Discover History Past comes to life at Texas museum

BoomtownBusinesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

Beautiful on the outsideRecreation activities are numerous

2012 | imagesvictoria.com

®

victoria, texas

sponsoreD By tHe victoria cHamBer of commerce

Other Center for Peace Trainings:

Wholistic Community Development

Conflict Resolution

Circle Training

40-Hour Basic Mediation Training

Drug Addicts 411

For information on any of the trainings offered, call (361) 575-2249 or email cfp@perpetualhelphome.org.

What’s the

BIG idea?

The Center for Peace has inspired women

to enroll in college, cultivated natural leaders

and led to amazing life transformations.

Our newest program, “For Us, By Us,”

offers other women in the community

a chance for personal growth through

computer and job skills.

“Center for Peace allowed me to release my hidden talents and changed my life.”

Our business may take us all over the world, but we always come home to Victoria!

GOD, Family, Team & Me®

Victoria … It’s where we live, play, worship and

invest. It’s where we watch our children play,

learn and grow; where we enjoy time with

family, friends and community; where we

spend our greatest moments in life …

and we’re proud to call it home!

107 John Stockbauer Dr. Victoria, TX 77901

(361) 578-1524 • (361) 578-1578 Fax

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imagesvicToRia .com 3

all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

on tHe cover The Texas Zoo Photo by Jeff Adkins

dePartments

6 almanac

22 Biz Briefs

24 chamber report

25 economic profile

26 image gallery

32 Local flavor

34 arts & culture

36 education

39 Health & wellness

42 sports & recreation

45 real estate

47 community profile

48 through the Lens

2012 eDition | voLume 4

victoria, texas

®

contents

Features

10 Discover HistoryPast comes to life at Texas museum

14 texas untameDZoo staff adds to visitors’ experience

20 BoomtownBusinesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

14

10

imagesvicToRia .com 3

What’s online imagesvictoria.com

Discover History Past comes to life at Texas museum

BoomtownBusinesses benefit from industry growth, natural resources

Beautiful on the outsideRecreation activities are numerous

2012 | imagesvictoria.com

®

victoria, texas

sponsoreD By tHe victoria cHamBer of commerce

Visually explore Victoria in our online photo and video galleries

Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.

Photos & Videos

digital magazine

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

liVing hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

victoria, texas

®

eDitoriaL project manager miTch Kline

content Director lisA BATTles

proofreaDing manager RAven PeTTy

content coorDinator JessicA WAlKeR

staff writer Kevin liTWin

copy eDitor Jill WyATT

contriButing writers BARBARA BiehleR,

Joe moRRis, KARen schWARTZmAn, BRAxTon shooP

senior grapHic Designers lAuRA GAllAGheR,

JAnine mARylAnd, KRis sexTon, viKKi WilliAms

grapHic Designers RAchAel GeRRinGeR, TAyloR nunley

senior pHotograpHers Jeff AdKins, BRiAn mccoRd

staff pHotograpHers Todd BenneTT, AnTony BoshieR

coLor imaging tecHnician Alison hunTeR

integrateD meDia manager Ginny ellsWoRTh

aD proDuction manager KATie middendoRf

aD traffic assistants KRysTin lemmon, PATRiciA moisAn

cHairman GReG ThuRmAn

presiDent/puBLisHer BoB schWARTZmAn

executive vice presiDent RAy lAnGen

senior v.p./saLes Todd PoTTeR

senior v.p./operations cAsey hesTeR

senior v.p./cLient DeveLopment Jeff heefneR

senior v.p./Business DeveLopment scoTT TemPleTon

senior v.p./agriBusiness puBLisHing Kim holmBeRG

v.p./Business DeveLopment chARles fiTZGiBBon

v.p./externaL communications TeRee cARuTheRs

v.p./visuaL content mARK foResTeR

v.p./content operations nATAshA loRens

v.p./traveL puBLisHing susAn chAPPell

v.p./saLes heRB hARPeR, JAReK sWeKosKy

controLLer chRis dudley

senior accountant lisA oWens

accounts payaBLe coorDinator mARiA mcfARlAnd

accounts receivaBLe coorDinator diAnA GuZmAn

saLes support coorDinator Alex mARKs

saLes support project manager sARA quinT

i.t. Director yAncey Bond

system aDministrator dAniel cAnTRell

weB content manager John hood

weB project manager noy fonGnAly

weB Designer ii RichARd sTevens

weB DeveLoper i yAmel hAll, nels noseWoRThy

weB account manager lAuRen euBAnK

pHotograpHy Director JeffRey s. oTTo

meDia tecHnoLogy Director chRisTinA cARden

meDia tecHnoLogy anaLysts BeccA ARy,

chAndRA BRAdshAW

auDience DeveLopment Director deAnnA nelson

LivaBiLity.com proDuct manager Allison dAvis

marketing creative Director KeiTh hARRis

DistriBution Director GARy smiTh

executive secretary KRisTy duncAn

Human resources manager PeGGy BlAKe

receptionist lindA BishoP

Images Victoria is published annually by Journal communications inc. and is distributed

through the victoria chamber of commerce and its member businesses.

for advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact

Journal communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

for more information, contact:victoria chamber of commerce

3404 n. Ben Wilson st. • victoria, Tx 77901Phone: (361) 573-5277 • fax: (361) 573-5911

victoriachamber.org

visit Images VIctorIa onLine at imagesvictoria.com

©copyright 2011 Journal communications inc., 725 cool springs Blvd., suite 400, franklin, Tn 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

member The Association of magazine media

member custom content council

member victoria chamber of commerce

4 vicToRia

Digital Edition

share with a Friendeasily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, twitter or via email.

haVe a Blog or weBsite?embed the digital magazine in your site to add compelling, local information.

do more than JUst read aBoUt itexperience the community through video and find links to other sites for additional information.

imagesvictoria.com

®

staff aDDs many more visitor experiences

when Andrea Blomberg became executive director of The Texas Zoo

a couple of years ago, she was disappointed that it took her only 20 minutes to walk around and see all the exhibits. After those 20 minutes, the zoo experience was basically over.

“I knew something needed to be done to improve the visitor experience at The Texas Zoo, so improvements have already been made and will continue to be made,” Blomberg says. “Now we have become a little zoo with lots to do.”

The zoo added a lion exhibit in 2010, as well as a redesigned the

Animal Kingdom building that provides up-close viewing of a large array of reptiles, birds and small mammals. There is also a paleontology dig site inside the Animal Kingdom building where parents can first download worksheets from the zoo’s website, then the kids can get involved in scavenger hunts and other activities. Other new additions include a Birds of Prey exhibit, a small primate exhibit, scheduled zookeeper chats, reptile shows and a petting zoo where children can get in and engage with the animals instead of just feeding them from outside an enclosure.

The hard work of the employees

sToRy By kevin LitwinPhoToGRAPhy By jeff aDkins

The new Barbary lion cub exhibit allows visitors to get a close look at the big cats.

untamedTexas

14 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 15 14 VICTORIA IMAGESVICTORIA .COM 15

4 vicToRia

Welcome to Victoriaan inTRoducTion To The aRea’s PeoPle, Places and evenTs

Beat the heatThis summer saw the opening of

victoria independent school district’s

new Aquatic center, giving residents

a new place to beat the summer heat.

located next to the new victoria

fine Arts center, the Aquatic center

features an indoor pool open weekly

in the mornings and evenings. Built

primarily for fitness swimming, the

center’s competition pool has a

starting depth of 7 feet and a

maximum of 13 feet. The whole

family is free to enjoy the pool and

two diving boards, though a small

admission price is requested for

each visit. frequent pool-goers can

purchase a monthly or annual pass.

up on the Artsfor victoria arts patrons, 2011

has ushered in a new era for

performances with the opening

of the victoria independent

school district’s victoria fine

Arts center on the old high

school campus at the Advanced

learning center. it is the largest

venue with auditorium seating

in the city. The fine Arts center

will primarily be used by visd,

but the community will be able

to rent the facility on available

dates. music concerts, dance

recitals, theatrical productions,

school-wide programs, meetings

and ceremonies will take place

at the facility. visd also fostered

performing arts within the

schools by adding auditoriums

to two new high schools.

Roaming the Reservoir

located between victoria and goliad, coleto creek Park and Reservoir provides a place for residents to play. The park offers a 3,100-acre freshwater lake, a 200-foot pier and more than 50 campsites. if you’re looking to wet a hook, coleto creek’s lake is stocked with everything from catfish to crappie.

in the heat of the summer season water recreation is at its peak, including water skiing, jet skiing and swimming in the lake or in the marked-off area near the shore. There are even some who parasail, taking advantage of the lake’s long and narrow shape.

Almanac

6 vicToRia

a Place to skateobstacles and action await

at the victoria skatepark. The park features a plaza-influenced street course with connecting pathways and a 2.5-foot drop, a horseshoe transitional ramp, as well as a bridge gap and curved ledges that make a unique course designed to offer a challenge. also on-site is a multilevel bowl where skaters can test their skills at four different depths: 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a place to practice or a pro who needs a challenge, you’ll find your course of choice at the victoria skatepark.

A Tour Through TimeWith more than 100 buildings on the national

Register of historic Places, victoria’s past is very much its vibrant, colorful present – and its future. As more homes within the city’s downtown area are renovated, either as private residences or for business purposes, victoria’s historical center seems secure. And as the neighborhoods grow in diversity, they are fast becoming a draw not only for tourists but also for new dwellers. some of the larger commercial buildings are being evaluated for loft and apartment spaces in combination with retail storefronts, which will further enhance the area.

imagesvicToRia .com 7

Play for the Red, White and BlueGolf is big business in victoria. multiple courses offer different lengths and

accommodate all levels of golfers. The 27-hole Riverside Golf course, the only municipal

course in the city, offers three 9-hole courses named the Red, White and Blue. The Red

is the longest, followed by the White and then the Blue. The semi-private colony creek

country club has a 6,413-yard, par-71 course that was built in 1985. sand, water and rough

come into play on nearly every hole. The course at the private victoria country club has an

18-hole layout. The course has played host to several professional and amateur tournaments,

and in 2010 was the site of the national Golf Association’s inaugural victoria Texas open.

Victoria in action

Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Victoria is in our quick videos at imagesvictoria.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that Victoria has to offer.

imagesvictoria.com imagesvicToRia .com 9

imagesvicToRia .com 9

Victoria at a glance

Fast Factsn The victoria community center, at 68,000 square feet, is the largest enclosed convention/exhibit facility in the golden crescent of southwest Texas.

n The city is home to the second-oldest Roman catholic church in Texas, st. mary’s church.

n victoria residents saw their first white christmas in 2004, when more than 12.4 inches of snow fell on the city. Typically, it snows only once every 11 years here.

n Former major league Baseball players doug drabek and Ron gant are from the victoria area, as is ex-professional wrestler “stone cold” steve austin.

n victoria is home to the university of houston-victoria and The victoria college, a community college. additionally, more than 60 colleges and universities are located within a 125-mile radius.

n canoeing and kayaking are popular here, thanks to the victoria-Riverside Park Paddling Trail on the guadalupe River.

What’s online Take a virtual tour of Victoria, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesvictoria.com.

185

59

77

77

87

87

59

VICTORIA

Guad

alupe R

.

Victoria

City

City

City

City

City

STATE

River

Main City Name312

3121

65

COUNTY NAMEO TY13

To City

To Houston

To San Antoniot

popuLation (2010 estimate) victoria: 62,592

Locationvictoria is in southeast Texas,

30 miles inland from the Gulf

of mexico. victoria is 90 miles from

corpus christi; 110 miles from san

Antonio; 120 miles from houston;

and 125 miles from Austin.

Beginnings victoria was formally founded by

don martin de leon in 1824 and

served briefly as the capital of the

Republic of the Rio Grande. victoria

is named after Gen. Guadalupe

victoria, the first president of

independent mexico.

for more informationvictoria chamber of commerce

3404 n. Ben Wilson st.

victoria, Tx 77901

Phone: (361) 573-5277

fax: (361) 573-5911 www.victoriachamber.org

Victoria

Time for a RideBike riding in victoria covers

all kinds of terrain and ability

levels. if you’re up for a ride

that requires endurance, try

the 50-mile course through

coletoville to schroeder. An

optional 10-mile extension

for the route is available for

those who truly want to push

themselves. Tone it down

a notch with the mostly flat

30-mile ride from coletoville

to lower mission Road. A similar

20-mile route also features flat

terrain, while a 10k is available

for a scenic ride through

Riverside Park and downtown

victoria. for a more intense

ride, try the mountain bike

trails at coleto creek Park

and Reservoir.

imagesvicToRia .com 11 10 vicToRia

History

ever since French explorer Robert de La Salle established a settlement along the central Texas coastline in 1685, the mid-coastal region of Texas has experienced a vibrant multicultural

history. This colorful past comes to life at the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria, where visitors can explore the region’s diverse cultural background, from the area’s original Native American inhabitants to the French, Spanish and English settlers who followed with great aspirations of New World expansion.

How the museum Began and its missionThe Museum of the Coastal Bend began as a

concept by Victoria College, which over the years worked with advisors and volunteers from the Victoria area to develop the museum. The mission of this new museum would be to educate the public while enhancing “the appreciation and enjoyment

of the region’s heritage.” After creating a facility offering a comprehensive look of the Texas coastline’s rich traditions and natural resources, the Museum of the Coastal Bend, located on the Victoria College campus, opened to the public on Oct. 11, 2003.

what the museum offers victoria residentsFulfilling its purpose to “collect, preserve, exhibit,

interpret and educate using the history and heritage of the region,” the Museum of the Coastal Bend offers a wide range of exhibits and educational programs the whole family can enjoy. Tour the facility with a museum volunteer, listen to an audio tour or discover any of the exhibits on your own.

Among the intriguing displays visitors will find in the museum are The La Salle Odyssey and Cattle Boom! exhibits, each vividly illustrating particular periods of time in Coastal Texas history. The La Salle Odyssey

past comes to Life at texas museum

sToRy By BarBara BieHLerPhoToGRAPhy By jeff aDkins

museum of the coastal Bend on the campus of victoria college

Discover

imagesvicToRia .com 11

chronicles the story of the first European settlement in Texas, Fort St. Louis, and the archeological excavation of La Salle’s ship, La Belle, which sunk long ago in the waters of Matagorda Bay. Telling each part of La Salle’s story through a series of educational text panels and historical images, the museum displays a variety of fascinating relics relevant to the French explorer’s Texas expedition, including seven of the eight cannons he brought to the state during his travels. Cattle Boom! is an exhibit developed exclusively for the museum, and accounts stories of long cattle drives, ranching families and their cultures through artifacts, maps, historical documents and pictures.

enthusiastic volunteers add to the experience

While the exhibits tell captivating stories of the state’s past, Sue Prudhomme, director of the Museum of the Coastal Bend, emphasizes that the museum “is more than artifacts and scholarly words. It’s the people who help us to tell our story that makes our museum unique.”

These people are the enthusiastic museum volunteers who have had archeological adventures of their own.

“Bill Birmingham has been passionate about preserving our past for almost half a century,” Prudhomme says. “He’s worked on nearly every archeological survey and excavation in the county, and encourages others to follow his path of preservation and stewardship.” Volunteers Jud Austin and Jimmy Bluhm also preserved artifacts they discovered through their own persistence and determination to protect important pieces of Coastal Texas history.

Let the passion and enthusiasm of the staffers and volunteers enhance your visit to the Museum of the Coastal Bend. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

clockwise from top left: an iron safe, circa 1830, on display; volunteers looking for artifacts from a sunken ship; visitors gather for a lecture at the museum.

12 vicToRia

What’s online For more about the Museum of the Coastal Bend, visit www.museumofthecoastalbend.org.

12 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 13

14 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 15

staff aDDs many more visitor experiences

when Andrea Blomberg became executive director of The Texas Zoo

a couple of years ago, she was disappointed that it took her only 20 minutes to walk around and see all the exhibits. After those 20 minutes, the zoo experience was basically over.

“I knew something needed to be done to improve the visitor experience at The Texas Zoo, so improvements have already been made and will continue to be made,” Blomberg says. “Now we have become a little zoo with lots to do.”

The zoo added a lion exhibit in 2010, as well as a redesigned the

Animal Kingdom building that provides up-close viewing of a large array of reptiles, birds and small mammals. There is also a paleontology dig site inside the Animal Kingdom building where parents can first download worksheets from the zoo’s website, then the kids can get involved in scavenger hunts and other activities. Other new additions include a Birds of Prey exhibit, a small primate exhibit, scheduled zookeeper chats, reptile shows and a petting zoo where children can get in and engage with the animals instead of just feeding them from outside an enclosure.

The hard work of the employees

sToRy By kevin LitwinPhoToGRAPhy By jeff aDkins

The new Barbary lion cub exhibit allows visitors to get a close look at the big cats.

untamedTexas

14 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 15

imagesvicToRia .com 17 16 vicToRia

and volunteers who helped transform the zoo into an active adventureland has paid off.

“We estimate that our attendance will be up about 25 percent in 2011 compared to 2010, and our attendance in 2010 was higher than in 2009,” Blomberg said. “The zoo serves the entire Golden Crescent area, but we are also starting to draw people from Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and other parts of Texas.”

conservation, education remain the focus

The Texas Zoo was officially established in 1976 on 6 acres of Riverside Park along the Guadalupe River. In 1984, the Texas Legislature recognized the zoo’s contributions to wildlife conservation and proclaimed it The National Zoo of Texas, and today it houses a wide variety of animals that are native to Texas as well as exotic species from around the world. The South Texas Zoological Society oversees operations of The Texas Zoo and their board advocates conservation and education.

“We connect people with wildlife and inspire caring for nature,” Blomberg says. “Have you |touched a snake or held a bear’s skull in your hands? You can here. There is much to do at The Texas Zoo.”

In total, there are 150 animals on display and

clockwise from top left: a child shows her paper-plate lion to a real lion; a river otter naps at the Texas Zoo; a Baird’s Tapir cools off in the shade

imagesvicToRia .com 17

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18 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 19

visitors can easily view all of the animals, as opposed to many larger zoos that don’t have convenient visitor access points.

“We have animals such as the armadillo, river otter, prairie dog, alligators and many varieties of snakes, plus endangered species like the red wolf and ocelots,” Blomberg says. “We also have exotic animals that include Bengal tigers of Asia, Hamadryas baboons of Africa, cotton-top tamarins from South America and lemurs of Madagascar.”

Admission to The Texas Zoo is $4.50 for seniors 55 and above; $6 for adults 13 and above; $5 for children 12 and under; $5 active/retired military with ID; and free admission for toddlers 2 and under. Hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.)

from top: a macaw watches visitors; The Texas Zoo

18 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 19

texas’ booming energy sector is visible throughout the state, but nowhere more so than in Victoria, where strong corporate development intersects with major natural

resources to produce a robust local economy.

caterpillar, petrochemical plants expand operations

Well-known national and international energy and related companies continue to call Victoria home, and they are being joined by an increasing number of new players. In 2012, the new $200 million Caterpillar excavator plant will come online, a 1 million-square-foot facility that will create an estimated 600 new jobs. It joins Formosa Plastics Corp., which operates a production facility and support operation at a 1,600-acre petrochemical complex in Point Comfort; polymer and fiber producer INVISTA, which continues

to expand its manufacturing facility in Victoria with both employees and operational capacity; and Dow’s Seadrift Operations, a 4,700-acre site with 11 plants representing the company’s global businesses.

economic Development key focus for victoria officials

Recruiting, retaining and growing the petrochemical sector is a continuing mission for Victoria’s economic development officials. Happily, the area’s strong infrastructure, solid business climate and vast resources give them plenty to offer, says Dale Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp.

“One of the things Caterpillar really likes about us is the diversity we have here,” Fowler says. “We are very heavily invested in petrochemical companies, but we aren’t tied too strongly to any one industry. Our

victoria Businesses Benefit from energy inDustry growtH, naturaL resources

sToRy By joe morrisPhoToGRAPhy By jeff aDkins

BoomtownWelcome To

20 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 21

Business

medical industry is growing and has substantial ties to the hospital systems here, and our transportation advantages through highways, rail and waterways give us an advantage with many other industry sectors as well.”

eagle ford shale adds to successVictoria is also reaping the benefits of its proximity

to the Eagle Ford Shale, a vast formation that is a hotspot for gas and oil developers and related businesses.

“The advancement of technology has allowed them to develop deep, horizontal drilling and fracking wells, so that industry has really changed,” Fowler says. “We’re centrally located along the northern half of the shale, and our community has enough amenities to support the people who are coming in for the various operations. We’re not doing a lot of the drilling here yet, but we’re a very strong destination for the companies coming in to do so, as well as all the people

who are relocating to the area to work on the shale, or run the companies who are doing that work.”

Victoria is firing on all thrusters to capitalize on all this activity, and is succeeding because of well-laid plans that have been in place for years.

“We’re not just building these synergies now,” Fowler says. “Caterpillar was the result of a longtime community and business recruitment effort. We purchased and developed a business park so that we’d have available sites for industry. We have formed relationships over time in many different industries, and they help us close a lot of deals. And going forward, we’re working to make sure these existing industries know that they can grow to their full potential here, and that we can develop other business parks and properties, such as land at the Port of Victoria, in such a way that different businesses can find a home here as well.”

Polymer and fiber producer invisTa continues to expand its manufacturing facility in victoria.

20 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 21

22 vicToRia

scorecardBusiness at

a gLance

$900 millionannual retail sales

$15,404retail sales

per capita

$87 millionannual hotel

and food sales

5,063total number

of firms

source: U.s. census QuickFacts

Business

Biz BriefsBusinesses – BoTh laRge and small – ThaT helP deFine

vicToRia’s economic climaTe

torin BaLes fine jeweLryBiz: Jewelry storeBuzz: Serving the Victoria area for more than 17 years, Torin Bales Fine Jewelry strives to meet each customer’s needs by pairing beautiful jewelry with first-class service. Shoppers can enjoy complimentary beverages while browsing, and can have their jewelry cleaned at no cost. Various brands are available, such as Rolex and David Yurman, as well as the Torin Bales Collection.www.torinbales.com

22 vicToRia

on tHe eDge pHotograpHyBiz: Sports and event photography businessBuzz: Based in Victoria, On the Edge Photography specializes in sports and event photography. The business is owned by the area’s first Certified Professional Photographer, Randy Pollard, who founded the business in 2004. Named the Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Partner of the Year in 2008, On the Edge Photography promises customers high-quality images as well as an exciting, unforgettable experience.www.getontheedge.com

anDerson, smitH, nuLL & stofer, LLpBiz: Law firmBuzz: The second-oldest law firm in the state of Texas, Anderson, Smith, Null & Stofer, LLP offers a wide variety of legal services. The firm serves an array of clients, from large corporations to small businesses and individuals.www.andersonsmith.com

first victoria BankBiz: Full-service commercial bankBuzz: First Victoria Bank is the oldest independent bank in Texas and currently serves more than 70,000 customers. Established in 1867 by John Milton Brownson, the bank has grown to offer 27 banking centers and 35 ATMs, with five of those locations in Victoria. Customers can enjoy a broad range of services, such as online and mobile banking.www.firstvictoria.com

LoDestone financiaL servicesBiz: Financial planning firmBuzz: Headquartered in Victoria, Lodestone Financial Services’ experienced partners focus on helping clients accumulate wealth, protect assets and manage their finances. This firm assists both individuals and businesses with insurance and investments, such as 401(k) plans, mutual funds and managed portfolios, and also offers assistance with funding higher education, retirement planning and business preservation.http://lodestonegroup.com

the victoria chamber of

commerce has 900 members,

with about 650 of those being

small businesses. Those kinds

of businesses are categorized

as having from 1 to 25 employees,

and Randy vivian says they have

always been the life blood of any

chamber, including victoria’s.

“yes, small businesses make

up 70 to 80 percent of chamber

memberships in every community

throughout the country, so they

indeed are vital,” says vivian,

president and ceo of the victoria

chamber of commerce. “in

victoria, we have introduced a

new program targeted specifically

on those kinds of businesses,

in hopes to further their chances

Business

chamber reportchamBeR noW hosTs WoRkshoPs To aid small Businesses

of economic success.”

That new program is called

Building Better Businesses and its

premise is to showcase informative,

valuable workshops that occur on

a quarterly basis. The workshops

are free and open to any small-

business owners, managers and

employees who are chamber

members, with quarterly sessions

taking place usually from 3 p.m. to

5 p.m. in the multipurpose room at

the university of houston-victoria.

“The chamber is partnering

with Workforce solutions Golden

crescent, victoria college and the

university of houston-victoria’s

small Business development

center to help owners and

managers run their businesses

better,” vivian says. “one of the

first workshops we already hosted

featured the basic topic of starting

your own business, which provided

instruction on the first steps to

take, as well as specific services

available to assist a person or

company in such an endeavor.”

for more information about

the chamber, visit their website

at www.victoriachamber.org.

– Kevin Litwin

24 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 25

economic profiLe

taxes

1.5%city sales and use Tax

.5%county sales Tax

6.25%state sales Tax

8.25%Total sales Tax

income

$23,761Per capita income

$50,088average annual

household expenditure

top empLoyers

2,000+ employees

victoria isd

1,000-1,999 employees

formosa Plastic

citizen’s medical center

The inteplast Group

deTar healthcare system

600-999 employees

dow-seadrift operations

calhoun isd

victoria county

city of victoria

invisTA

transportation

victoria Regional airport

609 foster field dr., no. f

(361) 578-2704

www.flyvictoriatx.com

union Pacific Railroad

www.up.com

economic overviewindustry has found a home in the mid-Texas Gulf coast city of victoria. A vibrant, diverse economy ensures that victoria will be well positioned for dynamic growth throughout the 21st century. The victoria region provides business and industry the transportation infrastructure, higher education, burgeoning retail trade sector and a divergent, hard-working labor force needed to succeed and prosper.

6 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

www.newdistributing.com

Port of victoria (361) 570-8855 www.portofvictoria.com

Known as the south Texas crossroads, victoria is located at the intersection of three major u.s. highways:

u.s. highway 59 (future i-69)

u.s. highway 77

u.s. highway 87

interstates:

i-10, i-35 and i-37

economic resources

victoria chamber of commerce 3404 n. Ben Wilson st. (361) 573-5277 www.victoriachamber.org

victoria economic development corporation700 n. main st., no. 104 (361) 485-3190 www.victoriaedc.com

24 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 25

1892 Victoria County Courthouse

Photo by Brian McCord

image Gallery

26 vicToRia

imagesvicToRia .com 27

Early-morning fishing on Coleto Creek Reservoir

Photo by Antony Boshier

image Gallery

28 vicToRia

A monument dedicated by the William P. Rogers Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy

Photo by Brian McCord

imagesvicToRia .com 29

image Gallery

The sun sets on the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad.

Photo by Jeff Adkins

30 vicToRia

imagesvicToRia .com 31

the dining scene in victoria

is diverse and tasty, with a

variety of restaurants ranging

from historical sites to trendy

venues and fresh food options.

oldie But goodiefossati’s delicatessen opened

in 1882 by immigrant fraschio

napolean fossati. After more

than 100 years in victoria this

restaurant is one of the most

popular dining spots in the area.

customers enjoy a casual and

friendly atmosphere, not to

mention foods that will satisfy

any hunger. some notable menu

items include potato soup, apple

crisp, ice cream and chicken salad.

This deli is a great place for kids

and groups, and offers delivery

as well. Known as a victorian

tradition, the restaurant is listed

on the national Register of

historic Places and can brag that

it once hosted a Willie nelson

performance.

Fun and Friendly FareRosebud fountain and Grill,

a 1940s-soda-fountain-themed

restaurant, serves customers

a variety of home-cooked food

ranging from burgers, french

fries and onion rings to fried

shrimp, oysters, frog legs and

catfish. The soda fountain

produces malts, shakes and

other beverages all made

from real ice cream.

Greek Brothers restaurant not

only offers family fun and food,

but also entertainment. The menu

consists of more than 50 dishes

featuring a variety of seafood,

salads, steaks, chicken and pasta

dishes. With live entertainment

from Thursday through saturday,

a dance floor, oyster bar and

outdoor patio, visitors enjoy

the diversity in atmospheres.

soPhisticated tastesolde victoria at The oak

Room, a family-owned restaurant

established in 1987, offers an

elegant environment complete

with specialty menu items and

an assortment of wine, beer

and mixed drinks. Residents can

dine for lunch and dinner, but the

restaurant also accommodates

large groups up to 300 people

for wedding receptions or

rehearsals, business functions

and celebrations. if you’re looking

for a souvenir to take home, try

the olde victoria house dressing

that is available for purchase.

coFFee and suchlongleaf coffee company

is a family-owned establishment

and the owners, Keith and cindy

moore, say their priority is to

serve the finest coffees and food

that they can. each bakery item

is made from scratch every day

and the baristas are trained

extensively. The menu offers

coffee-based drinks, breakfast

pastries, lunch items and desserts.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies

victoria farmers market sells

fresh produce to as many as

1,500 visitors on a spring day.

The market is open on Tuesdays,

Thursdays and saturdays from

8 a.m.-4 p.m. depending on

product availability. located

at the Pattie dodson Public

health center, the market strives

to provide home-grown produce

to the community. vendors are

limited to a 100-mile residential

radius in order to sell.

victoria Produce inc. is a

private business that specializes

in wholesale produce.

– Raven Petty

taste the differenceFood oPTions aRe diveRse and saTisFying

local flavor

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clockwise from left: herb-crusted grilled salmon served with saffron basmati rice at olde victoria at The oak Room; greek Brothers restaurant; victoria Farmers market vendors are limited to a 100-mile residential radius in order to provide the freshest produce; The dining room at olde victoria at The oak Room

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34 vicToRia

v ictoria’s residents and visitors

alike can enjoy the wide array

of cultural opportunities the city

has to offer. offering historic

monuments and museums, as well

as theatrical performances and

music-filled festivals, victoria’s

cultural scene is thriving.

history comes to liFe in Victoria

located in the center of

downtown victoria, deleon

Plaza serves as a park complete

with a gazebo and shade trees,

and at night, lit trees complement

the historic courthouse across

the street. The plaza is one of

four public squares laid out by

colony founder martin de leon.

visitors will find six flags that

welcome them to monuments,

sidewalks, benches, memorials

and a bandstand.

The Trail of six flags

monument is a dedication to the

explorers, founders and colonists

of early Texas. victoria is in the

only county where all six flags have

flown over Texas and is the site of

the first european colony in Texas.

home to the nave house, the

nave museum is a fine arts

museum that is home to traveling

exhibits of both classical and

modern genres. Past exhibits

include pieces by Royston nave,

for whom the museum was built,

and world renowned artists such

as Andy Warhol, mary cassatt,

Joan mitchell and freida Kahlo.

victoria Preservation inc.

offers Tours of victoria, which

include walking and driving tours

of historic properties year round.

The company aids in the

education and awareness of

victoria’s historical significance

by preserving, protecting and

developing artifacts and

properties throughout the city.

music and arts inVigorate and enhance the city

Taking place each June, the

victoria Bach festival provides

a week of intimate concerts,

oratorio and symphonic

performances, and family-fun

outdoor concerts. The festival

is the perfect place for local and

nationally acclaimed musicians

to collaborate, giving visitors

an engaging musical experience.

Grammy-winner craig hella

Johnson leads a small creative

team that shapes the festival’s

performances.

leo J. Welder center for the

Performing Arts is owned by

victoria Performing Arts center

inc. and was dedicated in 2004,

beginning the mission of bringing

arts to downtown victoria.

events include live theatrical

performances, music, pageants

a cultivated cultural landscapevicToRia’s culTuRal oFFeRings enTeRTain, educaTe and exciTe

Arts & culture

victoria Ballet theatre

34 vicToRia

and fellowship assemblies.

The resident company, Theatre

victoria, operates the center,

which is also available for rental.

victoria symphony orchestra

started in 1974 and continues to

provide music lovers with quality

concerts including professional

musicians from around the world.

The orchestra enriches, entertains,

educates and inspires the

community through concerts

and educational opportunities.

The victoria Ballet Theatre is a

nonprofit organization that works,

often with the victoria symphony

orchestra, to offer dance and

appreciation of dance to the

community. Past performances

have included: The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf and Spring Gala. The theater also educates

young people, trains dancers

and provides a foundation for

those interested in pursuing

a career in the arts.

– Raven Petty The statue Last Stand by Pompeo coppini in deleon Plaza

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36 Victoria

Victoria’s education system knows knowledge is key.

With more than 60 colleges and universities within a 125-mile radius of Victoria, it is evident that the city aims to not only educate students but develop them to enter the workforce.

Early lEarnErsVictoria Independent School

District is the primary provider

of education for grades K-12. Its

goal is to prepare students to be

members of society by offering

a comprehensive, standard-based

curriculum. Parents have an array

of schools to choose from, as the

district offers 17 elementary

schools and 11 middle and high

schools – many of which are

magnet schools, along with

nine private schools.

HigH scHool and BEyond

Victoria College manages two

campuses in Victoria – a main

campus and the Adult Education

Center. The main campus

provides students from high

school age to college-enrolled

students with skills they need in

order to pursue their education

goals. From pre-college and

academic transfer options to

career and technical education

and Allied Health programs,

the college assists all students in

their academic needs. Continuing

education classes for adults in the

workforce are also available.

The Adult Education Center

helps students obtain a GED,

improves workforce skills and also

provides an English as a Second

Language course to those who

need language training before

beginning college classes.

Texas Vocational School

is an accredited post-secondary

education institute that works

to train students specifically

in the following fields: Medical

Office Specialist, Legal Office

Specialist, Accounting, Office

Assistant and Advanced

Combination of Welding.

The school assists students in

obtaining the skills they need for

career placement such as resume

assistance and job searching tips,

so students may have successful

futures in their field.

The University of Houston-

Victoria accepts a special

responsibility to serve educational

needs, to promote economic well

being and to advance the quality

of life in the south Texas region.

The university offers programs

in select bachelor’s and master’s

degree options in the Arts and

Sciences (some include teacher

certification), Business

Administration, Education

and Human Development,

and Nursing.

But the options don’t end

there. The Victoria campus also

works with teaching centers in

Houston, and serves students

online by providing services in

extensive course offerings, select

degree programs, learning

support and other services.

– Raven Petty

Power UpVictoriaschoolsserVetomotiVateanddeVelopstudents

Education

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The Victoria College/University of Houston-Victoria Library.

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welding students at the texas vocational school

imagesvicToRia .com 39

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v ictoria residents can depend

on quality health care with

two main hospital systems

serving the community: citizens

medical center and deTar

healthcare system, which

includes deTar hospital navarro

and deTar hospital north.

citizens medical center

citizens medical center serves

victoria and south Texas patients

as the largest health-care provider

in the area. The 344-bed acute

care hospital is not-for-profit and

community owned in order to

provide quality medical services

without being costly for patients.

There are 220 physicians covering

36 specialties, and the center is

accredited by dnv healthcare inc.

A helicopter service, citizens Air

medical, works to transport the

critically ill or injured to the facility.

The hospital also operates

centers specializing in bariatrics,

chest pain, women’s diagnostics

and the Kathryn o’connor

Regional cancer center, as well

as fitness and rehabilitation

facilities, and four family

medicine clinics. The center

continued its commitment to

provide the most current

diagnostic and therapeutic

equipment by investing

$8 million into radiographic

equipment, radiation therapy

and patient safety.

detar healthcare system

deTar healthcare system offers

many services at a variety of

locations to assure patients and

visitors receive convenient care.

There are 943 hospital employees,

which include 269 physicians.

deTar hospital navarro has

193 beds, and provides advanced

a dose of healthvicToRia hosPiTals PRovide qualiTy caRe To ResidenTs

health & Wellness

citizens medical center

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health & Wellness

medical technology to ensure

patients receive top-quality

care. some services include

an accredited chest pain center,

a cardiac center, cancer center,

a level iii trauma center and

an intensive care unit.

deTar hospital north has

115 beds, and offers many other

services such as advanced

technological imaging, labor and

delivery, a pediatrics unit, a level

iv trauma center, occupational

medicine, outpatient surgery and

a wellness center, to name a few.

Accredited by The Joint

commission, both deTar

facilities combined have more

than 100 active physicians, and

dozens of provisional and

courtesy physicians and

specialists on-site. The

system also maintains a strong

connection to the community

by offering classes in cPR,

diabetes education, Prenatal

and Pregnancy, siblings, Water

Works exercises and more.

– Raven Petty

36Number of specialties covered

at Citizens Medical Center

269Number of physicians employed

by DeTar Healthcare System

$8 millionAmount invested into equipment,

therapy and patient safety by Citizens Medical Center

deTar hospital navarroJe

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sports & Recreation

it isn’t hard to fill your time in

victoria. Rivers, reservoirs, parks

and much more make recreation

part of this Texas town’s charm.

Parks in VictoriaWith 565 acres, Riverside Park

features sites such as a rose

garden, which boasts 1,300

blooming roses, and activities

including fishing the Guadalupe

River, playing disc golf, paddling

the victoria Paddling Trail and

more. Goliad state Park has a

character defined by beautiful

scenery and interesting sites

spanning over the park’s 188 acres.

Among these sites are a replica

of the 1722 mission nuestra senora

del espíritu santo de Zuniga and

ruins of the 1754 mission nuestra

señora del Rosario. located on

575 acres, lake Texana state Park

offers water-oriented activities –

thanks to its location on lake

Texana – consisting of boating,

swimming, fishing, jet skiing and

more. To enjoy the peacefulness

of nature, the coleto creek Park

and Reservoir contains 190 acres,

of which only 40 acres have been

developed. much of this park is

undeveloped to enable visitors to

appreciate nature in its entirety.

coleto creek offers a 3,100-acre

lake, a 200-foot pier and more than

50 campsites. lastly, saxet lake

features a 250-acre park complete

with activities including boating,

the World outsidevicToRia oFFeRs PaRks, golF couRses, a Zoo and moRe

coleto creek Park and Reservoir is popular for waterskiing (above), tubing (right) and much more.

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fishing and jet skiing in a lake that

measures up to 100 feet deep.

Victoria youth sPorts and sWimming

victoria uses the victoria youth

sports complex for many of the

community’s sporting activities.

This complex houses a basketball

pavilion, two tennis courts, five

softball fields and seven baseball

fields, as well as a 15,000-square-

foot skate park, a 223,000-gallon

pool and a baby pool.

The victoria municipal Pool is

one of the most popular places in

the summer. it offers a 25-meter

pool, a children’s pool area and

a bathhouse.

golF oPtionsvictoria’s golf courses include

Riverside Golf course, colony

creek country club and victoria

country club. in addition to the

tournaments and activities at

these courses, victoria also hosts

the annual Wildgame Tournament

and the labor day invitational

tournament. Riverside Golf course

is a public course featuring 27

holes. colony creek country club

is a semi-private club offering a

brilliant 18-hole course, a driving

range and a putting green. The

victoria country club is a private

club that offers a PGA-quality

18-hole course designed by Joe

finger, as well as high-quality

tennis courts, fine dining and a

refreshing pool area.

– Braxton Shoop

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the real estate market in

victoria features a diversity

of neighborhoods and a variety

of homes that range in value from

the low $100,000s to $1 million.

“We don’t have an abundance

of $1 million properties, but there

are quite a few homes in the

$400,000, $500,000 and

$600,000 price range,” says

lee swearingen, president of

the victoria Board of Realtors.

“victoria is lucky to have

attractive properties within

the city as well as outside the

city limits in rural settings.”

swearingen says a lot of

new people have moved into

the community in the last few

years, and that has actually

caused a decrease in homes

that are available.

“We haven’t suffered from

the downturn in the market

like many other cities have

experienced throughout the

nation,” he says. “A big reason

is that we didn’t overbuild when

times were good.”

crossroads oF south texas

victoria remains a regional hub

for a seven-county area in Texas

known as the Golden crescent.

located in southeastern Texas

on the coastal Plain, the city and

county are midway between the

southern and eastern extremities

of the Texas Gulf coast.

victoria is within proximity

to houston, san Antonio, Austin

and corpus christi, earning it the

nickname crossroads of south

Texas. highways 87, 59 and 77

cross in victoria to provide the

city with a prime location for both

economic and residential growth.

old Victoriameanwhile, victoria is also rich

in history and has a commitment to

preserving its past. for example,

in order to protect the aesthetic

value of its downtown district, an

ordinance was put in place in 2007

that prohibits new manufactured

homes to be constructed within

the historic district.

“old victoria is our downtown

district filled with victorian-style

homes, and there are now 100

homes inside our city that are on

the national Register of historic

Places,” swearingen says. “Plus

more of the older homes continue

to be renovated in the downtown

area all the time.”

neW home construction

As for newer neighborhoods,

swearingen says springwood is a

subdivision that is currently built-

out and has good resale values of

houses priced at $250,000 and up.

“There is new home

construction taking place these

days in a few neighborhoods,

including Terra vista, lake forest

and Tuscany,” he says. “most of

the new home construction in

victoria is resulting in properties

that are priced $200,000 and

up. The real estate market here

remains decent, and is looking

up even more for 2012.”

– Raven Petty and Kevin Litwin

Building momentumvicToRia housing maRkeT Remains sTeady

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Bruce E. Woods, Agent1904 N. Navarro

Victoria, TX 77901 Bus: (361) 580-3276 Cell: (361) 550-2568

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46 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 47

cost of Living

$53,760median household income

$113,408median home Price

$719median Rent for a Two-Bedroom apartment

HouseHoLD information

age

30%19 and under

45%20-54

25%55 and over

This secTion is sPonsoRed By

weatHer

93° FJuly high Temperature

44° FJanuary low Temperature

40”

annual Rain Fall (vs. national annual Rain Fall of 37”)

time zone

central

marItaL statUs

59%married

41%single

etHNIcItY

48%White

6%Black

44%hispanic

2%other

transportation

14 minutesmedian Travel Time to Work

community overviewnestled beside the meandering Guadalupe River, victoria is a

splendid blend of the past, the present and the future. Proud

old homes, some dating back to the pre-civil War era, line the

streets in the city’s historic sections. And for a community of its

size, victoria boasts an extraordinary number of cultural activities.

community profiLe

46 vicToRia imagesvicToRia .com 47

Ad Index 44 Bestway

1 BlantonBuilders

44 Calvo’sJanitorial

18 Caterpillar

38 CitizensMediCalCenter

18 ColdwellBanker– theronBrownCoMpany

2 detarhealthCaresysteM

25 FaganansweringserviCe

35 FirstviCtoria

40 gulFBendCenter

40 helpinghearts sitterserviCe

5 hoMewoodresidenCe

C3 Jungtile&granite

C2 kleanCorp.international

44 lauger CoMpaniesinCorporated

25 newdistriButing/Fastop

24 portlavaCaautogroup

1 shannonBradleypools

46 stateFarM–BruCewoods

44 texasvoCationalsChools

46 torinBalesFineJewelry

47 universityoF houston–viCtoria

37 viCtoriaCollege

23 viCtoria CoMMuniCationserviCes

C4 viCtoriaConvention &visitorsBureau

18 viCtoriavein &surgeryCliniC

C3 wellsFargo

40 yMCaoFthe goldenCresCent

Through the lens

september 19, 2011 — i had

a good time photographing the

animals at The Texas Zoo in

victoria last week for Images Victoria magazine. i’ve visited

many zoos around the country

while taking photos for Journal

communications, but this is one

of my favorites so far. The Texas

Zoo is small, but very well

managed by zoo director Andrea

Blomberg and her staff. The

animals are very active, fun to

watch and well cared for. some of

the highlights are the lions, tigers,

endangered red wolves, a tapir,

baby alligators and a new spider

monkey exhibit among many

other exhibits. And Blomberg

wants people to know that

although they have a good

variety of animals from around

the world on display, “we do

not have any bald eagles!”

From our Photo Blog: Victoria

PosTed By Jeff AdKins

more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

now that you’ve experienced victoria through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

get the story Behind the Photo

48 vicToRia

imagesvicToRia .com 49

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(361) 573-7068 www.jungtile.com

Complete New Construction Packages

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and So Much More!

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