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

Janice Dianne Maples, 72 of Seadrift, Tx., passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024. “Dianne” as she was called by her family and friends was born on March 20, 1951, in Jacksonville, Fl., to the late Matthew James Braswell and Mary Elizabeth Polous Braswell Gilbert.

Dianne was very family oriented and loved spending time with her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an active member of her church, serving on the board of First Assembly of God in Seadrift. She loved arts and crafts, shopping, watching Hallmark, cooking shows, traveling/cruises, and having women’s days out with her friends.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jerry Wayne Maples; daughter, Rebecca Lynn Rodriguez (David); grandchildren, Tasha Hammer (Travis), Ashley Vallejo (Joe), Alicia Garza (Daniel), Jeffrey Garza, and Cooper Rodriguez; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Crum (Ronald); Nieces and Nephew, Heather Riley (Larry), Kristy Miller (Sam), Ronald Crum, Jr. (Allison) and Terrah Huckeba (Travis); 12 great-nieces and nephews, and 4 great-great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, Matthew James Braswell; mother, Mary Elizabeth Polous Braswell Gilbert; brother, James Matthew Braswell; daughter, Kellie Jean Maples and grandson, Paul Simon Garza, III.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. before the funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at First Assembly of God at 501 2nd Street, Seadrift, TX, with Pastor Tim Smith and Assistant Pastor Beverly Smith to officiate. Interment to follow at Seadrift Cemetery in Seadrift. Fellowship will be held immediately after service, back at the church hall.

Pallbearers are Travis Hammer, Joe Vallejo, Daniel Rodela, Jeffrey Garza, Cooper Rodriguez, and Rion Hammer.
Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.gracefuneralhome.net Grace Funeral Chapel, Port Lavaca, 361-552-1705.