frank could, he would thank you also.
Once again, thank you all so very much.

Debbie Michalek

4th of July Fireworks!

It all began about 48 years ago, when a couple of local POC residents began doing July 4th fireworks on the bulkhead of the front beach. Each year, their family and friends started helping, Later, one got his pyrotechnic license and kept the tradition going. This event grew and grew.

Approximately 30 years ago, the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce got involved because they too wanted to keep this a free event for all to see. Since that time, the event has drawn thousands from around Texas to see the elaborate fireworks display. Don Haynes is our local resident pyrotechnic. Don has been putting on the show himself for 16 years. He works along with his crew from Sky Wonder Pyrotechnics.

We can only put this show together with the support of our volunteers, businesses and patrons. It takes approximately $30,000 to put this show on, including costs of the explosives, pyrotechs, assistants, permits, law enforcement, cleanup crew, trash receptacles and porta potties.

PLEASE help us to continue this tradition in Port O’Connor! You can make your donation to the POC Chamber of Commerce by dropping us a check at PO Box 701, Port O’Connor TX 77982, or by donating electronically on our website at www.portoconnorchamber.com. No amount is too small!!!! We need you to make this event happen!!

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
Letters to the Dolphin P.O. Box 777; Port O’Connor, TX 77982 dolphin1@tisd.net

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

That is the old saying and it is pretty much the truth. How many tales have been told of someone finding something worth a significant amount of money that was about to be thrown away or at a flea market?

Here there really is something for everyone in other peoples cast offs and unwanted items because the diversity is usually in the buyer, who is capable of having a multitude of interests, hobbies and needs.

While one collector or bargain hunter may like stamps or old sports cards, another may like old records or porcelain dolls. In the days prior to the major rise of the internet, one could go and find a location to buy used items second hand and usually come out pretty happy as they were getting the items that interested them without paying the higher process of a traditional retail outlet.

Today these kinds of ‘deals’ are a bit harder to come by if your hobby or interest falls into a category where the items you seek are considered collectable, which leads more people to seek them out and then try to sell or ‘flip’ them for more money on websites like E-Bay.

In some circles like coins and jewelry, items with real material value, collections or discoveries could almost seem like nest eggs or investments. This was usually because the item in question had some rare historical value or made of precious metal or gems.

The reason for me writing about this subject matter however is because this changing market the internet has brought about goes hand in hand with another old saying: ‘Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.’

I always have had an interest in video games since I was very little, as I was lucky enough to grow up in the first era of gaming with the likes of Atari, Nintendo and Sega. Today I still find games a way to relax or just kill some time…video games are the TV of the modern age.

However, I neither have the means nor the desire to pay the outrageous prices out there for some of not only the newer video game titles and equipment, but the older models and games I grew up with as well.

Over the last ten years or so a bubble has built up in the retro video gaming market that hopefully will soon burst. In it’s most elite circles you have grown men trying to dominate others over the internet while boasting they can retire on a rare collection of circuit boards and plastic.

What they do not realize is unless you have something of a rare historical value as said above, the market for such items is only worth what the buyers demand. The reason people could consider old coins or, of course, jewelry an investment was that usually the materials they were made of could be sold even if the coin’s face was worn away or the jewelry was broken.

In addition, it also hurts the little guy, the people who just want to collect the games and actually play them, not just think about how much money they could make the owner. The comic book industry paid a price for a similar thing in the nineties, raising the price out of the reach of the kids and teens who poured over them and into the hand of collectors who kept them in top condition and in ten years found they were worth less then the cover price.

In short, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, but today’s high price is tomorrow’s blow out sale.

Lib Media, Trump, and Islam

While the Media continue to report the Non-News of accusations of the ‘Russia Trump Collusion’, and endless investigations that result in the same conclusion – no evidence of anything substantial with the 2016 election or any National Security breaches, they ignore the good news. Just the threat of enforcing the Immigration Laws has reduced Illegal Immigration by some 70%, and ICE actually arresting and deporting illegals that commit crimes here has frightened many from collecting Welfare. And there are some self-deporting, probably the more successful ones who have saved substantial capitalization, and will now go home to start a business.

Trump has brought back millions in business investments and thousands of jobs, starting even before he was inaugurated, but the Media is clamoring for his impeachment. In Trump’s first 100 days, he reduced the Federal Deficit by over $100 Billion (Obama raised it by $560 Billion in his first 100 days, and added more in 8 years than all the previous presidents combined). So the Soros funded gangs, claiming to be Anti-Fascists, riot to stop any Conservative or Pro-Trump speakers, and violently attack Trump supporters and police, vandalize businesses, and start fires. The Media blame Trump and Trump supporters for causing all the violence with their “Hate”. The Media is redefining “Hate” to mean anything that disagrees with the Lib/Prog Agenda and their phony “socialism”.

The latest big “Hate” thing and how Trump is “destroying the Universe” is his getting us out of the “Paris Accord”. The United States has done more to stop pollution than any other country since back in the 60s, and has contributed over $1 Billion to that latest United Nations boondoggle – Green Climate Fund, while the 3 biggest polluters – China, Russia, and India, have given $0. Even worse, China and India do nothing to control their pollution until 2030 and then they must “consider ways’ to reduce it. What kind of a Global Agreement is that? Even if the US could comply, our reduced annual output is added by China every 14 days, and in much worse forms than Carbon Dioxide. And even if all the kerfluffle was enforced, the best projection is a reduction of 2/10ths of a degree in 87 years?

Kathy Griffin’s blood-soaked prop of a beheaded Trump has even grossed out CNN and some of the Hollyweirdos. The D-list pervert masquerading as a comic will do anything to get attention, and she really got it this time. The Islamofascists are at it again in London and Paris. How many more murders and maimings will it take for civilized countries to wake up to the fact that Radical Islam is at war with Western Civilization and has been for more than half a century? You can’t change their minds by being “nice”, they perceive that as weakness, and double down on terrorizing the kafirs into submission. Our schools that won’t allow Christians to pray at a football game, now have “prayer rooms” for Muslims and let them out of class for prayer. This is called “Equality”? A better word is “Dhimmitude”, look it up if you don’t know it.

Trump is appealing to the Supreme Court to reinstate his Travel Ban on unvetted persons from Muslim countries who are known sources and supporters of Islamofascist Terrorism. Since it is a matter of existing Law already giving the President the power and the DUTY to ban people that are recognized threats, it should be no trouble. The Lib’s argument is against what they think Trump’s “intent is”, not what the ban actually says. Trump should win 9-0. But never underestimate the idiocy of “liberals in black dresses” to twist reality and the “law”. If Trump loses this one at SCOTUS, Constitutional Law and our Republic are over. What’s to follow is anybody’s guess. Sharia Law? Revolution? Total Economic collapse? Kathy Griffin elected to the Senate in Califailure?

This past June 6th was the 73rd anniversary of D-day, when young men mostly from the USA, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches of France to defeat the tyranny and totalitarianism of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Over 9,000 were killed on the beaches in their struggle to restore freedom and Democracy to Europe. Where will we find the men to defend us from the next totalitarian enemy? Certainly not among the current crop of Snowflakes in our colleges and universities today. How did it get this bad? The Lib/Prog control of ‘Education” and the Media.

See: http://www.angrypatriotmovement.com/schools-caught-teaching-kids/ – PBS and the New York State Education Dept teaching Islamofascist political Islam to Public School Teachers to use in schools. Excerpts from the above include “over the last decade PBS has been creating pro-Islamic material for students, including lessons such as “The Five Pillars of Islam” and “Salat: Prayer in Muslim Life.” However, “Dying to be a Martyr” is the most egregious lesson plan revealed so far, and encourages American students to sympathize with Islamic suicide bombers. The “Dying to be a Martyr” lesson is one of the largest offered by PBS and contains 40 course materials. In one section teachers are instructed to ask students what Israel has done to deserve the suicidal attacks.”

So while Europe is under constant Islamofascist attack, the Sharia ‘Fifth Columnists’ in ‘Media’ and ‘Education’ are undermining our schools, brainwashing our children into “dhimmitude”, and self doubt about western civilization. And a Lib/Prog perverted Court System continues to fill the country with unvetted Jihadists posing as refugees. The Lib/Progs are so intent on destroying Trump and Christian influence, they are willing to help the Islamofascists destroy us. I tell you, it is a Mental Disease and getting terminal.

The Lib/Progs try to defeat any reasonable efforts to stop the Islamofascist violence. Poland and a few other Eastern European ex-Communist countries seem to “get it”, but not the “Liberal West”. At least the Politicians and the Media DON’T! I think The People do. Trump is the solution, or at least “a symptom” of The People’s concern with the problems and their frustration with the Lib/Prog & RINO “Status Quo”.

When I was just a little girl my Daddy used to say, ‘there are some things Gee’s just don’t do.’ You see, ‘Gee’ was my last name, a proud English name traced back to the 1500’s by family members who loved genealogy. I knew how proud my Daddy was of his heritage. His father was a leader in the community where he and his 7 brothers and sisters grew up, and they were well known in the whole county. There is even a road bearing the name near the land the family farmed. Still, I remember wondering if I would be in trouble for doing something that ‘Gee’s’ don’t do.’ Maybe I did not know what not to do? What if I made a mistake or embarrassed family? I wondered if there was a list of those non-Gee things that I could memorize. How did I learn about those things Gee’s don’t do?

Thankfully, by the time I started school, I was quickly developing a list of my own understanding of things ‘Gee’s just don’t do.’ I had been punished for lying more than once, and told Gee’s don’t lie. I took a candy bar from Pink’s Convenience Store across the street without paying one day. It was returned in person with my allowance for the month and a letter of apology copied from Daddy’s written example and included the phrase Gee’s don’t steal. I fought with sisters and friends and when corrected was told ‘not how Gee’s do things.’ So, I was beginning to figure out how to avoid things ‘Gee’s don’t do.’ Still, I sensed there was more to the picture.

Trips home taught me more. Time with cousins, aunts and uncles meant trips to the town square just a block away for ice cream, window shopping and other small town excursions. In the local ice cream shop, a lady asked me ‘Are you Mac Gee’s granddaughter?’ I assured her I was and she smiled a huge smile and proceeded to tell me of the many times she had been helped and encouraged by Pappaw, Mammaw or one of the Gee’s. I was impressed that people knew my family. It seemed like every time we were in Daddy’s small home town, I met someone who knew and loved my Gee family. I went to the bank with Momma to cash a check, and noticed they asked for no identification and called her Mrs. Gee and asked after family members all over town. I went to the butcher, the grocer or the church and people knew that Gee name and had meaningful connections to Gee’s. I heard of an aunt who nursed a lady through cancer, an uncle who plowed a garden for a family in need, a church lady who said my Pappaw paid for the preacher to stay one year when the budget would not support his salary. Home grown veggies delivered, pies and cookies baked, recipes shared, farm and home help given, quilts quilted, babies cared for, time invested… the stories continued. Gee’s were known as helpers. When I asked Daddy about it, his answer was simple. Ignoring hurting people is something ‘Gee’s just don’t do.’

Pappaw Gee died the year I turned 13. It was a big loss to me. My preacher Daddy preached his Daddy’s funeral, and it was beautiful. It seemed in my eyes that the whole town was there. After that, I visited less often. The next time I remember walking around the town square and shopping and sharing time with cousins I had just learned to drive. I went into a little antique store and found a small bookshelf. At a time when out of town checks were questioned, I handed the cashier my check, and was so surprised when she said, ‘oh, you’re a Gee kid, I don’t need any of that ID stuff.’ When I asked her how she knew, she said I looked just like my Daddy and I had his eyes. She went on to tell about how he and his family had helped her family and others. She also said how handsome Daddy was in school and how she loved his eyes, and stories went on from there. Horribly embarrassed and slightly shocked at meeting Daddy’s old girlfriend, I left hurriedly. After recovering, I realized I better behave when in town, because everybody knew my name and family. As a grown up, I came to understand that what is on the list of things ‘Gee’s just don’t do’ is easy. Learn what they ‘do’ and you’ve got it. I just tried to follow my Daddy’s example.

The Gee family had no money, farmed some river bottom land and lived very simply. How did they help? Just being willing and giving what you can was their answer. They were more about what Gee’s do than don’t do… Gee’s do speak nicely, say something good or nothing at all, they give before they’re asked, they make it, grow it, fix it or bake it because money was not usually available. Gee’s pay attention to the things that really matter and invest in what is important like Pappaw paying the preacher’s salary one winter. I have been told that his 8 children went without new shoes that year because to Pappaw church was more important. All those many family members continued the legacy of doing. Even my Daddy. I watched my Daddy work hard, live honestly and simply, love my Momma, love his children, love his neighbor as he loved himself. It was not about his situation or money or things; he chose every day to find joy. He told young fathers that their most important jobs were to love your children’s mother completely, love your children unconditionally, live a life that will teach them by example about the kind of person you dream they will become, and spend time wisely because life is what happens while you are busy doing something else. He was a Father who taught more by what he did than what he said. He was a Daddy who taught his daughters well by example. Happy Fathers’ Day to all the Fathers out there! This Father’s Day I wish all Father’s would look at what they are teaching their children. Are you showing them the future you hope they imitate? Do they know what ‘not to do?’ If not then make a choice and show your child by word and action this is what we ‘DO!’

RUMMAGE SALE June 24th
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
St Patrick Church Hall Seadrift