Discover 361 - 2019 Edition

2019 EDITION / VOL. 13

TH E C R O S S R O A D S

VICTORIA ARANSAS BEE CALHOUN DEWITT GOLIAD JACKSON LAVACA REFUGIO WHARTON

YOU CAN CONQUER OBESITY WE CAN HELP

“I lost 65 lbs. with the non-surgical Citizens Weight Management program.”

“I lost 150 lbs. with gastric sleeve surgery at Citizens Bariatric Center.”

B. MCDANIEL, DO, Do, FASMBS b.DEAN Dean McDanieL, FasMbs VICTORIA LOCATION V i c t o r i a L o c at i o n 2705 Hospital 2705 HospitalDrive, Drive,Building buildingB,b,Suite suite400 400 Victoria, Victoria,Texas texas77901 77901 (361) 574-1888 (361) 574-1888 CORPUS CHRISTI LOCATION b.

McDanieL, Do, FasMbs c o rDean pus chris t i L o c at i o n 5826 Esplanade Drive, Suite 201 5826 esplanade Drive, suite 201 Corpus Christi, 78413 Victor i a L oTexas c at i o n corpus christi, texas 78413 (361) 986-0404 2705 Hospital Drive, building b, suite 400 (361) 986-0404

Victoria, texas 77901 (361) 574-1888

DISCOVER VICTORIA COUNTY

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ROSE GARDEN PROVIDES PEACEFUL SPOT FOR SITTING, STROLLING AND GATHERING PEBBLE BEACH PROVIDES WATERSIDE SPOT FOR RELAXATION, RECREATION TEXAS ZOO BRINGS LIFE TO VICTORIA

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LIST: PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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LIST: PRIVATE SCHOOLS

ARANSAS COUNTY

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PAST IS PRESENT AT GOLIAD’S PRESIDIO LA BAHIA

78

LIST: PUBLIC LIBRARIES

ROCKPORT GALLERY PRESERVES COMMUNITY’S SOUL THROUGH ART

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ROCKPORT CAFE MAKES CUSTOMERS ‘FEEL LIKE THEY’RE HOME’

BRACKENRIDGE PARK DEFINES FAMILY FUN ATMOSPHERE FOR GUESTS, LONGTIME RESIDENTS

LIST: COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

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A VISIT TO ROCKPORT HARBOR

COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AT EDNA’S FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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GANADO FARMERS MARKET COMBINES FOOD, MUSIC AND HANDCRAFTED ITEMS LIST: PARKS

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JACKSON COUNTY

BEE COUNTY

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GERMAN RESTAURANT BRINGS A TASTE OF BERLIN TO BEEVILLE

CALHOUN COUNTY

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PEOPLE FLOCK TO BREW PUB IN PORT LAVACA

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YUMMY FINDS OFFERS MORE THAN A GOOD CUPCAKE

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LAS PALMAS SERVES A TASTE OF CULTURE WITH THE FOOD

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FOOD TRUCK GARDEN OFFERS WIDE SPECTRUM OF CHOICES

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THE BOMB DIGGITY OFFERS CHANGING MENU DAILY, LIVE MUSIC, FAMILY FUN

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NOVOSAD’S SERVES BARBECUE AND SLICE OF TIMES PAST

AT JUNKTORIA, REFURBISHERS TURN JUNK INTO GOLD

TWIN DOLPHINS THEATER KEEPS CREATE FAMILY TRADITIONS

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PORT LAVACA PIZZERIA TAKES CUSTOMERS BACK TO OLD ITALY

LIRA ROSSA ARTISAN CHEESE BRINGS TASTE OF ITALY TO THE CROSSROADS

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LIST: GOLF COURSES

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CAN YOU ESCAPE? NEW BUSINESS ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR WITS ABOUT THEM

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NAVE MUSEUM ADDS CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, HISTORICAL VALUE TO CROSSROADS

LAVACA COUNTY

DEWITT COUNTY

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OUTLAW PASS OFFERS VARIETY OF FAMILY FUN

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STAY FIT, HAVE FUN AT HANG TIME TRAMPOLINE PARK

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LASER WORLD DRAWS CROWDS, PARTIES

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VICTORIA SKATE PARK GIVES ATHLETES OUTLET FOR PASSION

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ROLL YOUR WAY INTO VICTORIA TRADITION AT SKATEWORLD

40 BLACK AND WHITE LEAGUE RETURNS AFTER 1-YEAR ABSENCE 42

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POPULARITY OF 7ON7 FOOTBALL GROWS DISCOVER 2019

CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM SHOWCASES COWBOY CULTURE CRAFTY CHICS PROVIDES CREATIVE OUTLET FOR BUDDING ARTISTS

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5D STEAKHOUSE AND LOUNGE OFFERS FOOD, MUSIC

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LIST: DANCE HALLS

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LIST: CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

GOLIAD COUNTY

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MUSTANG CANTINA STIMULATES IMAGINATION, TASTE BUDS

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EMPRESARIO RESTAURANT COMBINES ELEGANCE WITH DARN GOOD TEXAS FOOD

REFUGIO COUNTY

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OUR LADY OF REFUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH FILLED WITH RICH HISTORY

100 HIGH-FALUTIN BRINGS HIGH FASHION, CAMARADERIE TO REFUGIO

WHARTON COUNTY

104 EL CAMPO WOOD SHOP TURNS FAMILY TRADITION INTO LIFELONG TREASURES 106 LIST: FESTIVALS 109 LIST: YOUTH SPORTS 111 DIRECTORY

BOLD GOLD COLLECTION

VICTORIA | 6007 ZAC LENTZ PARKWAY | 361-576-4777

2019 EDITION / VOL. 13

THE CROS SR OADS BOTH of our LOCATIONS FLORAL AND GIFT Sympathy Flowers and Plants

GROWING CENTER Vibrant Mums

Corporate Gift Baskets

Spring & Fall Bedding Plants

Wedding Flowers

Christmas Poinsettias

Thymes, Lotion and Bath collections

Home Grown Vegetable Plants

Homemade Cookies

Citrus Trees

Buttermilk Brownies

Tropical Foliage

Creative Floral Designs

Roses

Chicken Salad

Bougainvilleas

PUBLISHER/EDITOR

Chris Cobler 361-574-1271 ccobler@vicad.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Becky Cooper 361-574-1285 bcooper@vicad.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

George Coleman 361-574-1236 gcoleman@vicad.com Sara Bryan Tracy Dove-Laux Mark Gaston Kelly Gentsch Melodi King

DISCOVER IS PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE

Annuals

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALL CELEBRATORY OCCASIONS

Floral & Gift VICTORIA

1313 N. Navarro Victoria, TX 77904 (361) 573-3246 Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm Saturday: 9:00am - 2:00pm

GROWING CENTER

Located on HWY 59 between Victoria & Goliad (361) 574-7245 Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 4:00pm devereuxgardens.org

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DISCOVER 2019

ON THE COVER A female peacock sits on a table at The Texas Zoo. The peacocks roam freely around the zoo.

By Emree Weaver | eweaver@vicad.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As you travel through the Crossroads, you will see new businesses and attractions popping up.

This year’s Discover the Crossroads will introduce you to some of the newer places to visit as well as remind you of the many other places we have for day trips with your family or with a friend or two.

Everyone’s favorite stop on any trip is a locally owned restaurant. This year we bring you a variety of restaurants to check out. The Gasthaus Berliner Bear offers authentic German food in Beeville, while the Oven Loving Pizza brings customers authentic Italian pizza in Port Lavaca. The Pink Octopus Café in Rockport provides sandwiches, salads and ice cream, while Bomb Diggity, a food truck turned restaurant in Inez, offers local favorites like chicken fried steak with jalapeño gravy.

Of course, we still have a stable of favorites including Yummy Finds in Victoria, 5D Steakhouse in Yorktown, the Empresario in Goliad, and Novosad’s BBQ and Sausage in Hallettsville, among others.

After eating, visitors have a multitude of places to visit or shop or even catch a movie.

Learn more about the ever-popular family attractions of Outlaw Pass, Hangtime Trampoline Park and Laser World.

If you want to get a little more physical with your activity, visit the Skateworld roller skating rink or try your hand at skateboarding at the skatepark.

For more relaxing adventures, travel to Riverside Park, where you can visit the animals at the Texas Zoo, or smell the blooms on 1,000 rose bushes at the Memorial Rose Garden and then walk or drive down the hill to Pebble Beach – a man-made beach where locals like to cool off in the Guadalupe River or relax on the shore.

If you have shopping on your mind, try out the High-Falutin boutique in Refugio or Tin Roof Kitchen and Home in El Campo.

If history is your thing, visit two churches – Our Lady of Refuge in Refugio and the Methodist Church in Edna – or the Nave art museum in Victoria or the Chisholm Trail Museum in Cuero.

As you can see from this preview, this year’s Discover Victoria and the Crossroads offers many opportunities to explore the region. We hope, after reading this magazine, you take advantage of the many places to visit and things to see.

We hope you enjoy your trip through the Crossroads.

The Goyens

Becky Cooper

Managing Editor | Victoria Advocate bcooper@vicad.com

Daniel Goyen and his wife, Claire, attended Victoria College together.

Daniel gained valuable skills at VC that have helped him perform his duties as Operations Manager at Goyen Electric. Claire used what she gained at VC to springboard her career as an educator.

Victoria College was a logical choice. It was our first choice. This is where we wanted to go from the start.

- CLAIRE GOYEN

“VC was part of our journey” 10

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DISCOVER 2019

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ROSE GARDEN PROVIDES PEACEFUL SPOT FOR SITTING, STROLLING AND GATHERING • PEBBLE BEACH PROVIDES WATERSIDE SPOT FOR RELAXATION, RECREATION • TEXAS ZOO BRINGS LIFE TO VICTORIA • YUMMY FINDS OFFERS MORE THAN A GOOD CUPCAKE • LAS PALMAS SERVES A TASTE OF CULTURE WITH THE FOOD • FOOD TRUCK GARDEN OFFERS WIDE SPECTRUM OF CHOICES • THE BOMB DIGGITY OFFERS CHANGING MENU DAILY, LIVE MUSIC, FAMILY FUN • AT JUNKTORIA, REFURBISHERS TURN JUNK INTO GOLD • NAVE MUSEUM ADDS CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, HISTORICAL VALUE TO CROSSROADS • OUTLAW PASS OFFERS VARIETY OF FAMILY FUN • STAY FIT, HAVE FUN AT HANG TIME TRAMPOLINE PARK • VICTORIA SKATE PARK GIVES ATHLETES AN OUTLET FOR PASSION • ROLL YOUR WAY INTO VICTORIA TRADITION AT SKATEWORLD • BLACK AND WHITE LEAGUE RETURNS AFTER 1-YEAR ABSENCE • POPULARITY OF 7ON7 FOOTBALL GROWS

VICTORIA COUNTY

Nico Gonzales, 19, rides down one of the rails at the Victoria Skate Park. Rick Cruz, 31, made the trip to Victoria from Laredo to ride at the Victoria Skate Park.

Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Photos by Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

Fully bloomed roses at the Memorial Rose Garden.

ROSE GARDEN PROVIDES PEACEFUL SPOT

BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com

Wendy Richardson trims the roses before planting to prevent them from going into shock from the heat.

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DISCOVER 2019

Honey perfume. Henry Fonda. Love and peace.

Sheer bliss. Royal gold.

White lightnin’. Sunsprite.

And Joseph’s coat.

These are among more than 100 varieties of roses that have grown in the Memorial Rose Garden during its 40 years in Riverside Park. The fragrance of one variety inspires inquiries from visitors, said Jacqueline Yates, landscape crew leader for the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department.

“Scent-wise, the perfume delight, a purple-pink, almost fuchsia rose, has a strong, sweet citrusy smell,” Yates said. “There are tons of roses that color, but you can put your nose to it and pick it out because it smells like no other.”

Established in 1979, the rose garden is one of seven public rose gardens in Texas and one of 100 in the nation.

More than 1,000 rose bushes, including shrub, hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and climbing types, fill 46 planting beds. The gravel paths and beds wind around an octagonal white wooden gazebo with built-in benches on one side of the garden. On the other, the flower beds curve around a large ornamental water fountain.

Benches and white wooden arbors and trellises dot the almost 1-acre garden. And a tall, black iron fence surrounds it.

An Adopt-a-Rose program provided funding to rehabilitate the garden in 1996.

Members of the community adopted the rose bushes in memory of friends and

VICTORIA family or in honor of birthdays or anniversaries. New signage featuring all of the names soon will be affixed to the garden’s black iron fence.

“It’s a nice area to sit and meditate on those the roses are dedicated to,” said Danielle Williams, assistant director of the parks and recreation department.

Many local photo albums are filled with engagement, wedding, prom and quinceañera photographs taken in the rose garden.

And the gazebo has served

as an ideal place to exchange wedding vows for many Crossroads residents over the years.

The garden and gazebo can be reserved through the parks and recreation office and decorated for small gatherings, such as intimate weddings, for $10 an hour.

Guests can bring tables, chairs and refreshments.

One of the largest gatherings in the garden was the tour conducted during the Texas Master Gardener Association conference attended

A fountain sits in one corner among the roses at the Memorial Rose Garden.

by more than 400 gardeners earlier this year.

“We had a good time with them,” Yates said. “We learned from them, and they learned from us.”

Roses “keep you guessing,” Yates said. Their leaves can be a healthy green one day and brown the next. And the gardeners have to determine whether the problem is water, insects, fungus or some combination of those factors. The bushes thrive in the spring; the heat and humidity of the Texas summer take a bit of a toll on them; and then the cooler temperatures of October, November and December provide them with “a second spring.”

“Roses have taught us a lot about gardening in general because they are very particular and there is always something new to discover,” Yates said.

Wendy Richardson, a parks and recreation garden crew member, begins her work at 6:30 a.m. each day and spends four hours do-

ing about 90% of the work in the rose garden. In the winter, she receives a shipment of bare-root rose bundles for planting. She replaces bushes when they are spent and prunes them each February.

The Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free rose pruning class in February, and Yates said 20 to 30 people typically attend.

They learn the importance of pruning and how to prune, and then they prune a rose bush.

Each day, Richardson removes faded flowers and treats the roses for pests and black spot, the most common fungal disease. She uses “soft” products that minimize risk to beneficial insects such as lady beetles, lacewings, assassin bugs and praying mantis. She applies fertilizer and mulch periodically and generally keeps the garden clean from fallen flower petals and leaves as well as litter.

“The peak blooming season is a rewarding time to work – April and May,” Yates said. “The garden is filled with cut-back roses, no leaves or flowers, and spring is a time of renewal, everything is fresh in bloom.”

 IF YOU GO MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN

Riverside Park across from the entry to the boat ramp.

Wendy Richardson moves a sprinkler toward a rose bush in the Memorial Rose Garden.

HOURS // 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily unless maintenance herbicide or pesticide or rented special occasion.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

The rocky sand beach at Pebble Beach in Riverside Park

PEBBLE BEACH PROVIDES WATERSIDE SPOT FOR FUN

BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com

Jami Hewankorn, 38, of Victoria, listened to music through her earbuds as she scampered down from the grassy bank at Grover’s Bend to Pebble Beach.

Since the end of May, Hewankorn has brought her 7-year-old son and various friends to the beach on weekday afternoons to enjoy the river and the sunshine in Riverside Park.

“It’s more refreshing, and I’d rather be outside,” she said. “I like the river, and to go any other place like this, you’d have to drive so far away.”

In swimsuit and flip-flops, she made her way to the edge of the Guadalupe River where a large, blue umbrella provided shade and a low-sitting red folding chair reclined in the sun near the 16

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DISCOVER 2019

water. She and family friend, Gage Majefski, 15, a student at West High School, had set up camp for the afternoon.

Scattered around were noodle floats, bags and a soft-sided cooler.

She regularly drops off her son at the boat ramp, and he tubes or kayaks a short distance to the beach.

“I pull up, put up my umbrella, relax and listen to music,” she said.

Hewankorn prefers the serenity of the weekdays to the busy weekends at the beach.

Because of recent rains, the current was flowing faster than usual that Thursday, and the water was less muddy and more greenish-blue, she said.

“It’s not hot like a lake,” she said. “It has a steady, cool flow of water.”

Hewankorn said she sees some people who simply like

to walk around the river’s and swift current at the rivbend. er’s bend made the destina“Yesterday, I saw a lady tion so popular that the Vicwith two dogs sitting up on toria Parks and Recreation the bank listening to an au- Department decided to make diobook,” she said. “She it legitimate. moved once in a while to The department added a catch the breeze.” parking lot nearby, cleared The beach comprises of a a wide path to the area, and layer of river rocks over sand erected a park sign designatand provides an appealing ing the area as Pebble Beach. waterside spot for picnics Trash cans also were added, and barbecues, said Danielle and park staff and beach-goWilliams, assistant director ers alike urged people to use of the parks and recreation them. department.

“Most people go out of “People swim, tie off with a town to enjoy a place like tube or float, barbecue, hang this,” Hewankorn said. “But out and fish,” she said. “And this is right here.” you need a valid fishing li IF YOU GO cense to fish.”

Years before the beach PEBBLE BEACH Grover’s Bend in Riverside became an official feature Park, 107 Lowery Drive in the park, locals trampled a foot trail through a dense HOURS // wooded area to get to the 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily site and nicknamed it Pebble Beach. The shallow water More information: Free, 361485-3200, victoriatx.org

VICTORIA

Photos by Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

Beau Hughes, 3, pets a bunny inside Texas Zoo.

TEXAS ZOO BRINGS LIFE TO VICTORIA

BY AMBER ALDACO aaldaco@vicad.com

As you walk past the main entrance of the Texas Zoo, an animal might greet you along with a zoo employee.

Or Nova the Eurasian lynx might play hide-and-seek with you from behind the windows of the wildlife encounters room.

“We are starting to in-

Claire Friedrich, 9, left, and Olivia Young, 11, watch one of the vet camp activity leaders demonstrate suturing a wound at Texas Zoo. 18

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DISCOVER 2019

clude more animal encounters as visitors walk in so that people can have an interaction with an animal right off the bat,” said Liz Jensen, executive director of the Texas Zoo. The Texas Zoo might look a little different to those who haven’t visited in a few years. After Hurricane Harvey, rains flooded the zoo,

forcing the park to close down for a few months so employees and community members could clean and rebuild the park.

Though physically the zoo hasn’t changed much, there are now more programs and opportunities for visitors to interact with wildlife.

Visitors can now interact with several animals at an

Braylon Davis, 10, jumps with surprise as one of the goats at Texas Zoo sticks his head through the fence.

VICTORIA additional cost. Included in wildlife interactions is a chance to meet Bright Eyes, the red ruffed lemur; Nova, a Eurasian lynx; D9 and Flo, black bears; jaX and Sophia, jaguars; a white nosed coati; and a striped skunk.

Some of the encounters, such as with the black bears, allow visitors to be able to feed the animals, while encounters with others may mean an opportunity to pet the animal, such as the case with Nova, who loves to play and snuggle, Jensen said.

Another opportunity for animal interaction is the petting zoo, where visitors can feed emus and goats of all sizes.

“Our belief, and hope, is that people interact with the

animals and make a connection. Hopefully, that connection will inspire people to want to protect animals also,” Jensen said.

Maynie Davis, of Victoria, was visiting the zoo one day in the summer with her two grandchildren, Riley Hill and Braylon Davis, and decided to stop by the petting zoo.

“They’re so cute,” Riley, 9, said as a black goat sneezed.

“Bless you!”

Davis said years have passed since the last time she visited the zoo. She loves how visitors, especially children, have more opportunities to connect with animals.

“I think it was a great idea for the zoo to have opportunities like this because it gives kids an idea of how

animals eat and what they’re really like,” Davis said.

The zoo also offers educational and outreach programs. Several animals, such as Zazu the macaw, serve as wildlife ambassadors and travel with zoo employees to schools and events to help educate the

Crossroads community about wildlife and the importance of conservation.

Those who plan to visit the Crossroads during the summer, winter and spring break months should check with the zoo about weeklong educational opportunities for children.

 IF YOU GO THE TEXAS ZOO 110 Memorial Drive 361-573-7681 texaszoo.org

HOURS // 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. ADMISSION: $5.50 for seniors ages 55 and up; $8.50 for adults ages 13 and up; $7.50 for children 3-12 years; $4.50 for active/retired military; and free for toddlers 2 years and younger.

Celebrating 50 Years

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VICTORIA

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Courtney Figuerova, of Victoria, makes sandwiches at Yummy Finds in Victoria. Figuerova is the owner of Yummy Finds.

YUMMY FINDS OFFERS MORE THAN A GOOD CUPCAKE

BY MORGAN THEOPHIL mtheophil@vicad.com

An assortment of cupcakes are offered at Yummy Finds.

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DISCOVER 2019

When you walk in the door of Yummy Finds, the heart behind the operation is clear.

The “quaint, unique, God-loving little restaurant and bakery,” as described by owner Courtney Figuerova, operates as a partnership with Perpetual Help Home, a Christian-based, permanent supportive housing organization that helps move women toward independence with transitional support and new life-skills training.

“When you come in here, you know that you’re doing more than just enjoying the food,” she said. “You’re helping something.”

Yummy Finds, 402 Salem Road, is a restaurant and bakery that was founded in 2009. In 2016, Figuerova felt led to close the shop’s doors – but didn’t do so for long.

The shop reopened in 2017 as a partnership with Perpetual Help Home.

The heart behind the partnership is designed to glorify God, said Bethany Castro, the executive director of Perpetual Help Home. Half of all proceeds earned at Yummy Finds are given to Perpetual Help Home.

As part of the partnership, Yummy Finds has a Restaurant Academy where two women living at Perpetual Help Home at a time work as wait staff at the restaurant for three to six months.

The academy provides the women an opportunity to learn professional skills, work face-to-face with customers and prepare for future careers, Castro said.

“In here, we are striving to provide excellent food, joyful customer service and a peaceful atmosphere for

VICTORIA our customers,” Castro said.

“And it goes beyond the delicious lunch and really helps many women.”

Yummy Finds is historically known for its cupcakes, the two women said, but it’s also a popular lunch spot in town. In 2019, it was voted Best Appetizer in the Victoria Advocate’s annual Best of the Best.

The appetizer that led the restaurant to claim the award

sounds simple, a cup of fresh fruit with a house-made fruit dip, but Figuerova called it “just heavenly.” Containers of the popular dip can be purchased at Yummy Finds.

For lunch favorites, Castro and Figuerova agreed two sandwiches stand out. First, it’s the jalapeño popper panini, which has been a top seller since it was introduced.

It’s hot, with house-made jalapeño cream cheese spread,

Brittany Ley, of Victoria, makes red velvet cupcakes at Yummy Finds.

turkey, spicy three-pepper colby jack cheese, pancetta, avocado, tomato and lettuce on sourdough bread.

Many lunchtime visitors also opt for Rebekah’s special, a spicy chipotle chicken sandwich with mozzarella, avocado, tomato, lettuce and mayo on toasted flatbread. The sandwich is named after a “sweet, God-loving girl” who used to work with Figuerova.

“But no matter what people get for lunch, or if they don’t get any lunch at all, people always come back to our cupcakes,” Figuerova said.

Among the favorites is the Honey Bee, a vanilla cupcake injected with honey and topped with a smooth and creamy honey cinnamon buttercream frosting. Among the 20 main flavors, there’s a classic red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting, an ever-popular Oreo Cloud

and a pineapple upsidedown cupcake.

And the women don’t forget to point out one of the shop’s more original choices: the Very Merry Un-BiRtHdAy cupcake, a “whimsical” cupcake that’s a marbled vanilla and chocolate cake layered with colored confetti sprinkles and topped with vanilla and chocolate buttercream and more confetti sprinkles.

The specialty was named by the Yummy Finds’ Facebook community, Figuerova said.

Seasonal cupcake flavors are also offered year-round.

Cupcakes come in three sizes: cuties, yummies or yummos. Yummos, which are the biggest, aren’t sold daily in the store.

“There’s honestly not one cupcake I don’t like,” Castro said.

Aside from the restaurant’s regular hours, Yummy Finds caters events such as weddings, receptions and parties. The shop can be rented before or after store hours for events such as bunko nights and bridal showers.

Though Yummy Finds’ hours aren’t vast, the two women said it’s worth the effort to come by for a weekday lunch – without forgetting a cupcake as you go.

“Yummy Finds is a gem that everyone should discover,” Castro said.

 IF YOU GO YUMMY FINDS 402 Salem Road

Yummy Finds offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and cupcakes with 50% of its profits going to Perpetual Help Home.

HOURS // 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

One of Las Palmas signature dishes is the Family Appetizer. This appetizer includes a chicken quesadilla, beef fajita nachos, two chicken-stuffed jalapeños and chili con queso.

LAS PALMAS SERVES A TASTE OF CULTURE WITH THE FOOD

BY MORGAN THEOPHIL mtheophil@vicad.com

On a warm summer afternoon, the inside of Las Palmas Mexican Bar & Grill is cool. Frozen margaritas are poured, chips with queso abound and fresh Mexican dishes come out of the kitchen piping hot.

Las Palmas Mexican Bar and Grill’s signature mangonada.

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DISCOVER 2019

And the restaurant’s community-atmosphere thrives.

Adam and Kathy Orosco, Albert Orosco Jr. and Lupe Gaitan, find themselves at the restaurant on many different occasions, and on a mid-July afternoon, they shared one another’s company while enjoying their own meals. The four are just a few of the 11 siblings in their family.

“Someone just picks up the phone and calls, and we do our best to get together,” Albert Orosco Jr. said. “It’s nice to get together, and this is a great place to go when we choose to meet out.”

Las Palmas Mexican Bar & Grill, 6007 N. Main St., Suite D, has been a Victoria favorite for about 15 years. The popular spot claimed the title of Best Ethnic Restaurant

Customers enjoy food and drinks at Las Palmas Mexican Bar and Grill in Victoria.

in the 2019 Advocate’s Best of the Best awards, and has received numerous other awards throughout the years.

Frank Martinez has been the restaurant’s general manager for more than three years and has been in the restaurant business for 34.

He said the restaurant’s owner, Ruben Leon, “has a mind that’s always working,” which makes the job fun, and has made the restaurant last.

“He’s always thinking of new things, new specials, new plates, new ideas,” Martinez said. “He’s the most innovative restaurant owner I’ve ever worked with.”

Las Palmas Mexican Bar & Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Martinez said the restaurant is busy for all three meals. He said some “regulars” can be found enjoying a meal three to four times a week.

VICTORIA While the restaurant is known for its Mexican cuisine – such as tacos, enchiladas and tostadas – he said there is a wide variety of popular dishes that one wouldn’t expect, such as the rib-eye steak.

“We aren’t a steakhouse, but we sure make a rib-eye as good as one,” Martinez said.

The restaurant has a bar with classic and unique signature drinks. The Frankarita is a special frozen margarita created by and named after Martinez.

“It’s not sour, it’s not tart, and everything else about it is a secret,” he said.

The four siblings each shared similar sentiments about the reason for choosing Las Palmas when they get to-

gether. They said they love the food, but also, the atmosphere.

A live mariachi band performs on Friday nights, and though the siblings haven’t made it to the restaurant for that yet, they said they plan to. Their mother was a dancer, and their father was an ac-

cordion player and wonderful musician, Gaitan said.

“It’s a perfect place for us to come together and visit,

have great food and take in the culture,” Gaitan said.

“The culture and family-feel are great here.”

 IF YOU GO LAS PALMAS MEXICAN BAR & GRILL 6007 N. Main St., Ste. D

HOURS // Monday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday: 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday: 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Lindsey Ellisor, 27, and Ernest Ellisor, both of Victoria, discuss dinner options before ordering from El Huarache Loco at Curbside Cuisines, 4208 N. Navarro St. The couple said this was the first time they stopped by for dinner to go.

FOOD TRUCK GARDEN OFFERS WIDE SPECTRUM OF CHOICES

BY JON WILCOX jwilcox@vicad.com

Despite the occasional spring shower, a group of friends were enjoying an evening of warm conversation, cold beer and boiled

crawfish at an outdoor food truck garden in Victoria.

“This is the only place in town where you can go with five or six options,” said Victoria resident Armando Leos, 37.

Crawfish is offered at one of the food trucks at Curbside Cuisines, which recently opened at 4208 N. Navarro St. It offers diners a variety of food from crawfish and seafood to barbecue, Mexican food, gyros, burgers and pastries.

An ice cream vendor recently opened.

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On a rainy Thursday evening, Leos and his wife brought their in-laws from Baytown to Curbside Cuisines, a dining space at 4208 N. Navarro St. that features half a dozen food trucks.

Attracted by a variety of menus that included traditional Tex-Mex, homemade ice cream, gourmet hot dogs, gyros, street tacos and other tasty diversions, the friends planned to stay until closing time.

That opportunity marked an exciting change for Baytown resident Cheyenne Phinney, who was visiting Leos’ family for vacation.

“When we used to come, it was like all we can get is McDonald’s,” said Phinney, a self-described foodie. “We don’t want to eat fast food on vacation.”

But Curbside Cuisines offers more than just food.

With picnic tables, live music, games like cornhole and checkers, a dog-friendly atmosphere and a BYOB policy, it’s not uncommon for diners to linger.

“We’re just here hanging out,” Leos said. “I got a couple more friends on the way. Everyone just comes and eats.”

Stephanie Beltran, 29, who owns El Huarache Loco with her family, agreed the garden is a one-stop dining opportunity with enough options for everyone.

The truck’s name, which translates to “crazy sandal,” also doubles as a moniker for their menu’s signature item – a long homemade tortilla with grilled meat and veggies made from her mother’s recipes.

VICTORIA “I like it here,” she said.

Victoria entrepreneur Joshua Council, who owns Curbside Cuisine and the food truck Fabulous Dinners To Go, said the food truck garden is the only place of its kind in Victoria.

While food trucks can sometimes be found parked at certain strip mall parking lots and other corners, Curbside Cuisine is unique in the amenities it offers.

Those amenities should only expand, said Council,

Aiden Leos, 3, plays with crawfish heads while his parents visit at Curbside Cuisines.

adding he has plans for an enclosed dog run.

Council said diners are welcome to hang out at the lot for hours.

“Instead of pulling up and pulling away, we are establishing a family atmosphere,” he said.

Diners are also welcome to choose from a variety of options that are curated by Council, who rents the space to food trucks.

In fact, despite a total of 42 permitted trucks in Victoria, Council said Victoria has become a mecca for street food in the Crossroads.

The allure of variety is something he and his family have personally come to appreciate

“It gives people more options. Everybody is going to have different tastes,” he said.

“We all try each other’s plates.”

 IF YOU GO CURBSIDE CUISINES FOOD TRUCK GARDEN 4208 N. Navarro St.

WHEN // Food trucks are available seven days a week, but hours vary. Musical performances are featured 7-10 p.m. Friday, 8-11 p.m. Saturday and sometimes on Sunday. Hours are extended for holidays.

FOR MORE INFO: Visit Curbside Cuisines on Facebook or call 361-48-4346. The food truck garden is seeking artists for future performances.

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The Bomb Diggity is located off U.S. 59 in Inez.

THE BOMB DIGGITY PROVIDES FOOD AND FUN FOR ALL

BY KALI VENABLE kvenable@vicad.com

INEZ – Tucked a few blocks off U.S. 59 in Inez, The Bomb Diggity is growing in popularity.

“When we first opened, we kind of knew everybody that was in here,” said Crystal Cantu, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Matt Cantu. “Now, I guess because it is getting so big, we sometimes walk out there and don’t know a soul.

“People drive from all over.”

The Cantus’ restaurant, which opened on New Year’s Day 2018, inherited its name from a food truck that served as the couple’s gateway into the food industry.

“I’ve always been in the oil field, so it kind of all fell into place (with) a downturn 26

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DISCOVER 2019

in the oil field,” Matt said. “I got tired of sitting at home, had to go do something, so we built the food truck and tinkered with that, (as well as) lots of catering.”

Beyond the joint’s hardto-miss pinup-themed sign are multiple colorful rooms with memorable interior, described by the Cantus as “retro farmhouse.”

“We wanted to keep the country vibe, but add some flare to it,” Crystal said.

Popular dishes include the rib eye, chicken fried steak smothered in jalapeno gravy, and fish and grits, but customers are constantly greeted with new options each day, she said.

Unlike a lot of spots in the Crossroads, The Bomb Diggity’s menu changes on a daily

basis. Those menus are posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page every Tuesday.

In addition to the classics, a full bar whips up featured drinks, like watermelon and cucumber mint martinis to cool off with in the Texas heat or even a banana split colada for dessert.

On any given Friday or Saturday, live music plays from a corner stage overlooking a dance floor.

“We wanted to make sure that it was family friendly for children because that is one thing we enjoy,” Crystal said. “When you have younger kids, you have to go somewhere and kind of want to let loose without your kids being stuck right next to you, so we have the dance floor area and we

don’t mind the kids getting up and hanging out.

“It is not like, ‘shh!’ We don’t want to be that kind of place.”

After a meal and few drinks, the Cantus said they hope people leave with “a full belly, relaxation, good friends, good food and good times.”

And, of course, keep coming back for more.

 IF YOU GO THE BOMB DIGGITY

208 Railroad, Inez

HOURS // 4-10 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday; 4 p.m.- midnight, Friday-Sunday

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VICTORIA

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Junktoria has 32 booths for vendors to sell antiques and collectables in Victoria.

AT JUNKTORIA, REFURBISHERS TURN JUNK INTO GOLD

BY MORGAN O’HANLON mohanlon@vicad.com

Junk sounds worthless, but, at Junktoria, refurbishers like Michelle Wagner show that it’s possible to turn junk into gold.

Wagner opened Junktoria in 2014 after a lifetime of refurbishing old furniture. She began the hobby as a child

watching her mother practice the craft.

At her shop on SH 185 on the way from Victoria to Bloomington, she’s one of 22 vendors who sell everything from furniture to clothing and various other antiques from the store’s booths. Wagner lives in a home behind Junktoria and refurbishev-

furniture from a workshop at the back of the store.

Wagner may own the shop, but she said the single booth she fills with her own refurbished furniture is only one small part of what her store has to offer.

“I just sit behind the counter,” Wagner said. “It takes all of us to make the shop run.”

The variety, Wagner said, contributes to the surprise that makes antiquing special.

“Everybody has their own styles,” Wagner said. “I like bright, funky colors, and not everybody likes that.”

Wagner used to make repurposed items, such as an old sewing machine re-purposed as a lamp or an old

 IF YOU GO JUNKTORIA 4736 SH 185 361-420-1412

Junktoria is located off of SH 185 in Victoria. Junktoria HOURS // was opened in 2014 by Michelle Wagner.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 28

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farmhouse door converted into a table, but she said such items have stopped selling.

Now, she said customers are more interested in painted items.

Shopper Hillary Rosengrant, 34, has two such painted items hanging on the doors of her children’s bedrooms.

“They’re door hangers, they’re cute little butterflies with a chalkboard background,” Rosengrant said.

After getting a job driving drill bits to and from oil and gas sites in the Crossroads, Wagner decreased Junkatoria’s hours in May and now only operates on Saturdays.

Even after the change in hours, Rosengrant said she continues to find her way to the Junktoria. In her years of visiting the store, Rosengrant said she has always left the store surprised.

“You never know what you’re gonna find,” Rosengrant said.

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VICTORIA

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Works of art created by Patricia Compton, of Goliad, adorn the walls of the Nave Museum during her exhibition titled “Underdog.”

NAVE MUSEUM ADDS VALUE TO CROSSROADS

BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com

The Nave Museum sits ceremoniously on the corner of Moody and Commercial streets in downtown Victoria.

Six ionic columns stretch upward to a frieze where “ROYSTON NAVE MEMORIAL” is engraved across the width of the narrow Greek revival temple.

Patricia Compton, of Goliad, titled her latest exhibit after the underdogs she relates to in life.

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Inside, depending on the media, the walls are adorned or the galleries are filled with works of fine art created mainly by Texas artists.

The free exhibits typically change six times a year.

Those looking for peaceful contemplation can tour the galleries alone or in small groups, while those looking for festive interaction can join the Victoria Regional Museum Association to attend the exhibit openings.

The museum hosts a preview party for association members the evening before each exhibit opens to the public. Members enjoy wine and conversation as they browse the collections, and the artists deliver short talks and mingle with the crowds.

Some levels of membership include hors d’oeuvres and

more fellowship at a patron party hosted in an area home after each preview party.

Between 500 and 800 guests visit each exhibit at the museum, said Diana Kallus, operations manager for the museum.

When Royston Nave, a Texas artist born in La Grange, died unexpectedly in 1931, his wife Emma McFaddin McCan Nave commissioned the building to house his paintings. The library of the Bronte Study Club, the oldest women’s literary club in Texas, also found a home.

The stately museum designed by San Antonio architect Atlee Ayres opened in 1932. Ayres also designed the Spanish colonial revival-style house in 1928 that is now home to the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum

VICTORIA in San Antonio, among numerous other historic homes and buildings in Texas.

The museum eventually doubled as a library until the Victoria Public Library opened in the 1970s. About the same time, descendants

 IF YOU GO THE NAVE MUSEUM

306 W. Commercial St., Victoria.

361-575-8228 www.navemuseum.com

HOURS // Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Monday

of the McCan family deeded the historic building to the city, which rented the space to the Victoria Regional Museum Association. Decades later, the city deeded the museum to the association, the building’s current owner.

Nave’s paintings, mainly landscapes and portraits, are in climate-controlled storage, but the plan is to repair some of the center walls in the museum and display a few of his works all the time.

An exhibit featuring all of his work is planned for 2021.

In September, an exhibit opened featuring the paintings and mixed media art-

 UPCOMING EXHIBITS MADELINE WOODWORKING O’CONNOR SHOW Sept. 27–Nov. 3 O’Connor’s work was born from an art vocabulary first explored by masters that include Cezanne and Matisse.

She extended the efforts of these artists in the isolation of a small Texas community by using the nature around her as beginning points for her artmaking.

GENTILESCHI AEGIS GALLERY ASSOCIATION (G.A.G.A.) Nov. 22–Jan. 5, 2020 Members of G.A.G.A., a nonprofit serving women artists of South Texas, have blindly chosen from a pot of graduated paint swatches to create works based on their color selections. The museum will display them in order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet to create a cohesive statement about color, history and chance.

work created by Madeline O’Connor, a beloved Victoria artist who died in 2002.

The museum collected her works, many of which are large in scale, from those who own them.

O’Connor was a “wellknown and well-loved” artist, so Kallus expects the exhibit to be well attended.

The last show featuring her work was in 2008 and community members were anxious to see the collection again, she said.

The exhibit ends Nov. 3.

“Madeline O’Connor’s work is the star exhibit for this year,” said Julie McCan, a Victoria Regional Museum Association board member whose husband, Bob McCan, is the great-grandson of Emma Nave.

Julie McCan has served the organization in various volunteer roles for 35 years.

Polo at McFaddin, the annual fundraiser chaired by McCan, has become a popular community event over the past decade. The next daylong escape in the country, including a polo match, auctions and tailgate tables, is scheduled for April 4, 2020.

“Seeing inspirational artwork, getting the depth of the artist’s meaning, enjoying the visual aspect of it, relaxing in a nice, quiet, cool getaway, being an introvert instead of an extrovert, and daydreaming are wonderful breaks from the craziness in the world,” McCan said.

“And it’s educational.”

Jan. 31–March 22 A display of local artists will show off their handmade wooden creations. Long before paper, canvas or metal, wood was one of man’s first art materials. The show will feature furniture and wooden sculptures of an artistic and sometimes silly nature.

HIROMI STRINGER TIME TRAVEL April 9–May 31 Time travel with Shoei Umeyama, a fictional character who teleports to the contemporary world from the Japan of 170 years ago.

Ink drawings on paper tell the story of Shoei’s travels in the new world.

Tiamo Hudspeth rides toward her opponent during the polo match at McFaddin Ranch.

 HOLD THE DATE POLO AT MCFADDIN BENEFITING THE NAVE MUSEUM McFaddin Ranch Polo Grounds, 517 McCan Road, McFaddin MORE INFORMATION: Call 361-575-8228 or visit the Nave Museum, 306 W. Commercial St. WHEN April 4 VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Photos by Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

Mason Rena rides a go-kart at Outlaw Pass in Victoria.

OUTLAW PASS IS A PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN

BY KALI VENABLE kvenable@vicad.com

Cuero resident Becky Dromgoole walked with her husband on a hot Friday afternoon last summer and watched as their two daughters rushed toward the go-

kart track at Outlaw Pass Family Fun Center.

“We drive by here all the time when we take the back way to my mom’s, and the kids are always like, ‘I wanna go there!’” their mom said.

“We finally decided to give it

The Dromgoole family, Paige, Becky, Ty and Preslie, play miniature golf at Outlaw Pass.

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a try and we’ll definitely be coming back.”

The Outlaw Pass Family Fun Center has been filled with entertainment for all ages since Mark and Julie Mize opened the amusement park in 2016, but the couple is always looking toward the future.

Starting in the fall, guests will see the arcade section undergo a transformation as

new, state-of-the-art games are brought in for kids and adults alike.

“It is going to be a better mix of games because they are all going to be new on the market – the best games out there,” Mark Mize said.

Located on 9.4 acres five minutes past Victoria Mall, Outlaw Pass first opened with a 900-foot go-kart track, rock-climbing wall,

Miniature golf is available at Outlaw Pass.

VICTORIA 18-hole mini golf course and mining sluice.

Over the years, the couple has added a sandbox, chalkboard, horseshoe, tug-a-war, washers, cornhole, a water balloon launcher, Euro-Bungees and El Paso Train for little children.

“We like to keep things fresh, to keep adding things so when people come out, they can do something different than what they’ve done before,” Julie Mize said.

“Mark is always thinking, like he just built a mister out there to cool off everybody and still has a lot of ideas.”

Mason Tipton, a private baseball coach in Victoria, took two of the young boys he coaches to play miniature

golf at the park. He coaches the boys for three hours each day during the summer months and said he wanted to give them a change of pace.

“It is nice to have something other than a baseball bat in your hand sometimes,” he said. “I thought I’d give them a break from practice to hang out and have fun.”

The go-kart track is the center’s most popular attraction. Mason Rena, 10, and his 13-year-old sister, Mallory Rena, said zooming around the track is their favorite activity. They visit the amusement park with their mom about once a month.

“The kids are out of school, so it is nice to get them out

of the house and give them something to do,” she said.

“They love to come and bring a friend or two.”

In January, an outdoor laser tag battlefield was added to the list of activities to choose from. Up to 20 people can play on the field at a time, using laser tag guns that have a variety of games to choose from.

Giving people a place where they can create moments is a blessing, Julie Mize said.

“We have teenage groups that come out here, young people, couples that are having their date nights and still it really is a family atmosphere,” she said. “And that is the whole point. We

wanted to create a place where people build relationships with each other and these little periods of time that they remember.”

 IF YOU GO OUTLAW PASS FAMILY FUN CENTER 78 Tate Road, Victoria

HOURS // Winter and fall hours are 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.11 p.m. Saturday and 1-9 p.m.

Sunday. Summer hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Saturday and 1-9 p.m. Sunday.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

Brance Nevarez, 8, does a front flip at Hang Time trampoline park in Victoria.

STAY FIT, HAVE FUN AT HANG TIME TRAMPOLINE PARK

BY KALI VENABLE kvenable@vicad.com

On a hot July afternoon, kids ran, jumped and bounced in the air conditioning at Hang Time trampoline park.

In addition to the trampoline area, attractions include a dodgeball court, slam dunk area, an interactive jumping game called Beam, and SoxAir, which is a mixture of soccer and football elevated by bouncing.

The goal of Hang Time since the trampoline park

opened in February 2015 has been to get kids moving.

The venue has been home to thousands of parties since it opened, said owner Heath Seerden.

Victoria resident Kori Dollins had a party at the park for her 3-year-old son with more than 20 of his friends.

She said he is very active so Hang Time was a perfect fit.

“It was something different,” she said about the venue. “The staff has been really good and accommodating, and everyone is having a

George Adams, 2, tries to throw a ball into a basketball hoop at Hang Time. Adams goes to Hang Time frequently with his family.

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DISCOVER 2019

good time; even my husband is jumping and the parents played dodgeball.”

The park hosts a variety of events such as two-hour Tuesdays for the price of one and family night on Thursdays.

The most popular event is Midnight Madness, when the park is lit by black lights and a DJ plays tunes.

Midnight Madness is on the first and third Fridays of every month from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The trampolines are secure as opposed to the old-school trampoline, where a person’s foot could get caught between the springs, Seerden said. All jumpers are also required to wear gripped socks that are sold for $2 on-site.

Hang Time allows children 8 years or older to play at the facility without a guardian, and welcomes kids to use a phone to get picked up. Before the facility opens on Fridays, children in kindergarten or younger are

also welcome for Toddler Time with their parents.

Victoria resident Reggie Kuzet said he brings his 5-year-old son to the park regularly because he can exercise and unplug from technology.

“It gives him a chance to get outside of the heat and gives them a chance to jump and bounce and play instead of staying inside on computer screens,” he said. “He loves it.”

 IF YOU GO HANG TIME TRAMPOLINE PARK 4002 N. Main St., Victoria 361-582-0475

HOURS // 4-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday; closed Wednesday FOR MORE INFO: Visit hangtimetrampolinepark.com

VICTORIA

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

The arcade at Laser World.

LASER WORLD CHALLENGES DRAWS CROWDS, PARTIES

BY KALI VENABLE kvenable@vicad.com

Just north of the Victoria Mall, the Laser Tag complex attracts people from all over the Crossroads.

The family-friendly venue has a three-story, 2,000-square-foot laser tag arena; about 30 arcade games and a 4-D theater that plays six- to eight-minute interactive films.

Dante Garza, who owns Laser World with Jim Brand, built the three-story laser tag extravaganza filled with holograms, ramps and attractions glowing under black lights.

“You think you’re hiding, but wherever you’re at, you can still be seen,” said David Shelley, general manager. “It is a premiere sight for the state of Texas. All the equipment comes from DarkLight Laser Tag, who invented the laser tag game.”

About 30 people can play the game at once, which lasts about 15 minutes with five minutes of instruction.

Laser tag is recommended for anyone 7 years or older.

Raynalda Garcia, a 70-year-old Victoria resident, has taken her two grandsons to play quite a few times.

Vests worn during laser tag line the walls in the room before entering the arena at Laser World in in Victoria.

“I even played it once with them and I liked it a lot; you go crazy running around,” she said. “It is good that they have this because a lot of kids like to come here.”

Beyond laser tag, there is a full arcade room packed with prizes and a 12-person theater.

Be sure not to miss out on the 4-D theater, where kids and adults alike can experience virtual reality-type short films in high-tech chairs that move while gusts of air seemingly come out of nowhere to match the experience on-screen.

The venue changes its movies annually. There are family-friendly films like the popular “Great Wall of China” experience, as well as scary films for teenagers and adults.

The snack bar features homemade pizzas, wings, funnel cakes, hand dipped Blue Bell Ice Cream cones, floats and more.

Shelley said the center is a popular spot for birthday and company parties, especially during the school year.

Gennifer Sandoval brought her son to Laser World with a group of his friends and family for his eighth birthday on a July evening.

“We came to a birthday party here before and my son fell in love,” she said.

“We live a little out of town in Inez, so we haven’t had a chance to come back, but he made sure to let me know he wanted to have his party here.”

Sandoval’s son, Drake, said he likes playing laser tag and the arcade games.

“My favorite is the air hockey, but I really like the basketball game,” he said. “I change my mind; the basketball is my favorite.”

 IF YOU GO LASER WORLD 310 E. Larkspur St.

361-578-3005, laserworldvictoria.com HOURS // 5-9 p.m. Thursday; 4-10 p.m.

Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday; 1-9 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday through Wednesday VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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VICTORIA

Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

Nico Gonzales, 19, rides down one of the rails at the Victoria Skate Park. Rick Cruz, 31, made the trip to Victoria from Laredo to ride at the Victoria Skate Park.

SKATE PARK GIVES ATHLETES OUTLET FOR PASSION

BY JON WILCOX jwilcox@vicad.com

Cameron Ricketts, 28, does skateboard tricks at the Victoria Skate Park. Ricketts is a Victoria resident who comes to the park regularly to unwind.

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DISCOVER 2019

Flying among the concrete inclines and steel railings, the occasionally airborne skateboarders and BMX riders were in a place of zen at the Victoria Skate Park.

“You can be yourself,” said Tony Aguinaga, a 29-year-old Victoria resident and skateboarder. “It gives me freedom.”

Since 2009, the Crossroads’ only skate park has offered a haven for skateboarders, roller skaters, BMX riders, scooter-pushers and other enthusiasts of human-propelled, wheeled recreation. Years after its opening, the park still attracts a considerable crowd eager to get their roll on.

On a summer evening as a setting sun cast tanger-

ine and violet tones across the horizon, Aguinaga took a break from racing along the smooth concrete to reflect on the escape offered by the park.

“Going to the skate park releases you,” he said.

“When my mindset is not where it’s supposed to be, I can chill out. It releases your stress.”

Frustration, anger, sadness and other negative feelings fall away when Aguinaga is skating. When he’s riding, often with headphones on and music jamming, the sport transports his mind from the pressures of daily life to the tricks he’s working to master.

The experience, he said, is elevating.

Mike Wursthorn, former owner of The Art Factory Skate Shop and a Victoria

VICTORIA skateboarder of more than two decades, agreed.

“It’s your own way of bringing creativity to life.

There are no rules, no teams, no time limit, no keeping score, no coaches yelling, no judgment.

There is passion, creativity, self-motivation, dedication, style, love, hard work, support and encouragement,” he said. “That’s what not only skating is, but what the skate community brings.”

Although the park brings in plenty of skateboarders eager to shred, Aguinaga said that’s not the only sport welcome there. He said he often sees children riding scooters and equally enjoying themselves.

But it’s not just people from Victoria who seek out the skate park, he said.

“Not only do local Victoria residents use the skate park but also kids and grown-ups from hundreds of miles around,” he said.

“Our park brings in skaters from all over Texas.

We as skateboarders enjoy traveling to new parks to experience new courses and obstacles.”

Rick Cruz, a 31-year-old Laredo BMX rider, said he drove to Victoria with a friend to try the skate park after watching Youtube videos featuring it.

Such visits are common, Wursthorn said, because of the Victoria Skate Park’s

indisputable quality. The park, he said, is particularly good for Victoria’s size.

“Any skateboarder these days will be excited about a skate park in their hometown,” Wursthorn said.

“We here in Victoria are so

lucky to have one right here at our fingertips.”

 IF YOU GO VICTORIA SKATE PARK Outside the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St.

HOURS // 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily COST: Free FOR MORE INFO: Contact the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department at 361-485-3200 or by visiting their website.

Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

Nico Gonzales, 19, rides down one of the rails at the Victoria Skate Park.

The Wellness Community is a shared vision that believes better outcomes for people with co-existing physical and mental health conditions can be achieved in a therapeutic residential setting. Integrative services targeting the medical, social, behavioral and environmental factors that impair an individual treats the whole person and maximizes improved health.

Gulf Bend Center has established this Community as a self-governing, independent living setting that promotes the resident’s sense of responsibility and self-respect.

provided by Gulf Bend Center 1009 N. Nimitz Victoria, Texas 77901 P: 361.575.0611, Ext. 501 F: 361.703.5134

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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37

VICTORIA

Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

Sarah Castilla laces roller skates at Skateworld in Victoria. Skateworld offers other forms of skating if people choose not to roller skate such as scooters. It also offers arcade games and inflatables.

ROLL YOUR WAY INTO VICTORIA TRADITION AT SKATEWORLD

BY MORGAN O’HANLON mohanlon@vicad.com

Nationally competitive speed skaters flocked to Victoria’s Skateworld, where Rolling Thunder, a speed skating team, would practice.

“They were competing among the fastest skaters in the nation, and even in the world,” Raymond Garza, the rink’s current owner, said.

It’s prominence as a speed skating hub has waned, but the rink remains dedicated to giving inexperienced skaters the tools they need to learn.

They provide different tools to help them balance.

“We can slow the wheels down so they don’t move as fast. We can adjust the skate 38

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DISCOVER 2019

to the ability of the skater,” Garza said.

Skateworld opened in Victoria in the 1970s and has been owned by the Garza family since 1992. Garza said he used to visit the skating rink every weekend with his friends. When he learned its previous owner planned to sell, Garza said he urged his parents to buy the business.

“Roller skating in Victoria is a tradition,” Garza said.

“Every Friday and Saturday the kids would skate. It was a place to come out and stay out of trouble.”

No one can attest to the tradition more than Kenzel Williams, who has skated at the rink almost every weekend since he was 6 years old.

Although Williams, who lived with his mother behind the skating rink in Treemont Apartments, didn’t have much money to spare, he found ways to skate and would even use quads belonging to his cousin that were several sizes too big.

In adulthood, Williams continues to head out to the rink – now with his two kids in tow.

Over the years, Williams said, he’s honed his skills and will help less experienced skaters he sees in the rink.

“Raymond is what really keeps me going back there,” Williams said. “That man is so helpful in every way.”

After years of Garza encouraging Williams to be-

come competitive, he recently bought a pair of inline skates and began attending the speed skating team’s twice weekly practices.

“I want to take it as far as I can,” Williams said.

 IF YOU GO SKATEWORLD 108 Monterrey Drive

HOURS // Tuesday: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday: 7:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.

Saturday: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Sunday: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m MORE INFO: Victoria Rolling Thunder, Victoria’s only inline speed skating team, practices from 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Monday and Wednesday night.

Victoria texas community radio For You FM 99.5 - KVLJ Streaming KVLJ Radio.org

Showcasing your music on air

Can be found at Tee's Music House 906 E Red River • Victoria 361-575-0204

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Our campus offers residential living and 70 degree options and concentrations. Online and face-to-face classes are available at times that are convenient for you. A bachelor’s or master’s degree from UHV can help you get ahead in your career.

Call (361) 570-4848 to find out how your family can make its mark at UHV.

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Save the Dates

Celtic Tenors December 14, 2019

7:30 PM - Victoria Fine Arts Center

Super Diamond

“The Neil Diamond Tribute” January 25, 2020

7:30 PM - Victoria Fine Arts Center Tickets available online at victoriasymphony.com Office 405 E. Loma Vista, 77901 or call 361-576-4500

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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39

VICTORIA

Photos by Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

Sisters Carrie and Chelsea Lacy, center, pose for a photo with Alexander and Marek teammates Kennedy Youngblood, left, and Taizhae Grant, right, at the Liberty District Event Center in Victoria.

BLACK AND WHITE LEAGUE RETURNS AFTER 1-YEAR ABSENCE

BY REY CASTILLO rcastillo@vicad.com

Carrie and Chelsea Lacy embraced each other after a Black and White summer basketball championship

win over Mumphord’s BBQ in late June at the District Event Center.

The sight of the two sisters on the court was familiar for any Victoria West fan in attendance.

Desiree Hill guards Leilani Wimbish-Gay as she dribbles during a Black and White Summer Basketball League game at the Liberty District Event Center in Victoria.

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DISCOVER 2019

Carrie and Chelsea played two seasons with the Warriors before Chelsea left for Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2017.

“It was fun to be playing together again,” Carrie said. “It brought back a lot of memories.”

The sisters helped the Alexander and Marek team overcome a 12-point deficit to defeat Mumphord’s BBQ team 48-39.

The team consisted of current and past West players Kennedy Youngblood, Taizhae Grant, Julie Jimenez, Cameron Lamar and Daizha Harris.

“I’m just glad I got to play with her,” Carrie said. “It felt like old times with it being the same group of players having fun and playing basketball.”

It was the first time in over a year that the league was

back in action after roof, wall and floor damage caused by Hurricane Harvey forced the front and back of the Liberty District Event Center gymnasiums to be condemned.

Carrie joined the Black and White League five years ago and has played every summer, since with the hope of improving her game.

The extra work paid off after she helped the Warriors reach the playoffs each of her four years on varsity.

“It’s been fun,” Carrie said.

“There were times when she would yell at me again but overall, it was fun and I enjoyed playing with her.”

Carrie was an all-state selection her senior year and the District 30-5A most valuable player. She was also named the Victoria Advocate Most Valuable Player back-to-back seasons after averaging 15.1

VICTORIA points per game, 3.4 assists, 8.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals.

“She plays amazing, and that’s what makes it fun to

Krysta Martinez holds onto the ball while being guarded

by Taizhae Grant during a Black and White Summer Basketball League game at the Liberty District Event Center in Victoria.

watch her,” Chelsea said.

“I’m glad I got to play with her again.”

Carrie and Chelsea hope other female athletes will participate in the Black and White summer league to improve their skills.

The Black and White league, which is for girls, began in 2010 after the Red and White league split.

The Red and White league, which was founded by former Victoria High basketball coach and current Victoria East girls’ golf coach Mike Smith in the 1980s, consisted of boys and girls playing together. Now the Red and White league is for boys only.

“They get to improve over the summer, work out and

play against athletes who are stronger and more athletic,” Chelsea said. “It helps them get better for the season before it starts.”

Carrie will continue her basketball career at Western Texas College, a junior college in Snyder.

Chelsea won’t play sports but will transfer from A&M-Corpus Christi to Texas Women’s College in Denton.

“It helps players see what they need to work on and focus on,” Carrie said.

“It helps me get ready for college. We’re having fun while helping each other get better.”

Come Visit

Oldest Fine Arts Museum in the Crossroads

Upcoming Schedule

Sept 26 ~ Nov 3, 2019 • Madeline O’Connor Exhibit Nov 22, 2019 ~ Jan 5, 2020 • Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Assn Exhibit Jan 31 ~ Mar 22, 2020 • Woodworking Exhibit Apr 9 ~ May 31, 2020 • Hiromi Stringer Exhibit Jun 19 ~ Aug 9, 2020 • Matteo Neivert Exhibit Aug 28 ~ Oct 8, 2020 • Peter Bellonci Exhibit

Call Us (361) 580-3700

Visit Us Online ConferenceInVictoria.com

Admission is Always Free • Donations are Gladly Accepted Tuesday-Friday 12 ~ 5 pm • Saturday & Sunday 12 ~ 4 pm Closed Mondays 306 W. Commercial St. • Victoria, TX 77901 • 361.575.8228

www.NaveMuseum.com VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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41

VICTORIA

Photos by Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

Goliad’s Reese Rahunke throws during a 7on7 football tournament at Refugio’s Bobcat Stadium.

POPULARITY OF 7ON7 FOOTBALL GROWS

BY MIKE FORMAN mforman@vicad.com

Football coaches’ opinions on 7on7 range from full-fledged endorsements to downright contempt.

But regardless of how

7on7 is viewed by coaches, an overwhelming number of teams engage in some form of the passing game.

Some teams play 7on7 during their athletic period and most take part in 7on7 leagues during the summer.

Cuero’s Jayden Villa plays defense during a 7on7 football tournament at Refugio’s Bobcat Stadium.

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DISCOVER 2019

The game is played on a 45-yard field with seven players on offense and seven on defense.

All the offensive players except the center are eligible and the quarterback has 4 seconds to throw the ball. A player is declared down after being touched.

Teams have three downs to make 15 yards, except when they reach the 15yard line and have four downs to score.

Coaches are not allowed to coach their own teams, but they are allowed to observe.

A number of area teams have taken part in state-qualifying tournaments, vying for a berth in the state tournament, which was held for the first time in 1998.

Tidehaven, Ganado, Falls City and Flatonia qualified for the 2019 Division III state tournament, which was in College Station, and Falls City advanced to the semifinals.

Bay City and Rice Consolidated are the only area teams to have advanced to the final of the state tournament. No area team has won a state title.

Most local and area teams take part in 7on7 leagues that are held once a week.

“I just like to get our kids out and get them moving,” said Goliad coach Bobby Nicholson, whose team participated in a league with Cuero and Refugio during June.

“It gives us an opportunity to see our skilled kids move around. It’s the furthest from 11-man football as it can be, but it’s just to get kids out.

They’re sore from summer workouts and it gets them out and moving around.”

Cuero not only participates in leagues, but hosts a state-qualifying tournament.

“I like the fact they come out here and work on getting better at their position,” said Cuero coach Travis

VICTORIA Reeve. “I like that they get to work together and they’ve got to kind of figure things out on their own when the coaches are not out there.

It’s a good learning experience for them.”

Refugio coach Jason Herring is not a fan of 7on7 and the Bobcats don’t participate in state-qualifying tournaments.

But Refugio does participate in league play during the summer.

“I like that it gives us a break from our three days a week in the weight room and working,” Herring said. “It gives the kids something fun to do. I like the competition.

We go a lot of months without any competition. I like

that we get to compete.”

Coaches’ opinions on 7on7 may differ, but most agree, it’s here to stay.

“To me, it’s kind of like in basketball if your kids go out and play in a 3-on-3 tournament,” said Tidehaven coach David Lucio. “It’s not the same game as 5-on-5 on a regular basketball court, but you’re still dribbling and you’re still shooting.

“It’s the same thing out here, you’re throwing the ball around. You’re judging it, you’re catching it, you’re defending it, you’re reading a kid’s hips, you’re getting after it and you’re competing.

All those things relate directly to Friday nights.”

Goliad’s Grant Garnett runs during Tuesday’s 7on7 football tournament at Refugio’s Bobcat Stadium.

St. Joseph’s J’Den Miller and Goliad’s Reese Rahunke go for a catch during a 7on7 football tournament at Refugio’s Bobcat Stadium.

Niki’s Roma Pizza Serving Homemade Italian Food for over 23 years!

361-572-8424

7800 N Navarro Street (Victoria Mall)

10am-9pm Monday-Saturday | Noon-6pm Sunday

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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43

LISTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

ARANSAS COUNTY

Bloomington School District 2781 Farm-to-Market Road 616, Bloomington Prekindergarten-12 3A One elementary school, one primary school, one middle school, one high school 361-333-8016 Bisd-tx.org

Aransas County School District 1700 Omohundro St., Rockport Prekindergarten-12 4A One prekindergarten and kindergarten school, one firstthird-grade school, one middle school and one high school 361-790-2212 Acisd.org

Nursery School District 13254 Nursery Drive Kindergarten - 5 One elementary school 361-575-6882 Nurseryisd.org Victoria School District 102 Profit Drive Prekindergarten-12 5A 14 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, two alternative schools 361-578-2711 Visd.com

BEE COUNTY Beeville School District 211 N. St. Mary’s St., Beeville Prekindergarten-12 4A One early childhood center, two elementary schools, one intermediate school, one junior high school, one academy, one high school 361-358-7111 beevilleisd.net/

Skidmore-Tynan School District 224 W. Main St., Skidmore Kindergarten-12 3A One elementary school, one junior high school and one high school 361-287-3426 stbobcats.net/ Pettus School District 500 N. May St., Pettus Prekindergarten-12 One elementary school, one secondary school 361-375-2296 pettusisd.esc2.net/ Pawnee School District 6229 Farm-to-Market Road 798, Pawnee Prekindergarten-8 One elementary school, one junior high school 361-456-7256 pawneeisd.net/

CALHOUN COUNTY Calhoun County School District 525 N. Commerce St., Port Lavaca Kindergarten-12 5A Three elementary schools, one kindergarten through eighth grade school, one middle school, one alternative school and one high school 361-552-9728 Calcoisd.org

DEWITT COUNTY Cuero School District 960 E. Broadway St. Prekindergarten-12 4A One high school, one junior high, one intermediate, two elementary 361-275-1900 cueroisd.org

Advocate File Photo

Ozzie, a Dorothy O’Connor adoption dog, greets 4-year-old prekindergarten Aloe Elementary students from left, Rihanna Rodriguez, Katelyn O’Brien, Logan Rodgers and Jaci Goodman during the Pet Parade.

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LISTS Yoakum School District 315 E. Gonzales St., Yoakum Early childhood-12 4A One high school, one junior high, one intermediate (grades third-fifth), and one primary school (grades first and second) and a primary annex (early childhood, prekindergarten and kindergarten). Also home of multi-district DeWitt-Lavaca Special Education Cooperative.

361-293-3162, yoakumisd.net Yorktown School District 331 W. Main St. Prekindergarten-12 2A One high school, one junior high and one elementary school 361-564-2252 Nordheim School District 500 N. Broadway St. Prekindergarten-12 1A One school 361-938-5211, Nordheimisd.org Meyersville School District 1897 Meyersville Road Kindergarten-8 One school 361-275-3639, Meyersvilleisd.org Westhoff School District 244 Lynch Ave. Prekindergarten-8 One school 830-236-5519 westhoffisd.org

GOLIAD COUNTY

LAVACA COUNTY

REFUGIO COUNTY

Goliad School District 161 N. Welch St. Prekindergarten-12 3A One elementary school, one intermediate school, one middle school, one high school 361-645-3259 goliadisd.org

Shiner School District 505 Texas Ave., Shiner 2A Prekindergarten-12 Elementary, junior high and high school 361-594-3121 shinerisd.net

Refugio School District 212 W. Vance St., Refugio Prekindergarten-12 2A One elementary school, one junior high school and one high school 361-526-5400 Refugioisd.net

JACKSON COUNTY Edna School District 1307 W. Gayle St., Edna Prekindergarten-12 3A Elementary, junior high, senior high campus 361-782-3573 ednaisd.org Ganado School District 210 S. Sixth St., Ganado Prekindergarten-12 2A One campus 361-771-4200 ganadoisd.org Industrial School District 167 Fifth St., Vanderbilt Kindergarten-12 3A Two elementary schools, one junior high and one high school 361-284-3226 industrialisd.org

Moulton School District 500 N. Pecan St., Moulton 1A Prekindergarten-12 One high school, one elementary school 361-596-4609 moultonisd.net Hallettsville School District 302 N. Bridge St., Hallettsville 3A Prekindergarten-12 Elementary, junior high and high school 361-798-2242 hisdbrahmas.org Vysehrad School District 595 County Road 182, Hallettsville Prekindergarten-8 One school 361-798-4118 vysehrad.k12.tx.us Ezzell School District 20500 Farm-to-Market Road 531, Ezzell Pre-kindergarten-8 One school 361-798-4448 ezzellisd.org Sweet Home School District 7508 Farm-to-Market Road 531, Sweet Home Prekindergarten-8 One school 361-293-3221

Advocate File Photo

Woodsboro School District 408 S. Kasten St., Woodsboro Prekindergarten-12 1A One elementary school and one combined junior-senior high school 361-543-4519 wisd.net Austwell-Tivoli School District 207 Redfish St., Tivoli Prekindergarten-12 1A One elementary school and one combined junior-senior high school 361-286-3212 atisd.net

WHARTON COUNTY Wharton School District 2100 N. Fulton St., Wharton Prekindergarten-12 4A One high school, one junior high, two elementary schools, one alternative school 979-532-3612 whartonisd.net El Campo School District 700 W. Norris St., El Campo Prekindergarten-12 4A One high school, one middle school, three elementary schools 979-543-6771 ecisd.org

Advocate File Photo

Students walk to the school buses after they are released Fifth-grade students at Torres Elementary School in Victoria from classes at Bloomington Middle School. dance during an end of school production.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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45

LISTS PRIVATE SCHOOLS LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

Our Lady of Victory School 1311 E. Mesquite Lane Prekindergarten-8 One elementary/middle school campus 361-575-5391 Ourladyvictory.org

Victoria Christian School 601 E. Colorado St. One elementary school 361-573-5345 Victoriachristian.org

Faith Academy 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane, 539 Waco Circle Prekindergarten-12 One elementary school, one middle school/high school 361-573-2484 Faithacademyvictoria.com

Presbyterian Day School 2408 N. Navarro St. One daycare/preschool 361-575-1551 Presbyteriandayschool.org St. Joseph High School 110 E. Red River St. Grades 9-12 361-573-2446 Stjvictoria.com

ABC Learning Center 1422 E. Cedar St., Rockport Preschool 361-729-1512 Abclearningcenter.org

Nazareth Academy 206 W. Convent St. Prekindergarten-8 One elementary/middle school campus 361-573-6651 Nazarethacademy.org

Trinity Episcopal 1504 N. Moody St. Prekindergarten-8 Early learning center, lower school and middle school 361-573-3220 Tecvictoria.org

Crossroads Christian School 105 W. Stayton Ave. Kindergarten-12 One campus 361-212-3078 crossroadschristianvictoria.com

ARANSAS COUNTY

Sacred Heart School 111 N. Church St., Rockport Prekindergarten-5 361-729-2672 Shsrockport.org First Learning Tree 801 E. Main St., Rockport 361-729-0883 Fltree.org

CALHOUN COUNTY Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic School 301 S. San Antonio St., Port Lavaca Prekindergarten-8 361-552-6140 olgmariners.org/

BEE COUNTY First Baptist Church 600 N. St. Mary’s St., Beeville 4 years old-6th grade 361-358-4161 fbcschool.com/

Advocate File Photo

Scarlett Guerrero and Emma Barnett, both 7, write in their workbooks in Science Station during a January 2018 Readers’ Workshop at Nazareth Academy. The school has implemented a new reading program that is structured around smaller group learning.

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St. Joseph Elementary School 310 Orth St., Yoakum Prekindergarten-8 One school 361-293-9000 Stjcatholicschool.com

JACKSON COUNTY Edna Christian Academy 807 Apollo Drive, Edna Prekindergarten-8 361-782-2052 ednachristianacademy.org/

LAVACA COUNTY Shiner Catholic School 424st. Ludmilla St., Shiner Kindergarten-12 One school 361-594-3843 Shinercatholicschool.org Providence Christian Academy 2454 County Road 319, Yoakum Kindergarten-12 One school 361-293-5820 Sacred Heart Catholic School 313 S. Texana St., Hallettsville Prekindergarten-12 One school 361-798-4251 Shschool.org

WHARTON COUNTY

St. Philip’s Episcopal School 105 N. Adams St., Beeville Prekindergarten-5 361-358-6242

Faith Christian Academy 5227 Farm-to-Market Road 1301, Wharton 1 year old-grade 12 One school 979-531-1000 Wharton-fca.org

St. Mary’s Academy Charter School 400 N. Tyler St., Beeville Kindergarten-6 361-358-5601 smacs.net/

St. Philip Catholic School 302 W. Church St., El Campo Prekindergarten-8 One school 979-543-2901 Stphilipschool.org

DEWITT COUNTY

Presbyterian Preschool and Day School 312 Depot St., El Campo Prekindergarten and kindergarten One preschool 979-543-3658

St. Michael’s Catholic School 208 McLeod St., Cuero Pre-kindergarten-7 One school 361-275-3854 Stmschoolcuero.org

ARANSAS COUNTY

ROCKPORT GALLERY PRESERVES COMMUNITY’S SOUL THROUGH ART ROCKPORT CAFE MAKES CUSTOMERS ‘FEEL LIKE THEY’RE HOME’

Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

A jellyfish crafted of mostly found items hangs in a window in the Rockport Gallery.

ARANSAS

Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

A selection of art featured at the Rockport Gallery.

ROCKPORT ART GALLERY PRESERVES COMMUNITY’S SOUL

BY CIARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy@vicad.com

ROCKPORT – More than two years after Hurricane Harvey devastated Rockport, the town has made huge strides in rebuilding.

But some things are still missing, such as the famous Big Blue Crab sculpture that used to tower over the beach.

As residents and frequent vacationers have searched for memories of pre-storm Rockport, they’ve turned to the Rockport Gallery, the local art gallery that features coastal-inspired art. The gallery includes artists like Dave Beckham, who photographs scenes along the Texas coast, and Frances IIes, who paints images associated with the popular vacation spot, like 48

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DISCOVER 2019

the famous bait shops that dot the Rockport harbor.

Amy Oliver, who works at the gallery, said these works have taken on added significance for customers after the storm damaged or destroyed parts of the beloved community, like the bait shops.

“Men, grown men would come in and just start crying” when they looked at paintings of the bait shops after Harvey, Oliver said.

“When they were kids, they remember coming with their grandfathers ... They rebuilt a lot (of the bait shops) since Harvey, but they’ll never look like they did when they were kids.”

Artist Garold Smith captured dozens of classic Rockport scenes before Harvey

without realizing what he was preserving.

Smith, a retired architect and structural engineer, uses ink and watercolors to depict Rockport’s signature views, like shrimp boats out on the water, the Big Blue Crab sculpture and bait shops like Fleming’s Bait Stand and Mom’s Bait Shop.

“There’s nothing better than an old, run-down, beatup bait house,” Smith said.

The gallery, which opened in 2014, is owned by Deborah Glenn. She said customers come to the store looking to preserve some of Rockport’s spirit.

“We have two types of customers,” Glenn said. “One that lives in Rockport and wants something of their

hometown and the tourists who have been vacationing and want to take a part of Rockport home with them so when they’re sitting in their home or their office, they can look at the picture and say, ‘That’s where I went fishing or where the kids and I spent a Saturday.’ They want something they can look back at and say, ‘I just had a great time.’”

 IF YOU GO ROCKPORT GALLERY

415 S. Austin St., Suite 2, Rockport HOURS // 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday.

MORE INFO: Call 713-826-5165

ARANSAS

Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

Customers sit to enjoy frozen yogurt on a hot afternoon at Pink Octopus Cafe.

CAFE MAKES CUSTOMERS ‘FEEL LIKE THEY’RE HOME’

BY CIARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy@vicad.com

ROCKPORT – Billy Jack Williams always orders the same sandwich at Pink Octopus Cafe.

Williams and his wife, Betty, dine at the Rockport restaurant several times a week. After months of ordering the same meal – a variation on the turkey sandwich, with extra chips – the staff at Pink Octopus decided to make it simpler to send Williams’ order to the kitchen.

They created a “BJ” button, complete with Williams’ photo, on their cash register so it took just one click to take down their loyal customers’ order.

“It just tickles me to death,” Williams said. “Of course, they do that for everybody.”

Attention to their cus-

tomers is at the heart of the restaurant, which serves lunch, coffee and frozen yogurt. The restaurant first opened in 2015, and current owner Melissa Solis bought it in May. Solis moved to Rockport after years of childhood vacations there with her family and, later in life, important moments in the beach town, such as getting engaged to and marrying her husband.

Solis said she bought the restaurant with plans to preserve its biggest asset: the community.

“The heart of Pink Octopus is our customers,” Solis said.

Jaimee Fojt, the cafe’s manager, said she makes it a point to greet everyone who walks through the door, most of whom she knows by name.

Although the restaurant caters to the tourists who

are returning to Rockport as it rebuilds after Hurricane Harvey, the core of their customer base are locals, like a group of women who come every week to eat lunch and then camp out for hours afterward to play mahjong, said Solis and Fojt.

“People love it because they feel like they’re home; I’ve heard it time and time again,” Fojt said. “We make people feel welcome.”

The lunch menu features fresh, handmade sandwiches and paninis, plus an extensive salad bar.

The coffee selection uses fresh grounds from Amaya Roasting in Houston and features the cafe’s signature drink, the turtle bite, which mixes chocolate, caramel and pecan with coffee, Fojt said.

In addition to the exten-

sive toppings available at the frozen yogurt bar, the cafe also makes fresh cinnamon rolls and the “Blue Bar,” a crumbly pastry made with blueberries and oatmeal.

“We make people feel welcome,” Fojt said.

 IF YOU GO PINK OCTOPUS

1941 SH 35 Business N, Rockport

HOURS // 8 a.m.-8 p.m. MondayThursday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday Lunch hours: 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. MondayThursday; 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday MORE INFO: Call 361-729-7465 VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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LISTS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

DEWITT COUNTY

University of Houston-Victoria 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. Bachelor’s degrees for freshmen through seniors and master’s degree programs. Specialties: arts and sciences; business administration; and education, health professions and human development.

361-570-4848 UHV.edu

Victoria College Vocational Nursing-Cuero 2550 N. Esplanade St. Vocational nursing program 361-277-6760 victoriacollege.edu/ vocationalnursingcuero

Victoria College 2200 E. Red River St. Pre-college programs, freshmen and sophomores Specialties: Transfer programs, associate degrees, workforce training, continuing education 361-573-3291 victoriacollege.edu Emerging Technology Complex 7403 Lone Tree Road 361-580-3700 Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts 214 N. Main St., Victoria 361-582-2436 Liberty Street Industrial Training Center 1404 N. Liberty St. 361-573-3291

LAVACA COUNTY Victoria College Zelda L. Allen School of Nursing 1410 N. Texana St., Hallettsville Vocational nursing program 361-798-2289

WHARTON COUNTY Wharton County Junior College 911 Boling Highway, Wharton Two-year college that also has campuses in Richmond, Sugar Land and Bay City. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

979-532-4560 wcjc.edu

Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

The new UHV University Commons building at 3006 N. Ben Jordan St. has three stories and provides more than 80,000 square feet of space. It contains the university’s library, offices, meeting rooms, study spaces and student services and the Victoria Regional History Center. The building will also have a Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks cafe.

Gonzales Center 424 E. Sarah DeWitt Drive Gonzales 830-672-6251

BEE COUNTY Coastal Bend College 3800 Charco Road, Beeville Offers undergraduate classes, associate degrees, certificates, vocational training. Has its main campus in Beeville and operates branch campuses in Alice, Kingsville and Pleasanton.

361-358-2838 coastalbend.edu/

CALHOUN COUNTY Victoria College - Wilkins Industrial Training Center 701 S. Ann St., Port Lavaca Offers workforce and continuing education training 361-573-3291 50

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Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Josh Baldwin, 15, of Victoria, is working to have his robots send and receive actions with each other at the Digital Simulation and Robotics Summer Camp at the University of Houston-Victoria. Baldwin said it’s “like sending texts.”

ARANSAS

A VISIT TO ROCKPORT HARBOR

Photos by Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

Top: Boats sit at the Rockport Harbor. Middle Left: Palm trees encircle a small park near Aransas Bay in Rockport.

Middle Right: A boat sits outside of one of the many bait shops along the Rockport Harbor. Bottom Left: A seagull perches on a wooden post at the edge of Aransas Bay in Rockport. Bottom Right: View of the outside of the Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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51

GERMAN RESTAURANT BRINGS A TASTE OF BERLIN TO BEEVILLE

BEE COUNTY

Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Dark chocolate cake, a decadent multi-layer red cake, is made from scratch at Gasthaus Berliner Bear German restaurant in Beeville. Gabi Kroschk opened the eatery in July 2009.

BEE

Photos by Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Stammtisch signifies the table reserved for special guests at Gasthaus Berliner Bear. The Stammtisch table is a German restaurant tradition where only select patrons are allowed to sit.

Apple dumpling in a bourbon caramel sauce at Gasthaus Berliner Bear. Gabi Kroschk opened the eatery in July 2009.

GERMAN EATERY BRINGS A TASTE OF BERLIN TO BEEVILLE

BY CIARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy@vicad.com

BEEVILLE – Gabi Kroschk does not cut corners.

Everything she serves at the Gasthaus Berliner Bear, the German restaurant she owns in Beeville, she makes from scratch. She won’t even buy potatoes that are precut, instead cooking, peeling and cutting by hand.

That’s what makes the difference in the authentic German food she serves at her restaurant. Customers have told Kroschk that restaurants in Fredericksburg, which has become famous for its German heritage, don’t come close to what she makes in Beeville.

Kroschk, 55, opened the Gasthaus in 2009 after years of friends and family encouraging her to share her home cooking with the world.

During her childhood in Berlin, Kroschk learned to cook from her grandmother, and the two spent almost every free minute together cooking and baking, she said.

“This is what we loved to do together,” she said.

Kroschk learned not to skip steps from her grandmother, like when the two would start preparing for their family’s Christmas meals weeks in advance. To make stollen, a bread with nuts, spices and fruit, the two would start the process in October so the bread could be stored in a cool, dark place to get soft enough by Christmas.

Kroschk and her husband moved to the U.S. in 1995 and have lived in Beeville for 20 years. She initially worked for the nonprofit Beeville Vineyard before she was convinced to open the restaurant by people who

had tried her food. Kroschk said it took her a while to open the restaurant because she didn’t think of the food as anything out of the ordinary – it was just the food she made every day at home.

“For me it’s home cooking, what I’m doing,” Kroschk said.

Now, people visit Beeville from throughout Texas after hearing about Kroschk’s restaurant.

The restaurant’s signature dish is schnitzel, a breaded and pounded pork chop topped with mushroom cream gravy. Kroschk also created an alternate version of the dish, pairing schnitzel with jalapeno cream gravy to bring a little South Texas influence to her traditional German menu.

In addition to the schnitzel, the restaurant’s menu includes sausage plates, gou-

lash and more, plus desserts like apple dumplings and chocolate cake.

Kroschk’s insistence on making everything from scratch means that the job is sometimes painstaking, but she said that’s what makes the difference.

“The most important thing is you cook from scratch,” Kroschk said. “Easy is not always the best way.”

 IF YOU GO THE GASTHAUS BERLINER BEAR 2510 N. St. Marys St., Beeville

HOURS // 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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53

PEOPLE FLOCK TO BREW PUB IN PORT LAVACA TWIN DOLPHINS THEATER KEEPS FAMILY TRADITIONS PORT LAVACA PIZZERIA TAKES CUSTOMERS BACK TO OLD ITALY

CALHOUN COUNTY

Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

Glasses are for sale at O’Neil and Sons Brewery in Port Lavaca. The brewery has been open since summer 2014 and has been at its current location since summer 2018.

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O’Neil and Sons Brewery in Port Lavaca sits on the Lavaca Bay and has outdoor seating.

PEOPLE FLOCK TO BREW PUB IN PORT LAVACA

BY JESSICA PRIEST jpriest@vicad.com

PORT LAVACA – When O’Neil and Sons Brewing Company opened in what looked like a garage off Half League Road, it quickly developed a cult following.

People would come from all over to sit in one of the 10 chairs inside, undeterred by the fact that there was no air conditioning.

Five years later, the company hasn’t lost its cool fac-

tor even after moving to a bigger, more visible space on South Commerce Street that is stocked with free arcade games for the kids to play, a patio and backyard n which dogs can play, food trucks and live music.

Owner Padraic O’Neil said it feels a little strange to see so many people sipping the beer he first started brewing with his late father.

“It was always kind of a joke,” he said, until he was

A list of beers on tap at O’Neil and Sons Brewery in Port Lavaca. The brewery always has about 12 beers on tap along with two wines on tap from Gulf Breeze Winery.

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DISCOVER 2019

between jobs and had enough time to dedicate to it.

Now, he can’t brew Pass Cavallo Pale Ale or D.A.D. Stout fast enough to keep up with the demand.

He said it takes between four and five weeks to make a brew and two weeks to sell it out.

That’s why O’Neil and Sons Brewing Company advertises on its website that it has at least seven other beers on tap and three in cans that people can choose from. The beers come from as close as Houston and as far away as Milton, Del., and range from pilsners to pale lagers, ciders and meads, IPAs, porters and stouts, wheat beers and sour and fruit beers.

“We also have wine on tap from Gulf Breeze Winery,” he said.

Gulf Breeze Winery has a story similar to O’Neil’s in that its owner, too, made wine as a hobby before starting a business.

O’Neil said he hopes to build on the family atmosphere he’s created by landscaping the backyard and

renting bicycles or kayaks.

“This is not a bar,” he said.

“For Port Lavaca, there’s really nothing like this.”

Scott Horne, who has known the O’Neils since he was in high school, relaxed with a glass of Galveston Island Hefen-A in his hand one afternoon there. He said he doesn’t go out except to come to O’Neil and Sons Brewing Company. A Rotary Club group, which included Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow, was having a meeting at the table next to him.

“I’m glad to see a small business like this do well in Port Lavaca,” Horne said.

 IF YOU GO O’NEIL AND SONS BREWING COMPANY 203 S. Commerce St., Port Lavaca

HOURS \\ 4-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday FOR MORE INFO: Call 361-676-6023 or go to oneilandsons.com.

CALHOUN

Photos by Charlie Blalock/cblalock@vicad.com

Dylan Konrad, 17, an employee at Twin Dolphins Theater in Port Lavaca, puts butter on popcorn.

TWIN DOLPHINS THEATER KEEPS FAMILY TRADITIONS

BY JESSICA PRIEST jpriest@vicad.com

PORT LAVACA – Teenagers who work at the Twin Dolphins Theater don’t have a point-of-sale system that will tell them how much a customer who orders a large popcorn and Coke owes.

They learn to add in their heads and to count back change.

Nancy Walraven likes how that’s one thing that hasn’t changed since she started

there as a teenager in the ’70s.

“I’ve had kids say that they are better at math after working here because they’ve had to use their minds instead of their cellphones,” said Walraven, who now owns the theater with her husband, Harold.

The theater was built in 1972 and is one of four small theaters in the Crossroads.

It has two screens that each seat about 200 peo-

Kinley Caylor, 2, looks in the candy cabinet.

ple, and over the years, the couple has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve it.

The most recent improvement will be replacing a sign in the parking lot that spells out what movies are currently showing with big, black letters against a white backdrop. Hurricane Harvey damaged the sign, and the city of Port Lavaca gave the Walravens some money through a grant to replace it.

Nancy Walraven is an insurance agent, while Harold Walraven works for Orion Marine. Neither take a salary from the theater.

Port Lavaca resident Steve Bales said he prefers to see movies at Twin Dolphins rather than a larger theater because it’s closer, it’s family-owned and tickets and concessions are cheaper.

Bales often goes to Twin Dolphins with his grandchildren, who range in age from 10 to 21.

He recalled continuing their tradition of taking a selfie before the curtains swung open, the lights dimmed and the previews rolled when Twin Dolphins showed “Avengers: Endgame.”

“That’s kind of our thing,” Bales said.

 IF YOU GO TWIN DOLPHINS THEATER 152 SH 35 N., Port Lavaca

Tickets are $6 for children and seniors and $7 for adults. For showtimes, go to facebook. com/twindolphinstheater.

GANADO CINEMA 120 S. 3rd St., Ganado 361-771-2164 ganadocinema.com

COLE THEATRE

207 E. 2nd St., Hallettsville 361-798-4569 facebook.com/pg/coletheatretx

THE GRAND THEATER

212 W. May St., Yoakum 361-427-4002 yoakumgrandtheater.com VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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57

CALHOUN

Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Award-winning chicken delight pizza is made at Oven Loven Pizza.

PIZZERIA TAKES CUSTOMERS BACK TO OLD ITALY

BY JESSICA PRIEST jpriest@vicad.com

PORT LAVACA – There are several ways to tell whether your pizza is authentic Italian.

First, the pizza must have been cooked in a brick oven.

“In a conveyor oven, it’s much easier, but here, we baby the pizza,” Roxana Olsen said.

She and her husband, Richard, own a pizzeria with a name befitting of this practice of turning each pizza so it’s cooked to perfection. It is called Oven Loven Pizza.

Oven Loven Pizza was originally supposed to open Aug. 25, 2017, the day Hurricane Harvey made landfall.

The Olsens – no strangers to hurricanes, having moved to Port Lavaca from South Carolina – evacuated. They thought Victoria was far enough inland and so they stayed at a hotel there, but the wind speeds surprised them. Richard Olsen still remembers the moment he realized he’d been hasty.

“I told my wife, ‘I didn’t take the letters off the sign.

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DISCOVER 2019

They are probably in Dallas by now,’” he said.

But he prayed about it and his prayers were answered.

The sign was intact after Harvey, and Oven Loven Pizza opened in October.

The Olsens are also no strangers to owning and operating a pizzeria. In South Carolina, they owned Mamita’s Pizzeria.

“What we did was we bought a home for income property, but I walked into it and I told my wife, ‘You know, let’s make this a pizzeria.’

She said, ‘Are you serious?’

Then, I got a sledgehammer and started rearranging,” he said.

Mamita’s Pizzeria competed against 200 pizzerias in Atlanta and was lauded for its chicken delight pizza.

That pizza consists of mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, smoked bacon, onions and the customer’s choice of either fresh mushrooms or organic baby spinach. It is drizzled with the Olsens, homemade ranch.

Another way to tell whether a pizza is Italian is by its crust. It’s not greasy. The Ol-

sens, for example, use only a small amount of garlic butter in their dough and hand–toss it. They also say they use only the freshest ingredients, such as vine-ripened tomatoes, for their sauce.

Roxana Olsen said their pizza, made from a recipe that’s been carried down for five generations, will do a body good.

“I grew up eating pizzas galore. My grandma died at 104, and my great-grandma died at 106,” she said. “If you let the sun, nature do its job, you have a wonderful thing.”

Crossroads residents can order the chicken delight pizza or any other gourmet pizzas that the Olsens offer in 10, 12, 14 and 16-inch size.

Salads, breadsticks, wings, sandwiches, pasta al forno, calzones and stromboli are also on the menu.

Customers can feel the Olsens, love for people with each bite. People can buy an extra pizza and they will post it on a sticky note behind the cash register. Then, someone down on their luck can take that sticky note and

the Olsens will make a pizza for them.

“I made one woman an 18-inch pizza and gave her a 2-liter soda, and I pray that I’m never in that situation,” Richard Olsen said.

And his customers appreciate it.

Buddy Coslow wrote on Google that he was greeted by the Olsens with smiles.

“I have been all over the country with my job and have had pizza from everywhere. Consider myself sorta a pizza connoisseur (lol). Without a doubt, the best pizza I have had! Even passed the telltale ‘fold test,’ he wrote.

 IF YOU GO OVEN LOVEN PIZZA 1211 N. Virginia St., Port Lavaca

HOURS \\ 11 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays; 4-9 p.m. Saturday FOR MORE INFO: 361-482-0844 or go to ovenlovenpizza.com.

CALHOUN

Oven Loven Pizza uses fifth generation recipes to offer authentic Italian food to customers in Port Lavaca.

Oven Loven Pizza has a program called “Pay it Forward.”

This allows customers to purchase food in advance for those in need to eat for free.

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59

LISTS GOLF COURSE LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

ARANSAS COUNTY

The Club at Colony Creek 301 Colony Creek Drive, Victoria 361-576-0020, 361-576-0018 Private membership Open Monday noon-7 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. theclubatcolonycreek.com

Rockport Country Club 101 Champions Drive, Rockport 361-729-8324 Closed Mondays. TuesdaySunday 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Daily rates rockportcountryclub.net

Riverside Golf Course 302 McCright Drive, Victoria 361-573-4521 Daily rates available Monday - Thursday 7 a.m.

- 6:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 6:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Book online tee times. playriversidegc.com Victoria Country Club 14 Spring Creek Road, Victoria 361-573-3712 Private membership 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily victoriacc.com

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Live Oak Country Club 318 Country Club Road Closed Monday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesday-Sunday Daily rates

BEE COUNTY John C. Beasley Municipal Golf Course Veteran’s Memorial Park, Beeville 361-362-7618 Public course, 9 holes Closed Tuesdays; WednesdayMonday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Daily 9 holes $15; 18 holes $25; monthly $85

Beeville Country Club 1 Country Club Drive, Beeville 361-358-1216 9 holes Private club

CALHOUN COUNTY Hatch Bend Country Club 579 Meadowview Lane, Port Lavaca 361-552-3037

DEWITT COUNTY Cuero Municipal Golf Course 110 Leonard Roy Harmon Drive, Cuero 361-275-3233 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (daylight savings time); 7:30 a.m.

- 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (November - March); closed Mondays (open to members); closed on city holidays (open to golfers w/pass)

Yorktown Country Club 471 Country Club Lane, Yorktown 361-564-9191 Yoakum City Golf Course 703 S. Park Road, Yoakum 361-293-5682 June 1-Sept. 30 Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m - 7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Oct. 1-May 31 Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m. 6 p.m.; closed Mondays, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas

GOLIAD COUNTY Goliad County Golf Course 1103 W. Fannin St., Goliad 361-645-8322 Closed Mondays; open TuesdayFriday and Sunday 10 a.m. 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

LISTS GOLF COURSE LIST JACKSON COUNTY

REFUGIO COUNTY

Edna Country Club 1216 County Road 301, Edna 361-782-3010 Open Monday for members; open to public Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Daily and monthly memberships

Refugio County Country Club 171 Exxon Road, Refugio 361-526-5554

Public golf course www.ednacountryclub.com

LAVACA COUNTY Hallettsville Golf Course 808 A Park Road #1, Hallettsville 361-798-9908 Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Rates: Tuesday-Thursday $10, Friday-Sunday $15

WHARTON COUNTY El Campo Country Club 1788 County Road 351, El Campo 979-543-6592 Tuesday-Sunday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. elcampocountryclub.com Wharton Country Club 126 Country Club Drive, Wharton 979-532-5940, email whartoncountryclub@att.net Course is open to the public Tuesdays and Saturdays, green fees: $25 for 18 holes, $12.50 for 9 holes, various types of memberships offered. whartoncountryclub.com

Advocate File Photo

Evan Salais competes in the 2018 Victoria City Golf Championships at the Riverside Golf Course.

Advocate File Photo

A golfer hits a ball as deer graze nearby during the 2017 Rosebud Invitational Tournament at Riverside Golf Course.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM SHOWCASES COWBOY CULTURE CRAFTY CHICS PROVIDES CREATIVE OUTLET FOR BUDDING ARTISTS 5D STEAKHOUSE AND LOUNGE OFFERS FOOD, MUSIC

DEWITT COUNTY

Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com Andy Warhol’s “Annie Oakley” hangs on the wall of a Cuero resident’s private collection. The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum will feature Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” series, among other artist’s works, on Oct. 11-Nov. 17.

DEWITT CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM SHOWCASES COWBOY CULTURE

BY AMBER ALDACO aaldaco@vicad.com

CUERO – Those looking to discover what life was like for 19th century Texans should consider visiting the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum.

“It’s kind of like walking through a time portal when you look at all the artifacts on display,” said Selena Milstead, operations manager of the museum.

The Chisholm Trail Museum offers a peek into the life of the ranching and cowboy heritage of South Central Texas during the time of cattle drives. Part of the museum is also historic.

Built in 1903, the two-story building off Esplanade was once the Knights of Pythias Hall, Milstead said.

The museum, which offers conference rooms upstairs for meetings and events, still has the original colorful stainedglass window from when the building was constructed.

The museum has been open since 2013 after more than a decade of fundraising and planning. Since then,

the museum has served as a place for people of all ages to learn about the cultures of the cowboys, Mexican vaqueros, the South American gaucho and local history.

On display in the museum are authentic artifacts from DeWitt County and throughout the state. Items such as the type of items used by a chuck wagon cook to more than a dozen different spurs can be seen at the museum.

Photos by Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com Visitors can also view and Western-style and English-style saddles sit on display at the appreciate the craftsman- Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum in Cuero. The museum highship of saddles and learn lights ranching traditions in the Guadalupe River Valley region. about how saddles are made from local saddle makers through one of the museum’s exhibits.

The museum also features the Tinker Collection, which is composed of artifacts made and used by cowboys of North and South America. The collection is on long-term loan from the University of Texas at Austin, Milstead said.

Those who plan to travel through the area this fall will Andy Warhol’s “Annie Oakley” hangs on the wall of a Cuero want to stop by the museum resident’s private collection. The Chisholm Trail Heritage to see the “Cuero Celebrates Museum will feature Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” Warhol” exhibit, which will series, among other artist’s works, on Oct. 11-Nov. 17.

A revolver displayed at the the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum in Cuero.

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A chuck wagon is a prominent feature on display at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum in Cuero. The chuck wagon also has an interactive experience.

DEWITT be on display from Oct. 11 to Nov. 17.

The exhibit will feature Andy Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” series he created just before his death in 1987, said Robert Oliver, chairman of the museum.

Historic figures of the American West are featured in the exhibit, including President Theodore Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

The exhibit also includes the artwork of Bob Wade, John Nieto, John Moyers, Billy Schenck and Ira Yeager.

The exhibit belongs to a private collector.

Oliver said the Warhol exhibit is an opportunity for visitors to see more of the American West culture.

“The museum is focused on the time period of 1860 and on, and that’s when a lot of the subjects in the exhibit were alive, so it ties in well with our museum,” he said. “I think this exhibit will broaden our appeal to more people, both locally and those visiting the area.”

 IF YOU GO CHISHOLM TRAIL HERITAGE MUSEUM 302 N. Esplanade St., Cuero HOURS \\ 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday; noon4:30 p.m. Sunday ADMISSION \\ $5 for adults; $3 for children 5-17 years; free admission for children 5 and under and military members.

CONTACT \\ 361-277-2866

The museum gift shop at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum in Cuero.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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65

DEWITT

CRAFTY CHICS PROVIDES OUTLET FOR BUDDING ARTISTS

BY AMBER ALDACO aaldaco@vicad.com

CUERO – The shelves of the middle room of Crafty Chics are lined with hundreds of paints of all colors, glitter, glue, stencils, paintbrushes, markers, stamps and more.

A playground for budding artists, Crafty Chics is the perfect place to get a little messy alongside friends or family.

“It’s always fun in here,” said co-owner Lisa Waterbury.

Crafty Chics, located in downtown Cuero, has been in business for a little more than two years. The shop specializes in artistic crafts in a variety of media, including scrapbooking and paint.

The shop started as a hobby for co-owners Waterbury and Connie Hawes, both of Victoria. The two women would host craft parties at their homes for their family and friends. As popularity grew, the two women soon needed to rent out a space.

They offer monthly programs for the public as well as private classes. Public programs include painting on canvas, repurposed wood, Mason jars and wood pallets.

For private classes, Crafty Chics has hosted a variety of parties, such as bridal showers, team-building for companies and birthday parties, including parties for children.

“Children love painting, and we’ve received several requests to host children’s birthday parties,” Waterbury, 59, said.

Hawes, 55, said that though the shop offers a variety of craft design services, 66

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DISCOVER 2019

Photos by Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

Lisa Waterbury and Connie Hawes, co-owners of Crafty Chics in Cuero, pose in their store.

Natalie Hawes works the register while customers, Scarlett Moeller and Sandra Nichols, shop at Crafty Chics in Cuero.

DEWITT the most requested classes are for painting.

“I think for most people, it is hard to paint at home.

People don’t normally buy paint or have the space to paint, so they want to try it out here,” Hawes said.

Denise Drozd, of Hallettsville, Hawes’ sister, said she hadn’t experimented with painting before Crafty Chics opened.

She has completed several paintings in the past couple of years, including one of a mermaid, a pickup, a cow and holiday decor.

“I give all my paintings to my grandchildren so that one day when I am no longer around, they will always have something that I created for them,” Drozd said.

Because Hawes is the finance director for the city of Cuero and Waterbury is the

accounting manager for the city of Cuero, the shop does not have daily hours and is typically only open when there is a class. The shop has a small retail collection of repurposed art and cards in the front.

Hawes said public painting events are posted on the door of the shop as well as on their Facebook page.

But if one is strolling through downtown and sees the door to Crafty Chics open, they are more than welcome to look around, Hawes said.

“People will usually want to pop in and see what’s going on,” Hawes said.

 IF YOU GO CRAFTY CHICS

106 N. Gonzales St., Cuero

Lisa Waterbury, Crafty Chics co-owner, mixes paint during a lesson at Crafty Chics in Cuero.

CONTACT: 361-524-5324; Crafty Chics on Facebook

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We’re right here. For you.

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Cuero Health—all of the quality health care services

We’re not just a hospital any more. We’re part of the new you need—close to home.

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DEWITT 5D STEAKHOUSE AND LOUNGE OFFERS FOOD, MUSIC

BY AMBER ALDACO aaldaco@vicad.com

YORKTOWN – If you find yourself driving into the Crossroads through Yorktown on SH 72 during lunch and dinner, you’ll find 5D Steakhouse and Lounge packed with customers.

The elegant, rustic country restaurant is the place where Daniel Garcia chooses to eat lunch most days of the week. Garcia usually orders the chicken-fried chicken plate with a loaded baked potato because “it’s that good.”

“The food is good, the staff is friendly, the service is fast and it is a local business,” Garcia, 34, said one summer afternoon. “It’s an all-around great place.”

The steakhouse is owned by the Dlugosch family of Yorktown and was opened in 2015. The idea to build the restaurant and entertainment venue started one Saturday evening at the family dinner table a few years ago, said co-owner Brianne Dlugosch.

“My father, Pete, drew the design and his vision of 5D on a napkin,” Dlugosch, 32, said. “This all started on a napkin.”

The name of the steakhouse represents the five Dlugosches in the family: parents Pete and Patricia and their children, Brianne, Brian and Brandon. The family-owned chain has locations in Yorktown, Carrizo Springs, Kenedy and Monohans, with a location in Victoria slated to open in late 2019 and a site in Port O’Connor in 2020.

The restaurant is 20,000 square feet and offers a 68

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DISCOVER 2019

Photos by Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

5D Steakhouse and Lounge, 632 W. Main St. in Yorktown, offers patrons the main dining room, a large bar and an intimate concert hall on the first floor. The second floor has billiards, lounge seating and private rooms, as well as a second full-service bar and two balconies, with one overlooking the stage.

A 16-ounce rib-eye sizzles on the grill at the 5D Steakhouse and Lounge in Yorktown. All the steaks and other cuts of meat are cut at the restaurant.

DEWITT lounge, three VIP rooms, two full-service bars, a conference room, pool tables, a stage and a hardwood dance floor. The steakhouse can serve as a reception venue as well, Dlugosch said.

All the meat in the steakhouse is fresh and hand-cut, Dlugosch said, and is never frozen. The meat is cut in a meat market that is located inside the steakhouse, and people can either order a steak to eat at the restaurant or purchase from the meat market to prepare at home, she said.

Customer favorites include the rib-eye steak, chicken fried steak and classic margarita.

The lounge also offers live music and entertainment.

5D has featured local artists as well as nationally known country artists, such as Tanya Tucker and Clay Walker.

Texas artists include Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson.

Every well-known artist who performs at the steakhouse has their photo hanging on the Entertainment Wall in the restaurant.

“We take pride in that wall.

We want 5D Steakhouse to be a place where people can eat, relax and dance to music they love,” Dlugosch said.

Nathaniel Varnado, 32, said he, too, enjoys eating at the steakhouse and will go to the venue when a DJ or musician performs.

“It’s a pretty cool environment to have here in Yorktown,” Varnado said.

 IF YOU GO 5D STEAKHOUSE AND LOUNGE 632 W. Main St., Yorktown

HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Monday-Saturday CONTACT: 361-564-3600

Jenny Palacios, 33, carries out lunch plates at 5D Steakhouse and Lounge in Yorktown. The family-owned Texas chain opened in Yorktown in 2015. They have three other locations with two more planned – one in Victoria and the other in Port O’Connor.

LISTS DANCE HALLS LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

DEWITT COUNTY

Club Westerner 1005 W. Constitution St., Victoria Available for private events 361-575-9109 clubwesterner.com

Gruenau Hall 1012 Gruenau Road, Yorktown Available for public events 361-816-7200 gruenauhall@gmail.com

Inez Community Center 2511 U.S. 59 North, Inez Available for private events 361-782-5112

Garfield Hall 9688 Garfield Road, Yorktown Available for public events 361-564-3258

Victoria Community Center 2905 E. North St., Victoria Available for private events 361-485-3215 victoriatx.org

Yorktown Community Hall 60 Community Hall Road, Yorktown Available for public events 361-649-4824 Lindenau Hall 22 Streidel Lane, Cuero Available for private events 361-564-4583

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Nordheim Shooting Club 101 W. 9th St., Nordheim Available for public events 361-935-6306 nordheimshootingclub.com Turner Hall SH 111 West, Yoakum Regular dances with primarily country-Western, polka and waltz music 361-293-5576

Gruenau Hall in 2017

GOLIAD COUNTY Schroeder Hall 12516 Farm-to-Market Road 622, Goliad Country and bluegrass music; live bands 361-573-7002 schroederdancehall.com Weesatche Dance Hall 140 E. Farm-to-Market Road 884, Weesatche 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday for dinner Jukebox music 361-564-3360

LISTS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE LIST VICTORIA COUNTY

DEWITT COUNTY

REFUGIO COUNTY

WHARTON COUNTY

Victoria Chamber of Commerce 7403 Lone Tree Road, Suite 211 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-573-5277 victoriachamber.org

Cuero Chamber of Commerce Agriculture and Visitor’s Bureau 210 E. Main St., Cuero 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-275-2112. cuero.org

Refugio County Chamber of Commerce 301 N. Alamo St., Refugio 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays 361-526-2835 refugiocountytx.org

El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture 1 N. Mechanic St., El Campo 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 979-543-2713 elcampochamber.com

La Camara de Comercio Victoria 2001 E. Sabine St., Suite 103 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MondayThursday 361-572-5900

Yoakum Area Chamber of Commerce 105 Huck St., Yoakum 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-293-2309 yoakumareachamber.com

Golden Crescent Black Chamber of Commerce 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-579-0610

Yorktown Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture 102 W. Main St., Yorktown 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays 361-564-2611; yorktowntx.com

ARANSAS COUNTY

GOLIAD COUNTY

Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce 319 Broadway St., Rockport 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-729-6445 rockport-fulton.org

Goliad Chamber of Commerce 231 S. Market St. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 6 a.m.-4 p.m., second Saturday 361-645-3563 goliadcc.org

BEE COUNTY Bee County Chamber of Commerce 1705 N. St. Mary St., Beeville 361-358-3267

CALHOUN COUNTY Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce 2300 SH 35, Port Lavaca 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays 361-552-2959 portlavacachamber.org Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce 39 Tredor St., Port O’Connor Open by appointment 361-983-2898 portoconnorchamber.com Seadrift Chamber of Commerce 501 Main St., Seadrift 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-237-0406 seadriftchamber.com

JACKSON COUNTY Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture 317 W. Main St., Edna 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-782-7146 jacksoncountytexas.com

LAVACA COUNTY Shiner Chamber of Commerce 817 N. Ave. E, Shiner 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday 361-594-4180; shinertx.com Moulton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture 405 S. Lavaca Drive, Moulton 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-596-7205 moultontexas.com Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture 1614 N. Texana St., Hallettsville 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays 361-798-2662 hallettsville.com

Advocate File Photo

Victoria Chamber of Commerce presents awards to outstanding members. In 2017 Greg Bonewald was recognized as the outstanding committee chair of the year.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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GOLIAD SQUARE IS A CHARMING SOUTH TEXAS TREASURE EMPRESARIO COMBINES ELEGANCE WITH DARN GOOD TEXAS FOOD PAST IS PRESENT AT GOLIAD’S PRESIDIO LA BAHIA

GOLIAD COUNTY

Details inside the Mustang Cantina include a carousel horse.

Photo by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

GOLIAD CANTINA STIMULATES IMAGINATION, TASTE BUDS

BY JON WILCOX jwilcox@vicad.com

GOLIAD — Mediocrity isn’t on the menu at Goliad’s Mustang Cantina.

“We’re going for the best restaurant in South Texas,” said owner Scotty Light, of San Antonio.

About 14 years after buying the location, Light is just beginning to put the final touches on the Mustang Cantina, 306 S. Commercial St. Since then, his location has featured a bar for only about two years and a restaurant for less than one.

Light is working to complete his vision by making an adjacent building into a hotel. Work there is underway.

Built in the 1890s, the former mercantile shop turned restaurant is practically half antique with its aged hardwood floors, heirloom windows, a door taken from the nearby historic courthouse and walls fashioned from bricks reclaimed from a centuries-old mission.

“This is all old, seasoned stuff,” said Light.

But all those old storied materials pale in comparison to a discovery made by Light and his wife as they refurbished the wall along the restaurant’s expansive patio.

Patsy Pittman Light, an avocational historian, said she was shocked to discover a painted billboard-sized wall advertisement for Durham Tobacco dating to the start of the 20th century.

“Oh my gosh,” she said, recalling her surprise.

On the patio, diners are free to take in the restored advertisement.

“By the time we uncovered it, there was no one alive who remembered it,” she said.

Also on the patio are tastefully modern sunshades and a bubbling fountain.

Beneath the restaurant’s inside dining area, a cool and quiet wine cellar is available to rent, offering an ideal space for receptions, parties and meetings, said Scotty Light.

But diners will find the restaurant does more than merely stimulate the imagination.

Thirsty customers can escape the South Texas heat by indulging in a bar that offers beer, wine and a handful of signature cocktails, including a colorful, layered drink known as the “La Bahia Sunrise” after a nearby Spanish fortress.

“People love it,” said Aly Hodges, kitchen manager.

The menu offers traditional American dishes such as steak, meatloaf and french fries and some intriguing game-inspired items like quail poppers and bison sliders.

Whether customers are looking for a full dinner experience or just to nibble at the bar, they should leave satisfied, Hodges said.

“It’s simple country food,” she said. “We have a lot of home cooking, but it’s also classy.”

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

A restored mural that was uncovered during renovations of the Mustang Cantina restaurant that is now a signature part of its courtyard.

The bartender at the Mustang Cantina makes their signature drink, La Bahia Sunrise.

 IF YOU GO MUSTANG CANTINA

306 S. Commercial St. HOURS: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5-11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday-Tuesday MORE INFO: 361-645-8532 or visit themustangcantina.com

The chicken salad from the Mustang Cantina’s menu.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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GOLIAD

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

The outside of The Empresario Restaurant was once a hardware store located on the historic downtown square in Goliad. This building has been in Goliad since 1903.

EMPRESARIO COMBINES ELEGANCE WITH DARN GOOD TEXAS FOOD

BY JON WILCOX jwilcox@vicad.com

GOLIAD – The Empresario Restaurant combines fine dining elegance with the comfort of Texas cuisine.

And that delectable combination is best represented in the restaurant’s signature menu item – the chicken-fried steak, said Angelica Edison, the restaurant’s assistant manager.

“That is what we are known for,” Edison said.

Generously portioned breaded to flaky perfection, and smothered with dollops of white, bacon-based gravy, it’s easy to see why the dish has come to represent the restaurant.

After reopening under new owners in 2013, the Empresario Restaurant has offered diners a hearty Texas fare with a luxurious sensibility.

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But even the restaurant’s takes on Yankee offerings, like its Reuben sandwiches, are worth digging into. In fact, the sandwich earned high praise from a New Jersey transplant who routinely drives an hour and a half for a chance to sink his teeth in the hearty sandwich.

“He loves it,” she said. “They say it’s the best around.”

Despite the Texas-sized portions, diners may not be able to refuse a helping of the restaurant’s in-house cookies and pies, which come in coconut cream, pecan, German chocolate pecan and buttermilk varieties.

But Edison admits the Empresario has more to offer than just delicious food.

Located on the historic Goliad Courthouse Square, the restaurant is as much a feature of local history as it is an homage.

Throughout the restaurant’s interior are photographs of Goliad during the early 1900s, giving diners a chance to time travel as they eat.

 IF YOU GO EMPRESARIO RESTAURANT

141 S. Courthouse Square, Goliad HOURS: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday; 10 a.m.2 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.

For more information, visit empresariogoliad.com or call 361-645-2347.

One of the Empresario Restaurant’s signature dishes – the hush puppy basket.

GOLIAD With its stained wood, dark leather, high-backed booths and marble bar, simply visiting the restaurant can be transporting.

That decor is especially apparent in a rear party room, which is available for parties and meetings.

A full bar offers wine and beer, but the restaurant’s most popular beverages are the cocktails, which carry names

that speak to the area’s rich local history.

Named after a Mexican general who was central to key historical events and battles in the county, the General Zaragoza is a beefy Bloody Mary that boasts horseradish, garlic, lemons and limes as well as onions with a garnish of olives, pickled okra and other fixings.

A display of Goliad Gold Olive Oil inside The Empresario Restaurant. The locally made olive oil is a Goliad staple used by the restaurant.

Making

On warm days, the restaurant’s “Santa Ana” margarita is popular.

“It’s ice-cold,” Edison said.

“We sold a lot today with everyone coming in from the heat.”

After quenching their thirst and filling their bellies, customers probably won’t be able to ignore the variety of olive oils sold under the restaurant’s brand.

As of late, Texans like Jim Kolb,

the restaurant’s owner, have entered the olive oil industry, giving more established regions a run for their money, Edison said.

The oil, which is great for cooking and dipping, is simply irresistible to the point that it has invaded her own home, she said.

“I can’t go back to regular oil,” she said.

The inside of the Empresario Restaurant, including the ceiling tiles and wood floors, along with many accents that are original to the building, .

TEXAS-SIZED Memories Since 1890

Join us for Lunch Tues-Sat 11am - 3pm

Kitchen open during all public events. We can host weddings, parties & outdoor events.

Visit www.schroederhall.com/happenings for upcoming events 12516 FM 622 Goliad, TX 77963 • www.schroederhall.com

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GOLIAD PAST IS PRESENT AT GOLIAD’S PRESIDIO LA BAHIA

BY JON WILCOX jwilcox@vicad.com

GOLIAD — Standing among the centuries-old walls, it’s easy to get lost in imagination at Goliad’s Presidio La Bahia.

“I spend most of my time looking out and pretending what it would be like to be a guard,” said Suzanne Hendlinger, 56.

On a summer afternoon, Hendlinger navigated the fort’s original stone ramparts and murky rooms with her husband and children in tow. Hendlinger, who admitted she was enraptured by the visit, had traveled to the 18th-century Spanish fortress while on vacation from their home in Germany.

“This is where they would sleep,” she said, standing inside a dusty room that once served as barracks for soldiers stationed at the fort.

It’s common to see visitors, who come from all over the globe and all walks of life, become misty-eyed as they meander the site, said Scott McMahon, who serves as director for the historical site.

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

The historic Presidio La Bahia in Goliad. This fort was constructed by the Spanish Army and dates to the 1700s.

 IF YOU GO PRESIDIO LA BAHIA

217 Loop 71 in Goliad HOURS: 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily; closed New Year’s Day, Easter, July Fourth, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

COST: $5 for adults, $4.50 for ages 60 and older, $2 for ages 6 to 11 and free for ages 5 and younger.

MORE INFO: Call 361-6453752; full schedule of events: presidiolabahia.org 76

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A mural inside of the chapel at the historic Presidio La Bahia in Goliad.

GOLIAD Unlike the Alamo, which lies in the heart of San Antonio, thick brush and expansive grasslands surround the Goliad fortress, making it easy to imagine life in the past, he said.

Founded in 1721 on the ruins of a failed French fort, the Presidio is a living reminder of the past, McMahon said.

McMahon said he thinks of the Presidio that way because it still serves as an important site for the Goliad community. With baptisms, weddings and receptions, National Guard change of command ceremonies and even car shows held there regularly, the fort is hardly forgotten, he said.

In fact, some local residents have family ties to those who once lived and died there.

Despite the modern activity, McMahon said the Presidio still stays true to its historic roots.

Unlike in many museums, all of the artifacts inside the Presidio’s museum were excavated on location.

“That’s pretty unique in the museum world,” McMahon said.

Taking in that museum already can require hours for the most dedicated visitors, but McMahon said a new exhibit featuring historical documents, including a soldier’s letter home, an officer’s letter of commission and newspaper clippings from the 1830s, should offer even more to look at.

McMahon said recent restoration work of the walls and an attached chapel was completed with a keen ded-

ication to staying true to the past.

A new iron gate at the chapel was commissioned from a local blacksmith who wrought the metal by hand.

“It’s just like the gate would have been in the old days,” he said. “Everything is blacksmithed together – hammered literally.”

For Hendlinger, that dedication to preserving the past was apparent and appreciated.

“It’s impressive,” she said.

“I always regret when I go to places and I can’t see how it might have been.”

Your Little Feed Store that meets your every need.

Fertilizer • Hardware Feed Bulk Feed • Fencing

GOLIAD FEED

610 E. End Goliad · 361-645-3225

Presidio La Bahia Goliad, TX Presidio La Bahia An important part of Texas History.

Visit the Presidio and step into Texas history.

• • • •

One of the oldest churches in Texas Living History featured throughout the year.

Rent the quarters and spend the night.

Chapel available for weddings.

Located at: 217 Loop 71, Goliad, TX 77963 Contact and reservations, call: (361) 645-3752 or visit www.presidiolabahia.org VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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LISTS PUBLIC LIBRARIES VICTORIA COUNTY

ARANSAS COUNTY

CALHOUN COUNTY

Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-

Victoria Public Library

Aransas County Public Library

Calhoun County Library

2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

302 N. Main St.

701 E. Mimosa St., Rockport

200 W. Mahan St., Port Lavaca

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays;

Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday

Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; closed

and Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday;

Sunday; 361-790-0153;

Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m.-

closed Sunday; 361-485-3302;

acplibrary.org

1 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

victoriapubliclibrary.org

Offers, in addition to books,

In addition to books, offers fax, computers, printers, copy machine, DVDs, audio books, music CDs, summer reading program, document scanning, free Wi-Fi and community room to reserve for events.

BEE COUNTY

fax, online tutorials, computers,

Victoria College/University of

Joe Barnhart Bee County

printers, audio books, DVDs and

Houston-Victoria Library

Library

free internet.

2602 N. Ben Jordan St.

110 W. Corpus Christi St.,

361-552-7323; cclibrary.org

Hours: 7:45 a.m.-10 p.m.

Beeville

weekdays; 1-6 p.m. Saturday-

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday

Calhoun County Library

1 Lamar St., Suite 1,

Sunday during fall, spring

and Wednesday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Seadrift Branch

Point Comfort

semesters; 361-570-4166;

Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.-

502 S. 4th St., Seadrift

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and

vcuhvlibrary.uhv.edu

5 p.m. Friday-Saturday; closed

Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and

2-6 p.m. Tuesday; 10:30 a.m.-

Sunday; 361-362-4901;

2-6 p.m. Monday and

1:30 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.

answers@bclib.org

Wednesday; noon-6 p.m.

Wednesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-

361-785-4241; cclibrary.org

Calhoun County Library Point Comfort Branch

3 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-noon

Advocate File Photo

Dan Galvan looks for a book to read at the Victoria Public Library.

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LISTS Saturday; closed Sunday

DEWITT COUNTY

Offers, in addition to books,

Cuero Municipal Library

DVDs, audiobooks, IRS forms, library loan service, reading program, computers and free internet.

361-987-2954 cclibrary.org

207 E. Main St., Cuero Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; closed Sunday Public access computers for internet or word processing,

Calhoun County Library Port

genealogy research, wireless

O’Connor Branch

access, Mango Languages,

101 S. 6th St., Suite B,

World Book Online, summer

Port O’Connor

programs, toddler story time,

Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m.

book sales October to April,

Monday-Tuesday; 1-6 p.m.

inter-library loans and Wi-Fi.

Wednesday; noon-5 p.m.

361-275-2864;

Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.;

cityofcuero.com/186/library

Carl and Mary

faxing/copying services,

Welhausen Library

genealogy research, wireless

810 Front St., Yoakum

internet access, Mango

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays;

Languages online learning tool,

closed Saturday-Sunday

eBooks Overdrive and text

Genealogy research, public

share databases, and learning

access computers, wireless

express library.

hot spot, monthly story

361-564-3232

time, summer reading and

yorktownpubliclibrary.org

presentation program, Christmas celebration and open house,

GOLIAD COUNTY

Spanish bilingual storytime.

Goliad County Library

361-293-5001

320 S. Commercial St., Goliad

cityofyoakum.org/Library.html

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; closed Saturday-Sunday

Yorktown Public Library

In addition to books, the library

closed Sunday

103 W. Main St., Yorktown

offers programs for children,

Offers, in addition to books,

Hours: 1-9 p.m. Monday; 1-6 p.m.

the Goliad Center for Texas

fax, computers, printers, copy

Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

History that collects materials

machine, DVDs and audiobooks.

Friday; closed Saturday-Sunday

that document local history,

361-983-4365; cclibrary.org

Public access to computers,

genealogical materials, wireless

Advocate File Photo

Naomi Camacho, a public services librarian, pulls books for a patron.

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LISTS and an extensive genealogy

internet access, CDs, DVDs, typewriters, and summer programs that include Monday movies for ages 6 to 13 and Tuesday activity hour 2-3 p.m. to the end of July.

361-645-2291; co.goliad.tx.us

JACKSON COUNTY

LAVACA COUNTY

department, free WiFi, ebooks,

El Campo Branch Library

Hoffie & Lank Wolters Shiner

summer reading club and

200 W. Church St., El Campo

ongoing used book sale.

Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

361-798-3243

Monday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-

hallettsvillelibrary.org

Friday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday;

Public Library 115 E. Wolters and 2nd St., Shiner Hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. MondayThursday; 8-11 a.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday

REFUGIO COUNTY

Large collection of books,

Dennis M. O’Connor

Jackson County

audiovisual materials, local

Public Library

Memorial Library

genealogy materials, magazines,

815 Commerce St., Refugio

411 N. Wells St., Room 121, Edna

newspapers and more.

Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays;

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-

361-594-3044;

closed Saturday and Sunday

Wednesday; 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

shinerpubliclibrary.org

Summer reading program for those going into first through

Thursday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday; closed Saturday-Sunday Jackson County residents have free access to services, which include books, periodicals, newspapers, microfilms, videocassettes, DVDs, children’s audiocassettes, audio CDs, ebooks, internet and Mother Goose storytime every day at 1 p.m. 361-782-2162; jcml-tx.org

Friench Simpson Memorial Library 705 E. Fourth St., Hallettsville

sixth grades.

361-526-2608; dmopl.com

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

WHARTON COUNTY

Tuesday and Thursday;

Wharton County Library

11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday;

1920 N. Fulton St., Wharton

11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday;

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday

9 a.m.-noon Saturday; closed

and Tuesday; 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday-Monday

Wednesday-Friday; 9:30 a.m.-

Thousands of volumes,

3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

historical photo collection

979-532-8080; whartonco.lib.tx.us

closed Sunday 979-543-2362 whartonco.lib.tx.us

East Bernard Public Library 746 Clubside Drive, East Bernard Hours: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Friday; 10 a.m.6 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; closed Sunday 979-335-6142; whartonco.lib.tx.us Louise Branch Library 803 Third St., Louise Hours: 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:304 p.m. Tuesday; 1-5 p.m.

Wednesday; 1-3 p.m. Thursday; closed Friday-Monday 979-648-2018; whartonco.lib.tx.us

Advocate File Photo

Gail McDonald listens to Khloe Nelson, 4, read aloud to Dakota, a 5-year-old pit bull, during Paws 2 Read in this 2018 file photo. The after-school reading program takes place at the Jackson County Memorial Library.

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JACKSON COUNTY BRACKENRIDGE PARK DEFINES FAMILY FUN ATMOSPHERE FOR GUESTS, RESIDENTS METHODIST CHURCH BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER FARMERS MARKET OFFERS FOOD, MUSIC, HANDCRAFTED ITEMS

A portion of a stained glass window along the wall of the First United Methodist Church.

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

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JACKSON BRACKENRIDGE PARK DEFINES FAMILY FUN ATMOSPHERE

BY MORGAN O’HANLON mohanlon@vicad.com

EDNA – James Harris made Edna’s Brackenridge Park his home for almost a year in 2019.

He and his wife were two of the park’s many seasonal residents, who live in trailers there year-round.

Harris, 60, moved to the park in November 2018 and sold his home in nearby Vanderbilt shortly afterward.

This summer, he retired, and he and his wife prepared to travel the country in their recreational vehicle.

Before embarking on their travels, the couple enjoyed watching the park’s wildlife, taking their dogs for walks and having oodles of grandchildren come to visit.

“There’s no meanness out here,” said Harris’ wife, Edith.

That certainly held true on a summer afternoon shortly before they left the park, when her husband lent firewood to another camper, John Blankenship.

Blankenship, 67, was visiting the park with his wife, Maggie Blankenship, for a two-night vacation from their home in Angleton. Their family has been visiting the park for almost two decades.

On that July afternoon, Maggie was taking her two grandchildren, 9-year-old Mylie and 8-year-old Tinlee, to play on the park’s mini golf course.

Blankenship said the joy of sitting out and watching the lake with her family has brought them back for almost 20 years.

What distinguishes the Brackenridge Recreation Complex, said marketing coordinator Bridget Bustos, is the quantity of things to do 82

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DISCOVER 2019

there year-round. The complex is home to 240-acre Brackenridge Park and Campground and 590-acre Texana Park, as well as a main events center owned and operated by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority.

At different times throughout the year, patrons can attend a chili festival, a Halloween carnival, an Independence Day celebration, an antique parade and several rodeos and fishing tournaments.

If a visitor happens to stop by in the time between these events, Bustos said they can always enjoy the disc golf, mini golf, various sporting facilities, historical sites and fishing, camping and hiking.

Bustos enjoys camping at the park with her fiance and their best friends. The two couples take their younger siblings out to Texana Park and hit the hike and bike trails before settling down for a night at the campgrounds.

“It’s a family fun atmosphere,” Bustos said. “You can’t beat the coziness of being around a campfire with your family.”

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Deer walk through Brackenridge Park and Campground.

Cabins along Lake Texana at Brackenridge Park and Campground.

 IF YOU GO 891 Brackenridge Parkway, Edna BRACKENRIDGE PARK STORE HOURS: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday TEXANA PARK AND CAMPGROUND HOURS: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.4 p.m. Sunday

Mylie Drenner, 9, plays miniature golf while staying with her grandmother, Maggie Blankenship, at Brackenridge Park and Campground.

EFFICIENCY AIR, INC. 319 E. Main St., Edna, TX 361.782.3537 409 E. Juan Linn, Victoria, TX 361.578.2665 www.efficiencyair.com TACL B003154C

Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Annual Events:

Chamber Membership Banquet Best of Texas Big Buck and Big Hog Hunting Contest Chamber Golf Tournament

Brackenridge

Two Parks, One Destination!

Recreation Complex

Contact us to join today!

Memberships available for individuals and businesses

Brackenridge Park (361) 782-5456 Texana Park (361) 782-5718 Located on beautiful Lake Texana, 7 miles south of Edna on Highway 111

Develop • Grow • Build a Strong Community 317 W Main St. PO Box 788 Edna Tx 77957 Phone: (361)-782-7146 Fax: (361)-782-2811 Website: www.jacksoncountytexas.com

Gated RV & Tent Camping Areas * Cabins * Facility Rentals Water Recreation * Fishing Piers * Kayak Rentals * Playgrounds Picnic Areas * Hike & Bike Trails * Equestrian Trail * Miniature Golf Disc Golf * Historic Church * Nature Center

brackenridgepark.com

@Brackenridge Recreation Complex

JACKSON METHODIST CHURCH BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER

BY MORGAN O’HANLON mohanlon@vicad.com

EDNA – Beyond Sundays, people come together at Edna’s First United Methodist Church, said Pastor Kelli Williamson, who started working at the church in July 2018.

“This church is very community oriented,” Williamson said.

The tight-knit culture, she said, was especially evident mid-July of this year, when one of its young members went into cardiac arrest and died.

“People from the church were there for the family, providing them with food and support and whatever they needed,” Williamson said.

Although Williamson said strong ties are fostered at all the churches she’s served, the close community bond around Edna’s First United Methodist Church is special.

“It’s just the quintessential small town,” she said.

The strong bonds at Edna’s First United Methodist Church didn’t form overnight.

The church was founded in 1882 as an outgrowth of the Texana Methodist Church, located in what is now Brackenridge Park. The expansion was the result of the town growing when the Macaroni Railroad came to town.

Eventually, the founders of Edna’s First United Methodist Church, after meeting temporarily in the Presbyterian church 84

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DISCOVER 2019

and several homes, constructed the first Methodist building on Main Street in 1885.

Then the current church building was constructed at that site in 1911. Stained glass, an organ, a stage, chapel and sanctuary are now part of that location.

Williamson knows church members whose families have been attending for generations.

To newcomers, Williamson recommends checking out one of the church’s weekly Sunday services or any of its many other regularly scheduled events.

What makes her church special, Williamson said, is that members of the community who aren’t members of the church are welcome to join any of their events and activities.

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

An altar in the Edna First United Methodist Church.

 IF YOU GO EDNA’S FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Stained glass windows are featured at the historic church.

216 W. Main St., Edna SCHEDULE: Sunday worship services 9 a.m. in Wesley Center 11 a.m. in Sanctuary Sunday school 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Round table class 10 a.m. all ages class Choir rehearsal 1:30 p.m. Sunday Youth group meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday MORE INFO: For more information, call 361-7823561 or visit the church’s Facebook page at facebook. com/fumcedna.

The Edna First United Methodist Church is on the corner of East Main and North Allen streets.

JACKSON FARMERS MARKET OFFERS FOOD, MUSIC, HANDCRAFTED ITEMS

BY MORGAN O’HANLON mohanlon@vicad.com

GANADO – Ganado is a Spanish word meaning a herd of cattle. On the fourth Saturday of each month, it could also be used to describe the way people flock to the town’s farmers market.

 IF YOU GO GANADO FARMERS MARKET 111 S. Third St., Ganado WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. fourth Saturday of each month MORE INFO: If interested in becoming a vendor, contact Robin Donalson at 979-4879932 or find the market on Facebook at facebook.com/ ganadofarmersmarket.

The Ganado Farmers Market started in 2012 under the management of Amanda Mamerow. In June 2017, new management took over consisting of Robin Donalson, Jonel Knuppel and Rhonda Garner.

Vendors sell everything from handicrafts to produce and cottage food. The market also features direct sellers from companies such as Tupperware, Mary Kay and Scentsy.

One vendor, Jerry Palmer, set up a booth at the market for the first time in July. Palmer, who owns Victoria-based woodworking business Mystic Carvings, has sold his art at various farmers markets throughout the region. Although he said they don’t often differ, there

Photos by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Delores Staff, of Louise, receives a prize for winning first place in the vendor decorating contest at the Ganado Farmers Market. The floral arrangement was made by Jonel Knuppel, of Ganado.

were certain details that made Ganado’s market especially charming.

“This one was different to the effect that they have music,” Palmer said.

This year, Donalson said, the market began to feature live music in addition to regular festivities.

It’s just one of the details that organizers have put in place to make the market stand out. In July, the market also had a competition among vendors for best-decorated booth.

But the market’s biggest asset is its sense of community, Donalson said.

“What sets it apart is the small town atmosphere and returning vendors,” Donalson

Veronica Garcia, of Wharton, listens to live music while selling handmade crafts at the Ganado Farmers Market. Garcia’s business, Veronica’s Crafty Corner & More, has participated in the Ganado Farmers Market four times.

said. “We’re a small town with a big heart.”

The efforts of organizers hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2019, the Ganado Farmers Market won the 2019 grant from Capital Farmers Credit.

The vendors are also happy with the attention the market gets. Even in the July heat, Palmer said shoppers were receptive to his art.

“It has been such a blessing,” Donalson said. “Our vendors are our family.

We’re just one big happy family and always ready to add new members.”

Adysen Malek, 13, performs at the Ganado Farmers Market. Adysen, of Edna, has been singing for about two years and usually performs twice a month.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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85

LISTS PARKS VICTORIA COUNTY

95 acres, fishing, swimming,

Victoria Skate Park in the

Coleto Creek Park

Riverside Park

picnic tables and pits, boat

Youth Sports Complex

365 Coleto Park Road

476 McCright Drive

ramp and restrooms

307 N. Ben Wilson St.

3,100-acre lake, 80 campsites,

562 acres, RV park, Texas Zoo,

Opens at 7 a.m. daily, closes at

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

59 sites have 50-amp hookup

Texas Paddling Trail, 27-hole

8 p.m. in the winter and 9 p.m. in

Skateboard and inline

for RV, three camping cabins,

golf course, ballfields, duck

the summer

skating areas.

water and electricity at each site,

pond, picnic areas, playgrounds,

visitvictoriatx.com

victoriatx.org

boat ramp, water skiing, fishing,

boat ramp, basketball court,

camping, swimming, nature

hike and bike trails, rose garden,

Community Center Park

Brownson Park

tours, mountain biking, two

disc golf, restrooms, fishing and

211 N. Ben Wilson St.

202 N. Laurent St.

group pavilions with volleyball

sand volleyball.

73 acres, covered basketball

6 a.m.-11 p.m.

courts, playgrounds, horseshoe

victoriatx.org

court, playground, soccer fields,

Play equipment, basketball goals

tennis courts, playground,

and picnic tables.

lighted fishing pier, mile-long

Patriot Park

softball and baseball complex,

victoriatx.org

hiking and nature trail, and

(formerly Saxet Lake Park)

restrooms and picnic areas.

restrooms

Two miles south of Victoria off

victoriatx.org

361-575-6366

U.S. 59, on Timberline Drive at

gbra.org/coletocreekpark

Fordyce and Fox roads

pit, barbecue pit, 200-foot

Advocate File Photo

Brother and sister Leo Garza, 9, and Lilly Garza, 8, spend their Sunday afternoon fishing at opposite ends of a pier on a pond at Riverside Park.

86

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DISCOVER 2019

LISTS Ethel Lee Tracy Park

backstops and picnic tables.

diving area, a whale-shaped

west side is the city’s municipal

701 E. Larkspur St.

victoriatx.org

zero-depth children’s pool with

golf course. Offers five lighted

slides, sprays and a bathhouse.

baseball diamonds with

8 a.m.-11 p.m.; amphitheater 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Queen City Park

Amphitheater, playground,

2202 N. Cameron St.

The Skate Park

with backstops, a concession

restrooms, pavilion with electricity

6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Adjacent to the Aquatic Park

building, 12 picnic tables with

and barbecue pit, fishing lake,

Queen City is one of Victoria’s

Offers a 6,000-square-foot

grills, 23 picnic tables without

9-hole disc golf, tennis courts,

oldest parks, playground

modular facility.

grills, a football/soccer field

basketball court, sand volleyball

equipment and lighted picnic areas.

courts, picnic shelters, horseshoe

victoriatx.org

with bleachers, two swing sets, Dog Park at Memorial Park

two slides, one seesaw, two

Two separate areas, for large

covered pavilion areas and two

Will Rogers Park

and small dogs; water; disposal

restroom buildings.

1108 E. Warren Ave.

stations and benches.

pits and splash pad. victoriatx.org

bleachers, five baseball fields

Hopkins Park

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

505 S. Laurent St.

Children’s play equipment,

Rockport Beach Park

Known as Nopal Park is about 9

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

backstops and open play areas.

(“Blue Wave Beach”)

acres of neighborhood park in

Two acres, full basketball court,

victoriatx.org

Offers a pristine shoreline with

northwest Beeville. Offers four

Koehler Park

playgrounds, fishing pier, boat

baseball fields with backstops,

pavilion and restrooms.

Lone Tree Creek Park

ramp, picnic areas and salt water

a volleyball sand pit, a slide,

victoriatx.org

4009 E. Airline Road

“pool,” rental facilities available.

two swing sets, two monkey

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

361-729-6661

bars sets, eight picnic tables,

Ted B. Reed Park

Splash pad, restrooms, practice

rockportbeach-texas.com

a wading pool and a walking/

2101 Salem Road

ball fields, soccer fields, Lone

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

Tree Creek hike and bike trail.

Memorial Park

10 acres, playground, lighted

victoriatx.org

100-plus-acre community park

Flournoy Park

playground, picnic tables,

jogging trail.

with recreational trails, sporting

Three-acre park in the north

covered picnic tables, handball

ARANSAS COUNTY

fields, exercise stations, birding

central part of the city. Offers

courts, single-goal basketball

Aransas Pass Community Park

sites and picnic facilities.

two lighted tennis courts, a

court, walking trail and restrooms.

East Johnson Avenue

Hiking and Biking Trails

swing set, a picnic table and a

Expanding with plans to connect

monkey bars set.

pavilion with barbecue pit and

victoriatx.org Harbor Park

the city’s boundaries

Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Conn Brown Harbor

Neighborhood parks

Klipstein Park

3808 Callis St.

SH361

Recreational and picnic

Centrally located, 2-acre

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily

The Flats

facilities, ornamental and

neighborhood park. Offers a

natural resource parks located

baseball field with backstop,

throughout the city.

two swing sets, a playscape, a

Children’s playground, pavilion, barbecue pit and basketball court.

Lighthouse Lakes Park

victoriatx.org

Redfish Bay Causeway

Meadowlane Park

monkey bars set, a slide and

Newbury Park

BEE COUNTY

South Lamont Street

Poesta Park

three picnic tables.

A 33-acre community park in

Trevino Park

6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Park

the southeastern corner of the

Two-acre neighborhood park in

Children’s play equipment, two

(formerly McCampbell Park)

city. Has six baseball fields with

the southwestern part of the city.

basketball courts and picnic tables.

Corner of North McCampbell

backstops, a swing set, a merry-

Offers a basketball court with

victoriatx.org

Street and West Maddox Avenue

go-round, a monkey bars set.

bleachers, a baseball field with

Rockport Aquatic Park

361-358-4641

backstop, three swing sets, a

3202 Meadowlane Ave.

Pine Street Community Park

Multipurpose, heated

802 E. Pine St.

competition pool and

Veteran’s Memorial Park

6 a.m.-11 p.m.

recreational pool with slides and

The city’s largest community

Children’s play unit, swing set,

sprays. The park has an eight-

park at about 200 acres.

tire swing, basketball court,

lane, heated, 25-yard pool and

Adjacent to the park on its

slide, a monkey bars set and two picnic tables.

Carlos Reyes Park VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM



87

LISTS Ten-acre community park in the

Moore Park

Brookhollow Estates Park

and large open green space.

extreme southwestern part of the

One-acre neighborhood park

135 E. Harbor Drive, Port Lavaca

361-552-3347

city. Offers a football/soccer field,

in southeastern part of the

Playground, exercise equipment

four baseball fields and backstops,

city. Offers a basketball court,

and picnic area.

Bayfront Peninsula Park

three swing sets, a slide, a seesaw

a covered pavilion area, slide,

361-552-3347

Commerce and Main streets,

and restroom building. In addition,

swing set and monkey bars set.

Port Lavaca City Park (Tilley Park)

Lighted fishing pier, public boat

CALHOUN COUNTY

711 Tilley St., Port Lavaca

ramp, splash pad, playground,

Lighthouse Beach and Bird

Covered pavilion, volleyball

restrooms, covered pavilion

Martin Luther King City

Sanctuary-RV Park

court, picnic area with barbecue

and fishing available from

Pool Park

700 Lighthouse Beach Road,

pits, bathrooms, large open

stepped seawall.

Seven-acre community park just

Port Lavaca

green space, basketball hoops

361-552-3347

off West Corpus Christi Street.

RV park, beach with cabanas

and playground.

Offers a municipal swimming

and tiki umbrellas, splash pad,

361-552-3347

pool, five football/soccer

lighted fishing pier, bathrooms,

fields, two baseball fields with

tent area, playground, volleyball

George Adams Park

Port Lavaca

backstops, two swing sets, a slide,

court, covered pavilion, hike and

501 S. Benavides St., Port Lavaca

Softball field, baseball field,

a merry-go-round and two lighted

bike trail and public boat ramp.

Covered pavilion, playground,

soccer field, concession stand,

outdoor basketball courts.

361-552-5311

restrooms, picnic area with

restrooms and large open area.

barbecue pits, basketball court

361-552-3347

this park is surrounded by a road that is utilized for jogging and walking.

Wilson Field At Seadrift and Jackson streets,

Photo by Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com

Family members, from left, Kim, Spencer, 3, and Cody Koehl, of Victoria, look at the antique tractors at the Brackenridge Independence Day Celebration in Edna. “Oh, there’s a way big one!” Spencer says as he points to the tractors.

88

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DISCOVER 2019

LISTS Chocolate Bayou Park

Front Street Railroad Park

one handicap swing, two

Coleto Creek Park

Austin Street, Port Lavaca

Front Street

toddler swings, one playscape,

and Reservoir

Playground, picnic area with barbecue

Green space

one toddler playscape, two

365 Coleto Park Road, Victoria

pits, covered pavilions, restrooms,

361-293-5682

climbing toys, four metal- coated

83 campsites, four rental trailers,

benches and four stand-alone

four camping cabins, 28 sites

duck pond, wetlands nature trail, baseball and soccer fields.

Chisholm Trail Park

toys. Outdoor swimming pool,

have 50-amp hookup for RV, 47

361-552-9242

Corner of Alternate U.S. 77 and

including two water slides

sites have 30-amp hookup. Boat

West Gonzales Street

and wading pool, splash pad,

ramp, water skiing, two group

Faye Sterling Park

Bronze statues representing

covered area with picnic tables.

pavilions with volleyball courts,

Downtown on Main Street,

cattle trail, lush trees and

Gazebo with native plants,

horseshoe pit, barbecue pit,

Port Lavaca

native plants.

community garden with 12

water and electricity.

Rest areas

361-293-5682

spaces, walking trail measuring

Also, 200-foot lighted fishing

2.85 miles with benches at

pier, a mile-long hiking and

361-552-3347 Yorktown City Park

various locations; lake with

nature trail, restrooms and 3,100-

Matagorda Island Wildlife

Main Street, Yorktown

lighted fishing pier and knoll for

acre lake.

Management Area

Playground, Ferris wheel, tennis

outdoor movies, plays and other

Fee: $9 per vehicle per day, up

Only accessible by boat

courts, fishing, hike and bike trail,

outdoor events. Three public

to four people; $2 per person

Migratory birds, white-tailed

barbecue areas, pavilion and

restrooms (ADA-accessible).

per day.

deer, alligators, saltwater fishing,

basketball court.

361-275-6114

361-575-6366

hunting (in season), birding,

361-564-2611

coletocreekpark.com

GOLIAD COUNTY

picnicking, lighthouse from 1852; camping on camp grounds

Cuero Municipal Park

Goliad State Park

Branch River Park

requires limited use permit and

U.S. 87, Cuero

108 Park Road 6

445 S Commercial St., Goliad

annual hunt permit.

Anna Koch Pavilion includes two

188 acres includes Mission

Branch River Park is a 4.2 acre

361-790-0307

barbecue pits and two fire pits;

Espiritu Santo State Historic Site

park that links Goliad’s historic

Municipal Park Clubhouse rental;

and is close to Presidio LaBahia,

courthouse square to the San

DEWITT COUNTY

Lions Club pavilion includes six

Ignacio Zaragoza Birthplace

Antonio River, as well as the

Yoakum City Park

covered metal picnic tables and

State Historic Site, Fannin

Angel of Goliad Hike & Bike Trail

703 S. Park Road

barbecue pit. Seven covered

Battleground State Historic Site,

and the Ferry Street River Access

Picnic tables, barbecue pits,

picnic units along lake front,

the Goliad Historical District and

Site.

swimming pool, basketball and

picnic tables on island at lake;

Mission Rosario State Historic

Facilities include park trail,

tennis courts, sand volleyball court,

large covered picnic unit with

Site. Also has an amphitheater,

benches, picnic tables,

covered pavilions, walking trail, new

barbecue pit pavilion including

museum, store, camping, dining

drinking fountain, restrooms,

playscapes and RV sites available.

two large pits, fire pit and

hall, playground, trailer dump

playgrounds, amphitheater,

361-293-5682

one smaller pit for individual

station, restrooms with showers,

pavilion available for free rental

use; eight single- user pits

nature trail, river trail and Goliad

(call for reservations), 9-hole disc

Mack Jamison Park

throughout the park; 12 concrete

paddling trail takeout point

golf course and natural area.

Dunn Street

picnic tables throughout other

Fee: 13 and up, $3

Open daily 6 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Pavilion, volleyball and

areas of the park, four volleyball

361-645-3405

866-345-7272

basketball courts, baseball

courts, basketball pavilion with

tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/

www.sara-tx.org

field, playground equipment,

three full-size courts, golf pro-

goliad

barbecue pits, Jamison Youth

shop with covered deck with

Center and lighted soccer field.

six wooden picnic tables, two

Fannin Plaza Park/Fort Fun

Brackenridge Park

361-293-5682

soccer fields, CBAT field (hard

One block northeast of

and Campground

ball), Little League complex

downtown square, South Market

891 Brackenridge Parkway

Centennial Park

including major field, minor

and East Franklin streets.

136 full or partial campsites, five

West Grand Avenue

field, T-ball/softball field and

Amenities include sprawling

two-bedroom cabins, several

Gazebo, green space and

nine-hole golf course; Friar

playground, benches and trees

indoor rental facilities, four

small playscape.

Ag Center, Rodeo Arena; kids

next to downtown.

restrooms with showers, outdoor

361-293-5682

playground includes 10 swings,

361-645-3563

JACKSON COUNTY

pavilion, gazebo, hike and VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM



89

LISTS bike trails, 12-mile equestrian

Exceptions can be made for

Green-Dickson Municipal Park

Harris Park

trail, softball field, soccer field,

areas to be lighted for permitted,

2086 County Road 351, Shiner

Near Camellis Avenue and West

paintball, nine-hole miniature

specific events such as baseball

Picnic tables, baseball and

Milam Street, Wharton

golf, nine-hole disc golf, picnic

or softball. Other uses of existing

softball complex, tennis and

979-532-2491

area, playgrounds and boat

facilities after hours shall be by

volleyball courts, covered

ramp. The park also is the site

permit or agreement only.

pavilion, walking and biking

Croom Park

of the Texana Historical Church

361-782-3122

trails, RV spaces and the

2900 Old Lane City Road,

built in 1859 by the Brackenridge

cityofedna.com

Veterans War Memorial.

Wharton

361-594-3362

979-532-2491

family. The church is not open all the time, but visitors can

Martin Luther King Park

pick up a key and tour the

Martin Luther King Drive

Moulton City Park

Riverfront Park

church. The Brackenridge family

Can be rented and reserved on

102 Veterans Drive, off FM 532,

U.S. 59 bridge, Wharton

cemetery and homesite are on

a first-come, first-serve basis

Moulton

979-532-2491

the historical trail. The park is

for $50.

Baseball field, basketball and tennis

located on Lake Texana, where

361-782-3122

courts, barbecue areas, playscapes,

Jefferson Park

fishing pond, covered pavilion and

Southeast Avenue

lake activities.

Children’s Park

RV spaces with utilities.

979-532-2491

361-782-5456, fax: 361-782-5419

Off Pumphrey Street

361-596-4621

email: brc@lnra.org

Intended as children’s

brackenridgepark.com

playplace as parents exercise

Hallettsville City Park

Olive Street, Wharton

around the area.

910 N. Main St., Hallettsville

Includes a softball field

Playground, picnic tables,

979-532-2491

guests can enjoy various

Texana Park and Campground

Mayfair Park

46 Park Road 1

Texana Raceway Park/Stock

swimming pool, golf course, two

141 full or partial campsites,

Car Races

covered pavilions, volleyball and

Park at Legacy Fields

two three-bedroom cabins,

258 County Road 412

tennis courts.

303 West Loop, El Campo

seven restrooms with and

Two miles east of Edna on

361-798-3681

without showers, an outdoor

SH111, then left on Haines Road

cityofhallettsville.org

pavilion, day use area for

(Farm-to-Market Road 412)

picnicking and grilling under

361-781-0411; 979-758-4440

REFUGIO COUNTY

tree-shaded tables, good

Ganado

Lion’s/Shelly Park

Rotary Park

301 W. Empresario St., Refugio

1211 E. Jackson St., El Campo

birding and fishing. Park also

Friendship Park 1202 N. Wharton St., El Campo

has several hike and bike trails,

Devers Creek Park

Playground, covered pavilion,

nature center, amphitheater,

Sutherland Street

picnic tables, nature trails, fishing

Willie Bell Park

lighted fishing piers, fishing

Picnic tables, barbecue grills, two

pier and restrooms.

720 W. Second St., El Campo

jetty that is handicap

playground areas, two fishing

361-526-5361

accessible, double boat ramp,

piers, exercise station, two nature

playgrounds, trailer dump

trails follow the banks of Devers

Heritage Park

station and fish-cleaning facility

Creek and covered pavilion with

102 West St., Refugio

near the boat ramp. The park is

restrooms and kitchen available

361-526-5361

on Lake Texana where guests

to rent for special events.

can enjoy various lake activities.

361-771-2232

361-782-5718 brackenridgepark.com

LAVACA COUNTY

Second Street Park 603 W. Second St., El Campo Alamo Park 226 W. First St., El Campo Kings Park Off Commerce Street, Refugio

Evans Park

361-526-5361

112 E. Monseratte, El Campo

Welhausen Park Shelby Park

Downtown city block on Avenue

WHARTON COUNTY

Delta Street Park

104 Shelby Park Road

E., Shiner

Caney Creek Park

1303 Delta St., El Campo

Shelby Hall 8 a.m.-midnight,

Bandstand, playground

400 Caney Drive, Wharton

Shelby pool open in summer

equipment and monuments

979-532-2491

from 1-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

describing Shiner’s history.

2613 Blossom Meyer St.,

Rental prices for Shelby Hall.

361-594-3362

El Campo

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El Campo Aquatic Center

361-574-1241

NOVOSAD’S SERVES BARBECUE AND SLICE OF TIMES PAST  LIRA ROSSA ARTISAN CHEESE BRINGS TASTE OF ITALY TO THE CROSSROADS  CAN YOU ESCAPE? NEW BUSINESS ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR WITS ABOUT THEM

LAVACA COUNTY

Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Andrea Cudin, owner/cheese maker of Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese in Moulton, checks wheels of robiola cheese in the company’s aging room. Some of these cheese are aged up to a year. The cheeses can be purchased at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston.

LAVACA

Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Novosad’s BBQ and Sausage Market, 105 La Grange St., in Hallettsville, is owned and operated by Nathan Novosad.

It was started by his grandfather, J.J. Novosad, in 1959.

NOVOSAD’S SERVES BARBECUE, SLICE OF TIMES PAST

BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com

HALLETTSVILLE – The thick wooden island with a butcher-block top situated behind the counter of Novosad’s BBQ & Sausage Market in Hallettsville has seen a lot of briskets, pork ribs and sausage during the past 60 years.

Vintage John Wayne and other western-themed artwork likely have graced the walls of the old downtown establishment just as long.

And the back room blackened by decades of smoking meats tells a story all its own.

“If it doesn’t smell like smoke, it’s not barbecue,”

said Ernie Foster, 67, who sat at a table culling through dried pinto beans in preparation for the next day’s meal.

“I’ve traveled all over the country, and it’s about the best barbecue place around.”

In the town called home by fewer than 3,000 residents, generations of Novosads have carried on a family tradition of serving sausage prepared according to the recipes of their Czechoslovakian ancestors.

J.J. Novosad opened his doors in 1959, and before that, he sold several restaurants across Texas, including the one that has evolved into the Mikeska’s barbecue chain.

ON THE MENU • BBQ Plates • Pork & Beef Sausage • Pork Ribs • Beef Brisket • Half Chicken • Pork Steak • BBQ Sandwiches • Sausage • Sliced Brisket • Pork

• BBQ by the Pound • Sliced Brisket • Pork Ribs • Pork Steak • Pork & Beef Sausage • Chicken • Sides by the cup, pint & quart • Potato salad • Homemade borracho beans • Coleslaw

In 1983, Nathan Novosad, 60, J.J.’s grandson began running the restaurant. Together, they have served generations of the town’s families and countless travelers passing through on their way somewhere else.

The small restaurant is imbued with a feeling of nostalgia, possible only with the passing of much time and many shared meals and conversations.

As a young man, Foster bought barbecue from J.J. Novosad. He then started helping his friend Nathan Novosad around the place a couple of months ago. Foster, a self-described pork rib man, makes the coleslaw and potato salad.

Novosad makes the homemade borracho beans. He begins smoking the meats, including brisket, pork steak, chicken and pork ribs, about 4:30 a.m.

Plates, sandwiches and meats-by-the pound are on the menu.

At the glass-encased meat counter near the entrance, No-

vosad sells pork and beef sausage, breakfast sausage, dried sausage and smoked bacon.

Novosad called Judy Werner, 70, who works at Hair on the Square in downtown Hallettsville, by name when she walked over to pick up her togo order. She called Novosad a “sweetheart” and described the place as “friendly.”

Novosad’s BBQ & Sausage Market made Texas Monthly’s “Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas” in 1997.

“Hometown people meet and greet, and others from all over Texas stop through,” Novosad said. “A lot of regulars come in on Fridays, and it’s a mixture of locals and out-of-town customers on Saturdays.”

 IF YOU GO NOVOSAD’S BBQ & SAUSAGE MARKET 105 La Grange St., Hallettsville 361-798-2770 novosadsbbq.com Hours// 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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Photos by Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Emilio Martinez, 30, and Andrea Cudin, owner/cheese maker of Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese in Moulton, make burrata.

The cheeses can be purchased at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston.

CHEESEMAKER BRINGS TASTE OF ITALY TO CROSSROADS

BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com

Andrea Cudin, owner of Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese, places fresh, homemade cheeses made from original Italian recipes in the refrigerator in a small building on the Four E Dairy in Moulton.

The building is always open, and some of the bags are marked with customers’ names who leave money when they pick up their purchases. Other cheeses are there for the taking by anyone, and they are asked to leave their payment. Lira Rossa operates under the rule of the honor system.

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to the Crossroads when he moved to the area with his wife, Jillian Scheumack Cudin. Since then, he has returned to a small village creamery in his native country for five weeks to learn more about making cheese.

He turned his hobby into a business in 2016, and the cheesemaker who provided Cudin with instruction in Italy made the trip to Texas for the grand opening.

Milk from Four E Dairy is piped directly from the milk barn into the creamery where Cudin makes his cheeses. The quality of the milk determines the quality of the cheese, and more than 300 Jersey cows at the Four E Dairy produce a

high-quality product, Cudin said. The cows are grass-fed and roam free on the farm.

They are not given antibiotics or hormones.

“That makes the milk richer in healthy enzymes and less prone to contaminations, therefore, safer,” Cudin continued. “Cheese is a result of processing milk, so you already know if you have good cheese based on the milk.”

One gallon of milk makes about one pound of cheese.

Cudin makes at least 15 types of cheese that range in weight from about an ounce to 14-pound wheels.

The most popular cheeses are latteria, mozzarella and ricotta. The latteria, made

from raw milk by following an original Friuli-region recipe, is the signature Alpine-style cheese. The flavor is “delicate” and “strengthens and becomes more aromatic with age.” Other varieties include caciotta, ricotta affumicata and formadi frant.

“First, mozzarella was our bestseller, and now, latteria is,” Cudin said. “And our ricotta, when you try ours, you never go back because it’s so different.”

Lira Rossa is the only creamery anywhere in the area making what Cudin calls “real ricotta.”

Cudin travels every Friday to Houston, stays the night and attends the Urban Harvest Farmers Market on

LAVACA Buffalo Speedway on Saturday. While he is there, he also delivers his cheeses to restaurant clients.

Majek Vineyard and Winery in Schulenburg was Cudin’s first client. The Victoria Country Club has occasionally served his cheeses.

Cudin said he makes an expensive product, $20 to $24 a pound, but his prices are still below average for cheeses made by small-batch creameries in Texas.

“We are making Italian artisan cheeses like those made in Italy,” he said.

Despite working six days per week, Cudin called his wife the breadwinner of the

family. She works for Scheumack Homes, another family business, and takes care of the bookkeeping and other duties outside the cheese-making room for Lira Rossa.

Customers can purchase cheeses at the creamery or order and pick them up at the Cudins’ home in Victoria. They also can have them shipped during the cool months, he said.

 IF YOU GO LIRA ROSSA ARTISAN CHEESE 784 County Road 251, Moulton, at Four E Dairy

lirarossa.com Email: info@lirarossa.com

Ricotta cheese by Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese in Moulton.

The cheeses can be purchased at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston.

Andrea Cudin, owner/cheese maker of Lira Rossa Artisan Cheese in Moulton, kneads the curds by hand to make mozzarella. The cheeses can be purchased at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston.

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LAVACA

Angela Piazza/apiazza@vicad.com

Wayne Denson, owner of Shiner Escape Rooms, shows Cyndi Stein, left, and Trish Baker a prison-themed room.

ESCAPE ROOM URGES PEOPLE TO KEEP WITS ABOUT THEM

BY JESSICA PRIEST jpriest@vicad.com

SHINER – A Lavaca County justice of the peace is locking up thrill-seekers.

Well, sort of.

Wayne Denson opened the first escape room in the Crossroads this year.

He got the idea after doing one in Orlando, Fla., with his daughter, Katie Malinowski, a few years ago.

Takao Kato, of Kyoto Japan, created the first escape room in 2008. News reports from then show people were led into clubs or bars, where they had to decipher codes and do – gasp – math to make their escape.

Now, they are much more immersive and popular.

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host James Corden last Halloween and there was a horror movie about escape rooms released in January.

Denson and Malinowski stress the rooms aren’t scary, that escaping them requires brains, not brute force.

Trish Baker and Cyndi Stein learned that when they were one of the Shiner Escape Room’s first customers.

They were told they had stowed away in the janitor’s closet of the Spoetzl Brewery, so they could steal a secret brew that possessed magical qualities.

They snickered as they stumbled through the dark.

They made self-deprecating jokes when they made slow progress, but in the end decided it had bonded them.

They beamed when they She posted a review about escaped the room with about Shiner Escape Rooms on 30 seconds to spare.

Facebook after taking her “This would be a good son and his friends there to team-building exercise,” celebrate his birthday.

Stein said.

“They had a blast! They Shiner Escape Rooms had went in Evil Roy’s room in 800 customers between the two separate groups to comtime it opened in March pete against each other’s through July. time. They couldn’t stop Denson said a room cus- talking about it the rest of tomers are told belonging the evening. So glad to have to a character named “Evil a fun, different entertainRoy” seems to be the most ment option close to home!” popular. He said he’s already she wrote. building a fourth room for  IF YOU GO them to enjoy.

“I think if you just look at SHINER ESCAPE the reviews and see what peoROOMS ple are saying, it’s very en1148 SH 95, Shiner couraging. I just need to get 361-594-3000 the word out more so people know about it and come try it Must book online at shinerescape.com. out,” Denson said.

Lawren Hagan Kridler $28 per person seemed happy to have come.

REFUGIO COUNTY

OUR LADY OF REFUGE CATHOLIC PARISH FILLED WITH RICH HISTORY  HIGH-FALUTIN BRINGS HIGH FASHION, CAMARADERIE TO REFUGIO

Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

The sanctuary of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Refugio.

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REFUGIO

Photos by Chamberlain Smith/csmith@vicad.com

A stained glass window inside Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Refugio.

CATHOLIC CHURCH FILLED WITH RICH HISTORY

BY MORGAN THEOPHIL mtheophil@vicad.com

REFUGIO – The first thing people notice when entering the Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Parish are the intricate, gleaming stainedglass windows.

The windows arrived from Munich in 1930 and feature

stories of the Crucifixion, Christ’s Baptism, the Virgin Mary’s crowning and more.

John Gregorcyk describes how the artists created light around the faces of the people in the picture to catch the eye of the viewer before anything else.

“Everybody just loves the faces, the lit-up faces,” he

A cross inside Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Refugio.

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said. “The minute someone walks in here, they see how beautiful this is.”

The historic church, a part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, sits on the banks of the Aransas River along the edge of U.S. 77 in Refugio and has a narrative dating to 1795.

The history begins with the Rev. Manuel Silva and Francisco Garza, members of the Franciscan Order of Friars, who founded Mission Nuestra Senora del Refugio, according to a church historical book. Located where the church sits today, it was the last of the Texas missions.

The mission church building went up in the early 1800s and remained in use until it suffered hurricane damage about 1820. Only ruins remained until 1834 when Irish immigrants made repairs and used the space as a church and hospital.

The mission played home

to the Battle of Refugio in 1836, where it found itself bombarded by cannon balls.

Although the building remained in use for some time, it was eventually torn down and stone from the old mission went to create what was known as the “Rock Church.”

The current building was built in 1900. At that time, church records say, it was the largest sanctuary in South Texas.

Gregorcyk, 66, holds the humble title of plant manager for the church, though his work extends far beyond maintaining the landscape. A trained carpenter and electrician, Gregorcyk said he does whatever needs to be done – and for his more than

 IF YOU GO OUR LADY OF REFUGE CATHOLIC PARISH 1008 S. Alamo St., Refugio

REFUGIO 35 years with the church, he’s done so with joy.

Gregorcyk said he was born and raised going to the church. On a recent Friday morning, he was overcome with emotion recalling the exact pews where his mother and grandmother sat during the many years they attended the church together.

“It’s all about family to me,” he said. “A lot of people come through this church, and I know it’s about family for them, too.”

The deep brown pews are made of longleaf yellow pine, Gregorcyk said, and the altar is made of oak. The statues on the altar, which date to the 1800s, are only handled

by Gregorcyk.

“I’m the only one who will move them,” he said. “I

guess I’ve been around long enough that I’m the only one who wants to.”

In the past century, the beloved church has withstood multiple natural disasters. A hurricane in 1942 moved the church off its foundation, and in the 1980s, a truck carrying the flammable liquid naphtha overturned just outside, causing an explosion, scorching the church doors and melting the metal siding.

More recently, the church sustained damage during Hurricane Harvey, as wind blew through a window and water came in through the vents, leaving water and shattered glass along the parish floor.

The repairs only prevented mass for a few weeks, Grego-

Programs and flyers are available for parishioners and visitors.

rcyk said. Still, some parts of the church are still slowly being fixed. A new sign beaming the church’s presence outside was recently put in place, made possible by a donation from an anonymous donation.

“Our Lady of Refuge has had an exciting past,” reads a plaque in the church that outlines its history. “But what makes the church unique is that so much of

its past grandeur remains to this day” Today, the church is mainly home to weekly mass, weddings and funerals. Gregorcyk said it’s clear why the church remains a destination for residents and visitors alike.

“All someone needs to do is walk in and they’ll know why,” he said. “It’s holy, it’s beautiful, it’s peaceful here.”

Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church was damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

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REFUGIO

Photos by Kendall Warner/kwarner@vicad.com

High-Falutin clothing boutique offers Southern-style home decor for sale.

HIGH-FALUTIN OFFERS HIGH FASHION, CAMARADERIE

BY MORGAN THEOPHIL mtheophil@vicad.com

REFUGIO – When people walk into High-Falutin, a hip, fashionable boutique tucked off U.S. 77, it’s not rare that they feel the store is out of place in a quaint, small town.

“We’ve had a lot of people walk in here and go, ‘I can’t believe you’re here, in little old Refugio – you belong in a big city,’” said owner Debra Moore.

But High-Falutin does belong in Refugio, Moore said.

“We feel that it really brings value to this community,” she explained. “If you’re from a small town, you need a fun, welcoming, fashionable place, too.”

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High-Falutin, 208 N. Alamo St., sells clothing, shoes and accessories for women, girls and babies; clothing and accessories for men; and home decor and gift items.

Also, the store has a section called 77 Outfitters, which offers fishing gear, clothing and accessories.

Before it stood as its own vibrant store, the early stages of High-Falutin were found in a laundromat.

Moore and her husband, Kenneth, have owned Greenhouse Cleaners & Laundry – which is on the other side of High-Falutin – for years, after purchasing it from Debra Moore’s parents. It was there that

Moore started embroidering and printing on shirts every so often, alongside running the laundry business.

One thing led to another, she said, and before she knew it, people starting asking for accessories to match

A display of bracelets clothing boutique.

offered

by

High-Falutin

REFUGIO whatever she made.

Moore’s husband said it’d be hard to legitimize High-Falutin in a laundromat, and he always saw potential in the building where the two run the boutique now. But it took time for everything to line up.

When the two were finally going to purchase the building, it was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. They nearly backed out, but ended up buying it in January 2018.

After months of repairs and hard work, High-Falutin had its grand opening on Sept. 15, 2018.

“I knew everything would happen in God’s time,” Moore said. “This is when it all came together.”

Now, the store is visited by people just passing through Refugio as well as locals, Moore said. The vibrant shop offers unique, boutique-style brands as well as major names, including Oakley, Columbia, Mustard Seed and Judith March.

The store’s wide array of accessories includes earrings, necklaces and “every color of bead made under the sun,” Moore said.

Shannon Hendley said she finds herself in High-Falutin about once a week and each time finds something new to buy.

“I get my dry cleaning done by (the Moores), come on in here to shop, it’s like a great one-stop shop,” she said. “I’ve told Debra if they sold bread and eggs here, we’d never need to leave.”

Hendley, a volunteer with Refugio’s Chamber of Commerce, said High-Falutin and its owners are “so supportive of community events.”

High-Falutin is designed to be a store where people can gather together, shop for “adorable, affordable outfits” and feel welcome and have fun, Moore said. She said that every so often, some older women stop in and don’t shop at all, but sit and enjoy a glass of wine while sharing one another’s company.

“They make everybody who comes in here feel like your best friend,” Hendley said.

 IF YOU GO HIGH-FALUTIN 211 3rd St., Refugio

HOURS// 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

TOP: High-Falutin clothing boutique offers a men’s section focused on fishing gear and apparel.

A mannequin inside High-Falutin clothing boutique offers BOTTOM: Coffee and water are offered all day to shoppers along with wine in the afternoon. ideas on how to style pieces of clothing they sell.

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EL CAMPO WOOD SHOP TURNS FAMILY TRADITION INTO LIFELONG TREASURES

WHARTON COUNTY

Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

Inside the showroom at Tin Roof Kitchen & Home in El Campo.

ATTRACTIONS

El Campo Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture

979-543-2713 EC C . l

ampo

hamber com

01 N. Mechanic El Campo, TX 77437

Live Music Museums Unique Gifts Recreation Historic Murals Waterfowl Hunting Wining & Dining Day Trips Available

the 11th annual

El Campo s t presen

Saturday, October 5th

liveBands

Craft & Food Booths Children’s Games & Activities

Texas Legacy Czech Band AJ Guel Joel Nava & The Texas Border Shelly Lares

Alamo Park

10am - 11:30pm

ElCampoPrairieDays.com

Petting Zoo 5K Color Run Motorcycle Fun Run

Def Leggend

32md Annual

christmas mall SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 TH 9 am - 5 pm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 TH 10 AM - 4 PM

$3 Adult Admission $1 Children under 12 Under School Age FREE

WHARTON

Photos by Emree Weaver/eweaver@vicad.com

The showroom at Tin Roof Kitchen & Home in El Campo. The business started out making cutting boards and now they make a variety of large wooden items.

WOOD SHOP TURNS FAMILY TRADITION INTO TREASURES

BY CIARA MCCARTHY cmccarthy@vicad.com

Ten years ago, Kurt Pratka decided to give handmade wooden cutting boards to his friends and family for Christmas.

A year later, he had more than 500 orders for the handcrafted boards, which he had been making at nights and on the weekends in his free time.

The custom gifts he started giving as presents were the foundation of Tin Roof Kitchen & Home, the company Kurt Pratka runs, along with his father and brother, in El Campo.

Nowadays, Tin Roof makes a wide range of handcrafted wood products that are sold throughout South Texas.

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Although Pratka founded Tin Roof, the Pratkas’ woodworking tradition started with his father, Mark Pratka. He picked up the basics of the craft from Cub Scouts and kept working at the hobby over the years, building much of his own home and later teaching Kurt and his brother Brent the trade.

The Pratka men work together through a network of companies. Mark opened his first company, Mark’s Machine Co. in El Campo in 1982. Later, the family started Tough Country, a bumper manufacturing company where Brent works as CEO. Tin Roof is the third and smallest of the businesses, but the one they love the most.

“I think, to all of us, our true passion is over here,” Kurt said about Tin Roof’s wood shop in El Campo. “We all enjoy seeing the transformation of taking a fallen tree and turning it into something that’s going to last with a family for generations.”

The companies have grown in large part because of the work of Kathy Socha, the office and sales manager for Tin Roof. Socha started working with the Pratka family when she was 12 years old as the brothers’ babysitter, and has stayed with the family’s businesses ever since.

For Socha, Tin Roof’s work connects her to her own parents. Her dad worked as a carpenter, and her mom

worked for the company that was previously located at Tin Roof’s wood shop.

After starting with their signature cutting boards, the Pratkas have branched out into any wood product they, or their customers, have dreamed up. They make dining tables and boardroom meeting tables, some of them inlaid with turquoise or objects of special significance to the buyer.

Tin Roof makes a range of furniture, including butcher block stands, coffee tables and bar stools. In recent years, the team has started making custom furnishings for homes, building staircases, kitchen islands, fireplace mantels and more.

WHARTON You can spot their handmade works throughout institutions in South Texas, like at El Campo’s Greek Bros bar, where they built the doors, and at the Marriott Marquis Houston, where they worked on a number of special projects.

The Pratkas take pride in the fact that their products are Texas made with Texas wood. The majority of their work is made from pecan trees found in Wharton County. Tin Roof almost exclusively uses reclaimed wood, meaning it’s wood that’s been found or felled by a storm but that isn’t harvested. For some projects, Tin Roof will work with other local trees that have been reclaimed or import a special kind of wood for a special order.

Some Tin Roof products can be purchased online on their website, and larger

works can be purchased at their showroom in El Campo. You can also find Tin Roof products for sale at Buc-ee’s, Prasek’s Smokehouse, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Gallery Furniture in Houston as well as some small boutique stores in the area. You can also buy online at Tin Roof’s website, Etsy and Houzz.

 IF YOU GO TIN ROOF KITCHEN & HOME’S

210 E. 1st St., El Campo 855-879-6637 tinroofhome.com.

HOURS // 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; appointments can also be made for after hours or on the weekend.

The Tin Roof Kitchen & Home team, from left, Brent Pratka, vice president; Mark Pratka, president; Kurt Pratka, founder; and Kathy Socha, office/sales manager.

Tin Roof creations are also available at Buc-ee’s, Prasek’s Smokehouse, Houston’s Gallery Furniture and other locations.

More of what Texans are looking for      

Purina Bulk & Liquid Feed Animal Health Fencing & Wildlife Lawn & Garden Men’s, Women’s, & Kid’s Gifts Ag Parts & Hardware

907 S Wharton St. El Campo, TX 979979-543543-7756

Kurt Patka, left, and his brother Brent wipe off a custom-made wooden island.

1116 S Wells St. Edna, TX 361361-782782-5051

201 Hwy 3013 E Eagle Lake, TX 979979-234234-2191

www.unitedaggeneralstore.com

11338 S Hwy 71 Danevang, TX 979979-543543-6723

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LISTS FESTIVALS VICTORIA COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Victoria Symphony Master Series Victoria Fine Arts Center 1002 E. Sam Houston Drive visitvictoriatexas.com OCTOBER Bootfest Oct. 4-5 Downtown Victoria bootfest.org South Texas Farm and Ranch Show Oct. 23-24 Victoria Community Center 2905 E. North St. southtexasfarmandranchshow.com Zoo Boo Oct. 26-27 Texas Zoo 110 Memorial Drive texaszoo.org Haunted Zoo Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 17-20 Texas Zoo 110 Memorial Drive texaszoo.org DECEMBER Conspirare Christmas Dec. 1 First United Methodist Church 407 N. Bridge St. conspirare.org CHRISTMAS IN VICTORIA Christmas on the Square First Friday of December DeLeon Plaza Lighted Christmas Parade First Saturday in December DeLeon Plaza JANUARY Victoria Comic Fest Jan. 25-26 Victoria Community Center 2905 E. North St. facebook.com/victoriacomicfest FEBRUARY Annual Victoria Livestock Show Feb. 27- March 2 Victoria Community Center 2905 E. North St. victorialivestockshow.com MARCH Annual Quilt Guild of Greater Victoria Quilt Show March 27-28 quiltguildvictoria.org 106

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APRIL Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival April 2-5 Downtown Victoria vtxiff.com Polo at McFaddin Ranch April 4 McFaddin Ranch Fiesta de Victoria DeLeon Plaza lacamaravictoria.com JAMfest Downtown Victoria April 21 jamfestvictoria.com Victoria Historic Homes Tour Downtown Victoria historicvictoriatexas.com Annual Art Car Parade Downtown Victoria Third weekend in April fivepointsmuseum.com MAY Noche en Old Victoria Downtown Victoria Memorial Day Weekend Bash May 23-25 Riverside Park Warrior’s Weekend Third weekend in May warriorsweekendtx.wordpress.com

JUNE Anniversary Victoria Bach Festival June 6-13 Various venues victoriabachfestival.org

ARANSAS COUNTY MONTHLY Art Walk Downtown Aransas Pass First Saturday of the month Rialto Theater 361-758-0383 Veteran’s Market Day First Saturday of the month VFW Hall 361-658-7283 WEEKLY Tapas Tuesday Every Tuesday Rialto Theater 361-758-0383 OCTOBER Rockport-Fulton Annual Shopping Tournament Oct. 5 shoprockportfulton.com Rockport-Fulton Seafair Oct. 10-13 rocktport-fulton.org Lamar Market Days Nov 1-2 lamarvfd.com

NOVEMBER Rockport Film Festival Oct 31-Nov 3 rockportfilmfestival.com DECEMBER Tropical Christmas Dec. 5 members.rockport-fulton.org Christmas Tour of Historic Homes Dec. 7-8 members.rockport-fulton.org Christmas in Fulton Dec. 11-12 members.rockport-fulton.org Holiday Symphony by the Sea Dec. 8 Martha Luigi Auditorium at Rockport-Fulton High School Complex acedfoundation.org Caroling at the Mansion Dec. 14 Fulton Mansion Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 14 Little Bay members.rockport-fulton.org 361-729-3115 JANUARY Annual Gospel Music Festival Jan. 10-12 First Baptist Church, Rockport gospelforce.org/festival

Advocate File Photo

Kamille O’Canas, 3, plays with her dress prior to performing a traditional Folklorico dance at the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Goliad. O’Canas’ dress is from the Sinalao region of Mexico; each costume worn by the dancers represents a region of Mexico.

LISTS FEBRUARY Bountiful Bowl Pottery Fair Feb. 8 Rockport-Fulton High School bountifulbowl.org Clay Expo Feb. 8-9 LaMardi Gras Second weekend of Feb lamardigras.com MARCH Fulton Oysterfest March 5-8 fultonoysterfest.org Annual Whooping Crane Strut March 7 Beach Park cityofrockport.com APRIL Boat, Home and Studio Tours April 4-5 rockportartcenter.com MAY Annual Rockport Festival of Wines Memorial Day Weekend Texas Maritime Museum 361-729-1271 JUNE Annual LAC Attack C.P.R. Kayak Fishing Tournament June 6 JULY Annual Rockport Art Festival July 4-5 Rockport Center for the Arts 361-729-5519 SEPTEMBER Warrior’s Weekend Heroes

Cup Sept. 4-6 wariorsweekend.org HummerBird Celebration Sept. 19-22 rockport-fulton.org

BEE COUNTY OCTOBER Western Week Oct. 4-6 parade 10:30-11 a.m. Oct. 5 westernweek.org/ Holly Jolly Christmas Celebration and Lighted Parade Dec. 7 Bee County Junior Livestock and Homemakers Show Jan. 27-Feb. 1 Bee County Expo Center 2134 Farm-to-Market Road 351

CALHOUN COUNTY OCTOBER Calhoun County Fair Oct. 14-18 Port Lavaca calcofair.com NOVEMBER Consignment Auction Calhoun County Fairgrounds 361-552-2959 DECEMBER Festival of Lights First week of December Downtown Port Lavaca Contact the Chamber of

Commerce at 361-552-2959 Lighted Boat Parade First Saturday in December Intracoastal Waterway in Port O’Connor Contact the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce at 361-983-2898 APRIL Go Texan Cookoff KC Hall, Port Lavaca Port Lavaca Market Days First Saturday every other month April-December Bauer Community Center parking lot, 2300 SH35, Port Lavaca Vendors welcome, call 361-552-2959 JUNE Shrimpfest Second weekend in June Seadrift’s bayfront along Bay Avenue AUGUST Open Youth Rodeo First weekend in August Calhoun County Arena, Port Lavaca SEPTEMBER Annual Flip Flop Festival and BBQ By the Bay Labor Day Weekend Bayfront Peninsula Park, Port Lavaca flipflopfest.com

DEWITT COUNTY OCTOBER Cuero Turkeyfest

Evan Lewis/elewis@vicad.com

Bradley Wyatt, of St Louis, Mo., walks to his flag at the Warriors Weekend Field of Honor. This was the second time Wyatt has attended the weekend event recognizing the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States armed forces. Wyatt made a career of Army service and served 1996-2016.

Oct. 11-13 Cuero Municipal Park, parade and turkey race downtown turkeyfest.org Yorktown Western Days Oct. 18-20 Downtown Yorktown yorktowntx.com NOVEMBER Garfield Fall Flea Market Nov. 3 yorktowntx.com Majestic Lights Over Coleto Creek Nov. 26 yorktowntx.com Christmas in the Park Monday before ThanksgivingJan. 3 Cuero Municipal Park cuerochristmasinthepark.org DECEMBER Annual Christmas Craft Fair Dec. 1 Yorktown Community Hall yorktowntx.com Christmas in Downtown Dec. 13-14 Downtown Cuero cueromainstreet.com JANUARY Yoakum Livestock Show Jan. 10-11 Yoakum Rodeo Arena FEBRUARY Yorktown Market Days First Saturday of February, May, August, November Yorktown City Park yorktowntx.com Yorktown FFA Livestock Show Feb. 15 Yorktown High School Agriculture Building Cuero Livestock Show March 3-7 Cuero Municipal Park APRIL Wildflower Month Celebration Cuero and DeWitt counties cuero.org Nordheim Market Days April 18 Corner of Broadway and Second streets 361-938-5223 JUNE Yoakum Tom Tom Festival First weekend in June Yoakum Park yoakumareachamber.com VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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LISTS JULY

FEBRUARY

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

Fourth of July Family Fun Carnival Cuero Municipal Park Pavilion cuero.org

Best of Texas Awards Banquet Feb. 14 jacksoncountytexas.com

St. James Catholic Church Festival First Sunday of September 202 E. Santiago St., Refugio

GOLIAD COUNTY

Pro-Am Golf Tournament jacksoncountytexas.com

Hallettsville Kolache Fest Last Saturday in September Knights of Columbus Hall, Hallettsville hallettsville.com

MONTHLY Market Days Second Saturday of every month Courthouse Square goliadcc.org OCTOBER Annual Missions Tour de Goliad Bicycle Ride Oct. 19 North side of Courthouse Square goliadcc.org DECEMBER Christmas in Goliad Dec. 6-7 Courthouse Square goliadcc.org MARCH Goliad County Fair and Rodeo March 20-22 goliadcc.org Goliad Massacre and Living History Program March 28-29 Presidio La Bahia, 217 Loop 71, Goliad Goliad Massacre Reenactment presidiolabahia.org MAY Cinco de Mayo Celebration Weekend nearest May 5 Goliad County Fairgrounds, 1 mile south on U.S. 183/77 goliadcc.org SPRING AND FALL FLOTILLAS Canoe Trail Flotillas Mid-spring and first Saturday in November Begins on the north side of the U.S. 59/San Antonio River bridge.

Ends at Goliad State Park. canoetrailgoliad.com

JACKSON COUNTY OCTOBER Jackson County Youth Fair Oct. 8-12 284 Brackenridge Parkway, Edna jcyf.org Best of Texas Big Buck & Big Hog Contest October-February jacksoncountytexas.com NOVEMBER Texana Chili Spill Nov. 7-9 Brackenridge Recreation Complex Main Event Center brackenridgepark.com 108

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APRIL

LAVACA COUNTY NOVEMBER Shiner Junior Livestock Show Nov. 17 Green-Dickson Park Hallettsville Festival of Lights Nov. 30 Lavaca County Courthouse Square, Hallettsville hallettsville.com JANUARY Moulton Junior Livestock Show Jan. 19-20 Moulton ISD school grounds Hallettsville Junior Livestock Show Jan. 24-26 Lavaca Expo Center Texas State Championship Partners Domino Tourney Third Sunday in January Knights of Columbus Hall, Hallettsville kchall.com MARCH Shiner FFA Livestock Show March 6 Green-Dickson Park South Texas Sausage and Polka Fest Fourth Weekend in March Knights of Columbus Hall, Hallettsville kchall.com APRIL Fiddlers’ Frolics Fourth weekend in April Knights of Columbus Hall, Hallettsville fiddlersfrolics.com Fit As A Fiddle 5K Run/Walk Fourth Saturday in April Lavaca County Courthouse Square hallettsville.com JULY Half-Moon Holidays Fourth of July weekend Green-Dickson Municipal Park, Shiner shinerhalfmoon.com Town and Country Jamboree Last weekend in July Moulton City Park, Moulton moultontexas.com

REFUGIO COUNTY MONTHLY Refugio Country Opry First Thursday in each month Refugio County Expo Center 245 Fairgrounds Road, Refugio refugiocountytx.org MARCH Refugio County Fair Parade/ Fair and Rodeo Fourth weekend in March Refugio Fairgrounds, Fairgrounds Road refugiocountytx.org OCTOBER First United Methodist Church Bazaar Second Saturday in October 310 Power St., Refugio Our Lady of Refuge Church Festival Last Sunday in October 1008 S. Alamo St., Refugio NOVEMBER Christmas on the Square Last Saturday in November Woodsboro Square, 121 Wood Ave.

WHARTON COUNTY OCTOBER El Campo Prairie Days Festival Oct. 5 Alamo Park elcampoprairiedays.com El Campo Museum Color Run Oct. 5 Alamo Park elcampomuseum.org Monterey Square Wine-Arts Fair Oct. 13 Monterey Square, Wharton montereysquarewinefair.com NOVEMBER Annual Wharton Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament Nov. 16 Wharton County Club Wharton Chamber Christmas Parade Nov. 26 Monterey Square downtown, Wharton DECEMBER El Campo Christmas Mall Dec. 8

JULY

MAY

Austwell Golf Cart Parade First Saturday before July 4 Wilson Heard Park, Mernitz Street refugiocountytx.org

Wharton County Youth Fair and Rodeo May 19-25 Crescent Fairgrounds whartoncountyyouthfair.org

Advocate File Photo

Kids chase after pigs during the pig scramble race at Western Days in Yorktown.

LISTS YOUTH SPORTS VICTORIA COUNTY Southern Swing Volleyball Club Club volleyball K-12 Rising Stars program, leagues, camps, private lessons, open gyms offered 361-210-6876 ssvball@yahoo.com southernswing-volleyball.com YMCA of Victoria Various sports offered 1806 N. Nimitz, Victoria Fall soccer (October), coed fall volleyball (October), winter basketball (January), spring soccer (April), co-ed spring volleyball (April), coed flag football (April), spring cheerleading (March), summer t-ball/coach pitch(June), summer basketball(April)

361-575-0511, contact Ethan Carrasco: ecarracsco@ ymcavictoria.org ymcavictoria.org Victoria Youth Soccer Organization Youth soccer ages 3-18 Fall and spring leagues 361-574-8976, contact Michelle King: vysoadmin@gmail.com vyso.org Victoria Southeast Little League, Victoria Northeast Little League, Victoria Northwest Little League, Victoria Southwest Little League Youth baseball and softball, divisions: T-ball (4-5-year-olds), coach pitch (6-7), senior minor (810), majors (11-12), juniors (13-14), seniors (15-16) Registration begins in January

Southeast Little League: Ryan Barnett, 361-571-7759 tshq.bluesombrero.com/ victoriasell Northeast Little League: Leslie Gonzales, 361-571-2534 Southwest Little League: Thomas Svetlik, 361-550-1659 tshq.bluesombrero.com/ victoriaswll Northwest Little League: Mark Kurtz, 214-728-9601 tshq.bluesombrero.com/vnwll American Karate Institute 3208 Sam Houston Drive, Ste. C 361-575-2467 Martial arts offered to various age groups Victoria Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1901 N Main St. 361-648-1280

The Holy Grail Jiu-Jitsu 5803 N John Stockbauer Ste. G, 361-412-9099 Zhonghua Wushu School of Kung Fu 104 Circle St. Ste D, 361-655-2816 Victoria Karate Academy 4002 N. Main 361-676-0275 Integrity Defensive Arts 1103 E. Sabine St, 361-676-7004 Victoria Tennis Association Singles, doubles and mixed doubles offered to various age groups, play day mixer held in April (and other dates) Dewayne Merriman 309-634-1268 Chris Scroggs 361-550-6139 Crossroads Kings and Queens Youth Basketball Shemikah Barnes 361-218-9141

Advocate File Photo

Victoria Southeast Bubba Sports Aces defeated Victoria Southwest’s Arnold’s Service Station 2-0 during a 2018 Victoria Youth Little League City Championships game at the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

VICTORIAADVOCATE.COM

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LISTS Straight Arrow Archery Learning Center Archery for all age groups 60 Storehouse Drive, Victoria 361-571-6694

ARANSAS COUNTY Rockport-Fulton Little League Youth baseball and softball rpftll.org info@rpftll.org Rockport-Fulton Youth Football League Divisions: freshman (ages 5-6) sophomore (7-8) junior (9-10) senior (11-12) rfyfl@yahoo.com

BEE COUNTY Bee Youth Soccer Organization Includes shirt, shorts, and socks For more information, email kaydsw@yahoo.com or call Kay at 361-319-0055 or Shawn at 361362-9763.

Beeville Little League Youth baseball Visit Facebook page for more information

CALHOUN COUNTY Calhoun County Little League Youth baseball and softball www.leaguelineup.com/calhoun_ baseball

Calhoun Youth Football Youth Football Visit Facebook page for more information

DEWITT COUNTY Cuero Little League Youth baseball and softball Registration begins in January cuerolittleleague@yahoo.com Jennifer Janssen, president cuerolittleleague.com

JACKSON COUNTY Edna Little League Youth baseball and softball ednalittleleague.org/

LAVACA COUNTY Hallettsville Little League Youth baseball and softball facebook.com/hvillelittleleague

Shiner Little League Youth baseball and softball Divisions: T-ball, coach pitch, minor and major Registration ends in January facebook.com/ shinerlittleleaguetx

REFUGIO COUNTY Refugio Little League Youth baseball and softball Visit Facebook page for more information

WHARTON COUNTY El Campo Little League elcampolittleleague.com operations@elcampolittleleague. com

Advocate File Photo

Victoria Southwest’s Trenton Fagan (20) awaits for a pitch during a 2018 Victoria Youth Little League City Championships game against Victoria Southeast at the Victoria Youth Sports Complex.

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DIRECTORY AREA ATTRACTIONS Cuero Heritage Museum 124 E. Church St. Cuero, TX 77954 361-485-8090 cueroheritagemuseum.org

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

WE OFFER

Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas 114 E. Main St. Cuero, TX 77954 361-485-8090 pharmacyandmedicalmuseum.org Dr. Sanjeev Bhatia Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hospice & Pallative Care & Sleep Medicine

♦ Complete Heart Testing ♦ Cancer Screening ♦ Preventative Health Care & Immunization ♦ Diabetes & Osteoporosis Screening ♦ On-Site X-Ray & Lab ♦ Allergy Testing ♦ Employment, School, & Dr. John VanMetre Annual Physicals Board Certified in Family Medicine ♦ Drug Screening ♦ Medicare, Cash, Major Credit Cards & Insurance Accepted

361-573-9999

No Appointment Necessary ♦ Open 7 Days A Week Accepting New Patients 4504 N. Laurent St. @ Mockingbird • Victoria www.crossroadshealthcenter.net Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sun 9 a.m. - 3p.m.

Se Habla Español

Flu shots available

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