Discover 361 October November 2023

YOUR VIEW OF THE CROSSROADS

INSIDE

FASHION FEATURE HORSES AND FALL TRENDS

Dear Readers, In this issue we go from the absolute beauty of horses to the spookiness of possibly haunted homes and businesses to sweet music for tiny tots to sharing generosity for others in supporting local education foundations and local eateries that cater to the entire community with their special food.

We also get to know three generations of a family of educators/coaches who have not only played on area fields, but also continue to coach and teach students to be better people. We pair that with a long list of some of the area athletes who went on to coach high school sports back home where they learned the sports.

We went to the Rafter D Ranch for our fashion shoot for this issue. Ranch owner Donna Odem-Nichols let us use some of her beautiful horses for the photos. The more than 20 horses and four donkeys were friendly and not scared of us strangers or cameras.

Being around the horse and donkeys — even though it was 108 degrees that afternoon — was pure joy. It added so much to the amazing fall fashions we had to show off.

The photo shoot featured fall clothing for women and men. It was a good assortment from Lily Grace Boutique and the Men’s Toolbox.

With October being the month of Halloween and everything spooky, we ventured to a possible haunted place — the officers’ quarters at the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad. You will have to read the story to learn if we encountered anything or anyone.

On a less spooky note we visit with Jeff Wright at the Victoria Preservation Inc. about their annual Cemetery Tour. It is an interesting way to learn about the people who established this area.

For those who are interested in things that are really out of this world, take a day trip to the Houston Space Center and SpaceX to learn about space and the vehicles that get the astronauts to and from space. It’s a fun adventure to read.

We have so much more to offer this issue. We hope you enjoy reading the articles and hopefully you will enjoy the fall once it gets here.

Here is a quick commercial for upcoming issues. We are working on a special keepsake issue of the Discover 361 for April. It will coincide with the city of Victoria’s bicentennial. We are looking for descendants of families who helped settle the city who have interesting stories to tell about their families.

We are also looking for businesses or organizations that are at least 50 years old. We want to tell your stories. Give me a call at 361-574-1285 or email me at bcooper@vicad. com.

I hope to hear from you,

Becky Cooper

Managing Editor

GENERAL MANAGER

Clarice Touhey

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

Kyle Motal

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Keith Kohn

MANAGING EDITOR

Becky Cooper

DESIGNER

Kimberley Bailey

WRITERS

Tyrese Boone

Kyle R. Cotton

Becky Cooper

Mike Forman

Keith Kohn

Patrick Sloan-Turner

Jon Wilcox

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tyrese Boone

Chase Cofield

Keith Kohn

Patrick Sloan-Turner

SPECIAL TO DISCOVER 361

Leo Bertucci

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dayna Wiles | Images By Dayna

Jeff Wright

Duy Vu

ON THE COVER

Kendle Bomersbach and Jay take in the evening sunset at Rocking D Ranch. Kendle’s brown corduroy jumpsuit is proved by Lily Grace Boutique.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Dayna Wiles | Images By Dayna

© 2023, M. ROBERTS MEDIA 101 W. Goodwin Ave., Suite 1200 Victoria, TX 77901 info@discover361.com

361-575-1451

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8 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Coaching, teaching a way of life for Reeve family.

14 PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Education foundations add to area educational opportunities.

18 VISUALS

Presidio La Bahia: Centuries-old fort headlines Crossroads' haunted history

24 VISUALS

A tour through history: Victoria Preservation Inc. offers entertainment, education with portrayals of people from area’s past.

30 FASHION

Fall fashions offer color, style for all.

40 FOOD

Grumpy's Meatzzeria brings unique offerings of gyros and cheesesteaks to Victoria

44 FOOD

Local restaurant continues building’s storied history

48 DAY TRIP Out-of-this world fun, all within a day's drive.

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CULTURE & EVENTS: MUSIC Interactive class develops young audiences' brains, hearts

58

ABOUT TOWN

Getting the community together

60

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Preview of what is coming up for the Crossroads during October and November.

63

CONNECT 361

Discover more with the business directory from the Crossroads.

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It’s all ABOUT THE KIDS [and]...having AN INFLUENCE

- Mark Reeve

Travis Reeve remembers getting the talk from Mark Reeve when he told his father he wanted to become a coach.

Travis Reeve gave Blake Reeve the same talk when he learned his son was going to enter the coaching profession.

“My first question was, ‘Are you sure that’s what you want to do?’,” Travis said. “A lot of times people just see the games and think that’s what they want to do. Really, games are a miniscule part of what coaching and teaching are all about. There are a lot of hours doing things that are not a lot of fun to a lot of people behind the scenes, that is really what coaching and teaching is all about.”

The Reeve family knows volumes when it comes to coaching and teaching. Mark followed his uncle into

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Reeve family members, from left, Ainsley, Charlie, Mark, Travis and Blake are all high school coaches in Texas. Charlie is coaching at Victoria East, Ainsley and Travis are coaching at El Campo, Mark is coaching at Smithson Valley, and Blake is coaching at Tyler Chapel Hill.

Contributed Photo

Charlie Reeve looks out at his team during his debut game as the Titans' head coach during a non-district game.

the profession. and his wife Jan was a teacher and a principal.

Reeve’s sons Travis and Charlie are coaches, and his grandson Blake and granddaughter Ainsley have entered the profession.

Travis’ wife Destiny is a teacher, and Charlie’s wife Courtney used to teach.

“I don’t know if I ever thought about doing something else,” Charlie said. “It was kind of what we did. It was always

what I wanted to do. Coaching is in our blood and I do think it’s what God has called us to do.”

Mark remembers bringing his high school coach to his Eagle Scout banquet in high school while other guests included the governor and an astronaut.

Mark earned his first head coaching position at Victoria High. He also coached at Plano West and Cuero.

He coached in Norway and Iceland. After a brief retirement he is coaching

the safeties this season at Smithson Valley.

“It’s all about the kids,” Mark said. “It’s all about having an influence. I tell some of those younger guys, ‘If you’re in this for the wins, they last about 24 hours and the losses last a lifetime.’ If you’re in it for anything different than being an influence for the kids, you’re not going to stay very long.”

Travis played for his father at Victoria High and became a head coach at Cuero, where he led the Gobblers to the 2018 Class 4A, Division I state championship before going on to coach at New Caney and returning to the area this season at El Campo.

Travis Reeve prays after his speech to hundreds of spectators at the Cuero Municipal Library pavilion.

Charlie Reeve, the newest East head coach, conducts practice with his players at Victoria East High School.

Travis Reeve, right, and his father and former Cuero coach Mark Reeve share a moment.

Travis Reeve led Cuero to the 2018 Class 4A, Division II state championship.

“It’s very special,” Travis said. “I consider the Victoria area home. I went to high school there, coached there, coached in Cuero for a long time and now I’m in El Campo. It’s a great place to be from. There are great people in this area. We’re excited to be back in the area and be in a place where we consider to be home.”

Ainsley is on her father’s staff as an assistant volleyball coach at El Campo, while Blake is an assistant football coach at Tyler Chapel Hill.

“I think the influence of not only our parents who were educators,” Travis said. “We were very fortunate to have great people, whether they be coaches or teachers who influenced our lives. There’s just something special about serving and trying to mentor and be a positive influence in the lives of kids that has attracted all of us to the profession and why we do it.”

Charlie played for his father at Victoria High and began his high school coaching career at Bay City. He coached with his father and brother at Cuero in 2005.

He worked with Travis and Blake at New Caney before getting his first opportunity to be a head coach this season at Victoria East.

“Everything kind of circles back,” Charlie said. “We were driving to Bay City scrimmaging and that was my first job. Everytime our kids come out in those red helmets, I still think about the Sting helmet we had. It’s special. Victoria has changed in some ways, but in a lot of ways it hasn’t. We’re still playing at Memorial Stadium and every time I go back in there, it brings back memories.”

Charlie’s children are still in school, but if they decide to become coaches, he’ll give them the talk.

“You do it for the kids and realize why you’re getting into coaching,” Charlie said. “I think it’s kind of our ministry. This is how we serve kids and this is how we serve the community and how we make a difference. At the end of the day, that’s why you’re in education to make a difference.

“If our kids come out of this program with a lot of wins and that’s all we’ve given them and that’s all that they leave with, then I think we failed as coaches,” he added. “We want our kids to leave here with a great high school experience and to win a lot of games. But we hope they’re equipped to take the next step in their lives whatever that may be.”

A CALL OF THEIR OWN

Many Crossroads student athletes answer the call to be coaches. Here are a few who have made the commitment to the students and are head coaches.

WES KOLLE

Went to Victoria High and is now the head baseball coach at Victoria East.

YULONDA WIMBISH-NORTH

Went to Victoria High and is now the girls head basketball coach at Victoria East.

AMY CRAIN

Went to Victoria High and is now the girls head basketball coach at Cuero.

JESS ODEM

Went to Goliad High and is now the head volleyball coach at Goliad.

MANUEL ALVARADO

Went to Victoria Stroman and is now the head baseball coach at St. Joseph.

KAYLA NATHO

Went to Yoakum High and is now the head volleyball coach at Yoakum.

PAT ERSKINE

Went to Victoria High and is now the boys head basketball coach at Calhoun.

KYLE ARMSTRONG

Went to Victoria High and is now the boys head basketball coach at Karnes City.

MICHELLE WINKENWERDER

Went to Shiner High and is now the cross country coach at Shiner

CHANDI JONES

Went to Bay City High and is now the girls head basketball coach at Bay City.

ROBERT JONES

Went to Bay City High and is now the head football coach at Bay City.

LEVI MONTGOMERY

Went to Hallettsville High and is now the head football coach at Hallettsville.

JERIC ESPARZA

Went to Runge High and is now the head football coach at Runge.

COURTNEY BOYCE

Went to Victoria High and is now the head football coach at Victoria East.

KEVIN SALAZAR

Went to Goliad High and is now the head football coach at Goliad.

DAVID LUCIO

Went to Tidehaven High and is now the head football coach at Tidehaven.

DANIEL BOEDEKER

Went to Shiner High and is now the head football coach at Shiner.

ALEX SEYDLER

Went to Weimar High and is now the head football coach at Hallettsville Sacred Heart.

JESS ODEM

YULONDA WIMBISH-NORTH

PAT ERSKINE

LEVI MONTGOMERY

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EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS add to area educational opportunities

VISD Education Foundation director Robin Harkey.

STORY BY LEO BERTUCC I | SPECIAL TO DISCOVER 361

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUY VU | SPECIAL TO DISCOVER 361 AND CONTRIBUTED BY ROBIN HARKEY

When teachers and students need support to make classroom innovations a reality, education foundations step in to fill in the gaps.

Foundations in school districts around the Crossroads hold fundraisers, write grants, award scholarships, establish partnerships with local businesses and gather input through committees.

“We provide funding that goes above and beyond what tax dollar support can provide,” said Robin Harkey, executive director for the Victoria Independent School District Foundation Education Foundation. “We’re here to come alongside the district and provide for things that we know our community and their specific needs require.”

Harkey said VISD’s foundation empowers students as they use their educational experiences to obtain their desired career.

“We’re helping them seek out their full potential,” she said.

School programs also benefit directly from education foundation funds. This year at the Cuero school district, the art program received what foundation Executive Director Sean Douglas called a “refresh,” with brand new coloring and painting supplies, as well as a new backdrop projector for theater productions.

Another project funded by the Cuero foundation will allow the Hunt Elementary community to plant an outdoor garden this fall.

“With our grants, we hear from teachers about what their needs are and how we could better help them,” Douglas said.

Events play a considerable role in the fundraising efforts of local foundations. Prior to the start of school in August, VISD partnered with Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home to provide 600 students with free shoes.

“Over $40,000 went toward outfitting those students,” Harkey said. “We want them to be ready, not just with

backpacks and school supplies, but with some new shoes. And it’s not just for the little ones, ages 3 through 18 were able to get those shoes.”

Harkey said that each year, VISD employees contribute to the education foundation through a campaign drive.

Cuero ISD’s foundation puts on a musical fundraiser, known as “Concert for Classrooms,” on an annual basis. Douglas said the event helps the foundation fund the grants available for the current school year.

The theme of this year’s concert, set for Nov. 11, will feature the Motown tribute group “Shadows of the 60s.” Tickets went on sale Sept. 30.

During the 2022-23 school year, a grant was awarded to each of the four campuses at Cuero school district, totaling over $18,000.

Having celebrated their 20th anniversary last year, the Cuero foundation has provided students,

Titan Warrior Media Productions in action made possible by a grant from the VISD Education Foundation.

Representing over $63,000 in total funding, the VISD Education Foundation awarded 13 teacher and school-initiated grants to benefit students in 2023-2024.

VISD Education Foundation grant funding growing campus spaces into learning opportunities.

teachers and staff with over $1 million in scholarships and over $800,000 in grants.

In Victoria, foundation board members meet every other month to review grant proposals written by teachers, such as the “Grants for Great Ideas” program.

When new teachers join VISD, the foundation provides them with an $100 gift card from The Teacher’s Toolbox, a supply store in Victoria. The foundation spent $17,000 on gift cards this year alone, which supported the local economy, Harkey said.

“Honestly, we’re always looking for new partnerships and new ideas,” Harkey said. “That’s our bread and butter.”

Harkey said the VISD foundation looks to fund opportunities with “impactful outcomes,” because that is what donors expect when they make an investment.

“We’re picky about what we find because we want to make sure that not only is it a good idea, but can the educator practically pull it off in their classroom,” Harkey said. “Will it have some measurable results?”

Harkey said she hopes the community will want to be passionate about opening doors for students and teachers in Victoria schools.

“The education foundation exists to support our teachers and our students and we do not take lightly the amount of support they need,” she said.

OTHER EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS IN THE CROSSROADS

EDNA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Make a donation to the foundation online at www.ednaisd.org/ Page/2389

EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF CALHOUN COUNTY

To contact the foundation, send an email to info@sandcrabscholars.org

GOLIAD ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

To reach the foundation, call 361645-3259 or email GEF@goliadisd. org

HALLETTSVILLE ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATIO N

For more information, call 361-798-2242 or email hisdef@ hisdbrahmas.org

INDUSTRIAL ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

To contact the foundation, send an email to ief@industrialisd.org

REFUGIO ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Visit the foundation’s website at www.refugioeducationfoundation. org/o/ref

SHINER ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC FOUNDATION

To reach the foundation, email shineraafoundation@gmail.com

Ernest Zuniga awards the Dr. Martha A. Zuniga Memorial Scholarship to 2023 graduating VISD senior Alexiz Aviles.

Teacher Carla Nolen receives her Garden Hood grant benefitting Schorlemmer Elementary.

Victoria West High School English teacher Catherine McKenzie and students receive her grant award.

Centuries old fort headlines Crossroads’ HAUNTED HISTORY PRESIDIO LA BAHIA:

STORY BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | PTURNER@VICAD.COM

Some of the oldest cities in all of Texas are located in the Crossroads, so it is no surprise that the area is home to so many places that locals say go bump in the night.

From old abandoned hospitals, to 175-year-old homes, believers will tell you the area is rich in paranormal activity.

In Goliad, believers say one of the oldest standing structures for miles, Presidio La Bahia, is likely home to spirits and apparitions galore. Locals have reported sounds of phantom footsteps on cobblestone, unexplained gunshots and even the echoing voice of an 18th century colonel.

“I think a lot of times when there's a tragic event or a history of a lot of deaths, it increases the chances of these things happening,” said Joseph Mendez, a paranormal investigator based in San Antonio.

Mendez and his team, The Paranormal Journal, spent a night at the Presidio in March 2021 and quickly realized they were staying in a place of rich and storied history.

Established in 1749, Spanish, American and Mexican armies have all controlled the grounds at one time or another.

Texian forces secured the site from Mexican troops during the second skirmish of the Texas Revolution during the Battle of Goliad in 1835. Still perhaps its most famous event took place a year later.

After the fall of the Alamo, the Mexican army took control of the Presidio and took the lives of at least 342 soldiers in the Goliad Massacre.

It is said that the famed Col. James Fannin was the last to be killed and some visitors claim to hear the leader’s voice echo near officer’s quarters today.

“You hear a lot of stories,” said Scott McMahon, an employee of the Texas Historical Commission and the site’s manager. “It's neat to hear different people's takes on it.”

McMahon said he has never experienced anything himself, but said others certainly have, adding that the presidio has hosted several

There's

paranormal investigations over the years.

In the spring of 2021, when Mendez’s team braved an overnight on the hallowed grounds, the investigator believes unexplainable events occurred.

“I would say as far as evidence goes, it ranks in my top five (investigations),” Mendez said.

At one point, while using fists to knock on some doors in the presidio, Mendez said his team’s video captured the door’s hanging knocker knocking back. Also that night, while he was trying to communicate with spirits in Spanish, Mendez said his wife, Monse, swiftly and inexplicably fell ill, and immediately had to retire for the evening.

Perhaps the eeriest event of Mendez’s investigation revealed itself when the team began to gather their things for departure in the morning. It was then that they found a motiontriggered illuminating ball had somehow split in two.

“It literally was just sitting there, split in half on the table,” Mendez said. “We

OTHER CROSSROADS HAUNTS

MEMORIAL SQUARE:

A mass grave of hundreds of lives lost to a cholera epidemic in the 1800s, Memorial square and nearby homes are said to be roamed by the dead who fell ill to the sickness, according to Explore Victoria, Texas.

Presidio La Bahia is not the only nearby site reported to be haunted by ghosts, ghouls and demons. Here’s some other local spots that residents believe to be haunted:

DEFINITELY supposed to be a LOT OF ENERGY HERE

- Scott McMahon

Our Lady of Loreto Chapel.

cared more about figuring out what caused that than anything we did and we couldn't figure it out.”

Footage of Mendez’s investigation can be viewed on The Paranormal Journal’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Though the investigator said he felt inexplicable energies that night, Mendez said he never felt threatened by any specters or spirits present.

“If anybody goes to visit it, just please treat it with respect, it is a very beautiful location,” he said. “No matter how long ago it was, the (dead) are still people's families that have history here too.”

McMahon, who is in his 10th year overseeing the historical site, said the presidio’s haunted quality is part of its charm and loves to hear its visitors tell stories of their spooky experiences.

“It's neat to hear different people's takes on it,” McMahon said. “There's definitely supposed to be a lot of energy here.”

The beds inside the soldiers barracks. There have been reports of phantom footsteps at Presidio la Bahía.

A replica of the Blood Arms Flag from 1835 flies over the presidio.

OLD FEDERAL BUILDING, CONSTITUTION STREET:

Now home to a law office, a local historical group said some believe the halls of the building are now walked by a former postmaster whose life ended by gunshot when he was supposedly cleaning his gun late one evening.

OLD VICTORIA COURTHOUSE:

The site of legal hangings of the past, deputies have reported hearing footsteps and voices echo through the empty halls of the 131-year-old building, according to Victoria Preservation Inc.

PELA HOUSE, 309 E. SANTA ROSA ST.:

About 100 years ago, the Pelas were murdered outside the home with one person reportedly slain by an ax, said the owner. Now, Captured Moments by Christine photography studio occupies the house.

PHILLIPS-SALE HOUSE:

Currently unoccupied, some locals believe former Confederate Major Alexander Hamilton Phillips visits the house on the odd eerie evening, according to VPI.

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A tour through History

Cemetery tour gives new life to past residents

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | PSLOAN@VICAD.COM

PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED BY JEFF

WRIGHT | VICTORIA PRESERVATION INC.

It might sound counterintuitive, but if you’re looking for something a little less spooky this Halloween season and a little more educational you might consider heading down to Evergreen Cemetery.

Once again, the Victoria Preservation Inc. has organized a story-telling experience for all ages. Actors will portray various local figures who lay

to rest in the local graveyard and tell stories that date more than 150 years.

In his 11th year organizing, VPI Executive Director Jeff Wright said around 30 volunteers make up the effort from start to finish. The local historian said the research and selection of characters behind the effort is always

Jeff Wright plays a major part in researching Victorians who are portrayed in the annual tour.

IF YOU GO:

HERE ARE SOME NOTABLE VICTORIA NAMES FEATURED IN PAST TOURS:

• Patricia De La Garza De Leon

• Margaret Wright

• Patti Welder

• Frank Fossati

• Abraham Levi

• James A. McFaddin

• Royston Nave

• Dolores Power Welder

• William DeTar

Gary Hall tells a story to attendees at a past historical cemetery tour.

Jill Fox portrayed Augusta De La Lastra, wife of Pedro De La Lastra in 2018.

Many of the graves at Evergreen Cemetery date back more the 150 years to the mid 19th century.

a fun experience for him and his team.

“We learn new stuff about new people every year,” Wright said. “I pick out a person or two from an area, start researching them and kind of go from there. So yeah, doing the research on the characters and the genealogy stuff that is really, really fun.”

This year’s headline name is Juan Linn, who settled in what is now Victoria in 1829. Don’t let the first name fool you, Linn was actually an Irishman, but began to be recognized under the Spanish iteration of his first name by locals.

Mike Williams will portray Linn at this year’s tour.

“We're not actors, we're storytellers,” Williams said. “We're only given a small amount of time to portray them, so, it's kind of hard to pick out what part of their life that you want to portray. But it's always really interesting.”

Williams is in his fifth year participating in the event and said he’s especially excited to portray Linn, even though he’ll have to make some alterations to his voice.

“Linn was here before Texas was Texas, he made friends with Martin De Leon,” the former police officer said. “It’s kind of hard to speak Irish when you’re not Irish.”

Over the years, the experience can turn the volunteer storytellers into experts on local history.

Susan Morrison is not portraying a character this year but is involved in the production. She has played many others since she began in 1998.

She said one of the best ways to teach others about history is through performance.

“If you're a good teacher, you want to entertain, you want to catch people's interest,” Morrison said. “If it's just a recitation of facts, nobody's going to remember that.”

Over the years, the event has created fun interactions between storytellers like Morrison and the audience members who pay admission. Morrison said that one year, she was delighted when a child came up to her to tell her she was portraying the child’s great-great grandmother.

“I think it makes people realize that this history was real people,” Morrison said. “And they're great stories.”

In portraying real people whose names Victorians might recognize, Morrison said she believes it gives more meaning to residents’ everyday interaction with the city.

“By portraying these people, we're bringing them back to life, we're sharing their story,” she said. "So that when you know, you drive around and you go, ‘Oh, there’s Brownson school,’ You know, there's a reason why that's there.”

This year, much of the characters being portrayed are connected to Victoria’s bicentennial, which has an official date set for April 13, 2024. Wright said some of the stories will be connected to the time of De Leon’s colony and the colonial era.

There will be three performances for this year’s tour. The first is set for the evening of Oct. 27 with a matinee and another evening show on Oct. 28. Tickets prices will range from $20-$25.

If attending the evening performances, Wright suggests wearing comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk around a cemetery lit by torches at night. For those unable to attend an evening show in the cemetery, Saturday’s matinee will be indoors.

“It really is for everybody, and we get folks of all ages,” Wright said.

Those interested can find out more information on the Victoria Preservations Inc. Facebook page.

This year, Mike Williams will play famed historical Victorian, Juan Linn.

Fall for Fashion 1

STORY BY BECKY COOPER BCOOPER@VICAD.COM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAYNA

WILES

IMAGES BY DAYNA

MODELS

SAXON STEPHENS, DANIEL WILES AND KENDLE BOMERSBACH

CLOTHING PROVIDED BY LILY GRACE BOUTIQUE, VICTORIA MALL AND MEN’S TOOLBOX

IN MOTHER CLUCKERS, DOWNTOWN VICTORIA

PHOTO SHOOT LOCATION

DONNA ODEM-NICHOLS’ RAFTER D RANCH

FASHION PRESENTED BY

Fashion 4

Daniel wears a long-sleeved pullover by Garnet, while Saxon wears a black short sleeve Aayat shirt. Kendle wears a brown corduroy jumpsuit by Entro.

Saxon wears a print long-sleeved Aayat shirt.

About this time every year we are finished with summer and ready for fall.

We are ready to set aside our shorts and flip flops for a while and enjoy heavier clothing such as sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, jeans and boots.

After the first cool front, we often sit around in 60-degree weather and talk about how cold we are, forgetting that a few short weeks earlier we were complaining because it was “so hot.”

All is good though, because with the change of seasons comes the need for new fall clothes.

A good sign that fall is on the way is the appearance of corduroy and plaid flannel clothing in the stores. The colors are often in a wide range of fall shades of orange, greens, tans and deep reds and purples.

This year is no different. Men and women alike have a full assortment of fall colors to choose from.

Making an appearance in the color palette this year is pink – bright pink.

“Maybe Barbie is influencing fall clothes too,” quipped Lisa Abercrombie, owner of Lily Grace Boutique in the Victoria Mall. Several pieces of pink clothing hang in her store as well.

Women have choices when it comes to fall fashions. They have dresses made with tiered shirts for ease in movement and a flare for fashion. The look can be changed with the addition of a belt or choice of shoes.

“Tiered dresses have been on trend for a couple of years, really gaining popularity this year. I think it’s a great fit for most body types with the flowy style women of all ages tend to like, including pregnant women,” she said.

Jumpsuits are also gaining in popularity. They are easy to wear and don’t require much thought, except maybe deciding which shoes to wear.

Of course sweaters are also the go-to apparel for jeans, slacks and skirts. They too can be worn dressy or casual and work well with boots or booties or even wedges.

Men’s shirts are versatile as well. Because the weather is ever changing, men prefer long sleeves as well as short sleeves. And that is just fine this year, shirts come in solids and prints, pullovers and button downs. You name it, it’s there.

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Kendle wears a pintuck midi dress, which comes in olive and rust by Umgee.

RussellCain CherreCain

AugustMotl LesCoffey

Hunter Hammond

Lynn Walker

Jan Regan

Brenda Carter

CONT. FROM PG. 33

For this issue Lily Grace and Men’s Toolbox supplied fall fashions for our fashion shoot.

The Men’s Toolbox, a small men’s store inside Mother Cluckers in downtown Victoria, offers men an assortment of quality shirts, most are handmade in small batches. The shirts are comfortable clothing that can be worn to work or casual, said Shannon Mitchamore, the store’s owner.

About 95% of the clothing comes from small family-owned businesses found across the country. She searches out small manufacturers that provide high quality, handmade shirts. The clothing is not mass produced.

Most of the brands are eco-friendly, not from Amazon and are organic, Mitchamore said.

Most of the manufacturers are locally owned and give back to their communities, she added.

Because of the small batches, she warns shoppers, if they find a shirt in their size and they like it, it is best to get it then because it may not be available the next time they come in.

She looks for clothing that is made from natural fibers that will wear well.

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ON PG. 38

Kendle wears a floral print tiered midi dress by Umgee.

FASHION PRESENTED BY

Daniel wears a green short sleeve button up shirt by Monsieur Mimosa.

Saxon wears a long sleeved shirt by Garnet, while Daniel wears a long sleeved Monsieur Mimosa shirt.

While The Men’s Toolbox has been open a little over a year, Mitchamore also owns the Teacher Toolbox. Retail business is not new to her, as she is following in the footsteps of her grandfather and father who also owned clothing stores. She has a photo of her grandfather in his shop in Smiley in her shop.

Abercrombie also started small. She opened Lily Grace in 2014. She started slowly with a rack of clothes in a small ice cream shop. She eventually opened two other booths. But then she decided to close the booths and open a store front. In 2020 she won a “pop-up shop” contest in the mall for six weeks. At the end of that time, mall officials asked her to stay and they have been there ever since. The store also offers accessories including jewelry and shoes.

To help the fall theme come together we wanted to have a country feel complete with horses. Donna OdemNichols agreed to let us come to her horse ranch, the Rafter D Ranch, and use her more than 20 horses and four donkeys in the photos. We had hoped to capture photos of the horses running in the pasture, but when the temperature rose to 108 degrees that day they didn’t feel like moving. They preferred to stay close to the barn and the shade.

Not all was lost, Odem-Nichols selected three horses, Jay, Smokie and Jackpot, to be in the photos. They were so amazing to work with. They were calm, didn’t mind the strangers standing around them, petting them and even holding their ropes. They were amazing.

Each of the horses has a name and its own personality. Odem-Nichols can tell you everything there is to know about each animal. Most are rescue animals she has nursed back to health over the years.

With their brown and reddish coats, the horses paired well with the fall colors the models wore.

FASHION PRESENTED BY

| CONT. FROM PG. 33

Kendle pairs a cowboy hat sweater by Entro with jeans and wedge booties.

When Lance Kouches and his son Nicholas Kouches get a hankering for a good meal “that is bad for you,” they head into Victoria straight to their favorite go-to spot.

They make a point to come to Victoria from their home in Inez at least once every two weeks to enjoy gyros or philly cheesesteaks from Grumpy’s Meatzzeria.

“I’m 54-years-old. I’m not supposed to be eating cheesesteaks and fries,” Lance Kouches said. “When I’m eating

bad food, this ‘is not good for me’ food, this is where I come.”

“It’s high-quality cheat day,” his son Nicholas Kouches,25, added.

They first found the restaurant when it was still a food truck just starting out, Lance Kouches said.

After a year as a food truck, owner Kenneth Luker established a brick and mortar restaurant on Sam Houston Drive. He has called that location home for the past three years.

The Kouches family make a point to make it a regular stop when they come to Victoria.

This is mainly because getting Greek American food like gyros and cheesesteaks is hard to come by in the Crossroads, they said.

Before the business started, Luker wanted to open a restaurant, but he didn’t know what he wanted to be known for. Oddly, he didn’t think of starting a business around gyros until he ate one at a restaurant in Houston.

After spending years in the restaurant service industry, Luker wanted to start his own restaurant for a while before settling on what eventually became Grumpy’s Meatzzeria.

Coincidentally, part of his time working for other restaurants

includes a stint at the now-closed Athena Mediterranean Seafood and Steakhouse. But that wasn’t where he got his first taste for gyros.

Athena’s owner was always having him try gyro recipes he was experimenting with, but the taste of the Greek sandwich never really clicked with Luker, he said.

“I didn’t really appreciate it at the time,” he said.

At first, he thought he would serve Mexican food because he grew up eating it and loved it, but with so many Mexican food restaurants, it would take a lot of work to stand out among everyone else.

When he tried gyros again in Houston, almost 10 years after his last one at Athena’s, the flavor and taste finally clicked for him. That’s when he decided to build his restaurant around gyros and cheesesteaks.

“There is nowhere else you can get this kind of food in the area,” Luker said.

On his trip back to Victoria after his epiphany, he came up with the name Grumpy’s Meatzzeria. He knew he wanted something with “grumpy” in the name, because that describes how he can be from time to time. He also wanted the name to focus on the menu’s meat options.

Slowly, the business has grown over the years, from a food truck to a fullblown restaurant. The growth has mainly been on the back of the quality of their food and the unique offerings.

Grumpy’s Meatzzeria brings unique offerings of gyros and cheesesteaks to Victoria

Kenneth Luker, owner of Grumpy’s Meatzzeria.

Sharon Jones serves customers their lunch orders

The gyros are made with cloud-fluffy pita bread with savory lamb and beef that melt on the tongue. Tzatziki sauce, which sticks long after you finish your meal, tops off the Greek American sandwiches.

The cheesesteaks, which feature beef combined with the cheese and mayonnaise, would make most subs and burgers blush in terms of how it hits the tongue with each bite.

The biggest key to Grumpy’s success is the quality of the ingredients and the fact he is always tinkering and looking for ways to improve his recipes, Luker said.

“We could sell our food for much cheaper if we compromised on the quality of the ingredients given how food has been affected by inflation,” he said. “But we want to give our customers the best quality possible.”

While his restaurant offers a unique menu, he doesn’t always see the busiest traffic daily. However, he and his staff tend to those who do dine in to ensure it is an enjoyable experience.

“It’s not something people get every day. It’s something you get a craving for and go out and get,” Luker said.

It’s good food no matter what a person orders, Lance Kounches said.

“It tastes like it’s homemade,” he said.

GRUMPY SAUCE

2 cups mayonnaise

1 1/3 cup ketchup

2 Tbls. Worcheshire sauce

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. ground black pepper

2 tsp. “Slap Ya Mama”

cajun seasoning

Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Serve on chosen sandwich.

Cheese is added as a final touch to a gyro at Grumpy’s Meatzzeria.

Charlene St. Claire and Joyce Sappington eat lunch.

An order of chicken fried steak and green beans is ready to be served.

Local restaurant continues building’s storied history

Iif the walls of one of the oldest buildings in downtown Victoria could talk, it would probably rave about its latest rendition and the care the public has shown it in the last 13 years as a restaurant.

The restaurant, Huvar’s Artisan Market and Catering, across the street from Victoria’s City Hall, is a mainstay in the city. It has had many lives since it was built in 1905, each serving the purpose for the owners.

The restaurant is a big change from the grocery store, Huvar’s Cash and Grocery, it was for more than 80 years. Before that it was a carriage house and brothel.

Remnants of all its former lives are still seen in the current day building. The old carriage barn serves as the restaurant’s pantry. Old signs painted on the wall still read Huvar’s Grocery.

Upstairs, where the brothel once operated, room numbers are still on the entrance to each doorway. Along the back wall are bronze plates in the wall which when opened reveal where hot bricks were once placed to keep the rooms warm.

Owner Robert Briggs bought the building to add a modern style to the historic building. The building’s history serves as an accent to the restaurant where diners can feast on made-to-

order meals made fresh daily soups, salads and sandwiches.

“It may take a little longer, but we are dedicated to giving customers top quality food,” said Tanya Brown, restaurant manager.

She and Briggs, who have been friends since kindergarten, insist upon high quality ingredients for everything. They have a close relationship with their food suppliers.

Everything is made from scratch, including the mozzarellas cheese sticks.

Brown, who helped Briggs open the restaurant in 2010, but then left to do her own food work, said when she came back three years ago, the employees were well versed in the recipes and operation of the business that she didn’t want to make major changes.

“The only thing I changed was the chicken salad,” she said.

She still relies on the dedication and experience of the staff to prepare the meals and do the prep work each day, knowing that they know what is required.

They keep the recipes simple to guarantee the quality stays top of the line. For example, their guacamole is simple with few ingredients, to let the

The storefront of Huvar's Artisan Market in Victoria.

avocados be the star.

Plus, they use it on several sandwiches, so they want to keep the flavors simple to complement the hamburger or turkey sandwich or any other dish it is used on.

Their guacamole won the grand prize at the downtown Guac Fest held in May in observance of Cinco de Mayo. The large gold belt trophy sits on display on a countertop near the kitchen.

Fridays are busy days. Their lunch specials of fish tacos are popular.

But Friday night is a different story. That is pizza night.

“Our pizzas are off the charts,” Brown said.

They start preparing for pizza night on Tuesday when they start making the sauce. Brown explained each day a different set of ingredients is added so by Friday the seasoning is working its magic.

They start making the dough on Thursdays, giving it time to rise.

They also prepare the toppings in advance of the evening.

Things are busy on pizza night, with about 100 pizzas going through the wood-fired oven. Each batch of dough makes 23 14-inch pizzas. They usually go through four batches of dough a night, Brown said.

The huge pizza oven, which is in the former carriage house part of the building, heats up to 695 degrees,

baking the Italian sensations in a little more than 10 minutes.

Even the cooking gets kind of crazy because at times they have as many as 12 pizzas in the oven at a time and the chef is busy moving the pizzas around to make sure each cooks evenly.

Diners who take their leftovers home find the pizza continues to get better overnight as the seasonings continue to meld.

Brown describes some of the toppings as addictive, especially the barbecue brisket.

Then after the bustle of Friday nights, they open on Saturday mornings for brunch.

And it doesn’t stop there. They also offer catering.

One of the most requested dishes when they are catering is the Olé

BREAD PUDDING

INGREDIENTS:

8 large croissants

torn and toasted

MIX TOGETHER:

8 eggs

1 1/2 cups of sugar

2 cups of milk

Dash of vanilla

Dash of salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place bread in a buttered 9x13 pan and

add egg and milk mixture. Let sit overnight. Top with brown sugar and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

For a more decadent dessert drizzle with chocolate and add fruit and whipped cream to garnish.

Roll, a cheese roll with guacamole in the middle and pecan-encrusted outside. The combination of cheeses and seasonings makes it extremely hard to only eat a bite or two. It is understandable why the dish is so popular.

Desserts are also popular. A favorite dessert among diners is the Chocolate Bread Pudding. The chocolate takes the pudding to a whole new level of tastiness. It is served warm with whipped cream topping.

After experiencing the care the staff takes to prepare and serve the food in the historic building, which still has the original wooden floors, it is easy to understand why they have stayed true to their mission of artisan foods prepared with fresh ingredients every day.

It continues to be a labor of love for all.

Carmen Romero makes a bowl of dough at Huvar's Artisan Market.

OLÉ ROLL

INGREDIENTS:

5 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar

Small can of green chilis chopped

1/2 red onion chopped, optional

2 packages fiesta ranch seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS: Mix above ingredients and spread on a lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate. Spread a layer of guacamole onto the cheese, roll from the long side of the pan into a log and top with chopped pecans. Enjoy with crackers.

GUACAMOLE

INGREDIENTS:

Avocados

Fresh garlic

Lime juice

Lime zest

Cumin

Salt

INSTRUCTIONS: Mix the above ingredients to your liking. Refrigerate and enjoy with chips or on burgers and sandwiches.

OUT-OF-THIS

All within a day’s drive FUN WORLD

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH KOHN | KKOHN@VICAD.COM

An astronaut's protective suit is on display at the visitor center in Houston.

An image photographed from the International Space Station shows what looking down at Earth would be like. The image at the visitor center is actually a video moving across a giant screen.

Atelevision program that keeps popping up in various iterations tells us that space is “the final frontier.”

But before we can get from here to there, South Texans have a chance to see where America’s entry to that frontier began and where it’s headed. We’re lucky, because those two elements of space travel are not a light year from here, but just a few hours drive to the northeast or to the south.

To the northeast is the Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control for most of America’s space travel is located. To the south is Starbase, the support, manufacturing and launch facilities for SpaceX’s Starship program that has set its sights on Mars, with a stop first at the moon.

Either of these two amazing bits of our future (and, to a degree, our past) is just a day trip or weekend getaway from the Crossroads.

And on our journey, we’ll stop not at the moon, but at a few places to make that trip something, well, far out.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is where NASA, and now SpaceX, have traditionally launched manned spaceflights. But once those rockets clear the tower the mission is run from Houston.

Tourists don’t really get to see the flight controllers actually controlling flights, but they can walk in the footsteps of those who did during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle eras.

The visitor complex is a museum with really big and really interesting exhibits. Kids can construct a model lunar lander out of wood, paper and rubber bands and test to see whether it would survive a touchdown on the moon. They can also make rubbings of various NASA logos.

Or, they can walk into a space shuttle. True, the Shuttle Independence never flew in space, or anywhere for that matter. It is a full-size replica, down to the Michelin tires on the landing gear. So what you see inside is what it would have looked like if that craft were in space.

Families can walk up to and examine an actual Saturn V rocket, which rests on its side from the bottom of its massive rocket boosters to the tip of its ejection system at the cone-shaped capsule. The 363-foot spaceship was one of a few that were built but never flown when the Apollo lunar program was abandoned. It rests in a building adjacent to a rocket park that holds launch engines, smaller

rockets and a Mercury Redstone rocket capable of launching a single person briefly into space – think first U.S. astronaut Alan B. Shepherd’s 15 minutes in space – and other artifacts of the country’s early venture into space.

The Saturn V is so massive, for example, that when it was fueled and ready for launch it weighed over 6.2 million pounds, or 3,100 tons. By comparison, that’s about what 39 space shuttles weigh.

Inside the building at the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park is a bronze statue of the three astronauts whose claim to fame is that they survived the only successful failure of a moon mission – Apollo 13. James A. Lovell Jr, John "Jack" L. Swigert Jr. and Fred W. Haise Jr. can best be remembered in the aptly named Tom Hanks film “Apollo 13.”

There are several tram tours, such as the free one to the rocket park or the trip to the Apollo mission control center, which provides a view into the actual center for a fee, down to the cigarettes left by controllers in the glass ashtrays.

Back in the main building of the visitor center is an actual lunar lander hung above visitors like a giant mobile, with its foil heat shields and tiny windows reflecting light from above and below.

And before you leave, don’t forget to stop in the gift shop for everything from bumper stickers to shirts, jackets, pens and books.

There’s also a snack shop and a food court, the Food Lab, where you can get pizza, sandwiches, salads, snacks, drinks, candy and, yes, coffee at the aptly named Grounds Control.

Once back on Earth and in your own four-wheel rover, Houston has many grounded attractions. Not far from the space center is one of a handful of Dave & Busters gaming centers for some evening fun.

If you’re making the 140-mile trek to the space center into a weekend getaway, Galveston and its sandy beaches isn’t far, especially when compared to the 239,000-mile voyage from Earth to the moon.

If you do soak up some rays, consider driving back on the Blue Water Highway (there’s a $2 toll). One stop en route home that’s worth taking is at a little dive eatery called Sweet T’s Diner, 230 W. 2nd St., Freeport (979-871-9293). It’s relatively inexpensive for the seafood, burgers and other assorted goodies. Great service and a pleasant environment make it

To give tourists a view of what it was like in the Mission Control Center, NASA turns on screens to simulate the moment. Some are so realistic, they even left cigarette butts in ashtrays to give the feel of the 1960s and 1970s.

A view of the shuttle bay, where satellites were stowed prior to being placed in orbit. This is inside the shuttle Independence, a full-size shuttle model.

On a voyage to Mars, this is the space astronauts would have.

Dave & Busters in Houston is one way to spend some time after traveling to the space center on a day trip.

The shuttle Independence, a full-size shuttle model, sits at the Johnson Space Center's visitor complex atop a Boeing aircraft that carried shuttles back to Florida from some California landings.

Left: Sweet T's Diner is a quaint spot in Freeport. Right : One page of the menu of Sweet T's Diner. This was provided by the restaurant online.

A wall of photographs documents the crews of each of the 135 space shuttle missions.

perfect for that landing after your space trip.

SPACEX’S STARBASE

Driving to Starbase is a weekend adventure. The 250-mile trek is long, but not boring. You’ll skirt past Corpus Christi — breezing past miles of huge wind turbines that generate megawatts of electricity — as you head down to Boca Chica and the home to Starbase.

They’re a sight to see, for sure, but nothing when you roll up a couple miles from the SpaceX compounds, off a two lane road that passes a border patrol checkpoint, and see a small city of buildings that are manufacturing and preparing actual, life-size spaceships for actual spaceflight.

Boca Chica is so far south your phone will welcome you to Mexico. Technology can be spacey sometimes.

The company offers no tours, no food courts — not even restrooms. In fact, some employees had fun crafting a sign to that effect, with lines like:

• DO NOT STRAY FROM PUBLIC ROADS: Trespassers run the risk of meeting the mysterious

chupacabra, which is known to roam these parts and eat its victims. Also, trespassing is a violation of Texas penal code 30.05.

• TOURS: Starbase does not offer tours to the general public. Your best bet is to come work for us and then you can be here all the time.

• RESTROOMS: Yikes, this is awkward, but public restrooms are not available at Starbase. You might want to start driving home now. That’d be one long run to the loo.

The SpaceX presence at Boca Chica has two main components.

First, you’ll encounter the Starfactory, which is both under construction and manufacturing Starship spacecraft. From the road, or walking up to one of the numerous entry gates, are rocket ships in various states of manufacture. It’s quite the spectacle. Some are in plain sight and others are in their hangars.

The second is the actual launch facility, which is just a stone’s throw, literally, from the beach. A high school quarterback with a good arm could

Thrusters at the nose of the shuttle would have helped it control maneuvers in space.

Visitors are not allowed on the SpaceX property, but at the gate near the launch tower, you're just a couple football fields away.

Rockets are under construction at Starbase.

When driving to and from Starbase, you'll pass hundreds of windmills. Some are seen here as the sun sets.

Boca Chica Beach is just a few hundred yards from the launch pad at the SpaceX complex.

The

Inn serves up shrimp, scallops, fish and other treats. It's best to make a reservation. And try the tartar sauce. It has a little, spicy kick to it.

This is one of the Starship rocket capsules that returned intact from testing.

Famous King's

quarterback with a good arm could throw a stone far enough to ding one of the giant fuel tanks just to the side of the world’s tallest “launch and catch” tower, which stands some 480 feet above the sandy sea level where that high school quarterback was standing. A Starship can lift off from the platform with the giant gantry tower and its lower Super Heavy booster stage will return there and be caught by giant robotic arms.

As that goofy sign said, you can’t tour Starbase, but you can apply to work there. SpaceX is hiring. In a big way. The company already employs over 1,800 people at Starbase. It is looking to expand as it makes more and more of these giant out-of-this-world crafts. The operation at Boca Chica is the largest employer and it’s still growing.

But if you just want to chill – or bake – that beach is easily accessible by foot or car. Just pass the main Starbase campus on your left, drive a half-mile and pass the launch complex on your right. Then, blast-off onto the sand and pull up feet from the water. No, you won’t get fried to a crisp when a rocket takes off – the beach and access is closed on those days. But you can get pretty close either down the bumpy road or across the water at South Padre Island.

Along your star-bound journey to SpaceX, don’t forget to have a meal or two. One popular spot is just off the beaten path about five miles at “The Famous King’s Inn.” It’s at 1116 East County Road in Riviera and can be reached at 361-297-5265. If you see a couple of pink gorillas on the side of the road, the restaurant is a block away.

The family style restaurant is anything but formal; folks come dressed in shorts and flip-flops or slacks and jackets or gowns. It’s up to the customer and the event.

The menu isn’t cheap, but it isn’t pricey. Fried shrimp or scallops are popular, as is the catch of the day, which can be fried or grilled. And with the restaurant right on the water, you can bet the catch is fresh. (Tip: Definitely order the tartar sauce, which is unlike any other you’ll find. So much so, the restaurant declined to share its secret recipe for this article, and with good reason: it’s special.)

So if you’re ready to blast off without leaving this blue marble we call Earth, there are two easy ways to get your space fix – NASA or SpaceX. And in neither case will anyone be saying, “Houston, we have a problem.”

LivemusicbyDocWelby &Chris Rybak

Santa&Mrs.Claus

andmuchmore!

Jude Gilley, 2, waddles around the drums during a Tiny Tunes music class at the Children’s Discovery Museum.

Interactive class develops young audiences’ brains, hearts

On an August afternoon in a cheerfully decorated room at the Children's Discovery Museum, a bunch of babies were getting their groove on.

"Where is the music? Where could it be? I looked around. I looked around. I found it in me!" sang Molly Beahm, a Victoria native and board-certified music therapist, in a cheerful voice not unlike Julie Andrews'.

Banging drums, grinning ear to ear and laughing with wild abandonment, her young audience was clearly enthralled.

Every Friday, Beahm hosts Tiny Tunes, a music class at the Victoria museum where she leads babies, toddlers and even newborns in interactive songs and activities.

Through the Victoria-based musical therapy organization One Heart, One Sound, Beahm along with fellow certified music therapist Betsy Stovall have made it their mission to help people of all ages find their inner beat.

The organization's name stems from the idea that music is a language all can speak — even babies.

Beahm said she knows firsthand the joys of music. She fell in love with the art form while participating in a high school marching band, which led her to pursue a music therapy certification.

With ease, Beahm can now fill a room with cheerful singing and is perfectly at home leading groups and individuals with her guitar and other instruments.

But she's also equipped with all the knowledge and expertise that comes from completing a grueling music therapy program that required a fouryear bachelor's degree and more than 1,000 internship hours.

That's important because the work of One Heart, One Sound isn't all fun and games, although there is plenty to go around at Tiny Tunes.

Kelsey Hill drove about an hour from Wharton to bring her 1-year-old child Wade to the class.

She said she loves the educational and interactive aspects.

Music therapist Molly Beahm sings a song for the children during a Tiny Tunes music class at the Children’s Discovery Museum.

"I want to do things with him," she said, adding she loves the class' interactivity and educational aspects.

It was his first class, but Hill said she could tell by his enthusiasm with a pair of maracas that he had indeed enjoyed himself.

Wade particularly liked a song about riding in the car and putting on safety belts, she said.

Daniel Perez, a Victoria dad, also attended Tiny Tunes with his 1-year-old son Theo, who has come to Tiny Tunes classes every week for about a year.

Theo, Perez said, has started enjoying making "music" at home, something his father encourages.

"He has full access to the kitchenware. He has pots and spoons and bangs on things," Perez said, adding that he's also gotten his son a toy instrument set.

That kind of play, Perez said, is about more than just having fun. It's also about brain development.

"It's all sorts of learning and exploring, getting all that good information," Perez said. "I'm hoping he becomes a smart little boy. We're looking for a very well-developed mind."

The Tiny Tunes class, perhaps more importantly, aids babies in a surprising number of ways.

The music, Beahm said, can help young people learn independence and body autonomy. It can help them become more comfortable with new environments, improve social skills, overcome shyness, regulate emotions and develop a lifelong appreciation for music and creativity.

"It's not just a music class," Beahm said. "We're not just teaching music."

According to UNICEF, when young people are exposed to music, stress is reduced, learning is improved, concentration is boosted and the brain's health is improved overall.

Making music carries its own unique benefits like improving motor, linguistic, mathematics and creative skills.

Simply put, music can be a powerful, transformative force. For developing minds, it can be even more so.

For example, Beahm recalled a parent who said their nonverbal child began singing in their sleep after attending classes.

"It's kind of miraculous," she said.

Gracie Stovall, 1, bangs on a drum while sitting with her mother, Betsy Stovall.

A Tiny Tunes music class in session.

Farnoosh Pucciarello and her daughter Tala Pucciarello, 1, listen to a song together during a class.

ABOUT TOWN

GETTING the community TOGETHER

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYRESE BOONE | TBOONE@VICAD.COM

Residents of the Crossroads have many festivals to choose from during the summer. But to celebrate the end of summer they had two big events to celebrate with — the Flip Flop Festival in Port Lavaca and the Sombrero Festival in Victoria.

This year, the Flip Flop Festival, a holiday weekend staple since 2019, had many amenities for visitors such as carnival games, live music, good eats and more at the Bayfront Peninsula Park.

People came from Houston and Louisiana to enjoy the sights and sounds. For some it was a homecoming as they returned to their hometown to visit old friends.

“The small town vibe is amazing,” said Letica Gonzales, of Corpus Christi, as she and her husband Christopher Gonzales listened to the Brown Sugar Band. “It keeps us grounded coming back home. We’re able to reconnect with friends and we’re able to see them again. We’ll be back next year.”

About 30 miles down the road, the Sombrero Fest held its second annual event at the Victoria Community Center grounds. It was started by Victoria resident B.J Macedo and Poteet resident Cornelio Valdez.

For two days, festival goers were able to listen to local acts such as Marca 361 and Grammy Award winners Grupo Atrapado perform while dancing the night away to the beautiful music. Vendors were in attendance serving authentic food such as street tacos, margaritas, fruit cups and knick knacks for attendees to indulge in.

Macedo wants to keep the festival going for a long time and wants to give back to people in his city.

“I’m not out here to get rich,” he said. “I’m just out here to get the community together. That's all I’m doing.”

Tina Hernandez, Nicole Carden and Zoey Mason

Cornelio Valdez and B.J. Macedo

Ryleigh Tristan and Manuel Garcia

Lisa Cox

Bianca Bernal and Jerydiah Bernal

Eli Diaz and Veronica Zavala

Sr. Officer Oscar Garcia

Mario Degollado Sr., Ricardo Degollado and Mario Degollado Jr.

Leticia Gonzales and Christopher Gonzales

VICTORIA

VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION- SMART GARDENING SYMPOSIUM

Oct. 7 − 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Victoria Educational Gardens

283 Bachelor Drive 361-652-3979

FALLING FOR VICTORIA LIVE MUSIC

Oct. 7 − 4-10 p.m.

The Box Coffee Parking Lot

202 S. Main St. 361-579-3103

FILM FEST

Oct. 14 − 9:45 a.m.- 1:45 p.m.

DeLeon Plaza

361-485-3200

BENNIE WHEELS & WALKIN' THE LINE JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE CONCERT

Oct. 14 − 7 p.m.

Victoria College’s Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts

214 N. Main St. 361-485-8540

THE PERSISTENCE OF THE KARANKAWAS

Oct. 19 − 5:30-7 p.m.

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St. 361-582-2511

SYMPHONIC SPOOKTACULAR PRESENTED BY THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY

Oct. 19 − 6:30-7:30 p.m

Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center

1002 Sam Houston Drive

361-788-9335

JIMMIE VAUGHAN & THE TILT-A-WHIRL BAND PRESENTED BY VICTORIA FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION

Oct. 19 − 7:30-9 p.m.

Victoria College’s Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St. 361-570-5857

Duck Safari

2023 CITIZENS RUN AGAINST CANCER 5K

Oct. 21

DeLeon Plaza

361-485-3200

ARCHAEOLOGY DAY

Oct. 21 − 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St. 361-582-2511

HANDS-ON HISTORY: CAVE PAINTING

Oct. 21 − 10:30 a.m.- noon

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St. 361-582-2511

UNITED IN CHRIST LIVE CONCERT

Oct. 21 − 3-10 p.m.

1101 Wilden St. 361-212-2466

VICTORIA SYMPHONY

Oct. 21 − 7:30 p.m.

Victoria ISD Fine Arts Center

1002 Sam Houston Drive 361-788-9335

SPOOKY FLASHLIGHT TOUR

Oct. 26 − 5-7 p.m

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St. 361-582-2511

SOUTH TEXAS FARM AND RANCH SHOW

Oct. 25 - 26

Victoria Community Center

1905 E. North St.

361-575-4581

TRUNK OR TREAT BY MERCY HOUSE

Oct. 26 − 5:30 p.m.

Mercy House at Victoria

4409 John Stockbauer Drive

361-580-3151

HALLOWEEN PARTY & COSTUME CONTEST

Oct. 28 − 7 p.m.

Rustic Ranch

361-218-3809

CLIPPER CLASH -HALLOWEEN EDITION

Oct. 29 − 2-8 p.m.

Victoria Community Center

2905 E. North St.

361-485-3215

AMERICAN LEGION POST 166

TRUNK OR TREAT

Oct. 31 − 5-7 p.m.

1402 E. Santa Rosa St.

361-648-1894

FALL DAYS MARKET

Nov. 4 − 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Mother Cluckers Downtown

Downtown Victoria

361-935-3335

VICTORIA DUCK SAFARI

Nov. 4 − Noon- 4 p.m.

Ethel Lee Tracy Park

501 E. Larkspur St.

361-570-8587

DIGGING DEEPER: THE ROLE OF SOIL HEALTH & GRAZINGLAND REGENERATION

Nov. 9 − 5:30- 7 p.m.

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St.

361-582-2511

15TH ANNUAL WINE PAIRING

Nov. 10 − 6 p.m.

Victoria Country Club

14 Spring Creek Road

361-573-3712

"A MORNING IN LA LA LAND" JAZZ BRUNCH PRESENTED BY THE VICTORIA FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION

Nov 12 − 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Victoria Country Club

14 Spring Creek Road

361-573-3712

TURKEY DAY ATLATL SKILLS COMPETITION

Nov. 16 − 8 a.m.-noon, Nov. 18 − 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Museum of the Coastal Bend

2200 E. Red River St. 361-582-2511

RESTORATION HOUSE MINISTRIES'

1,000 WOMEN STRONG

10TH ANNUAL FALL EXPO

Nov. 18 − 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Holy Family Catholic Church Conference Center

704 Mallette Drive 361-573-5304

CUERO

51ST ANNUAL CUERO TURKEYFEST

Oct. 13 - 15

Cuero Municipal Park and downtown Cuero turkeyfest.org

WIZARD OF OZ PERFORMANCE

Oct. 28 & 29 − 7 p.m.

Cuero ISD Performing Arts Center 960 E. Broadway

CUERO’S CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

Nov. 20 - Jan. 1 − 6-10 p.m.

Cuero Municipal Park

Hosted by December Events Committee of the Cuero Development Corporation

YORKTOWN

65TH ANNUAL YORKTOWN WESTERN DAYS

Oct. 20 - 22

Yorktown City Park yorktowntc.com

Hosted by Yorktown Chamber of Commerce

YOAKUM

SIP & SHOP

Nov. 16 − 11 a.m.- 9 p.m

Downtown Yoakum

Hosted by Yoakum Area Chamber of Commerce

EDNA

22ND ANNUAL TEXANA CHILI SPILL

Nov. 9-11

Brackenridge Main Event Center

284 Brackenridge Parkway

Hosted by Lavaca-Navidad River Authority and the Jackson County Go-Texan Committee

JACKSON COUNTY YOUTH FAIR

Oct. 7-14

Brackenridge Main Events Center

284 Brackenridge Parkway

Hosted by Jackson County Youth Fair Association

GOLIAD

32ND MISSIONS TOUR DE GOLIAD BICYCLE RIDE

Oct. 21

Starts downtown Goliad

Hosted by Goliad Chamber of Commerce

HALLETTSVILLE

7TH ANNUAL FALL IN A SMALL TOWN WINE WALK

Oct. 14th − 2-8 p.m. 361-798-2662

Hosted by Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture

2023 ARTISTS EXHIBIT

Nov. 18 − 11a.m. - 3 p.m.

Hallet Oak Gallery

Downtown Square

ROCKPORT

“12 ANGRY JURORS" PRESENTED BY ROCKPORT LITTLE THEATRE

Thru Oct. 15

Rockport Little Theatre

99 N. Austin St.

TEXAS TEA PARTY

Oct. 17 -23

Various locations in and around Rockport,

FULTON FALL FESTIVAL

Oct. 28 − 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Fulton Festival Grounds

ANNUAL ROCKPORT SONGWRITER FESTIVAL

Nov. 3-5

The Guy Clark Listening Room

Fulton Harbor at Charlotte Plummer's Complex

ROCKPORT FILM FESTIVAL

Nov. 10 - 12

Rockport Art Center

106 S. Austin St.

Tour de Goliad

CONNECT 361

Businesses in the Crossroads

AGRICULTURE AND FARM

DIERLAM FEED

914 E Water St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-575-3224

dierlamfeed.com

KELLY MUDD EQUIPMENT

55 FM 340, Hallettsville, TX 77964 361-798-4094

muddequipment.com

UNITED AD EL CAMPO GENERAL STORE

907 S Wharton St, El Campo, TX 77437 979-543-7756

unitedag.net

AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS

GRAFE CHEVROLET/GMC

407 Fairwinds St, Hallettsville, TX 77964 361-798-3281

grafechevygmc.com

VICTORY GMC KIA

4702 N Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904 361-572-8425

victorygmc.com

BANKS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

CAL-COM FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 1401 N. Virginia St., Port Lavaca, TX 77979 361-552-7476 calcomfcu.org

FIRST COMMUNITY BANK

6252 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77904 361-578-9310 fcbot.com

TRUST TEXAS BANK

2701 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria, TX 77904

361-572-9900

trusttexas.bank

BUILDERS

STEVE KLEIN CUSTOM BUILDER

404 Ball Airport Rd, Victoria, TX 77904 361-572-4101

steveklein.com

CARPENTRY

Shingles &MetalRoofs Siding-Carpentr y&Painting Flooring -Sheetrock

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GONZALEZ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 304 St Louis St Gonzales, TX 78629 830-672-6532

gonzalestexas.com

SCHULENBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 618 N Main St, Schulenburg, TX 78956 979-743-4514

schulenburgchamber.org

YOAKUM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 105 S Huck St, Yoakum, TX 77995 361-293-2309 yoakumareachamber.com

CLOTHING APPAREL AND SHOES

THE SOUL EMPORIUM 126 N. Courthouse Square, Goliad, TX 77963 361-405-2056

soulemporiumgoliad.com

EDUCATION

NAZARETH ACADEMY

206 W Convent St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-573-6651

nazarethacademy.org

OUR LADY OF VICTORY

1311 E Mesquite Ln #3427, Victoria, TX 77901 361-575-5391

ourladyvictoria.org

TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 1504 N Moody St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-573-3220 tesvictoria.org

VICTORIA COLLEGE 2200 E Red River, Victoria, TX 77901 361-573-3291

victoriacollege.edu

EVENT VENUES

THE VENUE ON CHURCH STREET 125 E Chruch St,Cuero, TX 77954 361-243-1015 thevenueonchurchstreet.com

VC EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX 7403 Lone Tree Road, Victoria, TX 77905 361-580-3700 conferenceinvictoria.com

EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

HALLETTSVILLE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 102 Fink St, Hallettsville, TX 77964 361-217-5491

hallettsvillefol.org

VICTORIA SYMPHONY 405 E Loma Vista Ave, Victoria, TX 77901 361-576-4500

victoriasymphony.com

Espinoza

JoseEspinoza 361-652-9656 FREEESTIMATES 20Yrs.Experience

YOAKUM COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

FUNERAL HOMES

We honorevery funeralhomes pre-plan.

AngelLucy'sFuneral Home

706E.Crestwood Dr.Victoria, Texas77901

Ph:361-575-3212 Fax:361-575-9540

Kubena Funeral HomeInc

507 SMainSt,Hallettsville,TX77964 |(361)798-3271

MooreFuneralHome

402SAlamoSt,Refugio,TX78377

(361)526-4334

Thiele-CooperFuneralHome

1477CarlRamertDrive| P. O.Box736 Yoakum,Tx77995

361-293-5656|361-293-5657(Fax) info@thielecooper.com

1505 La ValliereSt, Victoria, TX 77901 (361)578-4646

GLASS AND TINTING

TEXAS GLASS & TINTING 103 E Mockingbird Ln STE B, Victoria, TX 77904

361-572-0026

texas-glass.com

HOSPITALS

CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER

2701 Hospital Drive, Victoria, TX 77901 361-571-9181

citizensmedicalcenter.org

1200 Carl Ramert Dr, Yoakum, TX 77995 361-293-2321

yoakumhospital.org

IMAGING

2501 EAirlineRd Victoria,TX77901 (361)578-9729

INSURANCE

JANECKA INSURANCE AGENCY

702 E Crestwood Dr, Victoria, TX 77901 361-573-4475

janeckainsurance.com

VILLAFRANCA INSURANCE

201 E Sabine STE 105, Victoria, TX 77904 361-655-8083 villafrancainsurance.com

LEGAL SERVICES

KLIEM & BALUSEK ATTORNEYS AT LAW

3004 Sam Houston Dr., Victoria, TX 77904 361-575-5291 kliemlaw.com

LUMBER SERVICES

EL CLAVO LUMBER

682 Burroghsvile Rd, Victoria, TX 77905 361-579-0006

elclavocontractorssupplytx.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

GULF BEND CENTER

6502 Nursery Dr, Victoria, TX 77904 361-575-0611

gulfbend.org

MUSEUMS

CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM

1205 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria, TX 77901 361-485-9140

cdmgoldencrescent.org

MUSEUM OF THE COASTAL BEND

2200 E Red River, Victoria, TX 77901 361-582-2511

museumofthecoastalbend.org

MUSIC LESSONS

TEE'S MUSIC HOUSE

906 E Red River St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-575-0204

teesmusichouse.com

NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES

FOOD BANK OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT/FARMER'S MARKET

801 South Laurent St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-578-0591 tfbgc.org/farmers-market

PAINTING AND DRYWALL

GilbertAlvarado

Painting andDr ywall

-Interior/Exterior

-Hang, Tape, Mud, Texture -Pressure Washing years of high quality work 813

Victoria, TX 77904

-licensed -insured -carpentry

Cell:361-652-0099

PEST CONTROL

BUGMOBILES

2304 E Mockingbird Ln, Victoria, TX 77904

361-575-6401 bugmobiles.com

PET ADOPTIONS

DOROTHY O'CONNOR PET ADOPTION

135 Progress Dr, Victoria, TX 77905 361-575-8573

docpac.net

PRINTING AND SHIPPING

UPS STORE

1708 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-572-0693

store6666.com

PUBLIC COMMODITIES

LAVACA NAVIDAD RIVER AUTHORITY (LNRA)

4631 FM 3131, Edna, TX 77957 361-782-5229

lnra.org

AcousticGuitars -ElectricGuitars -DrumSets

Amplifiers -Harmonicas -Accordians -BanjoSetos- Banjos-Violins Band/StringInstrumentRentals

RepairServices

906 ERedRiver -Victoria361-575-0204

teesmusichouse.comteesmusichouse@yahoo.com Layawaywelcome- Giftcertificatesavailable

REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND AGENTS

"EverythingRealEstate"

Servingthecommunityforover40years 361-573-6001

MANNING REAL ESTATE GROUP 5803 John Stockbauer Dr Suite J, Victoria, TX 77904 361-571-1851

manningrealestategroup.com

RUSSELL CAIN REAL ESTATE 2025 TX-35, Port Lavaca, TX 77979 361-552-6313 russellcain.com

RESTAURANTS AND SPECIALTY FOOD

CUERO PECAN HOUSE 104 W South Railroad St, Cuero, TX 77954 361-275-5632

cueropecanhouse.com

LAS CONCHAS 403 S Laurent St, Victoria, TX 77901 361-894-7180

YUMMY FINDS

402 Salem Rd, Victoria, TX 77904 361-572-0225

yummyfinds.com

VETERINARY SERVICES

VCA VICTORIA ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2706 Sam Houston Dr, Victoria, TX 77904 361-573-3200

vcahospitals.com/victoria

WATER WELL DRILLING

CHANDLER DRILLING 966 FM 318 E, Yoakum, TX 77995 361-293-3168

chandlerdrilling.com