David Berger and Allan Berger

Native Port O’Connor boys David Berger and Allan Berger, San Antonio Bay Partnership Chair help expand the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Port O’Connor Paddling Trail to the Little Jetties at Washington & Commerce streets. In collaboration with Calhoun County Precinct 4 employees Virgil Redding (another POC native) and Dean Wilson (Seadrift) a kiosk was placed on Friday, March 13.

Currently the trail begins and ends at Fisherman’s Cut.. This trail expansion will lengthen the trail by 11 miles (bringing total trail miles to 43), add 13 new trail markers and provide paddlers with an assessable launch site option. Official opening and website update to be schedule before summer. Informational signage will be added soon to the kiosk.

Community sponsors are the POC Chamber of Commerce, West Side Calhoun County Navigation District, Calhoun County and San Antonio Bay Partnership.

For more information about the current paddling trail go to: TPWD.Texas.Gov/FishBoat/Boat/PaddlingTrails. For more information about how San Antonio Bay Partnership is helping to protect, restore and enhance our local estuaries see: SABayPartnership.org.

Fans of professional basketball may remember a player by the name of Pete Maravich (1947-1988). His habit of shooting the ball from his side earned him the moniker, “Pistol” Pete Maravich. “Pistol” Pete was a phenomenal player, to say the least. Here are just a few facts about this former basketball star:

Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and played for three NBA teams until injuries forced his retirement in 1980. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game…One of the youngest players ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Maravich was cited by the Hall as “perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history.” 1

In spite of Pete’s success and wealth as a professional basketball player, he was unfulfilled and unhappy after retiring in 1980. Maravich became so miserable that he tried to drown his misery with alcohol, and, at one point considered taking his life. Speaking of this treacherous time in Maravich’s life, Michael Foust, in “The Christian Index,” notes:

Pistol Pete—who had found meaning in basketball since he was a child—was again searching for life’s purpose. That all changed in 1982, when during the middle of the night he knelt beside his bed and, weeping, committed his life to Christ. No one knew it then, but Maravich had only five short years to live. 2

Pete would die of a heart attack in 1988. He was 40 years old. However, in a video of his testimony, made shortly before his death, “Pistol Pete Maravich” described his search for purpose and reality in his life:

I tried everything. I tried transcendental meditation. I tried Yoga, reincarnation, life extending drugs. I became a vegetarian. I tried alcohol. At one point I fasted 25 days straight. I even got tired of basketball. After a spring game with the Boston Celtics in which I scored 38 points, I just decided to quit. I became a recluse for two years.3

After Pete Maravich gave his heart to Christ, he said, “I wouldn’t trade what I have now for a thousand NBA championships.” 4

Dear friend, perhaps you’ve tried it all and done it all, but find that life’s purpose and meaning still eludes you. Try Jesus. The hunger of your heart can only be satisfied by asking God to forgive you of your sins, and placing your faith in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). Try Jesus.

1From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Pete Maravich.
2Michael Foust, “The Christian Index,” How Pistol Pete Found Purpose, April 12, 2007.
3Taken from a sermon by Dr. Gerald Harris.
4Ibid.

Take Back the Night 5K Night Run/Walk

The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center’s 2nd annual  Take Back the Night 5K Night Run/Walk in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month is slated for March 28, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at Wilson Park.  Early registration is $30; Day of Event is $40.  Participants  MUST wear reflective gear and there will be a special prize for the “BRIGHTEST” participant.  Medals for 1st-3rd in each age group.  Registration includes a T-Shirt and Glow necklace.  Registrations are available at The Harbor, 215 W. Railroad and online at active.com.  Like us on Facebook at TakeBack TheNight Run-Walk.  For more info call The Harbor 361-552-1982.

Balloon Release

A Balloon Release is slated for Wednesday, April 1st at Noon at the Calhoun County Courthouse in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (April).  At that time, County Judge Mike Pfeifer will sign a Proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month in Calhoun County and a Resolution will be read for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.  Cookies and punch will also be served in the lobby of the Courthouse.

Celebrate the Child Picnic

Saturday, April 11th is The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center’s  annual Celebrate the Child Picnic at the Bayfront Peninsula beginning at 10:00.  There will be inflatables, games, face-painting, arts and crafts, popcorn, pickles, hotdogs, nachos and drinks.  The Cat-in-the-Hat, McGruff, H-E-Buddy and Sonic Cup will be making appearances.  Fun for the whole family.

AA meets each Saturday night at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Port O’Connor.
POC Lions Club meets the second Wednesday of each month, 4:00 p.m. at Port O’Connor First National Bank
Seadrift Chamber of Commerce meets the third Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. at First National Bank meeting room, Seadrift
Commissioner’s Court meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 10 a.m., 1st Floor of the Court House, Port Lavaca.
Crossroads Astronomy Club meets at 7:00 p.m., third Mondays, at U of H, Victoria, Room 223 info: wes81461@yahoo.com   935-2016
Calhoun County Quilt Guild meets the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building.
Calhoun County Democratic Club meets the last Thursday of the month at IBC Bank, Port Lavaca, at 5:30 p.m.
Calhoun County Republican Club meets first Monday of each month 6:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church Community Room, 213 E. Austin, Port Lavaca.
CASA (Christians Against Substance Abuse) meets each Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Call 361-652-7451 for meeting place

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Friday Night Youth every Friday except the first Friday of each month, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Fisherman’s Chapel, Port O’Connor
First Baptist Youth Group (Port O’Connor) meets every Wednesday night from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Grades 6th – 12th; Team Kids Grades 1-5
Port O’Connor Cemetery Association meets 3rd Thursday of each month at POC Community Center
Ladies Bible & Book Study is held every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Port O’Connor
VFW Post 4403 meets first Tuesday of each month. 552-3886
Open Mon-Friday; Closed Weekends R. Guitierrez 210-872-1198
Sat., March 21    St. Patty’s Dance 8:00-midnight    VFW Hall, Port Lavaca 361-271-0839

Thurs., March 26    Democrats Club 6:00 pm        American GI Forum, 2786 W Main, Port Lavaca
Sat., March 28    Take Back the Night 5K Night Run/Walk  7:00 pm        Wilson Park, Port Lavaca 361-552-1982
Sun., March 29    Goliad Massacre Reenactment  10:00 – Noon    Presidio La Bahia, Goliad
Sun., March 29    Paddle Tellers Point  SABayPartnership.org
Wed., April 1    Balloon Release  Noon        Calhoun County Courthouse
Thurs., April 2    POC Community Service Club  10:00 am    Port O’Connor Community Center
Fri., April 3    Good Friday
Sat., April 4    Easter Egg Hunt 2:00 pm        First Baptist Church, Port O’Connor
Sun., April 5    Easter Sunrise Service  7:00 am        King Fisher Beach, Port O’Connor
Mon., April 6    SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Session 10:00-11:00 am    Calhoun County Courthouse
Tues., April 7    Seadrift City Council  7:00 pm        Seadrift City Hall
Tues., April 7    Bunco  7:00 pm        Port O’Connor Community Center
Thurs., April 9    Warrior’s Weekend Volunteer Meeting   6:00 pm        POC Baptist Fellowship Hall
Fri., April 10    Relay For Life  6:00 pm        www.relayforlife.org/calhouncotx
Sat., April 11    Historical Marker Unveiling  11:00 am        Port O’Connor Cemetery
Sat., April 11    Celebrate the Child Picnic  10:00 am    Bayfront Peninsula, Port Lavaca
Mon., April 13    Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce  6:30 pm        POC Community Center Meeting Room
Wed., April 15    TERN Shorebird Monitoring   Rockport brigidberger@comcast.net
Thurs., April 17    POC Community Service Club  10:00 am    Port O’Connor Community Center
Sat., April 18    Community Garage Sale  8:00 – 2:00    Port O’Connor Community Center

Annie Oakley

Squanto

I had the singular privilege of attending the Living Museum presentation at POC Elementary on March 5 and 6. These 2nd graders selected, researched and presented detailed live action vignettes about famous individuals. Their work was impressive, their presentations polished, and their pictures adorable. Maybe more essential to the experience for the students was the steps taken towards creating lifelong learners, lovers of wisdom and history, students of human nature. They carefully set up scenes with props and “PLAY” buttons which allowed visitors to activate the lesson prepared by each historical character. Their interest in their chosen dignitary, their pride in their work accomplished, and their satisfaction and fulfillment from completing a daunting task was evident. None had to be prompted to pose for pictures or pushed to project when presenting. They spoke out and smiled and posed in character. This teacher gave them more than an assignment, helped them gain more than knowledge or information and presented more than just a grade. They gained perspective on a world larger than themselves. They grasped a timeline that extends much farther than their young years. And most of all, they gained self confidence, poise, self assurance and awareness lasting well beyond the grading period or even the school year. Good Job 2nd Grade and Way to Go POC Elementary.

Helen Keller

Paul Revere