POC Service Club elected new officers for the year at our September 3rd meeting. Marie Hawes was reelected for a second term as President. Joining her will be Donna Vuichard, Vice President; Annette Leach, Treasurer and Kelly Gee, Secretary. With the new slate comes a new schedule of work, service projects and fund raisers for the coming year. Our biannual community garage sale will be held at the POC Community Center Pavilion on October 10th from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. All proceeds go towards our Scholarship awards to POC Youth. We will be offering home baked treats and goodies as always, so come early for the best selections. The famous bag sale, where everything you fit in a large bag is only $1, will be at 12 Noon. We have a variety of treasures and treats already prepared for this sale, but don’t worry, you’re not too late! You can still donate gently used furniture, household items, sporting goods, clothing and toys to sell. If you have a donation you can bring it to the pavilion on Friday, 10/9, before 12 Noon, or call Marie Hawes at 361-920-2322 to arrange for pick up if necessary.

Our long awaited Locator Map is complete and will be installed by the county at Kingfisher Beach any day now. We are sorry it has taken so long to get it installed, but it was a challenging project. Some planning was involved for framing and safely hanging the beautiful and artistic map. It will be a great addition to our community. Thanks to all who bought their ‘spot.’ It would not have been possible without each of you.

Our Annual Christmas Luncheon has a new and exciting theme and is just around the corner in early December. Help is needed to provide this special treat to our community. Other activities will need our attention, and we could use all club members’ help. Come update your calendar at our next meeting.

We are making progress in selecting the best of the best recipes and tips for the new club Cookbook. We need more recipes and would love to include yours. Contact a club member to share your favorites.

Fall brings many new opportunities. Maybe you are looking for a place to volunteer. Now would be the perfect season to join the Service Club. Our fall calendar has a ton of chances for you to volunteer. Join us in the back room on any 1st or 3rd Thursday morning at 10am. You might find your niche.

So, until next time, be safe, live simply, love openly, forgive generously and remember what journalist Tom Brokaw said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference. Volunteers make a difference.” Save your buck and come make a difference with us at the POC Community Service Club!

Oct. 16, 17, and 25

St. Patrick Church in Seadrift, TX will be holding its Annual Fall Fundraiser starting Friday, October 16th thru Saturday, October 17th from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a Rummage Sale in the new hall.

The following weekend on Sunday, October 25th at 11:00 a.m. we will be serving Carne Guisada, Rice, Pinto Beans & Tortillas for $8 a plate. Also for sale will be raffle tickets with lots of nice prizes, bake sale, eggrolls and rice.

St. Patrick Church is located at 311 W. Cleveland in Seadrift.

Butterfly on a Pride of Barbados plant -Robert P. Wood

Port Lavaca Market Days are back! Last outdoor market this year on October 3, 2015, here in the Bauer Community Center parking lot, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Craft and food vendors welcome – come on out and join us. After that, we will kick off the Christmas shopping season with our Christmas Ladies Night Out on Dec. 10th, inside the Bauer Community Center. There will be lots of shopping vendors, entertainment and refreshments for the ladies while they shop. Come join us!

Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce
(361) 552-2959 (361) 552-1288

Photo above: At his August 25th Retirement Party, Postmaster Johnny Johnson is presented a plaque of appreciation by Judge Nancy Pomykal.

The plaque was inscribed:

Presented to Johnny Johnson – Postmaster Port O’Connor, Texas

In Appreciation

FOR your commitment, hard work and dedication to the people of Port O’Connor.

FOR your enthusiasm, loyal service and always taking that “extra step” to help others.

FOR your endless optimism, smiles and encouraging words.

FOR your outstanding service, immeasurable contribution and always being there for us.

WE offer our sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude.

Best wishes for a happy retirement. We will miss you.

Thank you for being an excellent postmaster and for being our friend.

Sincerely,
Your Port O’Connor Family
August 25, 2015

Christina Barientos-Morales
Port O’Connor Post Office

I had the pleasure of speaking with our newest PostLady, Christina Barrientos-Morales, who is replacing Johnny Johnson at our Port O’Connor Post Office. And Johnny has nothing but highest praise for this very young and delightful lady. He agrees with me that she will be an excellent replacement for him; after all, she has dimples and is very pretty with a totally charming smile.

Born in Lindsey, California, she has somehow made her way to our small area, living on the border between POC and Seadrift. She grew up there in Lindsey, a small town, attending high school with her brothers and sisters. And then came to Texas to marry and create a family.

Asking about her impression of POC, she loves it. Says it is a very delightful community where everyone knows each other; are polite and community oriented. Her dreams are to continue working here until she is eligible for retirement, which will be a long time in the future.

Christina is one of those very unusual women who are totally people oriented; she is extremely dedicated to her work and is completely cognizant of the complications of her position. We just hope that she will continue in the long line of people who have held this office.

Back in the 40’s our mail was forwarded to us by train from Victoria to Seadrift, and then carried from there by a local gentleman. Along the way, though, he would provide “bus” service to our school for some of the children in the outlying areas. I had heard that Hugh Hawes would then dispense the mail from his home on Main at Second Street. Some time around that period, Miss Edna Whittaker took care of Port O’Connor’s mail, a job which she most throughly enjoyed, as the late Miss Whittaker would say.

Our first actual PostMistress was our charming Ms. Agnes Valigura who worked in the “old” post office on Main Street. Ms. Agnes told me one day that the residents had to build a restroom for her as she was the only feminine employee; she also spoke of the number of baby chickens several residents would order that sat on the floor in a box creating their form of music in the building.

Following Ms. Agnes and presiding over the new building on Adams at 6th Street was Henry Pontgratz, and Henry served our community with knowledge and care. Assisting Henry was Ms. Alice Reed. And following his retirement, came Johnny, with Alice assisting for several years. And now Christina.

Going back to the 40’s and early 50’s in our community was a time when neighbors knew each other; when property lines were never disputed; when the local mode of transportation was walking, unless as a child you owned a bicycle with big tires. And as you walked down the street from the local grocery or post office, you greeted each oncomer with a smile and a query as to their day. When a neighbor was injured or became sick or needed help, all neighbors would help. Currently, we haven’t lost that completely, as now when we see someone in our post office, we do smile and acknowledge them. This is the joy of a small community, and, hopefully, may we never lose it.

Old Port O’Connor Post Office, now a private residence

Port O’Connor Post Office photos by Sue Kubecka