Whistling Ducks, Heat And Tar Balls

Greetings from the island everyone!  I hope that all of you are doing well and hanging in there with this brutal heat.  Being on my 24th year total on this barrier island, this is the driest and hottest summer I’ve experienced.  The dim light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to brighten just a tad though, meaning that Fall, cooler weather, and hopefully plenty of rain, is slowly making its way towards us.  With each passing Island Life article, it gets closer.  Umm, YAY!!

The Whistling ducks, aka Tree ducks, have made their summer trek to the barrier island.  They arrived several weeks ago, and make the island a stop-over every summer, nesting in the open fields.  There’s no doubting where their name comes from, as they make a distinct whistling sound when flying overhead.  On occasion I’ll see them sitting on a fence post, but for the most part they stay hidden in the tall salt grass fields.  I’ve never actually seen their baby ducklings, but I’m certainly hoping to one day.   Another part-time island animal that I enjoy watching.

With school starting pretty much everywhere, I’ve definitely noticed a decrease of weekend islanders visiting the island.  Of course, the brutal heat has  probably also played a part in people not wanting to venture out here.  In addition, the cabins that rely on rain water for their only source of fresh water usage when they are here, are most certainly either completely out or very near so with the extreme lack of rain this summer.  So the absence of fresh water, a must-have element of survival, could also be why people are not coming out.

I’ve always had a dual fresh water setup, catching rain water for my inside the cabin needs, and a water well for everything needing fresh water outside.  And at least 6-8 times this summer, I’ve needed to slowly pump well water into my rain tanks, due to the lack of rainfall coming off the roof and filling the two tanks, totaling 1,100 gallons, that supply my inside fresh water.

A few weeks ago, I noticed an unusually large amount of tar balls washing up on the barrier island beach, anywhere from quarter size to car tire size.  I don’t mean just a few here and there, but you literally could not take several steps without that gooey mess getting on your feet.  I had not seen this amount of tar in many years out here.  I contacted Texas Parks & Wildlife, to make them aware, and apparently the tar balls were coming in all along the Texas Coast, for unknown reasons.  I was advised that the GLO ( General Land Office ), would be contacted and made aware of the tar.  But the good news is, as of being on the beach on Aug 9, there was NO additional tar washing in, and the majority of the older stuff had since been covered by incoming sand.  I’m certain that an offshore pipeline must have sustained a break and leak.

Well, that’s it from the island for now.  Everyone please take care, stay cool, and always be thankful for the wonderful people in your life that make you smile, and make your days a happy place.

Join us at our meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Seadrift Train Depot.
Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 19th.
Market Days is held at the Train Depot the last Saturday of each month from 8-12 – vendors are always welcome – and there’s no fee!
Check out our website at seadriftchamber.com.

Troy “Shorty” Beaudry

“Shorty came to my rescue on a Sunday afternoon when I locked myself out of my car. Shorty is POC’s go to guy.” -D.R.

“Shorty and Nathan O’Neil rescued a stranded boater and Shorty climbed aboard the circling boat and brought it to a stop.” -T.D

“After helping put out our house fire, Shorty waited three hours while we drove to POC so he could give us a first hand account of what happened. POC is enriched by his generous spirit and his desire to help others.” – C.A.

“He has pulled out numerous vehicles from boggy, taking no money, only asking for them to pay it forward.” -D.R.

These are just a few examples of how Shorty Beaudy has helped folks in Port O’Connor. A long time ago his step-father Homer DeLoach advised him to “work hard; help all you can, and expect nothing in return”. “And that’s what I live by,” Shorty says.

Troy Beaudry (who prefers to be called Shorty) was born in San Bernadino, California. He arrived in Port O’Connor with his mother Carol when he was only five months old.

Growing up in Port O’Connor, Shorty took to the salt water like a fish and spent his boyhood days fishing, hunting, and riding bikes.

His family included six brothers, two sisters, four step-sisters, 2 brothers, his mother and devoted father, Homer DeLoach. His parents have both since passed away.

He and his wife, Pauline, have been married 30 years.

Shorty’s main occupation is “Shorty’s Home Home Improvement Handyman, but he says it’s just a hobby because he enjoys what he does. He has taught these skills and it gives him the opportunity to help others.

Shorty joined the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department in 2012. He is currently a Captain and First Responder. He likes to be involved with the community by doing such things as donating the community Christmas tree.

In a typical month, he fights 5 fires, helps as first responder to 15 medical emergencies, pulls 5 vehicles out of the sand, unlocks 5 houses and cars. Folks often go to him for advice on who to mow their laws, fix their cars, and other things they need help with.

“I don’t expect recognition for anything, I just enjoy helping people and making them smile,” he said.

If you would like to nominate someone as an Everyday Hero, please contact us at 361-408=3165 or dolphin1@tisd.net.

Tony and Marion Pool with Troy standing on the ramp that Troy, with the help of his grandson Ronnie Carriles, Jr. built for them. With the assistance of Judith at POC Hardware, funds were collected from several people to cover the cost of the materials.

Troy and his wife, Pauline.

We are busier than ever continuing to raise money to complete the Facelift Project on the POC Community Center. Thanks to hours of hard fundraising efforts by our board of directors and much needed help from the POC Chamber of Commerce, we were able to raise the $150,000.00 needed for Phase 1 in less than 9 months. Now we are hard at work on Phase 2.

In July and August we have already had two fundraisers and several generous donations. The Mullet Invitational hosted by the Couch family has been very supportive of our project throughout the whole process and they continue to be. We were able to raise money at their free community concert on July 29 at Sharkey’s. Julie Thomas hosted an on line Pampered Chef Party to help raise money for our cause. The Midcoast Smackdown Tournament made a generous donation to the Project and Susan Wallace named the Community Center as one of the recipients of her community support endeavors. These will all go toward Phase 2 which covers the main building of the complex. It will receive new flooring throughout, new kitchen appliances, countertops, paint, landscaping and new tables and chairs. All of this is projected to cost $75,000.00.

Our next fundraiser is Saturday, October 14, at the POC Community Center. It is the Second Annual Clay Shoot and all proceeds go to the Facelift Project. The entry fee for each 4 man team is $800.00 and there will be a Flurry, Raffles and an Awards Ceremony. Call or text Maeghen at 512-608-8388 for details. Our first one last year was a big success and we have decided to make it an annual event.

Support your community by making an investment in the future of POC. The Community Center is an important asset in the economy of our area. Your donation insures it will be here for years to come. Donations can be made at POC First National Bank or on PayPal. Make a difference!
-Diane Cooley

Red snapper season is currently still open and snapper fishing is good. Evan Clifton snagged these while fishing the Gulf of Mexico with Jay Walters and family out of POC on the vessel Going Deep.