Insite Magazine

August 2013August 2013

EATS & TREATS

A GuidE To Food & Fun

FINEWINETIME SUMMERTIME

SPIRITS, DANCING& HOMEGROWN

ROCK ’N ROLLHOW TO GROWTEQUILA

DANCE DANCE

DANCECHEAPDATENIGHT

HAMMER IT HOMEHABITAT FOR HUMANITY

4 INSITE August 2013

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Hammer It HomeWoman-powered buildingby Chelsey CoxPage 6

1 Big GunsLocal champion shootersby Chaney BartonPage 8

2 Brothers N ArmsFaithful Rock ‘n’ Rollby Stacy RileyPage 10

3 Medical MilestonesHealthy B/CS timelineby Angelique GammonPage 13

Top DocsBV’s Medical ResourceSpecial Advertising SectionPage 14

4 Dance, Dance, Dance!Get living, start dancingby Sarah KinzbachPage 37

Cheap Dates48 Nights of Funby Jessica BankePage 37

5 Messina HofGrowing a family traditionby Chelsey CoxPage 42

Perrine WineryMix up your wine glassby Chaney BartonPage 44

Texas Star WineryNew taste traditionsby Jessica BankePage 46

TequilaB/CS ties to Mexican spiritsby Christian WinstonPage 46

Marketplace DirectoryPage 50

Eats & TreatsPage 51

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AugusT gETs A bAd rApas back-to-school month even though most schools don’t start until the last week of the month. We’re not going there. Ditch the anticipatory summer-is-almost-over stress. August is still prime time summertime; so don’t let anyone steal your fun. This issue is designed for those who need convincing. To wit, meet Catt, the resident INSITE mouse, so named for his party animal instincts and propensity for pulling cyber pranks on employees. We did what you do with all cyberpunks: we co-opted him, and put him on the payroll. Catt officially handles

INSITE Magazine is published monthly by Insite Printing & Graphic Services, 123 E. Wm. J. Bryan Pkwy., Bryan, Texas 77803. (979) 823-5567 www.insitebrazosvalley.com Volume 30, Number 3. Publisher/Editor: Angelique Gammon; Account Executive: Dave Marsh; Graphic designer: Karen Green. Associate Editor & Web Content: Sarah Kinzbach. Editorial interns: Jessica Banke; Chaney Barton; Chelsey Cox; Stacy Riley.

inSiTE Magazine is a division of The insite Group, LP. Reproduction of any part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. insite Printing & Graphic Services Managing Partners: Kyle DeWitt, Angelique Gammon, Greg Gammon. General Manager: Carl Dixon; Pre-Press Manager: Mari Brown; office Manager: Wendy Seward; Sales & Customer Service: Molly Barton; Candi Burling; Jaimie Colwell; Manda

Jackson; Marie Lindley; Barbara Wyss; Production: Stephen Beatty; Norris Carnes; Marilyn Carey; Don Coburn; Arnel Estuaria; Byron Lee; Carlos Martinez; Richard Pearce; Brandon Prouse; Frank Ramirez; Mike Seward; Ruben Torres; Stephen Woodruff, Chris Zamora.

PUBLISHER’SDESKthe QR codes and URLs leading readers to exclusive web content at InsiteBrazosValley.com.

The downside is Catt now

has a big head, wears hipster spectacles, and insisted on being in the print magazine, too. Whatever. It’s summertime and we’re easy. Every place you see Catt in the magazine, he’s pointing you to exclusive web stories like 48 different (cheap) date ideas for every night of the week, or Culinary Adventure Part II, a story sure to kick-start your taste buds. If all the fine wine, spirits, and dancing prove too much for you, may we recommend some quality time with the Top Docs section of this magazine? Just relax. We’ve got you covered. – Angelique Gammon

I N S I D E I N S I T E

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COVERPhoto by Chris WilliamsLocation: Messina Hof Winery, Bryan

click www.insitebrazosvalley.com 5


CAUTION:VOLUNTEERING FOR HABITAT MAY BE HABIT FORMINGdiane Jones Meier

Seven-year involvement with Circle of Women

Circle of Women Former Habitat staff member and current Board member

Co-Coordinator and Committee Member

Vice President of the Sexual Assault Resource Center

Second Vice President of the College Station Noon Lions Club

denise FriesSeven-year involvement

with Circle of WomenFinancial Planner/Owner/

Founder of Fries Financial Services

Owner/Founder of Taylor Made Gluten Free Bakery

Fabiola byrneSeven-year involvement

with Circle of WomenAlmost 20-year

involvement with Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers for Habitat with husband and son

Former Family Nurturer for Habitat

Former A&M EmployeeRegistered Nurse at

St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan

Kay McWilliamsSeven-year involvement

with Circle of WomenNine-year involvement

with Habitat for Humanity

Enrolled Tax Agent for Rosetta Tax Service

Member of the Brazos Spinners and Weavers Guild

patti LjungdahlSeven-year involvement

with Circle of Women19-year involvement with

Habitat for HumanityFormer Family Nurturer for

HabitatFamily Selection

Committee MemberRetired grandmother

of five

For the seventh year, Habitat for Humanity’s Circle of Women is creating the opportunity for women to volunteer their time to fund and build a house for a low-income family. From volunteering for other nonprofits, owning and run-ning a business, working as a registered nurse, spending time as a tax agent, or just enjoying time as a retired grandmother of five, meet five women who take the time each year to be part of the Circle of Women.

“BaSICaLLy, THE Circle of Women is a group of women, women’s organizations, groups of friends, or women within organizations, who come together to contribute toward the cost of a house,” Circle of Women Co-Coordinator Diane Jones Meier says. Habitat for Humanity International came up with the idea to have

women build houses as an opportunity for women to get construction-site experience. “It was an empowerment thing, and it was also recognized that half of the potential donors in the universe were going to be female,” Meier says. “Habitat was very identified with construction, and so it was an opportunity to get women involved with that.”

Created in early 2007,

the Circle of Women asked 40 women to join together and to each donate $1,000 to match the cost of construction for a house. That year the group raised $41,000 and found volunteers to successfully complete their first home.

“As a female business owner, I wanted to have a network of other women in town that I could meet with and get to know and it has lead me to several

friendships and business contacts,” says Denise Fries. “It’s a great way to get together, and I would encourage every woman, or group of women, to get together to come up with the $1,000 donation to get involved. It is a very worthy, fun, well-organized charitable event.”

The Circle of Women participates in every level of involvement, including donations,

HammerIt Home

Five women who say everyonehas the right stuff to join this circle

By CHELSEy COx


ExCLUSIVELy ONLINEBuilding Hope by Building Houses By Jessie Lin

The true test of the Habitat journey begins after Habitat partner families move in: monthly payments become due and extend over 20-30 years. The Zavala family had a more ambitious payment plan paying off their mortgage in just 16 years. Last December, five families paid off mortgage notes. In March, the first Habitat homeowner in College Station paid off her mortgage.Read It NowInsiteBrazosValley.com

construction, and volunteer recruitment. “Sometimes people are afraid to do this because they think they have to get out there with a hammer and do the work,” Fries says. “Any level of involvement within the Circle of Women is very appreciated, no hammer necessary.”

Before the event begins, a construction workshop and safety briefing occur to teach all volunteers how to use the equipment. In addition, a reception is held for the volunteers and committee members to meet and interact with the family before the building begins. “My favorite thing is to work on the site and work alongside the families and other volunteers,” Fabiola Byrnes says. “The fact that they help those that are trying hard to help themselves means a lot to me.”

Over the past 20 years, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 200 homes in the Bryan/College Station area. The Circle of Women has coordinated builds for the past six years and is always looking

for more volunteers as they start the seventh build. Around 200 volunteers will be needed for the Saturday shifts and $50,000 must be raised to begin construction. “I have been involved in Habitat by going down and building, other than just making contributions, and I think it’s a good thing; people need houses,” says Kay McWilliams.

“I think the idea of women sponsoring and building a house – just women – was very attractive to me,” Patti Ljungdahl says. “In this age, women are very underestimated, particularly in some fields. It’s one of my most favorite things that I do and it’s an honor for me to a part of that group of women.”

For information on contributing to or volunteering for the Circle of Women Habitat build, visit habitatbcs.org/about/programs. This year’s Circle of Women build will begin with the raising of the walls on Saturday, September 28, at 8 a.m. in Bryan. i


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FRIENDLy RIVaLRy IS aN UNDERSTaTEmENT when it comes to the relationship between a group of young shooters representing the Bryan/College Station area in USA Shooting competitions. Childhood friends and comrades Granger Dewitt of Bryan, T.J. Bayer of College Station, Brandy Drozd of Bryan, and Phillip Jungman of Caldwell recently returned from the National Junior Olympic Championships as some of the best shooters in the country.

The National Junior Olympic Program, through USA Shooting, provides year-round competitions for shooters to partake in. The program allows shooters a chance to receive an invitation to shoot at the National Junior Olympic Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Dewitt, Bayer, Drozd, and Jungman were among the leaders at this very championship held in early June.

The group has grown up shooting together in the Brazos Valley 4-H Program. The program offers the Shooting Sports Project, which serves as a comprehensive introduction to shooting sports safety and the fundamentals of archery, pistol, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloading, and hunting. “I first started in the third grade,” explained Jungman, “T.J. and Granger took that first shooting safety course at the same time as me. That was 10 years ago.” He goes on to

describe the camaraderie amongst the group. “We grew up together pushing each other. We’d just trade licks at every shoot we went to.”

“It’s been really awesome that we all started out together and have all achieved a good degree of success,” says Bayer. “It’s really good at practice to have a high level of competition.” Bayer is competing at the World Cup in Granada, Spain with Drozd, and will compete in the World Clay Target Championships in Lima, Peru, later this fall. Jungman will join Bayer in Peru, as well. DeWitt is one of the two new National Junior Team members for 2013-14 in the skeet

division and Jungman is a champion in the skeet division for 2013-14. Drozd is a 2013-14 Junior Olympics bronze medalist in women’s skeet. Bayer is a champion in the double trap and bunker trap division for 2013-14.

Drozd is currently a Biology major at Texas A&M and is a member of the collegiate shooting team. She aims to continue competing internationally.

Jungman is hoping to make it to the Olympic Shooting Competition in 2016 in Rio De Janiero. He will also be shooting for the Texas A&M Shooting Team. Jungman says, “I picked A&M for psychology. Shooting is all in your mind. If you can’t control your mind, you can’t control shooting.”

Bayer has shot for two years on the Texas A&M Collegiate team and, as a local, says, “I’ve lived in College Station all my life. Texas A&M was the only school I ever wanted to go to.” The biology major has his sights set on the 2016 Olympics, as well.

DeWitt is hoping to travel overseas in the future to compete, and like Jungman and Bayer, he hopes to go to the Olympics. For now, Dewitt is setting his championship sights closer to home as a member of the Texas A&M Collegiate team: “I hope we can win the national championships next year!” i

BigGunsShooting for A&M and the USABy CHaNEy BaRTON

1 T.J. BAYER AND GRANGER DEWITT 2 GRANGER DEWITT 3 PHILLIP JUNGMAN 4 GAYLA GREGORY AND BRANDY DROzD 5 TJ BAYER

Though they compete against each other, they practice together as well.



LISTENINg TO THE complex guitar riffs and vocals of Daniel Vines, the thundering drums of Joey “Hoss” Vines, and the intricate bass guitar of Jesse James, it is surprising that the hard rock band Brothers N Arms (BNA) is only a trio – the wall of music sounds as if five people are on stage. Together since 2010 when Jesse answered a want ad for a bassist on Craigslist, BNA has been making music and spreading a message of hope ever since.

As lead vocalist and guitarist, Daniel explains that although the music is heavier in nature, BNA is a Christ-centered group that strives to be more than just a rock band. “Our approach is different than some other Christian groups; we will play pretty much any place we are invited so we can share Jesus with as many different people as possible. We don’t preach. We let the music speak for itself.”

BNA practices the musical messages by

welcoming a large following of military men and women and interacting with its growing fan base. Joey goes on to explain his nickname of ten years, “Hoss,” from his friend Frank whom he met while homeless in Arizona. “I think [Frank] started calling me that because I was from Texas with a country accent and kinda burly,” explains Joey. “At times I looked at it like an adventure or challenge with a different kind of freedom...but I wouldn’t want to go through that again. It was just a phase.” Joey now lives and works in Austin with his long-time girlfriend and commutes to B/CS for rehearsals. Life has definitely taken a turn for the better, which is one reason Joey is so passionate about sharing his faith with fans. He says he always knew it was his duty as a Christian to share the faith with others, but never really thought he was qualified. “I just realized that, for years, I’ve been sitting on a God-given

talent that could reach a huge segment of our young population in a language they could understand and relate to.” Jesse credits his belief in Christianity to his mother for raising him in the church. “Those same principles stuck with me as I grew up and [I] wanted to make a difference in people’s lives in a positive way. So joining a Christian rock band gave me the ability to do what I love the most: sharing the message that has helped me through good and bad time and my gift of music.” Daniel can also relate to feeling the pull to play and share the music of BNA after going through several years where he did not pick up

an instrument. He shares a very personal story about his first daughter, Elle. When his wife was in labor, the baby’s heart stopped beating.

“I prayed, ‘God, please save our child.’ No sooner had I said that prayer, than the heartbeat started again. Our healthy daughter was born that morning…it was not until after Elle’s birth that I

went from believing in God to following Jesus…God put it in my heart that I should only use my gifts in music to serve Him.”

For the guys, BNA is not full-time employment; rather, music is a life-long passion outside of their regular lives. Daniel makes a point to put his wife and five children first

BrothersN ArmsRocking Out with B/CS BandMembers Daniel Vines, Jesse James, and Joey ‘Hoss’ Vines

By STaCy RILEy

Having been through their share of hardships, the guys of BNA are also examples of the hope their songs are about

Continued on page 12



Brothers N ArmsContinued from page 10

and works for TxDot just outside of the B/CS area in Buffalo. Jesse juggles promoting BNA and working in College Station at Avinext in the IT department. The trio of BNA comes together in B/CS to work on music and rehearse.

The music writing for BNA usually begins with a simple guitar riff that one of the guys will like, and they expand upon it from there.

“We jam on and structure a bit during rehearsal,” Daniel explains. “After that, I spend some time alone penning lyrics. A song can go through several major changes, or stay essentially the same for years.”

And with heavy influences from many different musical genres such as rhythm and blues, punk rock, and post rock, BNA has a unique and transforming sound by combining all the musical interests of its members.

When asked about the band name, bassist Jesse explains that, “We all wanted to use a different name for the band and couldn’t agree on one. Daniel and Joey are biologically brothers and my nickname from

them is ‘Arms’ so we combined it to become Brothers N Arms.”

In coming months, BNA will be finishing new songs and recording a single in the studio. “Right now we have an EP, and we’re hoping to record our new style of music, because it’s really different from where we started. It’s exciting that we are always growing and getting better,” says Jesse with a grin.

In charge of the social media and public relations for BNA, Jesse invites musicians, Christians, and rock music lovers to follow them on their website and to not be afraid to reach out to them.

“We have a big following online…and I’m really excited to talk to people and hear what they have to say. Most of the people that come to our live shows, we have usually been in contact with online. We get to know them on a personal level and even develop friendships. It’s great.” For more information about Brothers N Arms, tour dates, and to follow their many social media and music accounts, visit www.brothersnarms.net. i


ExCLUSIVELy ONLINEScott & WhiteHospital-CSOpens New Medical Doors By AnGeLiQUeGAMMOn

Read It NowInsiteBrazosValley.com

1912 St. Joseph Hospital begins construction under the ownership of Dr. W.H. Oliver on the original building known as “Bryan Hospital” near downtown Bryan

1931 College Station Hospital is founded by Dr. L.O. Wilkerson as Bryan Hospital

1933 After Dr. W.H. Oliver’s death in 1933, Bryan Hospital is closed for almost a year

1934 St. Joseph Hospital, known as Bryan Hospital, is reopened under the management of Drs. R.B. Ehlinger and R.B. Grant

1936 The Sisters of St. Francis pur-chase the Bryan Hospital building and rename it St. Joseph Hospital

1954 St. Joseph Hospital opens a three-story addition

1961 St. Joseph Hospital receives its first Accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals

1963 First full-time radiologist is added to the St. Joseph Hospital staff. Before, a radiologist traveled from Austin to Bryan one afternoon each week to interpret x-rays

1964 First full-time pathologist joins the St. Joseph medical staff. Before, all surgical specimens were sent to Austin

1966 St. Joseph develops a three-phase Master Plan for a new 300-bed hospital to be located in the new medical complex being developed by local doctors on Villa Maria Road. Phase I is budgeted at $3.5 million

1971 St. Joseph Hospital moves to its present facility on Franciscan Drive with three stories and 148 beds

1977 Part of Texas A&M University, Texas A&M College of Medicine’s inaugural class has 32 physicians

1982 St. Joseph groundbreaking for $8.4 million expansion including 48 patient care beds, radiology, I.C.U., nursery, labor & delivery, laboratory, surgery and Emergency Services

1984 St. Joseph adds a Computer-ized Axial Tomography (CAT) Suite

1985 Scott & White opens a Bryan Clinic with two physicians

1986 St. Joseph adds an Ophthal-mology Laser and a SITE system exclusively for intraocular surgery

1986 Scott & White opens the 1600 University Drive Clinic with 22 physicians

1987 CS Hospital moves from Bryan to Rock Prairie Road in College

Station1987 CS Hospital opens first Cardiac

Catheterization Lab in the region1987 St. Joseph Hospital becomes

St. Joseph Hospital & Health Center (SJHHC) adding a new Women’s Imaging Center; $4.2 million investment to become the first hospital to offer comprehen-sive cardiac services; a $1.7 million Dedicated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, the only one of its kind within a 90-mile radius; and a $400,000 cardiac surgical suite.

1988 The St. Joseph Gold Medallion Club seniors program is introduced to provide activities and educa-tional programs for area seniors

1989 SJHHC adds an in-house Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI)

1989 The Blinn College Associate Nursing Degree program opens on the Bryan campus

1990 SJHHC becomes one of the first smoke-free facilities and laproscopic cholecystectomy is introduced

1991 Project ‘90-’92 Phase I opens a 66,000-square-foot expansion at SJHHC

1991 Blinn College’s Associate Nursing Degree program graduates the first class of 24 students

1992 Phase II Project ‘90-92’ at SJHHC is completed with 204 accredited beds and the hospital’s first sleep disorder laboratory

1994 SJHHC is renamed St. Joseph Regional Health Center (SJRHC) and begins construction on a Professional Building next door on 29th Street

1994 Scott & White opens the 1700 University Drive Clinic expansion with 85 physicians

1995 SJRHC purchases Brazos Valley Cancer Center and changes name to St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center. A $5.3 mil-lion expansion includes a new linear accelerator and simulator. The Caldwell hospital becomes Burleson St. Joseph Health Center; Normangee St. Joseph Clinic is built, and Madison County Hospital is purchased and renamed St. Francis Health Center

1996 St. Joseph Professional Office Building is completed. A time capsule is buried for posterity. Navasota Hospital is purchased and renamed Grimes St. Joseph Health Center

1997 CS Hospital begins open-heart surgery program

1997 SJRHC expands Imaging Services and surgery, introduces Express Care in Emergency Ser-vices, the Shots for Tots program, and the Family Practice Residency Program

1998 CS Hospital is re-named Col-lege Station Medical Center (The Med)

1998 St. Joseph Services Corpora-tion becomes St. Joseph Health System; a six-story parking garage is constructed

1999 The Texas A&M Health Science Center is founded and includes the College of Medicine, Baylor College of Dentistry, Insti-tute of Biosciences and Technol-ogy, School of Rural Public Health (launched in 1998), and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

1999 St. Joseph Health System opens both St. Joseph Manor and Burleson St. Joseph Manor includ-ing intermediate nursing unit and an Alzheimer’s unit. Caldwell St. Joseph Health Center is designated as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). St. Joseph Regional Health Center opens a 10-bed behavioral health unit at Grimes St. Joseph Health Center in Navasota, offering the only inpatient behavioral health crisis stabilization services in the region

2000 Madison St. Joseph Health Center and Grimes St. Joseph Health Center are designated as CAH facilities. Madison is the first of the rural health facilities to have its emergency services department certified as a Level IV Trauma Center. SJRHC adds two, high-speed CT scanners at a cost of $1.2 million. St. Joseph Regional Rehabilitation Center receives CARF accreditation

2001 Madison and Grimes St. Joseph Health Centers receive CAH designations and SJRHC an-nounces an agreement to offer the M.D. Anderson Cancer Manager program to a 17-county region of the Brazos Valley. The Emergency Services Department of SJRHC is designated as the first Level III Trauma Center in the 7-county region

2002 St. Joseph Regional Rehabili-tation Center opens a Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. SJRHC is given the first-ever Leonard L.

Berry Service Excellence Award2005 The Med $32 million expan-

sion includes new Women’s Pavil-ion, Patient Tower, PACU, Surgery, ICU and waiting areas

2005 The Med introduces first robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci® robotic surgical system in the Brazos Valley

2006 The Med opens first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Brazos Valley

2007 The Med becomes the official healthcare provider for Texas A&M Athletics

2008 The Med completes a $3.5 million Cath Lab expansion, first of its kind technology in Texas inte-grating the lab with x-ray to catch the heart mid-beat, providing the cardiologist immediate diagnostic results

2008 St. Joseph opens Express Care, an urgent care clinic, in College Station. Three more will be added

2008 St. Joseph opens the first stand-alone Emergency Facility in the Brazos Valley in College Station

2008 Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing opens, offering the BSN and RN-to-BSN degree programs

2009 The Med becomes first hospital to publish ER wait times and offers the 30-Minutes-or-Less Service Pledge

2009 Brenham Clinic becomes an affiliate of The Med

2010 The Med’s College Station Sleep Center receives national accreditation as the only accredited sleep lab in the Brazos Valley

2010 The Health Science Center campus on Hwy. 47 in Bryan opens

2010 Scott & White opens the Arrington Road Clinic in College Station with four physicians

2010 Scott & White opens the Brenham Clinic with 18 physicians

2011 The College of Medicine expands the incoming class size to 200 students

2011 The Med is first to advertise “door to balloon” times, critical to restoring blood flow to the heart after a heart attack

2011 The Med’s $23 million expansion to Women’s Services and Emergency Room includes the region’s only all-private bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

2011 The Med becomes College

Station’s only SCPC Accredited Chest Pain Center

2011 The Med becomes the first facility to use the Impella heart catheter, the world’s smallest mechanical cardiovascular support system

2011 City of College Station partners with The Med and other stakehold-ers to develop a Medical District – a focused healthcare and wellness district within the city

2011 The 1,000th graduate crosses the stage in the Blinn College As-sociate Nursing Degree program

2012 The Med becomes Brazos Valley’s first Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE) facility

2012 The Med receives accredita-tion as a Primary Stroke Center

2012 SJRHC’s Bryan hospital is designated as a Cycle IV chest pain center; a SJRHC facility in Brenham opens

2013 The region’s first pediatric cochlear implant is performed at The Med

2013 The Med adds a second da Vinci Si for robot-assisted surgery

2013 SJRHC Bryan is designated as the only Level II trauma center in the region

2013 SJRHC acquires Bellville General Hospital. SJRHC is named one of American’s 100 Best hospitals for Orthopedics, Spine Surgery and Joint Replacement by HealthGrades

2013 The Health Science Center is approved for realignment with Tex-as A&M University and becomes part of the flagship university

2013 Scott & White opens the Boonville Clinic in Bryan with two physicians

2013 Blinn College Associate Nurs-ing Degree program enrolls 209 students

2013 Scott & White opens the Rock Prairie Clinic in College Station

2013 On August 19, Scott & White Hospital-College Station opens with more than 150 providers

2014 Opening date of new wellness facility to house Aerofit Health & Wellness, College Station Orthopaedics, and College Station Medical Center Therapy Services

2014 Planned expansion of College Station MedPlus to the Stack in Northgate to provide students with healthcare services i

MilestonesWhen the five-story, 143-bed Scott & White Hospital opens in College Station, the 403,000 square-foot building on a 98-acre campus will represent a $165 million investment in B/CS’s future as a regional medical hub. It is building on a long timeline of local medical milestones.

14 INSITE August 2013 S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

T O P D O C S

S E R V I C E . S K I L L . D E D I C A T I O N .

B R A Z O S V A L L E Y P H Y S I C I A N S & S P E C I A L I S T S

Since opening in 1996, thousands of patients have trusted their family’s care to the team at College Station Family Medical Center, which continually strives to provide compassionate, expert care for the whole family.

Our family of board-certified physicians have extensive experience in all aspects of Family Medicine and are active members of the Bryan/College Station community.

Dr. Richard Herron has practiced in the Bryan/College Station area for over 30 years. He completed his graduate and medical degrees at Texas A&M in 1983, where he currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor and Team Physician for Texas A&M athletics.

Dr. Adel Massoud began practicing medicine in 1979. He received his medical degree from Cairo University and completed his residency at Texas A&M, where he currently serves as a Clinical Associate Professor.

Dr. Barbara Pierce joined College Station Family Medicine Center in 2010, when she returned to Texas from practicing medicine for 11 years in

Missouri. Dr. Pierce completed her residency and medical training at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.To learn more about the College Station Family Medical Center, or to schedule an appointment, call (979) 693-2586.

With the focus on treating the patient, not just the disease, the four physicians of College Station Internal Medicine embrace prevention as well as diagnosis and treatment with a philosophy of private, individualized and compassionate care.

Joseph J. Roman, M.D., the Internal Medicine Clerkship Director for the 3rd and 4th year medical students at the Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center Medical School, is honored to be actively involved in training our next generation of doctors.

Philip Alexander, M.D., is a native Texan whose special interests in Internal Medicine include preventative aspects of the major chronic diseases and the importance of proper diet and exercise in our lives.

Rohini Ragupathi, M.D., has practiced primary care medicine in Bryan/College Station since 1988. She provides primary care to her patients while they are independent in their homes and/or in the care of a nursing home.

Elizabeth Gray, M.D., received her under graduate training at Texas A&M University. Education and empowerment are key aspects of Dr. Gray’s approach to medicine, where she encourages her patients to take

Richard Herron, m.D. adel massoud, m.D. Barbara Pierce, m.D.

JosephRoman, m.D.

RohiniRagupathi, m.D.

Philipalexander, m.D.

Elizabethgray, m.D.

College Station Family Medical Center

College Station Internal Medicine

an active role in managing their health and including them in any health care decisions.

To make an appointment with College Station Internal Medicine, call (979) 693-2762.



treatment is available in-depth locally.Growing demand for cancer treatment in

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

T O P D O C S

On Saturday, March 30, 2013, Healthy Woman members were invited to participate in the program’s first annual Signature Spring Event, Healthy Woman Spa Day. This event was created to encourage women to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

More than 160 women attended this affair and enjoyed complimentary spa services, such as mini-spa consultations, makeup lessons, massages, aromatherapy, and more. Free health screenings were offered by College Station Medical Center and several physicians were on hand to answer questions, including Dr. Justin Gayle from College Station Advanced Ob/Gyn and Dr. Elizabeth Gray from College Station Internal Medicine.

Women were given a signature card upon arrival, and if they visited every booth on the card, they were entered into a drawing for a David

Yurman necklace valued at $2400 and donated by one of Healthy Woman’s platinum sponsors, David Gardner’s Jewelers. The lucky winner of that necklace was Ann Ward, a Healthy Woman member since April 2012.

In addition to the grand prize, participants were eligible for door prizes ranging from complimentary spa packages to free gym memberships, all of which were provided by participating vendors. Vendors at the Healthy Woman Spa Day include:

Platinum SponsorFunky Cheveux

Platinum SponsorHome Instead

Healthy Woman SupportersFacials &Waxing by Lori • Aerofit • Chateau Chic Salon & SpaCrystal Keating, Mary Kay Independent ConsultantElements Massage • French Door Salon & Spa • Galleria Day Spa • Heather Concklin, LMT • Herbs to Go • RA Salon & Spa • Tres Chic Boutique

Thank you to all the vendors who provided such wonderful, free services to the women in our community.

The Healthy Woman program, provided by College Station Medical Center, is designed to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to make informed health care decisions for themselves and their families. If you are interested in taking an active role in your health and participating in exciting events such as this one, visit www.csmedcenter.com/healthywoman.

Become a member of this free program and receive e-invites to future Signature Spring Events and other quarterly functions. Become empowered, become a Healthy Woman!

The Power of a Healthy Woman

Teamwork is what describes the three physicians of the Cancer Clinic. For years, doctors Tripathy, Jenkins and Fleener have worked side by side in cooperation to bring the best possible cancer care to their patients.

Their unique combination of talents is recognized by patients as part of what makes the Cancer Clinic so successful in treating cancer. Many comment on the doctors’ sincerity and genuineness in how deeply they care about those they treat.

Diverse in background, education, and individual speciali zation, together they have come to comprise a medical practice that is now seen by many patients as the premier destination for advanced cancer treatment.

This destination stat us didn’t come by chance, but rather by design stemming from a collaborative effort begun 30 years ago by Dr. Tripathy, founder of the Cancer Clinic.

The Cancer Clinic’s commitment to seeing new patients quickly is still a vital and core value of the practice and a great source of comfort to those who have just learned they have cancer. Maybe most importantly, patients no longer have to travel great distances knowing with full confidence that every aspect of cancer

Cancer Clinic

Terry Jenkins, m.D., Kumud Tripathy, m.D. and Erin Fleener, m.D.

the Brazos Valley has meant more than just adding physicians. It has also meant expansion of the interrelated cancer treatment facilities. Radiology, in-patient, out-patient, oncology, chemotherapy and other related disciplines are all available and seamlessly integrated utilizing advanced electronic medical records to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

This forward-thinking investment in patients’ wellbeing is what makes the Cancer Clinic standout to patients seeking the best possible care and a true cancer treatment destination.

Recognition has followed the Cancer Clinic. Texas Monthly has awarded Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Tripathy a combined ten times the Cancer Super Doctors designation since 2004. And, Dr. Fleener was recently recognized by Texas Monthly, as a 2012 Super Doctor Rising Star.

In 2011, the Cancer Clinic received its fifth eagle Readers’ Choice Award. Add in Insite’s Top Doc designation, and it is easy to see how the Cancer Clinic has become the preferred choice of many patients. To doctors Tripathy, Jenkins and Fleener the awards have been a nice compliment to their commitment to make the Cancer Clinic the best cancer care destination available. For more information call (979) 776-2000 or visit www.cancerclinic.com.


Elizabeth SmartAbduction survivor and gifted communicator

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most

followed child abduction cases of our time. Elizabeth’s

presentation not only tells her story of being abducted in

2002 and held prisoner for nine months, but also discusses

topics such as overcoming extreme adversity and not

allowing your past to dictate your future.

CSMedCenter.com/HealthyWoman

Join Healthy Woman for our Fifth Anniversary Celebration

Thursday, September 19, 20134:30 p.m. Health Expo

• Meet and greet with physicians• Vendor booths• Door prizes

6:00 p.m. Dinner7:00 p.m. Keynote speaker, Elizabeth Smart

The Hilton801 University Drive • College Station

$30 per personReserve a table of 8 for $240

Seating is limited. Must have ticket to attend. To purchase tickets, visit

CSMedCenter.com/HealthyWoman.

PLATINUM PARTNERS

HEALTHY WOMAN SUPPORTER


sides—first as a student at the TAMHSC College of Medicine, and now as a preceptor and director of the Emergency Medicine clerkship at the medical school’s College Station campus.

“Practicing medicine is an art that is not only learned by reading and memorizing literature,” Smaistrla says. “Interacting with patients allows

students to grasp knowledge in a completely different way. As a preceptor, I am also afforded the opportunity to pass on pearls of medicine that can’t be found anywhere except at the patient’s bedside.”

For more information, contact Jeremiah McNichols at [email protected] or call (979) 862-4015.


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Bryan/College Station physicians give back to tomorrow’s doctors, local community

In their third year of medical school, students rotate through a variety of clinical environments, assisting doctors while building crucial skills in a setting known as the “clerkship.” Over thirty years ago, Texas A&M’s College of Medicine was one of the first medical schools in the country to begin providing students earlier access to patients and doctors through extensive clinical exposures in their second year of medical school, while still engaged in the pre-clinical curriculum.

“When you’re learning clinical science in the first and second years of medical school, there’s a lot to absorb and a lot of pressure,” says Dr. Rachel Bramson, who manages the O.C. Cooper Preceptorship Program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. “It’s very helpful to see how these diseases impact people, rather than waiting for the third and fourth years of medical school to interact with patients.”

Doctors who serve as preceptors in Bryan/College Station and beyond provide a tremendous service not only to the medical schools with which they are affiliated, but to our nation’s health as they assist in developing the next generation of qualified, compassionate doctors.

“Patients love it because students can take a lot of time with them, and they recognize their doctor’s commitment and expertise in serving as a teacher to medical students,” Bramson says. “The preceptors are proud to be training the next generation of physicians. And the students are highly appreciative as well.”

Preceptors at the A&M College of Medicine come from all specialties and practice environments, providing crucial exposure to doctors in training, who can participate in care by taking initial case histories and discussing symptoms with patients and then bringing in the physician.

Dr. Jeff Smaistrla, ’08, has seen the preceptorship program from both

Texas A&M Health Science Center


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How many more years are you willing to be sick?

Dr. David Bailey. You’ve heard his name, but most likely have never called because you’ve kept harboring hope that your M.D. will come up with a cure, a magic pill or a new operation that will fix your chronic illness once and for all. In the interim, you continue to suffer on, until your new normal includes a daily diet of pain, pills and a generally depressed state of existence. At some point you have to ask yourself, ‘how many more years am I willing to be sick’? If the answer is zero, then maybe it is time you took charge of your own health and gave Dr. Bailey a call.

Dr. Bailey approaches your healing differently. It is a partnership that puts you in charge and can change your life. But why Dr. Bailey? What makes him different? It’s simple; Dr. Bailey has dedicated his education and chiropractic practice to help your body work in balance with itself, versus covering up disease-causing imbalances with artificial drugs. He

Bailey Health & Wellness Center Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of Brazos Valley

combines the latest medical science research, technology and clinical advances with a safe, natural program that doesn’t use drugs, surgery or fad diets. Dr. Bailey is able to help your body regain its natural health and balance that can effectively eliminate the expression of your chronic illness.

It all begins with a complimentary first visit. But be prepared, Dr. Bailey takes the time to listen and learn about you and your problem in depth and to educate you as a partner in your own healing. Next, a panel of blood tests will be recommended that is far more comprehensive than any you might have experienced in the past. This will provide a baseline for evaluation, diagnosis and development of a treatment plan.

As you progress, you will quickly experience how Dr. Bailey’s approach fundamentally changes your mind and body returning your health, enthusiasm and happiness. Many patients say it gave them their life back. It can work for you too.

Learn more at www.BaileyHWC.com and schedule your free consultation with Dr. David Bailey, DC, MPH today by calling (979) 822-2225. The Bailey Health & Wellness Center is located in The Physician’s Centre.

PRP Injection Therapy - Certifiably Better

A new therapy offered by a College Station medical practice has proven remarkably effective in accelerating healing for patients with nagging joint or muscle pain.

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of Brazos Valley (AOCBV) offers Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Therapy, which uses the patient’s own blood to accelerate tissue repair and healing for tendons and ligaments. Better than cortisone shots and less aggressive than surgery, PRP heals with minimal or no scarring and alleviates further degeneration of the tissues.

AOCBV offers the only independent board-certified rheu ma tologists in the area and provides the following services:Early Arthritis Clinic – to diagnosis and aggressively treat the disease in its early stages.Bone Density Screening and Treatment - to diagnosis early signs of osteoporosis and prevent or manage the condition.Joint Injections and In flam matory Back Pain Treat mentInfusion Suite and On-site LabDr. Ricardo Pocurull, MD, PA, CCD: Board-


Since 1991, Dr. Troy N. Elms has been creating beautiful lasting smiles for both children and adults in the Brazos Valley. A Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, he is one of only two board certified orthodontists in Bryan/College Station. For that reason, you can be certain that Dr. Elms and his team will provide you with the highest quality of orthodontic treatment available.

Elms Orthodontics utilizes the most advanced treatment techniques including heat-activated memory wires, selfligating (Smart-Clip) braces, clear braces and lingual braces. All of these enhance the process of helping you achieve the smile that you have always wished for, in the shortest amount of time. Recognized as the ONLY Elite Premiere Provider for Invisalign in Bryan/College Station, Dr. Elms is ranked in the top percent of all dental professionals in the United States for his experience with aligner therapy. Dr. Elms offers the newest in Invisalign technology, the Itero Digital Scanner.

A growing number of patients have discovered the advantages of using these removable and invisible plastic straighteners to accomplish the same goals as traditional braces. Many adults who would otherwise require extensive and expensive cosmetic dentistry have reaped tremendous benefits from aligners. With no metal and no fuss,

Invisalign can create beautiful results using your own natural teeth at a fraction of the cost of veneers or full mouth restorations.

Dr. Elms and his team would like to welcome you to visit their office for a consultation. Located at 1501 Emerald Parkway in College Station, the facility is state of the art. The office is conveniently located right on the Highway 6 Bypass and is equipped with the latest technology in digital dental radiography, photography and orthodontic diagnostics. Part of the fun includes a 14-seat movie theater, game room and chair-side iPads for patients. Dr. Elms also offers a free shuttle service to his patients in Bryan/College Station schools. The Orthomobile is available to patients and makes Elms Orthodontics a leader in quality patient care. To schedule an appointment for your child or yourself, call (979) 693-6300 or 1-(866) 693-0656. For additional information, visit www.drelms.com.


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Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of Brazos ValleyContinued from page 20

certified in Rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.Dr. Rajpreet Singh, DO, PA, CCD: Double Board-certified in Internal Medicine & Rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine

To learn more or schedule an appoint ment, call (979) 696-8000, or visit www.aocbv.com.

Elms Orthodontics, the Trusted Leader in Orthodontic Care



Hot as Hollywood in College Station

MediSpa & Salon, located in College Station, has been serving the Brazos Valley area since 2007 as a full-service salon and spa. They specialize in airbrush makeup, permanent makeup,

professional skincare, facials, teeth whitening, body waxing, massage therapy, inch loss body wraps, eyelash extensions, hair coloring, and nails.

MediSpa & Salon carries Image Skincare products, the official skincare of Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA pageants. Get yourself red-carpet-ready for your next wedding or event with an Image Skincare facial. The O2 Lift oxygen facial is hot in

Hollywood and is designed to oxygenate the skin, giving you a bright, radiant look. I Peel face peels effectively treat wrinkles, blemishes, and uneven skin pigmentation. Lightning Lift & Acne Lift are among some of the peels in the I Peel line designed to effectively treat your specific skin type and give you the glow you’ve always wanted. I Conceal Foundation is also available in-store. This healing, water-resistant foundation makes skin appear youthful and flawless.

To schedule an appointment today, call (979) 693-7999. MediSpa & Salon is located at 2205 Longmire Drive, Suites D, E, & F. Visit www.makeupincollegestation.com and www.officialmedispa.com.


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MediSpa & Salon

Quality Healthcare for an Affordable Price

If you or your family members are in need of quality healthcare that is both close to home and affordable, HealthPOINT clinicians are here and ready to serve. With services in medical, dental, behavioral health, support programs, and health education in various locations, HealthPOINT’s providers can offer you the care that you are seeking.

With a mission to provide evidence-based healthcare utilizing a patient empowered team approach resulting in individual wellness, HealthPOINT wishes to be your provider of choice. Whether it is your acute care need, Well-Child visit, or chronic disease management, HealthPOINT’s various practitioners can provide compassionate care with a guarantee of experience in their respective field.

Dr. Ankhi Dutta, pediatrician at the HealthPOINT ABC in College Station, has specialized in pediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Roland Garza has focused his career on prenatal care and has delivered hundreds of healthy babies at area hospitals. Dr. Garza is currently taking new patients at the HealthPOINT Bryan, Navasota, ABC, and Madisonville locations.

HealthPOINT staff is available to answer any questions you may have on the health and medical needs for yourself or family members. For more information, visit www.bvcaa.org.

BVCAA HealthPOINT



and have over 90 years of combined experience. Each practitioner and fabricator is uniquely trained, licensed, and/or certified in order to provide the best possible care and services. All work is closely coordinated with

area physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to ensure optimal benefits for each patient.

For more information on CTOP visit www.ctoplp.com or call (979) 731-1985. Prescriptions are required and appointments are recommended.

Provider of Choice in Physical Therapy

Leon Bradway is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 25 years of extensive experience and advanced credentials (Manual Therapy, Trigger Point Dry Needling, NCV/EMG) in pain management, recovery from injury, movement problems and women’s heath. In his career, he has rehabilitated over 5,000 surgical patients, treated collegiate athletes, younger athletes, elite military forces, retirees, children and all other age groups. The breadth of his training and experience make him an ideal choice for those who have pain or movement problems, particularly those who have been unable to

find relief elsewhere. Leon provides natural solutions to your problems. He knows that a hands-on evaluation and a thorough 2-way discussion with the patient are critical to discovering the true underlying cause of the patient’s pain or mobility problems.

Leon is passionate about helping patients. He says. “I want people to know how much a skilled therapist can help them. You don’t have to suffer pain, mobility restrictions, fear of falling, incontinence, weakness or post injury/surgery complications because I can help. The sooner you call, the faster you’ll get relief. Physical therapy isn’t just hot packs, ultrasound and exercises and exercises alone won’t resolve most problems.” So make sure to ask for the provider of choice, Leon Bradway. For more information, call (979) 776-2225 or visit www.bvphysicaltherapy.com


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Sports, Back & Pain Management Clinic

Central Texas Orthotics & Prosthetics, LP“Helping people regain their inde pend ence, one step at a time”

Running, playing sports, and walking the dog remain possible for many individuals thanks to Central Texas Orthotics & Prosthetics (CTOP).

They have grown over 25 years to occupy a 5,600 sq. ft. facility including a fabrication lab. Custom orthotic and prosthetic devices are designed and fabricated onsite, ensuring personalized service and a quick turnaround if adjustments or modifications are required. For patients that have not received prosthetic care due to transportation issues, CTOP offers a Mobile Prosthetic service in which a CTOP licensed practitioner will come to a facility or the patient’s home to provide prosthetic care, from initial casting for the prosthesis to the final fitting and delivery.

Owner Jonathan Cassens and his team are all local to the Brazos Valley



2505 East Villa Maria Road • Bryan, TX 77802 • mrccrestview.org

From a respected tradition, the new Life Care retirement living choice.

Serving Brazos Valley seniors since 1964, today Crestview is a newly redeveloped, state-of-the-art Life Care community. Beginning with the Arbor Oaks spacious independent living apartment homes, Crestview also offers assisted living apartment homes, memory support apartment homes, and skilled nursing and rehab suites for the complete continuum of care. Beautifully delivered, complemented by a maintenance-free lifestyle, and rich with friendliness and opportunity, Crestview is located on 25 acres and surrounded by a mile-long nature trail.

The community offers three distinct areas of care:• Independent living: Arbor Oaks. A leisure-filled lifestyle with inspiring

social opportunities and the financial security of Life Care to keep future health care costs predictable and low.

• Assisted living (The Forest) and Memory support (The Garden). Care that helps seniors develop confidence and regain a measure of independence – so daily living can be a joy again.

• Skilled nursing: The Haven. Maximizing the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual potential of residents.

For more information on the new Crestview Life Care community, call (979) 776-4778 or visit www.mrccrestview.org.

Caring Life Care

Hospice Brazos Valley (HBV) is the regional provider of choice and innovative leader in palliative and end-of-life care. HBV specializes in treating disease-related symptoms, primarily in the homes of patients

Crestview Life Care Community

Hospice Brazos Valley


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“Meet the New Doctor at Campion Chiropractic”

Campion Chiropractic is pleased to announce the addition of Nathan Sehorn D.C., to the staff. Dr. Sehorn is a member of the Texas Chiropractic Association and completed a clinical internship in Mexico City in summer 2012. Following his summer internship, Dr. Sehorn worked at Susan G. Komen For The Cure in Dallas as a chiropractic volunteer. Along with additional techniques, Dr. Sehorn brings impressive past chiropractic experience to the team.

“Better Health, Better Life Through Chiropractic”

Campion Chiropractic has been serving the Brazos Valley for 24 years, bringing to the community a variety of chiropractic experience and techniques. Dr. Karen Campion, Dr. April Holly, and Dr. Nathan Sehorn are continually evaluating and incorporating the very latest alternative medical therapies to help their patients live the highest quality of life at every

age. Rather than masking symptoms with drugs or undergoing something as drastic as surgery, look to Campion Chiropractic to help reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and increase overall mobility.

“The Right Choice Can Change Everything”

Spinal decompression, cold laser therapy, Graston technique, sports rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and massage therapy are among some of the various techniques Campion Chiropractic uses to treat patients. To ensure that patients receive the most advanced level of care, Campion Chiropractic focuses on identifying the cause of pain or injury and matches the very best therapy available to restoring patients to a productive and pain-free daily life.

Campion Chiropractic


Now is the Time to SmileYou are living life to the fullest. But when you look

at your smile in the mirror, if a full life of wear and tear is what you see, now is moment to decide, “It’s my time.”

That’s what prompted local media personality Brenda Sims to pick up the phone and call Dr. Michael Reece.

From Brenda’s first call, she was at ease with Dr. Reece and his staff. All consultations are private and stress free. The hardest part may be picking up the phone. When you do make the call, you’ll discover the many options you have and realize that a beautiful,

fully functional smile is only a few visits away. You don’t have to be a local celebrity to be treated

like one. Like Brenda, and the hundreds of patients before who have put their trust in Dr. Reece’s extensive training, the phone call you make will make a world of difference in your reasons to smile every single day. After all, it’s your time.

Dr. Reece is one of only two in Texas and 19 in the world to achieve Master Dentist. For more information about improving your smile and the health of your teeth, call Dr. Reece at (979) 846-6515 or email [email protected].

Dr. Michael Reece, DDS“Patient-Centered, Results-Driven”

Campion Chiropractic welcomes medical referrals and will work hand-in-hand with other specialists in the Bryan/College Station area to co-manage a patient’s pain. A thorough examination, x-rays, or MRI can be done to help determine the source of your problem. If you have been suffering

from persistent aches and pains, your body may be sending you an early warning sign that you have a problem that needs to be evaluated. With a promise of honesty, compassion, and the highest standards of care, the staff at Campion Chiropractic welcomes you to call to see if chiropractic treatment is right for you at (979) 693-6500 or visit www.campionchiropractic.com.

Hospice Brazos ValleyContinued from page 27

using holistic care. Care is provided by a physician, nurse, social worker, chap lain, home health aide, and a volunteer who provides support for patient and family. When curative treatment is no longer possible or desired HBV can help patients achieve a more meaningful and productive life regardless of race, age, faith, diagnosis, or ability to pay for services. For more information, call 1-800-824-2326 or visit www. hospicebrazosvalley.org.


Need help conquering life?

Are you or a family member suffering, experiencing obstacles, or feeling stuck in life? Dr. Jennifer L. Rockett is accepting new patients and can help. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Rockett works with clients to address depression, anxiety/ fear, and behavior problems. With her specialized training and experience in the treatment of Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety and trauma, and personality disorders, she works collaboratively with clients of all ages to help them identify, appreciate, and cultivate


T O P D O C S

Dr. Jennifer L. Rockett, Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist

their strengths to facilitate change and improvement in mood and behavior. Dr. Rockett also has specialized training in forensic evaluation and can assist local courts and attorneys in addressing psycho-legal questions.

Dr. Rockett received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston State University in 2009 after interning at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Scott & White Clinic in College Station. She is trained in a variety of psychological approaches that can help people find new ways of coping.

For more information or a free phone consultation, call Dr. Jennifer Rockett at (979) 450-5320 or visit www.drrockett.org.

click www.insitebrazosvalley.com 31S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Making The Brazos Valley Beautiful, One Face At A Time!

Brazos Valley Med Spa is a premiere medical spa specializing in technically sophisticated aesthetic medicine. Vicki L. Childs, who opened

her practice in October 2011, is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with more than 10 years of experience in medical aesthetics.

“As a practitioner, I strictly observe high standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism when advising a client on the aesthetic procedures that would best meet their needs,” says Vicki. “My goal is to always provide quality, FDA-approved, state-of-the-art, nonsurgical procedures to my clients.”

Being knowledgeable of the latest technology in lasers, injectables, and other

skin-care procedures is critical in aesthetic medicine. When “sculpting” a client’s appearance, Vicki is aware of the need for an artful eye and perfection in technique. She draws from advanced skills when injecting Botox®, Dysport®, Juvederm®, Radiesse®, Belotero®, Restylane®, Perlane®, and Asclera®.

Adding photo rejuvenation, dermabrasions with botanical infusions, peel systems, and permanent hair reduction to injectables and a medical-grade, skin-care line by SkinMedica®, provide patients with treatments and procedures to return their skin to the tone, texture, and youthful brilliance they once enjoyed.

To schedule a consultation with Vicki, call (979) 703-1957 or visit BrazosValleyMedSpa.com.

Brazos Valley Med Spa


T O P D O C S

Audible Hearing Centers, LLC

Got allergies?

Dr. Ganesh Shanmugam, Texas A&M University class of ’01, is back in the Bryan/College Station area from Houston and is ready to serve the community. B/CS Allergy & Asthma is now accepting new patients of all ages. Whether seasonal allergies and asthma are bringing you down or food allergies are what you suffer from, Dr. Ganesh Shanmugam is here to serve you and your individual needs.

B/CS Allergy & Asthma is located at 1602 Rock Prairie Rd, Ste. 270. For more information, contact (979) 703-6112 or visit www.bcsallergy.com.

Hear Your World

Audible Hearing Centers, LLC have been serving the Brazos Valley for more than 50 years. Owner and operator Joe Crnkovic, A.C.A., provides comprehensive hearing tests, state-of-the-art hearing instruments, and knowledgeable hearing aid specialists.

The experienced staff assists clients with the comfort and satisfaction of their hearing aids, enabling you to better hear phone conversations, TV, and radio. Audible Hearing Centers, LLC makes these positive changes accessible to everyone.

Visit Audible Hearing Centers at their new location and receive a complimentary comprehensive hearing test. For more information, visit in person at 3600 S Texas Ave Suite 400 in Bryan, call (979) 779-3070 or go online to www.audiblehearing.com.

B/CS Allergy/Asthma

Hope Pregnancy Center

Assistance In Crisis Pregnancies

The purpose of Hope Pregnancy Center is to meet the needs of those experiencing crisis pregnancies. Hope’s medical program includes free pregnancy tests, two-week supply of prenatal vitamins and limited obstetric ultrasound. Hope’s peer counseling efforts educate women and men on their pregnancy options including information on fetal development, adoption, abortion education and abstinence.

With offered parenting education program, parents earn points while taking classes such as childbirth preparation, nutrition, parenting, basic finances, post partum depression, breastfeeding and more. With points a client can buy new baby equipment including a crib, car seat, stroller, baby clothes and diapers.

For more information call (979) 695-9193 or visit www.hopepregnancy.org.

Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center, Easter Seals East TexasProviding Help & Hope at the Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center

Easter Seals East Texas, Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center (BVRC) has been providing help, hope and answers to the people of the Brazos Valley since 1957. This local non-profit outpatient facility is dedicated to empowering those they treat to live independent lives.

The highly qualified, caring team of professionals at BVRC promotes health and wellness through programs including autism services, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. These services help to ensure that all people with disabilities have the opportunity to live, learn, work and play in our community. For more information call (979) 776-2872 or visit www.east-texas.easterseals.com.


Comforting Solutions for In-Home Care

At Comfort Keepers, the mission is to provide clients with the highest-level quality of life that is achievable. Comfort Keepers achieves this mission by treating their clients with the dignity and respect they deserve and caring for each client like members of their family.

This level of outstanding in-home care is made possible by employing the very highest caliber of Comfort Keepers. With thorough screening, extensive training and close supervision of the best staff of caring individuals available, Comfort Keepers is able to provide the very best care for your family member.

When you need care for a loved one, you can trust the compassionate staff at Comfort Keepers. Call (979) 764-3076 for more information or visit www.comfortkeepers.com.

Comfort Keepers

Legs for Life

Do you or someone you know suffer from painful or embarrassing leg symptoms like swelling, varicose veins, ulcers, or restless legs? You’re not alone! According to Doctor Gloria Mays, “Vein disease is more common than you might think, approximately half of women and men in the United States suffer from some type of vein problem in their legs.”

To help identify the cause of leg problems originating from vein disease, Brazos Vein Institute, located in the St. Joseph’s Professional Building, offers Free Vein Screenings by appointment. The screening is 10 to 25 minute evaluation, which includes a medical questionnaire, an exam of the legs, and an ultrasound scan of the leg veins by a registered vascular technologist who specializes in venous disease.

Doctor Gordon Mitchell says

that the non-invasive ultrasound is a key factor in the patient’s diagnosis. “Approximately 70% of people who come in for free vein screenings are candidates for one of our vein treatments,” says Mitchell.

Brazos Vein Institute offers a variety of state of the art vein procedures to fit the individual patients’ needs. Doctor Ricardo Gutierrez notes the ease of their procedures because they can be performed in the doctor’s office in as little as 30 minutes and are relatively pain free. “Within 10 minutes of the procedure, the patient is able to resume normal activities and in most cases, is able to return to work on the same day,” says Gutierrez.

For more information on vein disease or to schedule your free vein screening, call (979) 776-WALK or visit www.brazosvein.com.

Brazos Vein Institute


T O P D O C S

Bryan 800 CommunicationsWhen a potential client calls, 72% will hang up before leaving a voicemail and 98% say, “Poor Phone Skills Leave A Bad Impression.”

Bryan 800 Answering Service has been helping businesses communicate effectively with their customers for 30 years with LIVE, professional answering service available 24/ 7, starting as low as $3 per day. Local staff and ownership insure your calls are answered locally, not from a third-world country.

71% of relationships are ended because of bad customer service. Can you afford not to have Bryan 800 answering your phones?

Visit Bryan800.com to learn about a free two-week trial, or call (979) 775-4800 for more information or visit www.bryan800as.com.



IT’S a RITUaL aS OLD aS maNKIND: rhythmic footfalls around a fire to celebrate rain and healing, Victorian balls with elaborate chore-ography, and modern interpretive dance, ballet, and pop. The message is unanimous: people are made to dance.

While the predominant modern dance in the Brazos Valley may seem centrifugal to twangy, country chords or billboard hits, the beat doesn’t stop there. From ballroom dancing and salsa to Argentine tan-go and line dancing, the dance community is alive, welcoming, and growing.

The local Brazos Ballroom Dance Studio is a Mecca to the unedu-cated, burgeoning dancer. Even the rhythmically challenged with two left feet will find an open door, patient instruction, and an encouraging community. Instructor Ray Garcia and wife Shelly Gallaway opened the studio in January 2010 simply to have a place to practice and began teaching to pay for the studio space. As competitive dancers from Dal-las/Fort Worth, the couple missed the dancing energy of the metroplex and sought to encourage the dancing community in the Brazos Valley.

Garcia and Gallaway dance and teach American Smooth and American Rhythm Ballroom Dance styles while promoting all kinds of dance at the studio: Argentine tango, modern, salsa, and square dancing among others. “There’s something for everyone,” says Garcia, who has students ranging in age from four to 84 and beyond.

“It energizes you, builds confidence, and is a fantastic way to reduce stress, says Gallaway. The studio and community it has encouraged al-lows a safe environment for people to blossom and come out of their

DANCEDANCEDANCE!

Pick your rhythm and find your style,then put on your dancing shoes

By SaRaH KINzBaCH


StartersATTIRE Dress comfortably for your lesson. Avoid flip-flops or shoes without a secure back and don’t wear your tallest heels. A casual dress shoe is best.TIMEDon’t expect to learn everything in one hour. The more you practice, the more you learn and enjoy. LESSONSPrivate or group lessons are available. A monthly group lesson membership is $55 or $10 per class. Private lessons are $60. Practice Parties are bi-monthly on Fridays, $10. Practice, so-cialize, eat, and be merry!

For more information on Brazos Ballroom Dance Studio, visit www.brazos-ballroomdance.com.

Dance on this!The Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quick-step, and Vien-nese Waltz are considered smooth dances.

The Cha-cha, Rumba, East and West Coast Swing, Mambo, Bolero, Samba, and Merengue are all rhythm dances.

The Foxtrot is similar to a two-step, box step and is versatile to almost any style of dance and movement. i

WhERE TO DANcEBENjAMIN KNOx WINE DEpOT Tango Tuesdays at 6 p.m. www.facebook.com/CollegeStationTango

BRAzOS VALLEy RhyThM ROcKERS Senior line-dancing, Tuesday and Fridayswww.bvrhythmrockers.com

BRyAN/cOLLEgE STATION DINNER DANcE cLuB MONThLy SOcIAL Ballroom Contact Richard Talbert at (979) 764-8216

DAISy DuKES Country-western(979) 268-9601

DR. SuSAN QuIRINg, BALLROOM DANcE & ETIQuETTEwww.susansballroomdance.com

gATSBy’S Club dancing (979) 260-2900

hALO BAR Club dancing (979) 823-6174

huRRIcANE hARRy’S Country-western(979) 846-3343

Lux Club dancing (979) 260-7646

SKyy BAR Club dancing (979) 268-2080

VILLAgE cAfé Salsa Wednesdays and Saturdays. www.thevillagedowntown.com

V BAR Club dancing (979) 691-2767 i

48 (Cheap)DateNights

Something for every budget, every night of the week!Compiled By JESSICa BaNKE

yOU DON’T HaVE to leave town or spend a fortune to enjoy a night out with your sweetheart; these inexpensive local events occur weekly. Categories include Karaoke, Live Music & Dancing, Bar Tournaments, and Trivia, as

well as “Something Different.” Sample these nightly offerings then visit InsiteBrazosValley.com for the complete list of 48 different (cheap) date nights.


shell. “People dramatically grow,” notes Gallaway, explaining the change in demeanor, stature, posture, and confidence she has noticed in students.

In addition to a confidence booster, “Dancing keeps you young!” claims Gallaway. A study published in the New Eng-land Journal of Medicine confirms the youthful effects of dancing and its ability to ward off cognitive diseases such as Al-zheimer’s and dementia. Along with physicality, dancing requires rational, emotional, and musical responses to complete the art, thus producing a sort of Fountain of Youth-effect, keeping the young spry and the wise revitalized.

As a workout, dancing is bar none at providing mental and physical “sweating.” “It’s cathartic,” says Gallaway, who also notes the successes of their students who have lost weight, become more active, and enjoyed the process of moving again.

Dancing is for everyone, regardless of age, physical condition or impairments, but Garcia is quick to note that it requires patience and practice: “It’s not a natural thing. You don’t walk around all day with someone in front of you. It teaches you how to connect, listen, and learn how to coordinate your feet to move. You’re never finished learning.”

Brazos Ballroom offers private and group lessons, as well as practice parties and showcase dances. “We’re trying to build the community,” says Garcia who dreams of building a big ballroom and having a dance community to fill it. From local fundraisers, functions, clubs, and socials to out-of-town venues, weddings, and dance competitions, the music is every-where...just start dancing to it! i

dance, dance, dance!Continued from page37

Argentine TangoA variant to traditional ballroom tango is the Argentine Tango, a dance notoriously known for improvisation and variation. Still in its infancy, the BCS Argentine Tango group began in April 2013 and is growing.

Prior to the group’s inception, Argentine Tango enthusiasts had to travel to Houston, Dallas, or Austin to learn and dance. Now with instruction, patrons, and a location, the BCS Argentine Tango group is continuing to thrive and expand.

Join BCS Argentine Tango for Tango Tuesdays at Benjamin Knox Wine Depot. Lessons begin at 6:30 p.m. and are followed by guided practice. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CollegeStationTango. i

What KaraokeWhere The Tap, CSWhen 9:00 – 11:45 p.m.Even if you’re not a Beyonce or Beiber (and neither is your date), after a few drinks together, no one will notice the difference. Loosen up those vocal chords and show your partner what you’re made of! Sign-ups start @ 10:00. Not recommended for a first date.

What Pianist D.A. McDowellWhere Christopher’s World grille, CSWhen 7 p.m., Tuesdays through SaturdaysIt doesn’t have to be expensive to keep it classy. The Casablanca Piano Bar at Christopher’s World Grille features Pianist D.A. McDowell Tuesday through Saturday nights. Request a song, buy some drinks, and split an appetizer all for under $30 as you chat with your partner while listening to your piano favorites.

What Open MicWhere Revolution Café & Bar, BryanWhen 10 p.m.Free and open to the public, downtown Bryan’s most popular open mic night is a great date option for any couple “thirsting” for drink specials and live music.

What Wine Flights with live music & Chef Tai’s Mobile GourmetWhere Benjamin Knox Wine DepotWhen Chef Tai’s Mobile Gourmet 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; live music begins at 7 p.m.Live music, wine flights, and Chef Tai’s Mobile Gourmet food truck – what more do we need to say? Sit outside on the patio or inside the wine bar to add a visual feast of art by artist Benjamin Knox.

What Jazz by Greg Tivis and Steve CarrWhere Veritas Wine & Bistro, CSWhen 8 p.m.Sit at the bar and split an appetizer paired with wine and join Greg Tivis and Steve Carr, joined by vocalist Karan Chavis at Veritas to experience some gentle jamming and slow, smooth jazz.



Salsa at theVillage CafeFor a salsa lesson followed by practice dance time, head to Village Café in Downtown Bryan on Wednesday and Saturday nights for a relaxed evening in one of the most diverse crowds you’ll find in B/CS. From a few high schoolers to lots of college kids all mixed in with some mid-life locals, you and the 40-50 other salsa wannabes will constitute a fun and far-flung, worldly crowd. First-timers will learn the basics while repeaters learn new steps every lesson. The lesson crowd always includes a few seasoned dancers, and everyone rotates around the dance circle. It doesn’t matter if you’re a single or a couple – no partner necessary – just come to salsa, merengue and bachata!

Wednesday’s $8 lesson is 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with dancing included after; arrive just to dance 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. for a $5 cover. Saturday’s 30-minute intro-to-salsa lesson is 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with dancing from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. General admission is $5 and includes the lesson. For more information, visit mamboseentertainment.com or thevillagedowntown.com i


ExCLUSIVELy ONLINECulinary Adventure Part II By AdAM AMAyA

Looking for a way to kick your taste buds out of a rut? Join us for Culinary Adventure Part II as we explore world-themed cuisine right here in our own backyard. Find Culinary Adventure Part I also online.


The Full

48(Cheap)Dates



HaloAlbeit not exactly concurrent to ballroom dancing, the dance community is alive and thriving at Halo, a dance club and bar in Downtown Bryan. Open 10 years, the venue is welcoming to everyone, regardless of gender, orientation, or creed

Local Patty Vychopen and her husband – described as a country boy – frequent Halo, going back for the aesthetic

atmosphere, great dance music and energized crowd. “The employees and regulars visit with everyone, welcoming all. It doesn’t matter what you wear or how you dance, you fit in Halo!“ says Vychopen. “It is probably the most fun workout you will voluntarily put yourself through.”

With a large dance floor, low lights, two bars, and music videos projected on the walls, and multiple floors with one featuring a live DJ

and another a social lounge, Halo is a place to let loose, be yourself, and enjoy a drag show while you’re there. Attracting drag entertainers such as Kofi Cakes, an iconic Texas drag queen and the reigning Ms. Black America Plus, Halo is an opportunity to travel beyond the ordinary and revel in harmless frivolity.

For more infor-mation, visit www.facebook.com/HaloBCS inexCollegeStationTango. i

(Cheap) date NightContinued from page 38

“Something Different”What Orchard Tour Where Royalty Pecan Farm, CaldwellWhen 12:30-1:30 p.m.Take your significant other for a covered wagon ride through Royalty Farm’s pecan orchard. Learn how pecans go from trees to you. Browse the gift shop full of pecans, baked goods, specialty gourmet treats, and more afterwards. Tours cost $3 per person. Live MusicWhat Cynthia Williams and Francisco FariasWhere The Republic, CSWhen 9 p.m.Bring your date night to The Republic to enjoy master guitarist Francisco Farias’

and vocalist Cynthia Williams’ memorable jazz, soft rock and pop classics. Sit at the elegant bar and try the house-made Republic ale.

What TGIWineWhere messina Hof, BryanWhen 3-5 p.m. Recently changed to the 3rd Sunday of every month, TGIWine at Messina Hof allows visitors to sample premium, award winning wines as they mix and mingle with other guests/couples. Live music and a cheese plate to complement the wines are also included in this experience. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Call to purchase tickets. i



MESSINA HOFGROWING A FAMILY

TRADITION

mESSINa HOF PRODUCES 50,000 CaSESannually, with distribution running through-out Texas and the country. “Messina Hof is dedicated to producing exceptional quality wines in order to provide for the continued growth of the Texas wine culture, and we take every opportunity to reach Texas consumers in every region of the state,” Paul (VII) Mitchell Bonarrigo, co-owner and CEO of Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc. says.

The property features many oppor tunities for guests to experience wine and Messina Hof. The Vintage House Restaurant operates on the principle of “vineyard cuisine,” using Messina Hof wine to influence each culinary dish. Design Events executes year-round premierM

essina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan is a place to wine, dine, and unwind in Texas. With a strong presence among the some 300 wineries in Texas, Messina Hof is more than just a winery – it’s a place to become part of a winemaking family.MMM

By CHELSEy COx

PHOTO BY CHRIS WILLIAMS


event coordination and ceremony planning. The Villa Bed and Breakfast holds a “Four Diamond” Rating by AAA, and the Wine Bar is the sole wine-on-tap source in the local area.

Getting to this point wasn’t an easy task for the Bonarrigo family. “There was no belief in Texas Wine,” Paul Vincent says. “From 1977 until 2000, we worked seven days a week and received no pay. Every dollar was reinvested in Messina Hof. Financial institutions would not lend to a vineyard or a winery. [Texas was] last in the nation in wine production with four wineries making 12 thousand gallons. Today we have almost 300 wineries making over 3 million gallons, and Texas is now fourth in the nation in

wine production.” From daily tours and themed dinners to weekly special events, Messina Hof has grown into both a local and statewide attraction. Weekly events include Monday Ladies Night, Tuesday Tour de Wine, Wednesday Chocolate Night, Thursday Aggie Night Out, and Friday Sunset/Moonlit Tours. VIP Members Tamara (Tammy) L. Mischel, Ph.D., and Charles (Chuck) Tedrick shared their first date at Messina Hof in 2009 and found themselves married three years later.

“Chuck and I became VIP members and have enjoined a variety of activities at

the winery. We have taken family members (from as far away as Continued on page 44

Indiana and Virginia) to activities, as well as friends from the local area,” Mischel says. “Chuck and I always felt like part of Messina Hof as Michael in the tasting room always had a smile and ‘kiss’ for me.”

Based on their experiences at Messina Hof, Mischel and Tedrick envision some day opening their own winery in Indiana. “I love to teach others the things I learned from Paul and Merrill over the years as a VIP member at Messina Hof: wine pairing with food and oils; the colored stripe on their labels helped my pallet grow and mature from 2008 to 2013; how to debunk the old wives’ tales – ‘white’ meat

Today we have almost 300 wineries making over 3 million gallons, and Texas is now fourth in the nation in

have enjoined a variety of activities at the winery. We have taken family

members (from as far away as

wineries making 12 thousand gallons.

their first date at Messina Hof in 2009 and found themselves married three years later.

“Chuck and I became VIP members and Today we have almost 300 wineries making over 3 million gallons, and Texas is now fourth in the nation in

have enjoined a variety of activities at the winery. We have taken family

members (from as far away as

PHOTO BY CHRIS WILLIAMS


must be paired with white wines and ‘red’ meat must be paired with red wines,” Mischel says. “I will never forget hearing Merrill say, ‘The wine is the constant, you can season your food to match the wine you want to drink; so, order your wine first, and then choose your meal.’”

Messina Hof recently earned the title of “Top All-Around Winery” at the 2013 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and International Wine Competition, “Best of Herd” at the 2013 San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition, and earned top honors at the 2013 Dallas Morning News and TExSOM Wine Competition, with three gold medals. In 2011, Messina Hof opened its second winery location in Fredericksburg. The Messina Hof Hill Country Winery is planted on a 10-acre property, which includes a Wine Garten, the “Manor Haus” Bed and Breakfast, a VIP Room, and the Guest Center. This summer will be the first harvest for the Hill Country property, occurring August 10, and will include a music festival featuring local artists. In addition, this event includes a presentation of a $10,000 donation to the Texas Center for Wine & Culinary

Arts, presented by Messina Hof co-founders/owners, Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo. For more information on Messina Hof Hill Country, visit messinahof.com/mhhillcountry or call 830-990-4653. To speak with an associate at the Bryan location, call 1-800-736-WINE or visit www.messinahof.com. i

growing A Family TraditionContinued from page 43

pErrINE WINEry Is AN unexpected gem of College Station. Tucked away in a strip mall lies this sophisticated micro-winery that can tantalize the taste buds of wine connoisseur and amateur drinker alike.

Beth & Rick Leopold are the owners, operators, and winemakers at Perrine and have churned out over 10,000 bottles, all made in-house, since opening a little over a year ago. Both work in the agriculture-related industry, keeping their day-jobs and running Perrine in the afternoons to provide residents with a different perspective of wine. What began as a dream retirement plan became a reality for the couple. “We’re better suited to having a vineyard than a winery—

my education is crop science,” explains Rick. Perrine’s website describes the couple as “Farmers at heart… without any land to farm.” Through a dream, a love a wine, and a lot of research, the Leopolds secured the title of first micro-winery in the Bryan/College Station area.

The tasting area of Perrine gives its visitors a cozy feeling, made complete with comfortable chairs positioned in corners and wine-themed art hanging on the dark-colored walls. The room welcomes guests to browse the wall of wine, with themes like “Brazos Breeze,” or taste at the front counter until you find something that fancies your taste buds. Try the ever-popular freeze drinks to cut the summer

heat, or chocolates made by the Chocolate Gallery that beckon from the counter.

If you venture past the front counter and tasting area, you find a small bottling area where wine is bottled in-house by hand. This method allows customers to have the option of custom labeling, something unique that Perrine offers. “We do just about anything for labels,” says Rick as he goes on to name birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and gifts as just a few popular custom label occasions. Personal batches of wine are also options because of the custom nature of Perrine. “We’ve done about 12 or 15 personal

batches of wine. It’s a foreign thought to people,” says Rick.

At the back of the building is a small area where all the micro-winery magic happens. Large five-gallon buckets are stacked in the center of the room and hold grape juice from all over, awaiting their fermentation. This unique method of getting crushed grapes and grape juices allows Perrine to take a unique approach when making wines. Shelves house boxes of already bottled wine reaching to the ceiling. Stainless steel tanks sit with new wine inside, a tag hanging from the outside with dates scrolled on them. The large cooler in the corner is the last stop

before wine is ready to be bottled, labeled, and sent to the shelf or the tasting room.

Perrine Winery offers de-stressing sessions every other Wednesday, where guests can pamper themselves with wine and receive a massage. Wine tastings and the World Tour of Wine are also available. “Most people focus on one area they like,” says Rick, explaining how the World Tour of Wine encourages people to step out of their comfort zone. With over 50 wines in-store, everyone is sure to discover something they love. “There are just so many different wines to experience,” adds Rick. i

Mixing it Up at Perrine Winery

By CHaNEy BaRTON

TAMMY MISCHEL AND CHUCK TEDRICK.

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FROm SmaLL-TOWN TExaN TO international businessman to specialty vintner, Earl Love is clearly a man of varied interests and talents. Having lived far from an ordinary life himself, it can be expected that Earl’s wines are also beyond your ordinary fair. Earl and his wife Lyn run and co-own the Texas Star Winery where they produce, bottle, and distribute all-natural specialty wines.

Also called “country wines,” some of Texas Star Winery’s most interesting ¬– and award-winning – flavors include Chocolate Mandarin-Orange, Wild Grape, Hibiscus Flower, and Prickly Pear Cactus. The Texas Star Winery is located about an hour from Bryan/College Station in Richards, nestled up to the Sam Hous-ton National Forest on scenic FM 149 and only a short drive from Montgomery, the birthplace of the star on the Texas flag.

“There was no market for wine grapes when we started back in 1989,” Lyn says about why she and Earl found other sources for the base of their wines: there were simply no grapes to buy in Texas at the time. “We started using mostly pears, apples, plums, cranberries, and other fruits we could just pick from the neigh-

bors or buy in a grocery store. We were one of the first wineries [in Texas] to make country wines.”

All of their wines, including the two most unusual and successful flavors, Hibiscus Flower and Prickly Pear Cactus, contain no additional juices or supplements. “Our winery is desig-nated as a natural winery: there are no artificial flavors and very little additives in our wines,” Earl says. “We do use sulfites in our wines, but only just enough to preserve the wine.”

Having acquired a taste for it, trying it as a wine base was a natural step when Earl decided to

become a vintner. First, he measured the flower’s brix, or sugar content. Any ingre-dient with enough brix can be made into wine. Decid-ing the flowers were sweet enough, Earl tested them in larger and larger batches, calibrating their natural flavors with different levels of acid and alcohol to create a more balanced wine. Eventually, he was able to turn the flow-ers into one of Texas Star’s most unique and best-selling wines. For those who wonder: to

extract the natural flavor from the flowers, he buys them dehydrated from Mexico, then rehydrates

TUCKED aWay IN THE lowlands of Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico lays a 2,000-acre agave estate where Puro Verde tequila is made. The fields are covered with row after row of the blue agave plant. The sun shines hot and the air is

dry in Amatitán providing the necessary climate for the agave plant to grow and develop. The agave is actually not a cactus, but a member of the Agavaceae family.

When going into the

Pure Mexican Tequila With Local TiesBy CHRISTIaN WINSTON



From Hibiscus to Prickly Pear, Texas Star Winery Creates New Taste TraditionsBy JESSICa BaNKE

The idea of turning Hibiscus flowers into wine grew out of Earl’s business travel in Asian countries where Hibiscus is a popular flavor



Texas starContinued from page 46

and vents them, which means he puts them into the wine-making tank.

The winery’s other staple flavor is made from the state fruit: Prickly Pear Cactus. There are 22 varieties of Prickly Pears in Texas, and Earl has to make sure to pick the same kind from the same place every year because differ-ent varieties and soils have different flavors. Texas Star is the only winery in Texas mak-ing Prickly Pear Cac-tus wine. They have a wine bottle on display at the San Antonio Heritage Museum.

Nearly everything in their winemaking process occurs onsite. Aside from growing the specialty ingredi-ents, which Earl and Lyn either import or harvest elsewhere themselves, they cre-ate, bottle, sell, and distribute the wines from their location in Montgomery County. Earl even designed the labels and hand-painted the original watercolor art on each of the bottles: while he was in school, Earl

studied art with Dord Fitz, a contemporary of Salvador Dali.

“We just intro-duced our Chocolate Mandarin-Orange wine in February. It was a mess to work with!” Lyn says, laughing. “We had chocolate shavings and orange peels everywhere. But it was delicious! We are currently working on an apple wine and a cranberry port.”

Texas Star Winery products are sold in 13 grocery stores across Texas, 11 Brookshire Brothers and 2 Whole Foods; it is also sold online. Locally, you can buy Texas Star Hibiscus wine at Village Foods grocery store and taste it at Village Café Downtown. It is also sold at the Brookshire Brothers in Navasota, Huntsville, Madison-ville, Houston, The Woodlands, and Katy.

To schedule a tour or free tasting, or for more information about the Texas Star Winery, call (936) 851-2400 or visit http://www.texasstar-winery.com/. i

ExCLUSIVELy ONLINEMr. Bill's Petal Passion By ChAney BArtOn

William McKinley's mission is to have a blooming fine time with whatever floral-themed hat he's wearing each day, whether it's as director of the Benz Gallery of Art at Texas A&M University or teaching a design class as the Endowed Chair of the Benz School of Floral Design. Join 'Mr. Bill' as he helps students blossom as they design themed floral arrangements.


2013-2014 BLINN COLLEGE THEATRE

DR. W.W. O’DONNELL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - MRW STUDIO THEATER

BLINN COLLEGE - BRENHAM

tequila business, Trey Baumgarner, president of Puro Verde and owner of Furniture Source International in College Station, knew the only way to stand out was with a different kind of tequila. With 180 new brands of tequila on the market each year, he knew that their tequila must be USDA certified organic for it to be unique. With that as their goal, Puro Verde, meaning ‘pure green’ in Spanish, was born. From the initial planted agave seed to the final tequila product poured in a glass, Puro Verde maintains an organic lifecycle allowing it to stand out from the crowd.

The agaves are grown without any chemicals or pesticides and take a decade to mature. After maturation, the jimadors, specialized farmers who cultivate agave, harvest them. Once the harvesting is complete, the piñas are baked in an oven for a day. Next, pure spring water, sourced from within the estate,

is added to the agaves and the result is mosto ready for fermentation. Unlike most brands of tequila that have added yeast and sugar to speed up the fermentation process, Puro Verde does not. This allows the fermentation process to occur naturally over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. After fermentation, the mosto is ready to be double distilled, micron-filtered, and then cold-filtered. Finally, the tequila produced is aged in oak bourbon barrels, helping to create the unique flavor. Attention to detail and an organic diligence even flows into the bottling process: the glass bottles are sand blasted and the words painted using lead-free paint.

Puro Verde’s tequila family is made up of Organic Blanco One-Ten, Organic Silver, Organic Reposado, Organic Anejo, and Organic Reserva Extra Anejo. When asked what his favorite tequila is, Baumgarner says, “It varies. There are times when I want a

pure tequila that is not aged and then when I want a 5-year-old aged tequila.” He also adds that Puro Verde Silver is the easiest to drink. Men usually go for aged tequila, while women usually go for less aged and scotch drinkers tend to prefer a 5-year-old aged tequila. For a healthy margarita, Baumgarner suggests using only organic lime and organic tequila. This way, no one has to worry about a margarita packed full of calories from triple sec.

Puro Verde is distributed by Glazer’s, Opici Wine and Spirits, Best Brands, Inc., and Quality Wine and Spirits. Puro Verde can be purchased locally at Specs and Twin Liquors.

“Our stronghold is to have an organic product.” Known for its pure taste and smooth finish, Puro Verde was voted Austin’s Favorite Tequila in a blind taste-test. “It’s all about the taste,” says Baumgarner. i

TequilaContinued from page 46



Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.Year-round attractions and events on the Island are enjoyed by all.

Allstate: Jacqueline Voss . . . . . . . page 41

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of brazos Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 20

Arts Council of the brazos Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5

Audible Hearing Centers, LLC . . . page 32

b/Cs Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . page 32

bailey Health & Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . page 20, 21

besco Custom Jewelers . . . . . . . . . page 9

blinn College Theatre . . . . . . . . . . page 49

blue baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7

brazos bingo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12

brazos Natural Foods . . . . . . . . . . page 47

brazos Valley Med spa . . . . . . . . . page 31

brazos Valley rehabilitation Center . . . . . . . page 30, 32

brazos Vein Institute . . . . . . . . . . page 33

bryan 800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 34

buppy’s Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 52

bVCAA HealthpOINT . . . . . . . . page 22, 24

Campion Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . page 28

Cancer Center . . . . . . . . . . . . page 16, 18

Central Texas Orthotics & prosthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 26

Clark Isenhour real Estate services, LLC . . . . . . page 11

College station Family Medical Center . . . . . . page 14, 15

College station Internal Medicine . . . . . . . . . . page 14, 15

Comfort Keepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 33

Crestview Life Care Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 27

dr . Jennifer rockett . . . . . . . . . . . page 30

dr . Michael reece, dds . . . . . . . . page 29

Elements Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . page 48

Elms Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . page 22, 23

Family Montessori . . . . . . . . . . . . page 11

george bush presidential Library & Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . page 41

Holley’s Window Fashions & Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 45

Hope pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . page 31, 32

Hospice brazos Valley . . . . . . . . . page 27

Lucia, galleria day spa . . . . . . . . . page 7

Medispa & salon . . . . . . . . . . page 24, 25

Merry Maids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12

MsC OpAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4

painting with a Twist . . . . . . . . . . page 47

primrose schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3

schlitterbahn Water park . . . . . . . page 2

sOs Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 40

sports, back & pain Management . . . . . . . . . . page 24, 26

st . Joseph Health system . . . page 35, 36

survival swim school . . . . . . . . . . page 11

Texas A&M Health science Center . . . . . . page 18, 19

Victorian Condo Hotel & resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 50

WC Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9

Woodson Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9

MarketplaceInsitebrazosValley .com

INSITE | Directory | www.InsiteBrazosValley.com


BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION

dininG / CATERinG / VEnuESAmico NAve RistoRANte, www.amiconave.com, 203 E. Villa Maria Rd., Bryan (979) 703-1953. Amico Nave is a family-owned restaurant offering a mix of traditional and modern Italian dishes. M-F 11am-10pm, Sa 5-10pm

BeNjAmiN KNox WiNe Depot & eveNt ReNtAl, www.BenjaminKnox.com, 405 University Dr East, CS (979)696-5669. Enjoy Happy Hour 5-7pm everyday. Thursday’s Wine & Food Paring with Chef Tai Mobile Bistro also features live music. Try new wines by the glass every week plus live music on Friday. Ask about our Event Rentals. M-F 12noon- 8pm, Th-Sat 12noon-12am

Blue BAKeR, www.bluebaker.com, 800 University Dr, CS (979)268-3096; 201 Dominik, CS (979)696-5055. Blue Baker is an artisan bakery and café featuring breads baked from scratch, pastries, sandwiches, soup, fresh tossed salads and brick-oven pizzas. Try some cookies for the perfect finish! Open daily 7am-10pm

Buppy’s cAteRiNg, www.Buppys.com, 506 Sulphur Springs, Bryan (979)779-6417. Any food. Anytime. Buppy’s feeds people - Dine at Buppy’s and let them cater your events. China, linen, table and chair rentals for on-site catering or use Buppy’s private Party Room. Lunch buffet Tu-F 10:30am-6pm, closed Monday. Dinner buffet, First Friday of each month, 5pm-8:30pm

cAfé eccell, www.cafeeccell.com, 101 Church Ave, CS, (979)846-7908. Café Eccell is a pizza and wine bistro located in College Station’s Old City Hall that offers wood fired pizza, fresh seafood and more! Lunch M-Th 11am-2pm; F&Su 11am-5pm; Sa 12noon-5pm; Dinner M-Su 5-10pm

cAffe cApRi itAliAN RestAuRANt, www.theplaceforitalian.com, 222 N Main St, Bryan (979)822-2675. This award winning downtown restaurant has been serving creative and reasonably priced Italian dishes for 15 years. Enjoy their art deco interior, local art display and upbeat atmosphere. Lunch M-F 11am-2pm; Dinner M-Th 6pm-9pm; F-Sa 5pm-9pm

cAsA RoDRiguez, www.casarod.com, 300 N Bryan Ave, Bryan (979)779-0916. Casa Rodriguez has been serving Bryan and College Station for more than 30 years. Their menu consists of traditional Mexican food recipes that have kept the locals and visitors coming back for more. M 11am-2pm; Tu-Th 7am-9pm; F 7am-9:30pm; Sa 8am-9:30pm; Su 8am-8pm

ceNARe RestAuRANt, www.gotocenare.com, 404 University Dr E, CS (979)696-7311. Cenare offers a variety of authentic Italian cuisine and beautifully presented dishes. Whether you are looking for an intimate evening, a nice place for the entire family or a place to host your next event, Cenare is a great choice. M-F 11am-2pm; M-Th 5-9:30pm; F-Sa 5-10pm

chef tAi’s moBile BistRo, www.cheftai.com, check website for daily locations and hours (979) 268-3251. Chef Tai’s Mobile Bistro is America’s Favorite Food Truck serving a blend of globally inspired cuisine.

chocolAte gAlleRy, www.bcschocolategallery.com, 211 N. Main St., Bryan (979) 779-2804. The Chocolate Gallery provides premium pastries and chocolate as well as showcase the art of pastry and confections through education and experience. Tu-Th 10am-8pm, F-Sa 10am-9pm

chRistopheR’s WoRlD gRille, www.christophersworldgrille.com, 5001 Boonville Rd, Bryan (979)776-2181. A trip to Christopher’s World Grille, in the historic Andrews House in Bryan, is a fine dining experience that can best be described as food with Mediterranean, Italian, coastal French, and South Pacific influences with a touch of Louisiana thrown in. Lunch M-Su 11am-2pm; Dinner Su-Th 5-9pm; F-Sa 5-10pm

the clARy house, www.theclaryhouse.com, 601 East 30th St., Bryan, (979)703-7916. Southern hospitality since 1902. Choose from four distinct suites to make you feel relaxed and pampered. Personal coffee bar and business center. Just one mile from Bryan’s historic downtown and five miles from the Texas A&M campus. Perfect for special occasions. Promising to make your visit memorable with a leisurely stay.

the lemoN WeDge, www.the-lemonwedge.com, 308 N Main St, Bryan (979)703-4052. The Lemon Wedge is an elegant, upscale neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of downtown Bryan, serving fresh steak, seafood and spirits. Offering a wonderful selection of USDA prime steak and seafood dishes, as well as classical American favorites and great cocktails. The perfect place for couples, groups and families! Tu-Th 10:30am-9pm; F-Sa 10:30am-10pm; Su 9-11am omelet bar/ 11am-2:30pm Brunch

messiNA hof WiNeRy & ResoRt, http://www.messinahof.com/index_main.php, 4545 Old Reliance Rd, Bryan, (979)778-9463. Messina Hof is a Texas vineyard established in 1977. Kick back and enjoy the winery as well as the estate. On the estate is a Vintage House restaurant that offers fine dining and fresh vineyard cuisine. Attached to the guest center is the wine bar that offers an intimate, romantic setting with customized wine. Tours and wine tastings are offered 7 days a week. The Villa Bed & Breakfast offers a night of luxury. Designer events perfect for special occasions. Check out the calendar of events for classes, seminars, dinners and more.

ReADfielD meAts & Deli, www.readfieldmeats.com, 2701 S. Texas Ave, Bryan (979) 822-1594. Readfield Meats& Deli is a gourmet meat and deli store carrying imported Italian goods, grocery items, frozen delights, and even paper goods. M-F 8am-6pm, Sa 8am-4pm

the RepuBlic, www.therepublic1836.com, 701 University Dr E, CS (979)260-4120. Recently receiving the designation of AAA four diamond steak house, The Republic offers a variety of gourmet steak options, seafood, wine, and whiskey. Their focus is on the use of fine, locally grown foods and simple Texas cooking in an elegant setting. M-Sa 5-10pm

the tAp, www.tapbcs.com, 815 Harvey Rd, CS, (979)696-5570. The Tap is a former train depot transformed into a sports bar and restaurant. This local favorite has more than 30 TVs, darts, pool tables, NTN trivia, dominoes, two huge porches, occasional live music specials, burgers, sandwiches, and free peanuts. M-Sa 11am-2pm

tRumAN chocolAtes, www.trumanchocolates.com, 4407 S Texas Ave, Bryan (979)260-4519. Choose from signature series boxes or customize your own. Numerous flavors to choose from. Made on site by well-trained staff. Perfect to leave a lasting impression for any event! Open M-F 10am-6pm; Sa 10am-3pm; Closed on Sunday

veRitAs, www.veritaswineandbistro.com, 830 University Dr, Suite 400, CS (979)268-3251. Classically trained chefs offer creative cuisine in a casual, contemporary setting. Veritas embraces usage of organic

and local produce, wild caught seafood flown in directly from the source, as well as poultry and meat raised naturally. Highly-trained associates and wine stewards can guide you through an award-winning wine list, which has garnered Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence (2007-2010). Lunch M-F 11am-2pm; Dinner M-Th & Sun 5:30pm-9:30pm, Sat 5:30pm-10pm

EnTERTAinMEnT & ATTRACTionSBRAzos BiNgo, www.BrazosBingo.com, 1805 Briarcrest Dr across from Bryan High, Bryan (979)776-0999. For charity bingo at its best, Brazos Bingo has family nights, Aggie nights, and an enclosed, non-smoking section. Enjoy great food at great prices at the Brazos City Grill or call about the party room - great for business events. Brazos Bingo supports the following charities: Elks Lodge #859, Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, St. Joseph Church, and Bubba Moore Memorial Group, Inc. Open 7 days a week.

DoWNtoWN uNcoRKeD, Follow on Facebook, 206 W 26th St, Bryan (979)823-4837. Join them for Women Gone Wine Wednesdays, Half Price Bottle Thursdays, Friday Night Flights. Where adults go... Life’s fast. Uncork. Sip slow.

RevolutioN cAfe & BAR, 211 Main St, Bryan, (979)823-4837. An eclectic coffee shop with a laid back, cool atmosphere, live music and great drink specials. Full bar, premium coffees, gourmet Panini and a large patio. Poetry open mic every Sunday, pub quiz trivia night every Monday, open mic every Wednesday.

BURLESON COUNTY

dininG / SHoPPinGmAD hAtteR’s teA Room, www.madhatterstearoom.com, 210 S. Echols, Caldwell (979) 567-3504. The Mad Hatter’s cozy eatery provides tantalizing treats and generous portions bursting with flavor, a unique selection of gift items, gourmet coffees, and specialty teas. Open for breakfast and lunch and special events by appointment. W-Sa 8am-5pm

mAs fAjitAs, www.masfajitas.com, 305 SH 36 S, Caldwell (979) 567-4007. Mas Fajitas Mexican Restaurant Pride is committed to serving great quality food & drinks with excellent service at a reasonable price. M-Su 7am-9pm

WAShINGTON COUNTY

dininG / CATERinGfuNKy ARt cAfé & coffee BAR, 202 W Commerce St, Brenham (979)836-5220. Delicious and different, Funky Art Café in Brenham offers enticing entrees to please the palate. Or choose a sandwich or savory soup before shopping in its companion retail shop, The Pomegranate, to find trinkets, gift ideas and kitchen gadgets. M-Fr 11am-2pm; Sa 11am-3pm

southeRN flyeR DiNeR, www.brenhammunicipalairport.com, 3001 Aviation Way, Brenham (979) 836-5462. Southern Flyer is an American diner with everything made from scratch and winner of multiple “Best of the Best” awards. M-Su 11am-3pm

Listings provided as a service. Insite is not responsible for errors or omissions.For menus, maps and directions, visit InsiteBrazosValley.com/eats-and-treats

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