Island Life…by Clint Bennetsen

Archived in the category: Featured Writers, General, Island Life
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 17 May 24 - Comments Off on Island Life…by Clint Bennetsen
Clint and Corky

Clint and Corky

Never Ending Island Maintenance

Greetings from the island everyone! I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying life and this Spring weather. The temps are slowly rising each day it seems like, indicating that Summer will soon be upon us. I just certainly hope that the brutal scorching hot temperatures and lack of rainfall that we had last summer, do not carry over into this years summer season. I honestly believe that last year was the hottest and driest summer that I had experienced on the island.

This is the first Spring in quite a few years that I didn’t take the time and put forth the effort to have a garden. I just have so many maintenance repairs that are beginning to pile up and need my attention. It’s amazing how quickly this harsh salt water environment, including the weather, humidity and corrosion takes a toll on everything out here. It really is a full time job just with maintenance to keep a place up and running and livable.

Growing tomatoes from seed has always been my favorite gardening passion, and invokes a sense of accomplishment when you are able to successfully grow a delicious homegrown vine ripened tomato from a tiny seed. For those that enjoy eating tomatoes, there’s not much better than a fresh grown tomato right from the garden, having watched it from the time the seed sprouted to the final stage of enjoying it at the kitchen table.

Mother’s Day will have come and gone at the time of this reading, and I truly hope that all of the wonderful moms enjoyed their special day. This world is absolutely a better place because of all of the dedicated and loving mothers out there that raise their kids in a loving and respectful manner. I miss my mom every single day, but I know that she is watching over me, just as all of the heavenly moms are doing with their kids. Thank you to all of the devoted moms out there, we are eternal grateful for all that you do.

I’m going to close this article by saying that this will be my last monthly writing of Island Life for awhile, while I take care of some matters and tackle all of the island cabin maintenance issues that need to be addressed. Everyone take care and have a wonderful day. God bless.

We Honor Our Veterans by Tanya DeForest

Archived in the category: General
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 17 May 24 - Comments Off on We Honor Our Veterans by Tanya DeForest

Dennis-Walker
Dennis Walker

Dennis Walker is a grandson of a Seadrift legend. Back in the day people knew the name Louie Walker. In my home growing up Louie Walker was a household name!

Louie Walker was a Seadrift legend… a farmer, alligator hunter, hunting guide, plant worker, boat ramp owner. It is estimated that Louie’s family came to the Seadrift area perhaps in 1902. Louie ended up owning a couple of hundred acres of land outside of Seadrift in the Long Mott area. People would come from miles around to buy the produce from his farm.

Several of Louie’s sons went into the military. One of his sons (Dennis’s father William) was an Air Force fighter pilot. William was one of the first 100 pilots to break the sound barrier. He was a member of the “Mach Buster” club. All his sons went into the military as well. Dennis was one of them. He enlisted in the Air Force and was a weather observer. Commenting about his military service Dennis said, “It taught me discipline. It gave me opportunities to learn.” Dennis’s other brothers served in different capacities as well. One was a captain of a military sub. Another went into the Marines. The third brother was in the Air Force. He spent his entire military career of twenty years in Germany and upon retirement he still lives there!

Dennis’s own daughter, Kelly, was a combat photographer assigned to Special Forces units. One of her duty tours was in Afghanistan where she was injured and is medically retired.

As Memorial Day is just around the corner let us remember all those who served in the military.

Major-Paul
Retired Major Paul Gonzales

After serving 25 years in the military my wife Glenda (Chatham) and I retired in Seadrift. My wife is the daughter of Robert Chatham and the late Margaret Chatham. I have two children, Chris, Alisha, and one grandson Layne. I am the son of the former Air Force Tech Sargeant Edward Gonzales and the former Cecilia (Cil) Saenz of Port O’Connor. I have one brother, Tim, who also lives in Port O’Connor. I come from a long line of men and women who served this country.

In 1987 I enlisted in the Coast Guard and obtained the rank of E-5. In 1991 I transferred to the Army National Guard, attended Officer Candidate School in Salina, Kansas, and was commissioned as 2LT. I am a graduate of the Ordinance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, and the Advanced Operations Warfighter School. I was assigned the Commanding Officer of the 714th Security Forces and deployed to Mosul, Iraq in 2006-2007. My company’s assignment was to provide security for convoys transporting fuel from Turkey to Bagdad. When I returned from Iraq, I was assigned the task of creating curriculum for service members with PTSD. Other assignments included my being given the title of Operations and Training Officer for Weapons of Mass Destruction Team, Budget Officer, Executive Officer for a maintenance battalion, and Aide to the Adjutant General to the State of Kansas.

I enjoy living in the small town of Seadrift, the city by the bay. It is a sleepy town that has a small-town atmosphere. There’s no traffic lights or city traffic. The people are always friendly and always wave when you are driving around town. It’s seeing kids riding their bikes or playing on the baseball field that gives this town much charm.

Remember our veterans by taking the time to reach out your hand and thanking them for serving this great nation to protect our freedoms and way of life.

Reginald-Johnson
Reginald A. Johnson

The Seadrift Postmaster has stories to tell how his family played a part in black history, specifically as black cowboys. Reginald A. Johnson is proud of his family’s history. You would be, too!

Did you know that after the Civil War there were a number of blacks that traveled west and found themselves in a trailhead outfit or working on a ranch as was the case in Reginald’s family.

Reginald’s great grandfather Paul Lott worked on the O’Connor Ranch moving cattle and doing ranch work. His great grandmother Barbara Novella Lott worked and lived on the Welder Ranch where she cooked and raised children. Reginald’s grandfather Nathaniel Youngblood grew up on the Welder Ranch. Reginald’s mother’s family worked on the Welder, O’Connor, and McFadden ranches. His daddy’s family were farmers in Gonzales County.

Reginald was born and raised in Victoria. His mother was a schoolteacher. His dad worked at what used to be Union Carbide. Reginald says he grew up fishing with his grandfather in the San Antonio Bay. He loved playing sports and is a VHS graduate.

Reginald served in the Army infantry from 1989 to 1992. He served with the 3rd AD Battalion and was a tank-gunner in a mechanized unit. He ended up being stationed in Germany. Concerning military service Reginald had this to say, “I believe that every young lady and every young man should serve at least two years their country for the discipline and for the structure.”

After the military, he moved to Austin and worked at DELL Computers for 8 years. While in Austin he met and ended up marrying Carlette. They have been married for 26 years and have two daughters, Caelen and Jaelah.

In Lake Charles, Louisiana Reginald started working for the Postal Service. He worked there for 26 years.

In 2005 Hurricane Rita demolished their home in Louisiana. The family moved to Victoria where Reginald moved up in the Postal Service to the position of supervisor. He has worked in Austin, Rockport, and currently in Seadrift where he serves as postmaster.

Reginald shared his thoughts about his current job. He said, “I enjoy my job. I enjoy customer service. I enjoy this community. Everybody has treated me well. I’m all about building relationships, not tearing them down. Communication is key.”

We salute Reginald and others like him that have served our country. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service!

Share the Shore

Archived in the category: General, Organizations
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 17 May 24 - Comments Off on Share the Shore

One of the most wonderful things about living along the Texas bays is the incredible bird life. From seagulls to sandpipers, pelicans to plovers, herons to hummingbirds, and terns to turkeys, we have hundreds of bird species both resident and seasonal. This time of year, of course, is baby bird season. A time when our feathered friends are laying eggs and raising chicks. And this is where we all have an opportunity, and responsibility, to help our avian friends by Sharing the Shore.

As much as we enjoy our beaches, these areas are essential places for certain types of birds. Wilson’s Plovers, Least Terns, Oystercatchers, and Black Skimmers all use sand or shell shorelines for nesting and raising their young. While we are out boating, beach combing, fishing, or walking our dogs, we need to be aware that these areas may have young bird families who need their space.

To understand just how and where birds are using our beaches, Audubon and other organizations have biologists monitoring numerous sites along the Gulf coast. One of these sites is Boggy Nature Park in Port O’Connor where last week I met up with Gautam Apte, an avian biologist working for Audubon. Tagging along for a bird survey, we spotted two pair of Wilson’s Plovers but did not see signs of nesting yet. Wilson’s Plovers are recognizable with their big “Jimmy Durante” bill.  In total, we spotted (but it was mostly Gautam’s who spotted) 55 species of birds in just two and a half hours.

Boggy is a true hotspot for birds and is just one of several sites that Gautam is monitoring every couple weeks around Matagorda Bay.Wilsons
The project, funded by money from the Deep Water Horizon/BP Oil Spill money, will last for five years so scientists can get a good grasp on just how well our shorebirds are doing. This is just one project that Audubon is investing in to help breeding and migrating birds.

Next time you are on the beach or any shoreline throughout our bay systems, watch for birds and give them plenty of space to raise their families. Also, check out Audubon’s Share the Shore website for more tips on how to help our feathered friends. https://tx.audubon.org/conservation/share-shore
Brigid Berger, Texas Master.Naturalist, Mid-Coast Chapter
Gautam-Apte,-Audubon

Coastal Explorers

Archived in the category: General, School News
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 17 May 24 - Comments Off on Coastal Explorers

group-at-gulf
Calhoun County ISD Coastal Explorers from Seadrift School and Travis Middle School book a field trip to Matagoda Island recently as part of an environmental science curriculum/program/club that is funded by the Matagorda Bay Trust. Field experience lessons included Bay vs Gulf Ecology, Sandy Beach Erosion, Currents in the Gulf of Mexico, Island History, and a tour of the lighthouse.
-Amy Boone

Anamika Brown helps Kylee Roman with her life jacket. Gilliana Gonzalez in background. All are 6th grade Seadrift School students. Ana is from Port O’Connor.

Anamika Brown helps Kylee Roman with her life jacket. Gilliana Gonzalez in background. All are 6th grade Seadrift School students. Ana is from Port O’Connor.

Learning About LaSalle

Archived in the category: General, School News
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 17 May 24 - Comments Off on Learning About LaSalle

LaSalle#1
Mrs. Henderson took her Seadrift Pirate Scholars’ class to the Calhoun County Museum. One of our Pirate Scholars is researching La Salle for their TPSP Project. At the Calhoun County Museum, Mr. Duke shared his wealth of knowledge about LaSalle and other important history of the county. He wrapped up his tour with a scavenger hunt of the museum for the students. The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit. We ended our trip by heading out to La Salle’s Monument at its original location on Matagorda Bay in Indianola.
Museum#1

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