Images Victoria, TX: 2012

2012 | imagesvictoria.com 速

victoria, texas

Discover History Past comes to life at Texas museum

Boomtown Businesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

Beautiful on the Outside Recreation activities are numerous sponsored by the Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Our business may take us all over the world, but we always come home to Victoria!

Victoria … It’s where we live, play, worship and invest. It’s where we watch our children play, learn and grow; where we enjoy time with family, friends and community; where we spend our greatest moments in life … and we’re proud to call it home!

GOD, Family, Team & Me® 107 John Stockbauer Dr. Victoria, TX 77901 (361) 578-1524 • (361) 578-1578 Fax

What’s the

BIG

“Center for Peace allowed me to release my hidden talents and changed my life.”

idea?

The Center for Peace has inspired women to enroll in college, cultivated natural leaders and led to amazing life transformations.

Our newest program, “For Us, By Us,” offers other women in the community a chance for personal growth through computer and job skills.

Other Center for Peace Trainings: Wholistic Community Development Conflict Resolution Circle Training 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training Drug Addicts 411

For information on any of the trainings offered, call (361) 575-2249 or email cfp@perpetualhelphome.org.

Imagine the possibilities …

Custom Design Construction Pool Maintenance/Repair Spas & Saunas Fencing, Lighting & Other Accessories Remodels

Transform your Backyard with a quality, custom pool from a reliable company.

Shannon Martin OWNER Bradley Blanton OWNER

(361) 574-SWIM 702 Cannon • Victoria, TX info@shannonbradleypools.com www.shannonbradleypools.com

What do you want your new home to be?

Everything you dreamed it would be.

Blanton Builders will take care of “everything.”

We will build your home with the vision you had in mind, complete with all the details and quality craftsmanship you’re depending on to make your dream complete.

(361) 572-3769 www.blantonbuilders.com 529 Oliver Rd. • Victoria, TX 77904

2012 edition | volume 4 ÂŽ

Victoria, Texas co nte nt s F e atu r e s 10 Discover History

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Past comes to life at Texas museum

14 texas untamed Zoo staff adds to visitors’ experience

20 Boomtown Businesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

d e pa r tm e nt s 6 Almanac 22 Biz Briefs 24 Chamber Report 25 Economic Profile 26 Image Gallery 32 Local Flavor 34 Arts & Culture 36 Education 39 Health & Wellness 42 Sports & Recreation 45 Real Estate 47 Community Profile 48 Through the Lens on the cover The Texas Zoo Photo by Jeff Adkins

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

Please recycle this magazine

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®

What’s Online imagesvictoria.com

Victoria , Tex as editorial project Manager mitch Kline content Director Lisa battles Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Barbara Biehler, Joe Morris, Karen Schwartzman, Braxton Shoop Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, Taylor nunley Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier color imaging technician Alison Hunter Integrated Media Manager Ginny Ellsworth Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim HOlmberg V.P./business Development Charles Fitzgibbon V.p./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens v.p./Travel publishing Susan Chappell V.P./Sales Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman sales support Coordinator alex marks sales support project manager sara quint I.T. Director Yancey Bond system administrator daniel cantrell Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web designer II Richard stevens Web developer i Yamel Hall, nels noseworthy Web Account Manager Lauren Eubank Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Media Technology Director Christina Carden

Photos & Videos Visually explore Victoria in our online photo and video galleries

Media Technology Analysts becca ary, Chandra Bradshaw audience development Director deanna nelson

2012 | imagesvictoria.com ®

Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan victoria, texas

Discover History Past comes to life at Texas museum

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

Living here Learn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

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Livability.com product manager Allison Davis

Boomtown Businesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

Beautiful on the outside Recreation activities are numerous sponsoreD By tHe victoria cHamBer of commerce

Digital magazine Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.

Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

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 email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: Victoria Chamber of Commerce 3404 N. Ben Wilson St. • Victoria, TX 77901 Phone: (361) 573-5277 • Fax: (361) 573-5911 victoriachamber.org Visit Images Victoria online at imagesvictoria.com ©Copyright 2011 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.

Member

The Association of Magazine Media Member

Custom Content Council

Member Victoria Chamber of Commerce

®

Digital Edition Texas

untamed staff aDDs many more visitor experiences

sToRy By kevin Litwin PhoToGRAPhy By jeff aDkins

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hen Andrea Blomberg became executive director of The Texas Zoo a couple of years ago, she was disappointed that it took her only 20 minutes to walk around and see all the exhibits. After those 20 minutes, the zoo experience was basically over.

“I knew something needed to be done to improve the visitor experience at The Texas Zoo, so improvements have already been made and will continue to be made,” Blomberg says. “Now we have become a little zoo with lots to do.”

The zoo added a lion exhibit in 2010, as well as a redesigned the

Animal Kingdom building that provides up-close viewing of a large array of reptiles, birds and small mammals. There is also a paleontology dig site inside the Animal Kingdom building where parents can first download worksheets from the zoo’s website, then the kids can get involved in scavenger hunts and other activities. Other new additions include a Birds of Prey exhibit, a small primate exhibit, scheduled zookeeper chats, reptile shows and a petting zoo where children can get in and engage with the animals instead of just feeding them from outside an enclosure.

The hard work of the employees

The new Barbary lion cub exhibit allows visitors to get a close look at the big cats.

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Share with a friend Easily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, Twitter or via email.

HAVE A BLOG OR WEBSITE? Embed the digital magazine in your site to add compelling, local information.

DO MORE THAN JUST READ ABOUT IT Experience the community through video and find links to other sites for additional information.

imagesvictoria.com

Almanac

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

Roaming the Reservoir Located between Victoria and Goliad, Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir provides a place for residents to play. The park offers a 3,100-acre freshwater lake, a 200foot pier and more than 50 campsites. If you’re looking to wet a hook, Coleto Creek’s lake is stocked with everything from catfish to crappie.

In the heat of the summer season water recreation is at its peak, including water skiing, jet skiing and swimming in the lake or in the markedoff area near the shore.

There are even some who parasail, taking advantage of the lake’s long and narrow shape.

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Beat the Heat This summer saw the opening of Victoria Independent School District’s new Aquatic Center, giving residents a new place to beat the summer heat.

Located next to the new Victoria Fine Arts Center, the Aquatic Center features an indoor pool open weekly in the mornings and evenings. Built primarily for fitness swimming, the center’s competition pool has a starting depth of 7 feet and a maximum of 13 feet. The whole family is free to enjoy the pool and two diving boards, though a small admission price is requested for each visit. Frequent pool-goers can purchase a monthly or annual pass.

Up On the Arts For Victoria arts patrons, 2011 has ushered in a new era for performances with the opening of the Victoria Independent School District’s Victoria Fine Arts Center on the old high school campus at the Advanced Learning Center. It is the largest venue with auditorium seating in the city. The Fine Arts Center will primarily be used by VISD, but the community will be able to rent the facility on available dates. Music concerts, dance recitals, theatrical productions, school-wide programs, meetings and ceremonies will take place at the facility. VISD also fostered performing arts within the schools by adding auditoriums to two new high schools.

A Place to Skate Obstacles and action await at the Victoria Skatepark. The park features a plaza-influenced street course with connecting pathways and a 2.5-foot drop, a horseshoe transitional ramp, as well as a bridge gap and curved ledges that make a unique course designed to offer a challenge. Also on-site is a multilevel bowl where skaters can test their skills at four different depths: 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a place to practice or a pro who needs a challenge, you’ll find your course of choice at the Victoria Skatepark.

A Tour Through Time With more than 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Victoria’s past is very much its vibrant, colorful present – and its future.

As more homes within the city’s downtown area are renovated, either as private residences or for business purposes, Victoria’s historical center seems secure.

And as the neighborhoods grow in diversity, they are fast becoming a draw not only for tourists but also for new dwellers. Some of the larger commercial buildings are being evaluated for loft and apartment spaces in combination with retail storefronts, which will further enhance the area.

Play for the Red, White and Blue Golf is big business in Victoria. Multiple courses offer different lengths and accommodate all levels of golfers. The 27-hole Riverside Golf Course, the only municipal course in the city, offers three 9-hole courses named the Red, White and Blue. The Red is the longest, followed by the White and then the Blue. The semi-private Colony Creek Country Club has a 6,413-yard, par-71 course that was built in 1985. Sand, water and rough come into play on nearly every hole. The course at the private Victoria Country Club has an 18-hole layout. The course has played host to several professional and amateur tournaments, and in 2010 was the site of the National Golf Association’s inaugural Victoria Texas Open.

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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.

imagesvictoria.com

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

Time for a Ride Bike riding in Victoria covers all kinds of terrain and ability levels. If you’re up for a ride that requires endurance, try the 50-mile course through Coletoville to Schroeder. An optional 10-mile extension for the route is available for those who truly want to push themselves. Tone it down a notch with the mostly flat 30-mile ride from Coletoville to Lower Mission Road. A similar 20-mile route also features flat terrain, while a 10k is available for a scenic ride through Riverside Park and downtown Victoria. For a more intense ride, try the mountain bike trails at Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir.

n The city is home to the second-oldest Roman Catholic Church in Texas, St. Mary’s Church. 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 (2010 estimate) Victoria: 62,592

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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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

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.

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 Gen. Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of independent Mexico.

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Fast Facts

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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Discover

History Past comes to life at Texas museum Story By Barbara Biehler Photography By Jeff adkins

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of the region’s heritage.” After creating a facility offering a comprehensive look of the Texas coastline’s rich traditions and natural resources, the Museum of the Coastal Bend, located on the Victoria College campus, opened to the public on Oct. 11, 2003.

How the Museum Began and Its Mission The Museum of the Coastal Bend began as a concept by Victoria College, which over the years worked with advisors and volunteers from the Victoria area to develop the museum. The mission of this new museum would be to educate the public while enhancing “the appreciation and enjoyment

What the Museum Offers Victoria Residents Fulfilling its purpose to “collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and educate using the history and heritage of the region,” the Museum of the Coastal Bend offers a wide range of exhibits and educational programs the whole family can enjoy. Tour the facility with a museum volunteer, listen to an audio tour or discover any of the exhibits on your own.

Among the intriguing displays visitors will find in the museum are The La Salle Odyssey and Cattle Boom! exhibits, each vividly illustrating particular periods of time in Coastal Texas history. The La Salle Odyssey

ver since French explorer Robert de La Salle established a settlement along the central Texas coastline in 1685, the mid-coastal region of Texas has experienced a vibrant multicultural history. This colorful past comes to life at the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria, where visitors can explore the region’s diverse cultural background, from the area’s original Native American inhabitants to the French, Spanish and English settlers who followed with great aspirations of New World expansion.

Museum of the Coastal Bend on the campus of Victoria College

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chronicles the story of the first European settlement in Texas, Fort St. Louis, and the archeological excavation of La Salle’s ship, La Belle, which sunk long ago in the waters of Matagorda Bay. Telling each part of La Salle’s story through a series of educational text panels and historical images, the museum displays a variety of fascinating relics relevant to the French explorer’s Texas expedition, including seven of the eight cannons he brought to the state during his travels. Cattle Boom! is an exhibit developed exclusively for the museum, and accounts stories of long cattle drives, ranching families and their cultures through artifacts, maps, historical documents and pictures.

Enthusiastic Volunteers Add to the Experience While the exhibits tell captivating stories of the state’s past, Sue Prudhomme, director of the Museum of the Coastal Bend, emphasizes that the museum “is more than artifacts and scholarly words. It’s the people who help us to tell our story that makes our museum unique.”

These people are the enthusiastic museum volunteers who have had archeological adventures of their own.

“Bill Birmingham has been passionate about preserving our past for almost half a century,” Prudhomme says. “He’s worked on nearly every archeological survey and excavation in the county, and encourages others to follow his path of preservation and stewardship.” Volunteers Jud Austin and Jimmy Bluhm also preserved artifacts they discovered through their own persistence and determination to protect important pieces of Coastal Texas history.

Let the passion and enthusiasm of the staffers and volunteers enhance your visit to the Museum of the Coastal Bend. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clockwise from top left: An iron safe, circa 1830, on display; Volunteers looking for artifacts from a sunken ship; Visitors gather for a lecture at the museum.

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What’s Online For more about the Museum of the Coastal Bend, visit www.museumofthecoastalbend.org.

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Texas

Untamed Staff adds many more visitor experiences

Story By Kevin Litwin Photography By jeff adkins

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hen Andrea Blomberg became executive director of The Texas Zoo a couple of years ago, she was disappointed that it took her only 20 minutes to walk around and see all the exhibits. After those 20 minutes, the zoo experience was basically over.

“I knew something needed to be done to improve the visitor experience at The Texas Zoo, so improvements have already been made and will continue to be made,” Blomberg says. “Now we have become a little zoo with lots to do.”

The zoo added a lion exhibit in 2010, as well as a redesigned the

Animal Kingdom building that provides up-close viewing of a large array of reptiles, birds and small mammals. There is also a paleontology dig site inside the Animal Kingdom building where parents can first download worksheets from the zoo’s website, then the kids can get involved in scavenger hunts and other activities. Other new additions include a Birds of Prey exhibit, a small primate exhibit, scheduled zookeeper chats, reptile shows and a petting zoo where children can get in and engage with the animals instead of just feeding them from outside an enclosure.

The hard work of the employees

The new Barbary Lion Cub exhibit allows visitors to get a close look at the big cats.

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and volunteers who helped transform the zoo into an active adventureland has paid off.

“We estimate that our attendance will be up about 25 percent in 2011 compared to 2010, and our attendance in 2010 was higher than in 2009,” Blomberg said. “The zoo serves the entire Golden Crescent area, but we are also starting to draw people from Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and other parts of Texas.”

Conservation, Education Remain the Focus The Texas Zoo was officially established in 1976 on 6 acres of Riverside Park along the Guadalupe River. In 1984, the Texas Legislature recognized the zoo’s contributions to wildlife conservation and proclaimed it The National Zoo of Texas, and today it houses a wide variety of animals that are native to Texas as well as exotic species from around the world. The South Texas Zoological Society oversees operations of The Texas Zoo and their board advocates conservation and education.

“We connect people with wildlife and inspire caring for nature,” Blomberg says. “Have you |touched a snake or held a bear’s skull in your hands?

You can here. There is much to do at The Texas Zoo.” In total, there are 150 animals on display and

Clockwise from top left: A child shows her paper-plate lion to a real lion; A river otter naps at the Texas Zoo; A Baird’s Tapir cools off in the shade

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The Ron BRown Company 575-1446 Each office is independently owned and operated

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visitors can easily view all of the animals, as opposed to many larger zoos that don’t have convenient visitor access points.

“We have animals such as the armadillo, river otter, prairie dog, alligators and many varieties of snakes, plus endangered species like the red wolf and ocelots,” Blomberg says. “We also have exotic animals that include Bengal tigers of Asia, Hamadryas baboons of Africa, cotton-top tamarins from South America and lemurs of Madagascar.”

Admission to The Texas Zoo is $4.50 for seniors 55 and above; $6 for adults 13 and above; $5 for children 12 and under; $5 active/ retired military with ID; and free admission for toddlers 2 and under.

Hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.)

From top: A macaw watches visitors; The Texas Zoo

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Welcome to

Boomtown Victoria businesses benefit from energy industry growth, natural resources

Story By Joe Morris Photography By jeff adkins

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exas’ booming energy sector is visible throughout the state, but nowhere more so than in Victoria, where strong corporate development intersects with major natural resources to produce a robust local economy.

Caterpillar, Petrochemical Plants Expand Operations Well-known national and international energy and related companies continue to call Victoria home, and they are being joined by an increasing number of new players. In 2012, the new $200 million Caterpillar excavator plant will come online, a 1 million-squarefoot facility that will create an estimated 600 new jobs. It joins Formosa Plastics Corp., which operates a production facility and support operation at a 1,600-acre petrochemical complex in Point Comfort; polymer and fiber producer INVISTA, which continues 20

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to expand its manufacturing facility in Victoria with both employees and operational capacity; and Dow’s Seadrift Operations, a 4,700-acre site with 11 plants representing the company’s global businesses.

Economic Development Key Focus for Victoria Officials Recruiting, retaining and growing the petrochemical sector is a continuing mission for Victoria’s economic development officials.

Happily, the area’s strong infrastructure, solid business climate and vast resources give them plenty to offer, says Dale Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp.

“One of the things Caterpillar really likes about us is the diversity we have here,” Fowler says. “We are very heavily invested in petrochemical companies, but we aren’t tied too strongly to any one industry. Our

Business

Polymer and fiber producer INVISTA continues to expand its manufacturing facility in Victoria.

medical industry is growing and has substantial ties to the hospital systems here, and our transportation advantages through highways, rail and waterways give us an advantage with many other industry sectors as well.”

Eagle Ford Shale Adds to Success Victoria is also reaping the benefits of its proximity to the Eagle Ford Shale, a vast formation that is a hotspot for gas and oil developers and related businesses.

“The advancement of technology has allowed them to develop deep, horizontal drilling and fracking wells, so that industry has really changed,” Fowler says.

“We’re centrally located along the northern half of the shale, and our community has enough amenities to support the people who are coming in for the various operations. We’re not doing a lot of the drilling here yet, but we’re a very strong destination for the companies coming in to do so, as well as all the people

who are relocating to the area to work on the shale, or run the companies who are doing that work.”

Victoria is firing on all thrusters to capitalize on all this activity, and is succeeding because of well-laid plans that have been in place for years.

“We’re not just building these synergies now,” Fowler says. “Caterpillar was the result of a longtime community and business recruitment effort. We purchased and developed a business park so that we’d have available sites for industry. We have formed relationships over time in many different industries, and they help us close a lot of deals. And going forward, we’re working to make sure these existing industries know that they can grow to their full potential here, and that we can develop other business parks and properties, such as land at the Port of Victoria, in such a way that different businesses can find a home here as well.” i m ag e s v i c t o r i a . c o m

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Business

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

Scorecard Business At A Glance

$900 million Annual retail sales

$15,404 Retail sales per capita

$87 million Annual hotel and food sales

5,063 Total number of firms Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

Torin Bales Fine Jewelry Biz: Jewelry store Buzz: Serving the Victoria area for more than 17 years, Torin Bales Fine Jewelry strives to meet each customer’s needs by pairing beautiful jewelry with first-class service. Shoppers can enjoy complimentary beverages while browsing, and can have their jewelry cleaned at no cost. Various brands are available, such as Rolex and David Yurman, as well as the Torin Bales Collection. www.torinbales.com 22

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On the Edge Photography Biz: Sports and event photography business Buzz: Based in Victoria, On the Edge Photography specializes in sports and event photography. The business is owned by the area’s first Certified Professional Photographer, Randy Pollard, who founded the business in 2004. Named the Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Partner of the Year in 2008, On the Edge Photography promises customers high-quality images as well as an exciting, unforgettable experience. www.getontheedge.com Anderson, Smith, Null & Stofer, LLP Biz: Law firm Buzz: The second-oldest law firm in the state of Texas, Anderson, Smith, Null & Stofer, LLP offers a wide variety of legal services. The firm serves an array of clients, from large corporations to small businesses and individuals. www.andersonsmith.com First Victoria Bank Biz: Full-service commercial bank Buzz: First Victoria Bank is the oldest independent bank in Texas and currently serves more than 70,000 customers. Established in 1867 by John Milton Brownson, the bank has grown to offer 27 banking centers and 35 ATMs, with five of those locations in Victoria. Customers can enjoy a broad range of services, such as online and mobile banking. www.firstvictoria.com Lodestone Financial Services Biz: Financial planning firm Buzz: Headquartered in Victoria, Lodestone Financial Services’ experienced partners focus on helping clients accumulate wealth, protect assets and manage their finances.

This firm assists both individuals and businesses with insurance and investments, such as 401(k) plans, mutual funds and managed portfolios, and also offers assistance with funding higher education, retirement planning and business preservation. http://lodestonegroup.com

Business

Chamber Report Chamber now hosts workshops to aid small businesses

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he Victoria Chamber of Commerce has 900 members, with about 650 of those being small businesses. Those kinds of businesses are categorized as having from 1 to 25 employees, and Randy Vivian says they have always been the life blood of any chamber, including Victoria’s.

“Yes, small businesses make

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up 70 to 80 percent of chamber memberships in every community throughout the country, so they indeed are vital,” says Vivian, president and CEO of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “In Victoria, we have introduced a new program targeted specifically on those kinds of businesses, in hopes to further their chances

of economic success.”

That new program is called Building Better Businesses and its premise is to showcase informative, valuable workshops that occur on a quarterly basis. The workshops are free and open to any smallbusiness owners, managers and employees who are chamber members, with quarterly sessions taking place usually from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the University of Houston-Victoria.

“The chamber is partnering with Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent, Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria’s Small Business Development Center to help owners and managers run their businesses better,” Vivian says. “One of the first workshops we already hosted featured the basic topic of starting your own business, which provided instruction on the first steps to take, as well as specific services available to assist a person or company in such an endeavor.”

For more information about the chamber, visit their website at 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.

top employers 2,000+ Employees

Port of Victoria (361) 570-8855 www.portofvictoria.com

Victoria ISD

taxes

1.5% City Sales and Use Tax

.5% County Sales Tax

6.25% State Sales Tax

1,000-1,999 Employees Formosa Plastic Citizen’s Medical Center The Inteplast Group DeTar Healthcare System 600-999 Employees Dow-Seadrift Operations Calhoun ISD Victoria County

8.25%

City of Victoria

Total Sales Tax

INVISTA

income

transportation

$23,761

Victoria Regional Airport 609 Foster Field Dr., No. F (361) 578-2704 www.flyvictoriatx.com

Per Capita Income

$50,088 Average Annual Household Expenditure

Union Pacific Railroad www.up.com

Known as the South Texas Crossroads, Victoria is located at the intersection of three major U.S. highways: U.S. Highway 59 (future I-69) U.S. Highway 77 U.S. Highway 87 Interstates: I-10, I-35 and I-37

economic resources 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

6 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU www.newdistributing.com

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Image Gallery

1892 Victoria County Courthouse Photo by Brian McCord

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Image Gallery

Early-morning fishing on Coleto Creek Reservoir Photo by Antony Boshier

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A monument dedicated by the William P. Rogers Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy Photo by Brian McCord

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Image Gallery

The sun sets on the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad.

Photo by Jeff Adkins

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Local Flavor

Taste the Difference Food options are diverse and satisfying he 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 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, apple crisp, ice cream and chicken salad.

This deli is a great place for kids and groups, and offers delivery as well. Known as a Victorian tradition, the restaurant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can brag that it once hosted a Willie Nelson performance.

Fun and Friendly Fare 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 fried shrimp, oysters, frog legs and catfish. The soda fountain produces malts, shakes and other beverages all made from real ice cream.

Greek Brothers 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 from Thursday through Saturday, a dance floor, oyster bar and outdoor patio, visitors enjoy the diversity in atmospheres.

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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. If you’re looking for a souvenir to take home, try the Olde Victoria House Dressing that is available for purchase.

Coffee and Such 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.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies Victoria Farmers Market sells fresh produce to as many as 1,500 visitors on a spring day.

The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. depending on product availability. Located at the Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, the market strives to provide home-grown produce to the community. Vendors are limited to a 100-mile residential radius in order to sell.

Victoria Produce Inc. is a private business that specializes in wholesale produce. – Raven Petty

Jeff Adkins

T

Brian M c Cord Todd Bennett Jeff Adkins

Clockwise from left: Herb-crusted grilled salmon served with saffron basmati rice at Olde Victoria at The Oak Room; Greek Brothers restaurant; Victoria Farmers Market vendors are limited to a 100-mile residential radius in order to provide the freshest produce; The dining room at Olde Victoria at The Oak Room

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Arts & Culture

Victoria Ballet Theatre

A Cultivated Cultural Landscape Victoria’s cultural offerings entertain, educate and excite

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ictoria’s residents and visitors alike can enjoy the wide array of cultural opportunities the city has to offer. Offering historic monuments and museums, as well as theatrical performances and music-filled festivals, Victoria’s cultural scene is thriving.

History Comes to Life in Victoria Located in the center of downtown Victoria, DeLeon Plaza serves as a park complete with a gazebo and shade trees, and at night, lit trees complement 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

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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.

Home to the Nave House, the Nave Museum is a fine arts museum that is home to 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.

Music and Arts Invigorate and Enhance the City Taking place each June, the Victoria Bach Festival provides a week of intimate concerts, oratorio and symphonic performances, and family-fun 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

Jeff Adkins

and fellowship assemblies.

The resident company, Theatre Victoria, operates the center, which is also available for rental.

Victoria Symphony Orchestra started in 1974 and continues to provide 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 offer dance and appreciation of dance to the community. Past performances have included: The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf and Spring Gala. The theater also educates young people, trains dancers and provides a foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in the arts. – Raven Petty

The statue Last Stand by Pompeo Coppini in DeLeon Plaza

Education

Jeff Adkins

The Victoria College/University of Houston-Victoria Library.

Power Up Victoria schools serve to motivate and develop students

V

ictoria’s education system knows knowledge is key.

With more than 60 colleges and universities within a 125-mile radius of Victoria, it is evident that the city aims to not only educate students but develop them to enter the workforce.

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 17 elementary schools and 11 middle and high schools – many of which are magnet schools, along with nine private schools.

High School and Beyond Victoria College manages two campuses in Victoria – a main campus and the Adult Education

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Center. The main campus provides students from high school age to college-enrolled students with skills they need in order 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. Continuing education classes for adults in the workforce are also available.

The Adult Education Center helps students obtain a GED, improves workforce skills and also provides an English as a Second Language course to those who need language training before beginning college classes.

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 school assists students in obtaining the skills they need for career placement such as resume assistance and job searching tips, so students may have successful futures in their field.

The University of HoustonVictoria accepts a special responsibility to serve educational needs, to promote economic well being 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.

But the options don’t end there. The Victoria campus also works with teaching centers in Houston, and serves students online by providing services in extensive course offerings, select degree programs, learning support and other services.

– Raven Petty

Brian M c Cord

Welding students at the Texas Vocational School

Jeff Adkins

Health & Wellness

Citizens Medical Center

A Dose of Health Victoria hospitals provide quality care to residents

V

ictoria residents can depend on quality health care with two main hospital systems serving the community: Citizens Medical Center and DeTar Healthcare System, which includes DeTar Hospital Navarro and DeTar Hospital North.

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-for-profit 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. A helicopter service, Citizens Air Medical, works to transport the critically ill or injured to the facility.

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 four family medicine clinics. The center continued its commitment to

provide the most current diagnostic and therapeutic equipment by investing $8 million into radiographic equipment, radiation therapy and patient safety.

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 i m ag e s v i c t o r i a . c o m

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YMCA

Helping Hearts Sitter Service offers a full range of companionship for you or your loved one. Whether you need 24-hours a day care or just a few hours occasionally, we are here to help, days or nights. All sitters are screened with drug tests and criminal history checks are performed.

Duties Offered: • Companionship • Meal preparation and feeding • Errand services • Transportation to doctors appointments • Beauty shop • Shopping • Light housekeeping and/or laundry • Recreational activities • Assistance with personal care services such as bathing, grooming, dressing, incontinence care and medication reminders.

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Health & Wellness medical technology to ensure patients receive top-quality care. Some services include an accredited chest pain center, a cardiac center, cancer center, a Level III trauma center and an intensive care unit.

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 on-site. 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. – Raven Petty

36 Number of specialties covered at Citizens Medical Center

269 Number of physicians employed

by DeTar Healthcare System

$8 million

Jeff Adkins

Amount invested into equipment, therapy and patient safety by Citizens Medical Center

DeTar Hospital Navarro

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photos by Jeff Adkins

Sports & Recreation

Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir is popular for waterskiing (above), tubing (right) and much more.

The World Outside Victoria offers parks, golf courses, a zoo and more

I

t isn’t hard to fill your time in Victoria. Rivers, reservoirs, parks and much more make recreation part of this Texas town’s charm.

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

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more. Goliad State Park has a character defined by beautiful scenery and interesting sites spanning over 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 water-oriented 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. Lastly, 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.

Victoria Youth Sports and Swimming 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.

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.

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 6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM 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, as well as high-quality Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green. tennis courts, fine dining and a refreshing pool area.

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Staff Photo

Real Estate

Building Momentum victoria Housing market remains steady

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he real estate market in Victoria features a diversity of neighborhoods and a variety of homes that range in value from the low $100,000s to $1 million.

“We don’t have an abundance of $1 million properties, but there are quite a few homes in the $400,000, $500,000 and $600,000 price range,” says Lee Swearingen, president of the Victoria Board of Realtors.

“Victoria is lucky to have attractive properties within the city as well as outside the city limits in rural settings.”

Swearingen says a lot of new people have moved into the community in the last few years, and that has actually caused a decrease in homes that are available.

“We haven’t suffered from the downturn in the market like many other cities have experienced throughout the nation,” he says. “A big reason is that we didn’t overbuild when times were good.”

Crossroads of South Texas Victoria remains a regional hub for a seven-county area in Texas known as the Golden Crescent.

Located in southeastern Texas on the Coastal Plain, the city and county are midway between the southern and eastern extremities of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Victoria is within proximity to Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi, earning it the nickname Crossroads of South Texas. Highways 87, 59 and 77 cross in Victoria to provide the city with a prime location for both economic and residential growth.

Old Victoria Meanwhile, Victoria is also rich in history and has a commitment to preserving its past. For example, in order to protect the aesthetic value of its downtown district, an ordinance was put in place in 2007 that prohibits new manufactured homes to be constructed within the historic district.

“Old Victoria is our downtown district filled with Victorian-style homes, and there are now 100 homes inside our city that are on the National Register of Historic Places,” Swearingen says. “Plus more of the older homes continue to be renovated in the downtown area all the time.”

New Home Construction As for newer neighborhoods, Swearingen says Springwood is a subdivision that is currently builtout and has good resale values of houses priced at $250,000 and up.

“There is new home construction taking place these days in a few neighborhoods, including Terra Vista, Lake Forest and Tuscany,” he says. “Most of the new home construction in Victoria is resulting in properties that are priced $200,000 and up. The real estate market here remains decent, and is looking up even more for 2012.”

– Raven Petty and Kevin Litwin i m ag e s v i c t o r i a . c o m

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Bruce E. Woods, Agent 1904 N. Navarro Victoria, TX 77901 Bus: (361) 580-3276 Cell: (361) 550-2568 bruce@bruceewoods.com

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New Distributing/Fastop www.newdistributing.com

Texas Vocational Schools www.texasvocationalschools.com Torin Bales Fine Jewelry www.torinbales.com University of Houston – Victoria www.uhv.edu Victoria Chamber of Commerce www.victoriachamber.org Victoria College www.victoriacollege.edu Victoria Communication Services www.vcscompanies.com Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitvictoriatexas.com

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YMCA of the Golden Crescent www.ymcavictoria.org

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

$53,760 Median Household Income

$113,408

MARITAL STATUS

59% Married

41% Single

Median Home Price

$719 weather

93° F

July High Temperature

44° F

January Low Temperature

40”

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

Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

household information AGE

30% 19 and Under

ETHNICITY

48% White

6% Black

44% Hispanic

2% Other

45% 20-54

transportation

time zone

25%

Central

55 and Over

14 minutes

Median Travel Time to Work

This section is sponsored by

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Ad Index

44 Bestway

25 New Distributing/Fastop

1 Blanton builders

24 Port Lavaca Auto Group

44 Calvo’s Janitorial

1 Shannon Bradley Pools

18 Caterpillar

46 State Farm – Bruce Woods

38 Citizens Medical Center

44 Texas Vocational Schools

18 Coldwell Banker – The Ron Brown Company

46 Torin Bales Fine Jewelry

2 DeTar Healthcare System

47 University of Houston – Victoria

25 Fagan Answering Service

37 Victoria College

35 First Victoria

40 Gulf Bend Center

23 Victoria Communication Services

40 Helping Hearts Sitter Service

C4 Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau

5 Homewood Residence

C3 Jung Tile & Granite

18 Victoria Vein & Surgery Clinic

C2 Klean Corp. International

C3 Wells Fargo

44 Lauger Companies Incorporated

40 YMCA of the Golden Crescent

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 throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog: Victoria September 19, 2011 — I had a good time photographing the animals at The Texas Zoo in Victoria last week for Images Victoria magazine. I’ve visited many zoos around the country while taking photos for Journal Communications, but this is one of my favorites so far. The Texas Zoo is small, but very well managed by zoo director Andrea Blomberg and her staff. The animals are very active, fun to watch and well cared for. Some of the highlights are the lions, tigers, endangered red wolves, a tapir, baby alligators and a new spider monkey exhibit among many other exhibits. And Blomberg wants people to know that although they have a good variety of animals from around the world on display, “we do not have any bald eagles!”

Posted by jeff adkins

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

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