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volume 2 issue 4 | NovemBeR 2009 | thVIPVOLUME 6 ISSUE 10 | July 2013 | theVIPmag.

complimenta

o f s o u t h e a s t t e x a s

revolutionaryMeet four Spindletop Rollergirls and threeHarley-riding mammas who refuse to spintheir wheels or be passengers

Anything and everything onwheels10 foods to avoid when driving

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EaEditor

DAVID [email protected]

Contributing WritersCATHLEEN COLE

AmANDA COrbELL

LArENA HEADgrACE mATHISjANE mCbrIDE

HOLLI pETErSENCHEryL rOSE

Editorial AssistantLAurEN mCgEE

PapContributing Photographers

SCOTT ESLINgErLACIE grANT

rEN SHEppArDLEE E. STINSON

Graphic Designer

DAVID CONSTANTINE

AveTo advetise in VIP,

409.880.0700

Cac UVIP of Southeast Texas

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SubmIT ONLINE AT www.THEVIpmAg.COm Or [email protected] by uSpS AT ADDrESS AbOVE.

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on the coverAfter spending the better part of her 20 years on roller skates, becom-ing a Spindletop Rollergirl was almost a no-brainer for Lydia Crump (akaBroad Cast-Her). Meet some of the other women of the local roller derbyleague on page 7.

Photography: Scott Eslinger. Hair and makeup by Robbi Murphy. Shot onlocation at Mannings Texas on Wheels

c o n t e n t s

vip magazine

07 viesonalit07 The women of

Spindletop Rollergirls

13 vi leise13 Radio-controlled

vehicles

16 Million-dollar Camaro

20 vi oth20 Leather & Lace:

Women & Harleys

24 The SE Texas Hike &

Bike Coalition

28 ood&dink28 Meals on Wheels

31 10 foods you shouldnteat when driving

32 vi hoe32 Elizabeth and John

Millers House on the

Prairie

36 Upscale RVs

39 vi sotliht39 SE Texas events

44 vi advise43 High-end wheels47 4 great dates this month

48 Calendar

49 Crossword puzzle

50 vi voices50 Freedom and scars

found in your rst set of

bicycle wheels

insidejuly

20

24

32

43

4 July 2013 | theVIPmag.com

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Once again, CHRISTUS Hospital St. Elizabeth & St. Mary is the only hospital in Southeast

Texas to be honored with an A Hospital Safety ScoreSM

by The Leapfrog Group. Intended tohelp consumers choose the best hospital for their family, this nation-wide score is calculated

on publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors and infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, five to ten percent of U.S.

patients get preventable infections in the hospital, and close to 100,000 people die from

them each year. Thats why CHRISTUS Hospital St. Elizabeth & St. Mary provides greater

infection control through comprehensive checklists created for patient safety and quality.

Were proud to earn an A for patient safety. But we are even prouder to have earned your trust.

HOSPITALSAFETYSCORE

SMASPRING 2013

WE ACED OUR HOSPITAL

SAFETY EXAM.The only hospital in Southeast Texas

Rated A for Patient Safety.

A

For more information about our Spring 2013 Hospital Safety Score,

visit hospitalsafetyscore.org or christushospital.org.

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r o l l e r g i r l s

versonality

Hell on wheels is the only way todescribe the women who make

up the pioneering female roller

derby team in Southeast Texas, the

Spindletop Rollergirls. By day, these

women are mothers, working gals

and students. They come from all different walks of

life. But when they lace up their skates and put in

their mouth guards, they transform into the tough-

est athletes you will ever see on four wheels.

SKATELIKE A GIRL

text by AmAndA Corbellphotography by SCott eSlingerhair/makeup by robbi murphyshot atmAnningS texAS on wheelS

>>

THEVIPMAG.COM | July 2013

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Eradika, aka Erika Winslow

is a founding member of

the SRGs and a perfect

example of not being able

stereotype roller girls. During the day,

is a 40-something computer teache

at a private school and a mother to tw

daughters. Spending her fth season

with the Girls, she claims there is no o

more fun, loyal, interesting, or crazier

than a Spindletop Roller Girl.

You dont have to be the fastestskater or the hardest hitter, but you malways strive to improve,Winslow sa

After taking her daughters skatingMannings one unforgettable Tuesdaynight more than ve years ago, Eradiksaw two women signing ladies up fora roller derby team. She says she washooked from the beginning. Howeversays sacricing time with her daughteis the downside of being a derby girl.Well, that and busting open your elbo

It happened during a routine drill,I went down on my backside and land

on my elbows, she said. I slid off melbow pads only to discover that I hadlanded so hard that I had split both ofelbows! They were a bloody mess!

As far as pre-game rituals, it boilsdown to two words for Eradika: food aglitter. And lots of both, please.

Nothing low calorie and excessiveamounts of glitter, she said.

Winslow believes roller girls are thbest and most unique type of womenbecause they can beat each other upthen be best of friends after the bout.

The past ve years have been thebest, she said. Its great exercise, itcrazy fun, and I have met some great

women who I wouldnt have, if it wasnfor roller derby.

Eradika


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Foto Phinish

Arguably one of the most important

positions on the team is the

Jammer, currently occupied by

28-year-old Foto Phinish (aka

April Bro), an artist, photographer and co-

owner of a lawn management company. Oh,

and she has a background as a member of

an X-Wave stunt team and aggressive inline

skating. Can you say tough cookie?

After spending ve months in the Wreck

League (where all beginners are put), FotoPhinish has been with the SRG for threeyears. She says her favorite thing about it isbeing a role model for the all the little ladiesin the crowd and showing them that all typesof women play this sport and they can too.Introduced to roller derby by a friend who wasa roller girl, herself, Foto Phinish went andcaught a bout and was hooked immediately.

You get to get in the game, yelling, hitting,working with your team mates to stop thejammer, she says. Plus, you get to makesigns, paint your face and be as loud as youwant. Theres not many dull moments, withbig hits and fast skating.

While shes never been hurt too badly in

a bout, her pre-game ritual includes paintingher nails to match the team colors, listeningto music to get her amped and preparing hermind for the battle ahead.

I must also have a plastic bag, just incase my nerves get the best of me, she said.

For girls interested in becoming a rollergirl, Foto Phinish says dont knock it until youtry it. She advises girls to show up ready tolearn, to never give up, and just keep skating.

Dont be afraid of falling, because we allfall down, she said.Its the getting backup and doing it all over again that keepsthe crowd coming. Its always extremelyrewarding knowing you are accomplishingsomething that most people dont do or know

about.

theVIPmag.com | July 2013

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One of the few remaing veteran team

members is Andy-

ConDuh, a 28-yea

old carpenter and

full-time mother, who answers to And

Casey when shes not in the rink. Afte

growing up skating in junior high, she

says getting back on skates after bein

recruited in 2009 for the SRG was lik

riding a bike. Having a competitive dr

and an artsy personality, derby t the

Being a SRG takes desire, dedicatand hard work, Casey said. You havto strive to be better than the girl in frof you, and when you fall, you get bacup, and when you get knocked down,take her out.

On match, or bout days, Andy-ConDuh starts preparing a day early bconcocting her outt and makeup forthe match. She decorates her face wtattoos and blue sparkles and does anpaperwork for the bout in advance.

My head goes 90 to nothing waiton the game, she said. When I get tthe venue a few hours early, I put myskates on and do a few laps. Someth

about being on the track, skating, clemy mind and settles my nerves.

Yes, even these brave, beautifulbroads get nervous. AndyConDuh tortendons in her pinky nger after she gknocked down and her nger got cauin the wheel of a referees skate. Not be deterred, she simply skated the rethe match with her ngers taped. Twiknees, ankles and bruised bums are ja natural part of the day for these girl

After she took a year off, she cameback in 2012 to nd the SRGs hadgraduated to a Womens Flat Track DeAssociation (WFTDA) league and werestronger than ever.

Its a sport that combines fun, feisempowered women with hard core, ralike speed and football-like hits, shesaid. Its the best thing I could have chosen to be a part of.

AndyConDuh


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Broad Cast-Her

After spending the betterpart of her 20 years on

roller skates, becoming a

Spindletop Rollergirl was

almost a no-brainer for

Broad Cast-Her. Answering to Lydia

Crump, or Hair, when not in the rink,

Broad Cast-Her says she has been skating

since she was in the womb. Growing up

with parents who loved to skate and took

their children to the roller rink for family

nights out, she now uses her fathers

vintage skates for matches.Ive been skating and loving it for

as long as I can remember, she said. Iam ercely competitive, but was only inmarching band in school. I never did anysport of any kind, so I thought it would becool to actually get out there and workmy body.

After being on the SRG Wreck Leaguefor two-and-a-half months, she assessedand made the actual team this season.She advises girls who may be interestedin joining the league that it takes a lot ofself-discipline and motivation to be a rollergirl, and you denitely need to know howto take a hit. She says roller girls have alot of endurance, passion, a deep love forroller skating and a fun heart.

Plus, your legs will never feel so good,yet so bad, she said. It really puts you ingood shape and gives you awesome legs,and its probably the most fun you willever have in your life.

During the day, Broad Cast-Her is anemployee at Swicegood Music Companyin Beaumont. Her spare time is lled withroller derby and all that comes with it,such as her pre-match ritual. She saysshe dyes a turquoise stripe in her hair tomatch team colors, polishes her skates,eats a lot of cotton candy and prays thatGod will protect everyone.

She said people enjoy roller derby somuch because its not your average sport.

Besides, she said, who doesnt liketo see a bunch of pretty girls beating eachother up on roller skates?


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The SpindletopRollergirls

In November 2008, the original founder ofthe SRG moved to Beaumont after living inHouston and being involved with the HoustonRoller Derby. When she came to the area, sheorganized the team with other women that weinterested in skating and launched the rollerderby movement in Southeast Texas. Other

teams have come and gone, but the SRG stillhold their matches in front of packed houses,with crowds that include everyone from adorinlittle girls to supportive grandparents.

More than 60 women have been a part ofthe Spindletop Rollergirls over the past veyears. Veteran member Sheri Ford, or RubyRidikule, says these women come to the spoto nd a sense of family in a competitive way,and also because they simply become addicteto skating.

Desire, friendship and competitiveness unes these women, said Ford.

All of the players start out in the WreckLeague to see what derby involves and to mater the skill of skating. Up to 20 women can b

on the team at a time, with 14 on the roster foany bout, allowing for coverage when someonhas to miss a match.

For more information, go to www.spindletorollergirls.com. VIP


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text by CATHLEEN COLE

Its a sunny Sunday afternoon at a dirt eld in Lumberton and dozens

of radio-controlled trucks and cars are zooming around, their opera-

tors trying to outmaneuver one another and show what their vehicles

can do. Racing at top speed, popping wheelies, spinning 360s, jump-

ing ramps to ip in mid-air its a monster-truck show in miniature

brought to you by a bunch of grown men who still love to play with cars.

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Radio-controlled vehiclesarent just for kids anymore

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Mark Guzman of Beaumontis one of those guys. Ive alwayloved RC cars, he said, but hehadnt had one since he was a kiLast summer, he started lookingat radio-controlled vehicles andthought theyd be a lot of fun. Hwas drawn by the speed, perfor-mance and durability of the newmodels. With the new technol-ogy, theyre faster and tougher,he said.

The RC-car hobbyist owns twTraxxas Summit four-wheel drivtrucks, one he bought ready to gover tough terrain and one hesbuilding from the ground up. Hebuilt models when he was a chilhe explained, but wanted some-thing more challenging now.

Guzman belongs to the GoldTriangle RC Car Club whosemembers meet regularly at lo-cal dirt elds to bash racewithout rules or regulations totest the limits of their RC cars atrucks. With the jumps and ipsthe vehicles make, there are bou

to be signicant crashes. But thaall part of the fun, and these guyalways bring spare parts when tcome to play. It relieves stress,Guzman noted about his hobby.

Cheri Mitchell, owner of Re-mote Control Hobbies and Fast Furious Hobby Shop in Beaumosays entry-level vehicles start atabout $100 to $160 somethinlike the Duratrax Evader EXT2one-tenth scale, two-wheel drivelectric stadium truck. The averspeed on entry-level vehicles is to 30 mph real-time. On a one-

tenth scale model, that equals 3mph in a real vehicle.The next step up could be th

Traxxas Jato 3.3 Nitro stadiumtruck that costs about $400. Itruns on nitro methane and goesfrom 0 mph to 60 mph in 4.2seconds. Its top speed is 75 mphso this one-tenth scale racer woube going 750 mph if it were the

The onlydifferencebetween a man anda boyis the price ofhis toys.


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real thing.The motor technology has

changed, Mitchell explained. In-side the motor can is a set of mag-nets that allows current from thebattery to go directly to the motor.

That creates intense speed, shesaid. The power is instant. Itsall about the power and the speed.Nobody walks into a hobby shopasking for your slowest vehicle.

At the top end is a vehicle suchas the Traxxas E Revo brushlesselectric truck that sells for about$800. Why would anyone payhundreds of dollars for somethingto play with? Mitchell explains thevalue this way: A toy-grade vehiclemight cost about $50. When itbreaks, its usually just thrownaway. Buy ve of those toy ve-hicles and youve already invested$250. Spend $250 up front on ahobby-grade vehicle and you havesomething that will last. Hobby-grade merchandise is repairableand modiable, she said. Theyare not disposable, throw-awaytoys. Replacement parts andrepairs are relatively inexpensive,Mitchell contends, especially if

you do it yourself. But if you havethe money and not the time, most

hobby shops will happily repair

your vehicle for the cost of labor

plus parts.

So what do these guys do with

their radio-controlled vehicles?

Well, theres bashing of course

at a local eld. But some RC-car

enthusiasts race their vehicles ontracks. Others go to car shows to

show o their custom modica-

tions. And some guys just like to

play in their backyards.

The hobby is heavily popu-

lated by men. When the occa-

sional woman comes into one of

Mitchells stores, shes usually

looking for a gift for her boyfrior husband. To give an exampl

what customers come in to buy

her hobby shops, Mitchell star

by saying, These two grown b

come into the store. Yes, she

stands by this famous quote:

only dierence between a man

a boy is the price of his toys. V


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m o t o r c y c l e s

vp worthy

FLA

SHCAR

text by CHERYL ROSE

In the late 1960s,

Beaumont resident

Mike Flash was

growing up in a town

called Tonawanda,

N.Y., home to one of Chevro-

lets engine manufacturing

plants. There was talk about

a super high-performance en-

gine under construction with

the code name ZL1. I knew

about it from the people who

worked at the plant and knew

they were going to put them

in cars, Flash remembers.

These 427-cubic-inch,all-aluminum racing engineswere installed into a handfulof 1969 Camaros. With only69 models built with the spe-cial engine, theyve achievedalmost mythical status amongacionados. Fewer than 40still exist and Flash owns oneof them.

Scoring a rare Camaro

Flash was fascinated withcars from a young age, work-ing in gas stations and bodyshops in his youth and even

drag racing for a few years. Hewas working for the Oldsmo-bile division of General Motorsas a eld representative whenhe came to Texas in 1971. Heopened his own dealership,Corvette Specialists in Beau-mont, in 1978.

Not long after opening hisbusiness, Flash began his per-sonal car collection, fulllingthe car fantasies of his youth.In 1981, through a network offriends and contacts, he gotword that one of the very rare

1969 Camaro ZL1 cars was forsale in Oklahoma City. Flashimmediately called the ownerand headed straight there.When he arrived, the ownertold him hed had several callsfrom another interested buyer.I bought it out from under-neath Reggie Jackson, Flashrevealed. (Jackson, nicknamedMr. October for his post-season stardom, is not only aMajor League Baseball hall-of-

CoveedCamaro acollecorsdreamphotography by SCOtt ESLingER

16 July 2013 | THEVIPMAG.COM

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famer, he is also an ardent carcollector.)

Flash made a good deal onthe car because the owner wasin a nancial bind and the carwas lacking the ZL1 engine.However, it was the No. 2 carof the 69 made in 1969, had18,000 miles on it, an authen-tic paper trail to the originalowner and was otherwise inmint condition. As it hap-pened, Flash already ownedthree of the ZL1 engines. Hebrought it home to Beaumont,

installed the correct engineand has it as the centerpiece ofhis showroom.

He paid $5,000 for theCamaro in 1981. According toFlash, the No. 3 car reportedlysold a few years ago for $3million.

History of the ZL1

In 1969, the base price forthe car was $2,726, but theZL1 engine was $4,160, mak-ing the total price tag of closeto $7,000 a steep purchase inthat era. Many of the special

models languished in dealer-ships and ultimately sold atsteep discounts just to movethem.

Chevrolet developed theZL1 to increase the horsepow-er of their race cars after dis-appointing results in 1966. Byusing aluminum, the weightof the engine was reduced to500 pounds. The productionline horsepower ran just below400, but when super-tuned forracing, improved to over 500,clocking a quarter-mile in 11.6

seconds at 122 mph.Enter a man named Fred

Gibb, Jr. of La Harpe, Ill. Gibbwas a racing enthusiast andsuccessful Chevrolet dealer.Through personal connectionsat Chevrolet, he negotiateda deal to put the ZL1 engine

into the 1969 Camaro, withthe hitch being that he had toorder a minimum of 50. Gibbsigned the deal, stipulating heneeded delivery in time to raceat the American Hot Rod As-sociation meet in early 1969.Chevrolet demurred meetingthe deadline for the majority,but did get the rst two cars toGibb by December 1968. Gibbkept one to race and sold thesecond, which is the car Flashnow owns.

Gibb ended up beggingout of his 50 car order whenthe costs came in higher thanquoted. Chevrolet did takemost of them back and redis-tributed them to other dealer-ships. By the end of 1969, thecompany had dropped the ZL1program. With only 69 modelsmade, the 69 ZL1 is the rarestCamaro ever produced.

Retirement fund on wheels

Flash knows he has some-thing special. He has kept itprotected and in a climate-controlled environment topreserve the condition. Ivenever driven the car furtherthan around the parking lot at

a photo shoot four or ve yearago at a car show in Tennes-see, he said. The only othertime he has taken the car outis to a Fred Gibb reunion twoyears ago in Illinois. Gibb isnow deceased, but one of hisdaughters burst into tearswhen she saw Flashs car, sothrilled to see her fatherslegacy preserved.

A few years ago, a potentiabuyer from California oeredFlash $1.1 million for thecar. Flash was willing to sell,but the buyers nancing fellthrough. Flash is not actively

advertising the car, but if theright oer came along, hewould take it to fuel his retirement fund.

As unusual as the Camarois, Flash points out there isan even rarer ZL1 model outthere: the 1969 Corvette ZL1.There are only two.

The ZL1 engine has re-cently made a comeback. Fora base price of $54,350, Chev-rolet is oering its fth editionCamaro with the ZL1 option,claiming it as the highestperforming Camaro of all-time

with an all-aluminum 6.2-litersupercharged engine and 580horsepower. >>


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A Flash Car Collection

The 69 Camaro is one of a dozen Camaros that Flash has collected over the

years, in addition to some Corvettes and other makes, including an AC Cobra. On

with special memories is the 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne that Flash used for drag-

racing and for taking his future wife, Peggy, out on dates. Flash sold the car years

ago, but located it, bought it and restored it.

People often ask him for tips about what cars to buy now that will be valuable

the future. Its an unknown, but looking back on whats happened, cars that are

very popular now will still be popular in 20 years, he said.

Camaros in Context

The rst Camaros came out in 1966 to compete with the Ford Mustang (intro-

duced in 1964) and shortly after Ralph Naders expos Unsafe at Any Speed wa

published in 1965, which specically criticized another Chevy product, the Corvai

According to the book Camaro: Five Generations of Performance by Darwin

mstrom, Chevrolets rst name for the Camaro was the Panther. However, the sto

stirred up by Naders book caused the GM marketing personnel to seek a more

benign name. Sticking with company tradition during that era, a letter C name w

chosen when the word camaro was found in a 1935 edition French-to-English

dictionary, dened as meaning friend, pal or comrade.

VIP


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leather & lace

m o t o r c y c l e s

vip worthy

text by CHERYL ROSE

The romance

of the open

road has won

the hearts of

women across

the country who are suiting

up in their leather and blingand buying Harley-Davidsons

at a rapid pace. Thats right,

that hog rider on the highway

isnt some guy with a ZZ Top

beard. The biker is a girly girl

who thinks life is too short to

be just a passenger.

Adventure appeals

Mary Carter of Lumbertonbought her Dyna Super Glideand learned to ride 10 years

ago at age 55, but it was farfrom her rst adventure. Ivealways been very active, shesaid. I run half marathons.I canoe. I jumped out of anairplane one time. I neverthought I would own a motor-cycle, but once I got into it, ithas been a whole lot of fun. Alot of people my age are sittingin recliners watching TV allday.

What Carter shares withother women Harley rid-ers like Lulanda Jackson of

Beaumont and Theresa Evansof Warren is an underlyingcondence and spirit of ad-venture. Jackson, 38, also likesa challenge. She runs fourmiles a day, has taken karatein the past and has also triedparasailing.

Woman power

All three women got theirmotorcycles at the urging oftheir husbands. Jackson,who rides a Sportster 1200

Mary Ca


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adventurous ldy motorcycle riders rethriving in mle-dominted pstimeCustom, rode with her husband forawhile, but quickly realized she wantedher own bike. I dont want to be a pas-senger because this is too much fun, shesaid. I want to show these guys that Ican go out and do it myself.

Jackson signed up for Harley-David-sons Riders Edge New Riders course,as did Carter and Evans, to learn themechanics and safety lessons of riding.Evans, 44, was very impressed with theclass. I recommend everyone thinkingof buying a bike take the class, she said.It teaches you things that will save yourlife.

Though there are more women ridersthan there used to be, its still a male-dominated group. Were denitelyoutnumbered and thats OK with me,because Im not worried with what otherpeople think, Carter said. Petite Carterdoesnt t anyones image of a biker.Sometimes younger people are surprisedthat its my bike, she said. You get intoall kinds of interesting kinds of conversa-tions with people.

Jackson said she gets a lot of wavesand honks from people, especially chil-dren, when they realize shes a female

rider. She doesnt want there to be any

doubt, though. I try to make sure I have

my pink on, she said. I am not a guy.

These women riders are all very

feminine and proud of it. Evans put a

pink-and-black tiger stripe wrap on her Z

Rod, attracting a lot of interest from other

women. Pretty much everywhere I go,young girls say Let me take a picture ofthat, she said.

Harley-Davidson has a whole lineof womens clothing and accessories toaccompany their riding leathers. Carterlikes the blingy shirts and sequined hats,necessary for covering helmet head, shesaid.

The wind with no limits

There is consensus among the threewomen that motorcycles and the openroad oer a feeling of freedom, relaxationand a sensory experience.

Its the most exhilarating thing Iveever felt, Evans said. Evans has takenseveral long trips by cycle, including toSturgis, S.D. and Beartooth Pass, Mont.When we were up there at almost 11,000feet elevation, the r trees smelled likeChristmas, she said. There was nothingbut beautiful roadways, being on the bikeand the open road ahead of you.

Jackson, who typically takes shorterweekend rides, agrees. The breeze feelsgood and it frees your soul, takes any-thing o your mind, she said.

Carter is a very social rider, a

Lulanda Jackson

>>


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member of both the Cowboy Chap-ter of Hog Riders in Beaumontand the Red Knights MotorcycleClub. Shes gone on weekend ridesand across the country with thesegroups and friends. This year, sheand her husband are planning totrailer their bikes to Vermont. Itsjust so much fun, she said. Yousee the country in a dierent way

than if youre riding in a vehicle.Couple time

Having a pastime to enjoy withtheir husbands is another benetthe women appreciate. Its some-thing we can do together that weboth enjoy, Evans said.

None of these women have everfelt excluded or snubbed by maleriders. Men seem to appreciatethe fact that a female is accom-plished enough to ride, Cartersaid.

Evans believes that the type ofpeople who ride motorcycles, espe-

cially Harley-Davidsons, tend to bemore laidback. The Harley crowdare real fun people who like to ridefor the enjoyment of it.

Carter sees a certain camarade-rie among motorcycle riders and a

supportive connection, even withstrangers.

Surprise passion

Owning a motorcycle came asa surprise to these women. Notone of them planned, dreamed or

aspired to own one until they did.

I wish I had done it sooner and

gone riding with my dad before he

passed away, Evans said.

Jackson, who has a 14-year-

old daughter she says she would

encourage to try motorcycling

one day, says her own mother is

still surprised. My mother still

says, I never thought my daugh

would be riding a motorcycle an

I agree!

Women Ridershipon the Rise The number of women motorcycle

operators in the U.S. represents just

over one-fourth of all riders (7.2

million of about 27 million) in 2009,

the latest survey data available by the

Motorcycle Industry Council.

From 2003 to 2009, the esti-mated number of female motorcycle

operators increased 67 percent, also

according to the Motorcycle Industry

Council.

In 2012, Harley-Davidson sold more

new street motorcycles to women

in the U.S. than all other brands

combined.

Harley-Davidson held the fth annu

Women Riders Month in May.

VIP


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VIP magazine is looking for male and femalemodels to shoot for future covers and fashionspreads. If you want to work with some of the best

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b i k i n g

vip worthy

text by CATHLEEN COLE

Little kids on

tiny bikes with

training wheels

pedal as fast as

they can to race

in front of their

moms and dads who follow behind

on the Gulf Terrace Hike & Bike

Trail in Beaumont. Joggers and

walkers share the trail too, some

walking dogs and others pushing

baby strollers. Its a healthy mix

of health-minded people wanting

to enjoy a sunny morning outside.

And that makes members of the

Southeast Texas Hike & Bike

Coalition happy.

Health and safety goals

The coalition was formed

in 2003 by a group of cyclists,

including Bill Rawlinson and TomThompson, who wanted to starta bike group and support thecreation of bike lanes and hike-and-bike trails in the area. It wasincorporated in 2004 and desig-nated a nonprot organization in2006.

The goals of the group includemaking the community a betterplace to live by preserving andcreating open spaces; encouragingphysical tness and a healthy life-style; creating new opportunities

for outdoor recreation; increasinconservation through reduceduse of cars, fuel and roadways;providing opportunities for biketo-work commutes and safe roufor walking and cycling to schooand other locations; and promotsafety both in safe riding habits

and safe areas to ride.One of our big goals is educing children on bike safety, saidDiana Thornton, president of thcoalition. To do this, members ofer bike rodeos at local schoolscout troops and police depart-ments where they pass out freehelmets to kids who need them,make sure their bikes are in gooshape and set up courses andgames for kids to get practice ansafety tips. We teach them safeaspects of riding, Thornton sai

The SE Texas Hike & Bike Coalitionwants you to go outside and play

Promoting pedal power


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Advocating bike lanes and trails

The group was a strong sup-porter of the creation of Beau-monts new bike lanes and theGulf Terrace Hike & Bike Trail thatis a popular spot for locals to getout and exercise. The coalition iscurrently working with the Texas

Department of Transportation for aHardin County hike-and-bike trailon U.S. Highway 69 from Kountzeto the Big Thicket Visitors Centerlocated seven miles north of thecity at the junction of FM 420.

The Southeast Texas Hike &Bike Coalition will keep workingwith the city to get more bike lanesand paths. As part of the currentcapital program for new streetsand redesigning and reconstructingexisting streets, the city wants toaccommodate pedestrians and

Group ridesBesides the monthly meetings at Sertinos Caf in Beaumont, the Southeast

Texas Hike & Bike Coalition has weekly group rides. The 16-mile to 20-mile

conversational ride takes place Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and no one is left

behind. We adjust the pace to the slowest rider, said Diana Thornton, presiden

The group leaves from the parking lot of Bicycle Sports in Beaumont, and

riders can come early to check their tire pressure and get help from more experienced riders if necessary.All riders are encouraged to wear helmets and have

working lights on night rides. And you dont have to be a member to go on grou

rides.We welcome anybody,Thornton said. Its not a race. Its really relaxing.

The Saturday morning rides that leave from the Colonnade Shopping Center

parking lot in Beaumont at 8 a.m. are a bit more challenging. These riders go at

a faster pace and cover up to 40 miles.

The coalition also sponsors the Big Thicket Bike Tour annually in March. It

starts at the Big Thicket Baptist Church in Kountze near the Big Thicket Visitors

Center and has routes from 14 to 100 miles.The event includes a barbecue

lunch after the ride and is open to all skill levels. The proceeds go toward sup-

porting the groups educational program.>>


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bicyclists along with vehiculartrac and that translates intosidewalks and bike lanes.

Major streets should ideallyaccommodate multiple modes oftransportation including automo-bile, bus, bicycle and pedestrian,said Christopher Boone, commu-nity development director for the

City of Beaumont. This is achievedby using our rights-of-way not justfor wide car lanes, but for adequatecar lanes, adequate bike lanes andadequate pedestrian sidewalks.

Boone praises the coalitionswork. Their advocacy has beenvery benecial to the communityas they encourage more bicyclefacilities, not just for recreationaland health purposes, but as a validalternative to having to drive toget anywhere, he said. Providingmore bike facilities is a growing

Join the clubAnnual membership costs are

$5 for students, $15 for peoplewith xed incomes, $25 for singlemembers and $35 for families.Membership benets include having

a say in determining what projectsand activities the group participatesin and insurance that covers clubevents and ofcers and a $10,000supplemental accident benet to alpaid members. But the main beneis belonging to a group where ev-eryone has the same goal in mind:getting outside to hike and bike forhealth and enjoyment.


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trend in cities throughout thecountry.

The community developmentdirector notes that more peopleare interested in transportation al-ternatives to driving a car and seebike lanes and open spaces to hikeand bike as amenities they want ina city. If we as a community want

to make Beaumont more appeal-ing, we, like other cities, shouldbegin providing amenities andalternatives that people are look-ing for, Boone said. The Hikeand Bike Coalition advocacy ishelping to move Beaumont towardthis very worthy goal.

The coalition is also sup-porting three bills currently inthe Texas legislature. If passed,the Complete Streets law wouldmandate that planners consideralternative modes of transporta-

tion in all transportation proj-ects where warranted. It wouldbecome a guiding policy whenstate or federal funds are used fora project, encouraging roadwayimprovements that include addingbike lanes and wider sidewalks. Astatewide safe-passing law wouldenforce the 3-feet rule in Texas

whereby motorists must stay3 feet away from bicyclists. Itsalready the law in Beaumont. Thethird law would exempt utilitiesfrom liability for allowing rights-of-way to be used for recreationalpurposes.

People arent out there onbicycles to aggravate motorists,Thornton said. Theyre out thereto have an enjoyable, healthyway to get around. We encouragepeople to get out there and bemore healthy. VIP


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Compassion on wheels

text by Jane McBridephotography by Lacie Grant

At 6 a.m. the lights are on at Nutri-

tion and Services for Seniors. A

kitchen sta of eight congregate

along the gleaming stainless steel

tables, ovens, refrigerators and

sinks. Some cut cornbread into serving sizes. One

worker slides trays of pork chops into the oven while

another operates the giant mixer lled with mashed

potatoes.

At another table, workers ll Styrofoam cups withcole slaw prepared the day before and refrigeratedovernight.

Other workers get a jump on the next day by cut-ting vegetables, placing them in pans, adding season-ing, then sliding onto refrigerator racks.

By 8:30, all the food must be prepared and readyto go. Kitchen sta line up assembly-style. One placesthe meat into a tray, one handles the potatoes, a thirddishes a second vegetable and a fourth places the

m e a l s o n w h e e l s

food dining


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bread. The fth operates the mchine that covers and seals eatray. The next person catchesthe meals and counts out thenumber to be delivered on eacroute that day. The nal step adding fruit, dessert or breadpackaged the day before.

In another area, workerscount and pack trays in a coolwith labels identifying contenand area of delivery: Rt. 8 side(all cold items); Rt. 8 Milk orjuice (also cold); Route 8 mea(all hot).

By 10:30, the last of the drers are rolling through Jeersand Hardin counties, covering1,800 square miles, the densiequivalent of Harris County,though much more spread ougeographically. Meals on Wheserves as many people as pos-sible, limited only by funds anworkers. Currently, 100 peopare on a waiting list.

Though the meals are ontheir way, the day isnt over fo

the workers. They must cleanthe kitchen, begin prepping fofor the next day, then placingthem in the coolers.

The Meals on Wheels pro-gram is an act of grace for peowho are unable to shop, cook,have no family member or cargiver at noon to prepare a meThe motto, At home but notalone, describes the valuableservice and those who dependon it. The goal is to assist oldeadults in leading quality liveswhile maintaining dignity and

independence. The service ofmeans the dierence betweensomeone being able to live athome or having to go into anursing home or assisted livincenter.

Elaine Shellenberger, exective director of the non-protworks tirelessly to sustain thehealth of an organization thatprovides a critically-needed

By the numbers:

1,800 meals served each day

331,889 meals served in 2012

200 volunteers deliver 42% of m

18 paid staff deliver meals

1,800 sq. miles to cover

>


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service. Despite 70% of the op-erating funds coming from Stateand Federal governments, theremaining 30% often is a struggle.Each meal costs $6.12 in food andoverhead. The reimbursement is$4.95. The program has to ndways to make up that dierence inable to keep operating.

Its a large undertaking,Shellenberger says. And wecouldnt do it without our sup-

porters and volunteers. When gaswent up to $4 a gallon in 2008,we didnt lose a single volunteer.Other areas did. Thats amazing.It speaks highly of the people wholive here.

The program has a suggestedcontribution of $2 a meal forfamily using the program, but noone is turned away if they dontcontribute. No list is kept of whopays and who doesnt, and every-one receives the same respectfultreatment.

For those in the communitywho want to help keep Meals on

Wheels rolling, a donation of $36a week will support six days ofmeals for one person.

To qualify for Meals onWheels, a person must be 60 orolder (some disabled are exempt)homebound and without someoneto prepare their meals.

Churches and organizationsoften adopt a route. Wesley UnitedMethodist Church delivers meals.Valero workers deliver two routesevery day. Some home-schooledchildren deliver with their par-ents. The routes are kept manage-

able; many volunteers deliver 13-15 meals on their lunch hour andreturn to work. Some volunteershave been delivering meals for 20years or more.

For more information or tovolunteer, call (409) 892-4455. To

make a donation to help seniorin need, donate online at wwwseniormeals.org or mail a checkNutrition & Services for SeniorThe Foundation for the Better-ment of Seniors, 4950 ConcordRd, Beaumont, TX 77703 VIP


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o n t h e r o a d

food dining

(d high iu pmium)

Tp 10fd thtu idt

text by HeaTHer McPHerson

Drivers who eat while driving run the risk of

paying more for car insurance. Its a fact, al-

though its not ofcially one of the questions

on an application for auto insurance. Eating

while driving is one of the most distracting

things you can do, according to a study released by the

National Highway Trafc Safety Administration (NHTSA) and

the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

Eighty percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-

crashes involve driver distraction. According to NHTSA,

Distraction was most likely to be involved in rear-end

collisions in which the lead vehicle was stopped, as

well as in single-vehicle crashes.

Distractions like eating can become a problem for

drivers who cant react quickly to a sharp curve or

another drivers sudden stop. Unfortunately, just one

accident may increase your car insurance rates as

much as 25 percent.

How widespread is this food problem?

Exxon surveyed 1,000 drivers and discovered more than

70 percent of drivers eat while driving and 83 percent drink

beverages. The NHTSA study cites these driver distractionsas the top reasons for car crashes and ultimately higher

auto insurance rates:

1. Using a cell phone. Calling for carry-out?

2. Reaching for a moving object. Flying French fries?

3. Looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle.

Where is Starbucks?

4. Reading. Or tweeting for the closest BBQ?

5. Applying makeup. Every second counts!

1. Coffee. Even

with a travel lid,

hot coffee can

nd its way out of

the opening when

you hit a bump.

6. Ribs and

wings. Whats

more distracting

than licking you

ngers.

2. Hot soup. Many people

drink it like coffee and run

the same risks.

7. Fried

chicken. More

greasy hands.

Youve got to wipe

them off while

youre driving.

3. Tacos. Any

food that can

disassemble itself

will leave your

car looking like a

salad bar.

4. Chili dogs.

Huge potential fo

drips and slops

down the front of

clothing.

5. Hamburgers.

From the grease

to the toppings,

it could end up

on your hands

and the steering

wheel.

10. Chocola

Try to clean

melted choco

off the steeri

wheel withou

swerving.

9. Soda. Carbon-

ation. Fizz in the

nose. Lids that

leak. Disaster.

8. Jelly donuts.

Its not possible

to eat one with-

out watching the

center.

MCT


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A Big Houseon the Prairie

text by Cheryl rosephotography by sCott eslinger

Wall space is at a pre-

mium in Elizabeth

and John Millers

home in Beaumont,

a modern update on

Prairie style. The house is ooded with

natural light from the walls of windows,

with the sense of limitless space in one

direction balanced by the coziness of

ceiling-to-oor bookshelves in the other.

The large windows are bare of anyfabric, enhanced only by layered wood

trim. Privacy is not an issue as thehouse is settled on 13 acres of formerpecan farmland, a remnant row of treesstanding in testimony to its history.

American by design

Once the Millers secured theproperty to build their dream home,they went in search of an architect tobuild it. As we were looking at housesand trying to decide what we wantedto build, we gradually realized that wewanted an American house, John said.We arent English, French or Italian

we are Americans. We wanted cleanlines, simplicity, casual but still nice

and high quality.The couple admired several

houses they saw in the West Univer-sity area of Houston that had all beendesigned by well-known Houstonarchitect Tom Wilson. We likedthe elements he incorporated andthe level of quality he put into hishouses, Elizabeth said.

Planning and designing a homewas a new experience for the couple,who worked with Wilson for a year toconsider all the details and materi-als. Elizabeth joked that the process

t h e m i l l e r h o m e

vp home

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simple line and natural material provide timele appea

took so long they had started out

with a plan drawn for two kids, but

they were expecting a third by thetime it was done. It was well worth

it though, she said. From the very

beginning, Tom got us to think about

how we live our daily lives and what

our routines are so that the design

of the house is in sync with how we

function.

Once the design was complete,

local builder Ronnie Anderson of

Beaumont-based Anderson Home

Builders built the 6,000-square-foot

home for the Millers in 2006.

Straight and simple

The Prairie School style the Millersadmire is an architectural movement of

the early 1900s that followed the Artsand Crafts tradition. Similar to Artsand Crafts, Prairie style put a premiumon craftsmanship over mass produc-tion, but took it further in search of a

truly American style without any ele-ments from classical European archi-tecture. Famed architect Frank LloydWright was a proponent of this organic

form. The style is characterized byopen plans, horizontal lines, groupedwindows, limited ornamentation >>

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and indigenous materials.

If you drive up to our house, Ihope you think it could have been built

a long time ago, Elizabeth said. We

wanted it to look like it belonged onthe Gulf Coast.

Inside, there are no curved lines to

be seen. Rooms are open and spaciouswith linear elements. The trimwork is

very geometric, very simple in concept

with no embellishments typical tocustom homes, Elizabeth said. The

look is about the quality of materials.

For example, the wood trim and thedoors are mahogany; very beautiful,

but simple, with no carvings.

To stay true to the style of the

house, the Millers selected natural

materials, knowing that there wouldbe some wear and tear. For example,

they chose marble for their kitchen

countertops. After seven years offamily living, there is some natural

patina including some chips, but thats

the look I wanted, Elizabeth said.They choose granite for the kitchen

island, but with a honed matte surface

rather than polished. They used honedlimestone around the ovens and the

replace. The only polished surface in

the house is a small bit of granite inthe oor inlay in the foyer.

The great room and kitchen ow to-gether in one giant room. That madea lot of sense to us because we do liketo entertain, and this way the guestsdont all get crammed in the kitchen,Elizabeth said. If the party gets slow,you really can play Twister on the greatroom rug, she added with a smile.

Touches of detail

One decorative splurge the couplemade is a handmade light xture in the

foyer by Hilliard Lamps, a company inCalifornia. Both Millers name it as oneof their favorite features of the home.Unlike many custom homes that havechandeliers and other elaborate light

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xtures, the majority of the lighting in

the Millers home is recessed. Thereare only two xtures downstairs, the

foyer light and a breakfast nook light.

One of their rst purchases forthe house was the Holly Hunt din-

ing table set. The dining room is one

of the few splashes of color, recentlypainted Sherwin Williams Sassy

Green. Touches of green appear in the

furniture upholstery and accent trimthroughout the house.

With so little ornamentation

elsewhere, the Millers growing artcollection pops. We think the house

shows art especially well, John said.

Scenic surroundings

An unusual feature for SoutheastTexas and one Elizabeth particularlyenjoys is the screened-in porch facingthe backyard and pool. The porch isa family gathering space for al frescomeals and even festive parties.

The Millers are not planning anychanges to their home in the nearfuture, though the large garden is aconstant process. My ongoing projectis a garden and chickens, Elizabeth

said. Im happy working out there.Other people may have lake and beachhouses, but we are real ne with whatwe have. We enjoy some beautifulsunsets.

They already owned the intensely

blue painting, The Tarpon by Atlantaartist Steve Shaw, before they built the

house, but it now has a showplace over

the replace. A newer acquisition isthe hallway piece of vintage beer labels

in concentric circles, found at the Mc-

Murtrey Gallery in Houston. They alsoown a painting by the late local artist

George Wentz.

The other art form on display isbooks shelves and shelves of books.

We are big readers, John said. The

library, which hosts the grand piano aswell, is one of his favorite spaces in the

home.VIP

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text by CHeRYL RoSe

T

his is not your daddys

camper. Todays recre-

ational vehicles (RVs)

motor homes, fth

wheels, travel trailers

and more are outtted like luxury cus-

tom homes. Most of these RVs are nicer

than my rst house, said Joe French, the

general manager at Ron Hoover RV and

Marine in Katy. My rst house had For-

mica and pressboard and one bathroom.

The latest models of RVs have quality

construction and a range of amenitiesthat rival traditional, grounded houseswith the price tags to match. Unlike ahouse though, the view and the neigh-borhood are always changing.

Nationally, RV sales are rebounding,with a 72-percent increase from 2009to 2012, after a sharp plunge during the

recession when sales dropped 58 percentfrom 2006 from 2009, according to anNBC News report. Local sales are aheadof last year, French said, adding that theirbusiness sells about 400 RVs a year.

Though some people are buying RVsto live in full-time, many are buying tohave a personalized vacation option.French said the reasons customers givefor buying an RV include avoiding prop-erty taxes, a distaste for hotels and fond

memories of family camping. Plus, thget to live in and visit beautiful places,he said. They live on the water or themountain cheap. They go to the coasthe lake, the desert. If you dont like yneighbor, just move. Its still the cheapway to travel and then you have your osheets, pillows, bathroom and kitchen

RVs can be as customized as houseswith solid wood cabinetry, Corian coutertops, two bedrooms or two bathrooFor example, Winnebago, in Frenchsopinion the top-of-the-line RV, oersheated oors, three air conditioners,electric replaces, residential-size refrerators, washer/dryers, surround soun55-inch TVs with Blu-Ray, unlimited hwater systems and huge storage areas.

An RVs interior is determined by t

R V s

vip home

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number and position of slides the wallsthat pop out when stationary. The topWinnebago motorhome has three slides,is 42 feet long and has a base price of$380,000.

French recommends learning aboutthe construction and looking for qualityin an RV just as a buyer would a house.

They need to look at how the walls areput together, whats the insulation fac-tor. They need to be sure the plumbingdoesnt freeze, he said.

Construction is becoming more andmore of a concern, making the manu-facturers step up to the plate. Becauseconstruction technology has improvedso much in RVs, banks will give 15- to20-year loans because they know they arebuilt to last.

Recreational vehicles roar back in popularit

and provide upscale vacation home

Have Pets, Will Travel

Joyce and Clyde Jones of Hamshire bought a Jayco Eagle travel trailer as

a compromise. Clydes not much of a traveler and I want to, Joyce said.

This way, we are able to take our things with us, particularly our two small

dogs who are part of the family, and that is the winning factor.

They ordered their 35 -foot trailer in December and it arrived in Febru-

ary. It has three slides, a atscreen TV, a replace and an expanded living

area. Theyve taken it to some nearby state parks and to visit their grown

children. They are considering a trip to Colorado this summer. But even if

they dont go anywhere, the trailer still represents a vacation.

We love the travel trailer, so sometimes when we want to get away, we

just go and sit in it, Joyce said.

VIP

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Publishing August 11th, 2013

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s e t e x a s e v e n t s

vip spotlight

BBB Torch Awards

Tom and LeAnne Clay

Liz Robinson, Jed Dollinger

Jarrod Daigle, Hillary Dean

John Paschall, Larry Beaulieu Raven Burton and Nicholas Smith Jay Sheppard, Rebekah Maxwell and Debbie Bridgeman

Gail Shook and Bob ThewmanRandy Slater, Dan Bell and Steve Gilbert

Katie and Darren ErwinMickey Matthews,Audrey & Joseph Pitre

Dennis, Kayla and Melody Campbell

Ted and Beth Arnold


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LiveWell WomensConference

Ciara Read, Jane Partin, Tara Holder Heather Frierson, Crysta Breaux

Brenda Villafano,Anna Mouhot Selina Clem, Jennifer Richards

Jean Moncla, Daphne Bell Ashley Justice, Susan Rankin

Charlotte Grogan, Cindy Tanner, Debra Chillow, Beverly Cadien

Nelda Scott, Bobbie Flowers Margie Allen, Julia Perez

lacie grant


Boys HavenCrawsh Fes

Christhian Herrera, Daniel Romero, Brenda Cardenas Amanda Cooper, Keith Robichau

Tom and Becky Jackson Madelynn and Toby Willis

Brandon Mouton, Dee Ware, Jae Jerrolslee e. stin

Experience the resort feeling without the price!

Te Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

Beaumont Plaza

Te Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

Beaumont Plaza

Let us share in planning your next event!Contact our professional sales department.

3950I 10 South @ Walden Road

Beaumont, TX 77705

Phone: (409) 842-5995 Fax: (409) 842-7810

www.holidayinn.com/beaumont-plaza

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Justice isServed Banquet

Carol and Jimmy Fetters Rose and Michael DeRouen

Nancy and Dav id Grov e L inda Sparkman,Will & Karen Robbins

Annie DeVault, Gethrel Williams-Wright,Vernice Monroe and Dora Nisby

Judge Holis Horton and Judge John Stevens Marie and J.A. Lewis

Claudia and Jimmy Gen

ren sheppa

Jazz+BluesFestival

Linda and Tom Neal Cecil Brent

Joey and Sheila Sc hoens Susan Allen and Mi ke Mahoney

Garrett Paulsen, Ryan Cobb, Jeannie

Rogers and Alicia Hufstetler Rey and Linda de la Fuente

Kenneth, Tori, Keisha, Sanaiya and Kendall Hilstock, Cheilon Hilstock and Roshane Taylor

ren sheppard


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Kentucky DerbyParty for BCP

Thad, Janci and Remi Kimball Nancy Mackool, Carol Cash,Sandy

Paula Bothe, Evelyn Lord Beverly Hickman-Hay, Betty Greenberg, Natasha D

Jules, Nia, and Mustapha Williams

Robert Fong, Gerald Condon, Lane Nichols and Bart Barton

Susan Markowitz

Kree HarrisonHomecoming

Maigan Braus, Sissy Braus, Kendeal Frioux Penny Harrison, Jake Westbrook

Maegan Dixon, Desiree Thenot Madison Culver, Marilyn Wells, Kinzi Broussard

Lloyde Doguet, Ruthie Rogers, Wayne Westbrook Celia Bolch, Ashley Moser

Jaime, Zayne and Jayden Ogrodowicz and Alyssa King

Thomas Tran, Josh Davis Jeremiah, Harper, & CourtneyJohnson

laciegrant


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high w

ATVSFrom Beaumont Tractor: 1. CAN-AM COMMANDER: $13,900-$20,000. 2. CAN-AM SPYDESport (street legal): $16,000-$29,000. 3. CAN-AM MAVERICK: $16,000-$17,500.From Cowboy Powersports: 4. POLARIS RANGER RZR X 900 EPS WALKER EVANS LE:$15,000-$19,000. 5. POLARIS SPORTSMAN XP 850 H.O. EPS BROWNING PURSUITCAMO LE: $10,000 and up

TRACTORSFrom Beaumont Tractor: 10. KUBOTA38 HP $19,000-$19,500.11. KUBOTA 135 HP: $85,000

compiled by Lauren McGee photography by Lee e. stinson

1

1

10

2

11

3

4

5


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heelin

From Vans, Beaumont: 6. GOLDCOAST LONGBOARD (comes in maple and bamboo): $160. 7. ZERO SKATEBOARD (available imultiple colors and sizes): $50. 8. GIRL BOARDS (available in size 8.125), $50. 9. TOY MACHINE (available in size 8.37w5), $50

SKATEBOARDS

IKESFrom Bicycle Sports, Beaumont: 12. SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER MOUNTAIN BIKE: $,2000-$2,500 13. ELECTRATOWNIE 7D CRUISER: $450-$499. 14. SPECIALIZED

VENGE ROAD BIKE: $3,800.

souhea texa coole (and mo expenive) wheel

12 13 14

9

6

7

8

w h e e l s

vip adviser


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MOTORBIKES

From Cowboy Powersports: 15. HONDA CRF 150R: $4,000$15,000. 16. HONDA GOLDWING F6B: $23,800-$28,00

From Cowboy Harley: 17. CVO ULTRA CLASSIC: starts at

$40,000. 18. STREET GLIDE: Starts at $20,000

15 16

17

18


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Bill Gaither and theGaither HomecomingTourJuly29The Gaither Vocal Band, with all-star lineup Mark Lowry, MichaelEnglish, David Phelps, WesHampton and Bill Gaither, will sharetimeless gospel classics, as wellas refreshing and inspiring newfavorites embraced by audiencesof all ages and backgrounds. 7p.m., Ford Park, Beaumont.Tickets

$32.50 (Artist Circle) and $24.50.Tickets at the Ford Park Box Ofceand all Ticketmaster outlets.

great dates in julyIndependenceDayFireworksJuly4

BeaumontRiverfront Park, Beaumont. Theevent features local musical groupa performance by the Symphony o

Southeast Texas at 8 p.m. in the JuRogers Theatre, reworks at 9 p.mFree. (409) 838-3435.

NederlandAnnual Fourth of July FireworksExtravaganza sponsored by theNederland Chamber of Commerceand the City of Nederland, 7 p.m.,Doornbos Heritage Park, NederlanThe event includes musicalentertainment, dominos, food vendselling ice cream, hot dogs and funcakes, reworks show at 9 p.m. Ba lawn chair or blanket and a picni

basket. Wear red, white and bluefor free admission to the pool. (409724-0773.

Orange7-8:30 p.m., Shangri La BotanicalGardens and Nature Center, OrangFree. (409) 670-9113 or www.shangrilagardens.org.

Port Arthur7:15 p.m., Lamar State College-PoArthur, Port Arthur. Entertainment areworks. Bring a chair or blanket(409) 984-6156.

Event SubmissionsDo you have an event you would like to promote? Do it with VIP for FREE! Please send us detailsdates, times, location, contact phone, web address

and a brief descriptionto [email protected] should arrive at least 60 days in advance of the event.

Betty Greenberg Centerfor the PerformingArts, Beaumont.Tickets $5. (409)833-4664 or www.beaumontcommunityplayers.com

BridalTraditionsSummerBridal ShowJuly 14

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Beaumont CivicCenter, Beaumont. Advancetickets $8 at Heartelds,Beaumont; Cindys Bridal, Vidor;J&J Monogram, Lumberton; theGarden District, Orange; the ClassyPeacock, Bridge City and TuxedoJunction, Nederland. Tickets$10 at the door. (409) 769-7599, (409) 755-7760 or www.bridaltraditionstexas.com

ALSO: Annual 1929 CalderPlace Fourth of July Parade

9 a.m., Beaumont IndependentSchool District AdministrationBuilding parking lot, Beaumont.(409) 651-3901.

FootlooseJuly 25-27Come see the best teenage talentin Southeast Texas. Performed by

the KID-Munity Troupe (childrenentering grades 9-12), 7 p.m.,


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ACROSS

1 US Olympic gold medal winner,

____ Johnson

4 No longer with Jon

7 Aged

9 Hammer and a Nail singer, ___

Girls also a color

10 She played the lady professor in

Harry Potter, ___ Thompson

12 Color

13 Disgraced Tour de France riders

rst name

14 Stand ___ me

15 British politician, for short

16 Disturbia singer

21 American Idol hunk, ____

Daughtrey

24 Dancing with the Stars winner and

top racing driver, ____ Castroneves

25 Concord state26 The Eraser singer, Thom ____

27 Max ___ 2008 movie

DOWN

1 NFL star who won in Season 3 o

Dancing with the Stars, Emmit

___

2 British prince

3 The clown sh in Finding Nemo

4 Batman Begins heroine initials

5 A well-known Patriot, rst name

6 Shade tree

8 ___ Da Vito

11 Russian tennis star, ___ Kournik

14 Arts Degree

15 Jack __ in Law and Order

17 Printer and computer maker

18 Over and Over singer and rapp

19 French gold

20 Global warming politician, Al ___

22 Squids squirt

23 Not he

24 Cool

Find answers on page 4

c r o s s w o r d

vip magazine

July 19

Roger Creager

8 p.m., Honky Tonk Texas,

Silsbee. (409) 386-1995 or www.

honkytonktexas.us.

July 19-20

Orange County Sheriff Posse Rodeo

8 p.m., Orange County Sheri Posse

Rodeo Arena, Orange. Adults $8,

children $4. (409) 886-2638.

July 19-21

His and Hers Weekend

Two shows: The Southeast Texas

Great Outdoors Expo and The

Peddler Show, 3-8 p.m. July 19; 9

a.m.-8 p.m. July 20; and 11 a.m.-4

p.m. July 21, Ford Park Event Center,

Beaumont. Adults $6, seniors 65and older $5, children 5 and younger

free. One admission ticket good

for both events. (409) 951-5400 or

www.fordpark.com.

July 20

Crusin Kirbyville

Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show,

presented by the Tri-City Corvette

Club, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Magnolia Park,

Kirbyville. Early registration $25;

day of show $30. (409) 423-5827.

Adventure Family Day

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Stark Museum of Art,Orange. Learn how early travelers

plotted their courses, take part

in hands-on activities to create

navigation tools, visit the new

exhibition, Tales and Travels,

listen to stories and participate in a

scavenger hunt through the museum

to win a prize. Free. (409) 886-2787

or www.starkmuseum.org.

Neches River Adventures

See previous listing.

July 20

Calins Casino7-10 p.m., Event Plaza Center,

Vidor. Table games, food, music,

door prizes. BYOB. Admission $25.

Proceeds go toward Down Syndrome

Awareness. (409) 658-6499 or

[email protected].

Southern Summer Night

Presented by the Greater Port Arthur

Chamber of Commerce, 7-11 p.m.,

Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center,

Port Arthur. Music by the Classics

Recovered Band and JAG. The

Golden Triangle Chefs Association

will prepare a buet featuring baked

chicken and Cajun catsh. Tickets

$30. Proceeds benet the Chamber

and the Port Arthur Seafarers

Center. Admission by reservation

only. (409) 963-1107.

July 22-26

Master Gardener Short Course


July 25

Movie Night

You Were Never Lovelier, a

musical starring Fred Astaire and

Rita Hayworth, 6:30-8:30 p.m.,

McFaddin-Ward House Visitor

Center, Beaumont. Complimentary

popcorn and refreshments. Free.

(409) 832-1906.

July 25-28

Fiddler on the Roof


July 26-28

Kountze Trade Days

7 a.m.-7 p.m., Big Thicket Trade

Days Grounds, Kountze. More than

250 vendors, shows, childrens

activities, food booths and more.

Free, parking $2. (409) 246-3413 or

(409) 880-5667.

July 27

Benet Garage Sale

8 a.m., Trinity United Methodist

Church, Beaumont. Items for

home, recreation and collectors.

All proceeds benet several local

missions. (409) 892-8121.

Neches River Adventures


Neighbors and Concerts in the Park

2 p.m., Rogers Park, Beaumont.

Family activities, snow cones,

popcorn, drinks, cotton candy, doorprizes, jump stations, vendor booths,

blood drive and more. Concert, 4-9

p.m. featuring Still Cruisin and the

Kaiser Brothers. (409) 838-3613 or

www.beaumontrecreation.com.

Cocktails with Larry Miller and

Friends

8 p.m., the Grand 1894 Opera House,

Galveston. Friends are comedians

Pat Hazell and Mike MacRae. Tickets

start at $25. (800) 821-1894 or www.

thegrand.com.


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g u e s t c o l u m n

vp voices

text by Holli Petersen

Scars are storytellers. Long

after the pain is gone, they

expose a memory that

might otherwise be forgot-

ten. And, isnt it interest-

ing that despite all the

advances of medical technology, scars can

still elude even the most skilled physicians?

Perhaps, theres a reason for that.On my right knee, I earned a scar

round, smooth and pink that instantlytakes me back to the third grade, when Ilived on the side of a mountain in Hunts-ville, Alabama. As children, we referred toour neighborhood as a mountain, but moreaccurately we resided on a mere foothill ofthe Appalachians. Appropriate terminol-ogy notwithstanding, yards slanted enoughto require most homeowners to wear golfcleats while mowing their lawns.

The clear advantage of living in suchterrain came each winter, when our streettransformed into the most exciting sled-ding slope for miles around (give or take abrick mailbox or two). However, no matterhow much fun it was to go down, therewas always the challenge of getting back

up. Most of my neighborhood pals hadSpartan-esque calves from trudging upthose treacherous sidewalks each day.

Like most kids my age, I longed for thefreedom that only a bicycle could provide.Though I owned a bike of my own, I wasrarely allowed to ride it out of the sight ofmy mom, who feared that if I took o downthe hill too fast, Id crash and burn. Alltoo often, I was the unfortunate, red-facedkid, running to keep up with my cyclingcomrades.

Nothing could be more humiliating. Athird grader without a license to ride? Pre-posterous! I resorted to begging my parentsfor more freedom. I promised to never gotoo fast, never coast downhill, to always

look both ways, so on and so forth.Finally, my assurances prevailed and I

was permitted the freedom to cruise mostanywhere I desired.

Cautiously, I experimented with mynewfound autonomy. I normally rode a fewpaces behind my more experienced bikingbuddies. When traipsing down our street,I was careful to tap my brakes ever soslightly to maintain a comfortable speed. Ididnt pop wheelies. I didnt stand up in thepedals. I was free, but restrained.

But, freedom can be tricky. The longeryou have it, the easier it is to take it forgranted. You get a bit too condent and

begin craving more ways to spike a littleadrenaline. Factor in a healthy dose of peerpressure and there emerges a recipe fordisaster.

For several days, my friends had beendaring me to coast down the sidewalk,standing up in my pedals and foregoing theuse of brakes. With much bravado, I putthem o. But, secretly I could not deny thatthe idea appealed to me. Or rather, the ideaof being applauded after such a daring featappealed to me.

For reasons beyond explanation, oneday I trekked to the steepest portion ofsidewalk and, amidst chants and cheers,fearlessly set o down the hill.

With exhilarating speed, I cruised alongat a maintainable rate. The cool wind wasowing through my tangled hair. I couldhear my friends pounding the pavementbehind me, cheering me on. I felt like a

champion!But all too suddenly things began to

get a little haywire. My speed increasedrapidly surroundings zooming by ina blur. The wind didnt feel so friendlyanymore and was now ripping and tuggingat my face, making me squint my eyes andgrit my teeth. My hands became sweatyand my knees, locked in their stance, feltrather wobbly.

Just as I was about to admit defeat andslam on the brakes, I hit a small crack inthe sidewalk. You wouldnt think such aninconsequential thing could make much ofan impact, but it set my front tire askew,

veering me into the yard of a neighbor witha rather impressive, decorative brick fenc-ing alongside their driveway.

I slammed into the bricks, ipped

headrst over my handlebars, landing ina crumpled heap on landscaping graveljust beyond the fence. Those small whitepebbles might as well have been blister-ing hot coals, since I acutely felt each onestinging into my skin. I managed to standup just about the time my friends arrivedto marvel at my misfortune. Though I wascut, scratched and bruised from head totoe, my right knee seemed to sustain themost injury from a sharp stone that left asubstantial, bleeding gash.

I limped home alone, dragging my man-gled bike along beside me. Shame tastedbitter on my tongue and defeat weighedheavily on my slumped shoulders.

Perhaps more painful than my untimelyintroduction to landscaping gravel was therealization that my mom had been right allalong. I imagined her feeling rather smugas she gently dabbed the blood o my legs.

Today, the rouge scar on my right kneemakes me smile. It reminds me of the goodol days, when freedom was easily foundwith a set of wheels under you. It remindsme of simpler times, when neighborhoodkids ran in packs, terrorizing sno-conestands and playing tag until the sun wentdown. But, more importantly for my ownkids, that scar is a lesson, lest they everforget that moms always know best. VIP

Crash and Burn


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