All Things Crossroads by Digital Publisher

VOL. 6, ISSU E 1 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 15

CONTE NTS

DON JOSE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Great Food, Tamales and The Holidays by Carolyn Mann Morehead

T I PS

10 Christmas in the Crossroads 2015

Coverage FAQs 12 Auto Expert advise from Russel Buesing Tip 17 Legal Expert advise 12 Financial Expert advise from Michele Rohde from Diane Kliem Tip 12 Hair Expert advise from Joe Anthony Pena 32 Real Estate

F E AT U R E S 14 J. Aubrey Lenamon Chuckwagon Cook

Story By Carolyn Mann Morehead.

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National Night Out 2015In Photos Entertainment In The Crossroads Gary Mose Calendar

Arvad The Ant

2015 Bluebonnet Youth Ranch Celebrity Golf Tournamnet In Photos

Childrens Story by Christine Tovar

GAMES

8 28 The Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas

Story By Carolyn Mann Morehead.

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Sudoku Puzzle

Win a automotive detail & wash!

Crossroads Crossword Puzzle Win a gift card from Starbucks!

Picture Puzzle Win a Lunch for 2!

WE ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF VPEN (WWW.ABWAVPEN.ORG) WE ARE SILVER & GOLD ADDY AWARD WINNERS.

Publisher/ Editor Vickie Romero

Executive Writer

Creative C ti Di Director t

Carolyn Mann Morehead

Bernard Ray Bluntzer Jr.

Delivery Eddie & Sandra Flores

The Magazine of the Crossroads

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 COMPLIMENTARY

All Things Crossroads Magazine 8806 N. Navarro Ste 600-272 Victoria, TX 77904 email: staff@allthingscrossroads.com 361-935-8366 www.allthingscrossroads.com

all things

oads crossrmagazine

Front Cover Photo Taken by: Laura Pollard of L-Ann Imaging.

All Things Crossroads Magazine. This entire document is owned by All Things Crossroads Magazine and no portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of All Things Crossroads Magazine. All articles are intended as information not as advice.

ANNOUNCEMENTS n NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER

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GAME n SUDOKU

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

sudoku WIN A FREE DETAILING ($150.00 value!) on your automotive! From Red’s Auto Detailing

Auto Coverage FAQs DO I NEED MORE LIABILITY COVERAGE THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED BY LAW?

6 32 3 2 6 27 85 5 2 4 7 67 51 1 5 9 59 1 3 8 1 Just complete the SUDOKU puzzle for your chance to win, cut it out and return to: Prize All Things Crossroads, 8806 N. Navarro Ste. 600-272, Victoria, TX 77904 or email it to staff@allthingscrossroads.com. You Can Also Drop Off At UPS STORE 8806 N. Navarro Suite 600, Victoria. Remember to provide your name, address and telephone number. Closing Date: LAST DAY OF DECEMBER 2015, ONLY ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD ACCEPTED.

Minimum liability requirements are typically just that – minimum, not necessarily enough. When you’re at fault in an accident, liability pays to repair or replace the other driver’s car and pays other people’s medical expenses up to your limits. If your coverage isn’t enough to pay all the costs, the rest comes out of your pocket. More liability coverage could help avert ﬁnancial disaster. SHOULD I INCREASE MY DEDUCTIBLE? You can save money by increasing your deductible – the portion you pay before insurance coverage kicks in, but before you do, make sure you have the funds set aside to cover your portion in case you have a claim. DO RED CARS COST MORE TO INSURE? It doesn’t matter the color of the car, what is important is the year, make, and model of the car, your driving record and the like. So get whatever color you like best and give me a call to make sure you and your car are protected. WAYS TO SAVE ON CAR INSURANCE • Drive safely and drive less • Choose a car that’s less expensive to insure (Call to get quotes before you buy) • Get discounts for purchasing multiple lines of insurance • Pay for your policy in full • Choose a higher deductible Auto insurance options and requirements can be complex. I offer a free service that simpliﬁes your options, so you can decide if your policy gives you the coverage you want. Let’s have a conversation, call Buesing Insurance at 485-0131 or come by 1811 Sam Houston in Victoria.

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National Night Out 2015

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HAIR STYLE nEXPERT ADVICE

Holiday Hair Fashions The end of the year is near and time is running out, so if your hair and fashion are the last on the list, then you need to put your big girl panties on and get to work! Pre-book your hair appointments and take advantage of all the new fashion colors fall has to offer. If you’re too scared for a major change, Hair Dimensions has created the new fall ﬂash effects, which could be a hot red silky brown, ice blonde or a glow in the dark surprise splash of color that could be added to your existing pattern. The last thing you want this season is to be invisible, so be you and let that Holiday girl shine with a festive new look! Ready to bouf your coif? There are so many small things you can do to change up your style for the holiday season. Adding more layers to any haircut will add

that party ﬂair and spice up your style. A side swept “swoop bang” will make a big impact on your overall look, while accenting beautiful eyes and cheekbones. Need an up-style for a special occasion? Don’t forget one of my personal favorites, the old spin and tuck French twist for a classic cocktail look. Let one of Hair Dimension’s many stylists help you choose a cut, color and style that ﬁts your personality and completes your total image. We’ll have you holiday party ready in no time!

Joe Anthony Pena

Owner •Hair Dimensions 8613 N. Navarro • 361-575-8802

FINANCIAL nEXPERT ADVICE

4 STEPS TO SECURE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF LIFE One challenge of living a good life is learning how to balance the realities of today with what lies ahead. Change is always around the corner, whether of our own making or due to the course of time. You owe it to your future self to consider what you’d like the next chapter of your life to be. Here are 4 ways to think ahead: 1. Be intentional. Take time to articulate what you hope to experience in the next phase of your life. Whether you envision your future to include your own business, a new job or career, more time to volunteer, travel &/or a secure retirement—it’s all good. The more detailed you can be, the better. There’s something empowering & motivating about naming your goals & claiming them! You only have one life, so give yourself the opportunity to reach for the experiences that will be most meaningful & bring you a sense of fulﬁllment that money can’t buy. 2. Make saving an ongoing priority. When change comes along, it’s easier to take a leap of faith with a

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financial safety net present. Regular contributions to savings in various forms—bank accounts, CDs, IRAs, 401(k)s, mutual funds, stocks & bonds— all can help you weather potential financial hiccups that may arise, not to mention their importance for the day your working & earning life comes to a close. Make saving a regular activity & turn it into muscle that you’ll be more likely to flex in the event of a windfall. 3. Stay covered. Insurance is a product we all should have, yet generally hope we never have to use. Your insurance needs will change over time, making it especially important to periodically review your coverages. Homeowner’s, auto & even health insurance are required by law, but don’t stop there. Disability & life insurance policies, as well as annuities designed to provide a reliable income stream, may give you peace of mind that you & your loved ones can have financial security if the unexpected occurs. A will & health directives are also helpful documents that can make life easier at difficult times.

4. Establish a solid plan. Change can be scary, but it also is what keeps life interesting & exciting. You can give yourself a better chance of succeeding in the next phase of life by establishing financial guardrails. With a welldefined path to help guide saving & investing, you will have a clear framework for your financial life that also reflects your personal mission. Work with a qualified financial advisor regularly to create a plan designed to help you reach your goals at all of the stages of life. Michele Rohde, AAMS® Financial Advisor President Rohde Financial Group, A financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

5606 N Navarro, Suite 207 Victoria, TX 77904

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the early days of Texas and the West, cattle drives played a major role in the economy of the nation especially after the Civil War. Thousands of head of cattle headed north to the railroads on trails such as the Chisholm, Goodnight-Loving and various other trails and at the heart of these drives was the chuckwagon. After the era of the cattle drive ended, large ranches maintained hundreds of thousands of acres and continue to do so today. On many of these ranches, the role of the chuckwagon plays a major part in the operation of these ranches. Few today have the opportunity to experience the operation and the cuisine of the chuckwagon. Fortunately for those of us in the Crossroads, that opportunity is still available.

J. Aubrey Lenamon (Arb) of Fannin has been a chuckwagon cook since 1997. Most of what he does today is for charity work such as Cowboys for Heroes for the military families at Fort Sam Houston and fundraisers such as the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch. Lenamon has spent his life around livestock and working on ranches. He attended college in Uvalde at Southwest Texas Jr. College taking ranch management courses. When the demands of raising a family came to be, Lenamon headed to the oil ﬁelds. But, several years ago, Lenamon went to Abilene and witnessed a chuckwagon cook off and said, “Well, I can do this.” and the rest is history. With his background steeped in cattle and ranching, the chuckwagon became a way to stay close to the things he loved and the cowboy lifestyle. Working from an authentic ranch wagon, Lenamon states that most of the chuck wagons were actually old farm

wagons that a chuck box was slide onto when it was needed. When roundup was over, the chuck box was removed and the wagon became a farm wagon again.

once

he got his chuck wagon together, the ﬁrst event he participated in was the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch fundraiser and this year is his 18th year to participate. For many years, Lenamon has also had the cowboy camp at the Goliad rodeo where they fed all the cowboys, VIPs and sponsors for that event. Over 700 people would come through there each night, the largest crowd he has fed.

Lenamon and his chuckwagon have been a lot of places. In 2005 he headed to Montana for a big wedding for a bronc rider that he met at the Goliad rodeo. He has also been to Cheyenne, Wyoming several times and has cooked for cowboy churches all over Texas and Oklahoma. As of this writing, Lenamon was packing to go to the Llano River Chuckwagon cook-off to compete and defend the title that he won last year at that event. Lenamon is also on the board of directors of the American Chuckwagon Association and for the event at Fort Sam Houston each year, they line up over twenty chuckwagons from around Texas and other states such as Oklahoma and Missouri to feed a huge crowd of military personnel and their families. Two thousand pounds of beef is required to feed this massive crowd. First starting in 2006 with a small crowd of 250 people, the focus was to give back to the wounded military, the event has grown to include the entire military community. This event is not open to the general public but the chuck wagons feed over ﬁve thousand people at this occasion. Lenamon also heads up a non-proﬁt ministry called Chuck Wagons for Christ

devoted to promoting the cowboy culture through his love for Christ.

AS far as the food goes, Lenamon states that for competitions they usually cook chicken fried steak, beans, potatoes, cobblers and breads in those food categories. For other events he may cook up some carne guisada, stew or big one pot recipes. Watching a chuckwagon cook is an experience in itself and there is nothing like these entrees cooked over an open ﬁre. health

issues have caused Lenamon to slow down considerably and he states that he tries to do more supervising these days and leave the heavy lifting to someone younger. “It’s a lot more work than people realize.” explains Lenamon. But Lenamon and his helpers still make the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch, Fort Sam Houston and the Goliad rodeo every year. Lenamon stated that they have had people come by the chuck wagon from all over the world. Several years ago Lenamon was cooking at a cowboy church in Sealy, Texas and several people from Sweden were there. He was even invited to go to Sweden but health issues prevented travel. According to Lenamon, there is a big cowboy church in Sweden! “They love that kind of thing over there.” remarks Lenamon. And it is safe to say, so do we!

If you want to taste some authentic chuck wagon cooking, follow Lenamon on his Facebook page to ﬁnd out where you can catch up with him. For more information on Aubrey Lenamon check out his Facebook page at “Arb Lenamon”.

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GAME n PICTURE PUZZLE

GARDEN VEGGIES.

WIN LUNCH! FOR TWO FROM: DON JOSE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Keep Score

1 2 3 4

5 6 7

Can you ďŹ nd all 7 differences? Just complete the picture puzzle for your chance to win, use your smartphone to text it with your info to staff@allthingscrossroads. com or cut it out and return to: Prize All Things Crossroads, 8806 N. Navarro Ste. 600-272, Victoria, TX 77904. You Can Also Drop Off At UPS STORE 8806 N. Navarro Suite 600, Victoria. Remember to provide your name, address and telephone number. Closing Date: LAST DAY OF DECEMBER. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD ACCEPTED.

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LEGAL nEXPERT ADVICE

Understanding Small Claims Court A small claims case is suit brought to recover money, personal property, or for civil penalties. Some examples include, but are not limited to, claims involving debts, property damage, actions against a landlord for failure to make necessary repairs, and eviction actions. The claim can be for no more than $10,000, including attorney fees, if any. Generally, these cases are filed in the Justice of the Peace court in the county and precinct either where the defendant lives, where the incidents occurred that gave rise to the claim, or where the property is located. When filing a petition, the plaintiff must request that a citation be issued, ordering the defendant to answer the suit. The citation and a copy of the petition must be personally served on the defendant, usually by either a sheriff or constable, or a process server. The defendant must file an answer with the court and the deadline for filing such answer is contained within the citation. It is very important to answer a lawsuit, as failure to do so may result in a default judgment against the defendant.

While small claims court may seem less formal than the county court at law, district, state or other higher courts, nearly all the standard procedures and rules of evidence still apply. The case can be heard by a judge or a jury, evidence is presented and witnesses may testify. However, judges may be lenient with the rules of evidence when the parties do not have attorneys. Hiring an attorney can give you a substantial advantage over an unrepresented opponent. See us at Kliem & Associates to discuss your rights and remedies in small claims matters. Remember Kliem & Associates, “Not just a law ﬁrm. A relationship.”

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in Victoria is one of those establishments that become very busy during the holiday season. All Things Crossroads magazine caught up with owners, operators and life-long friends Sara Juarez and Ana Casas to hear the “ins and outs” about their restaurant experience and the upcoming holiday season. After a scrumptious meal of enchiladas, carne guisada and all the sides, Sara and Ana allowed us to sample a taste of their delicious tamales and tell us the story behind Don Jose Mexican Restaurant.

is named after Sara Juarez’s dad, Jose Juarez, who passed away two years before the restaurant opened. Sara has been in the restaurant business for more than twenty years. She worked years ago at the Siesta Restaurant owned by the Trevino family. It was here that Ana Casas worked in the kitchen and the two got together along with Sara’s brother Frank Juarez and decided to open a restaurant of their own. In 2006, Don Jose Mexican Restaurant opened for business and this November they celebrate nine years in the business. The restaurant business has not always been easy. Aside from the rigorous work

involved in the normal operation of a popular restaurant, Don Jose experienced a damaging fire that started in the office a few years after they opened. To make matters even worse, the fire occurred in November at the peak of tamale season and they had orders coming in and orders to fill. Doing what they could to accommodate their customers, the restaurant reopened in a temporary location on the Port Lavaca highway and they stayed in this location until the renovation was complete at the original location. They reopened at the present location the following May just in time for Mother’s Day. Presently, the restaurant is open every day. From Thursday - Sunday they are open from 7 am to 2pm and Friday - Saturday from 7 am to 9 pm. The restaurant maintains a team of twenty employees and most of them are family. the years, the tamale orders for the holiday season have become a big deal. Some of their orders or even frozen and shipped out of state. Last year the restaurant sold over one thousand dozen from November through December. A few of the days the crew worked from six in the morning to midnight getting the tamale orders ready for their customers. They did not want to turn down anyone. Kitchen manager Ana Casas told of the different kinds of tamales they prepare. The regular and spicy pork tamales are always a favorite, but Don Jose is known for their special varieties. Bean, bean and cheese, spicy and regular chicken and their specialty Monterey Jack and jalapeño offer customers a wide variety of flavors for the holiday season. Most of the recipes come from Sara’s mom and other family recipes. We were privileged to sample the Monterey Jack and jalapeño tamales and they were

a delicious change to the tamale experience. Throughout the year, regular tamales can be ordered but it is only during the holiday season that the special tamales can be ordered. When asked if they ever get tired of looking at tamales Sara replied, “No. That’s the thing about what we are doing is that we like what we do.” only do they like what they do but obviously the customers like what they do as well. Many people come through the restaurant every day to dine in or come to the drive through window. Some of these people are daily regulars. A few of these regulars may have dietary issues and Don Jose tries to accommodate their special dietary needs when possible. Their biggest priority is to please the customer. The restaurant has also given back to the community in various ways such as participation in Relay for Life and various other organizations. In addition to the service at the restaurant, Don Jose Mexican Restaurant is available for catering parties, weddings, quinceaneras and any occasion that demands good, quality catering. for the future are to be in business as long as they can. The family of Don Jose Mexican Restaurant would like to say “thank you” to the community for their support. They could not have done all they do without the community support. Don Jose Mexican Restaurant is located at the corner of Airline and Ben Wilson at 2902 E. Airline in Victoria. For more information check out their website at www.donjoserestaurant.net or call (361) 575-5673. They can also be found on Facebook at “Don Jose Mexican Restaurant”.

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GARY MOSES CALENDAR OF EVENTS n NOVEMBER-JANUARY

13TH15TH 19TH21ST 14TH

NOVEMBER OTHER DESERT CITIES Welder Center Theatre Production CRUISE NIGHT

Patti Dodson Health Center Parking Lot

21ST MAIN STREET MARKET DAYS Downtown Victoira

26 TURKEY TROT 5K Saxet Lake ARMY COMMUNITY MEAL 26TH SALVATION Salvation Army 28TH COMMUNTY WALK TO STOP TH

DIABETES - De Leon Plaza

28TH HALLETTSVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE

5TH 5TH

DECEMBER

VICTORIA CHRISTMAS PARADE Downtown PICKER’S PATCH MARKET DAYS Salem Road THE NUTCRACKER - Leo J. Welder Center

TH10TH 13 12TH CRUISE NIGHT - Patti Dodson Health Center 17TH H.E.B. FEAST OF SHARING

Victoria Community Center

19TH OLD LANDMARK CHRISTMAS 31

9TH 9TH 10TH 14TH

GIVEAWAY- Victoria CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S PRINCESS & SUPERHERO NEW YEAR’S BASH

JANUARY

PICKER’S PATCH MARKET DAYS Salem Road ZOMBIE 5K RUN - Challenged Athletes Complex CRUISE NIGHT - Pattie Dodson Health Center 2016 BRIDAL SHOWCASE - Victoria Community Center CHARITY CONCERT SERIES / TRACY BYRD - Leo J. Welder Center

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GAME n NOVEMBER/DECEMBER CROSSROADS WORD PUZZLE

Across J. Aubrey _____ is a Chuckwagon cook. 4 The Holiday Express visits El Campo 6 This medical museum in Cuero is one of only 4 in the state. 7 Minimum liability requirements are typically just that 8 Hair Dimensions has created the new fall (2 Words) 9 A challenge of living a good life is 10 This Mexican Restaurant has been open for business for 9 years this November. (2 Words) 11 This family owns most of the Contents of the Pharmacy museum in Cuero.

3 4 5 6

9 10

1 11

3 Just complete the crossroad puzzle for your chance to win a $10 gift card from Starbucks, cut it out and return to: Prize All Things Crossroads, 8806 N. Navarro Ste. 600-272, Victoria, TX 77904. You Can Also Drop Off At UPS STORE 8806 N. Navarro Suite 600, Victoria. Remember to provide your name, address and telephone number. Closing Date: LAST DAY OF THIS YEAR. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD ACCEPTED.

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Down a suit brought to recover money, personal property, or for civil penalties. (3 Words) Arvad went on a field trip to. (2 Words) food provider of cattle trail.

CHILDRENS STORY nARVAD THE ANT

A CHILDREN’S SHORT STORY BY

CHRISTINE TOVAR

Everyone in class was excited when the teacher, Ms. Moth, announced that the class was going on a field trip to the Grump Tower. Everyone that is, except Arvad. The Grump Tower was a famous landmark in the city, known for being the highest building in the state. It was the main tourist attraction in the city, not only because of its height, but because the top floor of the tower was made entirely of glass with windows that protruded beyond the walls of the tower! Tourists would step forward into the protruding windows and onto the floors of the windows which were also made entirely of clear glass! Arvad sat quietly at dinner that evening. So quiet that his father noticed immediately that something was wrong. Arvad was usually very talkative at dinner time. “What’s wrong Arvad?” his father asked. “Nothing,” Arvad answered while jabbing at his food with his fork. He hadn’t even looked up at his father, which indicated to him that something was bothering Arvad.

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“Son, I know something is wrong. What is it?” Arvad knew better than to continue denying that anything was wrong so he answered, “Ms. Moth announced to the class today that we are going on a field trip.” Mr. and Mrs. Ant looked at Arvad with confusion. Arvad had always looked forward to field trips? Something was definitely wrong, they thought, if Arvad is not excited about a field trip! Mr. Arvad asked, “Why would that make you sad? You like field trips!” Arvad was embarrassed but he knew that he could confide in his parents and they would not make fun of him so he answered, “we’re going to the Grump Tower.” His mother and father looked at each other and knew immediately what the problem was. Arvad had always been afraid of heights. They knew Grump Tower was hundreds of stories high and they had heard that the top floor was made entirely of glass. They had also heard of the glass windows that you could step into.

Arvad continued, “I know that everyone will expect me to step into the glass windows! I can’t do it! But I don’t want everyone to make fun of me! What am I going to do, Dad?” His father looked at him and said, “Well Arvad, I see that you only have one choice. And that choice is that you need to face your giant.” “Face my giant?” Arvad asked. “What do you mean?” Mr. Ant replied, “Like David in the Bible. He faced Goliath, the giant, who was much bigger than he was. Much stronger too. But the difference was that David had God.” Arvad remembered the story of David and Goliath, which he had learned about in Sunday School. He realized that he needed to trust God to help him face his fear of heights. Arvad looked at his father and said, “So you think that I should go on the ﬁeld trip to Grump Tower?” “No son, that’s not what I’m saying,” his father answered. “But you said that I only had one

choice? That I had to go and face my giant, which means going on the field trip and stepping into the window!” His father smiled and said, “That’s not what I said. What I said is that you only have one choice, which is to face your giant.” Arvad was getting confused as Mr. Ant continued, “I said you would have to face your giant but I never said that the giant meant going on the field trip.” Arvad looked at him in utter confusion. Mr. Ant looked at Arvad’s facial expressions and knew that he needed to explain himself more clearly so he continued, “Do you agree with me that your fear of heights is your giant?” Arvad nodded in agreement. Mr. Ant then asked, “But what if you decided to not go on this field trip? What would happen?” Arvad thought for a moment, then answered, “Everyone would know why I didn’t go and would tease me.” His father waited for a moment for that response to sink into Arvad’s thoughts, then he expounded on it just as Arvad’s facial expression changed to one of understanding. He said, “Exactly! If you don’t go on the field trip, you might get teased for it, which could also represent a giant. So whatever you decide, the important thing is to trust God to help you face that giant. Pray about your decision and when you have made your decision, whether you go or not, just know that God is the one who will fight that battle for you if you trust in Him.” Arvad knew that his father was right. He knew God would help him face his fear… his ‘giant’. Whether that was stepping into the window at Grump Tower, or facing the probable teasing by his schoolmates. He knew either one wouldn’t be easy, but with God on his side, he could face anything! One week later, Arvad was standing in the top floor of Grump Tower with his teacher and fellow classmates. He had made his decision to go on the field trip and now he stood in line to step into the glass window. His hands were sweaty as he inched closer to the window. He closed his eyes for a moment and said a silent prayer. He thought about David who had faced Goliath. He opened his eyes and took another step forward, inching closer again. Before he knew it, he was at the threshold of the window looking straight into the sky in front of him. Arvad hesitated for a moment, whispered a quick prayer, and

stepped forward. He only looked at the sky in front of him for a moment but he knew that if he was going to defeat his fear of heights, he was going to have to look down. Immediately, he felt strengthened in the Lord and he looked down. Beyond his feet, he could see the roofs of the other skyscrapers and beyond that, he could see all the way down to the ground, which so far down that everything looked tiny. Tall trees and buildings looked like tiny little specs! But he had done it! He had faced his giant and he felt great! After a moment, Arvad realized that he had beat the enemy of fear! It was through God that he had done this and as he stepped back into the room, Arvad felt thankful for the victory over the giant in his life! FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S … I

SAMUEL 17:47. BUT DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD. I SAMUEL 30:6 Christine is a Case Supervisor with Golden Crescent CASA’. She resides in Victoria, Texas with her best friend and husband of 32 years. She enjoys writing, ﬁshing, and scrapbooking. Christine is a Christian and attends Abundant Life Church in Victoria.

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The Crossroads area is blessed with many museums to bring the past to life for the current generations. Historic views of area ranching, farming, art and life in the early days of the region dot the Crossroads. But one museum offers a different look at the past.

The

Pharmacy and Medical Museum of Texas located in Cuero is one of only four such museums in the state but it is the only museum of its kind that is housed in an actual old pharmacy building. Donated to the city by pharmacist Joe Reuss, this building and its contents offer a fascinating look into the medical and pharmaceutical practices of the past. According to Chairman of the Board Wayne Adickes and Museum Manager Amber Fitts, the museum is a work in progress. Opening last October, the museum is looking forward to expanding the exhibits and restoring the upstairs for more exhibits such as a turn of the century doctor’s ofﬁce, dentist ofﬁce and veterinary supply exhibit.

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Founded by the Heaton Brothers,

the building itself was built in 1889 replacing a wooden building built in 1873 during Cuero’s founding. The wooden building burned and a year later the present building was erected. The plans for the current building called for it to be constructed in six weeks. Mr.L.L. Buttery acquired the pharmacy after the Heaton Brothers and eventually sold the building to Joe Reuss of Reuss Pharmacy in 1972 and it became known as Valuemart Pharmacy. With the closing of Valuemart, Reuss had the idea of creating a pharmacy museum which was always a dream of his and his wife Wanda. In November of 2013, Reuss donated the museum to the city of Cuero as a branch of the Cuero Heritage Museum.

The downstairs portion of the museum is structurally complete. Upon entering the building, one of the first things to notice is the staircase in the center of the room and the remarkably preserved ornate cabinets and pharmacist bench that are all original to the building. Adickes stated that back in the day, the pharmacy not only provided medicines but customers could also purchase cosmetics, sewing machines, phonographs and veterinary and ranching supplies and even text books. Upstairs was always a doctor’s office and the sick had to make the sometimes arduous journey up the twenty-seven steep steps to visit the doctor. One of the most outstanding features in the building is the painted glass doors that decorate the huge cabinet containing all the medicines. Doors painted with names such as alkaloids, plasters, chemicals and many more stretch the length of the entire cabinet. A strange story surrounds these painted doors. Originally the doors were clear glass but during the depression a hobo walked into the pharmacy looking for a hand out to feed his family. The pharmacist, Mr. L.L. Buttery, said he doesn’t give hand outs but would pay him for work and he asked what he did. The stranger said that he was an artist so for one week he painted the glass doors and was paid five dollars. No one knows who this man was but

the beautiful glass doors still display the brilliant colors and artistic work of this unknown stranger.

Other

hidden treasures abound. On one wall there is a whole series of names written on the wall higher that can be reached. Whoever signed their names there had to stand on a step ladder to reach it. Many of the names are recognizable. Why they signed their names there is a mystery to those who work there. Original medicine bottles adorn the cabinets and many of them still contain their age old contents. Three generations of soda fountains are also on display from 1860, 1890 and 1950. A scale is on exhibit that is so sensitive and accurate that it can weigh a fingerprint!! Other items of interest include collections of decorative containers for false teeth and razor banks in which used razors were disposed. Show globes (decorative vessels filled with colored liquid) adorn the museum. Show globes along with the mortar and pestle were symbolic of pharmaceutical establishments. Pills were hand made and capsules were hand filled. Many medicines were contained in powder boxes with each dose of powder individually wrapped. Early pill machines, medicine bottles and many other items catch the eye. Some of the medical tools look incredibly barbaric making one wonder if the treatment was worse than the disease.

Most of the contents of the building

are ofﬁcially on permanent loan to the museum from Joe Reuss whose family was multi-generational doctors and pharmacists who established their ﬁrst pharmacy in 1845 and have the oldest pharmacy in the state of Texas. Fortunately the Reuss family saved a great deal of stuff over the years making it available for the public to see today. Since the opening of the museum, many others have donated old lab equipment and other items that pertain to pharmacies of the past. One interesting item is a very long table used as an operating table during the Civil War. The unique thing about this table is that it only has three legs. Originally, it had four legs

but in the 1930’s one leg was used to make gavels as a commemorative gift to honor the Reuss family statewide. Fortunately, the museum not only has the table but one of the gavels as well.

The goal of the museum is to make

it an educational museum. The museum has many projects on the list to improve the facility. Aside from the renovation of the upstairs, installation of an elevator and other structural projects, an herbal medicine garden outdoors in the back of the museum is on the list. The desire in this garden is to educate visitors on the medicinal use of herbs and plants which were the predominant medicines of the early 1900s.

A visitor can spend hours viewing

all the exhibits and still not see it all. The historic and educational value of this museum is astounding. Many projects are on the list for this museum that requires money, time and labor. Adickes stated that the help they have gotten from docents, volunteers and the city has been tremendous. The work could not have been done without them. Item and monetary donations are always welcome as well as volunteering of time. Admission to the museum is free and the curators encourage everyone to sign the visitors book as this helps them acquire grant money for future projects.

Make plans to visit this unique historic jewel. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 12 noon - 3 pm. The museum is located at 114 E. Main in Cuero. For more information call (361) 485-8090 or check out their Facebook page at “The Pharmacy and Medical Museum of Texas”.

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Photos by Henry Hartman

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