“More whoopers than I’ve seen anywhere!” exclaimed one of the thirty participants during the Shorebirds of Welder Flats field trip on Saturday, January 30th. The joint fund raising event for Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Friends of the Seadrift Library and San Antonio Bay Partnership began at the Seadrift library with coffee, breakfast breads and a talk by John Karges, Associate Director of Field Science, The Nature Conservancy. John’s remarkable photographs from his field work highlighted his insightful presentation about the importance of the Welder Ranch to the wildlife that depends on the wetland and coastal prairie habitats.

Armed with binoculars and spotting scopes and guided by birding experts, participants toured the beautiful Welder-Cliburn Ranch taking in views of dabbling ducks, diving kingfishers, sweet little plovers, gorgeous white pelicans, and the many other birds utilizing the ranches pristine wetland. The highlight of the tour was seeing the majestic whooping cranes: pairs, family units and the most remarkable, a group of 7 sub-adults all together. Seeing twenty-two of one of the most endangered birds in North America is a true testimony to the supportive habitat provided by the ranch.

Access to the ranch for this unique opportunity was provided through the generosity of Kathleen (Welder) Carey. And if that was not enough, Kathleen and her family put out a delicious chili lunch complete with cornbread, all the fix’ns and dessert back at the Seadrift Library. The frosting on the cake was the presentation by wildlife photographer Leslie Natale. Her gorgeous photos of birds and other wildlife on the Welder-Cliburn ranch and wonderful commentary about birding by a non-birder was a wonderful conclusion to a special day.

Like this event and the Powderhorn Ranch tours of 2015, The Friends of the Port O’Connor Library and San Antonio Bay Partnership plan to team up again to provide more unique and exciting opportunities to help support their causes which benefit our local community and environment.

Did you know, the Seadrift Police Department was the first in the County to use body cams? Since all stops are recorded, videos have helped resolve many cases, according to Police Chief Leonard Bermea. Using both body cams and in-car videos, scenes are recorded (with audio) from two points of view.

The Chief announced at the February 2 City Council meeting that the Department has received a new in-car video system for unit #2. This system, valued at $4,000, was donated by a video company. In January, officers were recertified on radar units and taser training. The Department received donations to replace a broken taser and replacement batteries and supplies for current tasers.

The K-9 team, which was deployed four times last month, was recertified for narcotics and patrol work.

The Police Department seeks the help of citizens in reporting crimes so they can be solved, preventing future victims and helping better the Seadrift community.

POC Community Service Club is filling up their schedule fast. April 9th is the Spring Community Garage Sale. We are continuing the collection of recipes for our upcoming cookbook; next month we begin accepting applications for 2016 scholarships from graduating seniors who attended POC elementary; we will be helping with several exciting community events and we are planning some new projects that will benefit our community.

We host biannual community garage sales at the POC Community Center. The sale of home baked goodies and timeless treasures raises a large portion of the money we use locally. We fund scholarships, community projects, help other local organizations and add useful equipment to our community. Our 2016 Garage Sales will be April 9th and October 1st at the pavilion. It is only possible through a great deal of effort from members, their families and community volunteers. We also need your orphaned treasures for others to adopt and enjoy. We need household goods, gently used clothing, tools, outdoor and sports gear that you no longer use. If you have items you would like to donate, call us. It is possible we could find some lifting and hauling help for you if needed. Think of it as sowing seeds that will grow beautiful things in your community.

If you know of a graduating senior who would like to apply for a scholarship, please have them check with their school counselor or contact a club member. We want to help our homegrown kids, but they can’t win a scholarship if they don’t apply. The qualifications are simple and all different abilities and skills are eligible.

In 2014, twin sisters Kaitlyn and Peyton Rice received scholarships. Both have graduated from cosmetology programs with flying colors and are licensed to beautify. Kaitlyn runs her own shop just off Adams at 7th St. and Payton works at a lovely salon in Victoria called Shearly Marvelous. Local money well spent.
Do you know a senior with a big dream? Would a scholarship help them achieve that dream? So please encourage them to apply today!

So, until next time, be safe, live simply, love openly, forgive generously and remember this old Swedish Proverb that says “The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.”

The Service Club meets the first and third Thursdays of the month, 10:00 a.m., in the meeting room of the Community Center. Come by, come join us, bring your hands with you. We can use hands of all sizes and ages to make a real difference!

Here it is again, Spring will soon be sprung and I am so ready for it, with longer days, warm weather and hopefully adventures anew when it finally sees fit to arrive in my neck of the woods.

As I write this, a thousand plus miles away from most of the Dolphin Talk’s readership, you may be wondering why I’m so overjoyed at the prospect of Spring and it is because I am much colder ‘up here’ at the moment than you lovely people are ‘down there.’

Every year I write a weather love letter back to Texas except this year I may have written it too early as it seems Old Man Winter still had a few tricks up his sleeves. This Winter has been ‘great’ by Chicago area standards but even that means cold and snow and the days like the ones that arrived this week, where at times the wind chill has the temperatures as low as ten below zero and make me wish I was back in Port Lavaca.

As I sit here writing this it is currently seven degrees for a ‘high’ and soon two to four inches of snow will arrive. The extended forecast here in the Midwest says warmer weather will be here in less than a week, but right now I’m “Texas dreaming” on such a very cold Winter’s day.

Soon the trees and other plants will experience their reawakening, the early morning will be filled with sunshine rather than darkness and people will escape their homes again with hardly a regretful thought about the cabin fever that preceded it.

And I can feel like I finally moved away from the Arctic Circle for a few months as well.

Of course I may really be dreaming, as of the time of writing this it is not yet Valentine’s Day yet. However this year I really need to heat up the outside world, not my love life.

The other topic rambling around in my head this month is one that really will not fully manifest itself until much later in the year and that is the topic of the presidential elections. I am not going to spout forth with my personal political views but rather implore that anyone reading this to pay attention to the upcoming presidential race.

Regardless of which side of the multitude of issues you fall on and regardless if you’re for one party or the other, the political climate in this country has become more divided than ever and action needs to be taken. That action is taken by all of us being rapt and attentive to the upcoming election and also by actually going out, not only to vote, but also to speak your mind and support the ideals you back because no one is going to ever voice your opinions or your beliefs.

Only one person can do that.

Last month while browsing through my copy of Dolphin Talk I noticed another columnist here using the opportunity to share their views of the current state of political affairs and I loved seeing it. I may not agree with everything that was written but having the freedom to express your take on political matters openly is not something everyone in the world gets to experience so it’s always wonderful to see people being proactive in that regard.

It also is in my opinion a major part of the reason independent media exists and should be encouraged to grow. To make use of an old 19th century quote from a paper closer to my current location, The Chicago Sun-Times: “It is the newspapers’ duty to print the news and to raise hell.”

Now I am not suggesting that the words in this local paper will change the world but it is nice to see things being utilized like they should be and honestly you don’t have to change the masses to effect the world around you, just catch the muse of one mind or change your own in the process.

What a sight! It was the evening of all evenings; it was the 2016 Annual SWEETHEART BANQUET. The Port O’Connor Community Center was beautifully decorated with the theme “Love Letters In The Sand”. Again, the 21st Annual Sweetheart Banquet was a Sell Out. Over 213 guest filled the Center for Dinner and Entertainment. As guest entered they were greeted with beautiful music by Danny Bourg and Tommy Williamson.

Former Pastor J.V. Helms gave the Blessing of the Food and the Event began. The platters of charcoal broiled steak with all the trimmings were served to everyone at their table by the Church Youth and 4H students. Men with their red aprons assisted the Youth. Everyone was served in less than 10 minutes.

Special Guest included former Sheriff B.B. Browning and Tiney, former Church Pastors and their wives, J.V. and Ola Helms, George and Barbara Yarbrough and Marcos and Sue Gohlke, and from Seadrift, Dennis (Poodle) and Mary Jane Wittenbert.

Doyle Adams, opened the event by recognizing all couples married 50 years or longer. About 10% of the couples raised their hands. Special recognition was given to the couple married the longest and the winner, at 65 years, Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Hileman. An award was presented to them, along with awards to the couples married the shortest time: Mr. & Mrs. John Wyatt (3 months) and Mr. & Mrs. Rob Childs (6 months).

Special Door Prizes were drawn from the “Ticket Bowl” and those receiving prizes were Joan Childs, John Wyatt, Rob Childs, Milllie Rupp, Marian Hoppe, and B.B. Browning.

The BIG AWARD of the evening was presented to Erny and Joane Mcdonough, Pastors of Port O’Connor’s Fisherman’s Chapel. Erny and Joane received a standing ovation from everyone. The Plaque presented read:

ERNY & JOANE McDONOUGH
PORT O’CONNOR CITIZENS OF THE YEAR

For Your Commitment, Initiative and Enthusiasm
Serving at Fisherman’s Chapel for over 20 years.
For your “Friday Night Youth” Program in Port
O’Connor, providing a safe place for Fun and Fellowship
For providing a Food Pantry Year Round and
Obtaining Fish for the Needy through “Poco Bueno”
Thanks Joane for your Counseling and Teaching
Thank You for your Hard Work and Enthusiasm
in Helping the entire Port O’Connor Community
May God Bless You With Much Love

Port O’Connor First Baptist Church

Everyone relaxed and listened to the music of Danny Bourg and Tommy Williamson. Leah Griffin sang a beautiful song. All the youth servers and food distributors were recognized and then everyone enjoyed singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. Yes, it was a very enjoyable evening and we are looking forward to our 22nd year in 2017!

See you in Church Sunday!