Barefoot Night in Port Arthur, Texas - Proclamation!

This just in (for more, see www.barefootman.com ) :

WHEREAS, THE Cayman Islands are three small West Indies island in the Caribbean, known as Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and they are a British Colony where the shipping industry has been one of the primary means of living for Caymanians; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of Caymanians settled in Port Arthur, as the primary port-of-entry for many Cayman seafarers who brought their families to this area where Capt. Harley Eddingston imported 6,000 pink conch shells on two ships in order to have a wall built on Procter Street in Port Arthur to remind him of his island home, where he constructed Port Arthur’s first apartment complex that was built in 1929, named Eddingston Court; and

WHEREAS, Cayman Night in Port Arthur 2006 was an overwhelming success with more than 700 guests from this area and from across the United States and the Cayman Islands, gathered at the Parker Center on Lamar State College Port Arthur campus, where the facility was transformed into a tropical paradise; and

WHEREAS, Port Arthur and Grand Cayman were proclaimed to be Sister Cities in 1983, and that Sister City relationship has strengthened over the years because hundreds of Caymanians still reside in this area, while many area residents annually visit the Cayman Islands for pleasure, business or personal reasons; and

WHEREAS, The Cayman Night in Port Arthur 2007 will be held on June 16, 2007 at the Parker Center, where Barefoot Man, his Band and the “Cayman Cowboy,” Andy Martin will arrive from Grand Cayman to perform on stage along with Bob Brammer and K.O. Harlow, aka The OutRigger Band; and

WHEREAS, guests should arrive wearing tropical shirts, shorts, flip flops or other casual attire and be prepared to have plenty of fun and laid-back good times throughout the evening.

NOW, THEREFORE, I., Oscar G. Ortiz, Mayor of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, do hereby proclaim the evening of June 16, 2007 as

CAYMAN NIGHT IN PORT ARTHUR

in the City of Port Arthur and ask that all citizens join me in celebrating the rich heritage of our long-time Sister City, Grand Cayman, and join visitors from around the world for a night of Cayman music, food and fun as our relationship continues to strengthen.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Port Arthur to be affixed this 5^th day of June in the year of our Lord, 2007.

Oscar G. Ortiz, Mayor