Happy 5th birthday to Port O’Connor Library Branch! The Stalcup Family observed our special day with a lovely orchid and a birthday card. We appreciate our thoughtful patrons.

Library News:

POC Library Hours: Phone Number: 361-983-4365
Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
*Note: Closed on February 17th for President’s Day

Adventure starts at your local library. In whatever reading experience, program or event in which you participate, enjoy the journey and cherish the resources provided by your local library.

Thank you to Peg Edison from Pegtastic Jams & Jellies for donating banana bread for the January 31st Coffee/Bingo/Loteria morning. Snacks always go well with prizes and fun!

Friends of the POC Library:

Why are The Friends important in Port O’Connor? Friends of the Library groups are a great benefit to libraries through their volunteer support. Friends can be extra brains and hands to help with programs, projects, and other efforts at the library.

January’s Children’s Program was delightful with dolphins and pirates! Many thanks to Kimberly Clark for her knowledgeable presentation of information and stunning photographs of our local creatures. Pirates Laura and Greg Gear and Beth Smith made math skills fun by playing Rattlin’ Bones with the kids. A very fun time was had by all the mateys!

The Adult Program on Sunday afternoon was such a success! Participants were certainly engaged with socializing and a fun recreational event. No skill level was required and the room was full of artists creating various art pieces.

Mark your calendar for the next programs offered by The Friends.

Super Saturday Children’s Program
Saturday, March 2, Tropical Fun, 10:00 – 11:30

Adult Programs:

Monday, February 26th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Beekeeping as a Hobby.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided along with door prizes.

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays: 8:00-9:00 AM – Coffee & Conversation – Not a morning person and find it difficult to attend? Tell yourself, “Brew can do it!” Please join us every Wednesday
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9:30–10:30 AM – Bingo – The fun follows the 8 AM coffee event every Wednesday! Special thanks to the generosity of the noted sponsors.
· February 7: sponsored by Trinity Shores
· February 14: sponsored by Bethany Senior Living
· February 21: sponsored by Harbor Hospice
· February 28: sponsored by Victoria Hospice
Note: LOTERIA (Mexican Bingo) to follow bingo.

1:00-3:30 PM – Mah Jongg – Like they say in baseball, “There’s no crying in Mah Jongg.” Join us for a friendly game!

Thursdays: 1:00-3:30 PM – Bridge – Ever heard a player complain about tournament fees at a FREE library event? Neither have we. Please join this free event.
Submitted by Darla Miles, Friends of the Port O’Connor Library

Many thanks to Lauren Martin for meeting with POC gardeners about preparing for spring planting as well as freeze salvage and clean up. She provided the audience with expert knowledge, tips, and insights on gardening.
Ms. Martin discussed quite a few topics in this very short time, such as seedlings, preparing soil, composting, and how to rearrange a garden. She answered specific questions from the audience, such as freeze blankets, watering techniques, natural methods of deterring unwanted insects, and cold hour requirements for fruit trees.
Come and see the newest addition to the community garden. The shade structure and butterfly/hummingbird garden should be ready in plenty of time for spring. Plot Members, be sure to arrange your composting bucket needs with Cindy Hanson.

Our next meeting is scheduled for February 20th at 5:30 p,m, in the POC Library Multipurpose Room with Brigid Berger for “Purple Martins: Our Summer Texans. These beautiful birds are beneficial for gardens and ecosystems for a few important reasons: mosquito control and natural pest management. We look forward to having you join us us for this special occasion. ALL are welcome to attend this event. us for this special occasion. -Darla Miles

Garden Club’s New Shade Structure

The Intercoastal 4-H Club held their monthly meeting February 4th, 2024. We talked about upcoming contests such as the District Spring Spectacular and the Spring Fishing Skill-a-thon. If you have a young angler, make sure to register them for this tournament! You must be enrolled in 4-H to participate.

As part of our community service project, we made Valentine’s Day cards for the nursing home.

Our next Meeting will be March 3rd, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the POC Community Center. Hope to see you there!

McKenna Guevara
President/Reporter

The March meeting for Calhoun County Democratic Club will be held Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the Calhoun County Library, in the community room, 200 W Mahan St., Port Lavaca.

Social/potluck is at 5.30pm and the meeting starts at 6 p.m.
They will be going over the Super Tuesday results of the March 5th Primary.
Got questions? Come and join us.

The club will also be hosting the Democratic County Convention for Calhoun County on Saturday March 23 at the Calhoun County Library, in the community room, 200 W Mahan St., Port Lavaca.

You can RSVP for out monthly meetings here: mobilize.us/calhouncountydemocrats/event/457242/

“I don’t know anyone that had a better character than Ted Gill. Ted was a great man. He was always trying to help somebody.” Joe Beaver

The City of Seadrift has lost one of its treasured community members! Ted Gill passed away on January 18 at the age of 93. He will be greatly missed! No one will be able to fill the void that he left.
Ted had a very gracious disposition. He was kind to all and enjoyed a good conversation. His contribution to the City of Seadrift as Mayor and as City Councilman helped Seadrift be what it is today. In 1968 when Ted became the Seadrift Mayor, he was handed the keys to an old grain truck with high sides on it. That truck was the city’s first garbage truck! Durell Gaines and Henry Bennetson were the city’s first solid waste employees. Reflecting on those days Henry Bennetson said, “Ted Gill was a mighty good boss. He treated me and Durell Gaines really good.”

As mayor Ted finished the city’s gray water sewer system. Grey water is wastewater from washing machines, showers, bathtubs, etc. It does not include the wastewater from human waste. Ted went to A&M to learn how to operate the system and taught two employees how to operate it. Ted, also, got the first state water treatment license. Three times Ted went before the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission. Each time he won $250,000 grants for the city.

Ted and the City Council introduced the first Seadrift ambulance to the city. It was a Cadillac Hearse! Ted ended up serving six years as Seadrift Mayor (starting in 1968), eight years as a Seadrift Council member (’87 to ’91), and again as City Councilman from 2000 to 2007.

While Ted was on the City Council the city purchased the current city hall and civic center. Also, as a city councilman, Ted worked to receive a grant for the Seadrift Harbor. Ted, his wife Bootsie, George Miller, and Pat Kennedy traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the grant from the Department of Health and Human Resources.

On January 1, 1992, Ted Gill retired from Union Carbide after 32 years. Ted and his wife Bootsie were very active members of Seadrift’s First Baptist Church. He was a dedicated Christian man who loved the Lord. Ted served on various committees and was sought out because of his wisdom and expertise. He, also, was a 54-year Endowed Master Mason at the Seadrift Masonic Lodge.

Ted was an avid fisherman all the years he lived in Seadrift. Floundering was his favorite way to fish. The last time he went fishing he had to be lifted into the boat on a pallet with a forklift because he couldn’t lift his right leg. Talk about a real fisherman!

Ted was always baking cookies. His favorite cookie was oatmeal raisin. Ted and Bootsie did a lot of canning and cooking through the years. Ted, also, loved to make banana pudding. Aside from cooking Ted was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan.

Ted was predeceased by his beloved wife Bootsie of 69 years and his son Tommy. Ted has one living sister Mary Witten along with Ted and Bootsie’s son Tim and his wife Connie. Ted and Bootsie have one granddaughter Tonia and her husband Bobby (Henson). Tonia and Bobby have two children Tyler and Talen.

I remember as a kid growing up in Seadrift that whenever I heard the name “Ted Gill” his name commanded respect. I wonder how many of us living in this community had the same experience. Those who knew him well will especially miss him. Our condolences to Ted’s family. He will be missed.

-Tanya DeFores