Boggy Park was acquired by Calhoun County in 2006 “for a park and wetlands wildlife habitat; and for public access to Boggy Bayou and Matagorda Bay…” according to the transfer deed.

The Park is heavily used and currently shows the wear. As the community continues to grow, the pressures on it will only increase. Recognizing this, last June a citizens group sought and received Commissioners’ Court approval to develop ideas to protect and improve this outstanding community asset.

A nine-point improvement plan has been developed—and community comment and support are sought. The recommended improvements include:
1. Upgrading roads to Matagorda Bay shoreline and Boggy Bayou shoreline so that it is passable during wet conditions.
2. Converting access to the upland area to foot traffic with walking routes along an interpretive nature and birding trail.
3. Improving day use by installing additional picnic tables and restroom facilities.
4. Developing an outdoor environmental education area.
5. Seek inclusion in TPWD’s Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and developing a bird watering and feeding station to enhance the habitat and bird viewing.
6. Seek inclusion in TPWD Texas Paddling Trial System as part of a “Powderhorn Ranch Shoreline Trail”.
7. Adding signage regarding Park rules, safety, and restrictions to illegal dumping.
8. Addressing shoreline erosion with groynes and beneficial use of dredge materials.
9. Improving security and surveillance to curtail inappropriate activities and use.

Additional details are available at sabaypartnership.org Programs. Comments, suggestions, and support is being sought. Please contact Allan Berger at allanrberger@comcast.net, or Brigid Berger, Kelly Gee or Troy Wygrs with your thoughts.

Based on the feedback from the community, the Plan will be revised as appropriate and presented to Commissioners’ Court. Once approved, the Plan will serve as the guiding document for implementation, a process that will most likely be accomplished in several steps as funding is obtained.

The planning committee believes the recommended improvements are necessary to protect and enhance the Park for its acquired purpose. The Plan will improve infrastructure to better handle that traffic, but ultimately, the committee is also asking for the community’s support in treading more lightly on the Park so that it is protected for all of us to enjoy.

Marsh Photo by Becky Kern

Marshes and I didn’t get off to the best start.

In grad school I vividly remember springing out of our research canoe, taking my first step onto the saltmarsh I would be working in, and sinking knee-deep in mud. I didn’t even have a chance to react – the instant I put weight on that leg, down it went, sucked into wet, stinking muck. Adding insult to injury, that wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part came when I realized that there was no way I was pulling myself free without some leverage and leverage is hard to come by in a treeless expanse of swampland. In the end I surrendered the boot to the mud, flailed around on one leg while I tried to pull it free, gave up, planted both feet on the driest bit of marsh I could find and heaved on my shoe. Eventually the swamp gave it back.

Eventually.

I’d be lying if I said working in a marsh isn’t tough. There’s no shade, for one thing, and relatively no solid ground for another. So while you’re out there, pulling yourself across earth that’s sometimes more liquid than earthy, your sweating figure is a beacon for every kind of biting insect that lives in the area. Mosquitos and smaller biting flies quickly became lumped into the, “Eh what can you do” category but you never ignored a horsefly if you were lucky enough to see it before it bit you. They’re capable of going through fabric and they hurt if they got you, their scissoring mouthparts able to open up capillaries.

At the end of the day, sunburnt, covered in mud, itching from who-knows-what-bit-me, and stinking of sweat and swamp, it was safe to say that if I didn’t hate the marsh I certainly didn’t love it either. It was only the realization that my research project would keep me working in the marsh for at least 3 summers (and the fact that some awesome birds lived there) that convinced me that I needed to try and make friends with the ecosystem that had already tried to swallow me up.

Easier said than done, at first. I remember thinking, “There’s a reason no one goes into swamps,” as I grumpily waded across a flooded channel. People hike in woods, climb mountains, run across the beach, go for walks in the snow, but no one says to themselves, “Hey, let’s go for a stroll in the marsh this weekend.” And with good reason. They aren’t easily accessible places. They aren’t convenient places. At times, they can certainly be dangerous places. And when they do extend a cautious hand of “friendship” it’s subtle and up to you to notice.

At first, I didn’t even realize my resentment towards the saltmarsh was eroding. What I did notice, however, were more and more “snapshots” of imagery that struck me in the field and made me pause to take notice. Things like the iridescent mussels, opened wide and shinning in the mud. The young marsh succulents, growing out of the black muck, bright red at their bases and then bright green at the top. The high-pitched laugh-call of an osprey warning you off from its nesting platform and the flush of a willet, shooting startled from the grasses at your feet. I got to see horseshoe crabs for the first time ever – watching as the tides rose and they wandered in, cruising through the submerged landscape in their armored shells. I got to smell the ocean every day as it mixed with the estuary, the smell of salt mingling with the smell of algae. I saw both spectacular sunrises and sunsets out there and watched as the stars dotted the sky over all the quiet pools, flats, pannes, and channels that made up the pocked face of the marsh.

Images like these and more began to chip away one by one at my reservations but they did it so patiently and slowly that I didn’t even realize. I can’t even tell you when the turning point was other than to say there came a morning when I didn’t care that I had to wake up at 3 or that I would come home tracking dried mud. A time when I would willingly lose both boots to the mud if it meant I could find that one more sparrow nest or heck, even get close enough to get a good photo of one of the big dragonflies sunning itself on a driftwood log.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand why people don’t visit marshes. Everything I said about them being inaccessible, inconvenient, difficult, and dirty is true. But there’s more to them than that, it’s just that the “more” is buried like the mussels are buried: under a film of mud and water that rewards you for getting your hands dirty.

Port O’Connor Sunrise Service photo by Susan Braudaway

What a fantastic 2018 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE! The weather was beautiful and the sunrise was picture perfect. At 7:00 a.m., the sun was appearing over the bay and people were coming from all directions to the Special Sunrise Service.

I asked my son, Jerry Adams, who always helps me every Easter, to try and get a people count. The best count we could come up with was upwards of 800, perhaps as much as 1,000! Every chair was taken and so were the table benches. Golf Carts were all around the exterior. All the automobiles were full of people. At exactly 7:00 a.m., the Service began with the First Baptist Church Choir singing as the sun was rising above the water.

Bro. Donnie Martin, Pastor of First Baptist, gave the opening prayer and scripture. Bro. Erny McDonough, Pastor of Fisherman’s Chapel, welcomed everyone and introduced Bro. Jonathan Thacker from Arkansas who gave an outstanding short devotion. Bro. Raymond Grant led the congregation in singing two beautiful songs, “Because He lives” and “He Lives”. Bro. Erny McDonough delivered a great sermon on Jesus’ Resurrection and closed the service with the benediction.

After the service groups gathered around the coffee pots and the rolls furnished by Fisherman’s Chapel and Cathy’s Restaurant.
Port O’Connor alwasy has a fantastic Easter Sunrise Service!

Congratulations to Mrs.O’Neil (top photo) and Mrs. Ragusin (bottom)! They each received a $1,000.00 grant from the CCISD Education Foundation to use for the students of Port O’Connor School.

Winners of Fisherman’s Chapel Annual Chili Cook Off
1st Place Ricky McKinney,
2nd Catrina Ragan,
3rd Erny McDonough

“Truly the presence of the Lord is in this place” is more than just the words of a chorus we sing here at the Chapel! We have enjoyed the presence of the Lord as we have left March behind and have begun summer.

We had nine entries in this year’s Chili Cook Off in honor of Mrs. Pat’s birthday. One of the judges commented that, “there was not a bad entry in the competition!” He should know, because he judges several cooking contests around the area. And, I truly appreciated this year’s judges, but they did not get it totally right! Ricky had the best pot of chili. (He said his secret was that he raises his own beef.) In second place was Catrina and her secret was to make it ahead of time – remember chili always tastes better the second day. And, instead of being disqualified, one of my two pots of chili was deemed third place! My secret was that Pastor Joane spiced it up for me – so I should have been disqualified and won a tie for last place with my other pot of chili! Yes, I learned several years ago that when I enter two pots, only one qualifies for last place! It was a lot of fun and we will certainly do it again next year!

We enjoyed a Wednesday through Sunday Revival with the Tacker family of Russellville, Arkansas. They told us they bought shoes on the way down here to Texas, since in Arkansas we know they do not own a pair! Each evening, the presence of the Lord was in the House and Reverend Jonathan did an excellent job of bringing the Word of God to us and making it alive.

We were honored to share the message at this year’s Sunrise Service. I have heard several numbers of attendees, but I truly believe it was the largest crowd we have ever had. It surely was many times more than those early days when we gathered at the bay end of Main Street. But, the message was the same: “He Lives!” I believe Cathy’s cinnamon rolls were the best she has ever made and I know the coffee was just right. It was truly a wonderful sight to see all us together with singleness of heart to sing “Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.” Thanks to all who worked hard at making this a very special day on our community calendar each year! I am looking forward to our next one!

Pastor Joane and Pastor Jesse have been working overtime helping with the services. Since both are ordained, we believe the congregation deserves an opportunity to hear what the Lord is speaking to them. I love to preach so much that I often “hog” the pulpit and deliver all the messages! We are trying something new at the Chapel – I believe it is called “web casting”. I do not know how it works, but it appears to me a be a poor man’s way of getting on television! I have never aspired to be a television preacher, but if one person is blessed by this new way of doing things, I am all for it! We will be letting you know in the near future how this works and how you can “tune in”

Captain Robert will be here for Sea Academy classes beginning on April 20. If one wants to become a boat captain, Captain Robert will be glad to provide the information to help them achieve their goal. Captain Robert can be reached at 361-758-6184.

I am glad to announce that at the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, April 22, we will be having a special guest speaker. He is known at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi as their “miracle man”. The reason he is coming to the Chapel is that we had a part in praying for his healing and the Lord has honored our prayers. He is not a preacher, but he truly has a message of hope and the tremendous power of prayer. Everyone is invited to attend this special service.

We had a great Men’s Breakfast in March and the next .one is planned for May 5. It will be here at the Chapel and will begin at 9:00 a.m. There will be a great, fun meal breakfast and a lot of fellowship. David is leading this, so make plans to attend.

Pastor Joane will be ministering in the morning service on Mother’s Day, May 13. Every mom present will receive a special gift and all will receive an uplifting message from the Lord. Mother’s Day is always special at the Chapel and your being here will make it even more special for us.

Fisherman’s Chapel – “Come, grow with us!”