February 2008 - Insite Brazos Valley

ECO FRIENDLY: Home products that save money and the planet
February 2008
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publisher’sdesk
THERE’S A CHAIR in the sunroom of our house
If you need
insurance
built better
for Texas
that anyone is welcome to sit in, including our
cats, but is still known as “my brown chair.” It’s
the place I go in anticipation of a glass of tea, a
new magazine or book and at least a brief respite
from deadlines and daily life. It is also the place in
our house you are most likely to find my husband,
kids and cats lolling about, talking and generally
winding down from the fervor of the day. It is my
favorite space.
There are two stories in this month’s Insite
that speak to the heart of a home: one is about
how our favorite places build a refuge for our
relationships and the other spotlights the latest in
eco-friendly home products available locally. Both
topics are close to my heart and I want to say a
special thanks to the five public figures that shared
a private view of their own favorite spaces.
As for the green home products, the variety
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act local” at its best. More than 20 years ago,
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Call today to learn more or receive a quote:
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my husband and I had to ship most of what we
needed to restore our historic home down from
the northeast. Now you can buy low- or no-VOC
refinishing products and sustainable building
materials from local retailers. When the president
of the Brazos Valley Home Builder’s Association is
promoting green building techniques, you know
the eco-ideal has finally grown its own market.
It’s enough to warm your heart – and your home.
– Angelique Gammon
Guarantees are subject to product terms, exclusions, and limitations and the insurer’s claims-paying ability and financial strength. MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its
affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and
Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI.Coverage, rates, and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. See policy for restrictions.
© 2007 MetLife Auto & Home L12077820707(exp1110)[TX] 0711-6362 © UFS
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Insite/February 2008
contents
areaevents | page 6
What’s Happening
Activities around the Brazos Valley
compiled by the Insite Magazine staff
6
artsmart | page 10
Innovation in the Arts
MSC OPAS recognized for season preview show
by Craig Boleman
communityoutreach | page 11
The Art of Helping Children
Event to honor champions and friends of children
by Candace Leslie
10 11
favoritespaces | page 14
Heart & Home
Bricks and sticks build places where love can grow
by Nancy Hardeman
ecofriendly | page 22
Get Green
Home products that save money and the planet
by Erin Hill Littlefield
14
departments
4 Publisher’s Desk
30 Business Briefs
22
The home of your heart
Notable Brazos Valley news
INSITE Magazine is published monthly by Insite Printing & Graphic Services, 123 E. Wm. J. Bryan
Pkwy., Bryan, Texas 77803. (979) 823-5567 www.insitegroup.com Volume 24, Number 11.
Publisher/Editor: Angelique Gammon; Account Executive: Cynthia Kauder; Graphic
Designer: Alida Bedard. Insite Magazine is a division of The Insite Group, LP. Reproduction of
any part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Insite Printing & Graphic Services
Managing Partners: Kyle DeWitt, Angelique Gammon, Greg Gammon. General Manager:
Carl Dixon; Production Manager: Mike Hogeboom; Pre-Press Manager: Mari Brown; IT
Manager: Glenn Richards; Office Manager: Wendy Sweard; Sales & Customer Service:
Molly Barton, Linda Browning; Janice Hellman; Kim Hogeboom; Manda Jackson; Cynthia Justice; Marie Lindley;
Production: Anthony Battles; Stephen Beatty; Joe Campise; Marilyn Carey; Don Coburn; Ricky Conchola;
Armando Elguezabal; Jeremy Frank; George Galloway; Connie Gosch; Brad Hillegeist; Cadence King; Doug
Madison; Arthur Maldonado; Gene McCallum; Frank Ramirez; Randy Valencia; Jimmy Welch.
February 2008/Insite 5
what’shappening
compiled by the Insite Magazine staff
FEBRUARY
events
February 21 at 7:30 p.m., MSC OPAS presents
“Movin’ Out,” in Rudder Theatre. The Broadway
musical by director/choreographer Twyla Tharp and
Billy Joel is set over two decades during the time of
the Vietnam era, presented by a cast of musicians,
singers and dancers. For more information or to
purchase tickets, call the MSC Box Office at (979)
845-1234 or visit www.opas.tamu.edu.
areawide
February 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Frame
Gallery hosts First Fridays. Join the Frame Gallery
in Downtown Bryan on the first Friday of every month
for local art, live music, horse drawn carriage rides, and
more. Jazz band starts at 6:30 pm. For more information,
Beginning February 1 and continuing throughout the
month, the Arts Council of Brazos Valley presents
“Lunar New Year” at the Texas Gallery. Displayed at
this Asian art exhibit are artifacts from China, Japan and
Indonesia. A reception featuring art, music and food will
be held February 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission
is free. For more information, contact the Arts Council at
(979) 696-2787.
Beginning February 1 and continuing throughout the
month, join The Children’s Museum of the Brazos
Looking for love?
contact Greta Watkins at (979) 822-0496.
Valley for a variety of special programming and activities
for children. Highlights this month include special
recycling programs, the Daddy/Daughter Dance,
space days and more. For specific program dates, times
and more information, contact The Children’s Museum at
(979) 779-KIDS (5437) or visit www.mymuseum.com
February 1-2 at 7:30 p.m., MSC OPAS presents Ray
Benson & Asleep at the Wheel in “A Ride with Bob:
The Bob Wills Musical” in Rudder Theatre. Call the
MSC Box Office at (979) 845-1234 for ticket information.
February 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., The George Bush
Presidential Library and Museum presents “The
Life of the Buffalo Soldiers” at the Frymire Auditorium
at George Bush Presidential Library Center. Features will be
the legacy and history of the contributions by the African
American Cavalry and Infantry Regiments. Admission is
free. For free reservations email [email protected]
or call Monica Lerma at (979) 691-4006.
February 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the American
Heart Association will host the 2008 Go Red for
Women Luncheon at the Hilton College Station Hotel
and Conference Center. Linda Shelton is the featured
speaker along with honorary co-chair Cherry Ruffino.
They will discuss the signs of heart disease and stroke and
how it affects women. New this year will be two optional
educational seminars from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. This
annual event is a chance for women to gain valuable
knowledge about heart disease and stroke and to raise funds
that will support research and education efforts. Tickets are
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ns
Half-Price Adoptio
th
February 14
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Insite/February 2008
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what’shappening
February 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Brazos County Master
Gardener Association presents “Fruit Trees for the
Brazos Valley and Heirloom Vegetables” at the
Brazos Center. Topics will include information on heirloom
vegetables and various fruit trees fit for the Brazos Valley.
Tickets are $10 and registration opens at 8:30 a.m. For more
information contact the Brazos County Master Gardener
Association at 823-0129 or email [email protected].
February 9 at 10 a.m., the American Guild of Organists
and Concerts on Carter Creek host guest artists Dr.
Steven Egler, organist, and Fran Shelly, flutest, for Master
Class at the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan. For more
information call (979) 693-8141.
March 1, OPAS Jr. presents “Musical Adventures
of Flat Stanley,” in Rudder Theatre. For more
information or to purchase tickets, call the MSC Box
Office at (979) 845-1234 or visit www.opas.tamu.edu.
February 9 at 1 p.m. and February 10 at 6 p.m., the
American Guild of Organists and Concerts
on Carter Creek host Music for Organ and C
Instrument at the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan.
For more information call (979) 693-8141.
$30; seating is limited. For more information, contact CoChairs Cortney Tenhet ([email protected]) or
Dedra Nevill at [email protected].
February 9 at 7 p.m., the local chapter of the American
Cancer Society (ACS) will host the 2008 Cattle
Baron’s Ball at The Zone Club at Kyle Field. CoChairs Amanda and Rob Childress and Julia and David
Gardner will host “From Denim to Diamonds…” for this
12th anniversary event celebration. Live music, dinner,
gaming, and auctions will raise much-needed funds to
support the Brazos Valley Chapter of the ACS. For more
information, contact Sheree Moore at (979) 776-1464 or
visit www.cattlebaronsball.net.
February 7-9, 14-16, and 21-23 at 7:30 pm, StageCenter
presents “Make Me a Match,” a comedy about the
perils of modern day matchmaking. Tickets are $10 for
adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children
12 and under. All tickets are $6 on Thursdays. For more
information contact StageCenter at (979) 696-2787.
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Insite/February 2008
February 14-16, 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., and February 17, 24
at 2 p.m., the Navasota Theatre Company presents
“Almost Maine,” a romantic comedy about the triumphs
and disappointments of love experienced by the residents
of Almost, Maine. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or
reservations may be made by phone at (936) 825-3195.
February 16 at 1:30 p.m., the International Institute
presents the 4th International Guitar Festival at Round
Top. Throughout the day artists will participate, including
Cem Duruoz, Juan Miguel Canizares and Philippe Bertaud.
For the full schedule and more information, call (979) 2493129 or visit www.festivalhill.org.
February 17 at 10 a.m., a workshop and Master class
with Cem Duruoz and Philippe Bertaud will be held.
For more information call (979) 249-3129 or visit www.
festivalhill.org.
February 20 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum invites you to
“Celebrate President’s Day,” at the Frymire Auditorium
at George Bush Presidential Library Center. This is an
interactive presentation exploring the challenges President
Washington and the Constitutional framers faced. Featured
is historical impressionist Peter M. Small. Admission is
free. For free reservations email [email protected]
or call Monica Lerma at (979) 691-4006.
February 21-23 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, support the
used book sale at the Washington County Fairgrounds in
Brenham sponsored by the Fortnightly Club to benefit the
Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. Admission
fee is $10 per person on February 21 and $1 following days.
Parking is free. Call (979) 337-7201 for more information.
February 21 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the Piney Woods
Fine Arts Association presents “James and the Giant
Peach” at the Crockett Civic Center. Composed of both
deaf and hearing actors, each actor will use Sign Language
as the audience hears a voice through a microphone. Tickets
are $3. For more information contact the Piney Woods Fine
Arts Association at (936) 544-4276 or visit www.pwfaa.org.
February 23 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Grimes County
Master Gardeners will hold a Landscaping and
Planting Seminar at Martha’s Bloomers in Navasota.
Topics at the seminar will include “Designing and
Accessorizing Your Landscape,” “Garden Preparation
and Water Systems,” and “Landscaping for Wildlife.” For
a registration form and information, contact the Grimes
County Extension Office at (936) 825-3495.
February 23 at 7:30 p.m., the Brazos Valley Chorale
presents Nobility of Pop at the College Station Hilton.
Tickets are $60/person. For more information, or to purchase
tickets, go to www.bvchorale.org or call (979) 776-1776.
February 24 at 5 p.m., the Brazos Valley Symphony
presents “Myths, Nymphs, & Fairy Tales” at Christ
United Methodist Church in College Station including
music by Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Mussorgsky and
guest artist, Hakan Rosengren, playing a clarinet concerto.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $8 for students and are available
through the MSC Box Office by calling (979) 845-1234 or
visit boxoffice.tamu.edu.
February 25 at 7:30 p.m., the Friends of Chamber
Music present a Community Chamber Concert
featuring Marian Anderson String Quartet and the
Colorado String Quartet at First Presbyterian Church in
Bryan. Admission is free. For more information, call (979)
690-3593 or visit www.communitychamberconcerts.com.
February 29, March 1-2, 7-9, the Arts Council of Brazos
Valley and the Theatre Company present “Camelot.”
Performances are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Ticket sales are cash,
check or credit card, and can be purchased online at
www.theatrecompany.com or at the Arts Council (2275
Dartmouth St. in College Station). For more information,
call the Arts Council at (979) 696-2787.
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 4 & 5 (7:30 PM)
Rudder Auditorium
Sponsored by:
TICKETS:
MSC Box Office 979-845-1234
www.MSCOPAS.org
Bringing World-Class Entertainment
to the Brazos Valley
March 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the American Business
Women’s Association presents the first Mini
Conference at the Holiday Inn & Suites. Women are
invited to enhance their business skills and knowledge
while networking, shopping, and listening to speakers
provided by the Bryan College Station Charter Chapter.
National President Lina Lawson, and Vice President Vicki
Marlett will be keynote speakers for the event. Professional
development certificates will be offered for attendees.
Advanced registration is required by February 26. The
event includes a meal and corporate tables are available.
For more information, contact Rilene McCord at (979)
779-6886 or email [email protected]. i
February 2008/Insite 9
artswatch
by Craig Boleman
The Producers
MSC
OPAS
Innovation in the Arts
MSC OPAS was recently selected by the
National Arts Marketing Project Conference
as one of 15 arts organizations from across
the United States for their innovation in
marketing and communication. OPAS was
selected from among numerous applicants
for its partnership with KBTX News 3 to
unveil the 35th anniversary season via a 30minute program that aired exclusively on
the station on April 19, 2007.
Executive Director Anne Black, who has
been with OPAS for 23 seasons, states, “This
was the first
year we tried a
season unveiling
collaboration
with
KBTX
and it yielded
fantastic results.
This summer’s
season
kickoff
campaign
produced more
new season ticket buyers in recent history,
with a record number of season ticket orders
arriving in the first week of sales.”
OPAS has a history of setting precedence
for presenters across the nation. Ten years
ago, OPAS was the first presenter to host
a “Preview Party” event for season ticket
holders. Today, numerous arts organizations
across the country unveil their seasons with
similar events. While the KBTX program
replaced that event last spring, Black
forecasts that next season’s unveiling may
combine the “Preview Party” with the season
unveiling on KBTX. She continues, “You
can bet, we not only presented our ideas
at the November conference, but we also
listened to what others do as well. We are
always looking for new and innovative ways
to reach new audiences with our message.
As to what the future holds, you’ll have to
stay tuned.”
For more about MSC OPAS, including
the events coming to the 35th anniversary
season, visit www.MSCOPAS.org. i
Coming from MSC OPAS this Spring:
Asleep at the Wheel
in A Ride by Bob
February 1-2, Rudder Auditorium
Movin’ Out
February 21,Rudder Auditorium
The Producers
March 4-5, Rudder Auditorium
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
March 6, Rudder Theatre
From OPAS Jr.
Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley
March 1, Rudder Theatre
For performance times and ticket information, call
(979) 845-1234 or visit www.MSCOPAS.org
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10
Insite/February 2008
Hospital
communityoutreach
by Candace Leslie
rear their ugly heads far too often, turning
what should be a gentle, trusting childhood
into a time of fear and loneliness.
We don’t always have “a village” to raise
our children, but we do have a goodly number
of local people committed to easing the paths
for many struggling youngsters. Some mentor
and tutor, coach sports, become big brothers
and sisters, or work with the courts to advocate
in children’s interests. Many teach. Others
commit long hours to service organizations,
donating time as well as money and raising
funds for a variety of programs.
A variety of celebrity autographed
ostrich eggs, including this one
signed by Richard Petty and other
NASCAR notables, will be auctioned at this year’s event.
The Champions,
Friends & Advocates
On March 1, Voices For Children, Inc., the
local chapter of CASA (Court Appointed
Special Advocates) will hold its fifth
annual fund-raiser, The Art of Helping
Children Art Auction and Dinner. While
the chief purpose of this delightful event
is increasing financial support for the
growing organization, it is also a way to
recognize some of the individuals who are
making a difference in the lives of children.
Past recipients have been as varied as the
The Art of
Helping Children
What a perfect world this would be if all
children had happy homes and 18 years
of carefree growing-up. For too many
youngsters, there is no such utopia. Even
here in the Brazos Valley, neglect and abuse
*
*
*
THE ART OF HELPING CHILDREN
DINNER & ART AUCTION
WHEN: March 1, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Brazos County Expo Complex
at 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan.
FOR INFORMATION: Voices for
Children, Inc., (979) 822-9700;
www.vfcbrazos.org or e-mail vfc@
voicesforchildren.org
capacities in which they serve. They included
Margi Lalk, Candy Rust, Judge Van Stovall,
Ronnie Jackson, Richard Guerrero, Becca
Simons, Helen Spencer, Jacque Flagg and
Scott DeLucia, Ann and Kevin O’Neill, and
Mel and Willie Pruitt.
This year, four new honorees will join
this stellar roster at the Voices for Children,
Inc.’s Fifth Annual Art of Helping Children
Art Auction and Dinner. VFC has selected
David and Julia Gardner as the “Champions
of Children.” Local philanthropists and
*
*
*
*
2008
(EREWHENYOUNEEDUS
February 2008/Insite 11
communityoutreach
Photo by Eric Aguirre
Julia and David Gardner have been
selected by Voice for Children, Inc. as
the 2008 Champions for Children.
community volunteers, the Gardners
unstintingly support local charities, many
of which serve children and families. Voices
for Children has been a grateful recipient of
the Gardners’ interest and generosity since
its inception in 2001.
In addition to his role as a public school
teacher, this year’s “Friend of Children,”
Agustin Lara, gives time to several nonprofit organizations, including leading
Bryan elementary students in the Ballet
12
Insite/February 2008
Folklorico Los Altos de Jalisco. Lara founded
this after-school dancing group in 2006 and
they perform at various events throughout
the community. That same year, Lara was
nominated as “Person of the Year” by the
Hispanic forum and has received many
awards including “Teacher of the Year” by
Anson Jones and Milam Elementary Schools.
Ginny Gibbs has been a volunteer CASA
for Voices for Children since 2003. “She has
a true passion to affect children’s outcomes
in anyway that is in her power to do so,”
says VFC Executive Director, Liana Lowey.
“She is always one of the first to volunteer
additional aid and time when the need calls”
and has even drawn her family into her VFC
involvement. Ginny has been named by
VFC as the 2008 “Advocate for Children.”
The Event
This year’s Art of Helping Children Art
Auction and Dinner will be held at an
exciting new venue, the Brazos County
Expo Complex, with catering by Global
Events. As in previous years, silent auction
entries will include a wide variety of fine
oil paintings, watercolors, and sculptures
from artists across the Brazos Valley and
the Southwest. There will be an enchanting
garden scene painted by Bryan artist Bets
Davis who has contributed annually since
the first year’s call for donations, and several
multi-medium paintings by popular artist,
Mary Stone. Ed Hoag, remembered by
many as a local artist, teacher, and signature
member of the Texas Watercolor Society
and Western Art Association continues to
contribute to The Art of Helping Children
even though he now resides in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Another long-time contributor
is Dr. Joe Smith of Caldwell, whose
remarkable sculptures with the signature
of “J. Lyle,” are well-known in the Brazos
Valley and beyond.
Autographs of the rich and famous also
fall within the definition of art especially
since the coveted signatures are inscribed
on ostrich eggs. Donated by the Wildlife
and Exotic Animal Center at the College of
Veterinary Medicine at TAMU, ostrich eggs
are initially used for scientific research and
weigh about three-and-a-half pounds. These
perfect empty-shell specimens, signed
by such notables as mystery writer Tony
Hillerman, highly decorated NASCAR
driver Richard Petty, and Southern-homecooking queen, Paula Deen, have proven to
be especially popular with auction bidders.
Students from Saint Michael’s Episcopal
School are also decorating ostrich eggs
which will be used for table decorations.
These, too, will be for sale at the dinner.
While traditional artists and their
works have been the heart and soul of the
auction since its inception, boundaries have
continued to expand while still falling
comfortably within the above definition of
art. “The Art of Fine Living” will include
such elegant items as a brunch for 12,
rounds of golf, spa baskets, and a night at
a B&B. This has given local businesses and
individuals a chance to donate some of their
particular specialties while expanding the
range of auction items.
The Organization
Ginny Gibbs and 50 other current volunteer
advocates are committed to helping fulfill
the mission of Voices for Children, Inc., the
local CASA: To advocate for the best interest
of abused and neglected children under the
court’s jurisdiction until each is placed into a
safe, nurturing, and permanent home and to
ensure that each child’s needs are addressed
and fully met.
Each CASA volunteer undergoes
extensive training in order to become a voice
for children during the stressful journey
through the court system. Appointed by a
district court judge, each one stays with his
or her child or sibling set throughout the
course of the case (usually 12-18 months.)
They talk with therapists, teachers, foster
parents, biological parents and family
members, and professionals involved with
the case, seeking to gather information to
better advocate for the child. They do not
work alone, but closely with volunteer
coordinators to develop action plans and
recommendations on each case. For most
children, the CASA is the only constant in
their turbulent lives while in foster care.
Currently, VFC can serve only about half
of the cases requested by the court. More
volunteers are always urgently needed.
One might think volunteers surely must
be folks with plenty of time on their hands.
This is seldom so. While a number are active
retirees, many CASAs also hold jobs, raise
families, and take part in other community
and church activities. Like Ginny Gibbs, they
find being CASAs satisfying in so many ways.
“I would do just about anything for
this organization,” Ginny says, praising its
accomplishments with children and, equally,
expressing great admiration for the staff
that so skillfully supports its volunteers.
“With such a kind and smart team behind
me, I have learned how to effect change in
the lives of children, and that change can
happen today.
“For children to have the consistency of
one adult in their lives is so important,” she
has learned. “Inspired and rejuvenated” by
volunteering for VFC, Ginny has discovered
that in working with children, “one must
never give up hope.” i
For information on how you can become
a CASA volunteer for Voices for Children,
Inc. and to learn of other ways that you
can serve, call (979) 822-9700 or visit
the website at www.vfcbrazos.org.
The next two-week classroom training
begins February 16, 2008. Independent
Study Options (ISOs) are scheduled for
March and May, as well as being offered
at other times as interest demands.
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February 2008/Insite 13
Heart & Home
Where is your favorite place in your
home…your retreat whenever you
have a moment to yourself? It
could be your kitchen, your patio,
even your bathroom. It may be
pretty or cozy, elegant or peaceful
– or all of the above – but most of
all, your favorite place makes you
feel safe … and loved.
Some very public people have
shared the secrets behind their own
very private places. Each one has a
favorite space that brings them peace
and is the retreat in their life for the
relationships that matter most.
Mark and Cathy Conlee’s backyard cabana
Brick and sticks build places where love can grow
14
Insite/February 2008
favoritespaces
story and photos by Nancy Hardeman
Mary Mike and Polly Hatcher
M
ary Mike Hatcher, well-known
radio personality and frequent
emcee for area charity events,
shares her home with her mother, Polly
Hatcher. “My favorite place in the house is
my living room,” Mary Mike says without
hesitation. “This room welcomes me when
I come home at night. It is the first thing
I see in the morning. It is the heartbeat of
my house.”
Mary Mike is a very busy woman,
currently a senior account representative for
WTAW. She designs and sells advertising
and frequently provides the voice in radio
ads; in years past, she was one half of
the popular WTAW morning program,
“Muck and Mire.” Serving as host of
many charitable luncheons and dinners,
and volunteering her name and energy to
worthwhile community organizations is
almost a second job for Mary Mike.
When Mary Mike and her mother built
the house in 1995, they planned ahead for a
time when Mrs. Hatcher might need special
accommodations. Her wing has wide doors
and accessible bath facilities to allow for
easy passage of a wheelchair. The kitchen,
breakfast room and dining room are all well
defined but movement between them and
the living room is unrestricted due to open
doorways and lack of thresholds between
rooms. A wall of windows opens to a cheerful
enclosed garden room, which Mrs. Hatcher
has filled with flowering plants. “That is
Mother’s garden,” Mary Mike says. “She
loves to see things bloom.”
After living with white walls for years,
last year Mary Mike had the living room and
nearby dining room painted in lively Tuscan
We’ve had wedding showers, baby showers,
family christening parties, staff parties from
the radio station.”
When Polly Hatcher celebrated her 80th
birthday in 2001, more than 100 people
came for the party. “We even had tents set up
in the backyard to make room for everyone
but people keep congregating here in this
room,” Mary Mike laughs. “I come from a
large family, and they come often. We can
This is the communication center for our family – engagements
have been announced here, good news has been shared
and big decisions are made here.” Mary Mike Hatcher
colors. “I love Italy,” she says, “and I love the
warmth and texture of the finish.” The color,
a muted tangerine, combines with the wood
plank floors and family antiques to create
a calm and soothing spot for this energetic
woman to unwind and regroup. “Mother
sits in her chair and I sit in mine and we talk
about our day. This is the communication
center for our family – engagements have
been announced here, good news has been
shared and big decisions are made here.
seat 12 people just in the chairs that are here
and, when we have a large group, we drag in
as many chairs as we need.”
To Mary Mike, the time spent with her
mother here is the reason that this room is
her favorite. “Mother and I watch the news
together,” she says. “We watch I Love Lucy
reruns and laugh. We play with her puppy.
She has had a difficult year healthwise and
the time we spend together in this room is
very special to me.”
February 2008/Insite 15
hearthome
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Fain and Janie McDougal
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16
Insite/February 2008
y kitchen is the heart of my home,” philanthropist and
volunteer Janie McDougal says. “It is such a sunny,
pleasant, cheery place to be.” Bright windows, a huge
granite-topped island, and spacious counters and cabinets combine to
create a pleasant and homey room.
When their house was being built, Janie commissioned a sevenfoot mural of Texas wildflowers on the wall behind the stove. Artist
Joyce Ahearn of Houston hand painted the work on individual tiles
depicting Janie’s favorite flowers as well as a beeskeep and honeybees.
Ahearn had recently started using a different type of tile and, within
weeks of the installation, cracks began to appear in the surface.
However, the artist redid the entire mural on new tiles and personally
came to oversee the replacement of all the handpainted tiles in the
kitchen. This time it was successful and the mural remains as vivid
today as it was 12 years ago.
“I love the painting!” Janie says. “When she repainted it, we didn’t
make any changes in the scene she had done originally. I love the
colorful flowers and the little bees.” Additional tiles scattered around
the kitchen, also created by Ahearn, contain favorite Bible passages of
the family members. Janie’s choice is a verse from First Thessalonians
Healthy Relationships
5 Things You Can Do Today … and Keep Doing Tomorrow
Elegance!
Go GREEN with
by Angelique Gammon
Everyone knows the general advice on how to nurture and grow strong
relationships: the importance of communication, trust and caring. It’s the
actual day-to-day execution where most of us fall down on the job. Life is
busy and demands our time and attention … relationships are supposed
to be there when we need them, but they deserve our attention, too. In a
completely unscientific – but really interesting – survey, we asked people
what they would like the people they are with in a relationship to do for
them. Whether it’s a spouse or partner or close friend relationship, here
are five relationship tips anyone can pick up and run with.
Be the planner …
In most relationships, it’s usually one person who most often takes the
time to plan an outing or getaway … or neither does. So be the planner. It
doesn’t have to be elaborate – just do it. Hire the sitter, review the movie
times, pick a restaurant or pick up carry out and just go to the park and
sit and talk. If finances are tight, pack cheese and crackers; give the kids
to a neighbor and “camp” in your own backyard – alone and away from
phones, work and distractions. The point is you taking the time to plan how
you will spend time with someone you care about.
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Remember When …
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One of the oldest tricks in the relationship books is to remind one another
of what attracted you to each other in the first place, whether it’s your
spouse or a special friend. The first time you met, your best (or maybe
even worst) time together, a special memory you share. If you’re having
trouble coming up with things to talk about, “Remember when…” is a
sure-fire conversation opener.
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775-1697
Laugh out loud …
Humor helps any relationship over life’s bumps. Conflict is unavoidable
in any long-term relationship, but often, after the heat of the moment
has passed, some conflicts seem silly. See if you can find the strength
to laugh in the face of adversity – maybe even at yourself – the next time
conflict comes knocking at your relationship door. You have to know what
makes the people closest to you laugh…don’t be afraid to pull out all the
silly humor from your personal joke bag. Better still, try humor before the
friction starts. Start with a smile. It will improve any moment.
Hug …
Never underestimate the power of touch to deliver a message you may not
have the words for … hug when you say goodbye in the morning and see
one another again in the evening. Hug a (good) friend. Add a little back rub
or a squeeze. Hugging was voted number one in our unscientific survey
as the easiest – and most overlooked – way to show someone every day
that you care.
Say something nice …
Sometimes it seems as if the world is divided into two groups: those
who can always think of something nice to say about someone, and
those who really struggle to pay a compliment. If you fall into the
second camp, work at it. It may be as simple as saying, “I know it’s
going to be a long day today, but knowing you’ll be here at the end of
it makes me smile.”
For him, it’s easy to compliment her appearance on special occasions
– try telling her she looks nice on an “ordinary” day. For both of you,
trying thanking your partner for the day-to-day things they do that build
your life together – cooking dinner, picking up the kids, even chores
around the house. Yes, it’s part of their “job” in the relationship, but
it never hurts to show your gratitude, and that perhaps, is the easiest
compliment of all to pay.
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February 2008/Insite 17
hearthome
that begins “Rejoice always.”
“Anytime we have people at the house, whether it is our children
or friends, everyone seems to gather in the kitchen,” Janie McDougal
says. “They sit at the island and chat while I put the meal together.
I love to cook, even though I’m not a very good cook. But this is a
great cooking kitchen. I also like that it is open to the den but it’s not
all one room.” A large den and a sunny breakfast room open off the
kitchen on two sides and a butler’s pantry connects the kitchen to the
dining room.
Janie has spent most of their marriage as a volunteer for various
community and charitable organizations. She serves on the board of
the Brazos Community Foundation and she and her husband Fain
are benefactors of numerous charities in Bryan and College Station,
especially those that are health related. Closest to her heart may be
the St. Joseph Foundation, where she and Fain headed the highly
successful Promise Campaign, raising millions of dollars to benefit
St. Joseph Hospital.
On Sunday morning, Fain McDougal spreads the paper “all up and
down the island or spreads out papers and drawings he’s working on,”
Janie adds. “It’s a great work space for him, and we are together.” When
Fain’s company developed the Sweetwater subdivision, he and Janie
chose a large, somewhat secluded lot for their own home. Deer graze in
the yard, and smaller wildlife scamper across. “Even so,” Janie says, ”we
find that we start and end our day talking together in the kitchen.”
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18
Insite/February 2008
24 Years
“W
e enjoy our entire house, but we really love the living
room,” Reba Ragsdale says. “We love the openness of
the room and the way the light comes in through the
sunroom right behind us. Our children and grandchildren come here
for Christmas and for birthdays. It is a lovely place to gather.”
Even during years of working as director of donor relations for the
12th Man Foundation, Reba was an active community volunteer. She
was named the Chamber Volunteer of the Year, and was the first woman
to be elected president of the Bryan Rotary. Since her retirement, her
involvement in charitable activities has increased. In the past few years,
she has chaired the Cattle Baron’s Ball, the Surviving and Thriving
Luncheon for Breast Cancer, and, for several years, the Newman 10
Rotary Club Awards. In 2006, she received the prestigious Jefferson
Award for her numerous contributions to the community. Currently,
Reba serves as chair of the St. Joseph Foundation.
Although she is very modest about the work that she does, a week
doesn’t go by that some organization doesn’t benefit from Reba’s
efforts. Having a place of personal refuge is extremely important
to her and she has filled their home with beautiful and meaningful
belongings. “The living room is a calming, quiet place,” Reba says. “I
feel peaceful here.”
The Ragsdales purchased their home from an acquaintance in 2002
and have made only minor changes. Their previous home had been
filled with built-in cabinets and bookcases and they had not expected
There is no TV in this room but there are lots of
chairs. People can look at each other and carry on
a conversation. – Bob Ragsdale
to find another with that feature. They were delighted to find the
house they bought had even more built-in cabinets and shelving than
in their old house.
However, one difference was obvious right away. “The wall behind
the bookshelves and fireplace was painted red when we moved in and
we weren’t certain that we would leave it that way,” Reba says. “Then
we saw what a dramatic background the color made for our art and
photographs and left it exactly as it was.” The woodwork throughout
the room, including that on the red wall, is a lustrous white that
keeps the red from being overwhelming. Other walls in the room are
a mellow khaki and glow with a soft light. Also, the high ceilings
allow for furniture that they had not been able to display previously.
A tall walnut wardrobe stands opposite the fireplace, an heirloom
from Bob’s great-aunt Bess Ragsdale. His unmarried aunt was a self-
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February 2008/Insite 19
hearthome
taught artist who lived with Bob’s family when he was a young man.
Her photograph and some of her artwork hang in their home. The
flowered couches, the tufted velvet chairs, and the antique mahogany
furnishings create a room that is both charming and comfortable.
Bob and Reba are active in their church and frequently have
church gatherings in this room as well as occasionally holding
small committee meetings and planning sessions for their various
organizations. “We like this room because we can talk, because
everybody can talk when we have guests,” Bob added. “There is no
TV in this room but there are lots of chairs. People can look at each
other and carry on a conversation. Even when it is just Reba and me,
we can catch up without any distractions.”
Chris Schmidt is the
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You will enjoy working
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20
Insite/February 2008
O
ne look at the “Aggie Room” in the home of Ben and Shirley
White would convince any casual observer that one or
both had attended Texas A&M University. Maroon carpet,
maroon recliners, Gig’em afghans, and memorabilia (ranging from
fine art to bobblehead dolls) collected over a lifetime of fandom fill
the room. Even the hall runner leading to the doorway is edged in
Aggie maroon. Part study and part sitting room, this is where Ben
and Shirley catch up with each other, sit to watch TV or read, and
enjoy replays of Aggie games. This is also where Ben keeps up with
his responsibilities as mayor of the City of College Station. “We like
the feel of the room,” Shirley says. “For us, it is very comfortable and
easy. Not formal, not stuffy, just us.”
Surprisingly, neither Ben nor Shirley attended Texas A&M although
their children and grandchildren are Aggies. However, Ben says, “I’ve
been an Aggie at heart since I was a child. My dad was a Texas grad
and we always came to College Station for the football games. I loved
it. I loved the Corps of Cadets. I loved the band. Much to my dad’s
dismay, I loved everything about A&M. I wanted to grow up and play
basketball here.”
Unfortunately, Ben was not able to win a scholarship to play
basketball in Aggieland and he reluctantly went elsewhere. “I was
too proud to come here if they wouldn’t let me play,” he says sadly. “I
wished so many times that I had not been so proud.” This was during
I use it as an office, too, but mostly
we just come in here to relax.
The kids and grandkids come
for visits and we always seem
to wind up here. – Ben White
the time of the Korean War and, shortly afterwards, he was drafted.
Ben served in the Army (although in Kansas, not Korea), married
Shirley and became a father. He did go back to school but his dreams
of being an Aggie drifted into the background.
During a career in a healthcare associated field, Ben and Shirley
primarily lived in the Austin area. The traffic and congestion took
its toll and when he retired, they started looking for a more pleasant
place to live. Actually, Ben has retired several times but it doesn’t
seem to stick. Even here, he serves as executive director of the Brazos
Valley Parkinson Association.
After checking out a few Hill Country communities, Ben and
Shirley decided to look at College Station. “We’ve had season tickets
to football since 1978,” Ben says. “We decided, why not live in a place
that we have enjoyed for years?” They found their lot and Shirley
designed their home. They moved into their new home in July, 2001
and Ben was elected mayor of his new hometown in 2007.
Originally, the couple had planned on Shirley’s mother living
with them and designed the room to accommodate her health needs.
“When my mother made the decision not to move, we immediately
started making plans to furnish the room with the things we had
accumulated,” Shirley says.
“I use it as an office, too,” Ben adds “but mostly, we just come in
here to relax. The kids and grandkids come for visits and we always
seem to wind up here.”
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February 2008/Insite 21
hearthome
Mark and
Cathy Conlee
W
hen Mark and Cathy Conlee
added a cabana in their backyard
in 1999, their original goal was
simply to conceal a solar water heating
system for their pool. The cost of heating
the water for the two-year-old pool was
more than Mark wanted to pay. A system of
plastic pipes laid out in the sun, combined
with a pump to circulate the water, would
solve the problem. “Our contractor said we
would need a flat surface at least 40-feet
long to hold the pipes and he suggested that
we build something attractive and useful,”
Mark says. “It is a timber frame structure,
built in an Amish style of pine and held
together with wooden pegs instead of nails.
All of the pieces were cut, shaped, and laid
out in our driveway. It was like watching a
huge puzzle being put together.”
Not only does the cabana add an extra
month to the beginning and end of the
swimming season, but also the ceiling fans
and the southern-facing roof provide both
shade and breezes during the summer heat.
“Even though we thought it was beautiful,”
Cathy adds, “we didn’t expect it to make the
difference in our lives that it did.”
The couple quickly found that the openair cabana became their favorite spot. “What
I like best is that it is not in here,” Mark
says, referring to the house itself. “In here,
the phone is ringing, the TV is playing. If
we have a disagreement, it is in here. Out
(BMMFSZ4QFDJàD.BUFSJBMT].BHB[JOF])BMG]$.:,
there,
it is peaceful. It gets me away from the
normal day-to-day stuff.”
Cathy Conlee frequently hosts parties,
showers, receptions, and meetings in the
cabana. Occasionally, friends ask to hold
their parties there. Cathy can set up five or
six tables and comfortably seat 40 or more
people for a meal. “When the kids are here
(the Conlee’s have two grown children and a
new grandson), we build a fire in the firepit
and talk and joke and admire the baby,” Mark
says. “It is sort of like camping, without all
the muss and fuss.”
But their more common use of the cabana
is for coffee and the paper in the morning
and for relaxing and talking together in the
evenings. Wooden rockers pulled up to an
old wood-burning stove can ease the chill of a
cool evening or make for a calm beginning to
days that can become very hectic.
Mark Conlee, mayor of the City of Bryan,
has a demanding schedule and he says that
the quiet of the cabana provides him a place
of solitude. After a stressful city council
meeting, Mark comes home and sits quietly
to unwind. “He puts on music from the
1960’s and ‘70’s, maybe talks with a friend,
but usually just reads or talks with me,”
Cathy says. “It is a great time for us to catch
up from a busy day and for me to know what
is going on with him. It’s his favorite spot
and he lets me share it with him.” i
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22
Insite/February 2008
10326
ecoproducts
by Erin Hill Littlefield
Builder Bruce Martin of Bandera Master Builders adheres to green building
techniques that both consumer and
eco-friendly.
Get Green n
Home Products that save money AND the planet
You
wouldn’t
know
by
looking that all of the
light bulbs in Bruce Martin’s home are
compact fluorescent bulbs, those “curly-cue”
bulbs that cost more and last longer, since
nearly every light fixture, from Tiffany-style
lamps and opaque glass, covers those bulbs.
You wouldn’t know that even his ceiling
fans meet Energy Star specifications, along
with all the windows and appliances (at least
those that come with Energy Star ratings),
or that the entire house is “wrapped,” in a
sense, with 1-inch Foamular boards and
proprietary adhesive spray-in insulation that
exceeds the required R13 factor, making the
house both silent and fairly cheap to heat
and cool (a $90 electric bill last July).
You also wouldn’t know that he stained
the distinctive concrete slab floor himself.
“I ended up saving money and being
green, since no fuel was expended for a ton
of tile made overseas,” says Martin.
But you would know that the home is stylish,
with rough-hewn (and local) cedar beams, an
outdoor fireplace and a limestone façade.
Martin just happens to be a green builder,
and he practices what he preaches. As president
of the local Homebuilders Association
and committed member of the National
Homebuilders Association, he adheres to the
NHBA’s guidelines on green building.
“To some extent everyone is a green
builder,” says Martin, since Texas and
national building codes require that new
homes meet energy efficiency levels. Those
same codes will most likely become even
more energy conscious.
NHBA will be unrolling its new green
program on February 14. Martin says that the
NAHB announced in a press release “that when
a green home doesn’t look or feel significantly
different, then green has arrived.”
For many people in the Brazos Valley,
those green choices are beginning to arrive.
“Since 20, 30 or 40 years ago, everything
has had to change. A lot of people are
mandated to do green building whether
they really know it or not,” he says. Martin
definitely knows it. His company, Bandera
Master Builders, offers multiple “green”
choices to its customers. The website
www.banderamasterbuilders.com
offers
information about the NHBA’s eight phases
of green building, which include optimal
value engineering, energy efficiency,
environmental and community stewardship,
resource efficiency, reduction of passive solar
heat gain, and water conservation (including
low-flow toilets and showerheads).
Decisions like planting native trees,
incorporating a gray-water sprinkler
system (which Martin does), building with
engineered products like SmartSide (a
commonly-used siding “made from the little
chips they would otherwise throw away or
burn,” says Martin) can “green” a home,
Kent Moore Cabinets in Bryan has
changed to a waterborne finishing
technology that is among the most
environmentally friendly finishes available anywhere in the world.
February 2008/Insite 23
ecoproducts
layer by layer. Employing local craftsmen
and purchasing local products are also part of
environmental stewardship, as is recycling.
Even more careful use of dimensional
lumber in framing can significantly reduce
waste; more builders are realizing that green
building can save money.
Consumers are realizing, too, that
environmentalism
is
about
smart,
sustainable choices, not a total renunciation
of convenience or style. There is a growing
awareness in our community, though it’s
obvious that central Texas is not California.
For some, that’s probably a relief. But even
here in the south, where environmentalconsciousness has lagged, consumers are
starting to care.
Martin says that, “For the last two or
three years, the number one driver for
green building is energy efficiency.” Polls
show the second reason is health; number
three is that “it’s the right thing to do for
the environment.”
Their pocketbooks may motivate
people, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do
some good while outfitting their homes.
“Consumers are getting really educated on
green building,” says Martin. He cites one
NBHA article conclusion that consumers
are expected to double spending on green
products and services in the near future.
For those in Bryan/College Station there
are plenty of businesses that offer those indemand green products and services, from
the ground up.
Flooring n
C
huck Moreau, Brazos Valley Carpet
Outlet owner, carries carpet products
from Shaw and Mohawk, two innovative
companies. The Shaw Green Edge recycles
carpet fibers, while Mohawk uses “alternate
products such as corn,” and “a polyester that
is basically recycled coke bottles and things
like that,” says Moreau.
“We sell a lot of that,” he says. In the past,
those innovative polyesters didn’t always
perform as well, but the fiber construction
has really improved.
Don Foltermann, carpet manager at
24
Insite/February 2008
Chapman Paint Company, says, “Everything
is now cradle-to-grave,” which means
recycling more frequently, even carpet
padding. “The price is about the same,” he
says of these innovative carpets, sometimes
even a little less.
Moreau lauds industry efforts to recycle
wood. Whereas previously, used wooden
flooring might have been “just scrapped,”
many companies now strip down discarded
wood and refinish it. In some cases, this
means reclaimed wood from old barns and
historical buildings with lots of character,
like “old nail holes, burn marks and cracks,”
says Moreau.
“It’s really neat stuff,” he says excitedly.
BVCO does sell it, but Moreau admits the
current demand from customers for unique
historical planks isn’t overwhelming. “I do
see the manufacturers moving toward green,
making it more price-effective,” he adds, and
believes it will become “more predominant
in our market.”
As an environmentally conscious person,
he notes “it has to start with me,” he says,
meaning additional promotion of “green”
flooring choices in the future.
Bathing Beauty
Voted
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Paint n
J
ust as the flooring industry is addressing
the chemicals it uses in carpets, so too
is the world of paint, says John Jahnke, of
Chapman Paint Company. It doesn’t take an
environmental activist to recognize that paint
fumes aren’t exactly healthy. Paint choices
inched toward low-odor and the elimination
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the
recent past, but “now nearly everything is
green and more environmentally friendly,”
says Jahnke.
He is particularly intrigued by Benjamin
Moore’s new Aura product line because it
reinvents the concept of paint. “They’ve
rethought the whole process, and the
colorants are totally different from the
standards by every other company.”
Usually colorants have different oils, but
the Aura line is pure colorant with water.
Jahnke says even the tinting machine is
different; it uses a humidifier to keep the
• custom shower enclosures
• beveled glass & mirrors
• heavy glass • glass blocks
822-5871 • 810 S. Washington, Bryan • www.acmeglass.com
• tabletops • framed mirrors
February 2008/Insite 25
ecoproducts
paint moist. This new line is also a one-coat
product with a unique color-lock that means
customers can use flat paint in bathrooms or
any sheen anywhere they want.
“It still looks like a gallon of paint,” he
laughs, but is completely different inside. In
the case of the Aura line, the color vibrancy
and VOC reduction means a significantly
higher price. For some consumers, especially
those with allergies or sensitivities, that price
increase is worth it, though it is not yet “a
mass market product,” he says. One woman
contacted Chapman about Aura paint before
they had received it, but Jahnke promised
her she could be “the first in Brazos Valley”
to buy it, and she was.
Jahnke says, “My speculation is that five
to seven years from now, that old system
will be gone,” and all paint will use these
oil-free colorants. It’s “market changing.”
Benjamin Moore and other paint lines are
also selling paints with reduced solvents. For
his business, he says it’s the quality that sells
first and then “oh yeah, it’s also green.” The
technology was first available in California
and Europe (“they are always ahead of us,
in terms of standards,” says Jahnke), and is
unrolling stateside one market at a time.
“It’s the thing of the future,” he says.
“The market will drive it because they
have to ultimately get away from the
entrenched system.”
The Aura paint line and all other paints
sold there are available in two-ounce sample
jars so that customers can test the colors
before buying an entire gallon.
Cabinets n
In
2004, Kent Moore Cabinets
decided to update its finishing
center to something more automated. They
traveled to an Atlanta builder products show
to see what was available, says Teresa Galliher,
vice-president of sales West at KMC, and
discovered a waterborne technology “being
used in Europe that had not been brought
to the U.S. on a widespread basis.”
This Giardina Flatline system is “the
most environmentally friendly finish
available in the world,” and KMC offers
it right here in our community, one of
only a handful of companies in the U.S.
to use this unique finishing system.
(More information is available at www.
kentmoorecabinets.com.)
When KMC upgraded to Giardina
Flatline, “hardly anybody asked or
mentioned it,” says Galliher, “but in the last
six to eight months, more people are asking
about it.”
The idea that green products lead to a
compromise in quality couldn’t be further
from the truth at Kent Moore Cabinets.
“Actually it’s a superior product with
smooth, consistent application,” says
Galliher. Additionally, the flatline system
meant getting away from VOC-emitting
varnishes. They have cut their VOC
emissions tremendously.
“We wanted to make an impact on the
environment by doing that,” she adds. It just
so happens that Giardina is also more durable.
Galliher is proud that their system
would easily “qualify” in California, where
compliance regulations are more stringent.
“Usually what happens in California
eventually rolls over to the rest of the
country,” she says. “We are already there.”
Interiors by
Joan
General C
­ ontracting
and P­ rofessional
­Interior ­Decorating
• Renovations,
­Remodeling & New
Home ­Construction
• Design Consultations
•Kitchen & Bath
­Renovation Specialists
• Custom Window
­Treatments
Joan Rockett
(979) 676-2035 – cell • (979) 567-9371 – studio
25 Years Experience
26
Insite/February 2008
Kent Moore Cabinets recycles wood
scraps and sawdust, which is used as “an
alternative energy source” for another
company; it fuels their boiler. They also
recycle their solvents.
In keeping with their company-wide
environmental statement, they only
purchase lumber “from companies that use
sustainable forestry practices. What we
don’t do is buy wood out of the Brazilian
rain forest,” says Galliher.
So green thinking is the company
culture at Kent Moore Cabinets that the
state of Texas “has asked us to apply for an
award they are giving for environmentally
friendly businesses,” states Galliher. KMC
is also applying for their trade association’s
environmental stewardship certification.
“It’s so important,” she says sincerely.
“We want to make our environmental
efforts go hand in hand with our operating
costs so that customers can buy the
environmentally friendly stuff without it
being a huge increase in cost to them, like
the waterborne sealing.”
Window n
treatments
O
ne of Barbara Holley’s customers suffers
from breathing problems requiring her
to use a breathing machine. This woman
did a little interior design homework and
discovered that ADO’s Actibreeze fabric
“literally cleans the air, not only of dust but
of bacteria,” says Holley, owner of Holley’s
Window Fashions. It was the perfect fabric
for this client, and Holley could not be more
thrilled to be selling it.
“I don’t know how they made it,” says
Holley, but it is just “great!”
You might assume that industrial-grade
odor-eliminating fabric only came in shades
of gray or tan better suited for medical offices
(where it is actually used) than cheery living
rooms, but the Actibreeze fabric selections “are
very pretty,” says Holley cheerily, who has sold
the relatively new product for about a year.
It is perfect for people “who want to use
fabric but have allergies.”
Holley also sells environmentally
friendly shutters made of composite wood
material or manmade products that look
every bit as elegant as wood. She is proud
that the interior design industry “has been
very focused on trying to really help our
environment as we make our surrounding
areas beautiful.”
She has made a personal commitment
“to use green products as much as possible.”
This means selling fabrics that incorporate
bamboo; “they look the same as cotton or
linen,” she says, without any stiffness.
For Holley, the marriage of beautiful interiors
with green products “is a wonderful thing.”
Showers n
“G
lass is green,” says Donna Morehead
of Acme Glass. “We’ve been thinking
about how we can better advertise that.”
Of course she’s not just talking about
green-tinted glass. Our ubiquitous shower
curtains “release chemicals in the bathroom”
when they’re in use and clutter landfills
when they’re not. Morehead recommends
checking out bathenclosures.org for some
surprising information about the dangerous
toxicity of polyvinyl chloride, used in most
“Barbara has given us a room
beyond our expectations…
it’s a warm comfortable, cozy
room our entire family can
enjoy” – Donise Ernst
WINDOW FASHIONS & INTERIORS
4091 Highway 6 S. • College Station
(979) 690-8889 · Cell (979) 219-1482 • Email [email protected]
February 2008/Insite 27
getgreen
Your Source for
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Rain Gutters
HOME PRODUCTS SHOW
Looking for the newest in home building and remodeling products – all in one place?
Visit this year’s Brazos Valley Home Builder’s Association Home Products Show in its
new location at the Brazos County Expo Center, February 23-24. More than 130 suppliers
of all things home-related will be available to answer all your home product questions.
Admission is $3 per adult; $2 for seniors; $1 for children 12 years old and under. For
Custom sheetmetal
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more information about the 2008 Home Products Show, call (979) 846-1420.
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Alice Wager · Gutters 979.218.4629
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Office 979.774.0738 • 12587 State Hwy. 30
College Station, TX 77845
shower curtains.
For this reason, Acme Glass’s “shower
enclosures are better than shower curtains,”
says Morehead. Anyone who has ever
unfolded a brand-new vinyl shower curtain
knows well the odor that accompanies it.
The curtains are often difficult to keep clean,
which can lead to other health issues.
While none of their customers have yet asked
about the environmental benefits of shower
enclosures, “there are people who are really
interested in going green,” says Morehead. A
glass shower enclosure can be an attractive,
environmentally friendly way to go.
Pools n
216 N. Bryan Ave.
In historic downtown Bryan
“M
Original Works of Art
paintings • pottery • photography
jewelry • mosaics
lithographs • drawings
woodwork • mixed media
Custom Framing
diplomas • needlework
family mementos
Greta Watkins, owner
[email protected]
28
Insite/February 2008
“Red Rose” by Sherry O.S. Ginzel
Experience
First Friday@The Gallery
on the first Friday of every month
art & music • food & friends
822-0496
10:00am – 5:30pm
Tuesday – Saturday
ost people do not want a green
pool,” jokes Mark Davies of
Aggieland Pools. “Our purpose is to keep
the environment out of your pool.”
However, even outdoor pools can go a
little green, and not in an algae way. Davies
says an ozonator can help reduce chlorine
usage to some degree, though with the warm
water and constant sun we experience here,
the reduction is not as great as it would be
in cooler climates. Salinated pools may offer
a slight green advantage, though a saline
system “is just a different way of making
chlorine,” says Davies.
A new variable-speed pump called the
Intelliflo “changes the flow rate so that it
reduces electricity usage,” and does offer a
measurable reduction in energy consumption.
(The energy costs for traditional pumps can
cost $100 per month.)
Lights n
“T
he customers are the ones coming
to us,” says Dane Brock of Dealers
Lighting. “We have had a lot of interest.”
They’ve heard about compact fluorescent
light bulbs and want to know more. These
bulbs “use much less energy, thereby
conserving oil, and actually produce less
heat, so it takes less energy to cool your
home in the summer,” Brock says. This
means lowered utility costs for consumers,
which is also good.
LEDs, the little bulbs used in car
headlamps are on the horizon, though with
a hefty price tag right now, says Brock.
Brock shares that, “If one lightbulb was
changed in every household it would make
a huge difference in the amount of energy
consumption.” The compact fluorescent
version of a typical 60-watt bulb would
“only pull 13-15 watts,” he says, “and they
do last longer,” from 4000 to 10,000 hours.
Of course those bulbs do cost a bit more,
and for some consumers, especially those
building new homes with lots of bulbs to
buy, that $2 to $3 extra per light bulb “can
be hard to swallow.”
But someday, perhaps soon, compact
fluorescent bulbs will be what everyone
uses. “That change has already started,” says
Brock. Some regulation is already in place,
and California has outlawed the selling of “a
standard light bulb after this year.” Texas may
not be the next state on the bandwagon, but
think how nice it would be to change light
bulbs half as often and reduce electricity usage.
Appliances n
“T
he difference between an Energy
Star-qualified appliance and one that
just meets basic government requirements is
about $8 a year,” says David Price of Buddy’s
Appliance. He says that the cost difference
is usually minimal, and customers do see a
reduction in electric bills, almost evening
out the difference.
“You might spend $30 more for a fridge
and yet save $7 to $8 on energy,” says
Price. Some cities – not Bryan or College
Station – offer rebates to consumers who
purchase Energy Star appliances, a real
motivator. Typically the Energy Star
rating is found on refrigerators, laundry
machines and dishwashers.
Price does note that Energy Star-rated
front-loading washing machines are nearly
double in price from traditional machines.
What consumers might not know, however, is
that that traditional washing machines use 4550 gallons of water per load. The front-loaders
use only 25 gallons, a serious reduction.
“Regular washers do meet energy
guidelines but front-load washers far
exceed them,” says Price. “For home use,
Westinghouse made them for 30 years but
nobody would buy ‘em. Now people are
buying them,” he adds.
Air n
Conditioning
B
ruce Martin thinks that HVAC systems
absolutely need to go green. Even
if you’re not building a new home, air
condition systems can be remodeled or
retrofitted. He recommends “a zoned central
AC system” that includes a dampener in the
attic, controlled by the thermostats. The
cost is about $1000, but the gain could be
greater over the long run. His 1800-squarefoot home has five zones.
Why zone, you ask?
“Why cool the whole house to 71 degrees
during the summer if you only
need it in your bedroom?” he answers. In his
home, he doesn’t turn on the guest bedroom
zone unless someone is using it; energy isn’t
wasted on a room not in use.
He also recommends programmable
thermostats as well as variable-speed air
handlers, which better reduce humidity
without resorting to the full-blast-thenturn-off cycles of traditional ACs. Martin
says that 70 degrees with a traditional
AC unit “will feel a lot hotter than 70
degrees in a house with a variable air
handler,” and the air handler cuts back
on energy consumption.
Another available energy-saving appliance
is a tankless water heater; Martin estimates
that the cost is about $1300 more, but says
a family of four would recoup that in four
to five years. Because there is no reservoir
of hot water you’re paying to heat 24 hours
a day, the customer saves; because a gas jet
heats all water as it enters from an exterior
wall, showers never run cold, no matter how
many houseguests are staying.
Customers of Mid-South Synergy, the
Navasota-based electric cooperative, also
have access to an environmentally friendly
water heater, sold by the cooperative, says
Jeff Murski, marketing coordinator.
The Mid-South Synergy website
(www.midsouthsynergy.com)
offers
tipsheets on saving energy as well as an
energy calculator to give a better sense of
consumption patterns.
Murski says that they “also offer to our
membership energy audits to provide tips
to make their houses more efficient and not
use as much electricity.” While a few of his
customers have installed solar panels or a
geo-thermal ground water system, most
are interested in small measures they might
take to reduce rising electric bills. Murski
predicts that like all technology, cuttingedge environmental apparatus will become
more mainstream and affordable.
Barbara Holley thinks 2008 is the year for
Bryan/College Station to catch the vision of
environmental stewardship. “Unfortunately
I have to say that the B/CS area is not quite
as forward thinking in this area, but I think
we’re catching up now in our thinking
green. More and more people are thinking
about our environment,” she believes.
Bruce Martin likes to tell customers
that those eight green phases are doable.
“You can get a lot of payback for a small
investment, which you can recoup. There
are a lot of things you can do that are
already affordable!” i
February 2008/Insite 29
quality customer service that...
MAKES YOU
FEEL AT
HOME
123 E. Wm J. Bryan Pkwy. Bryan, Texas 77803
979.823.5567 • 800.364.2665 Toll Free • 979.823.3894 Fax
www.insitegroup.com
localnotables
compiled by the Insite Magazine staff
accessories. The company is the largest woman-owned
business
briefs
February 2008
furniture manufacturer, co-founded by mother/daughter
team of Jaye Congleton and Rebecca Boenigk.
Neutral Posture is a certified women’s business
enterprise (WBE), and is one of the top diversity
suppliers for the U.S. government and for Fortune 500
companies worldwide. For more information regarding
the N·tune™ Seating System, please visit www.getntune.
com. (l-r) Walter Charnizon, president of Continental
?`Me-CTUXQ
/^[O[PUXQ
An Extended Stay
Island Favorite!
Exhibitions; Cortney Tenhet, marketing manager for
Neutral Posture; Dr. Jerome J. Congleton, professor
at Texas A&M University and consultant for Neutral
Posture; Michele Smithey, vice president of Customer
Relations for Neutral Posture; Dr. Mark Benden,
executive vice president of Sales for Neutral Posture.
(l-r)Cindy Peaslee and Liz and Michael Perez were
recently recognized as the 2007 Mayor’s Downtown
Impact Award recipients. Peaslee is vice chair of the
Downtown Bryan Economic Development Association
and chair of the Events & Tourism Committee. The
Perez’s are owners of Papa Perez Mexican Cuisine
in historic Downtown Bryan. All were recognized for
their work in the revitalization of Downtown Bryan.
Hospice Brazos Valley recently was honored during
BTU’s annual Power Pedal Week. (l-r) Debbie
Britten, CFO of Hospice Brazos Valley, received a
$1,500 check from Joe Hegwood, CFO of BTU, along
with Craig Borchardt, CEO and president of Hospice.
After six months of construction and a $1.5 million
renovation, the College Station Hyatt Place recently
celebrated with a Grand Opening. The event was held
in conjunction with the B/CS Chamber of Commerce
and Brazos Valley Restaurant Association’s
Epicurean
Extravaganza
Hawthorn Suites at the Victorian Resort
• Free Hot Breakfast Daily
• Free Internet Access
• Free Social Hour Each Wednesday Evening
• Spacious one and two bedroom suites
with private Gulfview balconies
Two Swimming Pools for Year-Round Fun
• Paradise Cove pool features a water drop
mushroom, a floating alligator, water
cannon, and zero depth entry with
bubbling jets to tickle your toes
• Heated Waterfall Lagoon pool has a
romantic rock waterfall
More Resort Amenities
• Fitness Center, Lighted Tennis Court,
Picnic Pavilion and Game Room
Group Sales & Catering Service
• We offer a wide variety of meeting
opportunities for your events
From $89 Sun-Thurs,
January and February
Not valid holidays, weekends,
and special events.
Rates subject to availability.
Preview. Festivities
included menu tasting from local restaurants, live music
Neutral Posture’s newest innovation, the N·tune™
and door prizes. The free event was open to the public
Seating System, has earned the company its 5th
and included tours of the newly remodeled guestrooms.
consecutive Attendees’ Choice Award at the 2007
In November, the hotel officially changed over from
National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition
AmeriSuites to Hyatt Place. The owner is Kyle Legends,
in Las Vegas. The N·tune™ concept is all about raising
and the hotel management is the Oldham Goodwin
desk heights from 30” up to 40” and then raising the
Group, which has provided management of the hotel
chair to stool height, allowing users to easily and freely
since early 2006. For more information, contact Hyatt
stand up to work when needed. Neutral Posture is a Bryan
Place College Station at (979) 846-9800 or The Oldham
based manufacturer of ergonomic seating products and
Goodwin Group at (979) 268-2000. i
at
The Victorian Resort
& Conference Center
6300 Seawall • Galveston
800-231-6363
www.hawthorn.com
February 2008/Insite 31
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