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F.O.R. Community Center photo
River
Community Gifts for the Holidays
Did you feel it this weekend? Holiday magic
filled the air along the San Bernard River
and our community received a plethora of
wonderful gifts. All you had to do is look
to see, or close your eyes to feel, the
spirit of community rise in the air with the
flames from the bonfires lit all along the
river to greet the wonderful boat parade
that took place on Saturday, December 8. We
were, indeed, a community celebrating
together.
The first gift our community got was fair
weather. That weather allowed the entrants
in the boat parade to concentrate on their
lighted expressions of joy instead of
worrying about staying warm. And that gift
of joy brought neighbors and friends out to
enjoy their handiwork, in droves.
At the F.M. 521 boat ramp, the beginning of
the parade, 32 boats put in to travel down
the river in holiday trappings. There were
so many people there (the first public
viewing location) to watch the parade that
they filled the parking lot and spilled out
onto the highway.
Moving downriver, the lighted homes gave the
neighbors in the boats their own magic
holiday scenery, the lights on the houses
and docks reflecting on the water, the
people running down to the banks of the
river wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas”,
the fireworks popping, the bonfires
crackling. Pure joy filled the air. The
river, too, celebrated in its own way and
gave the home owners and the boat drivers,
the bleeding watercolor look of the lights
on the water. It was a gift to everyone who
took the time to see the river and the
community effort to decorate.
The next public viewing area on the parade
route was the new F.O.R. Community Center.
Over 200 neighbors brought their good will
and their children to the center to deliver
Toys for Tots, and have a taste of hot
chocolate, coffee or a cookie or two and
gaze in wonderment at the parade as it
glided by. Santa made a visit and greeted
the children on the park grounds taking
special care to hear all their Christmas
wishes. When the parade was over, there was
nothing to clean up on the grounds - all the
“family” attending took care of their home
and took away their trash along with their
memories. The memories that were made there
Saturday will be gently pressed in all the
children’s “memory books” – and that was a
gift from the community to the community.
Further downriver, Dido’s hosted a crowd of
people. Friends and Neighbors gathered to
partake of the holiday repast, and stay for
the parade. Happy people, wishing good will
to all, lined the banks and filled the yard
and dock in anticipation for the event.
Dido’s parking lot was filled to
overflowing. Wherever there was a space to
watch, people were there making their own
memories – and that was a gift we all gave
each other.
The next public viewing area was the F.M.
2611 boat ramp. People and holiday spirit
filled the parking lot to overflowing. Joy
was everywhere. Just down from the boat ramp
was the crowd of holiday celebrants at High
Five Bar & Grill – and that location was
filled to overflowing as well. And sad to
say, the parade had to finally end at the
Las Playas boat ramp – and people thronged
there as well to marinate in the holiday
feelings that permeated the air and water.
All along the parade route private homes
hosted holiday parties displaying their own
lights and watching the lighted boat parade.
There were literally thousands of joyful
people participating in this holiday
tradition in its twenty first year. A linear
community brought together by the holidays
and the love of the river, shared memories
of the holiday – together. And like one of
the people in the boats shouted to the
people lining the banks, it was, “A
wonderful day in the neighborhood”.
But
there was more good news for the river this
weekend as Roy Edwards reports here:
A.J. “Pete” Reixach Takes
Holiday Greetings to Washington
By Roy Edwards
Jan and I,
representing F.O.R. In the Krewe of Port
Freeport, were privileged to attend the
annual Port Freeport Christmas Reception
Friday, December 7. We met many of our
Friends and most of them were talking
about the upcoming Boat Parade. They
also conferred congratulations to the
organization on the upcoming river mouth
construction by the U.S.A.C.E.
During the course of the evening, Pete
Reixach, Executive Port Director, Port
Freeport, mentioned that he would be in
Washington on Port business, Wednesday
December 12, and would have dinner with
Assistant Secretary of the Army, John
Paul Woodley, Jr.
As most of you know, the Central Texas
coastal tour, arranged by Congressman
Ron Paul and his Chief of Staff, Tom
Lizardo, of August 2006, is a catalyst
that encouraged A.S.A. Woodley to take
action on the problems of the mouth of
the San Bernard River. As a result, the
U.S.A.C.E. Is currently working on
alleviating the currents at the west
gate of the Brazos by reopening the San
Bernard River. (Read The Facts coverage
of A.S.A. Woodley’s visit
http://www.sanbernardriver.com/news/2006news/20060901facts.htm.)
Upon our learning of Director Reixach’s
imminent Washington visit, we
immediately made him a member of F.O.R.,
extending to him all rights and
privileges thereof. We then requested
that, acting as a member of F.O.R., he
present A.S.A. John Paul Woodley Jr.
with the sincere thanks and gratitude of
all of the members of the organization
known as Friends Of the River San
Bernard for his leadership and efforts
benefiting the San Bernard River and her
Friends who wish to see her returned to
her natural free flowing state.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
We are all
blessed to be living in these times along
this wonderful river.
We can all join hands and smile and
know....”it’s a wonderful life!”
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One of F.O.R.'s
primary functions is to educate the public
regarding the issues concerning the San Bernard
River and it's Communities. Contact Pat Webb
pat@sanbernardriver.com to schedule a
guest speaker for your group or special event.
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FOR San Bernard
Post Office Box 93
Brazoria, TX 77422 |
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