Images Tyler, TX: 2011

2011 | images-tyler.com ®

What’s Online Tour the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler.

Tyler, Texas

HAPPILY EVER AFTER Quality of life attracts retirees

ADDITION AND ABSTRACTION Museum expands with community support

Move It, Move It Fit City Challenge gets residents healthy

sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

2011 edition | volume 6 ®

Tyler, Texas co nte nt s F e atu r e s 14 Move it, move it

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Fit City Challenge gets residents healthy.

18 HAPPILY EVER AFTER Quality of life attracts retirees.

22 Beyond the books Tyler college campuses offer multiple amenities.

26 ADDITION AND ABSTRACTION Museum expands with community support.

30 big business with an old-fashioned feel Brookshire remains Tyler’s No. 1 food market.

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d e pa r tm e nt s 10 Almanac 40 Biz Briefs 42 Chamber Report 43 Economic Profile 44 Image Gallery 53 Local Flavor 55 Health & Wellness 56 Education 58 Sports & Recreation 60 Arts & Culture 63 Community Profile 66 Through the Lens

on the cover Tyler is home to 25 city parks, where outdoor sports are ample.

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Photos

2011 | IMAgES-TYLER.COM ®

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What’s Online Tour the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler.

TYLER, TExAS

HAPPILY EVER AFTER Quality of life attracts retirees

ADDITION AND ABSTRACTION Museum expands with community support

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

Move It, Move It Fit City Challenge gets residents healthy

SPONSORED BY THE TYLER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Get a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

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T yler , Tex as Project Manager mitch Kline Audience Development Director Lisa battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Lynsey Franks, Laura Hill, Melanie Hill, Joe Morris, Jessica Mozo Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, 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 Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web designer II Richard stevens Web developer i Yamel Hall Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. support technician bryan foriest Regional Sales Manager Chris Sweeney Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Integrated Media Manager Julie Cardwell 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 Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim HOlmberg 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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Digital Edition On the

Move TYLER’S FIT CITY CHALLENGE GETS RESIDENTS ACTIVE

STORY BY MELANIE HILL

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ANTONY BOSHIER

yler is shaping up, thanks to the Fit City Challenge – an ongoing citywide health initiative helping residents shed pounds and save lives.

“Our goal is our mission statement, which is to make Tyler a fit city one bite, one step and one health-conscious decision at a time,” says George Roberts, chief executive officer of the Northeast Texas Public Health District. “We feel obesity is one of the greatest threats to Tyler, and to the United States as a whole.”

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Tyler Partnerships Make Fit City Challenge a Reality Roberts first proposed the lofty initiative more than two years ago, and soon gained media support from the Tyler Morning Telegraph and KYTX CBS19. Today, the Fit City Challenge steering committee guides a coalition of more than 50 partners from Tyler’s education, business, government, medical and nonprofit

communities. In October 2010, the Fit City Challenge kicked off with a day-long celebration in Tyler’s Bergfeld Park, where thousands turned out for fitness and cooking demonstrations, and information on area health resources.

“We wanted to have a big event to get everyone excited,” says Susan Guthrie, communications director for the City of Tyler and Fit City Challenge steering committee member. “There are so many community resources that focus on health and fitness, and we wanted to help people find something they love, whether it be running or organized sports. There’s not just one answer from the fitness standpoint.”

What’s Online For more information about the Fit City Challenge, visit www.fitcitytyler.com.

Parks, Fitness Centers Ample In November 2010, Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass led the first monthly FitWalk at Rose Rudman Recreational Trail. One of 25 city parks, Rose

The Southside Trail is one of many ways to exercise outdoors in Tyler.

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Almanac

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

Up and Away Tyler takes flight at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum. The museum, chartered in 1985, honors the millions of men and women who have distinguished themselves in aviation. Inside the museum’s exhibit hall is a collection of memorabilia, as well as a multimedia theater room and gift shop.

The hangar stores the aircraft, which include both permanent and rotating displays. Permanent displays include an FJ-4 Fury, a 2-TC Buckeye and an F-105D Thunderchief. Members of the museum are also heavily involved in aviation education in the East Texas area, sponsoring activities and presentations, as well as educational outreach.

Smells Like Roses The rose capital of the world puts on quite a show every fall.

For three days, guests can mingle with rose royalty as they celebrate Tyler’s most memorable town staple. The rose has long had special significance in Tyler, and in 1939 the town organized its first Texas Rose Festival. The festival fast became legend, and today it’s recognized by many as the state’s most elegant and beautiful community event. Each year guests enjoy art shows, floral displays and the crowning of the Rose Queen.

The real stars of the show – the roses – are on display by the thousands at the Rose Show in Tyler’s Municipal Rose Garden.

In the Loop A recent drive down the highway may have thrown a few passengers for a loop. Loop 49, a toll road, is noticeably missing a toll booth. The booth has been replaced with a high-tech system that allows travelers to pay tolls electronically. Vehicles can now be equipped with an electronic toll tag, and drivers without one will have a bill with toll charges mailed to them. The Loop is part of the plan to give Texas a first-class transportation system, and what was originally constructed as a simple two-lane roadway now has plans to become a four-lane divided highway.

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Fast Facts n The Cotton Belt Railroad Depot, built in 1905, now houses Tyler Transit and a railroad memorabilia museum. n Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Famer Earl Campbell, nicknamed The Tyler Rose, was born in Tyler. n The city’s No. 1 tourist attraction is the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, with 38,000 rose bushes and more than 500 varieties.

Play Time Discovery Science Place is a hands-on children’s museum for all kids, big and small.

The museum opened in 1993 with the goal of opening kids’ minds to the wonders of science, technology and culture by sparking their natural curiosity through exhibits and activities. The museum includes three exhibit halls, a Wet Lab Activity Center and Discovery Center. The two permanent exhibits include Discovery Landing, which features a Magic School Bus and more than 80 hands-on activities, and Joyce Buford Exhibit Hall, where kids can play in their own child-size community.

n In 1985, the International Adopta-Highway movement originated in Tyler.

The first road adopted for cleanup purposes was a 2-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 69.

Take a Hike

n A historical marker is now in place at the site of Camp Ford along U.S. Highway 271. The camp was the largest Civil War prisoner of war compound west of the Mississippi River.

Relaxation and recreation in Tyler center around Tyler State Park. Inside the park is a 64-acre lake, perfect for fishing and boating. If you’re looking to cool off on a hot day, the lake offers the perfect refuge, and has become a popular swimming spot in the city. In addition to the waterways, the park offers approximately 14 miles of hiking/biking trails.

The fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down; multiple campsites are scattered throughout the park. Guests can pitch their own tent or take advantage of one of the park’s screened shelters. If fishing is your style, drop a line at Lake Palestine, regularly filled with catfish, crappy and bass.

n “The Singing Fisherman,” Johnny Horton, one of the most influential honky tonk and rockabilly singers of all time, was raised in Tyler.

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Almanac

Tyler At A Glance Population (2009 Estimate) County: 209,714 City: 109,000 Location Tyler is in northeast Texas, about 90 miles east of Dallas and 90 miles west of Shreveport, La. Beginnings Tyler, named after President John Tyler, was officially incorporated in 1848. It is the county seat of Smith County and has the distinction of being the only city in America named for the 10th U.S. president.

For More Information Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway Tyler, TX 75702 Phone: (903) 592-1661 Fax: (903) 593-2746 www.tylertexas.com

Swing Away Golf is good in Tyler. So good, in fact, that the city was picked by Golf Digest as the No. 1 golf city in Texas. Willow Brook Country Club is home to an 18-hole, par-71 golf course. Nearby Hollytree Country Club also includes 18 holes, set on a course of tiered greens, waterways and trees to challenge its members. For another challenge, golfers should take a swing at the Cascades Golf Course, a 300-acre course with rolling hills and some of the largest pine trees in the country. For something suitable for everyone, try Arrowhead Golf Club, designed with every skill level in mind.

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Lindale

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New Chapel Hill

Noonday

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Whitehouse 155

Bullard

What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Tyler, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at images-tyler.com.

Feel Free Freedom rings loud and clear at Brooksfield High School’s newest museum. The American Freedom Museum is a 15,000-square-foot collection of artifacts and galleries displaying the nation’s long history. The interior is divided into three sections: the Museum Lobby, the Hall of Presidents and the Hall of Freedom.

The Hall of Presidents includes traditional relics of our former leaders, as well as a few unexpected items like a lock of George Washington’s hair. The Hall of Freedom has galleries dedicated to each war in which the U.S. has participated, including a special section dedicated to the Holocaust.

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Antony Boshier

On the

Move Tyler’s Fit City Challenge gets residents active

Story By Melanie Hill

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yler is shaping up, thanks to the Fit City Challenge – an ongoing citywide health initiative helping residents shed pounds and save lives.

“Our goal is our mission statement, which is to make Tyler a fit city one bite, one step and one health-conscious decision at a time,” says George Roberts, chief executive officer of the Northeast Texas Public Health District. “We feel obesity is one of the greatest threats to Tyler, and to the United States as a whole.”

Tyler Partnerships Make Fit City Challenge a Reality Roberts first proposed the lofty initiative more than two years ago, and soon gained media support from the Tyler Morning Telegraph and KYTX CBS19. Today, the Fit City Challenge steering committee guides a coalition of more than 50 partners from Tyler’s education, business, government, medical and nonprofit

communities. In October 2010, the Fit City Challenge kicked off with a day-long celebration in Tyler’s Bergfeld Park, where thousands turned out for fitness and cooking demonstrations, and information on area health resources.

“We wanted to have a big event to get everyone excited,” says Susan Guthrie, communications director for the City of Tyler and Fit City Challenge steering committee member. “There are so many community resources that focus on health and fitness, and we wanted to help people find something they love, whether it be running or organized sports. There’s not just one answer from the fitness standpoint.”

What’s Online For more information about the Fit City Challenge, visit www.fitcitytyler.com.

Parks, Fitness Centers Ample In November 2010, Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass led the first monthly FitWalk at Rose Rudman Recreational Trail. One of 25 city parks, Rose

The Southside Trail is one of many ways to exercise outdoors in Tyler.

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Todd Bennett

“Our goal is … to make Tyler a fit city one bite, one step and one health-conscious decision at a time.”

Rudman Recreational Trail provides a scenic backdrop for jogging, walking, biking and rollerblading. Residents also enjoy the parks’ 1,000-plus acres of playgrounds, athletic fields, walking trails, tennis courts, multipurpose courts and open spaces.

Indoor facilities include the Glass Recreation Center, a multiuse fitness and community center housing basketball and volleyball courts, an indoor track, weight room, cardio equipment and group classes. The city also is home to numerous private fitness centers, including Premier Fitness and Woodcreek Athletic Club.

At the Olympic Center, a comprehensive medical fitness center operated by East Texas Medical Center Regional

Healthcare System, services include personal trainers, group classes and massage therapy. The center also provides community education and periodic screenings and seminars at no cost.

“I see what we do as the bookends of the health-care continuum,” says Jeramie Hinojosa, director of ETMC Olympic Centers and Fit City Challenge steering committee member. “People often get thrust into the health care system out of necessity, but prevention is starting to become more prevalent.

Because exercise impacts your everyday quality of life, we want to get to people while they’re still healthy.”

Fitness classes, dancing and health screenings are just a few of the activities

available at the Tyler Senior Citizens Center, proving that good health knows no age limit in northeast Texas.

For more, visit the City of Tyler’s website at www.cityoftyler.org.

Smoking Ban a Part of the Bigger Picture Tyler residents also can breathe easier, thanks to a smoking ordinance banning smoking in all public buildings. From restaurants to parks, there is no question that Tyler is a picture of health.

“What we want is for people to look at Tyler as a fit city,” Roberts says. “We want them to walk in and realize that this is a community interested in their citizens being healthy.”

Clockwise from top left: Jogging along the South Tyler Trails; Joe Canal, a member of the Tyler Bicycle Club, says cycling is growing in popularity in the community; Residents work out at the ETMC Olympic Center.

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Tyler

Todd Bennett

Antony Boshier

Just Right for

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Retirement tyler Amenities, quality of life attract many retirees

Story By Laura Hill

Antony Boshier

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amed for its azaleas and roses, Tyler is happily cultivating another valuable bumper crop: retirees.

Over-55 residents now represent the fastest-growing segment of the city’s population. And while to some extent that reflects the Baby Boom generation reaching senior citizen status, retirees leaving the full-time workforce are flocking to Tyler in increasing numbers, drawn by its outstanding quality of life, affordability, amenities and climate.

“There is a lot of growth going on in this area, period, and we have a lot of different desirable amenities and quality of life things that seniors want,” says the chamber’s Henry Bell. “We want a good mix of people in Tyler, and seniors bring with them some very desirable things. They bring us new dollars, new wealth, pension plans and

wonderful volunteers, great people we can certainly use in our very large nonprofit world.”

Tyler is Certified Retirement City Proud of being the first Certified Retirement City (by the East Texas Council of Government) in Texas, the chamber has been making a conscious effort to recruit seniors, stressing the “10 major ingredients for the ideal retirement spot.”

Among the leading attractions: Tyler’s appealing climate, its ambiance and its convenient location.

“We have four distinct seasons, but fairly mild – we’ve got a kind of Old South feeling here,” says Bell. “It’s definitely not the Hollywood image of Texas – no tumbleweed blowing down the street or horses, though you can

Retirees shopping in Tyler

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Tyler

Jeff Adkins

Serving Tyler and East Texas Since 1991

From left: The Hamptons retirement community; There are plenty of cultural, educational and recreational activities to keep retirees busy in Tyler.

certainly go riding if you’d like. We’re pretty central, close to Houston, Dallas and Shreveport, and three hours from New York or Los Angeles.”

Todd Bennett

Tyler’s Affordability, Health Care Rank High Also leading Tyler’s top 10 is the favorable cost of living, ranked 16th in the nation by Places Rated Almanac (Special Millennium Edition). With local sales tax restricted to only nonessential items, low property tax rates and no state income tax, seniors find their dollars go farther.

Seniors also are looking for outstanding medical care, says Bell, and Tyler meets their needs well.

“Health care hires a little over a third of all employees in the community,” says Bell, “We’ve got three major hospitals, one part of the UT system that services a research and residency hospital, and we have one specialty hospital for spine and joint.

The area attracts a lot of health care professionals, too.”

Tyler Housing Options Many, Varied When it comes to housing, Tyler also offers many options.

“We have a great variety of offerings of retirement facilities here,” says Bell.

“We have all kinds of choices, from independent living, lots of them, to assisted living to memory care, all located throughout the community and available to different economic levels.”

Lake View Apartment Homes in North Chase, for example, offers attractive apartments for lower-income residents, while the Hamptons provides independent living, assisted living and memory care within the same community.

Like their neighbors, retirees are discovering all the cultural, educational and recreational opportunities the community offers, from Tyler Junior College’s national championship men’s soccer team to a full-season symphony, an art museum, a performing arts center and much more. Seniors can avail themselves of educational opportunities at UT Tyler and continuing education options at Tyler Junior College. A variety of shopping, dining and entertainment choices are also available close at hand, and community festivals light up the calendar.

Who said retirement, especially in Tyler, is dull?

Special Health Resources is committed to excellence in programs serving youth, adults and families.

We promote positive family communication; professional drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment; client-centered HIV/AIDS education, outreach, testing, intervention and treatment; and indigent health care.

1308 Clinic Dr. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 597-7558 (800) 853-9689 Toll-free (903) 597-9107 Fax

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Beyond the

Books Tyler college campuses offer multiple amenities

Story By Joe Morris Photography By todd bennett

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hen it comes to Tyler’s academic residents, there is no “town vs. gown” rivalry here – in fact, quite the opposite.

Home to three college campuses, Tyler residents benefit not only from students and faculty who are active in the community, but also from the academic, cultural, athletic, even medical offerings that the schools provide to the community.

Tyler Junior College Since 1926, TJC has been providing local students with two-year degrees, as well as working with employers and residents on workforce training and other enrichment programs. The school also gets heavily involved in many community projects, earning it a spot

on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

“We work to adapt quickly, be flexible and to meet the needs of the local economy,” says Fred Peters, director of marketing and public affairs. “And we believe that our students benefit personally from learning and exploring about what their role is in society and how they can give back while they’re here.”

Texas College At Texas College, providing a unique college experience has been the goal for more than 100 years. The college offers 16 degree programs within four divisions, as well as two associate of arts degrees. The school also is seeing strong community buy-in with its Alternative Certification Teacher

Education Program, as well as with the Success Program for adults who wish to complete their degree or expand on their existing training.

“We pride ourselves in being an integral part of the community through open-enrollment processes that give both students and adults opportunities to complete a degree,” says Christie Howard, director of public relations.

“Success is a growing program for us because it allows an adult who stopped work on his or her degree, for whatever reason, to come and complete it in 15 to 18 months. What Texas College sets out to do is solidify the success of the community that surrounds it.”

University of Texas at Tyler With facilities for everything from touring Broadway shows to exercise and

Tyler Junior College

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fitness – not to mention top-notch medical care – the University of Texas at Tyler is a major hub of activity for the entire region.

By the Numbers

Cowan Center When it comes to arts and culture, there’s no better local outlet than the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, which provides space for local and touring entertainers and theatrical productions.

“The [Cowan Center’s] mission is to bring the best national and international touring performers and speakers to East Texas, and to draw all walks of life to experience the arts and culture,” says Beverley Golden, director of marketing and communications for UT Tyler.

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UT Tyler Sports Centers The community’s physical needs aren’t forgotten either, as members of the public can access the Citizens First Bank Perkins Soccer Complex, Maytee Fisch Convocation Center in the new Herrington Patriot Center and Summers Tennis Center, state-of-the-art facilities that also allow the community to become engaged in the school’s NCAA/ American Southwest Conference athletic programs, Golden says.

Number of outpatient visits per year at the UT Health Science Center

Year Texas Junior College was founded

16 Number of degree programs offered at Texas College

138,500 6,201 Number of students enrolled at the University of Texas at Tyler

UT Health Science Center At the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, cutting-edge research is carried out, while more than 20 outpatient clinics work in tandem with the hospital and emergency-care center to handle more than 138,500 outpatient visits and 3,700 inpatient stays per year.

Academic initiatives at UTHSCT include residency programs in family and occupational medicine, as well as an internal-medicine residency program partnership with Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview and a graduate-level, public-health program via interactive television with the UT School of Public Health in Houston.

“The Tyler metropolitan area is a major provider of health care services in the region,” said UTHSCT President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun.

“Having an academic medical center such as UT Health Science Center here is critical to the further development of these medical services. We add the additional elements of comprehensive education and innovative research to the delivery of high-quality medical care. That’s an important contribution.”

Top: R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center Bottom right: Dub and B.J. Riter Millennium Carillon Tower and Plaza on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler

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Art of the

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Tyler museum expands with community support Story By joe morris | Photography By todd bennett

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or more than 50 years, artists and art lovers alike have found a welcoming home in Tyler.

Tyler Junior League Launches Museum Project A walk around the award-winning Tyler Museum of Art, full of exhibits and programs both traveling and permanent, gives very little hint of what was a pretty bleak arts scene in 1952.

Back then, a group of volunteers from what would become the Junior League of Tyler saw the need for a local arts presence, so they sent “picture ladies” out to conduct in-school education programs and began working toward a local museum. Their efforts paid off in 1960, when an arts center was established in the former Jamie T. Smith home, a first stop on the road to today’s multicultural center.

“Several of those children who were visited by the ladies are now leaders in our community,” says Kimberley Tomio, the museum’s director. “Over the years we have seen a sense of a legacy grow as the museum has really become a part of life here.”

Tyler Museum Expands Permanent Collection The museum has two galleries, as well as a library, classroom, café and gift shop. It also has a permanent collection with more than 1,500 works, including paintings, prints, photographs and sculpture by artists such as Al Held, Robert Motherwell, James Surls, Vernon Fisher, Alexander Calder, Terry Allen and Charles Umlauf.

The permanent collection also has received a major donation of Mexican folk art from Laura and Dan Boeckman of Dallas. At more than 650 pieces, the donation is the largest ever for

the museum, and one of the largest collections of its kind in the United States.

“We’re very excited about the gift, because it really puts us on the map,” Tomio says.

New Museum Building Planned The new collection is so vast that it can’t all be displayed at once. And oddly enough, the museum’s current cramped quarters are responsible, in part, for the Boeckman donation.”

“We have to be a larger institution to reflect how much the community is growing,” Tomio says. “Our current site has been wonderful, but we can’t expand on it and we need to grow.

When the Boeckmans heard of our plans, they began to meet with us about housing the collection.”

A 14-acre property has been purchased across from the University of Texas at Tyler campus, and funds are being raised to build a new 42,000-square-foot facility there – almost triple the current building’s size. Fundraising has begun and if construction can begin in 2011, the new facility should take between two and three years to build and get settled into.

In the meantime, however, the museum is hardly standing still.

Exhibits covering everything from 18th and 19th century British teapots to Chinese jade have recently graced the exhibit halls, and a full roster of education programs for adults and children continues to be mounted on an ongoing basis.

“We have the desire to bring as many diverse programs as possible to the community,” Tomio says. “We work with a lot of other organizations to do so, and we’re very happy to continue expanding those efforts.”

Tyler Museum of Art

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Big Business

With an

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Old-Fashioned Feel

Brookshire’s World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store

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Brookshire remains Tyler’s no. 1 food market Story By jessica mozo | Photography By todd bennett

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hen customers at his tiny grocery store on Tyler’s downtown square needed help back in the 1920s, Wood T. Brookshire was known for jumping over the counter to assist them. More than 80 years later, that same legendary customer service is the driving force behind Brookshire Grocery Co., which has grown to include 150 stores in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

“If there’s a trademark we’ve built our reputation on, it’s providing very good service that is friendly and helpful,” says Sam Anderson, director of consumer and community relations for Brookshire Grocery Co. “One of our company mottos is to provide a great 32

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food and shopping experience, and Brookshire makes a sincere attempt to provide customers with clean stores and products they want at a fair price.

We refer to our employees as partners and treat them fairly with good wages and benefits, and the opportunity to share ownership in the company.”

Brookshire History Brookshire Grocery Co. began in 1928 with a 25-by-100-foot store, and by 1939 the founder owned three stores in Tyler, including the first airconditioned grocery store in East Texas.

A warehouse was added in 1953, and the company continued to grow.

Today, its 150 stores operate under five banners, most of which are

Brookshire’s Food Stores and Super 1 Foods Stores. There is also one Ole Foods location in Corsicana, Texas, that carries Hispanic foods and one ALPS (Always Low Price Store), a discount store in Nashville, Ark. The all new next-generation grocery store concept FRESH by Brookshire’s opened its very first location in March 2011.

“We’re primarily known for our retail outlets, but we also operate several manufacturing facilities in the Tyler area, including a water and juice plant, ice cream plant, dairy plant, bakery plant and ice plant,” Anderson says. “We have two distribution facilities in Tyler, and in the Smith County area we employ approximately 3,000 people.”

From left: Brookshire’s Food Store, Brookshire’s Country Store

Open-Door Policy Many of those employees, or partners, have made a career working for Brookshire Grocery Co. The company was listed among the 85 Best Companies to Work for in Texas

by Texas Monthly magazine four years in a row.

“We have a wall in our office where we put up pictures of those with 35 or more years of service, and there are probably close to 100 in that category,” says Anderson, who has worked for Brookshire for 25 years. “They’ve always treated me fairly and honestly, and they provide opportunities by promoting from within.”

Partners also value the company’s open-door policy.

“I feel very blessed because if I need to talk with the CEO or president, I simply walk down to their office and talk,” Anderson says. “If I have to call or e-mail them, they respond back with no problem.”

Community Connection Another one of Brookshire’s hallmarks is giving back to communities in which they operate.

The company’s corporate giving program donates more than $1 million annually to more than 800 charities.

Every December for the last 29 years, Brookshire has sponsored a Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, where the company collects enough food to feed 16,000 families in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

“Each store also has a Community Connection team that is purely voluntary, and once a quarter they do some kind of benefit in their community,” Anderson says. “They get to decide what is important in their community – it isn’t corporatemandated. Here in Tyler, we have helped distribute winter coats at a coat drive and worked at dances for disabled adults.”

Brookshire’s World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store are free to the public as a community service of Brookshire Grocery Co. The country store, a life-size replica of a 1920s grocery store, illustrates the oldfashioned grocery business. For more, visit www.brookshires.com/museum.

In 2010, Brookshire kicked off a new philanthropic effort – Brookshire’s WWII Heroes Flight. The company took 75 World War II veterans on allexpense-paid trips to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol and other sites. The veterans were divided into two groups, and trips were made in May and October.

“The men ranged in age from about 83 to 96, and we had a blast,” Anderson says. “They were neat, wonderful, gracious men. They absolutely loved it.”

Brookshire hopes to provide additional Heroes Flights in 2011. i m ag e s -t y l e r . c o m

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Tyler’s Largest Convention Hotel Our Hotel Offers: • 183 finely appointed guest rooms and suites • Two concierge levels for VIP guests • Outdoor saltwater pool, sun deck • Exercise room with nautilus equipment • Over 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space • Full-service restaurant and lounge with nightly entertainment • On-site guest laundry facilities • Complimentary high-speed Internet • Business center and ATM in lobby Our Rooms Offer: • Clean, crisp comfortable bedding with choice of pillows • Large work desk with ergonomic chair • 32” flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels • In-room iron/board and hair dryers, coffee makers • Upgraded bathroom amenities • Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet

5701 South Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75703 (903) 561-5800 Fax: (903) 561-9916

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Tyler

Please contact our Sales Department for more information or group rates.

For reservation, please call (800) HOLIDAY or visit us online at www.holidayinn.com/tylertx

Calling All Foodies FRESH by Brookshire offers new spin on grocery shopping yler area residents now have a trendy new place to shop for groceries and prepared meals.

Brookshire Grocery Co. recently opened a 58,000-square-foot “next generation” food store called FRESH by Brookshire’s.

In addition to a full shop of traditional grocery items, FRESH offers a wide range of specialty grocery items, as well as items that cater to special dietary needs. The artisan bakery serves made-fromscratch breads found nowhere else in Tyler. The market and seafood departments bring in the freshest products from across the globe, and the farmers market-style produce department features local, organic items. Decadent pastries and desserts are made fresh daily from only the finest ingredients.

FRESH also serves up fresh coffee, gelato, sandwiches, tacos, sushi and daily prepared meals.

“It’s the first store of its kind, and we’re making it appealing for those who love to cook, and for those who don’t,” says Sam Anderson, director of consumer and community relations for Brookshire Grocery Co. “The community’s enthusiasm level about it is very high. We’ve been getting lots of comments from people saying they can’t wait for it to open. Some residents have been driving to Dallas to get products they’ll soon be able to get right here in Tyler.”

Brookshire officials made plans for the new store after exploring the best grocery stores across the nation and improving upon what they discovered. They hope FRESH

by Brookshire’s appeals to foodies.

The store created more than 200 new jobs in the area.

– Jessica Mozo

jeff adkins

T

i m ag e s -t y l e r . c o m

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Economic

Boon working to better the economy

Story By Lynsey Franks

The Tyler Leadership Roundtable Mayor Barbara Bass and Senator Kevin Eltife are taking the lead,

forming what is known as The Tyler Leadership Roundtable.

“I was included in the initial meeting in the winter of 2009 of a group organized by Mayor Barbara Bass and State Senator Kevin Eltife,” says Tom Mullins, president and CEP of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tyler Economic Development Council.

“We wanted to find some common projects various public and private entities in the community could work on together and to develop a uniform marketing strategy.”

The Industry Growth Initiative The projects all fell under one umbrella known as the Industry Growth Initiative (IGI). The city, Smith County, Tyler ISD, Tyler Junior College, the Metro Black Chamber, the Area Chamber and the Development Council

Tyler Pipe and Target are two major employers in Tyler.

36

Tyler

Todd Bennett

S

ince March 2009, the City of Tyler has been working diligently to better the local economy. For a rapidly growing community of close to 100,000 diverse residents, community leaders saw the need for higher-paying, more abundant job opportunities to increase the standard of living.

While Tyler has proven itself to be an attractive location for professionals, young families and retirees alike, community leaders understood the importance of building an increasingly sustainable and entrepreneurial economy.

Thus, the 20-year plan for the region took form.

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Tyler Pipe is one company that adds a great deal to the success of Tyler’s economy.

Major Employers Trinity Mother Frances East Texas Medical Center Brookshire Grocery Co. Wal-Mart The Trane Co. Suddenlink CB&I UT Health Center at Tyler Target Distribution Center Carrier Corporation Southside Bank John Soules Foods Tyler Pipe

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Tyler

adopted the IGI in May 2010 with the goal of fostering an innovative economy.

Consisting of 10 primary building blocks, the IGI pinpoints industries that Mayor Bass says make the most sense of where to channel resources. Sectors include graduate education, health care, bio-med, tourism, arts and entertainment, retirement, infrastructure, 21st-century energy and transportation, and an innovative economy.

The Future of Tyler “There is room for growth in all the categories listed above,” says Mullins. “We are fortunate to have two branches of the University of Texas here, a medical research facility and an academic campus with an engineering school.

They can support the knowledge-based jobs of the future.”

According to the 2010 Milken Institute bestperforming cities index, Tyler ranked seventh out of 179, and is a city Mullins is confident will remain in the top 10 nationwide.

An Attractive Community With the cost of living being below the national average and a mild climate with four distinct seasons, Tyler is an attractive community with many unique characteristics, such as “our natural beauty, amazing health care and higher education opportunities (we have four colleges),” says Susan Guthrie, communications director and key leader with the City of Tyler. “We are a regional destination for shopping, employment and dining, also the people are tremendous; we have 26 parks and a tremendous quality of life.”

Since the implementation of the IGI, Guthrie says the city’s sales tax revenues are up 3.63 percent, compared to the same period last year.

“Our hotel-motel occupancy tax revenues are up more than 10 percent,” she adds.

The city’s focus on innovation versus traditional manufacturing has greatly benefited the economy. As of March 2009, more than $478 million has been generated in new investment throughout the region.

Leading the Pack HEALTH CARE: TYLER’S TOP EMPLOYER

H

ome to three major hospitals – the East Texas Medical Center, Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and the University of Texas Heath Science Center at Tyler – health care in Tyler continues to see rapid growth.

“I believe that we are a regional destination. People come from the entire region to seek health care,” explains Guthrie. “Additionally, the Health Science Center enhances the element of medical education.”

Reflecting the city’s growing health care community, Tyler is home to more than 730 physicians, 50 pharmacies, 36 medical clinics and 87 dentists/oral surgeons. As the fastest-growing sector, Mullins says that Tyler has been a regional center for three decades.

“We have a growing population of retirees who know they will need more services as they age,” he says.

– Lynsey Franks

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Biz Briefs A sampling of businesses – large and small – that helps define Tyler’s strong and well-balanced economic climate

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$1.93 billion Annual retail sales

$22,169 Retail sales per capita

$190 million Annual hotel and food sales

9,316 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

JANIE’S CAKES Biz: Bakery; cake manufacturer Buzz: Janie’s Cakes has been making its specialty pound cakes in Tyler since 1987. The cakes are all handmade from scratch using allnatural ingredients, and range in flavors from lemon and chocolate to the best-selling “Italian Jane,” made with Italian cream sauce and Texas pecans. Janie’s Cakes won the 2009 Small Business of the Year award from the chamber. www.janiescakes.com 40

Tyler

COLE AND CO. Biz: Jewelry and gifts Buzz: Cole and Co. purchased the 30-year-old R.L. Davis Fine Jewelry in Tyler in 2007 and has since been selling quality gifts, china and jewelry online and in-store. The company is committed to providing exceptional customer service that includes bridal registry, imprinting services and complimentary gift wrapping. Cole and Co. opened its new Tyler location in 2008. www.cole-and-co.com

HISPANIC BUSINESS SERVICE OFFICE Biz: Business development organization Buzz: The Hispanic Business Service Office was established as part of the chamber’s Hispanic Business Alliance to promote the development and growth of Hispanic businesses in Tyler. The office provides information on starting businesses, loan programs and more. www.tylertexas.com/hbso

the ROSE SPA AT THE CASCADES Biz: Spa Buzz: The Rose Spa is the premier spa and workout facility in East Texas. With 8,500 square feet, the spa includes workout facilities, whirlpools, saunas, massage therapy, hairstyling and makeovers, providing the service and pampering of a big city all from Tyler. www.rosespaonline.com

STANLEY’S FAMOUS PIT BAR-B-Q Biz: Barbecue restaurant Buzz: Family-owned and -operated, Stanley’s is among Tyler’s oldest operating companies, founded more than 50 years ago. Celebrated as one of the best barbecue joints in Texas, Stanley’s won Best Pork Ribs at the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival in 2010. www.stanleyspitbbq.com

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Chamber Report downtown headquarters flourishes at long-time location

T

he Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce is 111 years old and has been headquartered in three different buildings during its impressive history.

And all three buildings are located within a block of each other in the downtown district.

“We have always wanted to help keep downtown Tyler vibrant, which is why we’ve always specifically been

42

Tyler

located in the district,” says Henry Bell, chief operating officer of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. “Right now, we are housed in a six-story historical building about a block off the square from two courthouses.”

Bell says the chamber promotes all of the positive aspects of Tyler, including the fact that Tyler is the largest city east of Dallas, west of

Shreveport and north of Houston.

“We are centrally located in East Texas, so we’re a regional destination in a lot of areas,” he says. “For example, the health care industry has a significant economic impact on our community, making up a 30 percent employment base in Smith County.

Tyler is also a regional shopping destination and banking center.

Our community is lucky to have a diverse economy.”

The city has also become a regional legal services destination, which in recent times has made a bigger name for Tyler thanks to patent law cases and their fast rulings.

“We have a judge here – Judge Leonard Davis – who tries cases so quickly that he has garnered attention from around the country,” Bell says. “It has increased our presence as a legal services area and makes our downtown district even more bustling throughout the week.”

The Tyler chamber is made up of 15 employees who oversee a membership that now numbers more than 2,000.

Bell says that besides acting as a chamber, the organization also operates as an economic development commission, as well as a convention and visitors bureau.

“The chamber is also a Hispanic business headquarters, offering help to those small start-up companies because they are our fastest growing business segment,” he says. “We are a busy chamber these days, and we like it that way.”

For more about the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, visit the website at www.tylertexas.com.

–Kevin Litwin

economic profile economic overview Tyler is considered the advanced manufacturing, health care, educational and retail center of East Texas. Tyler offers companies a quality, centrally located, middle-market location with many of the advantages of a major market. Tyler is part of the Tyler MSA, which includes all of Smith County, Texas.

major employers

education

Trinity Mother Frances 3,652 employees

27%

Taxes

East Texas Medical Center 3,620 employees

1.5%

Tyler Independent School District 2,501 employees

City Sales and Use Tax

0.5%

Brookshire Grocery Co. 2,213 employees Wal-Mart 1,697 employees

County Sales Tax

The Trane Co. 1,520 employees

6.25%

Suddenlink 1,138 employees

State Sales Tax

8.25%

City of Tyler 890 employees CB&I 853 employees UT Health Center at Tyler 840 employees

Total Sales Tax

High School Graduation

24%

Some College, No Degree

8%

Associate Degree

16%

Bachelor’s Degree

8%

Graduate or Professional Degree

Economic Resources

Transportation income

$13,570 Per Capita Income

$38,830

Average Annual Household Expenditure

workforce

63,192 Total Workforce

79%

White Collar Jobs

21%

Blue Collar Jobs

Tyler Transit System www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/ Tabs/tabid/104/Default.aspx Service hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Night service is available with advanced scheduling. Tyler’s fixed route buses are also equipped with racks for bicycle transport.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 700 Skyway Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75704 (903) 531-2343 www.cityoftyler.org/?TabId=78 Union Pacific Railroad John Owens, Industrial Development (281) 350-7302 www.up.com

Tyler Economic Development Council 315 N. Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 593-2004 www.tedc.org Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce 315 N. Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 592-1661 (800) 235-5712 www.tylertexas.com Texas Engineering Extension Service 301 Tarrow College Station, TX 77840 (979) 458-6800 (877) 833-9638 www.teex.org

Industrial Sites Tyler Industrial/Business Park www.tedc.org

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Image Gallery

Lake Tyler State Park Photo by Antony Boshier

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Tyler

A sculpture at Tyler’s Children’s Park Photo by Todd Bennett

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Image Gallery

Millennium Carillon Tower at UT Tyler Photo by Antony Boshier

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Tyler

Tyler Azalea Trail Photo by Antony Boshier

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Image Gallery

Elephant at the Caldwell Zoo Photo by Antony Boshier

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Tyler

Room to relax …

Room to breathe …

A place to call …

Home Away From Home!

3303 Troup Hwy. Tyler, TX 75701 (903) 595-5188 www.residenceinntyler.com

582 654 2156 7 25 37 564 98 7125 19 5000 96 525 3 775 851 9500 45 2750 10500 1 65 2000 9 120 8525 8 465 78

20%

of commercial rose bushes produced in the u.s. are grown in tyler and smith county Learn fun and interesting facts about Tyler in the By the Numbers video at

images-tyler.com

Tyler in action

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

images-tyler.com

Todd Bennett

Antony Boshier

Local Flavor

Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

Here to There Foodies enjoy local and European dishes From local Texas favorites to traditional international cuisine, Tyler has its food covered. There are plenty of popular restaurants around to satisfy the cravings of all Tyler residents and visitors.

When you think about typical Texas fare, the things that usually come to mind are steaks, barbecue and Tex-Mex. Such traditional Lone Star State food is readily available in Tyler. But the city also ventures well beyond the state line with restaurants that specialize in French, Italian, Mediterranean and Latin cuisine.

Rick’s On The Square Since 1992, one of the most popular restaurants in town has been Rick’s On The Square. As the name suggests, Rick’s is located in the heart of downtown Tyler.

And it has found a place in the hearts of city residents by offering something for everybody in terms of food and atmosphere.

On the plate, Rick’s specializes in steaks (the chipotle rib eye is a local fave), seafood, wine and housemade desserts. Menu items range from the basic burger to the exotic

barbecued smoked-shark tacos.

As for the atmosphere, Rick’s is upscale enough to resemble a fine-dining experience, yet still casual enough for live music on the patio.

Kiepersol Estates Winery and B&B One of the city’s true food destinations is Kiepersol Estates, which is a combination restaurant, winery, and bed and breakfast.

The business-casual restaurant features high-quality steaks and seafood. Tours of the winery and vineyard are available, and include a visit to the tasting room.

True Texas BBQ Joint Of course, it wouldn’t be Texas without a good local barbecue joint, and Tyler’s is Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q. Texas Monthly magazine has proclaimed Stanley’s to be one of the 50 best

barbecue restaurants in the state.

Stanley’s has been family-owned and -operated since the 1950s. In addition to the standard pulled pork sandwich, the restaurant offers some interesting combinations such as the Brother-In-Law (grilled hot link, chopped beef and cheese) and the Big Swimmer (tilapia on a jalapeño-cheese sourdough bun, topped with guacamole).

Mediterranean and Mexican For those who want to think outside the Texas box, Bernard Mediterranean Restaurant brings tastes of Italy and France to Tyler. This cozy eatery has such traditional Europeans dishes as escargot and lasagna Bolognese, as well as a selection of steaks to appease the local palate.

French pastries can be found at Chez Bazan, which specializes in cakes, pies, cookies and breads.

The restaurant also creates some extravagant wedding cakes.

Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina has long been a Tyler staple. The dishes have more of a traditional Mexican flavor rather than the Americanized version of Mexican food. The tacos are particularly popular, especially on Wednesdays when they are sold for a dollar apiece.

Other Tyler favorites include The Potpourri House, Villa Montez and Breakers.

– Cary Estes i m ag e s -t y l e r . c o m

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Health & Wellness

Health Care Closer to Home East Texas residents choose Tyler for their medical needs The health care industry has become an integral part of Tyler in recent years.

As the city has grown and the medical options have expanded, an increasing number of residents in East Texas are choosing Tyler for their health care needs instead of making the trip to Dallas, approximately 100 miles to the west.

The city’s two primary health care facilities are East Texas Medical Center and Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. As of 2008, they were the top two employers in Tyler, with a combined workforce of more than 7,000.

addition to centers focusing on cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders, Trinity offers a variety of specialized services from sports medicine and reconstructive surgery to longterm care for the acutely ill.

East Texas Medical Center

university of texas health science center at tyler

ETMC has 454 beds and a Level I trauma center. The hospital has institutes dedicated to cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic and urology, as well as a kidney transplant program and a behavioral health center.

In the 1980s, ETMC began developing formal referring relationships with hospitals in other East Texas communities.

ETMC now has 11 affiliate hospitals outside of Tyler. All told, the ETMC Regional Health Care System sees more than 300,000 patients a year.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler is a smaller facility (109 beds) with specialties in such areas as cystic fibrosis, sleep disorders, infectious diseases and rheumatology. Since 1977, the facility has been a

component of the University of Texas System.

A Leader in Spine Surgery Tyler has one of the best hospitals in the nation when it comes to spine surgery. The Texas Spine and Joint Hospital ranked in the top 5 percent nationally in spine surgery from 2006 to 2009, according to the HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study, and was ranked No. 1 in the state of Texas. The physician-owned hospital provides services focused on disease and injury affecting the spine and joints.

– Cary Estes

Trinity’s origins in Tyler date to 1937, when the Sisters of The Holy Family of Nazareth worked with city leaders and area physicians to bring a hospital to the community.

The facility opened one day ahead of schedule when the devastating New London School explosion, which killed nearly 300 people and injured hundreds more, pressed the hospital into immediate action.

Trinity currently has 392 beds and is a Level II trauma center. In

Todd Bennett

Trinity Mother Frances Hospital

Texas Spine and Joint Hospital

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Education

Education Is Big in Tyler Options include the largest junior college in the state The educational opportunities in Tyler include several options that maintain the state’s overall theme that everything is bigger in Texas. From a junior college to the public school district, Tyler has some sizable choices when it comes to education.

UT Tyler The state’s most expansive educational component is the University of Texas System, and the city of Tyler has been part of it since 1979, when Texas Eastern University became the University of Texas at Tyler. Known locally as UT Tyler, the college has approximately 6,200 students and a 210-acre wooded campus located on Harvey Lake, just southeast of downtown.

UT Tyler offers more than 90 graduate and undergraduate degrees, with a specialty in nursing. It is the school’s most popular major, and includes a Ph.D. program. Other majors that attract a high level of interest include education, management, psychology and accounting. UT Tyler is also the home of the Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute research center.

The university opened a 38,000-square-foot, three-story University Center in 2009, complete with restaurants, meeting rooms, a ballroom, an entertainment area and a convenience store. The school’s R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center attracts more than 26,000 visitors annually for a variety of shows and performances.

University of Texas at Tyler

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Tyler

Texas Junior College Since its inception in 1926, Texas Junior College has grown from having fewer than 200 students to today’s enrollment of approximately 10,000, with another 15,000 people taking continuing education courses at the school.

TJC has approximately 230 full-time faculty members, keeping the average class size close to 20 students. The school has more than 50 degree options, with a focus on pre-professional offerings in allied health. TJC also offers advanced training in information systems, with concentrations in networking, programming and Web mastering.

Historic Texas College The city’s oldest school is Texas College, which was established in 1894 by a group of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church ministers who wanted to provide higher education to AfricanAmericans. Texas College remains affiliated with the CME Church.

Among the offerings at Texas College

are 16 baccalaureate degree programs and two associate of arts degrees. There is also a special program for working adults that provides a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Public and Private Schools On the public-school level, the Tyler Independent School District is the largest district in northeast Texas, encompassing 193 square miles with a total of 28 schools and an enrollment of approximately 18,000 students.

In 2008, TISD began using the 5E Model of teaching: engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. The goal is for students to have more interaction during the learning process, rather than simply writing down information and repeating it at test time.

There also are several church-affiliated private schools in Tyler, including All Saints Episcopal, St. Gregory Catholic and Good Shepherd Christian.

– Cary Estes

Brook Hill The Brook Hill School is a non-denominational Christian school for students in grades pre-K through twelve.

An international/domestic boarding program is offered, and the school has hosted students from all over the world since its inception in 2003. The Brook Hill School’s 2010 graduates were accepted into 80 different colleges and were awarded more than $3 million in scholarship money.

Todd Bennett

Antony Boshier

Sports & Recreation

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Tyler

Great Outdoors parks, fields, camps offer plenty of fun

L arry Lott InterIors

There is no shortage of options for outdoor recreation in Tyler. From ample amateur sporting events to more relaxed activities, such as fishing or taking a stroll at the park, outdoor-lovers have plenty to choose from in Tyler.

Tyler is an outdoors kind of city. With 30 baseball fields, 15 soccer fields, 25 city parks and 15 campgrounds, there are numerous opportunities to get out and about.

The organization SPORTyler ensures that there are plenty of activities taking place at all those fields and parks. SPORTyler was developed in 1990 to attract amateur sporting events to Tyler, and promote recreation.

Under the direction of SPORTyler, the city has played host to national junior college sports championships in baseball, basketball, soccer and tennis.

Tyler also has held the Texas State Open golf tournament, as well as several events put on by the national Amateur Softball Association.

Tyler State Park For those who like their outdoor activities a bit more secluded, there is Tyler State Park, spread across nearly 1,000 acres just north of the city. The park has a 64-acre lake with a concrete boat ramp, a 13-mile mountain bike trail, an amphitheater, a dining hall with full kitchen and premium campsites.

Summer Camps Tyler has numerous summer camps to help keep children active during their mid-year break from school. Camp Nation, which is run by All Saints Episcopal

School, offers programs ranging from traditional sports activities to “Princess for a Week” for young girls who like to dress up.

Other popular summer camps in Tyler include Pine Cove Christian Camp, Sky Ranch and the Rockin’ C Ranch, which is set on a real working Texas ranch.

A different type of camp can be found at Elite Gymnastics. Created by a former competitive gymnast, Elite Gymnastics attempts to improve self-confidence in children while they learn new skills.

Gifts

Parks, Lakes and More But one does not have to find a camp or major state park to have outdoor fun in Tyler. That’s because the city has 25 smaller parks that comprise more than 1,000 acres of land. These parks have playgrounds, athletic fields, walking trails and tennis courts. There also is an amphitheater in Bergfeld Park, which is the site of the annual Tyler Azalea Trail and the Texas Rose Festival arts and craft shows.

And the list goes on. Lake Tyler is a popular fishing spot, while the Faulkner Park Nature Trail offers a 1.25-mile walk through oak and pine forests. There are golf courses for the adults and a skateboard park for children and teens. In fact, if there is something to do outdoors, there is a good chance you can do it in Tyler.

– Cary Estes

Clockwise from top: Sky Ranch summer camp; Bergfeld Park in Tyler; Fishing at Tyler State Park

Fine Furnishings

Accessories Design

BERGFELD CENTER 114 E. 8th St. • Tyler

903.705.1764 www.larrylottinteriors.com

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Arts & Culture

Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum

Coming Up Roses (and More) Cultural options range from floral festivals to museums Cultural opportunities bloom throughout the year in Tyler, especially when it comes to the city’s flowery celebrations, from the Tyler Azalea Trail held each March to the annual Texas Rose Festival in October.

The premier event for a city that touts itself as America’s Rose Capital is the Texas Rose Festival.

The rose industry has long been an important part of Tyler’s economy (more than half of all rose bushes currently sold in the United States are grown or packaged in the area). Even during the Great Depression, the city was known for its robust rose production.

60

Tyler

So in 1933, the Tyler Garden Club helped organize a festival to showcase the East Texas town where they said, “Everything is coming up roses.” It was originally known as the Tyler Rose Festival, but as its popularity expanded and attracted visitors from throughout the state and beyond, the name was changed to the Texas Rose Festival.

Thousands of people attend

the three-day event, which includes art shows, floral displays and a flamboyant rose parade featuring the Rose Queen and her court. There is also a Queen’s Tea held in an elaborate rose garden.

Flower Trails and Rose Gardens A more subdued – but just as colorful – floral festival is the Tyler Azalea Trail, which has been held

photo courtesy of East Texas Symphony Orchestra staff

Todd Bennett

Antony Boshier

East Texas Symphony Orchestra

in Tyler every year since 1960.

Two trails traverse through 8 miles of residential gardens and historic homes, attracting more than 100,000 visitors during the annual two-week run.

Rounding out the flower power is the city’s year-round attraction, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden.

The 14-acre garden is the largest of its kind in the United States, and contains numerous varieties of roses, some dating back to the mid-1800s.

Museums and More But there is much more to do in Tyler than just stop and smell the flowers. Discovery Science Place is a hands-on science museum geared toward children and teens. Ballet Tyler holds dance performances and helps provide scholarship assistance to aspiring

dancers. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra has been performing regularly since the 1950s and plays a series of popular park concerts each year.

The city features eight different museums, including the American Freedom Museum, the Cotton Belt Depot, Harrold’s Model Train Museum, the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, the Tyler Museum of Art and the GoodmanLeGrand House and Museum, which was built in 1859 and was the first property in Tyler to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

And for something slightly different, there is Texas True, a furniture and memorabilia store that sells only products made in Texas. It’s the perfect place to find that cowboy-theme dog bed.

– Cary Estes i m ag e s -t y l e r . c o m

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The Cornerstone for all your real estate needs

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62

Tyler

Community profile Community Overview Tyler’s charming brick streets lead visitors to an array of family attractions, quaint antique shops and unique specialty stores.

Special events throughout the year include the Texas Rose Festival, Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Festival on the Square and Movies Under the Stars in Bergfeld Park.

cost of living

$43,557 Median Household Income

$108,224 Median Home Price

$691 Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

Climate Tyler’s climate is hot during the summer and cold during the winter. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is October, with an average rainfall of 5.14 inches.

transportation

19 minutes household information

98,872

July Average High

34

45” Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

time zone Central

Median Resident Age

54% Married

46% Single

29% Age 19 and Under

size in square miles

49.4

52% White

19% Black

15% Hispanic

14% Other

numbers to know

Total Population

January Average Low

Age 55 and Over

Median travel time to work

93.6 F 37.7 F

24%

47% Age 20-54

Driver’s License: Texas Department of Public Safety 4700 University Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75713 (903) 939-6014 www.txdps.state.tx.us Vehicle Registration: County of Smith: Auto Registration 1517 W. Front St. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 590-2900 www.smith-county.com/ government/electedofficials/ taxassessor/VehicleReg.aspx Utilities: Tyler Water Utilities P.O. Box 2039 Tyler, TX 75710 (903) 531-1234 www.cityoftyler.org/ Default.aspx?tabid=331

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visit our

advertisers Altra Federal Credit Union www.altra.org American State Bank www.myamericanstatebank.com Austin Bank www.austinbank.com Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Regional Catholic School www.bishopgorman.net Brookshire’s Grocery Company www.brookshires.com Cornerstone Brokerage www.cornerstonebrokerage.com East Texas Medical Center www.etmc.org East Texas Symphony Orchestra www.etso.org Express Employment Professionals www.expresspros.com First Presbyterian Church – Tyler www.fpctyler.com Holiday Inn www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/tyrsb Holiday Inn Express & Suites www.hietyler.com Larry Lott Interiors www.larrylottinteriors.com Learning Rx www.learningrx.com/tyler Oak Hill Montessori School www.oakhillschooltyler.com

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Tyler

Residence Inn Marriott www.residenceinntyler.com Scott & White Health Plan www.swhp.org Southside Bank www.southside.com Special Health Resources www.shrt.net Swann’s Furniture Gallery www.swanns.com Texas Bank & Trust www.texasbankandtrust.com Texas Spine & Joint Hospital www.tsjh.com The Brook Hill School www.brookhill.org The University of Texas Health Science Center www.uthct.edu Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals & Clinics www.tmfhc.org Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce www.tylertexas.com Tyler Independent School District www.tylerisd.org Tyler Junior College www.tjc.edu United Way www.unitedwaytyler.org

Voter Registration: Smith County Courthouse Annex 200 E. Ferguson Ste. 500 Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 590-4777 www.smith-county.com/ Government/Departments/ Elections/Registration.aspx Recycling: Tyler Recycling Collection Center 418 N. Bois D’ Arc (903) 531-1388 www.cityoftyler.org/Admin/ Tabs/tabid/100/Default.aspx

First Presbyterian Church Pastor: Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin Worship Sun. 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Church School Sun. 9:30 a.m.

Rooted in a compassionate faith

Contemplative Communion Wed. 5:30 p.m.

230 W. Rusk St. Tyler, Texas 75701 In the heart of Tyler’s Azalea, Brick Streets and Charnwood Historic Districts

Tyler Solid Waste Department 414 N. Bois D’ Arc Ave. Tyler, Texas 75702 (903) 531-1388 test.cityoftyler.org/ ?TabId=100

Voice: (903) 597-6317 www.fpctyler.com church@fpctyler.com

The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department offers subscription-based curbside recycling to residential customers. Residents can sign up for this optional program and receive two curbside recycling pickups per month for $2.50 plus tax per month.

Telephone: AT&T (800) 464-7928 Cable: Suddenlink (903) 595-4321 Northland Cable Television (Flint area) (903) 894-8200 Library: Tyler Public Library 201 S. College Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 (903) 593-7323 www.cityoftyler.org/ Library/Library/tabid/542/ Default.aspx

At St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital, we canʼt.

Thatʼs why we are working every day to find cures for lifethreatening diseases that strike children everywhere. Diseases like cancer, pediatric AIDS, and sickle cell. And we wonʼt stop until every child is cured and every disease is defeated.

Because we canʼt imagine a world without children … can you?

Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto www.stjude.org to learn how you can help.

Finding cures. Saving children. i m ag e s -t y l e r . c o m

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Through the Lens

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

From Our Photo Blog: Tyler, tx As a photographer who cut his teeth on nature photography, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden. As I started walking through the rose garden, I could not help noticing the wind blowing and the swaying of all but the stoutest rose plants.

I was reminded of an axiom that was told to me by one of my mentors: “God created the wind to keep nature photographers humble.” Despite the dancing of my subject, I was able to capture this image of Tyler’s claim to fame.

Posted by antony boshier

More Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at images-tyler.com.

Barbershop in Tyler

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Tyler

Hudnall Planetarium at Tyler Junior College

Ad Index

C3 Altra Federal Credit Union

65 First Presbyterian Church - Tyler

34 Holiday Inn

41 Holiday Inn Express and Suites

6 American State Bank

62 Austin Bank

57 Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Regional Catholic School

59 Larry Lott Interiors

52 Brookshire’s Grocery Company

54 Learning Rx

62 Cornerstone Brokerage

62 Oak Hill Montessori School

C4 East Texas Medical Center

50 Residence Inn Marriott

64 East Texas Symphony Orchestra

64 Express Employment Professionals

8 Scott and White Health Plan

42 Southside Bank

21 Special Health Resources

Ad Index (cont.)

5 Swann’s Furniture Gallery 12 Texas Bank and Trust 7 Texas Spine & Joint Hospital 17 The Brook Hill School

2 The University of Texas Health Science Center

C2 Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics

49 Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

9 Tyler Independent School District

4 Tyler Junior College

61 United Way