Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Summer at the library

The Wharton County Library will be hosting Capt. Jack Sparrow, a real pirate, will be at the Wharton Library to entertain children at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 as part of this summer's Texas Reading Club Jubilee program. Other public programs scheduled for the week include preschool story time at 9:30 a.m. and young adult activity hour at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 7; craft time at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8 and movie time at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.

Barbecue chicken

The Sons of the American Legion Squadron No. 226 will host its annual Fourth of July barbecued chicken dinner on Sunday, July 6 at the American Legion Hall in East Bernard. Plates, which are $7.50 each, will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with both dine-in and carryout available. Homemade pastries can also be purchased. A large raffle is also planned, with over $3,000 worth of prizes offered. Only 750 tickets will be sold. There are no pre-sale tickets. All tickets will be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit the Sons of the American Legion's various charities and scholarships.

Seniors Bingo

The Wharton County Junior College Senior Citizen Program will be offering Bingo with other seniors on Monday, July 7 from 2-3 p.m. at the WCJC Senior Center in the LaDieu Bilding at 911 Boling Highway. Prizes and refreshmens furnished by Angels Care Home Health.

Wharton Athletic Boosters

The Wharton Athletic Booster Club will be holding its first meeting for the 2008- 2009 school year at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 7 at the WISD Education Support Center. Election of officers will be held and fall activities will be discussed. If you are interested in being part of this organization for the coming year, plan on attending this meeting.

Heather's Dream

There will be a grief counselor at the Heather's Dream Cancer Support Group meeting set for 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7.Open to cancer patients, survivors and families, the group meets at the Wharton County Library in Wharton. For information, call Misty at 361-258-1611.

Golfball Drop fundraiser The Cancer Convicts Relay for Life Team will be holding a "Golfball Drop" Fundraiser on Monday, July 7 at the El Campo Country Club. Tickets are priced at 1 for $5, 6 for $25 or 25 for $100. Numbered balls, corresponding to ticket numbers, will be dropped from a hovering helicopter over a designated hole on the golf course. Four prizes will be awarded according to distance from the hole.

Newgulf registration

Newgulf Elementary School will begin registering students who live in the Boling ISD for pre-Kindergarten on Monday, July 7. Registration will be held Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The child mujst be age four on or before Sept. 1 to register. Registration for all grades is also being accepted. You will need to provide at the time of registration the following information: record of immunization, birth certificate, social security card and two forms of proof of residency. For information, contact New Gulf Elementary at 657-2837.

Home-based business

A "So You Want to Start Your Own Home-Based Business in Texas!" interactive and information workshop is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 at the El Campo Northside Education Center. Registration is free but seating is limited. To reserve a space, call 979-543-6750. Class materials and refreshments provided.

Habitat for Humanity

Low income persons interested in buying an affordable home to be built in Boling in 2009 are asked to attend one of two meetings on Thursday, July 10 at 7 p.m. or Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Boling Fire Station. Habitat for Humanity representatives will be present to answer questions and take applications. If you are interested and cannot attend, call 979-282-9302 and leave your name and number.

Crossover Family Night

The Crossover Community Fellowship Church, 11406 FM 1301 in Boling, will be hosting a Family Night with entertainment by comedian Delainaird starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 11.

Hunters Education

A Hunters Education course will be held at the Wharton County Sheriff's Office, 315 E. Elm, on Saturday, July 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 from 1-5 p.m. Seating is limited. The cost is $15. For information or to reserve a seat, call Brenda or Vanessa Monday through Friday at 532-1550.

Biblical Women

A seminar on Biblical Equality of Women will be held on July 12 and continued on July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wharton Public Library Meeting Room. For more information, call Kathy Wozniak at 832-643- 1357 or Pat Joyce at 532-2283. There is no charge.

Football camp

The Wharton Youth Football League will hold a pre-season skills and drills camp at Wharton Junior High on July 12 and July 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration fee for both days is $25. The camp is open to boys ages 6-12. The camp will introduce players to the fundamentals of football. For more information, call Pete Esposito at 979-559-0074 or e-mail pd_espo@yahoo.com.

EBVFD fundraiser

The East Bernard Volunteer Fire Department has scheduled its annual fried chicken dinner fundraiser for Sunday, July 13 at the American Legion Hall. Member of the department will be contacting local and area businesses for donations to the auction planned during the dinner the week of July 7-11. For information on making a donation, contact Fire Chief Randy Kresta at 335-4758 or VFD President Greg Shulte at 335-7280.

Junior Art League

The Wharton Junior Art League is conducting a workshop July 14-18. Reservations are limited. Call 532-2380 or 532-1435 for information.

WISD TAKS retest

TAKS retests for Wharton ISD students will be given July 15-18 starting at 8 a.m. each day in the Dawson Cafeteria, 1619 MLK Boulevard. The restest schedule is English/ Language Arts on July 15; Math, July 16; Science, July 17 and Social Studies, July 18. For more information, call Wharton High School at 532-6800.

Vacation Bible School

St. Paul Lutheran, First Presbyterian and St. Thomas Episcopal Churches are hosting their annual joint Vacation Bible School the Week of Sunday, July 20 to Thursday, July 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran will be the site of this year's event with the exciting theme of "Rainforest Adventure!" Dinner will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and then youngsters will engage in activities ranging from Bible storytelling to crafts and games, music and science experiments. All children from pre-K to entering 6th grade are invited to attend. St. Paul is located at 325 N. East Ave. at the corner of Alabama and East. Anyone wishing to register or needing more information may call director Debbi Dimmick at 532-0155 or the church office at 532-2315.

Water Aerobics

The City of Wharton is offering high impact and low impact water aerobics this summer. Water aerobics are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. High impact is from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. and low impact is from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The cost is $40 per month. An application can be obtained at City Hall or the city's Web site: cityofwharton.com. For more information, call 532-2491, ext. 600.

Hoops tourney

The Wharton Youth Football League will be holding its first ever 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament fundraiser on July 26 starting at 9 a.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Wharton Pavilion. The entry fee is $80 per team with a $5 referee fee per game. The entry deadline is July 23. The top four teams will receive Tshirts. There will also be a slam dunk and a three-point contests with a $5 entry fee for each. There will be a D.J. and concessions during the day. To register, call Larry Krushall at 979-257-8029 or Pete Esposito at 979-559- 0074 or E-mail to pd_espo@yahoo.com.

Survivors group

The Hope After Shattered Dreams ministry for Wharton County residents who have experienced a loss resulting from, but not limited to, death, divorce, job or deteriorating health is welcome to attend. Meetings are the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the El Campo Church of Christ, 315 E. Calhoun. For information, call 979-543-4279.

Swimming Lessons

The City of Wharton is offering semi-private swimming lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced swimmers. Individual cost for swimming lessons is $60. Family cost is $60 for the first child, $50 for the second child and $45 for the third child. The session will be for a two-week period on Tuesday-Fridays. Session II will be held July 7-July 18. An application can be obtained at City Hall or the city's Web site: cityofwharton.com. For more information, call 532-2491, ext. 600.

Spay/Neuter assistance

The Matagorda County SPCA has a program to help people who can't afford the cost of spay/neuter surgery for their dogs/ cats. The program includes Wharton, Jackson, Matagorda and the southern part of Colorado County. Please call the SPCA at 979-323-8787 for information about the program or for an application. "If you want to help us out with this effort to get dogs/cats sterilized. Please give us a call."

WHS Class Reunion

Members of the Wharton High Graduation Class of 1988 are being asked to help plan the upcoming 20th Class Reunion planned for later this year. Those interested in participating are asked to contact Rachel Cruz at rzurc3101@sbcglobal.net or Donald Allen at 453-0353 or bgcwharton@sbcglobal.net.

Cooking with Faith

Faith Christian Academy "Cooking With Faith" cookbooks are on sale at the school located at 5227 FM 1301 in Burr. Cookbooks are $15 each and are full of delicious recipes from the school's students, staff and families. Quantities are limited. For information, call the school office at 531-1000.

Community Calendar

A calendar of local events is maintained by the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Before scheduling an event, check with the chamber for possible conflicts. And notify the chamber, 532-1862, as early as possible to get your event on the calendar. There is no charge.

Dateline Wharton is a calendar of upcoming events in Wharton and surrounding communities. Normally space permits only events that will occur in the next two weeks. It is intended for special activities open to the public rather than regularly recurring meetings. To place an item in Dateline Wharton, drop the information off at the Journal-Spectator Office at 115 W. Burleson or an e-mail to bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com.