Images Victoria, TX: 2011

2011 | imagesvictoria.com ®

What’s Online See the historic charm of downtown Victoria

victoria, texas

DIG THIS Caterpillar plant means new jobs

STANDING OVATION School district opens fine arts center

Deep in the Heart Downtown returning to its glory days

sponsored by the Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Victoria in action

Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Victoria is in our quick videos at imagesvictoria.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that Victoria has to offer.

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2011 edition | volume 3 速

Victoria, Texas co nte nt s F e atu r e s 10 STANDING OVATION

10

School district opens fine arts center.

14 Munch with a fun bunch Greek Bros. restaurant brings the chaos and cuisine.

18 Deep in the Heart Downtown returning to its glory days.

d e pa r tm e nt s 6 Almanac 27 Biz Briefs 28 Chamber Report 29 Economic Profile 30 Sports & Recreation 32 Arts & Culture 34 Education 36 Local Flavor 39 Health & Wellness 42 Image Gallery 47 Community Profile 48 Through the Lens

on the cover A historic home in Victoria Photo by Antony Boshier

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All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

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®

Victoria , Tex as Project Manager mitch Kline Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Erin Edgemon, Joe Morris, Jessica Mozo, Chris Russell, Braxton Shoop, Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, lance Conzett, Michele Niccore, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Managers John Hood, Kim Madlom Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer Leigh Guarin Web developer i Yamel Hall Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond Regional Sales Manager Charles Sweeney Sales Support/Community, Business, Custom Rachael Goldsberry Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall color imaging technician Alison Hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner V.P./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Newsom V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

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Images Victoria is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Victoria Chamber of Commerce 3404 N. Ben Wilson • Victoria, Texas 77901 Phone: (361) 573-5277 • Fax: (361) 573-5911 www.victoriachamber.org Visit Images Victoria online at imagesvictoria.com ©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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Custom Content Council

Member Victoria Chamber of Commerce

What’s Online imagesvictoria.com

Photos See more photos in our online photo gallery Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog

2011 | ImAGeSVIcTOrIA.cOm ®

What’s Online See the historic charm of downtown Victoria

VIcTOrIA, TexAS

DIG THIS Caterpillar plant means new jobs

STANDING OVATION

Facts & Stats Dig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more

School district opens fine arts center

Deep in the Heart Downtown returning to its glory days

SpONSOreD by THe VIcTOrIA cHAmber Of cOmmerce

Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

Digital edition

Real estate

Easily share articles and photos on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail

Video

Learn about the local housing market and get started finding your place

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Almanac

Welcome to Victoria An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

History's Mysteries The vibrant, wild history of the mid-coastal region of Texas is on display each day at the Museum of the Coastal Bend. It opened in October 2003 on the campus of Victoria College, with a mission to portray the region's heritage and preserve natural resources.

Two of the most popular exhibits are entitled Victoria, Where Texas History Began and The La Salle Odyssey, which showcases the first European settlement in Texas.

The Grass Is Greener Victoria has golfing down to a tee, with three nice courses. Victoria Country Club is a private facility established in 1974 that recently underwent a $3 million renovation to its clubhouse, tennis courts and pool area. Colony Creek is a semi-private venue with an 18-hole course, pool, tennis courts, clubhouse and restaurant, and has been a fixture in Victoria since 1995. Riverside Golf Course is a public venue with three nine-hole layouts called Red, White and Blue, and all of those courses span at least 3,300 yards and play as par 36s.

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A Novel Approach A publication based in Victoria is distributed throughout the world. American Book Review is a nonprofit periodical that reviews frequently neglected literary works. ABR was founded in 1977 and appears six times a year, reviewing all types of fiction and poetry.

It also features literary and cultural criticism columns from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde and women's presses. ABR is edited and produced by writers for writers and the general public.

Roaring Success Two lion cubs were introduced to the public at the Austin Zoo in February 2010, but that facility could not keep little Anastasia and Memphis due to space constraints.

So in late March, the cubs were moved 2.5 hours away to the Texas Zoo in Victoria, where they still live today and are now fully grown.

The lion exhibit at the Texas Zoo is one of its most popular attractions.

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Now Hear This Victoria Symphony has been providing sweet music to this part of Texas since the early 1980s, and its performances range from children's productions to works by musical masters. Recent children's performances have included Peter and the Wolf, Symphonic Spooktacular and Downtown Rhymes, while a Master Series lineup in 2010 included Music from the Highlands and The Rebellious Symphony. The Victoria ensemble is directed by maestro Darryl One.

That's the Ticket Take a bow, Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.

The Welder Center is home to a 476-seat auditorium that allows residents to see quality live entertainment without having to travel all the way to Houston, Austin or San Antonio.

Theatre Victoria is the in-house performance company that produces stage shows, ballet and dance, jazz and cabaret, classical music and family-friendly programming. The center also offers several educational programs designed to inspire young people through the arts.

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Fast Facts n The Victoria Community Center, at 68,000 square feet, is the largest enclosed convention/ exhibit facility in the Golden Crescent of southwest Texas.

Go, Jaguars, Go

n The city is home to the second-oldest Roman Catholic Church in Texas, St. Mary’s Church.

Move over, baseball and softball.

The athletic department at the University of Houston-Victoria added men's and women's soccer and golf to the school's sports lineup in 2010. Both the men's and women's golf teams competed in their first golf tournament September 13, 2010, at Texas Lutheran University, while the men's and women's soccer teams also began play in September 2010. The first-ever soccer victory went to the men's team when they defeated Texas Lutheran, 4-0, in the September 8 match.

n Victoria residents saw their first white Christmas in 2004, when more than 12.4 inches of snow fell on the city. Typically, it snows only once every 11 years here.

Victoria At A Glance Population Victoria: 60,821

Victoria

Location Victoria is in southeast Texas, 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Victoria is 90 miles from Corpus Christi; 110 miles from San Antonio; 120 miles from Houston; and 125 miles from Austin.

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To Houston

Victoria VICTORIA

59 185

R.

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n Former Major League Baseball players Doug Drabek and Ron Gant are from the Victoria area, as is ex-professional wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. n Victoria is home to the University of Houston-Victoria and The Victoria College, a community college.

Additionally, more than 60 colleges and universities are located within a 125-mile radius.

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For More Information Victoria Chamber of Commerce 3404 N. Ben Wilson St. Victoria, TX 77901 Phone: (361) 573-5277 Fax: (361) 573-5911 www.victoriachamber.org

To San Antonio t

ad

Beginnings Victoria was formally founded by Don Martin De Leon in 1824 and served briefly as the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande. Victoria is named after General Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of independent Mexico.

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Gu

Almanac

n Canoeing and kayaking are popular here, thanks to the Victoria-Riverside Park Paddling Trail on the Guadalupe River.

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Victoria, courtesy of our awardwinning photographers, at imagesvictoria.com.

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312 1

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C City

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COU O

Building

Arts

for the

victoria School district opens fine arts center

Interior of the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts in Victoria. photo by Antony Boshier

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Brian M c Cord Brian M c Cord

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Story By Erin Edgemon

V

ictoria’s arts scene has been active for years with the Victoria Ballet Theatre, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Theatre Victoria, and the community is building on that support, literally. Larger audiences will be able to take in performances after the February 2011 opening of The Victoria Fine Arts Center.

“The arts scene in Victoria is alive and thriving,” says Jay Lester, director of fine arts for the Victoria Independent School District. “As a city we have several arts groups and organizations that promote arts, music, dance and theater. There is always a quality event or program to attend.”

for music concerts, dance recitals, theatrical productions, school-wide programs, meetings and ceremonies.

VISD also fostered performing arts within the schools by adding auditoriums to two new high schools.

The Victoria East and Victoria West high schools, completed by the start of the 2010 school year, both have auditoriums with 500 seats. The auditoriums also have state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems.

Arts in the City VISD’s growing arts programs are joining an already vibrant cultural scene in the city of Victoria.

“If I wanted to, I could stay busy every night of the week,” says Joe Arts in Education Baugh, executive director of the For Victoria arts patrons, 2011 Victoria Cultural Council. Baugh says ushers in a new era for performances he has gone out more in the six years with the opening of the Victoria he has lived in Victoria than in the Independent School District’s Victoria time he lived in Houston.

Fine Arts Center on the old high school Baugh says some of the best events campus at the Advanced Learning in town are the Victoria JazzFest Center. It is the largest venue with presented by the Victoria Fine Arts auditorium seating in the city.

Association held every April, museums such as Nave Museum and the Museum of the Coastal Bend, and the “The arts scene in Victoria symphony and ballet company.

“We have good is alive and thriving.” entertainment here at a very good price,” he says.

Victoria also has phenomenal facilities The facility – a part of a bond like the Leo J. Welder Center for the package passed by voters in 2007 – has Performing Arts, he adds.

1,482 seats, a stage and state-of-the-art Theatre Victoria is the center’s sound and projection systems. The Fine resident theater company. The company Arts Center will primarily be used by produces three musicals and two plays VISD, but the community will be able a year as well as bringing in outside to rent the facility on available dates.

“The school system has always had a artists to perform.

“We try to bring artists here so you need for a large auditorium to showcase don’t have to drive two and a half hours the students of Victoria,” Lester says, to San Antonio,” says Julie Zimmerman, adding that enrollment in arts courses general manager of Theatre Victoria. in the high schools has increased over “We try to bring in something that you the last three years. don’t see every day.”

The Fine Arts Center will be used Clockwise from top left: Fine Arts Center under construction; Victoria Ballet Theatre; JazzFest; Jay Lester, director of fine arts for the school district

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Munch Fun Bunch

With a

Greek Bros. restaurant brings the chaos and cuisine

Story By Chris Russell | Photography By Brian McCOrd

A

ny restaurant with a theme of “chaos and cuisine” would get your attention.

Victoria’s Greek Bros. has enough food and fun to keep it.

Opening its first location in El Campo, Texas, in 1985 and offering casual, upscale dining, original owners George and Tom Charkalis have now brought a second Greek Bros. to North Navarro in Victoria. “Chaos and cuisine” has quickly caught on.

“It’s one of our sayings,” George says of the motto shared with his wife Blanche, son Matthew and daughter-inlaw Rachel, all with whom he runs the restaurant. “Chaos is what we call our

entertainment with our bands. We have fun with them.”

As for the cuisine, Greek Bros. serves more than 50 dining room delights, including salads, seafood, meats, sandwiches and pasta. Among the favorites are the grilled tuna, gulf redfish and char-grilled steaks.

“It’s a quality dining experience in a fun atmosphere,” Charkalis says.

What’s Online Find more of Victoria’s best places to grab a bite in the food section at imagesvictoria.com.

A Restaurant That Rocks The “chaos” that goes on at Greek Bros. is a comfortable kind. Pictures of famous musicians and framed sports jerseys line the walls, creating an atmosphere that lets diners know

Grilled salmon and fresh garlic mashed potatoes with sauteed spinach, tomatoes and grilled asparagus is a menu item at Greek Bros. in Victoria.

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Right: Jerry James performs on the patio at Greek Bros.

they are in for a great time.

The restaurant is a popular hotspot in Victoria, with live music and entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For those who feel like getting down after chowing down, an expanded dance floor awaits along with a stage, disc jockey booth, three fullservice bars, patio, cantina and private dining room.

From cover bands playing all the hits from years past to homegrown singers who get the party started and keep it going, there’s no shortage of music at Greek Bros. Acts are scheduled months in advance and play until well past midnight. A nominal cover charge applies in most cases.

With the restaurant’s cantina,

patrons can feast at the oyster bar or partake of the pool tables and video games. The open-air patio has its own grill and service area and makes for a slam-dunk private party.

Don’t be surprised if you bump into a famous athlete while hanging out.

Charkalis says that when professional golf tournaments are held nearby, some of the golfers will make for the restaurant after hitting the links.

“You never can tell who you’ll bump into,” he says.

The toughest choice you’ll face at Greek Bros. is deciding which is better, the bites or the beats. Victoria’s Greek Bros. is open for lunch Tuesdays through Fridays and for dinner only on Mondays and Saturdays.

Just Can’t Resist menu items at Greek bros.

SAUTÉED CRAWFISH pasta Crawfish tails sautéed with julienne vegetables in butter and white wine, tossed with penne pasta and Parmesan cheese.

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SLICED STEAK SANDWICH Prime rib, deli sliced, topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions and melted jack cheese, Philly style.

STUFFED BAKED POTATO Grilled chicken breast, stuffed into a baker and filled with butter, sour cream, cheeses, chopped tomatoes and green onions.

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Downtown Victoria citizens unite to return downtown to its glory days

Story By Jessica Mozo | Photography By Brian McCord

S

troll through downtown Victoria, and you’ll find tidy new sidewalks, historic buildings overflowing with character and locally owned restaurants offering everything from coffee and pastries to burgers and old-fashioned ice cream sodas.

But downtown wasn’t always so full of life. Like many historic downtowns across the nation, downtown Victoria suffered throughout the 1980s and 1990s as shopping and dining opportunities moved away from the city core.

“A lot of cities have seen big-box stores and malls move to the outskirts of town, and their downtowns become depressed,” says Robby Burdge, chief executive officer of Klean Corp.

International and KCI Energy in Victoria. “But downtown is the heart

of our city and a mirror of a city’s culture. Victoria is very rich in culture, and we think downtown is a great canvas we can paint a beautiful picture on.”

Main Street Victoria Burdge is one of several Victoria citizens working to make Victoria an official Texas Main Street city through the Texas Historical Commission, which would provide a big boost for downtown development. A steering committee applied for Main Street status in July 2010.

“Regardless of what happens, Victoria will keep moving forward,” Burdge says. “Now is the time for a downtown renaissance – all the stars are aligned. We have a long-term vision of art and music programs and residential opportunities downtown.

We’re returning downtown Victoria to its glory days.”

There are already several indications of progress downtown. Approximately $43 million has been allotted for improving roads, sidewalks and buildings, and the city recently completed brickwork and a new sidewalk around the town square.

“The sidewalks around the square turned out great,” says Jared Moore, general manager of LongLeaf Coffee Company on Main Street. “It’s exciting to see a little of what’s to come in the downtown corridor.”

Downtown Victoria Businesses On the block where LongLeaf Coffee Company is located, a new boutique store called Lauren Bade offers

The Victoria County Courthouse was built in Romanesque Revival style by architect J. Riely Gordon in 1892.

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Clockwise from top left: A downtown monument; Rosebud Fountain & Grill; LongLeaf Coffee Company; Victoria County Courthouse

clothing, jewelry, home décor and antiques. Next door, the Bade family plans to open a wine bar called 77901.

Around the corner, the old Huvar’s Grocery & Market is being converted into a trendy market-style restaurant

by Victoria businessman Robert Briggs.

Moore’s family opened LongLeaf Coffee Company in 2007, and it has become a favorite breakfast and lunch spot. Their building at 215 South Main Street was a tailor shop in 1926 and later a printing shop. The Moores renovated it from top to bottom before opening the coffee shop.

“My family and I love the character of downtown’s old buildings and houses,” Moore says. “The preservation of its character gives us a sense of pride being able to be an intricate part of what’s developing downtown.”

Favorite menu items at LongLeaf include the coffee and espresso, both made from some of the highest quality

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coffee beans in the world, as well as the sausage and cheese roll and coconut cream pie.

“I’m not sure how she does it, starting her day at LongLeaf at 2 a.m., but our head baker also develops some of the most delicious hot lunches from scratch Monday through Friday,” Moore says.

Rosebud Fountain & Grill is another charming downtown business.

Located in a historic 1940s-era soda fountain, the restaurant serves daily lunch specials, juicy burgers, beerbattered french fries, seafood and ice cream favorites.

“I think downtown Victoria will be the center of attraction for the city within the next five to 10 years,” Moore says. “The growing involvement from Victoria businesses and the community will keep this wave of development moving. It will be an exciting and prosperous journey for everyone who participates.”

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Digging Into

Success Caterpillar’s excavator plant means new jobs, industry sector

Story By Joe Morris

W

hen it selected Victoria for its new hydraulic-excavator facility, Caterpillar knew that it was killing many birds with one stone.

Well-trained workforce? Check.

Solid, multimodal transportation infrastructure? In place. Active, involved business community? Got it.

Plenty of land for expansion and enhancements? Absolutely.

In short, Victoria had everything the construction-equipment giant was

looking for, and then some, for its 600,000-square-foot, $150 million plant. And local officials made sure that Caterpillar’s site-selection team was well aware of the city’s many assets.

Victoria Economic Development Corp.

Sells City’s Assets “All this came about as part of an initiative to build relationships with those consultants,” says Dale Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp. “We are working

Victoria is the perfect location for many reasons for Caterpillar’s new facility.

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Staff Photo

to let them know what we have to offer in terms of available land and infrastructure, and make sure they know of our community’s interest in new investment and job creation.”

Through its outreach efforts, the VEDC had been promoting the Lone Tree Business Park, a 320-acre site owned by the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corp. that had been developed and made shovel-ready in terms of utilities, and even had railroad access. The site piqued Caterpillar’s interest and soon talks were under way, albeit anonymously.

“We worked with [the site selection consultant] for about 10 months before they made a final decision, and we didn’t even know who their client was for the first six months,” recalls Fowler. “We did know the estimated initial investment was going to be between $120 million and $140 million, and that there would

be at least 500 jobs in the first phase, and that was sufficient for us.”

Victoria College, Port of Victoria Are Key Business Assets During that back-and-forth period, local and state government officials chimed in, making sure Caterpillar knew that the project would be given a strong package of tax and other incentives. Victoria College was visited so that workforce-training facilities and capacities could be studied, and the Port of Victoria got plenty of attention along with local rail lines and interstate connections.

Caterpillar noticed these efforts as it narrowed its choices, says Jim Dugan, chief corporate spokesperson. “[Victoria had] proximity to our supply base, and great transportation – highways and rails as well as nearby

port access,” Dugan says, noting that other major factors were, “The availability of the workforce and a local community college that we expect to work with on job training and ongoing education, as well as a very positive business climate in Texas and certainly in Victoria.”

Finally, the stars aligned, an announcement was made and ground was broken in September 2010 in anticipation of a mid-2012 opening.

For his part, Fowler says he believes that the combination of what was already in place, combined with the scalability of the site, turned the deal into reality.

“Logistically, it’s very good for them, and the land is an asset. And for us, we’re getting a good corporate citizen that will offer a good payroll for our community, so we’ve got a lot of enthusiasm and are very excited to help them get going.”

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• Ride your bike or walk • Care for your car • Stop at the click • Fuel when it’s cool

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Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define Victoria’s economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$943 million Annual Retail Sales

$15 million REGIONAL STEEL PRODUCTS Biz: Steel products Buzz: Regional Steel Products was established in 1981 and serves companies in south central Texas that need to fulfill steel and metal needs.

Regional has one of the largest product lines of carbon and stainless steel, aluminum products and other specialty items and exotic alloys. The five truck drivers for the company were recently recognized for passing 1 million safe miles. www.regionalsteel.net

DOROTHY H. O’CONNOR PET ADOPTION CENTER Biz: Dog, cat adoptions Buzz: The Dorothy H. O’Connor Pet Adoption Center provides homeless dogs and cats with new homes. The facility is named for Dorothy Hanna O’Connor, who established Victoria’s first animal rescue shelter. Adoption fees include spay/neuter, 24PetWatch microchip, 30 days of free pet health insurance and more. www.docpac.net

MADITAY’S Biz: Gift shop Buzz: MadiTay’s opened more than four years ago and has become a premier gift shop, offering a huge variety of jewelry, baby clothing, fashion accessories, flip flops, purses, candles, monogramming, cards and more. Gift wrapping is always free. The store was named best gift shop by the local newspaper. It’s named after the owner’s daughters, Madison and Taylor.

(361) 576-6460

WATERLOO RODS USA Biz: Fishing equipment Buzz: The company is a premier builder of custom saltwater and freshwater fishing rods, and is located near some of the best fishing in the country along the Texas coast. It has been a mainstay outdoors company in Victoria since 1997. All equipment at Waterloo Rods USA is assembled individually by dedicated anglers, and the company also sells accessories. www.waterloorods.com

Retail Sales Per Capita

$87 million Annual Hotel and Food Sales

5,063 Total Firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

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Chamber Report Chamber lobbies in Austin for Victoria business

R

andy Vivian does a lot of work in Austin, along with all of his work in Victoria.

The president and CEO of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce says one of his main duties with the chamber is on the legislative end, working the Texas Legislature very hard whenever it is in session.

“Everything from health care to

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education to economic development – I’m there in Austin talking to legislators about helping Victoria on any of those issues and more,” Vivian says. “I always want to make sure that Victoria is prominent in their thinking when it comes to statewide initiatives.”

The Victoria chamber also schedules and hosts local breakfasts and luncheons throughout the year

that feature Austin politicians as guest speakers.

“We try to get our members as much information as possible about what’s going on at the state capital, and how legislation in Austin affects their businesses,” he says.

One recent example of the chamber’s involvement with the political system is the expansion of University of HoustonVictoria from a two-year institution to a four-year university. Vivian was in Austin often during the legislative session in early 2010 to campaign for passage and implementation of the four-year university.

“Yes, the chamber was instrumental in getting that legislation passed,” he says. “For the longest time, the university was made up of only juniors, seniors and graduate students. The Chamber helped campaign to allow freshmen and sophomores to start attending the University of HoustonVictoria, and now it is a four-year campus. In August 2010, the first classes of freshmen and sophomores began attending classes at UHV.” Besides the legislature, Vivian says the chamber works closely with city, county and economic development groups in Victoria.

“Our mission is to promote the city in such a way that shows Victoria in a positive and progressive light, because Victoria is exactly that,” he says. “This 1,000-member chamber has been around since 1922, so we’ve been doing what we do for a long time – and will continue to do our job very well.”

For more information about the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, go to www.victoriachamber.org.

– Kevin Litwin

Economic profile Economic Overview Industry has found a home in the mid-Texas Gulf Coast city of Victoria. A vibrant, diverse economy ensures that Victoria will be well positioned for dynamic growth throughout the 21st century.

The Victoria region provides business and industry the transportation infrastructure, higher education, burgeoning retail trade sector and a divergent, hard-working labor force needed to succeed and prosper.

workforce

Known as the South Texas Crossroads, Victoria is located at the intersection of three major U.S. highways:

Victoria County:

45,899

U.S. Highway 59 (future I-69)

Labor Force

U.S. Highway 77

42,724

U.S. Highway 87

Employment

Interstates

3,175

I-10 I-35 I-37

Unemployment

6.9% Rate

Transportation

taxes

1.5% City Sales and Use Tax

.5% County Sales Tax

Victoria Regional Airport 609 Foster Field Dr., No. F (361) 578-2704 www.flyvictoriatx.com Union Pacific Railroad www.up.com Port of Victoria (361) 570-8855 www.portofvictoria.com

6.25%

Victoria Chamber of Commerce 3404 N. Ben Wilson St. (361) 573-5277 www.victoriachamber.org Victoria Economic Development Corporation 700 N. Main St., No. 104 (361) 485-3190 www.victoriaedc.com

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

State Sales Tax

Company

8.25%

Victoria ISD

2,128

Formosa Plastic

1,530

The Inteplast Group

1,300

Citizens Medical Center

1,034

Total Sales Tax

income

No. of Employees

$23,755

DeTar Healthcare System

986

Calhoun ISD

650

Per Capita Income

H.E.B.

636

$49,043

Victoria County

620

DOW – Seadrift Operations

607

City of Victoria

605

Average Annual Household Expenditure

economic resources

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Sports & Recreation

The World Outside Victoria offers parks, golf courses, a zoo and more Victoria, Texas features several outdoor activities at places including parks, golf courses, the Texas Zoo and the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

Parks in Victoria With 565 acres, Riverside Park features sites such as a rose garden, which boasts 1,300 blooming roses, and activities including fishing the Guadalupe River, playing disc golf, paddling the Victoria Paddling Trail and more.

Goliad State Park has a character defined by beautiful scenery and interesting sites spanning the park's 188 acres.

Among these sites are a replica of the 1722 Mission Nuestra Senora del Espíritu Santo de Zuniga and ruins of the 1754 Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

Located on 575 acres, Lake Texana State Park offers wateroriented activities – thanks to its location on Lake Texana – consisting of boating, swimming, fishing, jet skiing and more.

To enjoy the peacefulness of nature, the Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir contains 190 acres, of which only 40 acres have been developed. Much of this park is undeveloped to enable visitors to appreciate nature in its entirety.

Coleto Creek offers a 3,100-acre

lake, a 200-foot pier and more than 50 campsites.

Finally, Saxet Lake features a 250-acre park complete with activities including boating, fishing and jet skiing in a lake that measures up to 100 feet deep.

Golf Options Victoria's golf courses include Riverside Golf Course, Colony Creek Country Club and Victoria Country Club. In addition to the tournaments and activities at these courses, Victoria also hosts the annual Wildgame Tournament and the Labor Day Invitational tournament.

Riverside Golf Course is a public course featuring 27 holes.

Colony Creek Country Club is a semi-private club offering a brilliant 18-hole course, a driving range and a putting green. The Victoria Country Club is a private club that offers a PGA-quality 18-hole course designed by Joe Finger.

Texas Zoo Victoria is also home to the Texas Zoo, which the Texas

legislature officially proclaimed as “The National Zoo of Texas,” in recognition of the zoo's unique concepts and contributions to wildlife conservation. Among the animals featured at this zoo are endangered species including two extremely rare red wolves, the bald eagle, the ocelot and the coati. The Texas Zoo also offers a unique flashlight tour to illuminate the animals at night.

Victoria Youth Sports Complex Victoria uses the Victoria Youth Sports Complex for many of the community's sporting activities.

This complex houses a basketball pavilion, two tennis courts, five softball fields and seven baseball fields, as well as a 15,000-squarefoot skate park, a 223,000-gallon pool and a baby pool.

Victoria Municipal Pool The Victoria Municipal Pool is one of the most popular places in the summer. It offers a 25-meter pool, a children's pool area and a bathhouse.

– Braxton Shoop

Clockwise from top: Riverside Park; Guadalupe River, part of the Texas Paddling Trail; Riverside Golf Course

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Staff Photo

Antony Boshier

Antony Boshier

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Arts & Culture

Enrich the Senses Victoria’s Culture Scene Aims to Enrich Residents and Visitors Victoria’s vast cultural opportunities show that the city is serious about bringing arts and culture to the community, while emphasizing the area’s important heritage.

Music and Arts The Victoria Bach Festival is an annual event in June that provides a week of intimate concerts, oratorio and symphonic performances, and familyfun outdoor concerts. The festival is the perfect place for local and nationally acclaimed musicians to collaborate, giving visitors an engaging musical experience. Grammy winner Craig Hella Johnson leads a small creative team that shapes the festival's performances.

Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts is owned by Victoria Performing Arts Center Inc. and was dedicated in 2004, beginning the mission of bringing arts to downtown Victoria. Events include live theatrical performances, music, pageants and fellowship assemblies. The resident company, Theatre Victoria, operates the center, which is also available for rentals.

Victoria Symphony Orchestra started in 1974 and still provides music lovers with quality concerts including professional musicians from around the world. The orchestra enriches, entertains, educates and inspires the community through concerts and educational opportunities.

The Victoria Ballet Theatre is a nonprofit organization that works, often with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, to provide dance and appreciation of dance to the community. Past performances have included The Nutcracker and Peter and the Wolf. The theater also educates the youth, trains dancers and provides a foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in the arts.

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Top left: Victoria Ballet Theatre Bottom left: Nave Museum Right: McNamara House Museum

Staff Photo

Historical Sites to See in Victoria DeLeon Plaza is the center of downtown Victoria.

The plaza serves as a park complete with a gazebo and shade trees, and at night the trees are lit, complementing the historic courthouse across the street. The plaza is one of four public squares laid out by colony founder Martin de Leon. Visitors will find six flags that welcome them to monuments, sidewalks, benches, memorials and a bandstand.

The Trail of Six Flags Monument is a dedication to the explorers, founders and colonists of early Texas. Victoria is in the only county where all six flags have flown over Texas and is the site of the first European colony in Texas.

The McNamara House Museum includes the McNamara House that dates from 1876. The house was

built for William J. McNamara, a local hide and cotton dealer, and his family. The house includes the family's original furniture, clothing, photographs and more.

Nave Museum, home to the Nave House, is a finearts museum that houses traveling exhibits of both classical and modern genres. Past exhibits include pieces by Royston Nave, for whom the museum was built, and world renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Mary Cassatt, Joan Mitchell and Freida Kahlo.

Victoria Preservation Inc. offers tours of Victoria, which include walking and driving tours of historic properties year-round. The company aids in the education and awareness of Victoria's historical significance by preserving, protecting and developing artifacts and properties throughout the city.

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Education

Knowledge Is Key Victoria provides education for every student Victoria’s educational system welcomes students to a community where education is the key to success, especially since there are more than 60 colleges and universities within a 125-mile radius. From early education to post-college training and improvement, there is a school in Victoria for every willing student.

High School and Beyond

Brian M c Cord

Victoria College manages two campuses in Victoria – a main campus and the Adult Education Center. The main campus provides students from high school age to college-enrolled students with skills they need to pursue their education goals.

From pre-college and academic transfer options to career and technical education and Allied Health programs, the college assists all students in their academic needs.

Texas Vocational School is an accredited post-secondary education institute that works to train students specifically in the following fields: Medical Office Specialist, Legal Office Specialist, Accounting, Office Assistant, and Advanced Combination of Welding.

The University of HoustonVictoria accepts a special responsibility to serve educational needs, to promote economic wellbeing, and to advance the quality of life in the south Texas region.

The university offers programs in select bachelor’s and master’s degree options in the Arts and Sciences (some include teacher certification), Business Administration, Education and Human Development and Nursing.

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15,744

5,521

6,643

2,257

number of high school graduates

number of graduates with an associates degree

number of graduates with a bachelors degree

number of graduates with a graduate degree

i m ag e sv i c t o r i a . c o m

Jeff Adkins

Early Learners Victoria Independent School District is the primary provider of education for grades K-12. Its goal is to prepare students to be members of society by offering a comprehensive, standard-based curriculum. Parents have an array of schools to choose from, as the district offers 18 elementary schools and 11 middle and high schools – many of which are magnet schools, along with nine private schools.

– Raven Petty

What’s Online Read more articles about Victoria’s diverse learning environments by going online to imagesvictoria.com and clicking on “education.”

For More Info The Victoria College 2200 E. Red River (361) 573-3291 www.victoriacollege.edu Texas Vocational Schools 1921 E. Red River St. (361) 575-4768 University of Houston-Victoria 3007 N. Ben Wilson (361) 570-4848 www.uhv.edu Victoria Independent School District 102 Profit Dr. (361) 576-3131 www.visd.com

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Local Flavor

Contact Info Fossati’s Delicatessen (361) 576-3354 Rosebud Fountain & Grill (361) 573-5111 www.rosebudfountain.com Greek Bros.

(361) 575-BROS www.greekbros.com LongLeaf Coffee Company (361) 578-7785 www.longleafcoffee.com Olde Victoria at the Oak Room (361) 572-8840 www.oldevictoria.com Victoria Farmers Market (361) 277-2268

Staff Photo

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Indulge Your Tastebuds Victoria’s food scene delivers tasty options The dining scene in Victoria is diverse and tasty, with a variety of restaurants ranging from historical sites to trendy venues and fresh food options.

Oldie But Goodie

coffee and such

Fossati's Delicatessen opened in 1882 by immigrant Fraschio Napolean Fossati. After more than 100 years in Victoria, this restaurant is one of the most popular dining spots in the area.

Customers enjoy a casual and friendly atmosphere, not to mention foods that will satisfy any hunger. Some notable menu items include potato soup, chicken salad, apple crisp and ice cream. This is a great place for kids and groups..

LongLeaf Coffee Company is a family-owned establishment and the owners, Keith and Cindy Moore, say their priority is to serve the finest coffees and food that they can. Each bakery item is made from scratch every day and the baristas are trained extensively. The menu offers coffee-based drinks, breakfast pastries, lunch items and desserts.

Fun, Friendly Fare

Brian M c Cord

Staff Photo

Rosebud Fountain and Grill, a 1940s-soda-fountain-themed restaurant, serves customers a variety of home-cooked food ranging from burgers, french fries and onion rings to seafood, including fried shrimp, oysters, frog legs and catfish. The soda fountain produces malts, shakes and other treats all made from real ice cream.

Greek Bros. restaurant not only offers family fun and food, but also entertainment. The menu consists of more than 50 dishes featuring a variety of seafood, salads, steaks, chicken and pasta dishes. With live entertainment Thursday through Saturday, a dance floor, oyster bar and outdoor patio, visitors enjoy the variety in atmosphere.

Sophisticated Tastes Olde Victoria at The Oak Room, a family-owned restaurant established in 1987, offers an elegant environment complete with specialty menu items and an assortment of wine, beer and mixed drinks. Residents can dine for lunch and dinner, but the restaurant also accommodates large groups up to 300 people for wedding receptions or rehearsals, business functions and celebrations.

Fresh Fruits, Veggies Victoria Farmers Market sells fresh produce to as many as 1,500 visitors a day. The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., depending on product availability.

Vendors are limited to a 100-mile residential radius in order to sell their produce at the farmers market.

– Raven Petty

Clockwise from top: A fruit tart from LongLeaf Coffee Company; Fossati’s Delicatessen is the oldest deli in Texas and one of the oldest restaurants in the nation; Rosebud Fountain and Grille in downtown Victoria

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Health & Wellness

Rest Easy in Victoria Health care caters to all residents Victoria health care is not lacking in patient care or options. Two main hospital systems reside in Victoria: Citizens Medical Center and DeTar Healthcare System, which includes DeTar Hospital Navarro and DeTar Hospital North.

DeTar Hospital Navarro

Brian M c Cord

DeTar Healthcare System DeTar Healthcare System offers many services at a variety of locations to assure patients and visitors receive convenient care.

There are 943 hospital employees, which include 269 physicians.

DeTar Hospital Navarro has 193 beds and provides advanced medical technology to ensure patients receive top-quality care.

Services include a cancer center, a cardiac center, a Level III trauma center, an intensive care unit and several more.

DeTar Hospital North has 115 beds and offers many other services, such as advanced technological imaging, labor and delivery, a pediatrics unit, a Level IV trauma center, occupational medicine, outpatient surgery and a wellness center, to name a few.

Accredited by The Joint Commission, both DeTar facilities combined have more than 100 active physicians, and dozens of provisional and courtesy physicians and specialists to assist patients. The system also maintains a strong connection to the community by offering classes in CPR, Diabetes Education, Prenatal and Pregnancy, Siblings, Water Works exercises and more.

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Twin Pines North

Coming Fall 2011

Victoria’s First Retirement & Traditional Care Community

140 Bed Skilled Nursing Facility

Specializing in post acute care & post surgical care with rehabilitation to home

Full-Service Retirement & Transitional Living Community Gated Cottage Community Private Suites

Continuing the tradition of

Amy D. Henry, O.D.

Where the focus is on YOU! ✾ Affordable fashion eyeglass frames and sunglasses ✾ Glasses made same day (in most cases) ✾ Kids

play area

✾ State-of-the-art equipment ✾ Comprehensive glasses and contact lens exams for the whole family We are now the EXCLUSIVE RETAILER of Tory Burch frame collection!

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Therapeutic Optometrist & Glaucoma Specialist

✾ Free exams for infants six months to one year through Future Sight ✾ Specializing in medical diagnosis, surgical co-management and pediatric exams ✾ Accepting most medical and vision insurances

(361) 570-2010

6380 N. Navarro ✾ Victoria, TX 77904 Whispering Creek Center – Next to Marble Slab

Amy KirkpatrickHartman, O.D.

Therapeutic Optometrist & Glaucoma Specialist Future Sight Infant Exams

Antony Boshier

Health & Wellness

Citizens Medical Center Citizens Medical Center serves Victoria and south Texas patients as the largest health-care provider in the area. The 344-bed, acute care hospital is not-forprofit and community owned in order to provide quality medical services without being costly for patients. There are 220 physicians covering 36 specialties, and the center is accredited by DNV Healthcare Inc.

The hospital also operates centers specializing in bariatrics, chest pain, women's diagnostics and the Kathryn O'Connor Regional Cancer Center, as well as fitness and rehabilitation facilities, and three family medicine clinics. The center has continued its commitment to provide the most current diagnostic and therapeutic equipment by investing $8 million into radiographic equipment, radiation therapy and patient safety. – Raven Petty

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Image Gallery

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Deer at Riverside Golf Course Photo by Antony Boshier

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Image Gallery

Historic Nazareth Academy in downtown Victoria Photo by Brian McCord

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A sculpture titled Flower of Burma by Kerry Cannon at the Nave Museum Photo by Brian McCord

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• Special AAA and Senior Discounts • 68 Rooms • King Rooms with Fold-Out Sofa • Double Queen Rooms with Breakfast Table 1907 US 59 North • Victoria, TX 77905 For Reservations: (361) 579-0225 Fax: (361) 579-0082 www.lonestarinnandsuites.com

• Free Local Calls • Dataports and Desks in all Rooms • Remote Control Cable TV with HBO, Showtime and The Movie Channel • In-room Coffee • Hair Dryer, Iron and Ironing Board • Microwave and Fridge • Kitchenettes • FREE Full, Hot Breakfast • FREE Newspaper in Lobby • Copy, Fax, High-Speed Internet Access • Business Center • Outdoor Pool and Gym

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community profile Community Overview Nestled beside the meandering Guadalupe River, Victoria is a splendid blend of the past, the present and the future. Proud old homes, some dating back to the pre-Civil War era, line the streets in the city’s historic sections. And for a community of its size, Victoria boasts an extraordinary number of cultural activities.

cost of living

$46,900 Median Household Income

$111,668 Median Home Sale Price

household information

60,821 Total Population

34 Median Resident Age

$720 Estimated Gross Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

weather

numbers to know

93 F

56.2% Married

22,953 Age Less Than 25

Driver’s License Office

July High Temperature

8802 N. Navarro St.

43 F

(361) 578-3450

22,726 Age 25-54

Vehicle Registration

January Low Temperature

Victoria County Tax Office

39.77”

205 N. Bridge St., Ste. 101

Average Annual Precipitation

Voter Registration

(361) 576-3671 Elections Administrator –

time zone

Victoria County

Central

15,142 Age 55 and Greater

transportation

111 N. Glass

14 minutes

(361) 576-0124

Median Travel Time to Work

visit our

advertisers Air Victoria www.airvictoria.org

Gulf Bend Center www.gulfbend.org

Citizens Medical Center www.citizensmedicalcenter.org

Invista www.invista.com

Computer Command Corporation www.computercommand.com

Lone Star Inn & Suites www.lonestarinnandsuites.com

DeTar Healthcare System www.detar.com First Victoria www.firstvictoria.com

South Texas Plastic Surgery – Brian F. Burns MD www.drburns.com

Texas Dow Employees Credit Union www.tdecu.org Texas Vocational Schools www.texasvocationalschools.com Torin Bales Fine Jewelry www.torinbales.com

Victoria Chamber www.victoriachamber.org Victoria College www.victoriacollege.edu Victoria Communication Services www.viccomm.com

Twin Pines North

Victoria Family Eyecare www.victoriafamilyeyecare.com

University of Houston – Victoria www.uhv.edu

Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Victoria through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesvictoria.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went into capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Victoria, Texas I spent last week in Victoria, Texas shooting photos for the Images Victoria magazine. It’s one of those laid back Texas towns with lots of historic buildings downtown and good places to eat, like Greek Brothers, Rosebud Fountain and Grill and Longleaf Coffee - who has daily lunch specials along with their specialty coffees. The Texas Zoo is also in Victoria and they recently acquired a couple of really cool lion cubs that act like giant kittens (see pg. 7).

Posted by Brian McCord

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at imagesvictoria.com.

Coleto Creek Reservoir 48

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Victoria’s Softball Complex

Ad Index

26 Air Victoria

38 Citizens Medical Center

26 Computer Command Corporation 2 DeTar Healthcare System C3 First Victoria

C4 Texas Dow Employees Credit Union

26 Texas Vocational Schools

26 Torin Bales Fine Jewelry

40 Twin Pines North

5 University of Houston – Victoria

41 Gulf Bend Center

35 Victoria College

28 Victoria Communication Services

40 Victoria Family Eyecare

24 Wells Fargo

46 Invista

46 Lone Star Inn & Suites

C3 South Texas Plastic Surgery – Brian F. Burns MD

Trust & Credibility • 15 years in pr actice • 4,000 cases later …

South Texas Plastic Surgery 601 E. San Antonio St. Ste. 302-W Victoria, TX 77901 361.576.1975 • 866.576.1975 www.drburns.com

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