September 2020 Issue by The Bend Magazine

THE IMPACT OF OYSTER AQUACULTURE & DESALINATION + OUR COASTAL BEND ENVIRONMENTAL CRUSADERS

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Phil and Payne Neessen

In what ways are you trying to reduce your carbon footprint?

I’ve been minimizing my styrofoam and plastic use. Being conscious of the products I consume allows me to minimize waste and reuse materials.

40% of landfills is food waste. We upcycle all of our food scraps, coffee filters, and banana peels by composting at home. This saves our landfills and is it wonderful in the vegetable and flower gardens!

My husband and I planted a small garden on our patio at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Now when I make home-cooked meals, not only do we get a boost to our nutrition levels, but also to our emotional wellbeing - thanks to the meaningful act of gardening.

SUBMISSIONS: kylie@thebendmag.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: thebendmag.com

PRESIDENT: Jordan Regas

VICE PRESIDENT & EVENTS DIRECTOR: Kaley Regas

PUBLISHER: Chris Knapick

ART DIRECTOR: Jarred Schuetze

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Kylie Cooper

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Gloria Stauber

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER: Rachel Benavides

COPY EDITOR: Steve Gill

SENIOR WRITERS: Emma Comery

Kirby Tello

EDITORIAL INTERNS: Luis Arjona

Josh Maxwell

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Jason Page Lillian Reitz

Aaron Garcia

CONTRIBUTORS:

Justin & Kayla Butts Jillian Becquet

Jo Anne Howell

Jacqueline Gonzalez

Julieta Hernandez

Jessie Chrobocinski

Alexis Harborth

Terrie Moore

Monique Dennis

THE BEND OFFICE

309 N. Water Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361.792.3606

On the Cover:

I grew up with my family very aware of the impact we have on the world around us. We use cloth diapers for our baby boy. I prefer buying second-hand, from furniture to clothes, and restoring older items to give them new life.

I’m very fortunate to be married to someone who can go out and hunt his own food. Since we’ve started eating wild game, we don’t buy meat at the store anymore. I feel better knowing exactly where my food came from, that it was killed humanely, and that the environmental impact of transporting it was minimal. I also buy almost exclusively used clothing, and if I can walk rather than drive, I get in those extra steps!

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The Coastal Bend has long been part of a region where “going green” could be considered a way of life. Our proximity to the water and the immense wildlife that inhabit our area are just two of the reasons that is so. Between research facilities and community organizers, our area is no stranger to the concepts of conservation and sustainability. We wanted to conceptually capture that with this month’s cover through an artful photo of the oyster: one of the heroes of these efforts.

(Shot by: Lillian Reitz)

CONSCIOUS DECISIONS

The Coastal Bend area is noted for its beautiful miles of beaches, an abundance of wildlife with which we share our habitats, and underwater ecosystems that contribute to our local economy. We are a beach community, known for welcoming tourists with smiles and sand. These are just a few aspects of our geography that make topics and conversations surrounding conservation, restoration, and preservation crucial to all living creatures who call the Coastal Bend home.

This is precisely why we decided to focus on those topics for our September issue. From small businesses and individuals looking to make a difference to grassroot organizations and state-of-theart research facilities, players both big and small are joining the conversation.

Senior writer Kirby Tello dives into a few of these hot topics in our cover story, “Green Conversations,” beginning on page 30. Tello leans into subjects revolving around oyster reef restoration and the role it plays in creating a more sustainable coastal environment, the various sides of desalination and its possible consequences or values to our community, and various organizations and coalitions that have made it their mission to protect our coastal environment at all costs.

It’s rare for one of our issues to see its cover theme thread itself throughout the entire magazine. However, sustainability and conservation can be felt in numerous stories within these pages.

On page 38, Senior Writer Emma Comery speaks with two local, women artists who’ve woven the stories of our planet into their works. In “Paper or Plastic,” you’ll meet Sheila Rogers and Cassie Normandy and learn how the world around them has inspired and shaped the art they create. In the piece, Rogers (who quite literally turns garbage into masterpieces) says that we – you and me – must make mindful decisions about our everyday actions that benefit our world, rather than harm it.

Such decisions and actions can be found in all corners of our lives. For instance, shopping vintage or secondhand is one step forward when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint – so for this month’s style section, we asked local vintage queens Monica Ellison, of 20/20 Vintage, and Kim Rios, of Metropolis Culture, to create a collection of looks using vintage pieces to show that style and shopping sustainability in our community can indeed go hand in hand.

Another example can be found on page 80, where we discover Lively Beach, the newly complete eco-resort on North Padre Island. The island oasis managed to condense its total project footprint to 11 acres, while placing the remaining 35 acres into conservation. Additionally, you’ll find on page 96 the story of the local gal behind Sunsweetened Vegan, who’s made it her mission to bring a wave of change in the local food scene with the hopes of opening the Coastal Bend’s first plant-based restaurant and zero waste grocery.

The aforementioned are just a handful of examples of the individuals and groups in our area who are fighting to preserve the life of our only home. If we all put a little more effort into the conscious decisions of everyday life, who knows what the outcome would be? After all, mother Earth needs all the tender love and care she can get.

– KYLIE COOPER, Editorial Director kylie@thebendmag.com

THREE TAKEAWAYS:

1. There are only a handful of Asian Culture Museums in the United States, one of which resides right here in the Coastal Bend. This type of resource allows locals and visitors alike to learn about various Asian cultures in rich and meaningful ways. Pg. 26

2. Corpus Christi Downtown Karate, led by the incredible Jeff Ghee, has created a local dojo (now in its 11th year), where students have the opportunity to learn the discipline and art of karate. Pg. 46

3. Kori Anderson, a local interior designer, brings her talents and eye for aesthetics into her own home in the most pleasing way. Splashes of bold colors and patterns mixed with vintage finds and intentional art pieces combine to adorn her beautiful home. Pg. 64

the best children’s clothing | FOUR CHICKS IN THE PARK the best bakery | HESTER’S CAFE

ANN TAYLOR LOFT

BKK THAI KITCHEN + BAR

CHICO’S

FOUR CHICKS IN THE PARK

FRANCISCO’S SALON

GOLDSMITH JEWELERS

GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY

HANLEY • WOOD

HESTER’S CAFE

JULIAN GOLD

PILAR FASHION & FOLK ART

TALBOTS

THE POST

YOLA COCINA MEXICANA (open fall 2019) the best craft cocktail | THE POST the best new restaurant | BKK THAI KITCHEN + BAR the best brunch | HESTER’S CAFE

AROUND THE BEND

TIME CAPSULE COLLECTION

Sustainability is the loudest conversation in fashion right now. As more consumers become aware of the environmen tal impact of fast fashion, it’s time to find a more sustain able way to shop. Could buying vintage and secondhand be the answer? As you may already be aware, the fast fashion industry (referring to fast-turnover high street retailers) is amongst the most polluting industries in the world. This is because retailers restock and release new collections quite rapdily, coercing consumers to think less and buy more, leaving mass amounts of unwanted clothing discarded to landfills – the majority of which are recyclable.

One driving force in the rise of buying secondhand, aside from an increased awareness of sustainability, is the fact that vintage fashion fits effortlessly into the wider aesthetic of the Instagram age, where authenticity and originality –not being basic or seen in the same outfit as everyone else – are highly coveted. What better way to stand out than to wear clothes few others are likely to own? Seeing such strong references on the catwalk gives confidence to fashionistas to embrace and showcase original pieces in a modern way. Which is why we sought out two local vintage clothing gurus to style an array of era-defining looks, proving that shopping vintage and secondhand doesn't mean sacrificing on style.

BY: JARRED SCHUETZE

PHOTOS BY: AARON GARCIA

GREENHOUSE AFFECT

Green: the color of nature. Considered the most restful color to the eye, green can transmit a sense of calm and security when used in your interiors. Green symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green is well suited for every room in the house – you can decorate an entire room with greens and have contrast, drama, richness, and balance. It’s so versatile.

1. Kimatra Necklace Modern Moghul Moonstone'd Pottery

4. Delmar Agatha Side Triangle Area Rug Green Sea Designs

7. Hanging Plant Wildflowers 8. Chartreuse Green Liqueur SPECS 9. Versace by Rosenthal Jungle Bread & Butter Plate Park Seven

10. Tropical Leaves Throw Pillow Chic to Chic

Have you seen Episode 01 of our new video series, Perfect Pairs? We sure hope so, because Episode 02 is right around the corner! The new video series aims to showcase local chefs and mixologists in the Coastal Bend and have them work together to collaborate on the perfect pairing of food and drink. We can’t wait for you to get in the kitchen with our next featured chef and mixologist! Here's a sneak peek at the next perfect pair.

How You Can Help:

You can donate to The Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse Coastal Bend by visiting their website, coada-cb.org. Here are a few of their initiatives you can support: Ensure youth learn about the consequences of substance-use before it is too late.

Give expecting and new mothers the tools to be the best parent they can be Remove the barriers some face to getting sober and staying sober.

A Staple for Stopping Substance Abuse

HELP WITH RECOVERY AND PREVENTION

BY: MONIQUE DENNIS PHOTO BY: LILLIAN REITZ

Founded in 1957, The Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse is a nonprofit organization that has transformed from doing outpatient treatment only to offering a variety of classes, educational programs, and resources to the Coastal Bend community. Its services seek to treat alcohol and substance abuse, but also aim at preventative measures by teaming up with school districts to teach awareness and life skills to children and teens. The organization’s goals are to preclude the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by young people, and to foster the development of social and physical environments that promote healthy and drug-free lifestyles.

“The Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse organization should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” says community relations specialist Maria Perez, “because even though we may not know it, we all know someone who suffers from addiction.”

This thriving non-profit has really focused on helping the community by offering educational programs, coaching, classes, and sober activities that will benefit adults, youth, parents, and pregnant mothers.

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Intervention Services department focuses on educating parents and assisting at-risk children. They offer services such as prenatal health classes, infant parenting

classes, postpartum support services, anger management classes, and car seat safety.

The Council on Alcohol + Drug Abuse also offers treatment including different forms of counseling and case management, as well as recovery services with supportive outpatient programs.

It also hosts yearly events open to the community to join, including “Safe and Sober,” held every December, and the “Addicted 2Recovery 5k” held in September during National Recovery Month. Unfortunately, the fourth annual 5k has been canceled due to COVID-19 – a true heart-breaker for the organization as the 5k is used to help support recovery services, at-risk youth, and sober activities – but they are already planning for next year’s event.

If you would like to support and donate to their cause, visit their website at coada-cb.org. They know that life can get pretty rough at times, which is why The Council holds community involvement in the highest regard. The best way to invest in a place is to be out there and promote the future we want to live in!

Contact: COADA-CB.ORG

@CouncilonAlcoholandDrugAbuse-Coastal Bend

Maria Perez, Community Relations Specialist

BY: JULIETA HERNANDEZ

One of the sweetest medleys to suit all seasons is the fresh, chilled, juicy fruit cup. With endless variations and flavor palettes, there’s rarely such a thing as an unsatisfying one. From glitzed-up options with Tajin and candy bits to hydrating, un-dressed freshly cut fruit, they happily exist in all forms, and are made throughout multiple hot spots in the Coastal Bend. Here are a few of the best fruit cups in the area, for whenever you may find yourself with the craving.

LITTLE I’S SNOW CONES & TREATS IN INGLESIDE

This adorable little blue building holds afternoon treats that we can relish with a sweet childhood nostalgia. Best known for their after-school vibe, this little shop holds tasty wonders for visitors wanting a good classic fruit cup. 3019 Main St, Ingleside

FRUIT BARN IN PORTLAND

Popular with the snacking crowd, and Fruit Barn's creations are showstoppers. Whether you like savory, chili-powdered pineapple chunks or fresh strawberries swimming in sweet cream, the Fruit Barn is happy to fulfill your cravings. 714 Dallas St, Portland

BENAVIDES

LA FRUTERA ON BOTH WEBER RD AND AIRLINE RD

La Frutera has two locations for a reason: we need our fix left and right! La Frutera is easily recognizable and with plenty of fruit curations at an easy price range, their goodness is just waiting to be devoured. 5856 Weber Road | 2322 Airline Road in Corpus Christi

GRANDMA B’S IN ROCKPORT

Grandma B's is for folks on this side of the coast who aren’t looking to travel too far for a sweet tooth craving. It seems like Grandma B’s has us covered! The ice cream and the fruit, usually both in the same dish, can turn anyone into a fan. Harbor Oaks Shopping Center, Rockport

LA PALETERA ON MORGAN AVE

La Paletera delivers fresh fruit and colorful flavors compacted into their cup. With a selection of original flavors, including the Sweet Cup’s fruit chunks doused in orange juice and honey, this fruit stop is for everyone. 2701 Morgan Ave, Corpus Christi

PHOTO BY: RACHEL

LA FRUTERA

Richard Hafemeister

TEXAS STATE MUSEUM OF ASIAN CULTURES AND EDUCATION CENTER’S DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FILLS US IN ON WHAT THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN UP TO, ITS PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND MORE

CONVERSATION BY:

KYLIE COOPER

PHOTOS BY: LILLIAN REITZ

First, tell me how you became so interested in history and culture.

I have worked in education my whole career, basically since high school. But before now, it was always natural history and ecology. However, I was exposed to both history and culture my whole life, in part because my parents both got degrees in history in college – which meant I got some chuckles when I mentioned the new job.

Something that really helped me once I got here was going through the travel logs and notebooks of the museum’s founder, Billie Chandler. She kept fairly meticulous notes on her travels, mainly through Japan during the '50s, '60s, and '70s, and in those files, you can see many of the stories that make the items in our collection so important, both culturally and otherwise.

What initially brought you to the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center?

Our previous board President hired me on not long after Hurricane Harvey. It was a great opportunity to learn a new skill set, and to be part of the museum’s rebuilding efforts after Harvey. Getting to see and learn about an entirely different field of education was kind of enticing.

Working in education of any kind was always my goal, and now getting to learn about places on the other side of the world while doing so is extremely enjoyable.

Why do you think the museum is so important to the community?

I think a lot of it is bringing the cultural aspects of our program to the public, so that they can experience the cultures of Asia. And part of our mission is preserving this history – both for people now, but especially given the pandemic, preserving it for future generations to enjoy.

The other thing that makes this museum important is the fact that there are only a handful (five, last time I looked) of other Asian Cultures Museums in the United States, so it isn’t easy to find this type of resource.

What are your plans or goals for the museum in the future?

The biggest plans for the future right now include installing our Hakata Doll Hall in our Goldston wing later this year. Our next priority is the finishing touches on our Rotating Display Area schedule, which will include some of our 500-plus paintings in our collection. Yes, you heard that right: We have that many paintings, and not enough space to display them all at once.

So, one of our next priorities after that is fundraising for some building improvements to make better use of our space. Luckily, we have already had funding come through for the upstairs renovations last year, and those along with upgrades to our gift shop have already been done.

dangerous thing to be doing right now.

So we have been moving ahead with plans to do a set of history classes based on the items in our collection, and increase the use of our rotating display area, which gives us a chance to bring in more people in a slow and socially-distanced setting, which will help us move forward faster when the time comes.

What do you think the museum brings to our local community and culture?

I think we cover a topic that most folks would not get to learn about in such a personal and up-close way without something like our museum here, which is why we have school tours come in from all across the region during peak times.

Our education team – who are mostly volunteers – really work to keep our programs as personal as possible on everything from our classes, where we teach the public how to make all kinds of origami themselves, to the videos and history classes. I think that really helps people, especially kids, feel attached to the things they learn.

Do you have a favorite piece or exhibit in the museum?

The various tools, swords, and blades, I think. There is such a great range of shapes, even within things that would be used the same way. Early tool makers especially, but even as late as the 18th century, they didn’t know for sure what the best possible shape might be, so trial and error was needed for each new job.

Every time someone came to them with a new task that required a blade, from cutting down a new type of tree to hunting a new animal to someone coming up with a new armor, meant that new blades and tools had to be built.

What is something most people might not know about the museum?

I think a lot of people would be surprised to hear how large and important a history component we have here. Almost everything here not only has a story, it has an important one that connects to the other stories throughout the Museum. The stories of why a certain art piece was made, what it meant then, what it means now. How it ended up here, and what happened to in between are often an adventure. These stories often weave together, much like how culture and history themselves do, into something more than the sum of their parts.

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RESTORE .

The Texas State Aquarium transports you to the fascinating habitats of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. You’ll explore coral reefs, coastal lagoons, lush jungles, and the open sea and get up-close and personal with sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, flamingos, and hundreds of other species. Wonder at jumping dolphins and soaring birds during daily presentations and get a hands-on encounter with a live shark or stingray. Best of all your visit, isn’t just full of inspiration and imagination, it’s helping with wildlife conservation. That’s because your visit helps support wildlife rescue and conservation, including our Wildlife Rescue, which rehabilitates and releases hundreds of birds and sea turtles every year in the Coastal Bend. At the Texas State Aquarium, you’ll save more than memories.

green conv ersations

Exploring various conservation efforts and talking points in the Coastal Bend

Corpus Christi has long been part of a region where “going green” is a way of life. We are home to much wildlife, underwater ecosystems, and various other creatures all trying to keep their natural habitats in good health. Of course, that includes our human residents and many business industries that rely on the Nueces River Basin – a collection of three rivers that flow into the Corpus Christi Bay – to provide resources that stimulate the local economy and help grow the community in all areas.

From small businesses to large corporations to the Island University’s Harte Research Institute, conservation, restoration, and preservation are three essential components in moving the needle. Not everyone in our community will agree on the specifics, though. There are multiple sides to the subject of conservation and how the city plans to create sustainable water sources and help businesses stay operational, while maintaining optimal conditions for preserving the bay’s wildlife.

Can the issue of creating sustainable water through large (and consequently quite expensive) filtration plants coexist with the ongoing efforts of marine scientists to not only restore what oyster reefs are already on the ocean floor, but also create several new reefs to meet the demand of smaller players such as local restaurants and researchers?

While many people have taken a stance on either side of these issues, there are still quite a few questions left open-ended as City Council, desalination committee members, nonprofit organizations, and researchers and scientists grapple with the task of educating the public on which solutions may be the most impactful.

It has been a year since The Bend took our last deep dive into conservation on the coast, so we decided to check in with some of the influential players affecting the current state of the environmental landscape.

by KIRBY TELLO

photography by RACHEL BENAVIDES, BRYNN OSBORN, &LILLIAN REITZ

mothers of pearl

Over at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies seeks to develop science-based solutions to issues that affect the Gulf and its vast ecosystem. Conservation is a top focus, especially in relation to oysters and their habitat. While many of us think of oysters as a delicious treat (and possibly an aphrodisiac), oysters are much more than a love potion of sorts. Their reefs are responsible for mitigating shoreline erosion from waves and storm surges – which is one reason why beach lovers are able to enjoy endless summers under the sun on our coast – and perhaps more importantly, they also protect the sea bottom and all the aquatic creatures that establish their habitats in those reefs.

Harte Research Institute Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration, Dr. Jennifer Pollack, co-manages the Coastal Conservation and Restoration lab, which studies the role restored oyster reefs can play in creating a more sustainable coastal environment.

“In 2009, we received our first funding to begin restoring oyster habitats,” explains Pollack. And from there, the project kicked off with launching an oyster shell recycling program. With the help of local restaurant Water Street Oyster Bar and owners Brad and Richard Lomax, Pollack’s team struck an agreement whereby they would have access to all the oyster shells that otherwise would have been discarded.

Each year, Pollack works on numerous smaller-scale projects as well as a handful of large-scale initiatives that span the course of a few years. The partnership with Water Street, for example, would be considered a smaller-scale program because it is an ongoing effort that is nurtured throughout the year.

Recycling the shells involves sunbleaching the shells, putting them into mesh bags, and then placing them into the water. In about two to three weeks, oysters will come down and attach to the shells and begin to

An example of a larger-scale project would be the efforts several Harte Research Institute departments have a hand in: storm recovery. After major storms like Hurricane Harvey, it is up to the marine scientists to first figure out what condition the reefs are in. Once that is assessed, the research teams can determine whether brandnew reef beds need to be made, or if there are still active habitats that can be mended.

The community is also a part of this effort. Every few months, Pollack and her colleagues invite volunteers, usually student-aged, to help place the mesh bags of recycled shells into the ocean water. “Since it only takes two to three weeks for the oysters to attach, it is great for the students to be able to come back and see the results of their endeavor,” says Pollack.

oyster

aquaculture in action

Texas bays and estuaries have been experiencing a heavy decline in oyster populations for many years, for reasons ranging from over-fishing to environmental disasters such as hurricanes. The research team headed by Dr. Joe Fox, Harte Research Institute Chair for Marine Resource Development and Principal Investigator on this project, has developed a small research site in Copano Bay where they study various approaches commonly used to grow oysters in natural waters.

The purpose of this project, explained Fox, is to assess whether oyster aquaculture is a viable economic driver.

Many local restaurants and businesses depend on aquaculture for business. For example, Water Street Seafood Company and the Port of Corpus Christi are two early partners of Pollack’s initiative to restore oyster habitats.

A self-proclaimed “oyster farmer,” Fox works in several public- and privatesector groups in developing oyster aquaculture for restoration, economic development, and commercial usage. As such, Fox knows the importance of restoring oyster habitats while also minimizing water pollutants in order to stabilize shorelines and make a viable breeding ground to enhance the economic benefit of commercial fishing. That is a lot to consider. Keeping the health of oyster habitats front of mind is key, and with constant vulnerabilities to our water sources, the Marine Development team has its work cut out for it.

Partnering with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, HRI will manage the Oyster Resource and Recovery Center in Palacios, Texas, to address the environmental health and sustainability of the aquaculture industry as a whole.

to desal or not to desal

Desalination is the process that removes the excess salt and other minerals from water in order to obtain fresh water suitable for animal consumption or iririgration.

Corpus Christi Seawater Desalination Project. Established in 1894 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Frees and Nichols, Inc. specializes in planning, designing, and management of public infrastructure projects throughout the nation. In many of its projects the firm is responsible for the entire project’s lifecycle: planning, designing, program management, funding procurement, compliance regulation, construction management, and operations and maintenance.Thus, Frees and Nichols, Inc. was awarded “ownership” (i.e. leadership) of Corpus Christi’s Seawater Desalination Project. A 2019 blog article by Frees and Nichols, Inc.’s Associate and Water Resources Planning Practice Leader, Jason Afinowicz, Professional Engineer (PE) makes the case for desalination as an affordable water supply solution. “After intensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary stakeholder group, the City of Corpus Christi has determined that seawater desalination is a feasible solution to the region’s water needs,” Afinowicz writes.

However, he goes on to say that cost is one of the biggest hurdles in implementing the desalination project, and energy is the biggest driver of cost.

In an effort to actualize these efforts, the City of Corpus Christi Water Department and Frees and Nichols, Inc. gathered their teams of engineers to find techniques to reduce the amount of energy in desalination projects. The energy optimization solutions ranged from design adjustments to operational changes, and their changes were successful. In July of this year, Corpus Christi Seawater Desalination Project team members announced that the City Council received funding for $222 million in loans from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), a loan program to support building the city’s first seawater desalination plant.

It was met with community outcry from several nonprofit organizations like Save Corpus Christi Bay, Texas Campaign For The Environment (TCE), The Clean Economy Coalition, and Surfrider Foundation, to name a few.

A swirling concern among taxpayers is the assumption that the city will pay back the loan by hiking up taxes. According to Save Corpus Christi Bay, the area’s anti-desalination task force, the hit to taxpayers' wallets is significant, and it won’t allow for enough funding to provide basic public water services such as clean drinking water. “Desal could put our drinking water at risk if added to our water supply,” says Dr. Isabel Araiza, Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. These desal plants would pour seawater into our freshwater bays, polluting them with salty chemicals, heavy metals, and concentrated radioactivity, Araiza fears.

Furthermore, she believes that the millions of tax dollars needed to build the plants will only result in higher water bills for residents. Beyond community concern around city spending, people are worried that plant operators will take and keep the good water, and then pour more salt back into the public water.

The first two discharge permits for the plants in Corpus Christi proper are approved, and if successful, there are another 25 different locations the committee is researching to propose for city funding. According to the most recent information on the permit applications, four proposed plant sites have gone through the application process: two by the City and two by The Port. The highly saline discharge of all 4 plants is 283.9 million gallons per day (Texas Campaign For The Environment, 2020).

While residential and commercial entities would have uninterrupted water supply, the reality of putting multiple desalination plants in the Corpus Christi Bay portends a significant impact on the environment. Conservation and environmental organizations worry that any amount of pollution that the desalination plants will inevitably create will disrupt the wildlife ecosystems.

-Texas Campaign for the Environment, 2020

Reservoirs supply billions of gallons of water to residents; but 50% of that is absorbed by the sun. Meaning that more water is lost to evaporation than the amount of water consumed by residents and businesses combined.

Source: Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), June 2020

Local advocacy groups with long histories of fighting for the conservation of our coastlines are continuing to make strides in protecting our beaches, most of which belong to the larger environmental sustainability group, Coastal Alliance to Protect Our Environment (CAPE).

CAPE’s mission is to protect the environment against various challenges. South Texas being slated as a top market for energy, oil, and gas industries, CAPE uses grassroots campaigns to advocate for the health and well-being of residents, particularly the elderly and children. CAPE educates the public on how big industries potentially emit thousands of tons of volatile organic compounds, small particulate matter, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid mist, benzene, and other toxic, cancer-causing compounds; resulting in adverse effects on the health of South Texans. Here are a few organizations who are at the forefront of the fight for clean air and water:

FOR THE GREATER GOOD

A subset of Save the Bay Corpus Christi, For The Greater Good is a local, grassroots organization that provides a voice for public concerns. Most recently, this group organized a petition drive to gather signatures in hopes of voting down the approval of additional desalination permits. According to their website, 4,227 signatures were collected and sent in, and although they were shy of the amount required to get the issue on the November ballot, the mayor and City Council still have an opportunity to make the decision. They are the force behind the online campaign #saveCCbay and continuously advocate for the greater good of our community and all the living creatures within it.

CLEAN ECONOMY COALITION

The Clean Economy Coalition embraces the use of clean technology throughout the region. Advocating for solutions like wind and solar power generation as opposed to technology currently in use that emits pollutants into the environment, this organization focuses on the pollutants’ negative impact on our air, water, and health of the general population.

Most recently, the Clean Economy Coalition has reported via their Facebook page on the City’s proposed 2021 Annual Operating and Capital Budgets – responsible for addressing City projects such as public safety, streets, and the latest topic of concern: storm water fees.

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION

Equipped with a team of scientists, environmentalists, and legal experts, the Surfrider Foundation has year-round campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, protect the ocean and its ecosystem, ensure fair access to beaches, preserve our shorelines, and protect the health and sustainability of our water sources.

Currently, the Texas Coastal Bend Surfrider Foundation has been working with Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales to find a solution to beach closures due to the pandemic.

Also, in an ongoing effort to prevent plastic pollution, the Skip the Plastic Project of the Coastal Bend Chapter is spreading the word that the use of reusable shopping bags is safe during COVID-19. They remind the community that washing and disinfecting the bags, along with everything else that touches them, is the best practice for staying safe and healthy while saving our oceans.

SIERRA CLUB LONE STAR CHAPTER COASTAL BEND GROUP

The Sierra Club is one of the most influential grassroots organizations in the country surrounding environmental issues. The Coastal Bend chapter is hard at work supporting a multitude of local issues and concerns, the biggest of which revolves around the building of petrochemical plants and the byproducts and activities that follow.

According to its website, this includes: “fracking, pipelining, the desalination plants being planned to support the petrochemical plants, the release of plastics into the coastal waters, the release of harmful chemicals into the air and water, and last, but not least, the destruction of the unique, natural beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas.”

CAPE Group and Organization Members:

Clean Economy Coalition

Earthworks

For the Greater Good Green Team

Port Aransas Conservancy

Portland Citizens United

San Antonio Bay

Estuarine Waterkeeper

Sierra Club

Surfrider Foundation –

Texas Coastal Bend Chapter

Texas Campaign for the Environment

Texas Drought Project

Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services

Our Revolution Coastal Bend

to come change

By the time we wrapped this story, the environmental landscape had already experienced notable changes. In a city council meeting on Aug. 18, 2020, council members will have voted on whether engineers can move forward with plant construction. The Harte Research Institute is studying the effects Hurricane Hanna had on our beaches and assessing how much the massive storm surge affected oyster bed reefs. The environment has always been fickle; industry is fickle, too. At the end of the day, what we can count on is change. It is important to remember, however, that in a water-reliant community like the Coastal Bend – big industry, small business, nonprofits, and residents who walk the land to residents who swim the sea – everyone is affected by decisions involving Mother Nature. So, when environmental conversations surge our way, remember we are all in this together.

P

Plastic

P A R or

by EMMA COMERY photos by LILLIAN REITZ

"...we – you and me – can help solve this problem by reducing our use of plastic, removing it from our beaches and natural environments, and making mindful decisions about our everyday actions that benefit our world, rather than harm it."

From the salty depths of the Gulf to the sprawling expanse of mesquite wonderland, the Coastal Bend has inspired many an artist with its abundance of sea life, migratory birds, native plants, and exotic mammals. In honor of The Sustainability Issue, we sat down with two local women artists whose multimedia work simultaneously seeks to honor the majesty of our planet and call viewers to action in the sustainability effort.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Sheila Rogers owned a modeling agency for more than a decade before kickstarting a career in fine arts photography. She traveled the world to study with master artists in France, Spain, Morocco, and Belarus (just to name a few) before settling in our little sparkling city by the sea. With its miles of coastline and shellfilled beaches, Corpus Christi was a dream come true for this lifelong beachcomber.

Then, without explanation, the shells stopped washing up on shore. But their absence made Rogers notice something we are all too used to overlooking: tons and

- Sheila Rogers

tons of plastic trash. Bottle caps in the dunes, straws tangled in the kelp, toys buried in the sand … everywhere she looked, she

And so, from garbage, she built masterpieces.

exhibit at the Art Museum Of South Texas is a perfect encapsulation of her work – a fully immersive installation of colorful 3-D pieces constructed entirely of plastic debris. Fishing line chandeliers, pill bottle wall panels, soda bottle sculptures … she surrounds us with the consequences of

Rogers’ art is pure color and beauty, drawing the viewer in with its energetic tones and shapes. Like hungry turtles mistaking plastic soda can yokes for seaweed, we bite, only to be fooled. “From a distance,” Rogers says, “the color-coded organization lures viewers into a fanciful encounter with interesting art pieces. Yet upon closer view, they are shocked to discover these worlds of art are really collections of plastic trash.”

Today Rogers works out of a charming bungalow studio in the Bay Area with a beautiful jungle of a backyard and a pool house that has found new life as a plastics storage center. Inside, photographs taken by Rogers of her own work line the walls, and her current project – four exotic costumes made entirely of brightly-colored straws – stands at attention. The small kitchen overflows with jars of shells, barnacles, and sand dollars on the countertops, cabinet shelves, and windowsill. Entire rooms and storage units boast bin after bin of colorful plastic, scrubbed clean with a toothbrush and organized by color and type. Bottle tops, straws, juice boxes, Barbie shoes … the other day, she found six pacifiers and 10 lighters. And the more she collects, the more horrified she becomes by the sheer amount of plastic humans generate and then throw out. “We have created a synthetic polymer that lasts almost forever,” she says, “and we often use it to package one-time-use products.”

In one of her artist statements, for “A Plague of Plastic,” Rogers cites several specific organisms severely harmed by human plastic usage. “The Laysan albatross,” she writes, “is one wellstudied example of the effects of plastic pollution on animals. Not only do the mature individuals consume plastic debris, such as bottle caps and cigarette lighters, but the birds regurgitate the plastic when they feed their chicks. The gut of the baby bird becomes filled with indigestible plastic, and the bird starves.”

From her previous exhibits at the Texas State Aquarium and Art Museum South Texas to her current plastic water chandelier installation at the Corpus Christi International Airport, Rogers is pulling a harsh but important truth to the surface. The truth that humans produce over 300 million tons of plastic each year,

half of which we throw away after merely one use. “Recycling is not the answer,” she urges. “Right now, there is no market for plastic. China is not accepting it. It’s more expensive, it takes a lot of energy to process it.”

Her ultimate goal and hope? “That we – you and me – can help solve this problem by reducing our use of plastic, removing it from our beaches and natural environments, and making mindful decisions about our everyday actions that benefit our world, rather than harm it.”

If Sheila Rogers’ art reels us in with colorful beauty only to hook us with a dark oceanic reality, local printmaker Cassie Normandy’s work is a sort of microscopic look into the beating heart of the plants that surround us.

Over Zoom, I asked Normandy about the role of sustainability in her art, and we found ourselves in a deeply reflective and philosophical conversation about plants. These days, she lives and breathes green. When she’s not working away in her studio, she’s reading, gardening, and engaging in an online seed mentorship program. And while sustainability is not a word she immediately associates with her work, it is there in everything she creates.

Colorful fabric monoprints, print collages, black and white multimedia (think twine, butcher paper, and salt) prints … in every piece, Cassie Normandy is showcasing her love for the propagation and continuity of natural life.

“You can never control how people interpret your work, but my hope is that people pay closer attention to these forms of life that surround us every day,” Normandy says. “We have so many narratives and we get so distracted in our own lives. I would love for my work to encourage observation and encourage appreciation.”

While she doesn’t want to assume that people don’t appreciate these things already, she knows the peace she feels when she is simply observing, and wishes it upon everyone. The bottom line? “There’s a lot we can learn from other forms of life.” And that’s ultimately what her work sets out to do.

Normandy traces her fascination with nature back to her grad school days in New Orleans, where the novelty of living alone in a new city inspired her to spend much of her time walking and observing what she calls “forms of nonhuman life.” Her curiosity sparked a hunger for information, and she inhaled book after book about plants and animals. When she moved to Corpus Christi a few years later (she followed a boy, they got married – it’s a very beautiful story for another time), she found a whole new world in our hub of migratory bird watching and coastal native plants. From the bay dolphins at Ropes Park to the plants of her own backyard garden, Normandy’s creativity has found no shortage of fodder in Corpus.

“We have so many narratives and we get so distracted in our own lives. I would love for my work to encourage observation and encourage appreciation.”

- Cassie Normandy

Through the seed mentorship program, Normandy has developed a reciprocal relationship with her plants. With a chuckle, she says, “I think about the fact that I love my plants and they love me back.” Admit it – stuck at home, we’ve all become a little bit more obsessed with our plant babies this year.

“I’ve just so enjoyed paying attention to the phases of their lives and how they grow,” says Normandy, affection coloring her voice. “A lot of seeds start out in this generic form … they’ve got one or two little leaflets, and as they grow, they become more specific and individualized. They’re becoming true expressions of who they are.” She sounds like a doting pet owner, or a captivated mother. We get it. “It’s a naturally occurring human inclination to pay attention to other forms of life,” she confirms.

This experience of having a relationship with plants is cultivated in part by the works of Professor Robin Wall Kimmerer, an indigenous botanist whose books Gathering Moss and Braiding Sweetgrass discuss the two different ways of getting to know plants: technical scientific study and indigenous wisdom. Studying the history of plants in North America – from indigenous stewardship to our inherited colonial attitude toward nature as a consumable resource – has helped Normandy reframe how she sees plants, not just as living things, but as fellow living beings. “We live in this very human-centric world, and the reality is that we’re not at the center of everything,” she says, dropping bombs like seeds of realization. “We’re not the most important. Watching other forms of life helps remind us what's actually more true, which is that a lot of life goes on without us … sometimes they flourish without us.”

All of this – every book, podcast, conversation, and thought – finds its way into her art. While printmaking is an artform often best planned out in advance (artists typically share studios because the equipment is so large and expensive), Normandy is more process-driven, not, she self-proclaims, “a printmaker’s printmaker.”

Nonetheless, her work intrigues, captivates, and ignites curiosity, appearing around the world in galleries and hotels in Corpus, Austin, Portland, Atlanta, and Tehran. At once abstract and detailed, bearing simple

" We are at a breaking point and we are going to have to make changes. Rather than viewing the earth as a collection of resources for us to exploit, we need to figure out how we can be better members of this really big, complicated family of life."

- Cassie Normandy

titles like “Of Soil” and “Of Air,” they are immensely complex visual expressions of plant life that have you leaning in, looking closer, digging deep into the images, like dirt.

Normandy leaves us with this: “We are at a breaking point and we are going to have to make changes. Rather than viewing the earth as a collection of resources for us to exploit, we need to figure out how we can be better members of this really big, complicated family of life.”

And yet, small as we are in the scope of the ecosystem, it’s Rogers who reminds us of our mighty big impact when she says, “What we do on land affects even the most remote parts of our planet.”

Somewhere between Rogers and Normandy, between sculpture and printmaking, between paper and plastic, each of us can find our own relationship with our planet. We can pause, take a closer look, and listen to what our planet is telling us.

Gabriel Lopez, M.D.

Board

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Rudy Garza, M.D.

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The Coastal Bend is home to Corpus Christi Downtown Karate, a martial arts dojo led by owner and chief instructor Jeff Ghee. Offering classes for

Kickin’ It WITH JEFF GHEE

CORPUS CHRISTI DOWNTOWN KARATE AND THE BENEFITS OF PRACTICING MARTIAL ARTS

BY:

Growing up, I watched several films – from The Karate Kid to the Kill Bill series – use the concepts and traditions of martial arts as fuel. Their plots took place in inaccessible settings removed from what I saw in the Coastal Bend. However, with enthusiasm, I can say the opportunity to delve into this world is not out of reach if it piques your interest. The Coastal Bend is home to Corpus Christi Downtown Karate, a martial arts dojo led by owner and chief instructor Jeff Ghee.

From Columbus, Ohio, Ghee began training in the art of Karate at the age of 12, and stuck with his training until finishing high school. Thereafter, Ghee enrolled in the U.S. Navy, and ended up – luckily, he said – in Japan. While there, he received his second-degree black belt after a couple of years of training. Ghee was then transferred to the Corpus Christi Naval Base. After two more years, he finished his time with the Navy. “I told my mom I’d be back in six months. And, well, I’ve been here since 1990,” Ghee says with a laugh.

In Oct of 2016,

I say that luck smiled on us by having Ghee sent from Japan to Corpus Christi. Otherwise, our community would not have the opportunity to learn the discipline and art of Karate at his dojo. Now in its 11th year, Corpus Christi Downtown Karate, sitting next door to Axis Tattoo, is hard to miss considering the artwork and color in its proximity.

Corpus Christi Downtown Karate offers classes for people of all ages and skill levels, each one offering opportunities to improve overall fitness and learn self-defense. When discussing the benefits of studying martial arts, we delved into the physical capacity required to endure the training. Even back in June and July, Ghee’s classes were at times the only physical activity some of his students were getting. Karate helped members of his dojo maintain a regimen during that time of stagnation.

Another benefit he brought to my attention was attention itself: Through the discipline of focusing not only on the instructor but

themselves, students have shown improvement in maintaining focus. Beyond physical health, Ghee says, “the mental benefits are great. The focus and dedication required for training also transition to their classes and coursework.” Karate is more than a sport, it’s art in itself that requires character building, discipline, and dedication.

Ghee’s students also represent Corpus Christi when attending competitions. In 2016, Ghee took 12 of his students to the AAU Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas. All 12 managed to bring home some hardware, and two of his students competing in Sparring, Form, and Weapons won gold in all three events.

However, Ghee wants the focus of his dojo not to be on the sport or competition. He wants the energy of the dojo to go towards students working on themselves through physical activity and mental growth.

Contact:

703 N Chaparral St, Corpus Christi, TX 361.537.3004 | ccdk.weebly.com

LUIS ARJONA PHOTOS BY: LILLIAN REITZ

Ghee was promoted to 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Goju Ryu Karate as a member of The Society of Harmonious Fists Martial Arts Federation San Antonio, TX under the instruction of Dr. Balfour Wright, Hanshi.

Q: Aside from creating beautiful smiles, what is a passion of yours?

A: I love to spend time with family and enjoy being active with them. I love experiencing the power of the water and wind when I am kitesurfing and surfing. I also enjoy working on projects and trying to engage in things that help me better myself emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

Q: What attracted you to South Texas?

A: I knew Corpus Christi was a wellknown kitesurfing spot. During my visit, I found Corpus to not only be a great kitesurfing spot but thinking it would be a good place to raise a family. I remember driving over the JFK causeway I knew at that exact moment I was going to move here. Oddly enough, this was the exact day where I met Dr. Chad Allen while he was windsurfing.

Q: What makes Allen Dental Group unique?

A:I can’t pretend to know all the other clinics around, but what I can say is what I love about being in this group. I have been practicing dentistry for over 20 years now, and it’s the first time I get to experience true camaraderie. We are more than work, we are family. We trust each other and everybody’s role. Yet, we still find time to be joyful and laugh a little.

Alex Vial-Nadeau, DMD

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I am a wife to my high-school sweetheart, a biological, foster and adoptive mom, and a self-proclaimed “hippy.” Soon after having my first baby, I became very aware of the quality of products we put on and in our bodies. Over the years, I have made small changes in products, foods, household cleaners and cosmetics – using products that have natural ingredients that are safe and effective for our entire family has become a high priority for me.

BY: SARAH BAUGH

PHOTOS BY:

LILLIAN REITZ CLEAN BEAUTY IS AT THE CORE OF THIS SELFCARE ROUTINE

In my quest to clean up my skincare routine, I learned that in the United States, 80 percent of beauty product ingredients have never been tested for safety. There are very few restrictions in the beauty industry in America, and that really bothered me. Most women use more than a dozen products on their bodies each day, meaning they could come in contact with hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals before they even leave their bathroom. I first heard about Beautycounter years ago when I learned about their clean products from a friend. Beautycounter is raising the standard in the beauty and cosmetic industry as they advocate for better regulations and vow to never use a growing list of more than 1,800 harmful ingredients. I decided to become a Beautycounter consultant myself, because I believe we shouldn’t have to choose between safety and effectiveness, and I enjoy sharing safer skin care options. As a busy working mom, I have learned the importance of prioritizing self-care. Some of my favorite ways to take care of “me” are massage therapy, walks, books and podcasts that feed my mind and soul, epsom salt detox baths, seasonal facials at Skincare Butik, and a whole lot of prayer.

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After turning 30, I began to notice unwanted fine lines and dark spots, and realized my grocery store skincare products were no longer cutting it. I found out about the Countertime Collection from Beautycounter, and it sounded like exactly what my skin needed. This plant-derived Retinatural complex is designed to visibly firm, brighten, and plump the skin. The regimen makes it so easy to incorporate into my daily routine – with the cleansing oil, mineral boost hydrating essence, tripeptide radiance serum, antioxidant soft cream and the nighttime tetrapeptide supreme cream, everything is covered in a few easy steps. Using this collection has completely changed my skin!

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Dry Brush

I learned about dry brushing during an extensive detox massage a couple of years ago. This is a simple and very effective technique to incorporate in any self-care routine. It not only helps to exfoliate skin, but also increases blood flow and helps promote lymphatic drainage. A large part of cleaning up your beauty routine is helping the body to detox the harmful things we come in contact with or consume daily; I like to dry brush before a nice hot detox bath.

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Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel

If I had to choose one, this would be my favorite skin care product. I have battled dry, dull skin for years. This overnight Resurfacing Peel is a lightweight serum you apply at night and leave on to improve skin texture and boost clarity without drying out. With botanically derived glycolic, malic and natural lactic acids, this formula clears away dull surface cells, leaving you with a brighter, healthier complexion and smooth skin texture. I have never used another product that makes my skin so smooth!

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I feel that a good jar of organic coconut oil is a must-have in every bathroom. I use coconut oil as eye makeup remover, shave cream, and body moisturizer. I also add a couple of tablespoons to an epsom salt bath along with a few drops of essential oils for the perfect moisturizing detox bath, or use it for oil pulling with a drop of DoTerra clove essential oil. It’s one of our family’s most used and most versatile products.

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Anda Supernutrient Balm and Enzyme Serum Masque

I discovered this nutrient-dense duo during a seasonal facial at Skincare Butik. Having dry skin, I love the thick texture of this balm. I like to warm the balm in my palm, then add a couple of pumps of the serum masque and pat on my face before I use my Gua Sha stone or jade roller. This combination can also be used for regular facial massage to help plump skin and increase blood flow while nourishing and hydrating the skin. It’s a must-have through the winter months or in dry climates, and leaves my skin feeling so nourished and hydrated.

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I've learned the art of Gua Sha and jade rolling from the pros at Skincare Butik in their workshops and seasonal facials. This is a highly effective technique to naturally plump the skin by increasing blood flow, stimulating collagen production and flushing out impurities.

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2020 DENTAL PROFILES

Looking for a new dentist or orthodontist? You have come to the right place. The Coastal Bend offers locals and visitors plenty of reasons to smile, so make sure you love yours! Take some time to meet eight great dentists in the Coastal Bend.

They all have their own unique background and approach, but what they all have in common is a passion for helping patients and a love for making people smile.

DENTAL PROFILES

David Dawod, DDS

DAWOD DENTAL CENTER

Dr. David Dawod is a native of Corpus Christi that loves playing drums, kayaking, cooking and digging through crates for vinyl records at your local record shop. You can usually catch him eating wings and hanging out with Romy, his French bulldog. He is a proud TAMU-Corpus Christi alumnus, with a bachelor of science in Biomedical Science. Dr. Dawod earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UT Health Science Center School of Dentistry at Houston. He returned to Corpus Christi to join his father Dr. Haysam Dawod and Dr. Steve Villarreal at Dawod Dental Center. Dawod Dental Center has been serving the community for nearly 30 years and he is excited to carry on his father’s legacy.

Dr. Dawod has been involved with the local community through various organizations and scenes. He was a member of local Boy Scouts of America Troop 3 where he not only earned the rank of Eagle Scout but also was inducted into the Order of the Arrow and served as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 3. Dr. Dawod also enjoys the music scene in Corpus Christi and has been in several local bands.

He is an active member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and Nueces Valley District Dental Society. Dr. Dawod is always doing his best to stay up-to-date on current legislative, technological, and scientific updates in dentistry to better ensure the best possible care for his patients.

Dr. Dawod’s focus is providing the best possible treatment for his patients through pursuing continuing education, building a great relationship with patients, and staying up to date with the latest techniques in dentistry.

DENTAL PROFILES

James Duncan, DDS Peter Mai, DMD, MS

DUNCAN DENTAL STUDIO

Services

• Pin Hole® Surgical Technique

• Laser Dentistry

• Cosmetic Dentistry

• Family Dentistry

• Invisalign Provider

• Dental Implants

• Oral Surgery

The team at Duncan Dental Studio is always ready to enhance your smile and help you feel taken care of through your dental health journey. Between their two doctors, Dr. James A. Duncan and Dr. Peter Mai, and their excellent team, Duncan Dental is ready to help serve you and your dental health needs.

James A. Duncan, DDS has been practicing dentistry in the Coastal Bend since 1996. Dr. Jim, as his patients refer to him, strives to help others understand that oral health is more than a pretty smile – it’s part of a bigger picture: our overall complete health and living a happy life. Prior to his dental career, Dr. Jim graduated from Corpus Christi State University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He then attended the University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio with his DDS degree. Dr. Jim is a member of the ADA, TDA, NVDDS, CCDSC, and WCLI, and has received his Mastership in Lasers. When Dr. Jim isn’t busy helping out his patients, he enjoys spending time with his family and embarking on adventures in the outdoors.

Peter Mai DMD, MS graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine as president of his class. He enjoys full scope general dentistry but gained valuable experiences at Yale hospital and later attended Baylor Scott White Dallas for his internship year in oral and maxillofacial surgery. As a surgery resident, he worked in the ER, and has experience in implants, sedation, and trauma, which he brings to practice. Aside from providing his patients with quality care, Dr. Mai enjoys volunteering in underserved areas, spending time with his family, and chasing the simple life.

The entire team at Duncan Dental Studio is delighted to give you and your family members the optimal health and beautiful smiles that you deserve. With their dental care in Portland, Texas, they are able to restore the health of your oral cavity and enhance the appearance of your smile! Their state of the art office and welcoming environment allow for patients to feel comfortable while obtaining the best quality care.

DENTAL PROFILES

Heather Gonzalez, DDS

KENNETH GONZALES, D.D.S.

For Dr. Heather Gonzalez, each day is a new opportunity to get to know her patients and treat them holistically based on their individual needs and desires. She strives to educate her patients, of all ages, on the importance of the oral-systemic health connection in hopes of improving her patients’ overall lives by beginning in her area of expertise.

Having called the Coastal Bend home from a young age, she graduated salutatorian of Orange Grove High School, achieved a bachelor of science in biology from Texas A&M University, College Station, and then ultimately graduated from The University of Texas School of Dentistry, Houston.

With the heartfelt goal of wanting to become a dentist since she was 5 years old, Dr. Heather Gonzalez feels blessed to be working alongside Dr. Kenneth Gonzales and their wonderful team in a state-of-the-art facility with a calming, artistic environment. She is happy to be back home serving her community and welcomes each patient with warmth and gentle hands.

Services

• CEREC Technology (one visit crowns)

• Cosmetic Dentistry & Family Dentistry

• Dental Implants & Crowns

• Suresmile® and Invisalign® (clear aligner orthodontics)

• TMJ Treatment

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances

She is passionate about continuing her education to better serve her patients with the latest technology and techniques in dentistry. She is Academy of Laser Dentistry certified, adding several benefits to her treatment modalities. Dr. Gonzalez is also Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) doctor trained, allowing for delivery of same day crowns, when patients meet the criteria. Another technology that Dr. Gonzalez uses when evaluating her patients is a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Using this 3D technology allows her to more thoroughly examine each patient, including their airway. Insufficient airways, which can lead to several health problems including sleep apnea, grinding of teeth, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues, can be identified using this tool. Once identified, she can offer personalized solutions to help her patients achieve better health. Dr. Gonzalez also offers sedation dentistry. Her goal is to ensure each and every patient has a comfortable dental visit.

Outside of the office, Dr. Heather Gonzalez loves spending time with her two-year-old son, infant daughter, two dogs and, of course, her high school sweetheart husband. She also enjoys traveling, trying new foods, learning Spanish, jewelry making and painting.

DENTAL PROFILES

Kenneth Gonzales DDS, PLLC

KENNETH GONZALES, D.D.S.

Dr. Gonzales graduated from Texas A&M, College Station with a B.S. in Biology, and then proceeded to receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, San Antonio, the #1 dental school in the nation at the time. He continues to further his education in cosmetic dentistry, adhesion dentistry, dental implants, implant crowns, Invisalign®, SureSmile® CEREC® technology, TMJ treatment, laser dentistry, and obstructive sleep apnea treatment with oral appliances.

He has a highly qualified, friendly, and caring staff who understands and follows the doctor’s attitude of genuine appreciation and care for all patients. The entire team continue their dental education along with Dr. Gonzales on the advancements of dentistry to benefit the patients, and themselves as health care providers. They strive to always give the patient the premium experience of high quality, service, and convenience. One of the ways they accomplish this is with CEREC technology, which makes it possible to provide a dental crown in one visit; if the patient meets the criteria.

Services

• CEREC Technology (one visit crowns)

• Cosmetic Dentistry & Family Dentistry

• Dental Implants & Crowns

• Suresmile® and Invisalign® (clear aligner orthodontics)

• TMJ Treatment

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliances

Dr. Gonzales’s office utilizes CBCT(3-D IMAGING) technology for a more accurate placement of dental implants and to aid in the diagnosis of other conditions of the mouth and jaws. Dr. Gonzales has held several positions of leadership with The Nueces Valley District Dental Society, the local component of the Texas Dental Association, and with the Corpus Christi Dental Study Club, as well as a member of CERECDoctors.com, an advanced learning academy. As a family man, Dr. Gonzales has a son who is now attending Texas A&M College Station in his senior year and about to finish his B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Gonzales enjoys dining, dancing, travelling, exercising and weight training with his best friend and wife Wendy, who is a registered nurse.

The future for Dr. Gonzales and team is bright! Patients enjoy their practice location and its proximity to the growing South Side, with comforting office décor and art work, in a state-of-the-art facility where science fiction meets science fact.

The happiness Dr. Gonzales sees and hears in his patients upon seeing their new smile is what drives him and his team. With every new smile is a chance for a new journey.

DENTAL PROFILES

Chad Allen DDS, MS

ALLEN DENTAL GROUP

Dr. Chad Allen’s extensive background in dentistry ranges from roofless shacks in Mexico to high rise dental practices in Dallas. After completing his dental schooling at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Dr. Allen was selected to the specialty program for prosthodontics. He was fortunate enough to learn from an international array of specialists including time spent in Switzerland studying dental implants at dental schools in Bern and Geneva. Dr. Allen has mentored many pre-dental students here in the Coastal Bend. All of these experiences combine to give him a wide range of skills and knowledge to serve patients.

The staff at Allen Dental Group truly seeks to connect with people in a way that makes them more comfortable. While dental offices tend to make patients feel stressed, the highly skilled and considerate staff at Allen Dental Group is empathetic and sensitive to patient’s needs. Their goal is to treat patients like family. They have all the technology and ability to handle the most complex cases, but it’s their heart for each patient that makes all the difference.

Services

• Dental Implants

• Veneers

• Crowns

• Comprehensive Care

• Teeth Whitening

Dr. Allen enjoys getting to know each patient and seeks to earn their trust. He truly enjoys spending time with each patient. He is humbled and amazed by all the people he has met and had the privilege to serve over the years.

Dr. Allen is active in his church, with his children’s school, and is honored to serve our country’s veterans through the VA. Allen Dentists have served South Texas since 1947. Being a third generation dentist, Dr. Allen hopes to continue the line of Allen dentists, possibly bringing on a 4th in the future. Whatever the future holds, Allen Dental Group will always be known for its tradition of excellence, artistry, and personal care in the Coastal Bend.

DENTAL PROFILES

Timothy A. Kuhlman, DDS

KENNEDY DENTAL CARE

Kennedy Dental Care is primarily known as a pediatric dental office, but as many parents do not realize, Dr. Kuhlman is the on-site orthodontist who is equally qualified in providing orthodontic care to both children and adults. He is happy to help anyone who needs braces. Parents can easily get braces for their children and themselves in one place. With the introduction of Invisalign for both teens and adults, Kennedy Dental is now taking the ease and convenience of creating a beautiful smile to a whole new level!

After graduating from Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Kuhlman completed the Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency Program in San Antonio. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association and the Nueces Valley District Dental Society.

Services

• Pediatric Dentistry From Birth – Adulthood

• Growth & Development Guidance For Children

• Dentistry For Children With Developmental Problems – Including Special Needs

• Orthodontics for Adults, Teens & Children

• Invisalign

Invisalign offers flexible appointments with up to 12-week intervals, making it easier for busy parents or teens trying to juggle school, work, and athletics. Appointments are typically shorter, only 5-10 minutes in most cases. According to Dr. Kuhlman, teens love the ability to still eat popcorn at the movies and easily wear mouth guards for sports. Also, the price gap between Invisalign and braces is quickly closing, and he believes it will only be a matter of preference for the patient in the near future. His goal is to make it easier and affordable for patients.

Dr. Kuhlman credits the incredible staff at Kennedy Dental for the excellent care and attention that every patient receives when they walk in the door. He currently sees patients at Kennedy Dental’s Saratoga and Calallen locations. Dr. Kuhlman looks forward to meeting your family and helping create beautiful smiles.

•

DENTAL PROFILES

Since a young age, Edith Rojas, DDS, has taken her father’s advice to heart. He was a general surgeon and understood the importance of hard work and preparation and relaying those messages to his daughter. “I watched him being kind and compassionate to others, no matter the long number of hours he had worked,” Rojas said. These are lessons she has transferred over to her practice today.

Rojas is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentist, and practices at Pediatrix Dental, where she strives to keep a practice both fun and enjoyable for the kids and personal and informative for the parents. They strive to meet the unique needs of children and are committed to providing the best care for infants, children, adolescents, and special needs patients, all while maintaining the highest standards in pediatric dental care.

Dr. Rojas studied at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where she was honored as Valedictorian. When asked what sets her apart from others in the field, she explains how accommodating their design is; the space is set up to cater to all the requirements and needs for pediatric dentistry. Pediatrix Dental knows exactly how important it is for parents to feel informed and supported when it comes to their child’s health. “We work as a team with all the medical doctors and therapists involved in our practice in order to provide the best care for children,” she says. “We strive to give them an exceptional experience every time they walk through our doors.”

Dr. Rojas has dedicated a lot of time to pushing for better laws and more awareness in regard to healthcare for those with special needs. “I am both a parent and an advocate for children with special health care needs. I understand the needs of people with disabilities and believe in their abilities. I have worked hard in demanding a better health care environment and lobbied for laws ensuring civil rights for children with special health care needs.”

DENTAL PROFILES

Services

• Complimentary Exam with a Detailed Treatment Plan and Pricing

• Provider of Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen®, and Clear Correct by 3M

• Monitor younger patients' growth and development

• Special Discounts for Military, Police, Firefighters, and Teachers

Colin Mihalik, DDS, MS

CC BRACES

Dr. Colin Mihalik is a Board-Certified Orthodontist serving Corpus Christi and surrounding communities with a team of highly experienced and friendly staff at CC Braces. As an orthodontist in the U. S. Air Force for over 20 years, he took care of our military families stationed around the world. He opened CC Braces in 2018, fulfilling his dream of serving patients in his own orthodontic practice.

Dr. Mihalik loves sharing the excitement on patients' faces from the initial visit and working together to see progress throughout the treatment time. Of course, his favorite time is sharing the joy at finishing their treatment and seeing the wide confident smiles! Dr. Mihalik has always stressed the importance of customer service and supporting families through sponsoring youth programs as well as community events. He has the most cutting-edge technologies and best methods in orthodontics, but he feels that the heart of his practice is the welcoming and caring atmosphere at CC Braces. “For me, CC Braces is more than just treating patients and creating beautiful smiles.” he says. “Making CC Braces feel like family for our patients is my top priority."

Dr. Mihalik employs a team of skilled Registered Dental Assistants and is committed to providing the best orthodontic care and service. From monitoring the growth of young patients-to-be to full treatment of teens and adult patients, his goal is to provide exceptional quality and an incredible orthodontic experience for all his patients.

Throughout the mandated office closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mihalik found ways to safely care for his patients. He used virtual consultations to keep his patients on course to finish their orthodontic treatments on time. At the same time, he prepared to reopen CC Braces following new CDC guidelines to ensure a safe environment for his patients and staff.

Dr. Mihalik is excited to make CC Braces the “go-to” orthodontic office in Corpus Christi! Please visit www.ccbraces.com to learn more.

HOME & GARDEN

Kori Anderson’s interior design talents and eye for aesthetics aided in creating her own dream abode. With a blend of patterns, prints, color combinations, and vintage items, the Anderson home holds a bold impact regardless of where you are in the world.

BOHEMIAN VINTAGE ECLECTICISM

VARIED DÉCOR ALLOWS FOR HOMEOWNERS TO INCORPORATE A RANGE OF STYLES AND FITS ANY BUDGET

BY: JACQUELINE GONZALEZ PHOTOS BY: JASON PAGE

After searching for the right home – one with an older design and in an older neighborhood – Korri Anderson discovered that her parents were looking to downsize, which meant her childhood home in the Morningside Subdivision was up for grabs. Although it would be a fixer-upper, Korri and her husband were excited for the extra space, and knew purchasing this home was the right move. After some renovations, they were in their new home by the end of 2019.

With a blend of patterns, prints, color combinations, and vintage items, Korri brings her interior design talents into her own personal living space. Korri operates the Instagram account @kadesignscc and uses it to share many of her interior design tips that she implements in her home and passes on to her clients. Her main focus is to show that design is attainable, regardless of your budget. In fact, she has found many of the items in her home at estate sales and local vintage shops. When asked to explain her

choice in décor, Anderson says with a smile, “I love anything that is fun, funky, and unexpected.”

Korri likes to start from scratch in a new home, with the exception of a few pieces of art and knickknacks that she’s held onto for years. While most people will purchase furniture and then make everything work around it, Korri opts for a less traditional approach. She’s a huge fan of colorful artwork, so when she finds something that stands out to her, she purchases it, and makes the necessary changes to make sure the rest of the home vibes with the art. She has the same ideas when it comes to paint colors, furniture, and other décor items. “I just buy what I like. I don’t think about whether it matches or not until later!”

The living room is decorated with a blue velvet couch accented by throw pillows in shades of gold and orange, as well as black and white and leopard prints. This combination works well up against a stark white wall that

lets the multicolored artwork and gold wall décor take center stage. Opposite the blue couch is a cozy little seating area that she calls the “Zen area.” The subtle lighting peering in through the bamboo window shades offers the right amount of pop to lighten the green velvet chairs, next to the wooden shelves that house the many pottery items, art books, and other items collected during their annual family trips to New Mexico. The leopard print ottoman sitting in front of each green velvet chair adds a perfect finishing touch to this unique and calm, yet bold, area.

Rather than buying a dining room set that has already been matched for her, Korri created her own style. The dining area houses a traditional wooden dining room table to let the artwork pop, but as an accent, she blends in different dining chairs to create a modern and stylish area. Not only is this a stylish alternative, it is also a great way to save money and use your creativity!

Local pieces can be found all throughout the Anderson home. A pillow in the entryway nook and a rattan divider from General Goods Vintage provide finishing touch details that elevate the space. You’ll also find original pieces from local artist ArtsyWire proudly displayed near the dining room.

Korri is also a major fan of rugs, and stands by her claim that the bolder the rug, the better! She opts for bold patterns and bright colors including animal prints and geometric patterns.

The stairs were not in the best shape from all the use over the years, so she spent a lot of time restoring them. She wanted a unique design, and because risers would be kicked often, she knew that paint would chip and tile would be kicked loose – so instead, she opted for wallpaper in a black and gray design.

The two-story home also has an interesting staircase. Once a duplex, the staircase was the entryway for the family living on the second floor, but now, Korri has access to a new area to implement her eclectic style. The stairs were not in the best shape from all the use over the years, so she spent a lot of time restoring them. She wanted a unique design, and because risers would be kicked often, she knew that paint would chip and tile would be kicked loose – so instead, she opted for wallpaper in a black and gray design. As an added bonus, the glass door that was the main entrance lets in beautiful, natural lighting that makes the wallpaper on the risers reflect in different shades of sepia and blue, which allows her to have a different design each day. Korri also turned the area beneath the

stairs into a comfortable reading nook, with a bright yellow wall, colorful mosaic artwork, fun lighting fixtures, and a comfy chair.

Although many of the rooms in her home pop in bright colors, she does also have some areas that use darker shades. The entryway has a dark charcoal wall with many vintage décor pieces that she’s collected from estate sales, while her master bedroom has a darker motif with a combination of designs, all in black and white, with neutral tones.

No matter which room you’re in, the fun, colorful, eclectic décor throughout the Anderson home is sure to lift your spirits.

Mixing patterns is a great way to add interest, color and depth. Korri advises using at least three patterns: large, medium, and small. Using colors that are the same intensity will keep it from looking too busy.

SEE YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

My sign off slogan for The Bend Magazine pieces has always been "See you in the neighborhood," because we believe the hallmark of a Braselton Home is a Braselton Neighborhood – a community created for our homebuyers to live and play in.

Each Braselton neighborhood is characterized by homes built to be architecturally appealing for decades, with streets laid out to minimize traffic, and maximize pedestrian opportunities and exercise. Many have water features to add grace and beauty to the landscaping and playgrounds to give your children a safe and fun place to play. All of these elements together build a strong and vibrant community for our homeowners.

One of our best known Braselton Neighborhoods is Corpus Christi's only Master-Planned Community, Rancho Vista. In the Southside, conveniently located near the corner of Yorktown and Rodd Field Road, Rancho Vista is a 300-acre planned community with much to offer its homeowners. Several distinct neighborhoods comprise the development, featuring lakeside, boulevard, oversized, garden, and estate lots all surrounding a large central park with a walking trail system, featuring and lakes and landscaping that extend all the way to Oso Creek and the King Ranch beyond.

The walking and jogging trails and paths are off the roadways and therefore safe, dog and kid friendly, and easily accessible. They also have playground and sports areas, so families can walk or bike on the trails to the playgrounds and fields for active fun.

This neighborhood will access the future Nature Preserve on Oso Creek, with wildlife viewing opportunities and nature walks. Pus, since floor plans in this development range from 1,400 square feet to 3,600 square feet, there is a home for everyone, from young families with children to seniors downsizing to Bungalow garden homes. Anyone can take in the vibrant lifestyle opportunities that this neighborhood offers.

Part of the Rancho Vista charm is the careful selection of materials inside and out that distinguish a Braselton neighborhood. From the magnificent Monument Tower entry gates to the brick, stucco, and landscaping that make up our homes' exteriors, all are designed to give each home a distinct personality while still contributing to the Rancho Vista "look." All of this comes with homes that are built eco- friendly and to the highest standards of green building, with optimum health of homeowners in mind. Healthy homes and healthy lifestyles lead to both a healthy community and healthy homeowners.

We would love to have you visit us at a Braselton Neighborhood yourself, and see the homes we have to offer. We have furnished model homes, all around the Corpus Christi Bay Area. Whether you are looking for a house in the $180s or the $460s, we have a Braselton Home for you. For more information and directions, please visit us at Braseltonhomes.com.

See you in the Neighborhood, Bart Braselton

Bart Braselton is the Executive Vice President of Braselton Homes, the Coastal Bend’s oldest and largest Homebuilder and Neighborhood Developer. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Bart is the third generation of The Braselton family building in the Bay Area. Returning to Corpus Christi after earning a BBA in Finance, as well as a second degree in Real Estate, from the University of Texas, at Austin, Braselton began working in the family business as a construction superintendent. Since then, Braselton Homes has won numerous local, state, and national awards, including the Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award, as well as the Environments for Living Diamond Award for Energy Efficiency. And, the company has grown into one of the Nation’ s Largest Homebuilders, earning consistent rankings in the annual lists compiled by both Professional Builder, as well as Builder Magazine. Bart, a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class 18, has served on numerous local community and business boards, including the Coastal Bend Green Built Initiative, Bay Area Smart Growth, and the Police Foundation. Presently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Development Corporation, the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, the Builders Association and the Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corporation. Braselton and his wife, Michelle, have 2 young children at home, and are active, with Braselton Homes, in community and church organizations throughout the city, including the American Heart Association, the ECF Community Center, and the Food Bank.

BART BRASELTON

q a need-to-know basis

GROWING UP

All types of oregano: Plant only transplants after Feb 15. Space 15”. Morning sun, afternoon shade. Plant in richly composted, well-drained soil. Mulch with native leaves. Water deeply and infrequently once established. No fertilizer except compost. Cuban can grow aggressively, like mint. Once established, harvest leaves by trimming the top three inches of stalks to promote bushy growth. Pinch and remove flowers or plant stops growing.

PROFILING

Greek oregano offers the familiar flavor we recognize in pasta sauce. Cuban oregano is highly aromatic, not as pungent as Greek, but sweeter and less harsh. Cuban tastes like a mixture of oregano, mint, and camphor. Mexican oregano grows wild throughout northern Mexico. The cabrito in the mountains around Monterrey, Mexico, is heavily flavored with pungent Mexican oregano. Oregano flavor is strongest just prior to flowering. Fresh oregano loses flavor when cooked, so add at the end of cooking process.

Oregano MEANS JOY

BY: JUSTIN BUTTS

PHOTO BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

Oregano is native to Greece. The Greek words oros ganos translates to “joy of the mountains.” This joy is evident in a Greek sunset, standing in a field of wild oregano with the wind blowing down from the mountains and the dark blue of the Ionian Sea shimmering in the distance. The scent of the purple flowers is intoxicating.

Oregano was a prized culinary and medicinal herb in Greece long before Alexander marched his soldiers east to conquer Asia. Oregano was a core provision; essential to the army as food and medicine. The soldiers carried its cultivation to Egypt, Iran, and all the way to the hot jungles of the Ganges.

There came to be many varieties of oregano around the world. In fact, knowing what is actually true oregano can be tricky, because many plants called by that name are not oregano at all. Mexican oregano Poliomintha longiflora) is in the verbena family. Cuban oregano (Coleus amboinicus) is in the mint family, like true oregano, but a completely different genus. Thyme and marjoram are often substituted for or confused with oregano. Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare) is the true herb. Still, all these versions are beautiful and fragrant, and each has its own flavor.

Oregano in all its forms is a perennial herb. Most types are easily killed by a freeze or even a light frost. Oregano in an outdoor garden, unless well protected in winter, must be replanted each spring.

Fortunately, oregano is gorgeous and easy to care for as a potted plant. Make sure the pots get morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in the heat of summer. Water often in pots with excellent drainage. Come winter, bring the plants indoors by a window with good light.

LOCAL RECS

Oregano for me is completely overlooked. Everyone believes it’s only good for pasta sauce, as it so closely identified with Mediterranean cuisine. However, as a member of the mint family, it has wonderful applications for desserts and sweets. It works great in sorbets and ice cream, as well as sweet breads. I would love to see people adventure in to this area to experience this side of the flavors of oregano!

- Chef Dean Sprague, @chefsprague Executive Chef Omni Hotel

FUN FACTS

Oregano essential oil is believed by many to be an effective treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Oregano essential oil contains the compounds carvocal and thymol, which are antioxidants called phenols. According to the NIH, these compounds have proven effective in treating bacterial infections. MRSA is a painful, debilitating, and even life-threatening infection. Do your own research and see if oregano essential oil can help offer relief from the ravages of MRSA.

THE JOY OF THE MOUNTAINS IN THE COASTAL BEND

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

BY: TERRIE MOORE

PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

space is grand or small, making it work for you and giving guests a hint of the spirit of your home is important.

A few key pieces will make all the difference. A mirror to peep your reflection before you dash out is always useful. A small table with drawers to keep cards and postage stamps will make getting that birthday greeting in the mail easier, in addition to providing a place for all those just-delivered pack-

HOME OF THE HOME’S FIRST IMPRESSION

•

Layering the mirror over an iron gate gives this shallow space a feeling of depth.

• Keep your foyer clear of clutter to promote positive vibes and eliminate stress.

•

“Foyer” is the English pronunciation. People overseas pronounce it “foyay.”

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Mornings will be easier if you place backpacks and briefcases by the door the night before.

q get the look

pottery bowl. Always keep a large vase ready to receive cuttings from your yard and make every day feel special. Don’t forget the rug! While rugs make a beautiful design statement, remember their practical use—they help remove dirt from the bottom of shoes and keep it from entering your home. Finally, add that one whimsical piece that you bought while on vacation that shows your guests that your home is fun, full of memories and love … just like your heart.

Setting:

Mirror and Console Table

Chic to Chic

Pottery Bowl

Nathaneal Huffman Pottery

Wooden Horse

Restoration Hardware

Iron Gate and Chinese Vase

Wildflowers

The beautiful home of Robert Suggs and Russell Moody

Hi-Tech Fused With Style Like Never Before

As a world leader in innovative technology, Somfy®-powered motorized window coverings from Budget Blinds offer you feature-rich, automated command for unmatched convenience, privacy, and safety.

OUT & ABOUT

ARTS & CULTURE 74 DISCOVERIES 78 CELEBRATION 82

Luckily for us Coastal Bend locals, beach front getaways are an option well into the fall season. Lively Beach, Padre Island’s new destination eco-resort, is the trendiest way to achieve the perfect staycation before temperatures begin to drop.

READ OUR WRITERS

CORPUS CHRISTI WRITERS 2020 SHOWCASES LOCAL AUTHORS

BY: ALEXIS MAYS HARBORTH PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

“Somebody once told me that creative people move to Austin,” says William (Bill) Mays. “I wanted to prove him wrong.”

That’s what fueled the idea, Mays explained, to create a yearly compendium of local writers’ works. Planning began in 2017 for the first anthology of local writers’ works, and a main requirement for entry is that the writers must be current Corpus Christi residents or natives of the Coastal Bend area. Each anthology is a delicious sampler of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose, and more.

“The writing is diverse. That’s my favorite part.” Mays says. “Among the topics we’ve seen are stories about dystopian futures, real memories from writer’s pasts, tales about talking animals, Christian allegories, and gritty secular viewpoints.”

Mays noted that Corpus Christi and Texas both often emerge as dominant landscapes in the writings. Readers will recognize area landmarks, such as K-Space Art

Contemporary, the bayfront, and local high schools within these stories.

“The writing and themes are exquisite. Places such as the third sand bar, the Austwell turnoff, and the Copano Bay Bridge are elevated to mythic levels,” he says.

Mays and his wife Carol started Mays Publishing in 2015, a business that offers book services such as editing and publishing on the Amazon and Kindle platforms. Creating the first Anthology – Corpus Christi Writers 2018 – was the biggest project they’d taken on at that point.

They spent more than a year planning, collecting content, editing, proofing, marketing, event planning, and more to make Corpus Christi Writers 2018 a reality. The evening that the 2018 Anthology launched, they were already planning for the 2019 edition. And last year, when the Anthology debuted in November 2019, work was already underway for Corpus Christi Writers 2020.

Each Anthology cover carries significance. The 2018 cover used a real picture of the Corpus Christi bayfront. The 2019 cover represented the diversity of the writing. The 2020 An- thology was inspired by an eyechart and having 20-20 vision.

Kennedy Dental Care

Kennedy Dental is proud to have served the Coastal Bend for 50 years. Our practices o er both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. At Kennedy Dental Care, your child’s comfort comes ﬁrst and our unparalleled commitment to the highest level of pediatric dental care has earned the trust of generation after generation in the Coastal Bend.

For Mays Publishing, this has always been a community outreach and enrichment initiative. That’s why it’s completely free for the writers. There’s no charge to submit their works, and each of the authors is given a complimentary copy of the finished book. Their contribution is also promoted on MaysPublishing.com and its social media platforms.

For many, another added bonus is the new friendships and connections that form. “It blew my mind to meet so many new people,” Tom Murphy recalls.

Murphy, an established local poet and author, has appeared in each of the three anthologies, and is in his second year as copy editor. One of the reasons he loves participating is that it highlights an aspect of our community of which many may be unaware.

“This shows everyone how much is going on here; there is such a strong community of writers in our area,” Murphy says.

The Corpus Christi Writers 2020 Anthology is currently available in both paperback and e-book on Amazon. The 2018 and 2019 Anthologies are also listed, so you can catch up on the incredible works of our fellow Coastal Bend neighbors.

“We’ve always had a launch party to honor our writers, and this year won’t be any different,” Mays says. “In light of COVID-19, we’ll be having virtual launch parties – our entire community is invited to join!”

Seeing this community-wide initiative come to life is a dream realized for Mays. As he puts it, “over the years, I saw so much talent in the Coastal Bend in my writers’ groups. People would read their work, and the room would be spellbound. I wanted to create a way to share their works with the community – and the world.”

The Anthology is diverse in every aspect, containing work from those with ample experience in published works, as well as those who are new to the world of writing or publishing. There are also works from writers of all ages, from students to seniors.

“This is important.” Murphy affirms. “This is as important to our community as the American Bank Center or Whataburger Field and the Corpus Christi Hooks. This is a diamond for Corpus Christi.”

Our way of doing business is designed to get to know you and your dreams. That’s something you won’t get from a website. From the first step until the last, we’ll be there through each milestone. Let’s talk today, and begin the journey to your dream home. We’ll be with you all the way.

LIFE ON THE DUNES

LIVELY

BY: JESSIE CHROBOCINSKI PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

Imagine, for a moment, finding yourself surrounded by peaceful natural wetlands on one side and Mustang Island's most extensive dunes on the other. Looking out from the sophisticated rooftop terrace of Padre Island’s destination eco-resort, Lively Beach, you feel the warm breeze swirling around you as native birds fly overhead, encompassing you in the kind of resort experience that brings you closer to nature in style.

Lively Beach lives up to its name, as its location next to the expansive beach along the Gulf is a natural for plenty of activities, from surfing and fishing to a tranquil day spent in the sunshine. What originated as a failed subdivision of family homes spread out among a sensitive ecology of dunes and wetlands has become an eco-resort that dedicates more than 60 percent of its surroundings as a preservation area. Visitors can enjoy the restoration of fully repaired wetlands and a six-acre bird estuary, including educational arbors scattered throughout the property and a series of abstract sculptures emulating the beauty of how nature works.

Jeffrey Berkus, architect and planner of Berkus Architects, says, "We have introduced a fortified concrete building system, led by Stephen Berkus of Resilient Building Systems and Berkus Construction, that is responsible to the environment and forces that are present on this barrier island."

Built with sustainability in mind, the development of Lively Beach focuses on eco-friendly construction methods such as using a proprietary resilient system that reduces construction impacts, is energy efficient, and uses recycled materials, making Lively Beach a pre-certified

Cheri Sperling

Betheny Bell

Tara Gallaspy

Mary Scruton

Whitney Noble

Meagan Furey

Elise Lippincott

Cheryl Floyd

Ashley Babbitt Shonna Soderqvist

Sarah Greaud

Jenna Davis Danielle Koç Rene Ebelt Patti Finzel

Kathy Burke

"We have designed it to be comfortable for millennials and traditionally minded travelers," says Berkus. Even before COVID-19, “we wanted to design a nice mix of resortcondominium style studios and one- and two-bedroom units, complete with individual kitchens, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and Energy Recovery Units."

"So the air quality in the units are above and beyond what you will find in a typical resort," he continues. "Now, in the time of COVID, visitors can feel more comfortable than ever."

During their stays in these well-appointed units, guests have described themselves as "welcomed and inspired." From the entry gate, a lush, palmed landscape greets visitors along the palm-lined, beautifully lit drive to the heart of the property, where a 3,000-foot resort-style pool and a beach club can be found tucked in behind the dunes. The interior brings a fresh, contemporary island feel with a limited palette of natural colors and materials, and artwork appointed by Rebecca Berkus of River Terrace Design. Tempur-Pedic sofa sleepers and individual kitchens laid out with stainless steel, Haier appliances set with all the right pots and pans, dishes, glassware, and even wine openers, make a stay at Lively Beach feel like home.

"It has been a labor of love for the last couple of years building it, and we've tried at every level to make it special," Jeff says enthusiastically. “Everything is intentional, from the site plan to your walk-in experience to leading

your eye through the courtyard to the axial relationships of the palms and distant walkways. Landscape features draw you in an intentional walking pattern throughout the site, and you are encouraged to move around the site by that.”

Without a common hallway, each unit provides private entry to the courtyard, offering touchless check-in. Each of the resort amenities, including the beach club, rooftop terrace, and pool, offers people an expansive area to spread out. The rooftop terraces display magnificent sunrise and sunset views. With three separate furnished sitting areas, the rooftop is the perfect setup for social distancing.

Lively Beach is an exceptional vacation experience, embedded with natural Coastal Bend elements, sophisticated and resourceful accommodations, and convenient access to the Gulf Coast's soft sand and warm waters. As we continue to course through uncharted waters during this time of a global pandemic, the outdoors and safe, comfortable amenities provided by Lively Beach offer a reset of uncertainty with intention and grace.

Each room at Lively Beach boasts modern designs while comfortkeeping as the upmost priority. Room sizes range from Studio Efficiency to 2 Bedroom, 3 Bath, and a full deck.

EXTRA, EXTRA,

Read AllAbout It

BY: JO ANNE HOWELL

BY: ROMAN SUAREZ

Bookworm. For this special birthday party, a literary theme was established. From vintage library card invitations to décor elements such as a typewriter and book pages folded creatively into flowers on the wall, this novel-inspired party pulled out all the stops.

Bites. An oversized charcuterie board was created with an emphasis on a bagel topping station. Guests also enjoyed various sweet treats. Nothing pairs quite as perfectly with story time as milk and cookies do, so a variety cookie bar was also a must.

parting words

There are so many ways to customize this theme and make it your own! If you have a favorite author or book series, you can incorporate more specific references to them throughout your décor or even dedicate your entire theme to it. You can be as vague or as specific as you’d like with this theme! The opportunities are truly endless.

Signature Cocktails. What’s a themed party without a specialty cocktail? For this event, The Goldfish helped to create handcrafted libations like the “Pearl Heart” and the “Hemingway Daiquiri.” There are tons of literary themed cocktails you can try out!

PHOTOS

WEEKLY DROP NEWSLETTER

Welcomes Tami Huber

Tami Huber is the newest member of the Castor Collection design team, bringing with her vast experience in advertising, marketing, and home staging. Her innate ability to listen to her customers allow her to develop designs that bring the customer’s home visions to life. Each home design is a unique reflection of each client’s personality.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY | 10:00 – 4:00 1908 HIGHWAY 361 IN PORT ARANSAS 361-749-0524

CUISINE

If you’re a Coastal Bend local, chances are you know of the iconic Barn Drive-Thru. Owners and brothers, Roland and Roger Rocha, are kicking things up a notch with an expansion and new ways to enjoy good conversations over a few good beers.

SAUCE

BOSS

THE LOST ART OF A SAUCIER

BY: JUSTIN & KAYLA BUTTS PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

In the old French brigade-style kitchens, where all the modern greats from Julia Child to Gordon Ramsay learned their techniques, the saucier was third in line.

The chef was on top; then the sous chef (sous translates to subordinate); then, next in importance, was the saucier. The saucier served a critical role in the process of adding flavor, subtlety, and excitement to each dish. Sauces are elemental to French cuisine.

However, as modern kitchens downsized to save money and fit into smaller back-of-the-house footprints, sauciers were cut from the payroll. Sauce duties were relegated down the line until they were lost.

The art of the sauce is making a comeback in a big way. The sauce is the alchemy of the kitchen. Almost any dish is elevated with a sauce component, and sometimes the sauce is the star of the show.

These sauce recipes are so easy to prepare, they are almost effortless. Yet they are as varied and intriguing as the lands they come from: aji verde from Peru, chermoula from Morocco, and Thai herb sauce from Thailand.

The aji verde features the salty cheese cotija, which offers a tangy flavor and thicker consistency. Chermoula was developed in land where people know their spices. The coriander and cumin seeds are first toasted, then ground, so

the results sing with flavor. The Thai herb sauce is thinner, more of a vinegar-based sauce than a pesto, with a beautiful warmth from the chile peppers.

These sauces take just minutes to prepare, but they add layers of exquisite flavor to the dish: salty, sweet, spicy, tangy, and umami, all at once and then in waves. The pork, shrimp, and wild game preparations could not be simpler: marinate and grill. But these recipes, models of simplicity, are wonderfully rich and complex on the palate.

The magic of these sauces is in freshly cut herbs. Garden-fresh herbs bring an intensity of fragrance and flavor to the dish that stale, store-bought herbs cannot emulate. That’s why a chef’s best friend is an herb garden outside the kitchen door. These days, we wish architects would just go ahead and draw an herb garden into the floor plan of every home.

Any of these recipes would make a fast and easy weeknight meal. For this photo shoot, we held a dinner party featuring all three dishes. Our guests mixed and matched the venison, local pork, and Gulf shrimp with each of the sauces; every combination works.

If your meals at home have been feeling a little ho-hum, try one of these sauces and watch your kitchen (and your family) sparkle with excitement. The new saucier, is in fact, is you!

BOSS

RECIPE

Moroccan Shrimp with Chermoula

Serves 6-8 appetizer portions

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

COOK TIME: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne

CHERMOULA:

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 cup parsley

1/2 cup mint

3 cloves garlic

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Drizzle shrimp with olive oil. Com bine salt and remaining seasonings in a medium sized bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat in seasoning mixture. Thread 6-7 shrimp on soaked wooden or metal skewers. Grill for 2-3 min utes on each side, until opaque and just beginning to curl.

Chermoula: Toast cumin and cori ander seeds in a small pan over high heat until darkened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Combine remaining ingredients of chermoula in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined. Spoon over grilled shrimp, fish, lamb, or beef, or mix into prepared couscous.

RECIPE

Peruvian Venison Steak with Aji Verde Serves 4

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

INACTIVE TIME: about 8 hours

COOK TIME: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp oregano

Juice of 2 limes

4 venison steaks, about 1/2-1 lb each

AJI VERDE:

1 cup cilantro

1/2 cup basil

4 Jalapenos, seeded

3 cloves garlic, chopped 1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup cotija cheese

Juice of one lime

DIRECTIONS:

Combine garlic, soy sauce, spices, and lime juice and blend until smooth. Transfer marinade to a sealable bag and submerge venison steaks, storing in the refrigerator for 8-16 hours.

Preheat grill to high heat. Remove steaks from marinade and pat dry. Grill for 90 seconds over direct heat to achieve a nice sear, then move to indirect until medium rare (about 100°F). Let steak rest for 10 minutes prior to serving with Aji Verde.

AJI VERDE:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

RECIPE

Pork Skewers with Thai Herb Sauce

Serves 4

PREP TIME: 7 minutes

INACTIVE TIME: 8-24 hours

COOK TIME: 8 minutes

INGREDIENTS :

Pork shoulder roast, thinly sliced

5 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp fish sauce

3 tbsp honey

2 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp red chili paste

1 tsp sesame oil

THAI HERB SAUCE:

1/4 fresh lime juice

2 tbsp fish sauce

2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1 tbsp basil, chopped

1 tbsp green onion, minced

6 dried thai chilis, seeded and minced

2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp sugar

DIRECTIONS :

Combine garlic, fish sauce, honey, lime juice, chili paste, and sesame oil in a medium bowl and stir well to combine. Add sliced pork and store in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours.

Preheat grill to high heat. Remove pork from marinade and thread onto soaked wooden or metal skewers. Grill pork for 2 minutes and rotate to alternate sides until browned all over, about 7-9 minutes total.

Remove from heat and serve immediately with Thai Herb Sauce.

Thai Herb Sauce: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until sugar dissolves. Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to allow flavors to marry.

CALLING ALL BARN ANIMALS

CORPUS CHRISTI’S ICONIC BEER DRIVE-THRU IS EXPANDING, AND WE ARE READY TO BANG DOWN THE DOORS

BY: EMMA COMERY PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

I meet brothers Roland and Roger Rocha in what used to be Salty Oak BBQ on Alameda. The walls are freshly painted, the bar newly built; six red leather booths sit in the middle of the dining room. Big moves are happening here.

The brothers, who opened The Barn Drive-Thru Beer & Keg Haus next door in 2017, have recently taken over the old BBQ joint, and are converting it into The Farm, a patio bar, event center, and the perfect companion to The Barn.

Since 1979, that iconic, geographically unexpected red barn in the middle of the busy intersection of Alameda and Avalon has been a community landmark. Technically a grocery, the drive-thru beer and keg “haus” has been able to remain open during the pandemic.

Prior to opening The Barn, Roger ran hotels for 18 years, while Roland spent 25 years running restaurants. From day one, visions of growing the drive-thru into a full-fledged bar that spanned the entirety of the triangular property pushed them to aim high. This past year, that vision was finally coming to fruition.

The pandemic, of course, has thrown its wrenches, delaying The Farm’s opening by a few months. But like many of us, the brothers are determined to find the silver lining in every setback. “We can take our time now,” says Roger. Roland adds, “The vision we had in the beginning has grown every year … we’re playing our cards close to our chest because of COVID-19, but we’re in a position to make that vision real.”

“We opened The Barn right after Harvey,” Roland says, “so we have a history of starting a business in the midst of disaster.”

And they have a history of succeeding.

Together, they are renovating the interior of the former BBQ joint, working side-by-side day after day, a relationship built on strong communica

Whether you’re looking for a happy hour spot with a view or a nightcap after a fun day at the beach, look no further than Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. From craft cocktails and casual fare at Topsider to poolside sips, we take refreshments to a new level.

tion and faith in one another. They also have a lot of help from their “Barn Animals,” as they call them – friends and family who stop by to help nearly every day. (Yes, there are Barn Animal t-shirts.) “Our mom and dad come in to help all the time,” says Roland. “They enjoy being here and it keeps them busy.” A few weeks ago, Roger had a friend up in the ducts of the new building, helping out just because he wanted to. That’s exactly the family vibe the brothers want The Farm to have for its guests, as well.

So, what exactly can we expect when The Farm opens its doors?

Under current COVID restrictions, The Farm plans to open this September as the food-focused counterpart to The Barn. “We’re making it a wing house,” says Roland. “We do wings really, really well.” Think finger foods, shareable apps, casual snacks … eats you can hold in one hand while you throw darts with the other.

Inside and out, The Farm will be flip-flop-friendly fun with patio games, jukebox music, and casual booth and bar seating for locals, students, tourists, and anyone in the mood for a chill and quirky vibe. In the evenings, the patio will double as a stage for local musicians to showcase their acoustic sound. Guests will be able to grab a drink from The Barn and walk it over to the patio at The Farm. By late afternoon, the South Texas sun will hit the roof of The Barn just right, casting a luxurious shadow over the entire patio. The perfect after-work oasis. And once the restrictions on bars are lifted completely, long-term plans include a full daiquiri bar that very well might become your new favorite place.

“We’re excited,” says Roland, and his eyes are bright with anticipation. “We just want to get it right. We want you to feel like family.”

A Little Green Never HurtAnybody

SUN SWEETENED SHARES LOVE OF VEGAN AND ORGANIC EATING

BY: JOSH MAXWELL PHOTOS BY: RACHEL BENAVIDES

Food has always been a way to communicate with the world around us. There is so much you can learn from someone based on what they eat. When thinking of Corpus Christi, local patrons might think about street tacos or seafood – but while these cuisines are mighty tasty, one local aims to bring vegan options to the forefront of Coastal Bend eaters’ minds. Local environmentalist and vegan cook Charley Rane is the owner and cook behind Sun Sweetened Vegan. This catering service prides itself in being 100 percent natural and cruelty-free.

“My main goals are to save the animals, save the planet, and save ourselves, and to do it with love – because at the end of the day that's all that matters,” Rane says.

You might not expect a plethora of vegan menu options to choose from; after all, making food with all-natural ingredients can be a tough hurdle to maneuver. But one scroll through Sun Sweetened’s Instagram would change your mind. Dishes such as chickpea gyros with tzatziki sauce and cauliflower wings featuring a secret spicy sauce have our mouths watering.

“I came back to Corpus Christi after a year of traveling and found there were no options for vegan anything here,” Rane says. She discovered that vegan food was not only underrepresented in our area, but also a concept some folks had never heard of before. “A lot of people don’t even know what vegan means whenever I say it, so I just decided to start doing my own thing,” she says.

Even though Rane loves vegan food, she also understands that the change to veganism is not an easy one. When creating her dishes, she tries to make sure her food is not just healthy, but delicious, too. Her first step is to buy produce directly from

allowed Rane to have more freedom with her choices when preparing dishes for her customers, and being able to change ingredients while maintaining the proper texture of the food is an important trait in Rane’s cooking. She believes that, when done right, most people won’t even notice what they’re eating is actually vegan!

“Texture is one of the most important things to consider whenever you're doing something vegan, because you're using a lot of the same ingredients, but you don't want it to be boring,” Rane says.

Many individuals might not know how veganism can aid in their overall health. Rane has made it her mission to grow her business while educating others about the overall benefits of a vegan lifestyle.

“There is no cholesterol in a plant-based diet, and it's actually been proven to reverse diabetes. It really is eating your medicine when you eat nothing but plants; the amounts of nutrients and vitamins you're getting is crazy,” Rane says when referring to the science behind the vegan lifestyle.

Rane took to social media to announce the eventual expansion of her catering business into a restaurant. “This next phase of Sun Sweetened Vegan will create a wave of change in The Coastal Bend,” she said. “We will be opening Corpus Christi’s first Plant Based Restaurant and Zero Waste Grocery. We will lead the way in conservation efforts, sparking a change in the culture to save our planet and live more sustainably.”

Top Right: Veggie Stir Fry Lettuce Wraps – Pan fried mushrooms, multicolored bell peppers, zucchini zoodles, shredded purple cabbage, carrots, udon noodles, and purple onion in romaine lettuce wraps.

Apple Nachos, sliced apples topped with peanut butter, coconut shavings, nuts, hemp hearts and raisins and dried cranberries, drizzled with organic dark chocolate.

LOOKING BACK

A Building’s Story Still Being Built

BY: JILLIAN BECQUET PHOTO BY: DOC MCGREGOR, CORPUS CHRISTI PUBLIC LIBRARIES

One of the tallest buildings downtown is also one of the oldest remaining with its original façade. Known as the Medical Professional Building, the structure was built in 1928 to house medical offices and treatment facilities.

The structure was initially called the Pope Building, after its owner Walter E. Pope – a legislator, lawyer, businessman, and real estate developer. He owned the Corpus Christi Democrat newspaper from 1917 until he sold in 1928, a sale which led to the merger with the Corpus Christi Caller and the first publication of the Caller-Times in November 1929. The funds from this sale helped to finance the building at 416 N. Chaparral.

The top floor operated as a hospital until 1945, when a nursing shortage occurred due to WWII. Not knowing the war was to end that coming September, the hospital closed May 1, sold off its supplies and converted to additional office space. The building continued to serve as office space, mostly for medical offices, until the 1970s, and many locals still have memories of traveling downtown to visit their doctors there.

In 1979, the building was converted to an apartment building called Sea Gulf Villa. The next few years will be another era of transition while it undergoes a renovation into loft-style apartments, as it nears its centennial and continues to serve Corpus Christi.

The view from across Chaparral, June 20, 1937, before the Centre Theater was built next door.

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