One of the greatest things about duck hunting here in Port O’Connor is that we have an endless supply of outstanding habitat in the bays, on the backwater estuary lakes and along the miles upon miles of mangrove-lined islands.

I’ve been hunting here since the late ‘60s. Back then we could take 10 birds a day, and most of the time those ducks were a mix of pintails, widgeon and redheads. It was great hunting and still is.

At my guide service, www.luckystrikeguide.com, you’ll find that we offer an unlimited supply of adventure from fishing to hunting. Right now I’m running cast and blast trips. Hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, or the other way around.

A guided duck hunt includes transportation to a big and comfortable blind, decoy set up, bird pick up and cleaning. Most hunts will last about three to four hours with almost guaranteed limits of redheads with a few pintails and scaup mix in. All is for three hunters at a total cost of $295. That’s a pretty good deal for a sure fire big time dose of adventure.

Call ASAP for reservations: Robert Sloan 409-782-6796, email – sloan288@aol.com or go to www.luckystrikeguide.com.

When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind?

For many, the holiday season is indeed one of the best times of the year, filled with many great experiences that will become fond and cherished memories. It is a time of celebration for the year just passed and a social gathering of those closest to your heart and soul.

While many will indeed spend the holidays in ways just like I described above, others may be alone and isolated whether it be the homeless, the elderly or those without families or close friends to call their own.

Most holidays I would be sitting at home, depressed and wondering just where my life went so wrong to be alone on those days that usually brings people together. So I started to ponder exactly how I could achieve this goal not this Christmas, but next year’s. I wanted this to be my last holiday season alone:

Love Yourself/Treat Yourself:

Many people think they need others to be happy when everyone else is being social and this thought can be a slippery slope as it will only make you more depressed.

You can be just as happy spending time alone on any day, including holidays. If you find yourself alone on the holidays you might want to make an effort to treat yourself in one way or another.

You can take a small break from your diet, get to work on that project you have been putting off or even plan a solo vacation or an adventure. If you have pets you can make it a special day for the both of you and the companionship and love you give your animal friend will surely be reciprocated.

The idea is that the joy and spirit of the season is something anyone can experience, even if you experience it alone on your couch watching your favorite film or reading your favorite book.

Season of Giving, Not Taking:

There are tons of places you can volunteer during the holiday season and besides making someone’s holiday a lot brighter you will feel good for making an effort to help out those less fortunate as well.

Animal shelters, homeless shelters or retirement homes are all excellent choices, and you could even make it feel more personal by seeking out the elderly or the disabled around your home and giving them a holiday to remember.

Beyond that you can always give to the numerous charities out there as well, just make sure to check that they are a legitimate charitable organization and see where the donations really go first before you donate any funds or goods.

Don’t Be afraid to Reach Out:

Your friends may know you are alone on the holidays but might feel awkward asking you to come to a family function or party.

So make the initiative to ask, many people are very generous and giving around this time of year and may not mind an extra person for Thanksgiving dinner or if you ask them to join in on the caroling or to accompany them to a religious service.

Only you can reach out during this time and ask if you could come along. These are your friends and loved ones, they will not intentionally hurt you and if they cannot fulfill your request they should not make you feel awkward or like you’re intruding on them.

Three years ago a Facebook friend invited me to her house right around Christmas day. I got a small assortment of gifts they found last minute for me, had some great food and even had a great conversation with someone about late sixties rock music.

You will never know either way until you ask and if you get invited you will never feel the joy unless you accept!

However, if you really don’t feel comfortable accepting any offers or you feel like you’re intruding or fearful about being around a bunch of people due to anxiety or other conditions, do not put yourself in a situation that will make you feel worse and give you reasons to beat yourself up about it later on.

Decorating the Library for Christmas

I’ve had the pleasure of reading and reviewing 35 to 40 books during the year of many of those we’ve received as new books, many of known authors, and many of popular authors, some of which are previously shelved. However there are only a few I would add to my personal library; books that are stunningly written, characters drawn to the point the reader can identify with each, and some that have made a lasting impression on me.

The first would be THE NIGHTINGALE as written by Kristin Hannah; a book unlike those she has written in the past; a narrative of life in a small village in France that has been taken over by the Nazis; the description of families evacuating their homes, carrying their prized possessions, and then, as the road becomes longer, dropping those packages, is really heartbreaking.

13 HOURS is written by Mitchell Zuckhoff with an unbelievable bibliography of those that were there as well as Congressional hearings. This is the minute by minute of the siege in Benghazi as put into words and told by the survivors. A story that should be reread constantly by our population of what can happen and what did.

Andrew Gross is a fascinating tale writer and he has surpassed his previous books with THE ONE MAN. An incredible story, partially true, of how one man became a special prisoner of Auschwitz, that unspeakably horrible German concentration camp during the Second World War. This military man of Polish decent was sent by the U.S. to free another prisoner who had special scientific knowledge necessary to our country. Partially true as one man really did this. The background of the author’s family puts into words the tragedy of many people in Europe and their families during this time.

And then we find a book that retells the story of the Galveston Hurricane; a story that really happened; the only fictionalized part of it are the names of some of the characters. WINDOWS OF HEAVEN by Ron Rozelle, a local historian, tells the tale of the early days of the forecasting of that storm; forecasts that were ignored on a daily basis. As were the pleas to build a seawall; one that is now done.

Have you ever read a book as told by an animal? If not, and you might be curious, find THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein, as the life of his humans as told by a dog in his daily life. The book will make you laugh, and cry, and wonder. Definitely added to my library.

Christmas has come to our Library with the assistance of some very dedicated and talented people. We have been blessed once again with the artistic talents of Grace Stone, our beloved century old resident, who has decorated our tree again with her special eye for beauty. And Mrs. Stone was then aided with the assistance of her daughter, Susan Onishi, who found that one spot on the tree lacking an ornament. Helping her were Ursula Price with her unbelievable mechanical talents as aided by Susan Raybon in putting our tree together and placing it on its stand. And then, Ursula with the aid of Joanie Morgan (of Treasure Chest fame) put the decorations on the outside of our building; those that cause many folks in their cars to stop and admire.

And with the additions to our table of goodies, Susan Rabon and Ursula Price brought some very special sweet treats for all to enjoy following their labors; and enjoy they all did. After all of these decorations were in place, we had a special guest, Audrey Ragusin who found some of the stuffed teddy bears under the tree and loved each. Our enjoyment with those of our welcoming children is something to behold; hopefully, more of this delightful age will come and see what we have that’s special and Christmasy here.

Grace Stone attaching ornaments to the Port O’Connor Library Christmas tree.

Aubrey Ragusin

On February 4th, 2017 at the Bauer Center in Port Lavaca, Warrior’s Weekend will be holding our second Calhoun County Muster to raise funds for Warrior’s Weekend XI. Our first Calhoun County Muster was held in Port O’Connor and, although successful, we are trying to reach out to an even larger populous in Port Lavaca. As many of you know, next May will be our eleventh year of bringing wounded military heroes from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; housing them in Victoria, Port O’Connor, Seadrift and Port Lavaca. In both 2015 and 2016 we brought in over 900 of these heroes plus their family members and caretakers. All total, Warrior’s Weekend has honored approximately 5,000 of these heroes over the last 10 years. This is by far the largest event of its kind in the world. As a by-product, we have contributed to the economy of Calhoun County in a big way for all these years.

Although many believe the war to be “winding” down, most of you know that it still rages on. As this is being written, we have lost seven heroes in the last month in Afghanistan. Thousands more are in harm’s way and many more will be deploying in the coming year. We have been told and know that the worst thing we can do to these heroes is to forget their service and sacrifice for our freedom. Warrior’s Weekend has committed to not let that happen as best we can. An event such as Warrior’s Weekend can only be achieved if thousands of volunteer hours are donated along with the necessary funds to do so. We need your help.

The Musters we hold–another one will be held in Victoria on March 25th–are our largest fundraisers and allow us to touch as many of these heroes’ lives as we do. We need items to sell at these fundraisers, whatever that may be, and people to attend willing to open their hearts and wallets to show these heroes we have not forgotten their sacrifice. Sponsor tables for the Muster at the Bauer Center will seat 8 and will sell for $400. This includes preferred seating, a ribeye steak dinner and drinks plus an evening you will not soon forget. There will be games, raffles and a live auction. If you have an item or two you would like to donate, please contact us at your earliest convenience. We’ll be glad to pick it up. Hunting and fishing trips are always a huge item for us but most anything will do. We will have another organizational meeting in Port Lavaca at the Bauer Center on January 23 starting at 6:30 p.m. If you can help, please attend this last meeting before the Muster in Port Lavaca.

If you appreciate your freedom and the sacrifices these heroes have made to achieve it and you wish to be a part of this event, please contact us at either Warriorswknd@yahoo.com or by calling me at 361-935-7414. We hope to see you on February 4th. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:30. There will be limited seating and we hope to sell it out. We always have. Please do not let our heroes down.

Ron Kocian, President
Warrior’s Weekend
361-935-7414
Warriorswknd@yahoo.com