Spring 2022 Brazos 360 Magazine

INSIDE Meet school crossing guard Bennie Pate and singersongwriter Morgan Ashley, and check out Brad Marquardt’s Aggie memorabilia in his office on the Texas A&M campus.

SPRING 2022

Lexi Palcer, Taylor Ellerbrock and Amber Bernshausen

‘WE ARE ALWAYS HOPING TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT’

The BEE Community in Bryan is creating jobs for people with disabilities

Inside

4

EVENT CALENDAR

Make plans for Taste of Aggieland, Chilifest, Harlem Globetrotters, Texas A&M Family Weekend, “Fiddler on the Roof,” ABBA: The Concert, PBR Aggieland Classic and Messina Hof’s Wine & Roses Festival.

8

360 PROFILE

14

Bennie Pate, aka “Mr. Bennie,” offers a joke and a smile as a crossing guard at Spring Creek Elementary School in College Station.

360 PROFILE

12

Bryan native and singer-songwriter Morgan Ashley is working her way toward a career in music.

COVER STORY

12

14

Taylor Ellerbrock made it her mission to create jobs for adults with disabilities. Her efforts led to The BEE Community, a nonprofit retail store in Bryan, where artisans make and sell a variety of products.

PARTY PICS

8

24

Photos from College Station ISD’s Education Foundation’s fundraiser 50 Men Who Can Cook, and the Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley’s DaddyDaughter Dance.

Staff

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE? 28

Crystal Dupré publisher

Rob Clark MANAGING editor

Take a look at Brad Marquardt’s Aggie treasures in his office underneath the first deck on the east side at Kyle Field.

Darren Benson editor

Linda Brinkman advertising manager

THE LAST WORD

31

Challenges and motivations in tackling a first half-marathon.

2

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

28 Michael Miller Cassie Stricker photographerS

ON THE COVER Lexi Palcer, Taylor Ellerbrock and Amber Bernshausen at The BEE Community in Bryan. Photo by Cassie Stricker.

Enjoy 10% off with this ad through April 10, 2022

10 Tips for Outdoor Entertaining Our homes are not limited to the four walls and ceiling that makes up the structure of the house. Instead, our homes extend to the outside, to our patios, porches, yards, and lawn beyond. Gathering with friends, family, and loved ones in your outdoor space can be a wonderful way to spend the days and evenings ahead. Furniture Source International has tips to make your outdoor entertaining even better.

1. Prepare your space. You’ve invested in your lawn and garden to prepare for spring. The bulbs are blooming and trees are budding; now is the perfect time to comfortably enjoy your handiwork and care. On your patio space, begin with a review of what worked and what wintered with the season, allowing for a fresh start with just the furnishings and objects you love. This reveals the ways in which you can add fresh color and accoutrements to your patio space.

2. Decorate. Tabletop decorating outdoors on dining tables, side and coffee tables can be rewarding all season. Look for containers you love and grow an ever-evolving centerpiece. Fresh cuttings from your lawn or flowers from the store can also add an extra touch to your tabletops, especially when displayed

in a vase, bowl, or other vessel from Furniture Source International. Adding colorful outdoor decorative pillows can offer interest, texture and extra comfort for sitting. Outdoor pottery for accent plants adds color to your patio as well. Furniture Source offers a plethora of stylish outdoor pottery options to flank your front door or add splashes of color at poolside or patio.

3. Consider food choices. While you may not want to make an entirely different meal for everyone at your table, you do want to consider people’s overall tastes and preferences. By having a few choices that many people like, you can guarantee a more enjoyable evening. Our showroom has the perfect dishes with which to serve any size dish, whether it’s a simple snack or an elaborate buffet. Our selection of melamine dishes is fresh, on trend and perfect for serving the entire family outdoors.

4. Outdoor lighting. If you wish for your guests to linger, lighting always sets a welcoming, pleasant mood. Patio lights installed on the outside of home can be harsh. Instead, pair warm lighting from exterior light sets with some of our hand poured candles. Another great source of light and warmth is a fire pit,

of which we have a number to choose from that are ambient on warm nights and transition well into fall. Many of our patio umbrellas offer lighting built in as an extra feature.

5. Unwanted guests. There are plenty of pests that hinder our time in the great outdoors. To maintain the comfort of you and your guests, Furniture Source stocks fragrant citronella-based products to keep the bugs at bay.

6. Seating and dining. If you are entertaining on a regular basis, invest in quality seating for you and your company that will last for years to come. With multiple options on our showroom floor, you can choose from lounge chairs, swivel armchairs, or full dining or counter top sets that will meet your needs.

7. Easy clean up. This applies to both before and after your entertaining happens. We offer a multitude of Sunbrella fabrics that easily forgive accidents and whatever the elements may bring. Many of the choices we carry for chairs and dining are anti-microbial or are easily cleaned so you can spend more time focusing on fun parts of getting ready.

8. Don’t forget the beverages. Having a festive drink is just as important as having delicious food. Pairing a meal with the Puro Verde Organic tequila we carry can freshen and dress up your evening. For those who may not partake, you will still want plenty of ice and nice glasses for their beverage, which means checking out our bar ware and other accessories.

9. Something to do. If you are having friends or family with children over, consider having a few games or activities for them to play. You may also want a card game or something similar even if there aren’t kids. For larger parties where people may not know each other as well, having a few topics of conversation at hand to help people mingle is never a bad idea.

10. Don’t forget to relax. You have worked hard to get your space ready and it’s time for you to enjoy the evening, too. Grab a seat and a drink and mingle with the guests you’ve invited to spend time with you. You deserve it!

To prepare your outdoor space for entertaining, from new patio furniture to bar accessories to hand poured candles, come see us today. Our team at Furniture Source International can point you in the right direction to get you entertaining ready in no time.

14761 FM Road 2154 (Wellborn Road) • College Station, Texas • 2.5 miles south of Rock Prairie • Open Mon-Sat 10-6 • 979-690-2917

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

3

Local Events

Eagle file photos

Event details are subject to change.

Please check event websites for updated information.

LATIN FLAVOR The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra presents this event featuring Latin sounds, including Aaron Copland’s Three Latin American Sketches, and Alberto Ginastera’s Suite from the Ballet Estancia, Op. 8a.

Details: March 27 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $20-$55. bvso.org.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’ MSC OPAS presents the classic musical that includes memorable songs “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “Tradition” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”

Details: March 28-29 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $26-$100. mscopas.org.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS The world famous Globetrotters return to Aggieland for an evening of basketball, comedy and “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

Details: April 4 at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena. $26-$322. reedarena.com.

‘THE FROGS’ The Theatre Company presents this musical by Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove, based on an ancient Greek comedy, involving Dionysus, George Bernard Shaw and William Shakespeare.

Details: April 1-10 at The Theatre Company, 3125 S. Texas Ave., Suite 500. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. $10-$20. theatrecompany.com.

THE BARRICADE BOYS MSC OPAS presents the British quartet that starred in “Les Miserables” performing Broadway showtunes along with pop, rock and operatic arias.

Details: April 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $20-$70. mscopas.org.

BLUE BUNNY BREAKFAST/EGG HUNT Kids can enjoy an Easter egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny.

Details: April 9, 9 to 11 a.m. Bryan Regional Athletic Complex. Free. bryantx.gov.

4

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

chilifest

taste of aggieland

The Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce presents this annual event featuring samples from a variety of local restaurants.

Details: April 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Brazos County Expo Complex. $30. destinationbryan.com.

The country music and chili cookoff event returns with Friday night performers Randy Rogers Band, Flatland Cavalry, Mike Ryan, Kody West, Treaty Oak Revival and Joey Greer. Saturday night: Koe Wetzel, Easton Corbin, Kolby Cooper, Pecos & the Rooftops and Tanner Usrey.

Details: April 1-2 at the Starlight Ballroom in Snook. $65 for Saturday, $90 for Friday and Saturday. VIP passes are available. Proceeds benefit local charities. chilifest.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 • 7:30 PM Rudder Auditorium TICKETS ON SALE NOW! MSC Box Office 979-845-1234 • MSCOPAS.org THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

5

TEXAS A&M FAMILY WEEKEND The weekend allows Aggie family members to experience life on campus.

Events include Aggie Ring Day, the Aggie Mom Boutique, Corps of Cadets Unit Awards and Review, the Singing Cadets Spring Concert and Family Weekend Yell Practice. The A&M baseball, softball, track and field, soccer and men’s golf teams will be in action, in addition to the Maroon & White football spring game.

Details: April 8-10 on the Texas A&M campus. familyweekend.tamu.edu.

DOWNTOWN BRYAN STREET & ART FAIR Regional artists will be on hand selling their work. Also live music, art demonstrations and various performers.

Details: April 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Downtown Bryan. Free. destinationbryan. com.

‘THE TURN OF THE SCREW’ StageCenter presents this ghostly English tale by Henry James, adapted by Jack Neary and directed by Robin Sutton.

Details: April 14-30 at StageCenter, 218 N. Bryan Ave., Bryan. Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., April 24 at 2 p.m. $10-$15. stagecenter.net.

ABBA: THE CONCERT The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra teams with an ABBA tribute act to perform the Swedish pop group’s hits including “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.” Details: April 24 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $65-$105. bvso.org.

WINE & ROSES FESTIVAL Messina Hof’s event includes wine tastings, grape stomp competitions, wine and food experiences, vendors and artisans.

Details: April 23 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and April 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Messina Hof Winery & Resort. Tasting costs vary. messinahof.com.

‘NEWSIES’ The Theatre Company presents this Tony Award-winning musical based on the newsboys’ strike against Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst in 1899.

Featuring songs by Alan Menken.

Details: June 10-26 at The Theatre Company, 3125 S. Texas Ave., Suite 500. $10-$20. theatrecompany.com.

6

Brazos 360 | spring 2022

Eagle photo by Michael Miller

PBR AGGIELAND CLASSIC The Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour returns with bull riding, music and other entertainment.

Details: April 8 at 8 p.m. and April 9 at 7 p.m. Reed Arena. $19-$184. reedarena.com.

LIMITED SEATS FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

At ILTexas, our mission is to prepare students for exceptional leadership roles in the international community by emphasizing servant leadership, mastering the English, Spanish and Chinese languages, and strengthening the mind, body, and character.

Our alumni are taking the world by storm, and we are proud to have students studying at some of the top universities around the globe, including Stanford, University of Chicago, Duke, Columbia, Brown, John Hopkins, Yale, MIT, Notre Dame, Beijing Language and Culture University and Tsinghua University.

Apply today to join the ILTexas family and provide your student a high-quality education at no cost!

DN-AT220302_094836

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

7

360 Profile

BENNIE PATE

Bennie Pate, known as “Mr. Bennie,” has been the crossing guard at Spring Creek Elementary School since 2019.

A smile and a joke to start the school day Story CHELSEA KATZ

A

s students walk, bike and scooter to Spring Creek Elementary School, one man is there at the crosswalk with a stop sign to make sure they arrive at school safely, and a joke to start their day off right.

Bennie Pate, affectionately known as “Mr. Bennie,” has been the Spring Creek crossing guard for three years. He joked his name should have been “Norm” from the 1980s sitcom “Cheers,” because everybody knows his name.

“There’s hardly a time that I don’t go someplace in town and I see a kid waving at me or come up and say hi,” Pate said.

“It’s a great feeling. I didn’t seek that, but I definitely accept it and embrace it. It’s wonderful.”

|

Photos CASSIE STRICKER

Every school day, the father of two and grandfather of three is posted at the intersection of W.S. Phillips Parkway and Brewster Drive in College Station. He’s always dressed for the weather — rain gear, warm layers — and also for seasonal celebrations.

That can mean a Halloween costume — most recently, as a person who has been abducted by an alien — or one of his many Santa hats.

When the weather gets bad, Pate said, he has the option to take breaks in his vehicle — an El Camino. However, he has never made that choice.

“If school is open, I’m there,” he said.

“Inevitable there’s going to be a kid come across, and as long as there’s a kid coming across, I’m there for them.”

Part of his approach to being a crossing guard, especially at the elementary level, is thinking of himself as being on the same level as the students he sees each day, he said.

Pate, 68, said he was apprehensive at first about moving to the elementary school from College Station High School. He spent 4 1/2 years there before the position was eliminated, and he transitioned to Spring Creek. Now, he sees it as a blessing.

By the end of the school year, he said, he is usually happy to get some time off to bass fish, but by the middle of the summer, he’s ready for school to start again and be back at his corner.

Continued on Page 10

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

9

Continued from Page 9

“He is literally the heart of Spring Creek; he really, really is,” said Mindy Chapa, assistant principal at the school. “He is amazing in every way.”

Chapa said about a third of the students walk or ride their bicycles or scooters to the neighborhood school each day. She called Pate an extension of the family atmosphere they try to create at the school.

“He has such a connection with the community that he knows the parents; he knows the families very well. He knows what’s going on in their lives,” she said. “He just has that connection where he just loves these kids inside and out and wants the best for them. He really does. He is just an incredible, incredible human being.”

The position was a result of Pate’s wife suggesting he find something to do after retiring from a career that included being a carpenter at Texas A&M, an employment specialist at MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley and a mechanic with Texas A&M Utility & Energy Services.

When she suggested he find a new job, he jokingly asked if he should be a Walmart greeter or a school crossing guard. Then, a few days later, he came across a job posting for a school crossing guard through the city of College Station.

The new role came naturally, he said, as his tendency to talk and get to know others has helped him form connections with students, parents and the community.

Spring Creek parent Jon Jarvis first saw Pate at College Station High School and witnessed the connection he had with students.

“I always saw this crossing guard who was like bumping fists with all the kids, and they all liked him too over there, and I was excited when he came over here just because I was like, ‘Oh, cool, we get this guy,’” Jarvis said. “He’s a really great guy.”

Jarvis said Pate even knows his youngest son, who is not old enough to attend school yet, and notices when the toddler is not with them.

“He’s like nice to everyone, no matter who they are,” Spring Creek fourth grader Karter Morton said.

Morton’s classmate Collins Hudiburgh agreed.

“He’s like a really nice person,” he said after the pair safely crossed the street on their way to school on a frigid January morning after the winter break. “He always has like a daily joke for us. He always talks to people very nicely, unlike [any] other crosswalk person that I’ve ever known.”

10

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

“He just has that connection where he just loves these kids inside and out and wants the best for them. ... He is just an incredible, incredible human being.”

Mindy Chapa, assistant principal, Spring Creek Elementary School

Pate said it makes his day when he is able to help students smile on their way to school. He said he has encountered students who were coming to school unhappy or crying because of situations at home.

“I can’t fix that,” he said. “But I can try to fix the rest of their day. … And try to give them something to smile about.”

That is what led him to start telling a daily age-appropriate joke he finds online or in joke books. The tradition began when he worked at College Station High School.

Pate said he saw children of divorced families and students who were arriving at school unhappy, and started using a joke to break the tension.

“If they can get across the street from a boo-boo lip to smiling, I’ve done a good turn for the day,” he said.

That connection Pate has with the students, Chapa said, gives students another safe person they can talk to when they might not feel comfortable talking to a teacher or administrator.

“Him being present, I think, is what makes him kind of stand out, because he’s

not just on a hill with his stop sign,” she said, calling him a “rock star.” “He comes in the school — in their setting, in their environment — and he just connects with them and he talks with them.”

Pate said he tries to attend as many school events and programs he is invited to by students.

And while he may not be a teacher in the traditional sense, Pate said he uses his time with students and parents to pass along common sense tips and safe practices when crossing an intersection.

He also extends the lessons to drivers, telling them to not stop in the crosswalk, and encouraging people to think if their child was crossing the street.

“I’d jump in front of a car for a kid,” he said. “I’ll jump on top of a car. I’ll jump on their hood. I’ll bust a windshield if I have to. I haven’t had to, but I’m prepared to. I take it real serious.”

While he appreciates the thanks and gifts people give him for keeping their students safe, he said it is a “no brainer” for him.

“This is what we do,” he said.

Celebrating 35 Years of Service!

3840 CORPORATE CENTER DR. • B-CS • 979-774-3900 (PHONE/TEXT) RODNEY HURT ’77 • BRAD HURT ’00 • NICK LUTZ • RYAN CARR • GARY GRIFFIN • JOHN THAMES RICKY GREER • ANGIE DEAN • KACEY BOURKE • DONNA BEELER • MONICA HUGHES • KATELYN MILLER

serviceinsgroup.com THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

11

360 Profile

MORGAN ASHLEY

M

Making moves for a career in music Story BAILEY BROWN

|

Photo MICHAEL MILLER

organ Ashley received a guitar for late because I sat in the back of the room. both me and another girl, and she didn’t know Christmas when she was 14. It sat And when she started to sing, I just started about me and I didn’t know about her,” she in her room, collecting dust, while bawling.” said. “So I wrote a song to say, ‘Girl, FYI, I am she spent most of her free time working on Ashley graduated high school early and just letting you know, we deserve better than her cheerleading skills and helping to raise enrolled at Blinn College to study animal this.’” livestock. science. She was there for one semester when Ashley said she is still trying to develop her Two years later, that guitar came in handy as she realized music was her calling. own sound. She names Miranda Lambert her interests evolved. The Bryan native sang at After a brief stint in Nashville, Ashley and Carrie Underwood as inspiration to a talent show in a Future Farmers of America said she needed to come back and build incorporate female empowerment in music. program at her high school in Columbus, her career in her home state. She moved to “I think that if girls don’t support girls, then Texas, and that’s when she realized her College Station and focused on songwriting how can we expect anybody else to support passion for music. by participating in workshops and reading us? I think it is one of the most awesome Ashley, whose family moved to Groesbeck as many books as she could about it, along things to have females lifting each other up,” when she was a baby and then to Columbus, with improving her guitar skills. She worked she said. is now building a music career in College at a Starbucks for three years, and when In 2020, Ashley won third place for best Station, the city she says she loves most. she turned 21, her parents hired her at their female artist with the Texas Internet Radio The 25-year-old has 22 songs Organization. She earned on Spotify, iTunes and other new female vocalist of the streaming services, and has year honors from Texas released an album and two EPs. Regional Radio in 2021, and Her early steps into female artist of the year from performing included merging the Texas Country Music two primary loves: songwriting Association. and animals.

When Ashley was pondering “I remember one specific line career pursuits, Dyer said she from the songs I wrote — ‘I had faith her daughter would love my short horns,’” she said. choose music because she At the talent show, she knew that was the right path performed “Famous in a Small for her.

Town” by Miranda Lambert “I just feel like she is really and “The Climb” by Miley good at what she does and I Cyrus. The first- and secondwant more people to hear her place winners played guitar, and give her a chance,” Dyer which inspired her to go back said. “I feel deep down there is to her guitar and learn to play.

Courtesy of Morgan Ashley a future for her, and it is going Morgan Ashley will perform April 9 at the Canteen Bar and Grill.

“I thought that was just the to go somewhere because I coolest thing ever to see them believe in her talent.” play the guitar,” she said. “So I picked up construction company, S-Con Services in In 2022, Ashley plans to recruit a band to guitar and I never put it down.”

Bryan. She still works there when she’s not perform with. Her next scheduled concert Kim Dyer, Ashley’s mother, said she didn’t performing, but does not plan on staying is April 9 at the Canteen Bar and Grill in know leading up to the talent show that there for long.

College Station.

Ashley could sing or even had a strong “What keeps me going is music in general,” Looking long-term, Ashley said she dreams interest in music.

Ashley said. “I don’t want to sit at a desk for of performing at the Grand Ole Opry in “We had spent from the time she was 8 the rest of my life, so I am determined to Nashville. And she advised anyone who is years old until she graduated on horses and see my way out of there. My parents are very pursuing their dreams to never give up. cattle, and she was going to be a vet,” Dyer supportive and help keep me going, and my “Keep going,” she said, “and don’t let what said. “And her ag teacher convinced her to do friends do as well.” people say bog you down. And don’t let doors that talent show, and she kind of in passing Ashley’s single, “Girl FYI,” has a personal that close in your face get you down either, mentioned it to me, but we never talked about connection and story. because ultimately hard work and consistency it. I went to the talent show and I was almost “I was in a situation where a guy was dating will help you achieve your goals.”

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

13

Cover Story

14

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

The BEE COmmunity

The BEE Community, led by founder Taylor Ellerbrock (facing page) employs 17 adults with disabilities, along with 60 volunteers who help with the shop.

T

Creating opportunities for people with disabilities Story BAILEY BROWN

he spirit of teamwork is on display at The Bee Community.

It’s a four-person process to make stationery. An artisan puts one sheet of paper at a time into a shredder. Another collects those shreds and puts them in a blender with water, turning it into a liquid mixture. A third artisan lays that mixture onto a mesh grate, and a fourth sets the grate on a cooling rack to dry.

In one full circle, they work collectively to turn those shreds of paper into a single sheet of paper once again. The stationery will be sold at The BEE Community, a place for adults with disabilities to “work and belong,” which is its slogan.

Founder Taylor Ellerbrock, 32, made it her mission to create jobs for adults with

|

Photos CASSIE STRICKER

THE BEE COMMUNITY

The retail shop is located at 3829 Old College Road in Bryan, and is open MondayFriday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To shop online, apply for employment or register to volunteer, visit thebeecommunity.com.

For more information, email info@ thebeecommunity.com.

disabilities. She said that 95% of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities nationwide are unemployed.

But as of today, she employs 17 adults with disabilities at the nonprofit retail store along Old College Road in Bryan, where artisans make and sell a variety of products.

BEE stands for Brazos Employment

Enterprises: Brazos for location, Employment for what they are providing and Enterprises for how they are providing it, Ellerbrock said.

“I feel like one person, one day at a time, matters, and we are always hoping to make a big impact and a big difference,” she said.

Getting started

Ellerbrock is from Houston and graduated from Texas A&M in 2012 with a degree in special education. She later taught special education in Bryan and in Spring Branch for five years. During that time, she started to realize the employment reality of her students’ lives after graduation.

Continued on Page 16

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

15

Continued from Page 15

Through her relationships with friends who have disabilities, she decided to find a way to employ them in whatever capacities she could.

Ellerbrock said she wanted to shift the narrative of this particular population, saying it has often been overlooked and underresourced. She said she feels it is her calling to bring forth lasting change.

“I have really in my own life experienced the value of diversity in the relationships of people who are different than me,” she said. “And I myself have benefited and been impacted by those relationships, and I desperately want people to experience that same thing.

However I can utilize the voice that I have, to allow other people to experience the beauty of entering into relationships with people who are different than us, I will.”

The journey started with soap. Ellerbrock learned how to make it at Brookwood in Georgetown, which is a community similar to BEE in providing jobs for people with disabilities. She learned from the nonprofit and gathered information that would help her to build BEE. “They really took me under their wing in mentorship, both in mission and in culture,” she said. “[My team and I] had ‘vision nights’ and shared what we were looking to do, and we were all gathering research and building the foundation for The BEE Community.”

The BEE Community was registered as a nonprofit organization in fall 2017, and Ellerbrock formed a board of directors. She leads as executive director. By September 2018, Ellerbrock recruited seven artisans with disabilities to work and create soap alongside her at Grace Bible Church in College Station.

She recalled a time when they were in the first stages of making soap, and through trial and error they had to throw a lot of it out.

“There had been a couple times where I totally forgot to add fragrance,” she said, “and the artisans called me out on it, and they were totally right. And whenever we have mistakes we call it ‘failing forward.’ Shortly after that we started to make dog treats, and now it is our top-selling product and one of our artisans’ favorite things to make.”

The BEE Community more than doubled in size within three years, and it needed a larger facility. By January 2021, it opened the retail shop in Bryan near the water tower, and Ellerbrock was able to hire 10 additional artisans. She also has 60 volunteers who help with the shop.

The artisans expanded their craft to necklaces, earrings, candles, pet shampoo and room spray. In 2021, the artisans worked 7,230 hours and sold about 7,000 products,

16

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

Abigail Hall cuts out bone-shaped dog treats at The Bee Community in Bryan. The dog treats are the most popular item sold at the retail shop.

Ellerbrock said.

Meet the artisans

Amber Bernshausen, 23, began work at The BEE Community in summer 2021.

“It’s fun working here and I like working with my team,” she said.

Ellerbrock said Bernshausen encourages everyone and is always willing to lend a hand.

She also finds ways to bring a smile to those around her.

“Amber also loves to crack funny jokes and make things lighthearted and fun,” Ellerbrock said.

Bernshausen said her favorite product to make is dog treats, especially because she has a

dog who loves them.

“I have a special dog,” she said. “She is blind and diabetic, and the dog treats we make are very good for her. And her name is Hope.”

She also said hard work is what is important and part of BEE’s core values. Each week, the team learns about work ethic skills, and teamwork was a recent focus.

For anyone who doubts hiring a person with disabilities, Bernshausen said she would want that person to know one thing: “Whether people have a disability or they don’t, they still need to work, too.”

Lexi Palcer, 20, has worked at the BEE Community since summer 2019. She lives in Franklin and has an hour commute to get to

work three days a week.

Palcer communicates verbally and nonverbally. During an interview, Ellerbrock and program director Olivia Munnerlyn helped guide Palcer as she relayed her answers.

Munnerlyn placed her hands in front of Palcer to choose from as an answer to each question. She told Palcer one hand represented working by herself, the other represented working with a team, then asked which one she liked better. Palcer tapped the hand representing working by herself.

Ellerbrock asked Palcer if she also liked working with her friends, and Palcer nodded and smiled. Ellerbrock then placed her hands out and asked Palcer if she liked making soap or jewelry better; Palcer tapped the hand representing jewelry.

“One thing that Lexi is very talented in is music, both dancing and singing, and something that we do a lot around here is celebrating,” Munnerlyn said. “Every other week, we celebrate our paycheck and we call it a payday party, which is a lot of fun. And we also have karaoke as a break time.”

Munnerlyn asked Palcer if she liked karaoke or dancing better, and Palcer tapped the hand representing dancing. She then asked Palcer to show off her favorite dance move, and Palcer joyously stood up to demonstrate.

Ellerbrock later grabbed a whiteboard and marker, and wrote a question for Palcer to write an answer to, as another avenue for her to respond. Ellerbrock wrote, “What do you love when you come to work?” Palcer took the marker and wrote, “Soap and dog treats.”

“I love seeing creativity in ways that you don’t normally see when you are just walking out in public,” Munnerlyn said. “There is so much beauty to the way that our artisans do things, and I think they also really encourage us to stop and enjoy the process. One of the things we do around here is work slowly, and we make it a slow process, which is very worthwhile as we spend time together.”

Munnerlyn said Palcer always reminds the rest of the team, either by writing it out or by typing it on her phone: “We got this.”

‘Come spend a day with us’

The BEE Community has two sections in its building. One door is for customers to enter the retail shop, and another is for the artisans’ workspace where they handcraft their items.

The artisans’ ages range from 18 to mid-40s, and they work Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Not every artisan works every day. Ellerbrock said a “morning motivation” includes going over the schedule, announcements and celebrations, along with professional development topics.

Meridian Wigley, left, and Ana Norris work on packaging handmade stationery. Below, earrings are among the items sold at The Bee Community.

They have 45-minute work periods and two breaks in their day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They work together in teams in each department. In the afternoon, the artisans have structured activities to engage recreationally, creatively and socially.

Some individuals come to them after having part-time jobs in the community, Ellerbrock said, and for whatever reason were not able to maintain employment. She said they also have people who transition right out of the public school system, and some who have been a part of rehabilitation programs. Regardless of where they come from, they are all looking for a chance to contribute and work using their gifts, she said.

“We have a wide range of abilities, strengths,

needs and diagnoses; and we are not a ‘disabilities specific’ organization or program,” she said. “We believe if you have a pulse you have a purpose. We look at how we can strengthen individuals’ needs and purposes, and stay away from functioning level and disability level. We look at the individuals and what they are able to contribute, what their personality is, who they would best work alongside with, and what type of team and environment is best for them.”

To better fit the needs of her artisans, Ellerbrock had two “chill rooms” installed at the shop, a space with a small table and a comfortable chair where anyone can sit to take a minute and regroup or relax.

Continued on Page 18

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

17

Continued from Page 17

“The chill room is a quiet space for anyone who needs a quiet moment to just decompress and take a break, whether that is to ventilate or if there is a sensory need,” she said.

“Honestly, I think every workplace in America should have a chill room.”

There is a waitlist for individuals who want to become members, Ellerbrock said, and artisans and volunteers can find the application process on the BEE website.

Ellerbrock considered what she would say to someone who dismissed her belief in hiring adults with disabilities.

“I would tell them to come spend a day with us,” she said, “and come see our artisans and experience the gifts and the joy and the purpose that comes from employment.”

Society tends to think in black and white, Ellerbrock said, and some organizations try to fit square pegs into round holes by saying these are the jobs offered, then squeeze people in and make them fit.

“I feel like our job, our purpose, is to cut out square holes that match the square pegs in our society,” she said. “I think someone who is saying, ‘It isn’t worth it to hire someone with a disability’ has experienced the inability to think more creatively or innovatively about

what work is, and what the purpose of it is, and how to make that accessible to everyone.”

Ellerbrock said in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced isolation and unemployment, which are realities that have long plagued people with disabilities.

During quarantine in 2020, she and her staff closed down for 10 weeks but still offered some programming over Zoom. Her team delivered work kits to the artisans’ homes.

“We tried to keep everyone engaged in a meaningful way, because there is something special and right about being together,” she said.

Looking ahead

The artisans are preparing for their Tacos and Tunes Art Auction Fundraiser on April 23. The annual event will include live music and food, and shoppers can purchase the artisans’ artwork at the store or online.

In the future, Ellerbrock hopes to look at what other types of services they could provide, including holding hospitality events like birthday parties, baby and wedding showers or college organization gatherings.

She said she is grateful the retail store has been part of the dream to bring artisans into the spotlight where they are seen for

their gifts. If she could grant one wish to her artisans, she said it would be to make sure they know they are seen and valued.

“People are able to come and purchase their products not out of pity for who made them, but because it is a good quality product they want to buy,” she said. “We are really grateful for the chance to be more immersed in the community, and really want to continue to do that however we can.”

Visitors from out of town often ask about the potential of having a BEE Community in their city, she said, and the BEE board is looking into ways it can expand its efforts.

“We are very dependent on donations, and that has been really reflective in the generosity of our community, and that is something that we will need in the future as we continue to grow and meet more needs,” Ellerbrock said.

They are also providing tours for anyone who wishes to visit or may want to volunteer.

Those interested can apply in person or online.

“What lights me up is when our visitors, donors, volunteers and customers — those untouched by disability — are able to receive and experience what our artisans have to offer,” she said. “By creating opportunities for our artisans to then have a platform to impact other people, that is remarkable and a big part of my job.”

Vote now from March 24 thru May 12!

go.theeagle.com/readerschoice22 18

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

“The cabinets I built 50 years ago are still being used today.” -

kmc.net THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

19

SPRING fashion preview Brazos 360’s seasonal guide to a more stylish you!

See store for pricing

20

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

See store for pricing

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

21

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN G.I. Watch history come alive!

LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND MARCH 26-27, 2022 WWI & WWII Battle Reenactments Living History Displays

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN MAY 29, 2022 21 Gun Salute — 3 PM

 WWI—WWII Tanks 

WWI— WWII Military Vehicles  Vietnam Era Military Vehicles  Rare Uniforms & Posters  OPEN WED - SUN  PRESERVE   HONOR   EDUCATE  19124 Hwy 6 S , College Station, TX www.americangimuseum.org Programs made possible in part through Hotel Tax Revenue funded from the City of College Station through the Arts Council.

22

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

(979)218-3662 MyAggieRoofer.com

Special advertising section

The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is pleased to welcome you The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is looking forward to welcoming you!

Admission tickets for the museum can now be purchased in advance on the library’s website, at bush41.org.

The Bush Library and Museum cares for more than 44 million pages of official documents and donated collections from George H.W. Bush’s presidency and throughout his public career, as well as more than 60,000 artifacts and an extensive audiovisual collection. Many of these papers and artifacts are on display in the museum and are accessible to researchers.

While telling the story of the 41st president, the museum covers several aspects of U.S. and world history for the past 100 years. In addition to the main galleries, the museum features changing temporary exhibits that highlight various aspects of President Bush’s life and career. Due to the many things that happened during his long life of public service, the Bush Library and Museum is able to cover a wide variety of topics.

For the newest focus exhibit, the Bush Library

and Museum partnered with Texas A&M University to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Texas Sea Grant College Program.

Texas Sea Grant: 50 Years of Science and Stewardship explores the rich history of the Texas coast and how the university has supported the shoreland and its people through cutting-edge research and innovative outreach and educational programs. From maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems to aiding sustainable fisheries to promoting resilient communities, Texas Sea Grant has helped Texans protect and enhance the unique, culturally significant, and economically important resources of Texas’ coastal marine environments. The Texas Sea Grant exhibit will be on display in the Ansary Gallery of American History through July 5, 2022.

Additionally, the Bush Library and Museum is proud to feature Oceans of Plastic, a strangely beautiful collection of art made from plastic waste acquired from beaches along the Texas Gulf Coast. Artist and beachcomber Shelia Rogers began collecting discarded

plastic and then transformed it into vibrant works of art to bring awareness to the true impact of plastics on our wildlife and marine ecosystems.

A third exhibit, George Bush: An Environmental President outlines President Bush’s environmental initiatives and legislation, including the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment, which many experts contend is the most significant piece of environmental legislation of the 20th century. Other acts featured are the Everglades National Park Expansion Act, the National Environmental Education Act, and the Antarctic Protection Act, among others. Visitors will hear President Bush’s thoughts on the environment in his own words, and they will discover a selection of environmental-related artifacts from the collections of the Bush Library and Museum.

These temporary exhibits will be on display until July 5, 2022. For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit bush41.org

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit Bush41.org.

follow us @Bush41Library

1000 George Bush Drive West

979.691.4000

come visit us!

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

23

50 Men Who Can Cook Brazos County Expo • Feb. 4, 2022

T

he College Station ISD Education Foundation’s annual fundraiser returned to the Brazos County Expo on Feb. 4 with celebrity cooks preparing samples of barbecue, soups, chili, sides and desserts for the community. The 14th annual event set a record in ticket sales, drawing 1,730 guests and raising more than $150,000 for the nonprofit organization that supports programs, teachers and students in the College Station school district.

Photos by Michael Miller

TOP LEFT: Mike Martindale and Chuck Glenewinkel. MIDDLE LEFT: Jeff and Amanda Mann. BOTTOM LEFT: Heather Golladay, Mindi Kavanaugh, Megan Symank, Shannon Espitia, Danielle Horak and Lindsey Fuentes.

TOP RIGHT: Doug Hahn and Derek Halling. 2ND RIGHT: Priscilla Velez, Russell Moses and Casey Zimmerman. 3RD RIGHT: Justin and Jennifer Shulse, Amy and John Eppes. ABOVE RIGHT: Mike Williams, Bunny and Jason Pratt.

24

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

TOP LEFT: Harold and Stephanie Eaton. 2ND LEFT: Darin Paine, Justin Lake and True Brown. 3RD LEFT: Billy Couch and Mike Pavelka. LEFT BOTTOM: Gunnar Coker, Valerie Medrano, Cannon Coker and Bradley Dorsett. BELOW: Greg Katt, from right, Greg Propst, Jeff Given and Jeremy Johnson. 2ND RIGHT: Joshua Varner, Eric Dotson and Richard Mann. BOTTOM RIGHT: Jenna and Paydon Holt, McKenna and Clark Pustka.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

25

Daddy Daughter Dance

The Stella Hotel in Bryan • Feb. 4-5, 2022

T

he Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley held its annual Daddy Daughter Dance on Feb. 4 and 5 at The Stella Hotel in Bryan. The fundraiser included appearances from princesses, crafts and activities, a photo booth, formal portraits, dinner and dancing.

Photos by Michael Miller

26

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

ABOVE: Terrance Preston and Saniya Preston. FIRST ROW LEFT: Adair and Isabella Macias. FIRST ROW, 2ND FROM LEFT: Ron Haas and Eleni Sermas. FIRST ROW, 3RD FROM LEFT: Matt Ford and Laurelai Ford.

FIRST ROW RIGHT: Austin and Penelope Hernandez. BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Rocco, Giana and Alessandra Grande. BOTTOM ROW MIDDLE: Christopher and Penelope Phillips. BOTTOM ROW RIGHT: Jon Teeter and Fiona Teeter

TOP LEFT: Jim Rike and Elora Rike. TOP RIGHT: Derek Harvick and Evelyn Harvick. 2ND ROW LEFT: Garrett Blundell and Blythe Blundell. 2ND ROW RIGHT: Matt Shive and Ellison Shive. 3RD ROW LEFT: Russell Huebner and Caroline Huebner.

3RD ROW RIGHT: Britt Jones and Saige Jones.

FAR LEFT: Dennis Rhodes and Mileigh Herrera.

LEFT: Ben Lawrence and Rachel Lawrence.

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

27

What’s in your

OFFICE?

BRAD MARQUARDT Texas A&M assistant athletic director for athletics communications

B

rad Marquardt says some would look at his office and call it cluttered, but others would note it’s full of history.

Marquardt, 55, graduated from Texas A&M in 1988 with a journalism degree. He has been part of Texas A&M’s sports information department staff since 1990, handling media relations for almost every university sport in that time. His job as an assistant athletic director for athletics communications includes assisting reporters, coordinating interviews with players and coaches, sending press releases and handling some social media content for different teams.

Marquardt’s office, which is underneath the first deck on the east side of Kyle Field, is full of A&M sports memorabilia, including photos, commemorative footballs and helmets, as well as one of his favorites: a wall-sized photo of Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

Although his parents didn’t attend A&M, Marquardt said he came from a family of Aggie fans and had an inherent love for A&M. “Getting here and then, on a whim, my mother said, ‘You know, you like to write and you like sports. Why don’t you be a sportswriter?’” Marquardt said. “I’m not a sportswriter, but I do write about sports. It was maybe the smartest advice I’ve gotten, because I’ve given my adult life to this.”

Story ALEX MILLER | Photos MICHAEL MILLER

I was offensive tackle, [No.] 79.

The Boerne Greyhounds. As a senior, that team won district.

The year before, we were like the runners-up in the district. That’s our little team. About 165 pounds out at offensive tackle. Country strong.

That’s big John Byington, hero of the 1989 baseball season, which is still talked about here because they were just so good. John Byington was about [5 feet, 8 inches tall] and could hit it a ton. I was a student, actually. I had graduated and I was still here as a [graduate assistant] going through that season, and it was a magical season. Everything worked. The walk-up music was perfect for each of the kids and they were hitting home runs and I was scoring, keeping the book. You’re batting around and you’re having to go to the next side. It was a magical season.

When Dat [Nguyen] was here, I was less than 10 years in here. I went with him to the college football awards down in Orlando. The Butkus Award thing was down there, so I traveled with him to that. He didn’t win the Butkus. I grew up going to Rockport [Nguyen’s hometown] to go fishing and vacationing with my parents, so I felt that connection to him.

That was with ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ [when Johnny Manziel appeared on the show after winning the 2012 Heisman] and so that’s when Jay is introducing things, that’s the cue card that says who the guests are going to be. … I met Megan [Fox] in her dressing room and she hadn’t gone through makeup yet, she was just in a flannel shirt. … Colbie Caillat, I didn’t really know who she was at the time, and she was right at the very end. All in all, it was a really cool experience going out to Hollywood with Johnny.

That’s from after the last game in the old press box. Everything was going to go away the next day, so anything that could come off the wall. I think everyone that I worked with signed it

That was in 2013 in Johnny’s non-winning [Heisman Trophy] year. I went up there. I was the [sports information director] representative with him. I went through the whole [deal] with him, which was obviously very strange since he was a returning Heisman winner. ... That was one of the little things that came back with us or they sent with us. It’s got all of the finalist signatures. It was fun going through that process of going and doing all of the media hits that we did with … all of the finalists, and we went all over New York. It was a lot of fun.

I went to the Davey O’Brien Award with Johnny and he won that. We got done and that giant thing is hanging from behind the dais and they’re like, “Hey, do you want this?” And I’m like, “Yeah, that would be great!” And then I’m like, “How am I going to get this home?” So, I put my seats down and rolled it. It’s sort of semi-pliable and I rolled it up and shoved it in the back of the Tahoe and brought it back to College Station. … It’s so tall. That was back in 2012 when we were still over on the other side of Kyle Field, and the ceilings weren’t this tall and it was just laying on its side. There was no place for it to go. Even for it to fit in here, I think I had to cut parts of it off.

Your Spring Lawn & Garden Headquarters •Performance Proven Fertilizer Blends• •Spring Garden Vegetables & Herbs • Fungicides• •Pre & Post Emergent • Insecticides • Perennials• •Bagged Mulch & Soil • Fruit & Pecan Trees•

AND MUCH MORE! Follow us Plants selected for the Brazos Valley!

1800 N Texas Avenue in Bryan 30

Brazos 360 | Spring 2022

(979) 778-6000

producerscooperative.com

I

RUNNING ON EMPTY

Challenges and motivations in taking on a half-marathon

t was around Mile 11 when I heard the loving words of support every father yearns for when struggling to complete a long-distance competitive race.

“Pick up the pace, Dad!” My 10-year-old daughter’s message — delivered like a pint-sized drill sergeant — wasn’t wrong, and it inspired a few giggles among those within earshot. I was huffing and puffing my way through December’s BCS Half-Marathon, and that was when it was really starting to hurt.

Rob Clark This was a goal two rob.clark@ years in the making theeagle.com after COVID canceled the 2020 race. I caught the running bug around 2018, gradually increasing my distance and sometimes running twice a day.

After a few successful 10-mile runs, I figured I was ready.

And then, three days before the race, I caught another bug. The stomach kind. I won’t describe the unpleasantness except to say it was most unpleasant.

The goal was suddenly in jeopardy.

Running 13.1 miles after two days in bed isn’t the best idea. But recovery on the third day was just enough to give it a go.

That day before the race brought a comical moment when picking up the packet that included my runner’s “bib.” We had been told via email that there had been a mix-up with the names or nicknames we chose to put on our bibs, and to expect to see someone else’s. I had to chuckle when instead of “ROB,” mine read “LISA LOVE.” (Ms. Love, wherever you are, I hope your race was a good one.)

I told my family that I had three main goals for the race: 1. Finish the race.

2. Don’t get hurt.

3. Win the whole darn thing.

As the 7 a.m. start time approached, the first two goals seemed almost as unlikely as the third. Post-illness weariness and a restless night of sleep led to nerves and self-doubt.

It was also about 37 degrees that morning.

That’s great if you’re Mike Singletary staring down a quarterback at Soldier Field, but a bit daunting for a first competitive race.

And then we were off. Instantly, I felt like I had wandered into a 1-mile sprint. It seemed everyone was blowing by me, to the point that I briefly thought I might be the slowest person there. Some were obviously welltrained race veterans, but some were obviously not. “I’m gonna catch up to you later,” I thought, tortoise-like, about the latter.

Thankfully, there was great motivation from people lining the streets. A nice boost came from a “Believe” sign — the first of many — fashioned after the one in “Ted Lasso.” A sign inspired by “Squid Game” made me laugh, as did one that read “Free beer … tomorrow.”

I heard later that someone was giving out Fireball shots to runners, but I missed that stop. It was hard enough to grab a water and down it while running. I badly mishandled a cup on my first attempt, and the volunteer reacted with “Awww,” as if an Aggie quarterback had fumbled the ball a yard before the end zone.

The best motivation came in seeing my family around the 3-mile mark. My wife made a goofy life-size head-photo cutout,

and my kids held a sign for the other runners (“Great job, random stranger!”). Our moment was brief but encouraging. Smiles from the ones you love are the best way to keep you going.

Halfway through the race, I was feeling great, though I realized I was running much faster than my usual pace. Slowing down didn’t seem appropriate, given the surroundings, so I kept pushing.

After the second family encounter, when I got Lil’ Sarge’s marching orders, the struggle became more real. Having never run that far before, or that fast, things got a little blurry.

It seemed there were multiple inclines in the final 2 miles. I finally had to stop and walk for a bit, which I had avoided up until that point. After 100 feet or so, I turned a corner, then said a word that I won’t share here when I realized the last street was in sight. So I did in fact pick up the pace, saw my family cheering me on at the end and crossed the finish line.

Goal No. 3 was out of reach, but I’m good with the first two. And I did make my ideal time-per-mile mark. Considering where I was three days prior, I was ecstatic.

A grand spread of food and drink was laid out for celebrating runners — a nice touch by the extremely well-run race — but eating wasn’t a priority.

Beer, however, sounded great. It was Sunday morning, after all. Maybe it was just the moment, but my Karbach Love Street draft might have been the best beer I’ve ever tasted.

And, to borrow from Kris Kristofferson, I had one more for dessert.

It’s a strange feeling to finally be done with something that you’ve built up for so long. With the medal around my neck, and my sweet family around me, I wondered if I would do it again (probably), and if I’d keep running actively (absolutely).

My oldest daughter, noting it was only 9 a.m., asked me what I wanted to do the rest of the day.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said.

Eagle photo by Michael Miller “Maybe go for a run.”

THE EAGLE | BRAZOS360.COM

31

Delivery * Private rooms * Catering * Custom menu options

Family and Tradition for 40 years!

Relocating Our Bryan Restaurant This Summer!

2021

www.cjbbq.com