Grace Stone

Grace Stone is a remarkable woman; one who has turned 100 years of age recently, but one whose day is not spent staring at a television set or bemoaning her age.  This is a woman of incredible talent and imagination and one who remains as active as her daughter, Susan Onishi, does.  She lives in a small home adjacent to her daughter’s home, and the inner walls of this building are covered with many examples of her beautiful needlework and quilting; many that have taken prizes at the County Fair.  And most days, you can see Mrs. Stone exercising joyfully as she walks six or seven blocks on streets near her home, or  climbing a long staircase on an adjacent home six or seven times. These activities resulted as she had to stop riding her bicycle at age 89.

Grace was born and raised in a small community about 100 miles north of New York City.  There she attended school, and had the joys of being able to walk from her home to school, something that many students are unable to do in these tempestuous times.  Following graduation from high school in that town, she found employment with the local Montgomery Ward’s store, rising to become the manager of three departments before retiring.  Seeking a new attitude in life, she moved “bag and baggage” to Deland, Florida, a city containing a university, several private schools, huge museums, and lots of antique stores; a city that holds residents of all ages and interests.  Mrs. Stone made her life there, meeting many people and forming many friendships as she continued her artistic endeavors,  one of which was learning to form very unusual basketry from raffia and pine needles, with an astonishing result.  One of the major museums in Deland now boasts several of her hooked rugs.

When Carl and Susan Onishi left Houston and moved to their home in Port O’Connor, finding it such an enjoyable place to live, Mrs. Stone believed it was time to relocate too. She says that Port O’Connor  is the perfect place for her at this time in her life, doing her favorite needlework, and visiting with friends.  She also is an avid reader, enjoying some of the westerns that are available in our Library, and attends the Tuesday morning luncheons at the Community Center, and playing bingo, and winning.  Both she and Susan love watching football games on television; primarily pro games, and she is an avid rooter for the Houston Texans.  And since their freezer is stocked with Blue Bell ice cream, half-time during a game becomes a treat.

Not one to demand or complain, this delightful lady is not just self-sufficient, but very adamant  that “of course, she can do it”; she has a delightfully wry sense of humor with a charming smile on her face.  A beautiful woman who is small in stature with a pile of white hair that she wears twisted into a knot on the top of her head,  she lives each day with the philosophy that   “life’s too short not to have fun each day”, and this woman intends to keep doing that day by day.

Her greatest accomplishment in life is knowing that she raised her children well; they are both happy, healthy and successful in life.  She also says that she is only 100, but her spirit is younger and she has many years ahead of her.  And the plans for later this year will be designing and constructing bird houses out of some reclaimed lumber Susan has accumulated.  But she has also fallen prey to the latest adult pleasure of coloring designs of all types, and Susan has just purchased a large amount of coloring pencils for their enjoyment.

Although Mrs. Stone’s birth date is February 8, her birthday celebrations began in January and have lasted more than a month. It began with a visit from family members from California, then more family arrived from Chicago and Florida, followed by a visit from friends from Dripping Springs, Texas.

She enjoyed several luncheon dates, a birthday celebration at Fisherman’s Chapel, celebration with “100th” T-shirts at the Tuesday, February 16, Senior Lunch, birthday greetings posted on the large bulletin board at the POC Fire Station, five birthday cakes, plus several flower arrangements and plants and boxes of candy.
Of all this recognition, perhaps the most touching to her was receiving more than 150 birthday cards. According to Grace, all this celebrating has left her “a little tired, but a lot happy”.

Celebrating Grace’s Birthday at the Senior Citizens Luncheon

Marvin and Biddie Hileman (pictured with banquet emcee Doyle Adams) were honored at the 2016 Sweetheart Banquet as the longest married couple. Marvin and Biddie fell in love as school kids and he married Biddie at the tender age of 16. She had not finished school yet, so for two years she made the best grades ever since she had to bring her report card home for him to sign each semester. She never wanted to disappoint him. Kids and grandkids and lots of living later, she still loves him and wants to make him happy. They must be doing something right. Congratulations Marvin and Biddie Hileman.

John & Ashley Wyatt met in early 2014 at Ashley’s work and immediately hit it off. Engaged in April 2015, they went on to marry on a Texas ranch in November 2015 among friends and family. Ashley says they have the perfect marriage. “He does almost all the cooking and I do all the baking.” In their free time, which is a rarity these days, they love to go fishing on their boat. These two were the most newly married couple at the 2016 Sweetheart Banquet.
Congratulations John and Ashley!

Joan and Rob Childs met on Match.com following loss and sadness in both their lives. Life had lots in store for these two. They went on long dates and long walks through a short courtship that led to marriage six short months ago. They were honored as the second most newly married at the 2016 Sweetheart Banquet.
Rob and Joan are retired and love spending winter time on the Texas coast. They married on an Alaskan cruise, but the love has never been chilly and life is happy for these two newlyweds.
Congratulation Joan and Rob!

As most of you who read the Dolphin Talk know, Warrior’s Weekend has been bringing wounded military heroes to Port O’Connor (POC) for the last nine years. In 2015, we brought in over 900 of these brave Americans and this year we hope to do the same. In order to do so, you can just imagine how much has to be raised in funding and we need your help. On March 5th, Warrior’s Weekend is bringing to the POC Community Center, a copy of our very successful Muster that we hold in Victoria. Many of you have not been able to attend the Victoria Muster and/or you may simply have a weekend home here in POC and don’t even know about it.

Everyone always says “We support the troops” but most don’t have an idea of how to put those words into action. Muster/POC gives you that opportunity. This is your chance to have a wonderful, fun day and make that contribution that shows you really do support the troops. Believe us when we tell you that they love coming to POC as most all would love to come back over and over. We have made a conscientious effort to reach out to those heroes that have never been to Warrior’s Weekend so far and as of this writing, well over 100 first timers will be here in May 20-22nd. That is exciting. Many of the others are coming back for either their 2nd or 3rd time. We wish we could bring them all but logistics dictate otherwise. Funding is most important and that is where Muster/POC can be a huge assist.

We are selling tables for 8 for only $400, which entitles you to a rib-eye steak dinner and drinks. Only a few of these are left. Individual tickets are $60 and can be purchased at Tigrett Real Estate in POC. If you have any questions, you may contact me at 361-935-7414 or Kelly Parks at 361-550-4296. If you’d like to volunteer for the big event in May, we’d love to have you.

We hope to see you at Muster/POC. Doors open at 2pm and dinner will be served at 5:30pm. There will be a short program followed by our always exciting live auction. Let us hear from you or go by Tigrett Real Estate and get your wristbands.

With it said that 22 veterans commit suicide a day, we must keep reminding as many of these heroes as we can that we cannot forget their service and sacrifice to America. Most of them will tell you that the worst part of their service and sacrifice is that they are forgotten. Warrior’s Weekend, with your help, will see to it that we will not forget them. Visit our website, www.warriorsweekend.org for information on our organization, now going into it’s 10th year. We need you—they need you.

Ron Kocian, President
Warrior’s Weekend, 501 c 3 Non-Profit

Spring Is Right Around The Corner

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope all of you are doing well and impressed your Sweetie on Valentines Day. . you know the saying, “happy girlfriend/wife, happy life”. Fifty bucks in flowers and candy (or even better a handmade item ), is such a small price to pay for happiness!

Last week I was literally stranded on the island, unable to get my boat off, because of extremely low tides. The previous back to back to back hard blowing northers pushed and kept the tide out for five consecutive days, making it impossible to even float my boat thru the narrow shallow inlet to access the deeper bay waters. On my last day of chicken feed, I was finally able to lift the motor and pole out of the cut and then pole back in later that afternoon. It’s unusual for the tide to stay that low for that long, but once again, Mother Nature calls the shots.

The one advantage to the low tide were the exposed oysters along the shorelines and the inlet cuts. So being one of my very favorite foods, I slipped on the hip wading boots and gathered up three dozen. And luckily, without jabbing the oyster knife into my hand, those plump beauties were shucked and fried later that same evening. Nothing better than a mess of fresh fried salty oysters!

Well, Spring will be here before we know it, yay! I’m sure a few stray cold northers will blow thru before, and even after, it officially arrives, but it’s still on the way. This past week I planted three low chill hour peach trees that I had ordered, in hopes of getting them to produce. I don’t get many chill hours ( between 32-45 degrees F, Nov-Mar ), so it’s difficult for fruit trees to flower and produce fruit. That’s why I’m hoping these varieties, Eva’s Pride and Florida Prince, requiring 100-150 chill hours, will do well on the island. All I can do is keep trying different varieties until I find one or two that will thrive out here.

I’ll start my tomato seeds this week, probably 8-10 different varieties, and then put the plants, 20-30 of them, in the ground around April 1. There’s just something about growing a delicious vine ripened tomato from a tiny seed that brings a true sense of gardening satisfaction. The watermelons and cantaloupes, started also from seeds, will get underway about a month after the tomato plants go into the ground.

The injury to my lower leg that I suffered the middle of December has healed very nicely, leaving only a small scar and a depression from the large amount if drained fluids. That was one freak accident that I don’t care to have happen again!

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and smile for Spring being on the way.

This month Dolphin Talk celebrates the 20th Anniversary of its founding on February 9, 1996. We have been very pleased to receive several compliments recently from our readers, making us feel that perhaps persistence and hard work have been appreciated.

We are so thankful to all those who contribute to the content of this publication – some only once or occasionally – some every month – some receiving a small stipend – most with no monetary compensation. Without their assistance, this would be a very small paper indeed. Special thanks to our advertisers – especially our long-term advertisers. Without their financing, there would be no paper at all.

Dolphin Talk has grown from a few hundred copies per issue to 5,000 (a little less in winter months), plus those who follow us on our web site and Facebook page. We appreciate every one of you and always welcome your comments and contributions of news and photos.

Since this is a special occasion for us, we have included in this issue an article telling how we got started.

20 Years of Dolphin Talk

Dolphin Talk – Port O’Connor/Seadrift News
Established February 9, 1996 by Margaret Jennings

In case you ever wondered how this little publication came about: In the fall of 1995, Margaret Jennings, a retired English teacher, and Charlotte Graham, a real estate agent, began to discuss how this community had no way, other than posting signs at Alvin’s and Shamrock, and by word of mouth, to spread the word about fundraisers, club activities, and other happenings. They agreed it would be a good idea for Port O‘Connor to have its own paper.

I just happened to overhear Margaret asking a business person if she would advertise in a local publication if we had one. I had lived in Port O’Connor about a year, had lots of free time on my hands, and my work experience was in print shops, newspapers and magazines. So, naturally, I interjected myself into the conversation, volunteering to be the proof-reader for the paper when, and if, one was started.

I didn’t hear any more about it until about February 1, 1996, when Margaret called and said if I was still interested in helping with a paper, I should come to Charlotte’s house that afternoon. In addition to Margaret, Charlotte, and me, a young lady named Debra Tomas was there. After some discussion, we decided we would give it a try. Margaret said I was to cover the churches, the Scouts, and fishing. And, we were going to have our first issue out in one week!

We received permission from the Chamber of Commerce to use their postal permit, got the issue together, and mailed out on time. We felt it was quite an accomplishment, even if it was only four pages. I remember a lady (Pat Stubbs) at church the next Sunday, telling me how she read and enjoyed every word, “even the commercials”.

Early on, Debra moved from the area. After several years as typesetter, plus handling the advertising, billing and some reporting, Charlotte also moved away. Margaret was always the editor and principal writer. She really knew what she was doing, and worked tirelessly even after becoming housebound due to poor health. She passed away in 2002.

Providing crucial help in various capacities over the years have been: Bill Tigrett, Ann Pesek, Shirley Gordon, Joane McDonough, Bob Hill, John Reneau, Chris Mapp, JJ and Sam Ault, and Jasmine and Jackson Gordon. I can’t thank you all enough. Also, thanks to regular contributing writers Clint Bennetsen, Phil Ellenberger, Sue Kubecka, Kelly Gee, Thomas Spychalski, William Brayshaw, Peter DeForest, Wesley J Hunt, Brigid Berger, Rhonda Cummins and our local pastors and fishing guides who submit articles for our readers’ enjoyment; to club reporters and correspondents from other organizations who keep us informed. And a special thanks to everyone who gives us news to put in the paper,—birthdays, weddings, special occasions, fishing photos, etc. Your input is what makes this a community paper.

My memory is not what it used to be, so if I forgot to mention a contributor’s name, please accept my apologies. But I certainly can’t forget to thank our advertisers. I hope (and have heard affirmatively) that advertising with Dolphin Talk has been beneficial to you. Our only source of revenue is our advertisers. Without advertisers there would be no Dolphin Talk. So, double thanks to all of you!

I am happy that we have been able to expand into Seadrift and now even cover some of the happenings in Port Lavaca and beyond. If you haven’t guessed, there are no “ranging reporters” like big city papers have. You, the reader, fill that position, so please keep your news coming our way. Comments and suggestions are welcome. And, remember, we need your news!

It has been more than a pleasure for me to be a part of this publication. I hope Dolphin Talk can continue to serve our community for years to come.

Thank you for reading Dolphin Talk!

Joyce Rhyne, Editor