8 minute read
Arts & Culture
Making Sweet Memories
BY: JESSIE CHROBOCINSKI PHOTOS BY: LEVI GUZMAN
Fonzie and Tonya Muñoz of Fonzie Muñoz Photography have dreamt of owning a candy store for the last five years. In April 2022, their photography studio caught fire, forcing them to relocate and put their idea of a new venture on hold. However, in what the Muñozes call “a blessing in disguise,” they ended up finding the perfect location to rebuild the studio — and bring their candy store dreams to life right next door.
“The building we moved into connects the studio on one side and the candy store on the other,” said Fonzie. “The hardest part was finding a facility with a full kitchen so we didn’t have to build one out. When we walked into this space, there was a kitchen, so we said, ‘You know what? Let’s make it happen.’”
The idea for the store sprouted after sourcing candy from another city to build a candy table for their daughter's Sweet 16. Now, Absolutely Candy delivers tailored candy experiences for birthdays and weddings and everything in between. It will even host birthday parties in the store, complete with your own cotton candy machine, candy jar fill stations and candy-themed photoshoots next door.
“[The store name] Absolutely Candy started as a joke,” Fonzie said. “My wife wanted to open a boutique and I wanted to open a candy store. She said to me, 'Can we do both?' and I said, 'No, we can't do both; it's one or the other.' She said, 'Fine, if you want to do absolutely candy, we can do just that.'”
One of the store’s specialties is creating corporate gifts, gift baskets and events. The shop recently prepared a candy buffet table for the City of Portland using 125 pounds of candy for 250 people.
Absolutely Candy features an aesthetically pleasing wall with 120 varieties of candy to choose from.
NY23 WNY23
Corpus Christi
5425 S Padre Island Dr, Suite 167, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 (361) 980-1000 NothingBundtCakes.com
01/31/23
Corpus Christi
5425 S Padre Island Dr, Suite 167, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 (361) 980-1000 NothingBundtCakes.com
01/31/23
As for the retail store itself, it’s all about the experience once inside. Customers can build their own custom bag with a variety of chocolate-covered items, gummy bears, assorted jelly beans and much much more. The shop also includes a selection of treats from around the world, freeze-dried candy and an entire shelf dedicated to nostalgic sweets and sodas, such as nickel wafer bars and fruit-stripe gum. "It makes me so happy when our parents come in; they're like, 'We used to eat that in high school! I hadn't seen these in 20 years!' That excitement is what it's about for me,” Tonya said. “I want everybody that comes to the store to feel completely satisfied when they leave. Whether I have the candy [you're wanting] or not, I can order it. Whether you are choosing from a candy table or a custom basket, we will help you figure it out.”
With plans to expand into Calallen and Portland, Absolutely Candy is eager to deliver sweet memories that will leave locals wanting more.
Every moment of every day. From life-changing events to everyday miracles, we’re here to help you protect the people, places and things that matter most. For great rates and no-hassle service, contact us today.
NUECES COUNTY Corpus Christi
4825 Everhart, Ste. 3
361.852.6016 Robstown
643 S. Hwy. 77
361.387.3501
CONTACT:
Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms, and may vary by situation. ©2022 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. NUE0421
What if Corpus Christi had more innovative housing solutions?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49
For every five houses built for sale, one house goes into the rental pool to maintain that aspect of the initiative.
Revitalization is the key word; an important aspect of the affordable housing conversation and the housing conversation in general. Building houses on infill lots is appealing for the neighborhood, and because they are below the median home price, the new builds don’t price existing neighbors out of their homes. “Everyone deserves an opportunity and we want to afford that opportunity to everyone. We want to make sure they have options because we know owning a home makes a difference in the lives of people,” Wilson said. Because the house is below appraisal price, the homeowner has immediate equity, not to mention a place to call home.
Purchasing a home is generally the biggest investment families make in their lifetime because the value is so evergreen, and opportunity is the obstacle so many face when it comes to home ownership. Thanksgiving Homes is providing an innovative solution to this problem … and who knows? Maybe the housing shortage can become a thing of the past. Even if not, this initiative is a huge step in the right direction.
What if Corpus Christi had a viable composting program?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50
Once this initial phase is fully operational, the program will begin collecting other organic materials available in large quantities from commercial and industrial waste streams. From large manufacturing facilities or school cafeterias to a local brewery or restaurant, working with other industries and businesses takes another huge step forward in diverting waste from the landfill.
Curbside collection from residential customers is the last piece of this puzzle, and Lehfeldt says this aspect of composting is a part of the conversation for the future. A curbside collection program does present its own set of challenges, though. “It’s easy for the customer to sign up, receive a container and then decide what level of participation they’d like to take,” Lehfeldt said. “But, from experience and observing other city’s programs, the potential for contamination is extremely high, and unlike a contamination in a recycling program, once you get contaminated feedstock, it becomes almost impossible to remove and results in everything being landfilled.”
Essentially, for a successful city-wide curbside composting collection to really work, it comes down to educating residents on how to properly participate, and then advocating for high levels of participation. Before it can even be considered, the facility must be completely up and running, the initial phase must be successful and additional program development, permitting and financial commitments must be made … and community support is crucial. With a program of this size, millions of dollars will be spent to get things operational, meaning support from decision makers and taxpayers is key in inching toward a future where curbside collection exists.
One of the measures of a greener future for our city is how much of our landfill waste we can reduce. Currently, the city of Corpus Christi landfills roughly 400,000 tons of material a year. Theoretically speaking, the first phase of the program will take 100,000 tons of that waste and compost it. So, in terms of diversion rates, we’d already be in a significantly better place than we are today. But with vast amounts of compostable materials currently going from residential trash bins to the landfill, the big idea of a city-wide curbside compost collection could push our city into an even greener future.
What if fewer kids in our area were placed in foster care?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55
As is evident by the 68-page strategic plan put forth by DFPS’s Prevention & Early Intervention Department, child advocacy can be complicated by factors unique to each situation. However, CarePortal exists as a starting place by connecting those with resources to parents who need help — and that help goes a long way.
CarePortal is an organization that relies on community involvement to meet the basic needs of parents in crisis situations. It has an active hand in both preventing CPS intervention and also reuniting families after CPS intervention was required. “CarePortal is a technology connecting platform that brings the needs of hurting children and families in your community to your attention,” said Brenda Kelley, Regional Manager TX for Region 11. “Caseworkers uncover the needs and CarePortal makes community members aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond. First and foremost, [it] exists to help vulnerable children and families. Requests submitted through CarePortal come from caseworkers at government child welfare agencies or other child-serving organizations approved by CarePortal to vet needs.”
The technology lists various needs with a location, detailed description of the need and the cost associated. “Anyone who wants to meet needs can,” said Kelley. At the very least, basic needs such as beds, groceries, clothes and rent assistance are provided to parents who need them. At best, relationships are formed to be able to provide support in the long term, thus alleviating the parenting burden. When they say “it takes a village,” CarePortal in many ways provides that connection point for people in our community who want to offer assistance.
According to data compiled by local child advocacy organization Agape Ranch in 2021, CarePortal had a $132,000 economic impact, served 501 children, met 193 requests and built 20 beds. As a result of these numbers, many families were able to get the support they needed and strengthen their bonds with their children.
The Department of Family and Protective Services and CarePortal are just two agencies in our area working hard for the well-being of our most vulnerable populations, but individuals have a huge role to play through simple acts of kindness and mutual aid efforts. The results of these efforts have lifelong implications where children are kept safe and united with their families.
