August 2008 - Insite Brazos Valley

BRINGING THE BLUES: Navasota to host Blues Fest
August 2008
$1.95
BRAZOS
VALLEY
OUTSTANDING
YOUTH
TOP DOCS
Good medicine
GIVE BACK
Feed a neighbor
innovative
caring
dedicated
• Microsurgery
• Minimally Invasive Spine
• Complex/Revision Spine
• Dynamic Stabilization
• Artificial Disc Replacement
• Scoliosis
• Trauma
3201 University Drive East
Brazo
Suite 255
pine
Mukund I. Gundanna, M.D.
Troy M. Duley, PA-C.
Bryan, Texas 77802
(979) 774-0411
1-877-774-0411
www.brazosspine.com
H
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
ope of Recovery
Through Biomedical
Intervention
Autism Spectrum Disorders are a major epidemic in our society. ASD affects about 1 in 150 children.
Boys are affected more often than girls (1 in 94 boys are affected).
The Puzzle Of ASD
Toxic exposures act in complex ways upon
the body’s internal environment to give rise to
the wide range of sensory, cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, and neuro-developmental
disorders of the autism
spectrum.
Autism is Treatable
In 1995, the Autism
Research Institute began
the Defeat Autism Now!
(DAN!) Project. Since
then thousands of children have recovered through biomedical intervention.
Defeat Autism Now (DAN!)
The DAN! approach Dr. Bailey uses is an
application of the principles of functional medicine to treating ASD, with the therapeutic goal
of persistent forward progress in recovery. The strategy is to:
Find Out And Remove What Harms
Find Out And Provide What Heals
This strategy requires careful history taking
and physical examination, laboratory evaluations for biochemical and genetic markers,
and other evaluations as needed for each
unique child.
Metabolic laboratory evaluations include
examination of hair, saliva, blood, stool, and
urine from experienced
and certified laboratories. These laboratories
provide us information
about:
• Metabolism of organic acids, fatty
acids, and amino
acids
• Mitochondrial and cellular capacity
• Dysfunction of the digestive tract
• Impairment of the detoxification capacity of the liver and kidneys
• Toxic metals and other environmental
toxins
• Fungal overgrowths
• Intestinal bacterial dysbiosis
• Parasitic infestation
• How food impacts the immune system
(food sensitivities and allergies)
• Neurotransmitter production and regulation
• Blood and tissue levels of key vitamins
and minerals
• Hormone regulation
• Viral load
• Immune system status
Treatment of ASD at Bailey Health &
Wellness Center
Special diets: ASD children often need
special diets for recovery. There are many
diets that help recovery. We work with each
family to choose the best diet combination
possible for their child.
Supplements: The list of food and herbal supplements that have helped ASD children
is vast and can be overwhelming. The metabolic testing helps sort through it all, and provides guidance as to the best course of action.
To get the right combination of supplements,
and then to actually get them into your child
requires patience and fortitude.
We offer professional quality products
from various well-established companies. We
provide written instructions as to their use. No
patient is required to use the products we offer. Dr. Bailey will gladly work with you if you
desire to use other sources.
We also offer chiropractic care and other
therapy for ASD clients. These treatments can
help restore the biomechanical and neuromuscular systems of the body, improving recovery.
For more information, visit our website:
http://baileyhwc.com/asd. We also offer
a free initial consultation. Call 822-2225 to
make an appointment.
BAILEY
Health & Wellness Center
David W. Bailey, DC, MPH
E
211_B-GC/Insite Top Docs/Copyright © 2008 by Franklin Bank, S.S.B. All Rights Reserved. 7/08
EXPERIENCED LENDING
FOR PROFESSIONALS.
Steve Hilton provides experience, knowledge and
personal service to medical and business professionals.
At First National Bank, we offer:
• Business loans
• Hours to fit your schedule
• Fast decisions on loans
Come in today and let Steve help you reach your financial
goals through banking...up close and personal!
www.fnb-bcs.com • 979-779-1111
Seven Convenient Locations to Serve You!
Rates, programs, and products subject to change without notice. All loans subject to credit approval and, as applicable, collateral review.
Payments on loans with variable rates may increase after closing.
Member
FDIC
publisher’sdesk
publisher’sdesk
CONGRATULATIONS to Insite’s Living the
Good Life contest winners Emily Krueger, Rick
Colwell and Karla Smith. The prize packages
they won totaled some $2,700 worth of great
prizes courtesy of a remarkable range of Brazos
Valley businesses.
While they are enjoying weekend getaways at
the LaSalle Hotel in Downtown Bryan, Hawthorn
Suites at the Victorian Resort in Galveston and a
weekend RV rental from RV Station; noshing at
Caffe Capri, Mad Hatter’s Tea Room in Caldwell,
Blue Baker and Funky Art Café in Brenham; or
relaxing after a hot stone or couple’s massage
at Elements, not to mention enjoying other
cool stuff from Sherilyn Gilmore Fine Jewelry,
Baskets on the Brazos, Susan’s Ballroom Dance,
Burr’s Unfinished Furniture, EarthArt, The Frame
Gallery, Dealers Lighting and The Pomegranate,
the rest of us will be sweating out the final days
of summer. Not that I’m jealous or anything.
All the Living the Good Life sponsors are
businesses my family and I visit, and enjoy,
regularly. I was visiting with a neighbor just the
other day and she was bemoaning the fact that
she couldn’t find a particular type of gadget for
her kitchen remodel project from A NATIONAL
CHAIN STORE. Have you tried Dealer’s Lighting?”
I asked. “Oh, no. I should,” she said. Yes, indeed
– imagine a store with qualified sales reps that
can help you find exactly what your project
needs instead of wandering in exile down isles
in a big box store. The same for the friend who
wanted a recommendation of somewhere good to
eat – I rattled off a list of locally owned options
including our family favorites in Caldwell and
Brenham, just for that exotic flare. Not that
there’s anything wrong with A NATIONAL CHAIN
RESTAURANT. But hey, when you dine with the
locals you get unique, along with good food, for
your money.
So even if you didn’t win Insite’s Living the
Good Life contest, you can still shop and dine –
and this month, find outstanding medical care –
like a winner. For details, inquire with any of our
advertisers. – Angelique Gammon
That’s Convenient!
Insite Delivered to Your Door
2 years for just $19.95
24 issues; mailed monthly
1 year for just $12.95
12 issues; mailed monthly
Call (979) 823-5567
* Toll Free (800) 364-2665
Or www.insitegroup.com
and click on Subscribe Now
4
Insite/August 2008
contents
6
areaevents page 6
What’s Happening
Activities around the Brazos Valley
compiled by Kim Borenstein
musicscene page 10
Blues Fest
10
Navasota brings the Blues home
by Chris Jarvis
musicscene page 12
Northgate Music Festival
College Station event gets back to its roots
by Kim Borenstein
12 health
Top Docs
28 community
21
news page 14
The best medical care around
Special Advertising Section
focus page 21
Outstanding Youth
Area students make their mark
by Kim Borenstein
26
29
24
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 25, Number
5. Publisher/Editor: Angelique Gammon; Account Executive: Cynthia Kauder; Graphic
Designer: Alida Bedard.; Editorial Interns: Kim Borenstein, Chris Jarvis. 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; PrePress Manager: Mari Brown; IT Manager: Glenn Richards; Office Manager: Wendy Sweard;
Sales & Customer Service: Molly Barton; Janice Hellman; Kim Hogeboom; Manda Jackson; Cynthia
Justice; Marie Lindley; Production: Stephen Beatty; Joe Campise; Norris Carnes; Maria Contancio; Marilyn
Carey; Don Coburn; Ricky Conchola; Armando Elguezabal; George Galloway; Brad Hillegeist; Cadence King;
Margie Lowry; Doug Madison; Arthur Maldonado; Nora Milner; Frank Ramirez; Randy Valencia; Jimmy Welch.
givingback page 28
Fight Hunger
Sponsor a neighbor in need
by Theresa E. Mangapora
getsmart page 29
Road Kill
Is this the end of the armadillo?
by W. R. (Bill) Klemm, DVM
departments
4 Publisher’s Desk The winners are…
30 Business Briefs Notable Brazos Valley news
COVER CREDITS: Sydney Pham of College Station won second
place in the Sylvan Learning Center essay contest. Photo by Marcie
Greenbaum, Specialties Photography.
August 2008/Insite 5
what’shappening
compiled by Kim Borenstein
August 9 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm will host the third annual Lavender
Fest. The popular Tour de Lavender returns this year and includes several tours of special attractions on the way
to the festival. Participating businesses will have signs designating them as a stop on the tour. Tour maps can be
picked up at all destinations, including the Chappell Hill Museum, the Bluebonnet House, Lillian Farms Country
Estate, and the Monastery of St. Clare Miniature Horse Farm. The tour will culminate with a stop at the Chappell
Hill Lavender Farm to enjoy its beautiful lavender-covered hillsides. Since the festival kicks off the blooming
season, guests will have the opportunity to cut their own fresh lavender and learn how to make lavender wands
with demonstrations at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. In addition, there will be demonstrations from the Gourd Society,
Bluegrass picking with local artists, a showcase featuring Ocowan the horse, crafts vendors, food, and more
entertainment. Visitors are also encouraged to tour the farm’s gift shop with its wide variety of unique lavenderrelated items. For more information, call (979) 251-8114 or visit www.chappellhilllavender.com.
afternoons at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.
programs, or call (979) 779-KIDS for more information.
thetheatrecompany.com, at the Arts Council, or at the Box
AUGUST
events
areawide
August 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Frame
Office. For more information, call (979) 696-2787.
Gallery hosts First Fridays. Join the Frame Gallery in
Downtown Bryan on the first Friday of every month for
August 1-30, the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley
local art, live music, horse drawn carriage rides and fun.
presents Nature’s Bounty by Shelley Janac. Gallery
The jazz band starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information,
hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6
contact Greta Watkins at (979) 822-0496 or visit www.
p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.
downtownbryan.com.
to 2 p.m. Admission is free. On August 7 from 5:30 p.m.
to 7 p.m., a reception for the artist will be held. For more
Beginning August 1 and continuing throughout the
month, join The Children’s Museum of the Brazos
August 1-3 and 8-10, the Theatre Company
Valley for special programs and activities for children of
presents Pajama Game. Performances are Friday and
all ages. Visit www.mymuseum.com for a complete list of
Saturday nights at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday
information, contact the Arts Council at (979) 696-2787.
August 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the Brazos Valley
0ATIENT&RIENDLY(EALTH#ARE
INTHE#OMFORTOF(OME
4HE
/URDEPENDABLECAREGIVERSARECAREFULLYSCREENED
ANDTRAINEDTOTAKEEXCELLENTCAREOFYOU
6INTAGE'ARDEN
*=JKGF9D9J=
&ANAF?
9LALK=KL
3ERVICES!VAILABLE
s.URSINGs(OME(EALTH!IDE
s-EDICAL3OCIAL7ORKs3PEECH4HERAPY
s0HYSICAL4HERAPYs/CCUPATIONAL4HERAPY
ALICENSEDCERTIlED(OME(EALTH!GENCY
$ONA$RIVE"RYAN
HOUR3ERVICE
$URABLE-EDICAL
%QUIPMENTAND3UPPLIES
#HOICE(OME#ARE
s
!T4HE0HYSICIANS#ENTRE
5NIVERSITY$R%AST3TE"RYAN
4ERRI+AHLA2./WNER!DMINISTRATOR
4HE0REFERRED#HOICEFORALLYOUR(OME(EALTHAND0ERSONAL#ARE.EEDS
6
Insite/August 2008
what’shappening
“Shades of Summer”
Stitchers will host an ornament finishing workshop at
the Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station. A supply
list will be posted at www.brazosvalleystitchers.org.
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., participants will reconvene for a
stitch-in at the library. The monthly meeting will be held
Tabletop
Bridal Registry
August 19 at 7 p.m. at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church
in College Station. On August 26 at 7 p.m., the monthly
stitch-in will be held at the church. Call (979) 696-2292
for more information.
Gourmet & Kitchen
Cookbooks
Decorative
Accessories
Gifts
August 14-17, 21-24 and 28-31 the Navasota Theatre
Alliance presents “The Foreigner” at the Sunny Furman
Theater. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7
p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, call
(936) 825-3195 or visit www.nta-stage.org.
The Brazos Valley Community Action Agency will
THE
POMEGRANATE
Downtown Brenham, Tx.
203 West Alamo Street
Downtown Brenham
979.836.1199
hold its 2nd annual BVCAA Charity MONOPOLY
tournament on Saturday, August 16, at the Brazos
Center beginning at 6 p.m. The event will include two
rounds of Monopoly, a silent auction, raffle, catered
dinner and a cash bar. Table winners and championship
prizes will be awarded. All proceeds will benefit BVCAA
programs including Head Start, Meals on Wheels and
Energy Housing. Limited seating is available. For
more information on sponsorship, participation and
donations, call Kari Krueger at (979) 779-7443 or email
[email protected].
August 23, Hospice Brazos Valley will be hosting
“Lost in the Fifties: Shake, Rattle and Roll,” the
third annual Hospice Soiree at the Fireman’s Training
Center in Brenham. For more information about Hospice
or the 2008 Hospice Soiree, contact Deanna Warmke at
[email protected] or at (979) 2779525, or visit www.hospicebrazosvalley.org.
August 27 at 10 a.m., join the BV-Society of Children’s
Book Writers and Illustrators for their monthly
Schmooze. The topic for August is “Middle Grade
versus Young Adult.” Schmoozes are informal monthly
gathering held in the Art corner at Barnes and Noble, with
open discussion on a given topic, led by a facilitator. For
more information, email [email protected] or visit
www.scbwi-brazosvalley.org.
Beginning August 30, Habitat for Humanity will
construct the Circle of Women House for the
Orgeta family on Celia’s Dream in Bryan. This Women
Build project is sponsored by women, women-owned
businesses and women’s organizations and is built
by women. For more information, email planned@
habitatbcs.org or call (979) 823-7200.
8
Insite/August 2008
continuingexhibits
Presidential Library and Museum presents the
the rich tradition of African American theatre in the south.
groHome Solar House. The solar house will be open
The festival will feature a number of activities for all ages
for viewing on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to
to enjoy, including theatre productions, cultural films and
4 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. For more
Through September 1, the Brazos Valley Museum of
Natural History presents “Two Views of Indigenous
information please visit the website at bushlibrary.tamu.
edu or call (979) 691-4006.
and photographs by Helen Cottrell for the first time
ever. The selected images were taken in the 1940s-60s
2787 or email [email protected]. i
planahead
and represent a dramatic documentary record of Bolivian
landscapes, monuments and indigenous life. Hours are
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday,
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for admission are $5 for adults,
$4 for children 4-17 years old, students and seniors.
September 27 at 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the Brazos County
Master Gardener Association will host their fall
plant sale. Choice Heirloom and Pass-a-Long plants
from the gardens of local Master Gardeners’ also will be
Children age 3 and under are free. To learn more about
available for purchase. From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., a presale
this exhibit, visit www.adoramapix.com/monique-les-
talk highlighting the choicest plants available and their
granges or call (979) 776-2195.
growing requirements will be offered. Proceeds from this
sale will be used to further the educational programs of the
Through September 30, the International Festival
Brazos County Master Gardener Association, a non-profit
Institute at Round Top presents California Romantica,
association. For more information, email brazosmg@
a photographic exhibition from the book created by Diane
ag.tamu.edu or contact (979) 823-0129.
Keaton. For more information call (979) 249-3129 or visit
www.festivalhill.org.
September 18-28, the Mahogany Ensemble Theatre
will present the first Southern Black Theatre
Through
December
2008,
the
George
Bush
gala. Activities will be hosted in Shreveport, Bossier City
and Minden, La. For more information, call (318) 745-
Bolivia.” The exhibition displays the photographs of
Johannes Lein for the first time in the United States
workshops, youth talent showcase and a drama awards
GET IN TOUCH WITH INSITE MAGAZINE
Submit all Letters, What’s Happening and Around
Town on our website: www.insitegroup.com or...
Letters to the Editor · Send to Angelique Gammon, Insite
Magazine, 123 E. Wm. J. Bryan Pkwy., Bryan Texas 77803
or send email to [email protected]
Happenings & Around Town · Deadline to submit
information is the 5th of the month preceding publication.
Send Happenings to Insite Magazine, 123 E. Wm. J.
Bryan Pkwy., Bryan Texas 77803 or email agammon@
insitegroup.com
Electronic Submissions · All photos submitted
electronically must be at least 3” wide at 300 dpi to be
considered for publication. Be sure to include names and
event description with photos. Email Business briefs,
What’s Happening events or Around Town photos to
[email protected]
Mail · Mail business/event listings or photos with names
and event description to Insite Magazine 123 East WJ
Bryan Parkway, Bryan, TX 77803.
Web · Read Insite On the Web – www.insitegroup.com
Festival, a premier cultural arts experience celebrating
TEXAS
RANCH
Cattle
Rare opportunity to own a one of a kind working cattle ranch, tucked
away on 827 scenic acres. Amazing 5,400+ sq. ft. home with all
the Bells and Whistles! Private office and exercise room just a few
steps from the main home. A huge 9,000 sq. ft. barn and 5-stall horse
barn complete the operation. All improved pastures with coastal,
sandy soil, 7 ponds (largest being 19 acres) and breathtaking views
make the possibilities endless. TxLS #47383 and HAR #6231102
Round Top Real Estate
Lilla Blackburn
713-301-3012 Cell
[email protected]
JoAnn Moss Ayres
979-249-7494 Cell
[email protected]
August 2008/Insite 9
by Chris Jarvis
Photos courtesy of LifeInTheBrazos.com
musicscene
Bringin’ the blues home
Navasota to host Blues Fest
The Blues its nickname when the 13th annual
Capital of Texas will hold true to
DiamondFind …replacing luck
®
Besco’s federally
registered diamond locator
service, DiamondFind®,
eliminates the guesswork
from your next
diamond purchase.
3rd Floor Compass Bank Building
College Station 979 764-8558
www.bescojewelers.com
Making the world a more beautiful
place, one piece of jewelry at a time.
10
Insite/August 2008
Navasota Blues Fest warms up August 8-9 at the Grimes County Expo
Center. The two-day event features food, drinks and live music from
a host of blues artists and honors the life and legacy of local bluesman
Mance Lipscomb.
Show up at the Expo Center early Friday, August 8, at 5 p.m. for a
showing of the film “Mance Lipscomb in Concert” followed by a cocktail
hour with Blues Fest musicians at 6 p.m. The event offer appetizers,
half-priced drinks, live music, and the opportunity to socialize with
many of musicians who will perform during the weekend.
Bring your guitar at 10 a.m. on Saturday for a free acoustic guitar
session with musician Michael Birnbaum who will share stories of
Born into a musical family near Navasota
in 1895, bluesman Mance Lipscomb
became widely acclaimed for his vast musical
repertoire over the course of his life.
the times Lipscomb stayed with him during gigs in California in the
late sixties and early seventies. Birnbaum will demonstrate different
guitar playing techniques that he learned from the bluesman. Blues
Fest tickets will be on sale that morning and doors for the Blues Fest
officially open at 12 noon.
Mary K. Crawford, executive director for the Navasota Blues Fest,
says attendance has grown each year and she expects some 1,500 people
each day to enjoy this opportunity to remember Lipscomb and enjoying
good blues music. “I knew Mance, and to me this is about honoring the
fact that he became a national figure in the blues,” Crawford says.
Born into a musical family near Navasota in 1895, Lipscomb began
playing guitar at various jukes around the community at an early age
and became widely acclaimed for his vast musical repertoire over the
course of his life. First recorded in 1960 by Chris Strachwitz and Mack
McCormick, Lipscomb made numerous recordings and appearances
including a performance for 40,000 people at the Berkeley Folk Festival
in 1961. Lipscomb died in 1976 at the age of 80.
The Mance Lipscomb Scholarship fund will be awarded on Saturday
to a graduating Navasota High School senior. The scholarship was
created in 1993 by the late musician Glen Alyn (Myers) and other
Austin musicians as a tribute
Friday, August 8
to Lipscomb. Jimmy Lipscomb,
grandson of Mance, will present
5 p.m.- 6 p.m.
the scholarship.
A showing of the film
“Mance in Concert.”
One entertainer traveling
from California who is especially
6 p.m. – 7p.m.
looking forward to attending his
Cocktail Hour with musicians.
third Blues Fest is “The Texas
7:30 pm. – 8:30 p.m.
Boogie King” himself Nat Dove.
Blues Brother, a tribute act.
A Bryan native, Dove says be
believes that recognition for the
8:45 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
music and musicians of the area
Tubie and The Touchtones
has been long overdue and that
10:30 p.m. – Midnight
Blues Fest is a great medium to
Blind Orange and
help people become aware of the
The Seeing Eye Band
Brazos Valley’s musical heritage.
“Its generally about time that
Saturday, August 9
the blues are promoted in that
area,” he says. “There’s a lot of fans
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
around there and I think there is a
Free guitar session
great legacy of blues in that area,
with Michael Birnbaum
especially from Mance. It should
12 Noon
be promoted.”
Doors open
Dove remembered his first
encounter with Lipscomb as a
12 Noon - 1:15 p.m.
Sweet Mama Cotton
high school student in Bryan in
the fifties when he would travel
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
on the weekends to play different
“The Texas Boogie King”
gigs with a couple of his friends.
Nat Dove
“Mance actually came down
3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
to hear us one time,” Dove says.
Bernie Pearl
“It was at this place called ‘Bubba
Coleman’s’ out in Old Washington.
4:15 p.m.
Presentation of the colors by
That was quite something for
VFW Post #4006
some kids.”
Having been involved in music
4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
since age four, Dove, is currently
Rob Roy Parnell
working on a book tentatively
5:45 p.m.
titled, The Blues and I, which will
Mance Lipscomb
include a section on the Brazos
Scholarship Presentation
Valley’s musical history.
6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Navasota’s love of the blues
David Egan and
doesn’t start and end with just
Twenty Years of Trouble
Blues Fest. On Thursday, August 7
everyone is also welcome to attend
7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
a special “Blues Mass” beginning
Randy Pavlock
at 6 p.m. followed by “Mance
9 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
Remembrances” featuring stories
Don Keese and
from Lipscomb’s life with Bernie
The Blues Masters
Pearl and Michael Birnbaum at St.
10:30 p.m. – Midnight
Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Leannasaurus Rex
Blues fans can have a taste of the
music year round. The Navasota
Blues Alley displays musical artifacts, pictures and memorabilia from
Navasota and surrounding areas for the public. The museum is open
Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from
noon to 5 p.m.
Crawford hopes that the Blues Fest will continue to grow and
generate more interest in the community of Navasota in years to come.
To her, the blues are a big part of the town’s identity that she hopes will
create it a bigger name.
Visit www.LifeInTheBrazos.com for a Navasota Bluesfest virtual
tour or visit www.navasotabluesfest.org. i
P
ROVIDING
E
FFECTIVE
B
USINESS
S
OLUTIONS
Consulting � Training � Solutions
Do you need Money
or a Business Expert
to help you Start or
Grow your Business?
h
it
lp w
he
n
a
c
E
L
We FRE NTIA
IDE ess
F
N
CO Busin ting
sul
n
o
C
Call
979.260.5222
or www.bvsbdc.org
We are a National Federal Funded Program designed to help you succeed
The BV SBDC is a business consulting and training center of the UH SBDC Network. The UH SBDC Network serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas. The UH SBDC Network is a program of the UH CT Bauer College
of Business and a resource partner of the US Small Business Administration. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations
expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and available to individuals with disabilities. The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact BV SBDC at 260-5222 for accommodations.
August 2008/Insite 11
musicscene
by Kim Borenstein
Getting back to its roots
Reintroducing the Northgate Music Festival
The impassable streets and a seemingly
statewide echo of guitars and drums will
be the same, but you might not otherwise
recognize this year’s Northgate Music
Festival in College Station. Organizers
are promoting this year’s music showcase
on August 22-23 as an ugly duckling to
swan transformation. Now in its 11th year,
festival coordinators have moved the event
from March to August and brought back
past executive player Willie Bennett as the
event’s talent buyer to reverse recent years’
lagging attendance and revenue.
Executive Director Jessica Guidry notes
that the festival’s spring date was chosen to
follow Austin’s South by Southwest music
festival, a convenience for bands that were
performing at both events. However, the
volume of activities on the Aggie spring
calendar prompted this year’s date change to
the week before Texas A&M University fall
classes commence. “The problem with March
is that you have Chilifest, Parents Weekend
and spring break, so there’s nowhere to
stick the festival,” says event organizer and
Lippman Music owner Brian Lippman.
“Why not move it?”
Coordinators are expecting a jump in
attendance as a result of the date change, says
Guidry. Nineties rockers, The Toadies, are
headlining the music showcase, another move
organizers believe will spike attendance.
“The hard part is getting the word out, since
the majority of students are gone until the
two weeks before school starts in August,”
says Lippman, who adds that organizers are
hitting Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to
spread the word.
Downsizing is another way coordinators
Find Your Business Home Here
Business Park
aggielandbusinesspark.com
Strategically located to accommodate the
dynamic growth of the Brazos Valley
Proud member of the
Research Valley Partnership
Jim Jett ’66
979.571.4341
The first of four 12,000 sq. ft.
multitenant buildings for office
warehouse space, minimum square
footage – 2400 sq. ft.
• 2.8 miles from Texas A&M University
• .6 miles from Easterwood Airport
• High speed internet access available
through Verizon DSL
• Close proximity to TAM Health
Science Center site (1.3 miles)
12.00
Avail0 sq. ft.
July able
2008
12
Insite/August 2008
ring n
a
e
N
letio
p
m
Co
are hoping to nurse the festival back to the
health of its youth. Two nights of about
80 acts will replace the three-night, 120plus band format of previous festivals.
Guidry, who became involved in the event
in 2006, says there has been a pendulum
shift in the organizational progress of the
event. “Originally, the festival was a joint
effort between merchants and students,” and
students gradually took hold of the reigns,
Guidry says. Vendors are again taking control
of the event in order to “add more stability
and consistency to the process,” she says.
Nevertheless, Guidry insists that students
are “the heart of the festival.” It was, after
all, the brainchild of then-Texas A&M
student Nathan McFall. “Students are the
ones who know what is fun, what is popular,
and what is going to work,” she says. “We
want to make sure that they are still a big
part of process.”
Guidry says that event volunteers are needed
everywhere from loading bands and taking
tickets at the venues to the executive level.
Funding is another ever-present issue. Bud
Light, who has sponsored the event since
its inception, joins local businesses Always
Creative and As You Wish as well as the City
of College Station in supporting the event
this year.
“When we talk about going back to
beginnings, we want to go back to the upand-coming bands, the bands that are going
to be big next year, the ones that are hungry,”
Lippman says. The majority of the bands on
the bill apply to participate. “These bands are
what make [the Northgate Music Festival]
a festival. We give them an opportunity to
play to a wider audience,” Guidry says.
What the festival lacks in big names, it more
than makes up for in variety. In the past, the
festival has featured performers from across
the United States, Canada and as far as Japan.
Last year, an entire venue was devoted to hip
hop acts. “There’s something for everyone,”
Guidry says, from area staples like country
and alternative to less mainstream genres
like swing, blues and jazz.
One aspect that won’t be changing is the
festival’s intentions for the community.
Proceeds from this year’s nonprofit Northgate
Music Festival will benefit local charities
Scotti’s House, Carpool and Voices for
Children. It’s also encouragement of the arts
and local musicians, says Lippman. “Music
makes you feel good; it’s a whole communal
thing,” he says. “It’s a part of our community
that needs to be exploited more.”
Presale tickets are available on the event
website, www.northgatemusicfest.com, for
$15. Prices will be $20 at the door. A full
list of performers as well as information
regarding event volunteering and sponsoring
is also available online. i
Care at Home That You Can Trust
Skilled Nursing
Private Duty
Therapy
Social Work
Medicare
Medicaid
Insurance *
Private Pay
979-830-0105
toll free 800-585-3171
526 W. Main St.
Brenham, TX 77833
979-846-2962
toll free 800-392-3768
1605 Rock Prairie Rd., Ste. 206
College Station, TX 77845
Insured s Licensed Home Health s 24-Hours a Day, 7 Days a week
*Available through select providers; please call to verify coverage.
August 2008/Insite 13
TOP DOCS
14
Insite/August 2008
TOP DOCS
August 2008/Insite 15
TOP DOCS
16
Insite/August 2008
TOP DOCS
August 2008/Insite 17
TOP DOCS
18
Insite/August 2008
TOP DOCS
August 2008/Insite 19
NEED SURGERY? OUR NEW SURGICAL FACILITY IS CLOSE BY IN BRENHAM!
979.836.6173 • 700 Medical Parkway, Brenham • www.trinitymed.org/
Trinity offers a
variety of surgeries,
including:
• Orthopedic
procedures
including quadsparing knee
replacements
• Coblation and
traditional
tonsillectomy
• Laser Prostate
Surgery
• OB/GYN
procedures
• Laparoscopic
Gallbladder
Surgery
• Foot surgery
(including the
use of stateof-the-art OS
staples)
• Colonoscopy
• Cataract Surgery
LET US GO THE EXTRA MILE. Call us today!
20
Insite/August 2008
Outstanding Youth
coverstory
story by Kim Borenstein; photos by Marcie Greenbaum, Specialties Photography
Jessica Mitter
Keri Wood
or 17-year-olds Keri Wood and Jessica
Mitter, victory at this year’s Business
Professionals of America State Leadership
Convention meant more than chump change.
The two A&M Consolidated High School
seniors both qualified individually for national
competition in Fundamental Accounting and
Advanced Interview Skills, respectively.
BPA is national co-curricular organization
whose aim is to better prepare middle and high
school students for careers in business and
information technology. Though a longtime
fixture at AMCHS, the club has experienced
resurgence in the last decade, says faculty
sponsor Kathy Fisher with membership
doubling to 50 students between 2006 and
this year.
Of the 41 AMCHS state competitors,
eight students were deemed eligible for
competition at the national convention, held
in Reno, Nevada, in May. Chapter President
Mitter says that BPA’s international focus
piqued her interest in the organization two
years ago: “I really like how it allows you to
Business Professionals of America
F
Allen Beckham
Priscila Cruz
Technology Student Association
research global things.”
Options for competition mirror the variety
of jobs available in the business sector. Mitter
qualified in Advanced Interview Skills,
which involved making a portfolio, applying
for a fictional job using her real resume and
undergoing an extensive interview session.
She has also competed individually in
Prepared Speech.
Wood, who intends to study business,
qualified for this year’s national competition
in Fundamental Accounting. Both Mitter
and Wood were members of the Global
Marketing team, an event that requires
extensive research of international business
markets. Wood says the students developed a
40-page marketing plan, a length comparable
to a college thesis.
In addition to BPA, both girls are involved
in a variety of activities.
In fact, Wood qualified for nationals in
Administrative Report in 2007 opted out
of the competition because of a time conflict
with a track meet. She also makes time for
church youth group activities and National
Honor Society. “It’s important to have a
balance in life,” she says.
Mitter, whose numerous extra-curricular
activities include Interact Club, Student
Council, and Teen Court, says that BPA has
value for all students, whether or not they are
interested in business. “It helps you become
a better speaker,” she says. “It gives you the
kind of confidence to better present yourself
to others.”
S
tephen F. Austin Middle School
prevailed at the state Technology
Student Association competition, earning
second place overall. TSA promotes the
development of practical skills in industrial
technology for youth. At the competition,
students’ projects vary from woodworking
and metal work to digital photography
and other multimedia. Of the 186 projects
taken to state for judging, 144 works earned
first place recognition; forty-seven of those
received Best in State awards.
The young chapter’s success was
not overnight. Sponsors Teresa Beckham
and Jimmie Brown have spent the last 10
years nurturing the program. “For the first
competition, we only took five projects,”
Teresa says. Over the next few years, the small
operation evolved into the largest club at the
school and currently boasts 104 members.
“We are the only TSA chapter in
the Bryan/College Station area,” Teresa says.
August 2008/Insite 21
coverstory
In terms of gender, membership is split
almost equally. One of the largest projects
seen in this year’s competition was the leather
and wood headboard/footboard constructed
by Teresa’s son, Allen Beckham, 14. “It took
about a semester” to build the first-place
winning headboard and footboard, Allen says.
His other first place projects included a large
sheet metal tray, wolf wall clock, and thematic
portfolio. Only his second year to compete in
the program, Allen has accompanied Teresa to
events since the third grade.
Fourteen-year-old Priscila Cruz was
awarded the Best in State award for her first
place winning large dresser. “I was screaming
I was so glad that I won,” Cruz says of the
project that took a school year to complete.
Her large sheet metal tray and teddy bear
wall clock also received first place nods. Twoyear TSA veteran Cruz says that Teresa and
Brown taught her all the skills that she has
developed.
“I didn’t know how to build at all, but it
didn’t take long to learn,” she says.
Teresa says that Cruz’ situation is typical
of most students in the organization.
“Very few students know how to use tools
or have the hands-on experience necessary,”
Teresa says. Splitting responsibilities, Teresa
teaches safety and technology while Brown
handles the construction portion of the class.
“I’m pleased to see students step up,”
Teresa says. “It gives them a sense of
personal pride.”
Taylor Jackson
R
Journalism
ecent A&M Consolidated High School
graduate Taylor Jackson, 18, received
national and statewide accolades for her
journalistic prowess while serving as Editorin-Chief of The Roar, AMCHS’ award-
winning student newspaper. While managing
an 18-member staff, Jackson earned a spot on
the National Journalism Honor Roll, which
demands a minimum 3.75 grade point average
in addition to one-plus years of service on the
school paper and advisor recommendation in
order to be considered.
Her participation in the University
Interscholastic
League’s
journalism
competitions led to a fifth place state win in
News Writing. She entered both the News
Writing and Feature Writing contests at the
district level, qualifying in each for the regional
competition. Her wins there designated
Jackson a News Writing competitor and
Feature Writing alternate at state.
“It’s funny that I won for News Writing
because it’s not really my favorite,” she says.
She added that she seems to do better in
events that are initially not her strong suits
because she “identifies [her] weaknesses
and works at bettering them.” At the
Interscholastic League Press Conference,
Jackson received the prestigious Tops in
Texas award for her Page One design. Only
one is awarded each year.
Jackson says that she “can’t even explain
the shock” she felt when her design was
announced as the statewide winner. “I started
out only wanting to write,” Jackson says. “I
believed design to be a weakness.”
Is pleased to Announce Our
Joint Commission
Home Care Accreditation
22
Insite/August 2008
The Roar was also awarded silver in the
Newspaper Star Awards at ILPC.
In spite of the time commitment she
faced in her capacity as editor, Jackson
says that she “loved every minute of it.”
She found time to balance an executive
board position in Student Council and
meet academic demands in addition to her
newspaper obligations.
Jackson’s appreciation for the written
word trickles into her leisure life, too. She says
that the she is writing a novel and is about
halfway finished. Other interests, including
travel and photography, have propelled
Jackson’s decision to pursue photojournalism
as a career. A trek throughout Africa last
summer made her aware of the plight of
children on the continent. The discovery
helped her to realize what she wanted to do
with her life. “I want to find out their stories
and set them before the eyes of people who
can do something about it,” she says.
Jackson is bound for the journalism
program at the University of Texas in the fall.
Kaylie Kahlich
aylie Kahlich has something to sing
about. For the second consecutive year,
the senior was chosen for the Texas All-State
Women’s Choir at Texas Music Educators
Association’s All-State competition. Of the
thousands of students who enter the audition
process each year, only 450 are chosen for the
women’s, men’s, and mixed choirs.
Since sixth grade, Kahlich has been
involved in both choir and solo singing. “I
like to sing all kinds of music, from classical to
Broadway and musicals,” she says. Preparation
for the competition begins early and consumes
a great deal of serious participants’ time
throughout the school year. Kahlich recently
returned from weeklong summer choir camp
where this year’s potential competition pieces
were premiered. In order to progress to state
auditions, competitors must place within
the top 15 at Regional Auditions and then
in the top five at Area Auditions. Auditions
involve performances of prepared music and
sight-reading.
Kahlich describes finding out results as a
“waiting game.” While individual tryouts
take about four minutes per participant, all
results must be tallied before the finalized
choir list is posted, which can become a twohour delay. “[Waiting] is so nerve-racking
that once the list is posted it’s a pretty huge
relief,” she says. Kahlich’s dedication and
skill culminated in her performance at the
four-day event in San Antonio.
Unlike the mixed choir, women’s choir
members must learn all-new pieces, making
the experience “lots of work but exciting,”
she says.
The 17-year-old is also active in
Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)
and National Honor Society. Upon
graduation, Kahlich plans to pursue a
degree in vocal performance.
All-State Choir
K
Over 34 Years of Service in Bryan-College Station
Special formula compounding
Individual patient counseling
Training in the use of in-home
monitoring & treatment devices
Convenient Drive-thru window
2300 De Lee Street • Bryan, Texas 77802
(979) 776-6800
(Across from St. Joseph Hospital)
2007 Newman 10, Eagle Reader’s Choice 2006, 2007 and 2008,
BBB Torch Award 2006, and 2006 Chamber of Commerce Impact Award
Brazos Valley Long Term Care Pharmacy
The Brazos Valley’s First Exclusive
Long Term Care Pharmacy
• Unit Dose P
­ ackaging
• Free Delivery
• Monthly Billing
• Pharmacy C
­ onsulting
2302 De Lee St. • Bryan • (979) 776-6813
www.insitegroup.com
Offering Much More Than Routine Prescription Dispensing...
subscribe
Where new technology combines with old fashioned service
Your Source for
Seamless
Rain Gutters
Custom sheetmetal
fabrication and
installation
Quality service and materials
at affordable prices
Color coordinated to match
any home
Experienced, knowledgeable
installers
One-on-one customer service
you deserve
RainStopper
Sheetmetal, LLC
979.774.0738 • Fax 979.774.0793
12587 State Hwy. 30
College Station, TX 77845
August 2008/Insite 23
Good Things
Happen Here
At St. Michael’s we create a school environment
that fosters good things like creativity, integrity,
friendship, and a love of knowledge.
As a result, students who graduate from St.
Michael’s are well-prepared to make good things
happen for the rest of their lives.
And we think that is a good thing.
is
co
oo
Ep
l
s
St
ch ae
l’
.
Mi
pal Sc
h
Saint Michael’s Episcopal School
2500 South College Avenue • Br yan, Texas 77801
979-822-2715 • www.stmes.net
Saint Michael’s Episcopal School is open to qualified students of any
race, religion, nationality or ethnic origin and extends to them all
rights, programs, and activities of the school.
Infant • Pre-School • K-6 • 7-12
coverstory
Individuals
boasted
similar success. In the state
art competition, students
achieved 13 first place
wins, 13 second place wins,
10 third place wins and a
number of fourth, fifth and
sixth place recognitions.
Twelve
individual
performers in the state
music competition received
15 superior and three
excellent ratings in vocal
and instrumental solos.
When the results were
announced, recent graduate
Kelley Tucker says that
she felt a rush of pride.
“We worked really hard,
and it paid off,” the 18year-old says. She received
a Superior rating from
judges for her vocal solo
and participated in both
mixed and girl’s choirs as
well as placing fifth in state
in ink drawing.
Sophomore
Copelan
Gammon, who excelled
in
individual
vocal
performance, both girl’s
and mixed choirs and
art, says that the bar of
achievement is extremely
high. “Sometimes the
competitions are a little
intimidating because you
know your classmates, the
people you are going up
against, are incredible,” she
says. “But, it’s fun,” added the 15-year-old.
When it comes to art subject matter,
“[students] have free rein on what to create,”
says junior Grace Hansen, 16. Art teachers
present students with materials, but the
individual’s creativity and personal tastes
are encouraged, she says. Hansen placed in a
number of art categories and took first place
at state for her mixed media 2D project.
Students entering the music competition
were willing to sacrifice in order to succeed as
time in music class was devoted to ensemble
work. All preparation for solo performances
took place during the individual’s own time.
Junior Adam Roberts, whose vocal solo
received a Superior rating from judges at
competition, says that vocal music preparation
takes several months, with perfecting tone
dominating most of one’s time. Roberts also
participated in the boy’s and mixed choirs.
There is something to be said for allowing
students such freedom in the development
of their skills. Left to their own devices,
the students lead the school to huge group
and individual victories. Tucker, Gammon,
Hansen and Roberts all manage to find time
for involvement in a variety of additional
activities ranging from school sports and
clubs to community volunteer work.
Though the state awards were gratifying,
the students agreed that true accomplishment
lies in the personal achievements derived from
the competition. Some that they mentioned
were self-discipline, work ethic, and refined
personal expression through art.
“To express [emotion] in a way that others
can actively understand and experience
themselves, then you are a success,” says 15year-old Roberts.
year-old Tyler Mallett’s artwork has
found a permanent home in the George
Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Earning first place in the Bush Library’s
annual art competition, he triumphed
over students from 15 Texas counties. This
year’s theme required original artwork
depicting historic sites or buildings in the
United States. Mallett’s winning drawing
features the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia;
Independence Hall can be seen in its
reflection. The idea, he says, was “pulled out
of [his] head.”
In addition to the honor of receiving
a permanent spot in the Bush Library’s
extensive collection, Mallett was awarded
a $50 gift certificate. The Liberty Bell
drawing joins another important piece of
art – Mallett’s first prize-winning sketch
of Abraham Lincoln from last year’s
competition. Seeing both drawings at the
museum was “wow,” he says. A veteran
competitor, Mallett first won second place in
the art contest as a kindergartener and has
since placed consistently in the competition.
A self-taught artist, Mallett says that he has
never taken art classes. “I’ve drawn for as
long as I can remember.”
Peeking at his sketchbook, it is evident
that capturing people’s expressions is
Mallett’s strong suit. Drawings of celebrities
from Napoleon Dynamite to Jon Bon Jovi
fill its pages. His interests reach far from
the art realm. Mallett enjoys learning about
history and politics in his social studies
classes. Outside of the classroom, he is active
in the Theatre Company of Bryan. At its
annual Monster Bash fundraiser, Mallett was
enlisted to draw caricatures.
Though the sixth-grader enjoys art, he
says that he does not think it will become
a career. Smiling, Mallett says, “I want to
be President.”
Copelan Gammon, Grace Hansen
Kelley Tucke, Adam Roberts
St. Michael’s Episcopal School
TAPPS State Art & Music
St.
Michael’s Episcopal School students triumphed at the
2008 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
State competitions, ranking first in state Music and second in
state Art as a team. Both Boy’s Chorus and Girl’s Chorus were
honored with Superior ratings.
Tyler Mallett
George Bush Library
Art Contest
11-
August 2008/Insite 25
coverstory
Kevin Li
MATHCOUNTS
W
hen it comes to teamwork, nobody
knows it better than Kevin Li.
The ninth-grader helped lead the Texas
MATHCOUNTS team to national victory
last spring for the second year in a row.
MATHCOUNTS is a national program that
tests middle school students’ abilities in
reasoning, problem solving and speed.
Li, 14, was chosen from a pool of almost
2,000 students from around the state. The
288 students who qualified to compete at
the state level were reduced to four based
on individual performances. Placing third
place with his fellow A&M Consolidated
Middle School team members was just the
beginning. Li’s individual fourth-place
success secured him a spot for his second
Nationals experience.
“I was really happy,” Li says of his
qualification. To prepare for the national
competition, he traveled often to meet with his
new teammates to complete past competitions’
tests. The four students worked well together
because they knew each other from previous
contests, says Li, who started competing in
MATHCOUNTS in sixth grade.
At the national competition held in
Denver, Li says that questions were far more
difficult. Organizers made sure, however,
that teams had more opportunities for
socializing and fun. “I liked meeting other
students from around the country who enjoy
math, too,” Li says. An advantage to group
events, he says, is that “if you mess up,
someone is there to help.”
Nonetheless, he continues to impress with
his individual skills. In this year’s American
Mathematics Contest intended for students
in tenth grade and below, Li was named the
highest scorer as an eighth-grader. A member
of the basketball team, he also likes to play
video games in his spare time.
Brazos Valley College Tech Prep
Partnership Can Prepare You
For The Road Ahead
Contact your high school counselor
or call (979) 209-7207
26
Insite/August 2008
Ye-Young Byeon
& Sydney Pham
Sylvan Learning
Center Essay
T
wo fourth grade girls from Pebble
Creek Elementary School won first
and second place in the Sylvan Learning
Center Essay Contest held earlier this year.
Both Gifted and Talented (GT) students,
Ye-Young Byeon won first and Sydney Pham
won second out of 400 competitors from 81
schools in 19 districts that participated.
Byeon wrote her essay about astronauts
who crash on a planet finding life as they
explore. Pham narrated a story of three
humans flying on a rocket to Venus who,
upon their arrival, find alien dogs. “It was
easy after the first paragraph because you
don’t have to make it true,” Pham says. “I
like writing about fictional stories about
traveling to imaginary places.”
Both girls say they were in separate
reading classes when their GT teacher,
Vickie Jordan, announced the winners. Each
girl says she was surprised and excited to
hear she was a winner. Byeon won $400 and
Pham won $200 for placing second. Both
girls decided to save their money. Byeon
says this is not the first time she has won
a competition, placing third in her second
grade University Interscholastic League
(UIL), where the students compete in ready
writing and storytelling.
Both girls have big aspirations: Byeon
says that she wants to attend Harvard, and
Pham says she wants to be a doctor.
“The sky is the limit for them. They are
going to grow up and do amazing things,”
says Jordan. “And they are the sweetest.”
Jeffrey Chen, Alex Liu, Omar Masud, Mengxiang Jiang
F
A&M Consolidated High School Science Bowl Team
or the eighth year in a row, the A&M
Consolidated High School Science
Bowl team won the regional competition in
February. This qualified the five-man team
to be one of the 67 teams competing in the
national competition in Washington, D.C.,
where the team placed seventh.
The team consists of two senior captains,
Jeffrey Chen and Alex Liu; two juniors,
Omar Masud and Mengxiang Jiang; and one
sophomore, Reajeev Kinra. Chen is the only
member who had previously competed in
nationals in 2007. Science Bowl questions are
separated into six sections: biology, chemistry,
physics, earth science, astronomy and math. Liu
says that each member specializes in three to five
of these subjects, but that each member tries to
learn as much as they can about each category.
Rajeev Kinra, the sole sophomore on
the team, adds with a laugh, “And if no one
knows, we tell Jeff to guess.” The boys say they
all agreed after regional that most after school
practices would be geared toward improving
speed. “The first game [at the regional
competition] was a wake up call,” says Kinra.
In addition to Science Bowl, the members
are also active in newspaper, orchestra,
Interact, student council, Interfaith and
chess club. Their advice to any kids wanting
to compete in the Science Bowl competition:
“Look for trivia that you might not know
in class,” Liu says. “Speed,” Kinra says.
“Practicing helps.” Liu adds, “And a lot of
confidence, too.” i
August 2008/Insite 27
givingback
by Theresa E. Mangapora, Brazos Valley Food Bank
and businesses can help a neighbor in need
by supporting the Brazos Valley Food Bank’s
Feeding Hope Sponsorship Campaign.
You can sponsor a Family Box and help
a family avoid skipping meals to pay the
when these senior may be going without. As
one senior put it, “Without the help of the
Food Bank, I had very little to eat.”
One Senior Bag costs $6 to put together.
Sponsorship opportunities are $24 for one
For as little as $20, anyone can sponsor a family, senior or child to provide
a month’s worth of food and to help keep a neighbor from going hungry.
Fight Hunger
Sponsor a neighbor in need
or most of us, stuffing a shopping cart
Fpicnic
with our favorite foods for a barbeque or
happens often during the summer.
But, for too many in the Brazos Valley, the
grocery cart this summer will be empty.
Increasing gas and food prices have made
buying needed groceries a hardship for some
of the most vulnerable including seniors
living on fixed incomes and hardworking
families whose children are eating at home
more now that school is out.
Individuals, families, groups, churches
bills. Sponsor a Senior Bag and ensure that a
senior eats more than once a day. Or sponsor
a BackPack, and prevent hunger over the
weekend for a child.
Family Boxes contain more than 20
nutritionally balanced items that can assist a
family get through a crisis. One Family Box
costs $5 to put together and individuals or
groups can sponsor one month of boxes for
$20; six months of boxes for $130; or one
full year of boxes (52) for $260.
The Brazos Valley Food Bank helps
ensure that 150 Senior Bags are provided
to the neediest Meal on Wheels recipients
in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes and Robertson
Counties. These bags, filled with 12
nutritionally balanced easy-to-prepare items,
supplement the daily hot meal they receive
from Meals on Wheels. These Senior Bags
provide food for the evenings and weekends,
If you need
insurance
built better
for Texas
month; $156 for six months; and $312 for
one year.
Help your neighbor in need this summer.
Sponsor a Family Box, Senior Bag or call and
ask about the Backpack sponsorship program.
For more information, visit www.bvfb.org
or call (979) 779-3663. Sponsorship forms,
which can be printed from the website, can be
filled out and mailed to: Brazos Valley Food
Bank, P.O. Box 74, Bryan, Texas 77806.
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is the
“hub” of an anti-hunger relief network
of more than 40 different agencies that
feed the hungry throughout Brazos,
Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson
and Washington Counties. Your business,
organization or family can make a difference
today by joining the sponsorship program
for as little as $20. i
Our hospice promotes
excellence in medical care.
MetLife Auto & Home® can match your needs step for two step. With
outstanding homeowners protection, including Full Replacement Cost and
Water Damage Coverages, built Texas-style.
Call today to learn more or receive a quote:
Monte Beall, PCS
4103 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 103
Bryan, TX 77802
[email protected]
979-696-7700
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
28
Insite/August 2008
Bryan: 979-821-2266
Brenham: 979-277-9525
La Grange: 979-968-6913
www.hospicebrazosvalley.org
getsmart
by W. R. (Bill) Klemm, DVM
Roadkill
Is this the end of the armadillo?
Y
ou frequently see them squashed on our
county roads. Their bodies are smeared on
roads all over Texas. I refer to armadillos. Will
armadillos become extinct? After struggling
in the harsh world of survival of the fittest for
55 million or so years, is this the ignoble end
that armadillos deserve? Sure, you see skunk
roadkill, too. But skunks not only smell bad,
they have not paid their survival dues like
armadillos have.
W
Why armadillos get hit by cars so often
ell, they are stupid. And they don’t see
well. The thing they do really well is
smell, and car exhaust does not precede the
onset of a car.
The armadillo has managed to adapt and
survive just about all of its natural enemies
until the automobile came along. When an
armadillo spots an approaching automobile, it
will stand its ground until the last instant and
then leap straight up into the air – crashing
into the grill or undercarriage. No one knows
why armadillos behave this way. Perhaps
‘dillos regard a car like a predator, and such
jumping behavior would startle would-be
predators. ‘Dillos jump the same way when
dogs or people grab them by the tail.
The armadillo bridges a gap between
reptiles and mammals. It is only partially
warm-blooded. It runs a low body temperature
(about 93 degrees Farenhiet). When I kept
them in my lab at ordinary room temperature,
they would shiver in order to keep warm.
There are advantages to being reptile-like.
Their metabolic rate is low, and they don’t
have to eat as much to stay alive (insects are
hardly fattening). Armadillos feed on insects
and worms that they root for in soil.
The armadillo has an outer accordion-like
protective armor plate that is still flexible
enough to allow its body to extend and flex.
When necessary, the animal can hunker down
inside its “shell” for protection from predators.
My student worker, Megan Davidson, says
that a nine-banded armadillo has adopted
her family’s country home. The family dog
loves to bark and chase the armadillo. When
confronted by the dog , the armadillo simply
rolls up into a ball, and the dog bats it around
like a toy. When the dog gets tired of the
game, the ‘dillo uncurls, calmly gets up, and
continues to root.
The carapace also allows armadillos to
live in rough brush that other animals avoid.
Armadillos are timid. They do not attack other
mammals, and when frightened, they usually
run away to their burrows. Burrows protect
armadillos from predators and from cold
weather. Armadillos dig multiple burrows
in which they live alone or sometimes share
temporarily with others, such as snakes and
even skunks.
design and printing that will...
TURN UP THE
HEAT
ON YOUR
COMPETITION
I
What the future holds for armadillos
don’t see as much roadkill now as I used
to. Presumably, there is less roadkill
now because there are fewer armadillos.
Another possibility is that the more stupid
armadillos have been killed, leaving more
savvy brethren safely behind. I am optimistic
about the future of armadillos. Remember
what it takes for a species to survive. It must
have a niche that supplies it with food and
must have reproductive success. Armadillos
today still have plenty of worms, grubs and
other insects to eat, and they are just as
protected from predators and disease as they
have always been.
We humans scurry about the globe in our
spacecraft and jet airplanes, searching for
our place in the sun. Meanwhile, armadillos
just shuffle about their little plots of ground,
grubbing for insects and worms, unaware
and uncaring of their place in the sun. If we
humans drive ourselves into extinction with
over-population, wars, or pollution, armadillos
will still be here. At least that is certain as
long as bugs and worms are here. And a world
without bugs and worms is unimaginable.
Bill Klemm is a faculty member at the
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences at Texas A&M University. He has
published sleep studies on the armadillo and
written a book about their natural history and
their place in Texas pop culture. The book is
available at the web site, dillos.us, and at the
Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History or
Producer’s Co-op. i
123 E. Wm J. Bryan Pkwy.
Bryan, Texas 77803
979.823.5567
800.364.2665 Toll Free
979.823.3894 Fax
www.insitegroup.com
August 2008/Insite 29
localnotables
compiled by the Insite Magazine staff
business
assets under management by the total number of client
briefs
relationships.
Several of the City of College Station’s lifeguards recently
received a 2nd place award in North Richland Hills at the
2008 Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Challenge for
August 2008
the Southwest Region. Team members who placed were
Mara Streckfuss, Becky Rawlins, Billy Nelson,
At its annual meeting, the OPAS Guild presented a check
for $90,000 to MSC OPAS, a record contribution. A
portion of the money will be used to help underwrite OPAS
Jr. performances and other programming for children in
the Brazos Valley. Since its start in 1973, the OPAS Guild
has raised and donated $840,000 to MSC OPAS.
and Jordan Noble. Teams are made up of two male
and two female lifeguard competitors who compete in a
Manuel Gonzalez, Bryan/College Station Chamber of
Commerce Chairman, and Padraic Fisher, Executive
Director of the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley
The BVCAA Community Health Center will be
dedicating their new dental clinic on August 14 at 1:30
p.m. The new facility on 624 Mary Lake Drive in Bryan
is being dedicated to Dr. Birdwell in gratitude for his
extraordinary efforts in helping to double the capacity of
the clinic and offer affordable dental care to the Brazos
Valley. The community is invited to attend. For more
information, call Kari Krueger at (979) 779-7443.
scenario that intermixes participants from multiple teams.
In addition to this team competition Kelly Andrick, Hanna
Herwald, and Megan Long were awarded the Golden
Guard Award in the spring of this year.
Keep Texas Beautiful, a leading grassroots
community
improvement
and
environmental
organization, recently awarded the winners in seven
award categories recognizing Texans’ efforts to enhance
their communities and protect the environment. The
Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency
was awarded first place for the Government award in the
(l-r) Joe and Barbra Armon, OPAS Gala entertainment
underwriters; Leigh Sinclair, MSC OPAS Vice President
and Student Committee Chair; Bonnie Kistler, OPAS
Guild President; Stephanie Sale, MSC OPAS President;
and Anne Black, MSC OPAS Executive Director.
The Bryan/College Station Association of
Realtors recently provided “Shoe Vouchers” for the
178 students in the CSISD Head Start program. The
shoes are contributed in collaboration with Payless
ShoeSource at the Tejas Center in Bryan. The donation,
which totaled more than $3,300, is funded in part by the
annual “Walk with Pride,” a 5K run/3K walk event that
has been held annually for 10 years by the association.
For more information, call Sharon Rodgers Jackson at
(979) 764-5423.
Regional category for their Household Hazardous Waste
Collection program. Both the City of College Station
Recycling and BVSWMA were awarded first place for the
Government Award in the City category for the Waste
Reduction Educational Program.
The Home Depot, the world’s largest home
improvement retailer, has launched a national in-store,
consumer compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) recycling
program. Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs
Connie Wortham and OPAS Guild President Bonnie
Kistler
Ed Uvacek and Lou Ellen Ruesink
30
Insite/August 2008
Out of nearly 280 entries and for the second time in
a row, the Bryan/College Station Chamber of
Commerce took home first place honors in the Texas
Chamber of Commerce Executives Media Contest
for their monthly Chamber Connections Newsletter,
which publicizes upcoming Chamber events, highlights
Chamber Members and offers a two-page update on
legislative issues affecting local businesses. “I’m very
proud of our staff for all their hard work that resulted
in this statewide recognition for our chamber,” says
Chamber President Royce Hickman.
Briaud Financial Planning,
Inc. in Bryan, has been
recognized as one of Wealth
Manager Magazine’s “Top
Dogs” since 2002. As in
previous years, Briaud continues
to be ranked in the top 50 percent
of the advisory firms ranked.
For eight years, Bloomberg has ranked the Top Wealth
Managers in financial advisory. They base their ranking
on the asset value of the average client relationship as
of December 31, 2007. The asset value of the average
client relationship is calculated by dividing the total client
is an easy change consumers can make to reduce energy
use at home. The Home Depot Store 6559 located at 1615
University Dr. East in College Station will be accepting
CFL’s. Please note they will not accept the long fluorescent
tubes. Simply take your CFL’s to the returns desk and they
will take care of the rest. For more information about the
recycling program of CFL’s call Shelia McQueen at (979)
764-3806 or the Home Depot at (979) 595-1188.
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is the
recipient of two prestigious Telly Awards, the most
coveted recognition in broadcast video production. The
Telly’s were awarded for TTI’s work on Dallas’ High Five
construction project video and the Teens in the Driver Seat
(TDS) public service announcement (PSA) campaign. TTI
Communications’ video group, headed by Coordinator
of Electronic Media David Dennis, produced the
segments. The TDS PSA campaign consists of two 30second videos describing the dangers associated with
teen driving. The 29th Annual Telly Award competition
received more than 14,000 submissions by ad agencies,
production companies, TV stations, cable companies and
corporations from around the world. i
[
MONEY. LOOKS.
YOU REALLY CAN
HAVE IT ALL.
]
mynouveau.com/dwarmke
979.885.8576
nouveau
cosmeceuticals
free
Want
jewelry?
Call today to get the details!
High Fashion Jewelry
Becky Knesek · Independent Jeweler
979.450.6443
For
­Advertising
information, please
­contact Cynthia Kauder
979.823.5567
or
[email protected]
Its time for
Back to School!
Visit Post Oak Mall’s newly
remodeled stores Buckle, Champs Sports,
Lady Foot Locker, and
The Shoe Dept.,
or any of the other
120 great stores!
OPENING SOON!
Forever 21
Highway 6 Bypass at Harvey Rd
™Ç™°ÇÈ{°äÇÇÇÊUÊ*œÃÌ">Ž>°Vœ“
A Development of CBL® & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES, INC.