Clint & Corky

Brutal Heat, Dryness and Rattlesnakes

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and enjoyed a safe and fun Fourth of July holiday weekend. As expected, the island saw an above normal amount of weekend islanders enjoying the beach and celebrating our independence.

Well, a few weeks ago I only thought the heat could not get much worse, knowing all along of course that our south Texas summer was just getting underway. And goodness gracious, it has definitely gotten muggier and hotter! I’m talking about sweaty and humid sauna, breathing in hot scorching air kind of hot! Geez Louise, give me a break already.

When you hear me talk about between about 11am-5pm, just finding shade and having something cold to drink, unless it is something that I really need to take care of, that is exactly what I do. . . keep in the shade. I also have a little Dewalt 20 volt fan that I’ll sit on the kitchen table during the day, and another one upstairs on the bedside night stand when there is no breeze coming through the windows. And poor Corky is not a fan of this brutal heat either, but he has a dirt area in the shade under the hammock, and he will dig down to the cool soil and lie there, or on the shaded concrete stoop area on the porch. Of course I keep fresh cool water available for him and Jetty, the cat, all the time.

And speaking of fresh water, the island did receive about .9 tenths of rain a few weeks ago when that squall moved in from the Gulf, but it moved in much further north than I was hoping. I know other areas got several inches of much needed rain that week, but the island missed out this time. I’m certainly grateful for the rain I received, but definitely saying a prayer for much more soon.

I have been in ultra conservative mode on my fresh water usage for several months now. Of course my rain tanks, fed by a roof gutter system and into two holding tanks, is basically useless when there is no rain. This rain water supplies my inside-the-house needs, and my shallow 12’ well in the back yard provides fresh (for the most part), water for everything outside. My present concern is that the lack of rain, which is needed to replenish the underground fresh water, will cause the well water level to drop low enough that I will not be able to pull it up out of the ground. So I just continue to be very conservative and hope for the best.

Last week I killed my 29th rattlesnake since living full time out here 16+ years. This one was in the front yard near the porch, and I was only alerted to this demon when I heard the very distinctive sound of his rattlers buzzing away. I then looked over and saw my cat staring at the snake, within ten inches of his head! It’s a miracle that rattlesnake did not strike that cat, but for whatever reason it did not. So a quick grab of a .410 snake charmer (thank you, Britton ), put an end to that confrontation and that snakes head, 43” in length, minus the head. I cannot tell you how much I hate those things, and that they are probably my #1 medical emergency threat out here.

Well, that’s it from the island for now; everyone take care and please say a little prayer for much needed island rain.

Pete Gray, Holly Strakos, Becky and Grant Gray

“Let Go and Let God” is one of Becky Gray’s favorite expressions, and it shows! Becky is one of Seadrift’s very active community members and she reflects her incredible heritage in all that she does.

Her family on both of her parent’s sides were from hard-working German and Czech immigrants who farmed and earned every bit of what they owned. They made God central to everything they did and were very active in their church.

Becky’s parents, Waldine and Clifford Masarik, were pillars at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seadrift. They came to Seadrift in the early 50’s and instilled in each of their five children a love for service in their community and their church.

Waldine served as president of the Catholic Ladies Club and taught catechism classes for at least fifteen years. She, also, helped with fund raising, church maintenance, and the inventory of church supplies. Clifford did electrical work and carpentry for the church. Becky remembers helping with painting, playing the organ (she still does), helping with church baptisms, and (Don’t forget the fund raisers!). Becky served for eighteen years as the President of the Parish Council and loves the role of Eucharistic Minister which entails taking communion to the home-bound and the elderly.

Speaking of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the founding of the church was in 1949. The first priest was Father Patrick Ryan. About thirty families were present when the church started and there are at least a handful of third generational families represented at St. Patrick’s today.

Becky has made a career of teaching children, having retired from teaching third and fourth grade at the Seadrift School, and currently, is starting her seventh year at OLG (Our Lady of the Gulf) Catholic School where she teaches kindergarten. She has, also, taught catechism for forty-three years at St. Patrick’s.

Becky graduated from the University of Houston in Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education in 1982. She has been married to Pete Gray for forty-two years.
Pete Gray worked as a millwright and maintenance supervisor at Seadrift Coke for thirty-seven years and is now employed by the County.

Their daughter, Holly, and husband Marty Strakos, own Coastline Boat Trailers and son, Grant, is the marketing lead for Kimberlite/Platinum Homes in Victoria.

Fr. Vinccent Verderame and Parishioners during the 1980’s

Saint Patrick’s
302 W. Cleveland Seadrift, Texas 77983

Early Beginnings: 1949
Dedication of present church: 1963
Mission of Our Lady of the Gulf, Port Lavaca
Pastoral Feast: March 17

The first celebration of Mass at Seadrift is recorded as having occurred on March 26, 1949, with Father P.J. Ryan, O.M.I., as celebrant. The event took place in a vacant store building owned by a non-Catholic.

About this time, the Catholic Ladies’ Study Club initiated a drive to procure a church building for the area. Later, in the same year a small school building was purchased and converted into the first Catholic church.

In May 1961, Father Jerome Burnet, O.M.I., purchased a larger building from Matagorda Air Base. After renovation into a new church, the structure was dedicated to St. Patrick on July 14, 1963.

The old church building was refurbished in 1966 and now serves as a hall and classroom building.

Author’s Note…
As a child, I was raised in church. I am so grateful because the parishoners were examples to me, leading me to believe that God must be very special because of people’s devotion to Him!
Tanya DeForest

It is finally time to kick off the fundraisers planned for the Port O’Connor Community Center Facelift. Thursday, August 25, at 6:00 pm, we will be hosting Taco Thursday at the community center. This event will introduce everyone to the plans proposed for the buildings. Enjoy free tacos and all the trimmings, plus delicious desserts!

If you have ever attended an event at the center, you know it has been the hub of our town for nearly 25 years. Port O’Connor is fortunate that a group of far sighted individuals realized the need for the complex. Their hours of hard work resulted in what we have today. Now it’s our turn to insure that the complex lasts many more years.

Come be part of this community wide effort. Join with the Port O’Connor Community Service Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of the Library, the Board of Directors of the center and many other groups and individuals to make this new dream a reality. See you August 25, at the community center!

Donations accepted at First National Bank, PortO’Connor.
-Diane Cooley

Ribbon Cutting for Dawn Ragusin’s Studio 14

Port O’Connor, Texas – July 2, 2022 – Studio 14 Art Exhibit and Sale – The Dawn Ragusin Collection

The Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for local artist and owner, Dawn Ragusin, at her art studio. Dawn has been quietly creating many of her inspirational Texas Coastal art pieces from her stunning view of Boggy. Her collections are inspired by the natural beauty of her beloved community and the Texas Gulf Coast; fishing, floundering, crabbing, birdwatching, and beachcombing.

The exhibit featured previous and current original works of art, including artwork on windows donated from the once Port O’Connor Teacherage. For sale, a variety of artwork prints, which are also featured on notecards, linens, babywear, and coffee mugs. Guests were also treated to her artworks in progress.

The three-day event was attended by many local citizens of Port O’Connor and surrounding communities in Calhoun County, along with the many visitors over the July 4th Holiday weekend. Dawn expresses thanks to those who loaned their original pieces for the exhibit and those who came out to support her and Studio 14.

Dawn has been generous in donating a number of her pieces, (originals and prints) to charities, benefits, and other worthy causes over the years.
Her artwork has also been selected for the program cover of the annual CCA Texas Port O’Connor Chapter banquet four times.

A special thank you to Willie Ragusin, family members, and friends for their continued support and encouragement.

You can reach Dawn Ragusin:
www.dawnragusin.com
dawn.ragusin@gmail.com
Studio 14 by Appointment Call or Text: 361-550-2371

Visit with Dawn on the second Saturday of the month where she can be found at the Farmers Market at the King Fisher Beach, sponsored by the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce.

Holly and William Orr

Winning special recognition for 9th place in the Texas Water Safari, 1st place in the male/female mixed class, and 1st place in the adult/child class are Holly and William Orr.

Their time in completing the race was 64 hours and 13 minutes. The obstacles they had to overcome to win were the overbearing heat, low water levels along the route, and making it across the choppy San Antonio Bay to the finish line without capsizing.

Moreover, a tragedy had struck the Orr family in March when a tornado damaged their home and business. Holly, a single mom of three children, found herself needing to relocate and a temporary home was found. Holly plans to rebuild on her land. She is grateful for all the help from the Water Safari community and her family’s home church. Her property is in Kingsbury, Texas outside of San Marcos.

Holly’s oldest son, William, wanted to enter the 2022 Water Safari which is held the 2nd weekend in June. Holly couldn’t say no to her son’s request. The rest is history! This was William’s first race. He is thirteen years old. (Way to go, William!)