On a recent sunny but windy Saturday morning, several brave volunteers headed across rough waters in Matagorda Bay toward Chester Island for a beach cleanup work day. Four strong motivated volunteers and two Audubon Coastal Wardens walked the entire perimeter of the 70-acre island filling trash bags with plastic bottles, tennis shoes, flip-flops, ropes, fishing corks, and fishing string, Approximately 300 pounds of trash was bagged up. Thanks to our local POC Texas Parks and Wildlife Fisheries group for helping us dispose of the bags of trash at their facility. And a Big Thank You to our brave and dedicated volunteers for working so hard to not leave one piece of trash to harm the birds who live there for half of the year. The island is now sparkling clean and we will continue getting it ready for the Spring 2024 nesting season.

One of the perks of volunteering on the island was that we got to observe huge numbers of Neotropic Cormorant, and dozens of beautiful newly migrated White Pelican.

If you would like to volunteer on the island, please contact Peggy Wilkinson on the Chester Island Bird Sanctuary Facebook page.
=Peggy Wilkinson

Pastor Kyle Roehrig and wife Kristina
For Pastor Kyle Roehrig and his wife Kristina faith has been the focus of their lives for a long time. They grew up knowing about God and His saving work through His Son Jesus Christ. Faith was central in their home and is the focal point of what they do.

Now they find themselves as the newest addition of ministers to the Seadrift community as Pastor Kyle Roehrig and Kristina have moved into the Seadrift Methodist parsonage to serve the First United Methodist Church of Seadrift.

Kristina (who likes to be called Kris) commented about being in Seadrift by saying, “Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, kind, and giving. It’s a beautiful opportunity.” Pastor Kyle Roehrig (who wants to be known as Pastor Kyle) said, “God has paved the way and opened the doors to make this incredible opportunity available to us.” It truly was incredible that Pastor Kyle came to Seadrift when he did as he is just about to retire as an Air Force chaplain and was wondering what he was going to do. Mystery solved!

We salute Pastor Kyle for his military service as a chaplain! Out of twenty-seven years of ministry he has served twenty of those in the Air Force. Pastor Kyle’s father was an oral surgeon in the Air Force and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Pastor Kyle has had two deployments and eight assignments. His two deployments were in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pastor Kyle fills in the details: “I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 to Bagram Air Base Hospital for five months. In 2010 I was deployed with the Joint Special Operations Team in Iraq for five months.”
These are the eight military bases that Pastor Kyle was assigned to starting in January 2004 through January 2024: McDill in Tampa, Florida. Elmendorf in Anchorage, Alaska. Cannon in Clovis, New Mexico. Moron in Spain. Vandenberg in Lompoc, California. Eielson in Fairbanks, Alaska. Presidio in Monterey, California. Randolf in San Antonio, Texas.

One of Pastor Kyle’s greatest memories of serving in the military he shares about in his own words, “It happened in 2009 over the Thanksgiving holiday. I was privileged to prepare and serve a Thanksgiving meal over the skies of Afghanistan in a C-17 which is a large cargo plane. I was part of a mission to deliver a small group of soldiers to the war zone.”

Pastor Kyle and his wife Kris both have hard-earned degrees. Kris graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Math and Russian. Pastor Kyle also graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He also earned a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Pastor Kyle and Kris have three sons.

Pastor Kyle and his wife Kris are here to serve the Seadrift United Methodist Church well. They are excited and expectant about what God will do. After all, their faith is motivated by love!

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
*Special Note: The library is closed from December 22nd thru 26th and December 29th and 30th. It will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

How is it already December? One blink and Halloween and Thanksgiving were over! Need a gift idea?

Folks generally love gift cards. Gift a friend or relative with a FREE library card. It can fit snugly in a cell phone case or wallet. It might be easy to take for granted, but it is very powerful. Bring your friends and family to the library and sign up anyone who needs a lifetime of entertainment! Whether you have lived here for decades or are visiting for a short time, you can get a library card and use resources on-site and online. Visit the circulation desk to get started. While you are there, take part in one or all of our events.

An Adult Program was held on November 20th. What an eclectic night of poems and readings! Topics ranged from snails, whales, hummingbirds, original poetry about war and another about Christmas and Crime, dispatching for 9-11 to Jimmy Buffet and Shakespeare. Folks agreed that Poetry Night was quite a success and look forward to the next time!

Many thanks to our December Donors & Volunteers.

Per the wishes of the contenders of Beacon 44’s Fourth Annual Cornhole Tournament, proceeds will be used to benefit the Children’s Program. We appreciate your generosity!

It is amazing when the community comes together to create a Winter Wonderland with actual snow foam. Stop by for a beverage and see the results of local, incredible “elves” Brent Hart, Shaney Bradford, Ursula Price, Darla Miles, Chip Miles, Beth Smith, Jessica Flanagan, Virgil Price, Otto Haardt, Linda Orrick and Mary Ann Claiborne.

Wednesdays:
8:00-9:00 AM – Coffee & Conversation – Your friends and neighbors are a perfect “blend” of community each week! Please join your coffee mates.
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.
·December 6: sponsored by Trinity Shores
·December 13: sponsored by Bethany Senior Living
·December 20: sponsored by Calhoun Home Health
·December 27: sponsored by Victoria Hospice
1:00-3:30 PM – Mah Jongg – Have yourself a Merry Little Game and join us for a game. We tutor! Bring a guest, your best game and visit our library.

Thursdays: 1:00-3:30 PM – Bridge – Fun Fact: Oliver Cromwell banned all card games during his Protectorate; however, after the Restoration and once Charles II was safely on the throne, card games returned!

Friends of the POC Library:
The Friends collaborate closely with the library to help support the needs of the community and meet the needs of library management. Our membership drive started in July and was very successful with new and returning supporters. Regardless of the date, folks are welcome to join as a Friend, volunteer, or attend a FREE event at any time. Whichever way you elect to support or engage, we thank you.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 13, 2024 – Chili Cook – off at Josie’s Cantina sponsored by the Central Texas Tolbert Chili Group, a benefit for The Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library. Details forthcoming on The Friends of the Library FB page and friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org.

Nothing is more inspiring than an authentic compliment from a participant who attends multiple activities at YOUR local library. It is the heart and hub of Port O’Connor!

Jessica Pelzel said it best, “I want to challenge all my friends and family to go out and visit your local library to see what all they have to offer, and try to get involved! We’ve had the pleasure of being part of one of the best county libraries in Port O’Connor that has kids programs, adult programs, weekly coffee and conversation, and outstanding community outreach. It’s a great way to get involved in your community and meet some awesome people!”
Save the date for our next Children’s Program, Game Day, on Saturday, January 20th from 10-11:30 AM.
Submitted by Darla Miles
Friends of the Port O’ Connor Library, Publicity Committee/Historian
www.friendsofportoconnorlibrary.org
Facebook Page: Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc

Making Merry was the order of the day for the ladies at Seadrift’s First Assembly of God! The title of the event was “Ladies Christmas Tea” and it was held on December 2nd at the church. Making fun hats was lots of fun, especially when it was shared with a group! Pictured in the middle is Associate Pastor Beverly Smith with granddaughters Shiloh on the left and Olivia on the right. The Tea has been an annual event for the past several years. In addition to making hats there were games and refreshments. -Tanya DeForest