Winners of Fisherman’s Chapel’s Annual Chili Cook-off:
1st Place – Vidall Resendiz; 2nd Place – Joane McDonough
3rd Place – Erny McDonough

Talk about being “blown away!” The first week of this year, Joane and I went on a retreat to Arkansas. While there, we got a call from Doyle Adams asking if I could assist him in passing out an honor at the First Baptist’s Annual Valentine’s Banquet. I assured him that I would do anything that would help him, but would get back with him when we returned. After arriving back here in Port O’Connor, I made contact with Doyle and asked him how I might prepare to assist him with this task. He assured me that I talk “fast enough” on my feet that I can do it without preparations, and Doyle sent Joane and me tickets to the dinner. What a delight it was to arrive with the Community Center packed with “love birds”. After passing out awards for the oldest and youngest couples present, he announced that we would be assisting him with the next award – so Joane and I went to the front to assist. But, instead of helping Doyle with a presentation, the Citizen of the Year plaque was presented to us.

Now, I must say that while honored to be considered for such a great honor, we know that the name on the plaque was representative of a lot of people. When the plaque talked about the Friday Night Youth, we thought the award should have gone to Nathan and Darin, who head up that program! When the plaque talked about the breakfast tacos we make for Warrior’s Weekend, we know the award was for the many who donate eggs, tortillas, sausage, milk, coffee, etc., and those who work cracking and mixing the eggs, cooking the sausage, and who show up at 3:00 a.m. to get all the cooking done and tacos ready to serve the servicemen and their families! When Poco Bueno was listed, we know that my job is simply to thank the fishermen for their donations while a host of people are here at the Chapel working to clean, bag, and freeze the fish for distribution! When the pantry was spoken of, we know that many names of contributors and those who “shelf” the items should have been on the plaque! What I am attempting to say is this: while Joane and I were honored to receive the award, we know that it should have been much larger with many, many names listed on it instead of just ours!

We are honored to be a part of a community of believers who are not competing with anyone except the enemy of our lives. We are builders together with each other and with our Lord, Who makes it happen for eternity! Now that we are beginning our 22nd year laboring here in Port O’Connor, just know that our hope is that we should leave here in what we call the “Rapture of the Church,” but if not, we plan to be buried in the Port O’Connor Cemetery! Thank you for allowing us to partner with you to grow God’s Kingdom here on earth!

Our Annual Chili Cook-off was held on Valentine’s Day with Vidall Resendiz taking first place, my wife, Joane, being named second place, and I took third place! After all these years, I finally found some judges who recognized my chili-cooking ability. (I have always been deemed the least favorite in this cook-off and was just about ready to hang up my apron.) Thanks, judges, Grace Stone, Susie Onishi, and Joyce Rhyne!

We also honored Mrs. Grace at our cook-off, making it a Birthday Party! Mrs. Grace can teach all of us the secret of living a happy life – since she has just reached the century mark! We know this community has come together to show her our love, and she has received over 150 birthday cards to date!

Captain Robert is teaching another Captain’s Class for us. Remember, there are going to be only five more Sea Academy Classes here in Port O’Connor. If you have been waiting to take the class, time is running out! For more information, call Captain Robert at 361/816-3010 or the Sea Academy at 361/758-6184. Captain Robert will be offering a GPS Course for us in the near future, so if you are interested, please keep listening for further information.

“The Kids Are Coming! The Kids Are Coming!” is the cry at the Chapel. On Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27, mountains of kids are coming to Port O’Connor for our Kids’ Retreat. There will not only be Port O’Connor kids here, but some from as far away as Nixon and El Campo and many points in between. This is a free event and we would like for all our local kids (ages 7-12) to come and those teens who would like to work this event are also welcome to call Pastor Joane (361/648-4622) or contact Darin at Friday Night Youth for further details. It is a Western theme and if weather permits, there will be a hay ride and camp fire. Much is going into this great event and you are welcomed!

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help people successfully navigate their lives from earth to Heaven! You will always find a warm welcome and are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”

Calhoun County Extension Service’s Winter Lecture Series will conclude on February 25 with Texas Master Naturalists Sam and Mike Burnett on the topic of Sea Beans. The lecture will be held at the Port O’Connor Community Center from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. and is free to the public.

Special encore presentation March 3: Eric Taylor, Agriculture Agent, topic: Feral Hogs and management options. CEU credit for pesticide applicators is available. Please call the Eric if you are interested in the credit so he can plan accordingly. 361-552-9747.

After learning that there was some confusion among residents concerning burning in the City limits, Seadrift City Council voted to amend the 2011 Burn Ordinance. The changes are as follows:

• Burning is allowed ONLY between the hours of one (1) hour after sunrise and one (1) hour before sunset.

• Before starting to burn, call the Calhoun County dispatcher with your name and address; and call the dispatcher after your fire is extinguished.

• Burning shall commence and be conducted ONLY when wind speeds are at least six (6) miles per hour and no more than fifteen (15) miles per hour.

Citizens are reminded that before burning, a Burn Permit must be obtained from City Hall.

No permit is required when burning is used solely for recreational, ceremonial purposes, preparation of food, or exclusively as a means to provide warmth in cold weather. In other words, small, contained camp fires and cooking fires are allowed. HOWEVER, fires allowed under this exception shall not contain domestic or construction waste.

Walk Across Texas! started in Calhoun County on February 15. Walk Across Texas! is part of the Healthy South Texas Initiative to challenge teams and individuals to walk 830 miles in 8 weeks as a way to encourage participants to increase their physical activity. If you live in Port O’Connor and want to participate, our local Intracoastal 4-H will be hosting a sign-up event on Sunday, February 21st, at 3:00 pm at King Fisher Beach. Our 8 weeks will end a week after the rest of the county. We will have a midway celebration with awards.

Participating in Walk Across Texas! focuses on walking, which is considered one of the least expensive and easiest ways to exercise. Walking 30 minutes a day will improve your overall health. Walk Across Texas! works with individuals to form teams of 8 people and have activities that will get the team to walk 830 miles or more in 8 weeks and teach participants how to increase their daily physical activity.

Adults and children can be on the same team, making this event a great choice for a family activity. If you do not want to walk, you can choose to bike, run, swim, or many other activities. Some of your home and garden chores can count too! For more information about the Walk Across Texas program, you can visit walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu.