TPWD STRIPER EXTRACTION EVENT PROVES gREAT SUCCESS

Transcription

TPWD STRIPER EXTRACTION EVENT PROVES gREAT SUCCESS
From the Managing Editor
Baytown & Mont Belvieu
CONTENTS
table of
September 2013
12
WAHOO! It’s my favorite time
of the year, Fall! And that means
Halloween is right around the corner.
I love to see all the little kids in
costumes and not to mention the
CANDY!!! When my mom’s not
looking I try to sneak a piece but she
must have eyes in the back of her
head because she always catches me
in the act.
Well, thanks to all you readers
that sent in pictures of your pets. I’ve
got more friends then I know what to
do with, but I can always use more.
I think I smell my mom making
cookies in the kitchen so I need to get
in there and make sure she doesn’t
drop anything on the floor. If she does
I’m more then happy to pick it up for
her.
Until next month... Have a safe
and Happy Halloween.
Buster
20
29
6
Trinity Bay Tactical
9
Steamy Clean Thoughts
10
Baytown Little Theater
12
Goose Creek Proud
14
Community Corner
19
Focus on Finances
20
City of Baytown
22
Learn The Law
26 Foot Facts
27
Body Cology
29
TRA - TPWD striper extraction event proves
great success
30
Capture The Moment
31
The Baytown Chamber
On the Cover
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Trinity Bay Tactical
For advertising
information call Tom Cook
at 281-812-4775 and he will
be glad to assist you.
Visit us on the Web!
www.docklinemagazine.com
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 3
Baytown
Thomas J. Cook
PUBLISHER
Buster
Managing Editor
Gordon Gallatin
advertising Director
Robert Kasprzak
editor
Lindsey Kasprzak
Art Director
Fabian Sandler
writer
Kimberli Smith
Cover Photographer
Contributors:
Community Toyota
Dr. Timothy Planty
Anikke Ayala-Rodgers • Larry Caudill
Gary Clemmons • Kimberli Smith
Weston Cotten • Tracey S. Wheeler
John Shrader • Chris Holmes
Jason C. Miller, DPM, FACFAS, FASPS
Mike Homer Jr. • Karen Sullivan
DOCK LINE MAGAZINE
is published by:
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P.O. Box 2634, Humble, TX 77347-2634
Telephone: 281-812-4775
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reserved. All editorial and advertising copy
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4 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 5
By: Fabian Sandler
Going to the gun range? Maybe get in
a little fishing? A new store on FM 2354 is
there for you.
“My wife and I opened a massage therapy clinic next door,” Owner Jim Sullivan
explains. “We knew that this space was available and we wondered what would be coming in. I had had some customers ask me to
make them some soap,” Jim continues. “It
was back in January. I never made soap. I
made ointments, salves, lotions, all sorts of
bath products over the last 13 years.” Jim
looked at making soap. Cold process soap
takes lye, different types of fats and other ingredients. “So I started making soap. I found
out that I enjoy it and it’s an art form.”
They decided to open a store next to
their massage therapy clinic in order to house
the soap production business and have some
retail items as well. “As the idea progressed
and things moved forward,” Jim begins, but
takes a tangent course. “I’ve been in the
military before. The last time I was in, I got
out in 2008. I like tactical, I like the military
culture. Then I looked around and realized
that there’s no guy store anywhere on 3180
or 2354. A store for guys. There are a lot of
boutiques for women; that’s fine and dandy,
but there’s nothing for us [males]. I bet this
would work out well. I bet people would re-
ally like this idea of having a tactical store. Little
did I know how well. I didn’t realize that this
would have that big an impact.”
The store owner is well versed in the business he is in. He’s spent much of his adult life
in the military serving his country. In January
1994, having spent most of the previous 11 years
in the U.S. Army, Jim’s aviation unit was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, two months after the Blackhawk Down incident. He believes
his was the last Army aviation unit in Somalia.
“I did enjoy the sunshine and that, ironically,
spoiled me for the warmth of the south,” Jim attests. “I got tired of being in colder areas, I got
tired of being in snow. After that, I got out and
went to North Carolina. I was in the National
Guard for a couple of years. In ’07, I rejoined
the military.” Jim and his wife Karen moved
back to Texas in 2008 and built a house in Beach
City in 2010.
Karen owns and operates the Beach City
Massage Therapy Group next door. She was
raised in the area. “She’s a Barber’s Hill girl,”
Jim says. They were married on February 7,
2002, and have one son, who will be turning 11
in December.
Karen, a massage therapist and a Certified Natural Products Manufacturer, has three
licensed massage therapists working with her,
and another one will soon be licensed. A fully
licensed esthetician – a person trained to perform skin care services of cosmetic nature such
as facials, waxing, light peels and masks -- is
also on staff.
Jim makes several types of soaps, including a pure vegetable soap, olive oil soap, one
with pork fat, beef fat and another with gator
fat. That’s right, alligator fat. The pork, beef
and gator fats he buys from local rendering processors. “You grind it up, boil it and the fat rises
6 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
to the top, pour that off, separate it, cool it and
you use that as one of your ingredients in the
soap-making process,” Jim explains. It’s a local
product that’s indigenous to the area. “You’d
be surprised the amount of soaps that I sell to
guys who buy a bunch of ammo and they buy
three bars of soap. It’s an odd combination, but
it works.” Hand-crafted soaps make for a wonderful, unique gift, especially toward Christmastime.
The store owner is in the process of getting
his firearms dealer’s license, although he doesn’t
plan on carrying a wide inventory of firearms.
“I like the ambiance of the way the store is. To
me, being able to sell firearms is more of a service. I don’t want to be known as a gun store.
I’m a tactical store, with some things for women
too.”
The store owner is dissuaded from owning
a store that has to have bars on its windows and
barricades in front, necessities if he were to carry weapons. “That takes away from anybody
feeling comfortable walking in.” Instead, Jim’s
emphasis will be in providing personalized service for those who want the assistance in determining what sort of firearm to purchase; he has
plenty of gun distributors at the ready to bring
in whatever a customer decides. “If somebody
wants to purchase a weapon online and have the
FFL (Federal Firearms License) transfer, that’s
another type of service that we will be providing,” he says. “Also, with that FFL, I can do more
gun technician type work, maybe we can find
a gunsmith or do a little bit of that ourselves.
I can do gun cleaning.” He sees his store as
providing more of a service for people than it
would be a gun store.
Jim is open to suggestions from customers.
Carrying Tidal Surge lures was an idea that was
given to the store owner by Mickey Eastman,
who has a local outdoor radio show. The lures
are made specifically for
the Baytown area.
One of the best selling items in the store is
ammo. “I have a couple of
really good distributors. I
don’t have limits on my
ammo. Other places do
and I understand that,
but I’ve never been one to
believe in saying, ‘No, you
can only buy two of something.’ If it’s on my shelf, it’s for sale. You can
buy it all if you want to, because I’ll get more.”
Jim’s philosophy governing the inventory he keeps at Trinity Bay Tactical is to have
a little bit of everything. “I want people to
walk in here and say, ‘He even has something
for me,’” Jim states. “I even have stick candy
[for kids],” he elucidates. “I sell Tru-Spec pants
and gear. I’ve got shirts and pants for hunters
– they’re tactical pants. Law enforcement officers can wear them, to someone who’s out hunting. They’re very practical pants. They stretch.
They’re a good line,” he opines.
Trinity Bay Tactical offers plenty of conceal-carry gear for those who have their Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL). The store has
a complete line of specialized clothes for both
men and women who want to carry their firearm, from shirts and tank tops to ladies’ tank
tops and purses. Flash-Bang holsters are available. These are specially designed holsters that
allow a firearm to be clipped or attached in between the cups of a bra. When a woman has to
draw her weapon, she can simply reach under
her blouse, tank top or T-shirt from the waist
and pull the firearm downward and out.
“I’ve found that as far as conceal-carry gear,
I’ve had as great a response if not more from
women than I have from men,” Jim admits.
Classes are offered for those who would
like to obtain a CHL. Don Langford is the instructor. He is a constable in Anahuac. CHL
classes have recently changed from being 10
hours long to just four hours, helping drive the
cost down further. A CHL class at Trinity Bay
Tactical runs just $50.
Other goods of interest include solid hand
lotion bars, big bath bomb balls, and other items
that Trinity Bay Tactical carries. These especially would be great ideas for gifts. A lot of his
products, in fact, can be used for aromatherapy,
which utilizes the essential oils of various plants
that help promote physical, spiritual and mental
well-being.
Trinity Bay Tactical carries a wide
array of items that are mostly from Texas
manufacturers, including a rub for meats and
ribs; locally made, finely crafted wild animal
calls from Carraway Calls in Beach City; Bird
Straps and Duck Call Lanyards from Bird
Strap in Winnie; Texas Olive Ranch Olive oil
-- the olive oils he uses for his soaps come
from this company -- and vinegars; Praseks
meats; and many bottled drinks such as sodas and Texas teas. “The Retro Cream Soda,
[the company] sold off the name, Big Red,
but they didn’t sell off the formula. That’s the
original Big Red,” Jim attests.
Trinity Bay Tactical is at 15838 FM 2354,
Suite B, in Beach City, Texas, and may be
found on Facebook. Hours of operation are
10 AM to 6 PM Mondays through Saturdays.
The phone number is 281-573-3433,
Jim likes to keep his prices at Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) price
points. He feels this is a good method to
price his goods so that the customer obtains
fair prices. “I’m not jacking the price up,”
Jim states. “I’m not one of those people that
will take that box of ammo that I have for,
say, $22 and jack it up to $50, which I know
for a fact [happens] in other places. If I did
that, I’m not supporting my community and,
therefore, my community would not support me. We have a symbiotic relationship
because they want me to be here and I want
to be here. I live here, I live in this community.” Well said from an ex-soldier with a new,
flourishing business.u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 7
8 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Do-it-Yourself Rug Cleaning or Rug Ruining?
Everyone is very price conscience about the
non-necessities, which includes area rug cleaning.
Unfortunately, when it is time to clean your area rug
it is hard to ignore especially when you entertain
friends and family.
To save some money on cleaning you go to your
computer and start a search on how to clean your
rugs yourself. You will find a ton of websites and
blogs that explain in great detail how to clean rugs.
Before you rush off to grab the soap and bucket stop
and ask yourself a few questions:
• Did the article you read talk about synthetic
or wool area rugs?
• Did it describe cleaning wall to wall carpet
only but had the title of rug cleaning?
• Is the person who wrote the article a professional cleaner or a do-it yourselfer who cleaned their
own rugs and had good results?
• Has the author of the article written any other
articles on cleaning or any other topics?
• Did you feel like the article covered everything
you needed to know about do-it-yourself rug cleaning explaining every step from start to finish in detail?
• Did the article give do’s and don’ts about
cleaning particular rugs or spots?
• Did you feel like the cleaning method described made sense or seem a bit promotional for a
particular product?
I have read many different articles on DIY
cleaning from using snow to renting a carpet cleaner.
All had some truth contained in them but not the full
truth.
Here is my question to you - Since all rugs are
not made the same why would using the same cleaning method work for all rugs?
Answer: It doesn’t.
DIY cleaning equals buying a new rug.
The Proper way to Clean Rugs - There is no one
way of cleaning that works for all area rugs. Using
steam or water extraction is the most popular, but if
the dyes used in your rug bleed easily, using water
will ruin your rug. If the construction of your rug is
delicate or if your rug is old, using heavy machines
may not be the best. The best way to clean your rugs
is by a professional who is trained. We base our cleaning methods on the fiber type and construction of
your area rug. Some rugs cannot handle a full wet
cleaning or they will get damaged while other rugs
can get an immersion cleaning and are great. It is all
based on the type of rug and the reason it needs to
be cleaned.
Most of the time, it is what you cannot see in the
area rug that can cause problems. The foundation of
your rug, the fiber that the wool is tied around - is
it wool or cotton? If it is cotton, is it a dyed cotton or
natural cotton? Is there also jute in the foundation
of your rug? All these things can rear up and cause
damage if cleaned improperly.
Some area rugs are laminated together with glue
and fabric and these rugs can react badly to getting
overly wet. The backing can shrink, they can smell
after cleaning from improper drying, the rug can
de-laminate and start to fall apart. None are wanted
results.
Even though you are trying to save money by
personally cleaning your wool rug, take a moment
and ask yourself if the rug gets ruined how much will
it cost to replace? Can you still buy a rug with the
same pattern, design, colors or even size?
Getting your area rugs cleaned isn’t an expense
you have often - 1 to 3 years unless you have pets and/
or small children. When you have pets and children,
they can cause more accidents and extra dirt to happen to your rugs. It is something you can plan and
budget for. Plus getting your rugs cleaned makes your
home healthier and makes you feel better.
When you do have pet accidents get them taken
care of right away, do not wait until the puppy is
trained and 6-12 months later hope the smell and
stains will disappear. They won’t, especially on
wool rugs. The less time urine is in a rug the better. Once the urine settles in, the stain becomes
permanent and the smell is absorbed by the foundation fiber and becomes much harder to remove.
The best advice to give about cleaning your
wool rug:
• Leave cleaning wool rugs to the area rug
professionals.
• Spot clean as needed. Vacuum the top of
your rug with suction only regularly, once a week.
• Vacuum the back of the rug with the rotating beating bar at least once a month.
• Do not use any spot cleaners or shampoos
that do not say they are wool safe.
• Never let anyone clean your rugs in your
home. They can ruin your rug and floor and your
rug isn’t getting a proper cleaning and drying.
• Most importantly, before using any cleaners on your rug, put some of the cleaner on a white
cotton towel and test your rug for color bleed.
• Always use a white cotton towel to blot
your rug.
• NEVER rub in a circular motion. Always
blot and apply pressure - if you must rub a spot,
go in straight lines. Moving a towel over a spot can
make it smear and become bigger.
• When in doubt, call a professional area rug
cleaner.
Larry Caudill • Carpet Cleaning and Restoration Services • 3000 N. Main 1A, Baytown, TX.
77521, 281-838-4833
About C.C.R.S. - 17 years in business, Fire
and Water Damage Certified, full service cleaning
carpet, tile, air ducts, area rugs domestic and oriental, upholstery/ furniture and more.u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 9
Neil Simon’s “Rumors” opens November 8th at BLT
Neil Simon is America’s best-known
New York City—has shot himself through the
sack; John Shrader as Ernie Cusack; Chelsea
living playwright and possibly the most fi-
earlobe. Comic complications arise when,
Dennard as Cassie Cooper; Mitchell Craft
nancially successful dramatist of all time.
given everyone’s upper class status, they de-
as Glenn Cooper; and Will Myers as Officer
Beginning with “Come Blow Your Horn” in
cide they need to do everything possible to
Welch.
1961, Simon has written a long succession of
conceal the evening’s events from the local
Broadway hit comedies, which have earned
police and the media.
The crew includes the following: Mackey
Skinner: director; Mark Fleming: assistant
him huge audiences and numerous prizes,
The characters are as follows: Chris Gor-
director; Kenny Wade: production manager;
including four Tony Awards, the New York
man (30-40), female, upper middle class and
Georgie Skinner: costumes; Gary Smith:
Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer
high-strung; Ken Gorman (40-50), male,
Lighting; Saundra Smith:
Prize. In 1966, Simon had four plays running
professional, well-groomed and also high
Skinner: set design; Gary Gardner: set con-
simultaneously on Broadway, the only author
strung; Claire Ganz (30-40), female, Yuppy-
struction; Leaann Gardner: set decoration.
in modern times to accomplish such a feat.
ish Westchester housewife type; Lenny Ganz
The director, Mackey Skinner, has long
Among his better known plays are “Barefoot
(30-50), male, not the smartest, but very like-
been an admirer of Simon’s humor and char-
in the Park (1963), “The Odd Couple (1965),
able; Cookie Cusack (40-50), female, gaudy
acterizations. He has performed in six of
“The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1971), “The
dresser, very dramatic; Ernie Cusack (40-55),
Simon’s plays. “Rumors” will be his fifth to
Sunshine Boys (1972), and “Jake’s Women”
male, psychologist, wants everyone to be hap-
direct.
(1992).
py; Cassie Cooper (25-40), female, neurotic,
“Rumors” opens Friday, November 8,
“Rumors,” Simon’s 23rd play, which has
overly excitable; Glenn Cooper (30-50), male,
with additional performances on Novem-
been called “the first no-holds-barred farce of
businessman with political ambitions; Officer
ber 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24. Patrons
his career,” opened in New York in 1988 and
Welch (30-50), male, imposing burly type;
should be aware that the play contains adult
ran for 531 performances, closing in 1990.
Officer Pudney (22-30), female, no nonsense
language. Tickets are available and can be
In this hilarious play, several affluent couples
type.
purchased at HYPERLINK “http://www.bay-
props; Mackey
gather in the posh suburban residence of a
The cast includes the following: Chris-
town.littletheater.org”www.baytown.littlethe-
couple for a dinner party celebrating their
tine Jones as Chris Gorman; Ryan Marshall
ater.org. Parties of 11 or more should call the
hosts’ tenth anniversary. However, they dis-
as Ken Gorman; Reanna Gautreaux-Marr as
box office at 281.424.7617. Other informa-
cover there are no servants, the hostess is
Claire Ganz; Kenny Wade as Lenny Ganz;
tion such as directions or curtain times can
missing, and the host—the deputy mayor of
Madeline Marie Murdoch as Cookie Cu-
also be found on the BLT website.u
Find Us Online
www.docklinemagazine.com
10 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 11
Highlights
F o r This Mon t h
Instructional changes at GCCISD Junior Schools
Eduardo Diaz from Ashbel Smith Elementary School
gives a “thumbs up” to his color project the first week
of school.
Junior schools in Goose Creek CISD are
running on a new schedule this year in order to
give students more variety and to help them be
more successful. Students at Baytown, Cedar Bayou, Gentry, Horace Mann and Highlands junior
schools picked up schedules for the 2013 – 2014
school year that included seven class periods instead of six.
Due to the seven-period schedule, eighth
grade students now have the option of taking
Spanish for high school credit or choosing another elective. The additional class for seventh grade
students allows the integrated Language Arts class
to be separated into a writing class and a reading
class, providing more time to focus on the skills
needed for success on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Sixth
graders take a one-semester Computer Literacy
class to satisfy the local required computer class,
but they also may choose to take Digital Design,
which includes working with Google presentations, Prezi, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premier Elements.
The school day was also lengthened by 15
minutes, changing the start time to 8:40 a.m. from
8:45 a.m. and the dismissal time to 4:10 p.m. from
4:00 p.m.
“Our focus for the junior schools is making instructionally-driven decisions to increase
student success,” said Dr. Melissa Duarte, assistant
superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
“It was important that we did not lose any time in
our core classes, but it is exciting that we’re giving
students the opportunity to choose an additional
class.”u
Instructional changes at GCCISD Junior Schools
Randy O’Brien has joined Goose Creek
CISD as the deputy superintendent for administrative services, an existing position which had
not been filled. O’Brien holds a bachelor’s degree
in business management from East Texas Baptist
University, where he played basketball and tennis,
a master’s of education in administration from
Sam Houston State University and is nearing
completion of his doctorate at Lamar University.
Prior to coming to Goose Creek, O’Brien
served as superintendent of Hubbard ISD for four
years. As superintendent, he was involved with
a large bond project, including a new middle/
high school and gymnasium complex and an agriculture complex. He also served as high school
principal in Blooming Grove ISD for three years,
middle school principal in Tarkington ISD for
four years, intermediate school assistant principal
in Willis ISD for three years and high school assistant principal in Montgomery ISD for two years.
At Conroe ISD, he was the vocational marketing coordinator for two years, and he has taught
marketing education, mathematics, science and
physical education, along with coaching a variety
of sports.
Among his accomplishments, O’Brien was
nominated as Region 12 Superintendent of the
Year by the Board of Trustees of Hubbard ISD in
2011-2012. He also was selected as Outstanding
Administrator in the Region 4 Excellence in Education Awards in 2005. Chosen as a presenter at
the SERA Conference in New Orleans in 2012, his
topic was Commonalities that Exist Between High
Performing Schools.
Affiliated with the Texas Association of
School Boards and the Texas Association of School
Administrators, O’Brien also served as chairman
of District 9-A Football in 2012 and chairman of
District 14-A Spring Sports from 2010 – 2013.
O’Brien has participated in numerous service activities, including serving as a Board member for
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center and coaching the Hubbard Little Dribblers.
O’Brien and his wife Monica are looking forward to settling in the Baytown area. Their son Riley has started 7th grade at Gentry Junior School,
where he plays tennis. They also have a son Tyler,
who is a senior at Baylor, and a daughter Kendal,
a graduate of Texas Woman’s University and a registered nurse.
In his free time, O’Brien plans to continue his
involvement with scouting, as Riley is working to-
12 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
ward earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He hopes
to become involved in community service organizations and to attend many Goose Creek sporting
events. While he enjoys the relaxation of fishing,
he is also up for a good game of tennis if anyone
wants to play.
“Randy O’Brien will be an asset to the District. He has supervised a bond project and has
experience in working with administrators, faculty
and staff members to help students increase their
academic success,” said GCCISD Superintendent
Dr. Salvador Cavazos.u
De Zavala Grant Projects
Goose Creek Education Foundation members launched their fundraising efforts for the
2013 – 2014 school year with a goal of $185,000.
Along with donors from business and industry, Goose Creek employees also have become
involved in donating through the Get on the
Bus! campaign by payroll deductions. More than
$350,000 in innovative teaching grants has been
awarded to Goose Creek CISD educators since the
Education Foundation began in 2009. Last spring,
an enthusiastic group of Grant Surprise Patrol
members, including administrators, Education
Foundation members, cheerleaders and a drum
line, boarded school buses to present 65 grants for
a total of $139,000.
Michael Grant, family involvement coordinator at De Zavala Elementary School, received
one of these Education Foundation grants, and he
wasted no time in successfully implementing his
ideas. On Tuesday, September 17, 108 fourth grade
students eagerly participated in Rap, Rhythm, and
Rhyme: Rebuilding the Writing Foundation by
Eric Cork, a nationally recognized writing consultant. Students were engaged in a high-energy
experience as they explored all levels of the writing process. The same evening, Grant invited
parents to paint with their students to increase
parent involvement.u
RSS Student Recognized by National Hispanic Recognition Program
Julie McReynolds (left), academic dean at Ross
S. Sterling High School, and Kevin Foxworth
(right), RSS principal, congratulate Guimel
Cisneros, a senior at RSS, on her selection for
the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
Guimel Cisneros, a senior at Ross S. Sterling High School, was recognized by the National
Hispanic Recognition Program for her scores in
2012 on the PSAT. Cisneros was one of nearly
5,300 Hispanic/Latino students selected from a
pool of over 259,000 for this award. In addition
to meeting the score requirements on the PSAT,
she had to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
In addition to her high academic standards,
Cisneros plays on the varsity tennis team. After
graduation, she plans to attend Lee College and
to pursue her business management degree at
Texas A & M University. She is the daughter of
Fernando and Maria Cisneros.u
Dr. Salvador Cavazos, Goose
Creek CISD superintendent,
presents Crockett Elementary
School students and Susan
Griffin, principal, with a cake
in honor of the District and
all campuses receiving a Met
Standard State Accountability
Rating.
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 13
many of the same quality details as the
Platinum but will use saddle brown leather
and ultra-suede accents to give it a more
western-themed appearance and feel. The
Platinum and 1794 Edition come standard
with an eight-way power driver’s seat with
memory and a four-way power passenger’s
seat, both with heat and ventilation, power
moon-roof (Crew-Max only), parking so-
2014 Tundra Now Available at Community Toyota
of three distinct pieces to help with repair
costs, but also will give the Tundra “face” a
more muscular foundation to sit on. In addition, the fenders and wheel openings have
a more squared-off look and character lines
have been carved into the body. At the rear
of the full-size pickup, Tundra designers have
incorporated a more stylized tailgate that inVehicle Overview
cludes an integrated spoiler to help improve
The big players in the half-ton pick-up
fuel economy. Other design changes in the
truck segment like Ford, Ram and General
rear include a newly placed and much-larger-
Motors have recently brought out signifi-
than-before Tundra logo on the tailgate that
cant changes to their half-tons in the form of
looks as if it was formed into the steel rather
powertrains, suspensions and specialty op-
than stamped. The new Tundra will offer five
tion packages. Toyota has decided to take a
new trim packages with unique wheel choices
more conservative approach, giving the 2014
as well. The SR and SR5 grades will ride on
Tundra a freshened exterior look along with a
18-inch steel wheels, while the Limited, Plati-
redesigned interior.
num and 1794 Edition will include all-new
What’s New for 2014
The 2014 Tundra will offer five distinct
trim levels, each with a separate interior and
exterior look. 20-inch alloy wheels specific to each grade.
Interior
The new trim packages for 2014 Tundra will start with the base “work duty” trim
The new trim levels will be paired with
called the SR Package; the next level up is
five different grille designs. The 2014 Toyota
the SR5, which will be called the “profes-
half-ton will also include some new safety
sional gear” package, offering chrome ac-
and connectivity technology in the form of
cents and contrasting fabrics. The Limited
standard Entune on the two new premium
will be Toyota’s “active premium” trim with
packages, blind spot monitoring and rear
leather, soft-touch materials and wood trim.
cross-traffic warning detection. Limited grade also adds an eight-way power
Exterior
driver seat, standard chrome door handles
The all-new front design of the 2014
and outer mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels and
Tundra includes many changes. Designers
a deck rail system. The first of the premium
made the hood taller and the grille wider,
packages, called Platinum, will have perforat-
punctuating each of the different front grilles
ed black leather seats, more stylized chrome
with a more chiseled and more modern
accents, and upscale door and instrument
look. The lower bumper design is now made
panel inserts. The 1794 Edition will have
14 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
nar and display audio with navigation and
the Entune connectivity system.
Under the Hood
Although engine and transmission
options have not changed for the 2014
models, meaning select Tundras will still
offer a choice between the 4.0-liter V-6,
4.6-liter V-8 and 5.7-liter V-8 engines,
there have been some shock-valving
changes to improve overall ride quality
and handling. Likewise, the steering system has been improved to allow for better
control with road variations and imperfections that can move the truck off course
slightly. The results are reported to be better straight-line control and less driver fatigue.
Safety
The 2014 Tundras will offer several
new safety features including a standard
backup camera and Bluetooth on all models, blind spot monitoring and a crosstraffic alert system (the last two will only
be offered on Platinum and 1794 Edition
models). All Tundra models will also feature Smart Stop brake override technology. Smart Stop is designed to automatically
reduce engine power when both brake and
accelerator pedals are pressed at the same
time under certain conditions. Tundra will
be equipped with eight standard airbags,
including front-seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear roll-sensing side
curtain airbags in all models, driver and
front outboard passenger airbags with an
Advanced Airbag System, and driver and
front outboard passenger knee airbags.u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 15
My Pal
Neo!
r
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16 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 17
Invisalign: Designed to Fit Your Teeth and Your Life
What is Invisalign?
The Invisalign system uses a sequence of
tailor-made, clear, plastic aligners to slowly
reposition and straighten your teeth. Unlike
traditional braces, these aligners are completely removable, requiring no metal wires
or brackets. Over 1 million people worldwide
have chosen Invisalign to improve their smile
quickly and unobtrusively.
A Process That Fits Your Lifestyle
The Invisalign system is designed to be
flexible:
• Consultation Your first appointment will be to discuss
the issues you have with your teeth. As experienced Invisalign treatment providers, it is
determined whether you would benefit from
treatment with Invisalign.
• Fitting Next pictures and impressions are taken
of your teeth. These will be digitized to form
a 3D model that is used to plan your entire
treatment from start to finish.
• Treatment
Based on these 3D models, your customized aligners will be produced to fit precisely
into the treatment plan created for you. The
aligners are used in stages: each aligner is
worn for about two weeks before being replaced by the next in the sequence, carefully
moving your teeth according to plan.
• Check-ups
It is easy to graduate from one set of
aligners to another, so unlike with traditional braces, you will not need to frequent our
office for small adjustments. You will have
check-ups to gauge your progress. On average, these appointments occur once every six
to eight weeks.
The Best Way to Achieve Your Best Smile
With the Invisalign system, time is on
your side. Most adults will find that their
treatment time is reduced. Treatment is fast,
simple, and subtle because the Invisalign system is designed to fit your life. Give us a call
to set up a consultation today.
Guajardo Orthodontics
2802 Garth Rd. Suite 311 • (281) 4277376 • Baytown, Texas 77521
Give our office a call to schedule your
consultation!u
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Chico!
Buster
18 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Avoid Dangers of “Over-concentration”
When you were in school, you had to
concentrate on your studies. When you began your career, you had to concentrate on
your work. In fact, in just about every endeavor in life, concentration is essential for
success. However, as an investor, you may
find that you actually don’t want to concentrate too much.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t concentrate on your investment decisions — you
should. But if you concentrate too much
money in one investment, or one type of investment, you could run into problems.
Suppose, for example, that your portfolio is almost entirely devoted to growth
stocks. During a good economy, growth
stocks generally tend to do well, so if we’re
enjoying a period of sustained growth, your
portfolio might show some good returns. But
if the economy slumps while you own only
growth stocks, you could sustain losses that
may take a long time from which to recover.
On the other hand, if you over-concentrate
on fixed-income investments, such as bonds,
your principal value might increase when interest rates are falling (as interest rates and
bond prices are inversely related), but when
interest rates rise, your bond portfolio will
likely lose principal value.
To help avoid the problems of overconcentration, it’s important to own a range
of investments, which may include stocks,
bonds, government securities and certificates
of deposit (CDs). While this type of diversification cannot, by itself, guarantee a profit
or protect against loss, it can help reduce the
effects of volatility on your portfolio.
Of course, how you choose to allocate
your assets will depend on a variety of factors, including the following:
Your goals — Your ultimate objectives
should help govern your investment strategy.
If you are planning to retire early and then
start a new business, you may need to invest
more aggressively than, say, your neighbor,
who wants to work as long as possible and
then stay close to home, pursuing inexpensive hobbies.
Your risk tolerance — Just as we all have
different personalities, we have different tolerances for investment risk. If you can assume greater risk in exchange for potentially
higher returns, you may be a more aggressive investor. Conversely, if you’re willing to
take lower returns as a trade-off for greater
protection of your principal, you’re probably
a more conservative investor. However, to
achieve your goals, you may consider moving
outside your investment “comfort zone”
from time to time.
Your time horizon — Your stage of
life will also affect your investment choices. If you are just starting your career, you
can probably afford to invest more aggressively than if you are nearing retirement,
at which time you may want to cut down
on risks.
To build a diversified portfolio that
reflects your goals, risk tolerance and time
horizon, you may want to work with a
professional financial advisor — someone
who can assess your situation and recommend choices that are appropriate for
your needs. By concentrating on a unified
investment strategy — instead of overconcentrating on a specific type of investment — you can focus on where you want
to go and what you need to do to get there.
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or
legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding
your situation.
This article was written by Edward
Jones for use by your local Edward Jones
Financial Advisor.u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 19
The City of Baytown
FALL BRINGS EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO EDDIE V. GRAY
WETLANDS CENTER and BAYTOWN NATURE CENTER
Tracey Prothro, Superintendent of Natural Resource Programs
Now that Wade Into Wetlands Summer Science Camp is over, the staff of the Eddie V. Gray
Wetlands Education Center and the Baytown
Nature Center are in the midst of education programs and weekend outreach activities. On any
given day they can be found teaching kids about
non-point source pollution, introducing visitors
to snakes, alligators, and crabs, or getting wet with
the students pulling a seine net to see the aquatic
life that calls our area bays home.
Tyke Hike, the Baytown Nature Center’s preschool program, is held every Friday from 10:00
– 11:00 a.m. Young visitors are introduced to a variety of nature-themed topics, and conclude each
session with a “hike” at the center. October topics include “What Lives In A Shell?”, “Silly Snakes”,
“Bats!”, and “Animal Trick or Treat”. This program
is sponsored by ExxonMobil and is free!
20 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
The Wetlands Ecology Program, also sponsored by ExxonMobil, and the Making Science
Make Sense Program, sponsored by Bayer, are
offered to all GCCISD 5th grade students as part
of their science curriculum. Students spend their
morning at the Wetlands Center, learning about
wetlands, metamorphosis, aquatic ecosystems,
and animal adaptations. They also get to touch
and hold the Coastal Touch Tank animals and a
snake. After lunch, students travel to the Baytown
Nature Center, where they observe a seining demonstration and learn about the animals of the bay.
They also get to do a little bird watching on the
Upper Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
The Liquid Science Program, sponsored by
the Rotary Club of Baytown, is offered to every
7th grade student in GCCISD. This program focuses on aquatic systems and how humans impact
the environment. Students spend their morning
at the Wetlands Center learning about water testing, non-point source pollution, relationships between living aquatic organisms, and blue crab life
cycles. They spend their afternoon at the Baytown
Nature Center, using their new found skills to test
the water. They also learn how humans impacted
the area when it was the Brownwood subdivision.
The Back to the Bay Program is offered to select 9th and 10th grade GCCISD biology students.
Students spend their day at the Baytown Nature
Center, where they perform high level water analysis, learn to throw a cast net, pull a seine net, and
identify the aquatic creatures that they catch in the
nets. They also learn about subsidence and invasive and exotic species.
All of these programs are available to area
schools as outreach programs. For information,
contact the Wetlands Center at (281) 420-7128,
or the Baytown Nature Center at (281) 424-9198.
You can also find information on www.baytown.
org, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. baytownnaturect (Baytown Nature Center)
evgraywetlands (The Wetlands Center)
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Eddie-VGray-Wetlands-Education-and-Recreation-Center/102335816476272
www.facebook.com/pages/Baytown-NatureCenter/164415486921984
@EVGrayWetlands(The Wetlands Center)
@BaytownNatureCt
(Baytown Nature Center)u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 21
By: Weston Cotten
Yellowstone and Immigration
I just spent a few days in Yellowstone
Park. Part of my jaunt there included a video
history of the park. The video showed the big
politicians getting on board to save this beautiful area for the people of the world - a great
and laudable purpose.
It showed the first people came in,
built homes, and started exploiting the resources of the area, trapping, hunting and
farming. Loggers cut the abundant forests
and generally did what people do when given
the opportunity to exploit an area. The problem was the rich and famous wanted it kept
“pure and unspoiled”. Too late, the squatters
and exploiters were already there. What did
they do? They brought in the Army and removed the squatters and drove out the trappers and other exploiters. It worked; Yellowstone still survives today, with much or most
of its natural beauty surviving.
Why this little discussion? Because I
sense a lack of determination in our politicians and the rich and famous to protect the
natural resources and beauty of our American way of life, by not protecting our borders
and not driving out the squatters. Every illegal resident of the US can be compared to
those who invaded the Yellowstone area in
search of a new and better life for themselves,
but the politicians and rich and famous determined that those who had invaded this
wonderful area had to go and go they did, by
force.
I wish we could get a national resolve to
protect our American way of life and keep
out those that would change it. Keep out
those who would exploit the resources of
the US without having paid for the privilege.
Keep out those who flaunt our laws and then
demand we enforce only the laws that protect
them.
Many say, “They are only seeking to better themselves”. We have a system that allows for controlled immigration, just like our
parks have controlled entrance. To enter you
pay the price and when it gets full, you wait
until someone leaves.
Many times we stand in line, waiting
our turn, to get in a movie, to buy the newest I-whatever, or the newest digital doo-dad
or to get the great deals on Black Friday. We
rightly get peeved when someone breaks the
line, they cheat us out of our rightful place in
22 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
line and our right to whatever made us stand
in the line in the first place.
Why do we not get the same indignation when people jump the line to get in
the USA? Why aren’t the rules followed? If
football games were played the way our immigration system was played, there would be
fewer referees, and they would be ordered to
not enforce the rules, unless someone broke
another rule, but they would have to ask for
permission to throw the flag and then would
have to ask someone what the penalty would
be, if there were a penalty.
We have methods to change laws that are
not popular. That is why we have a Congress.
It is their job to make the laws. It is the Executive branch that enforces the laws. It is not
the Executive’s prerogative to interpret the
law or enforce only those that it agrees with.
It is the same, only different. We are
dealing with people, their children who
have done nothing wrong, people who have
worked hard, exploited our economy, our
jobs, our schools, and our support systems.
They have taken money out of our country
and have not spent their earnings in the US.
The economy is missing much of the purchasing power that has been generated. Those
dollars that are expatriated come back in the
form of “balance of trade” deficits, making
our dollar weaker.
What does immigration and Yellowstone have in common? Yellowstone was
saved from exploitation, squatters and alteration, by concerted efforts by politicians and
the monied elite of our country. Our country
has been allowed to be exploited, invaded and
misused by the same politicians and monied
elite that worked hard and used concentrated
effort to take back the Yellowstone area.
I saw the movie presented by the Park
Service and thought how similar those people who flocked to the Yellowstone were to
the people who flock to the USA, wanting a
piece of the American dream and how concentrated political action saved Yellowstone
from fundamental change and exploitation.
I wish we could get the same political resolve to retake our borders as they garnered
to seal the borders at Yellowstone National
Park and remove those who had moved into
the park area.
Same? Maybe not, but not too different
in my mind.u
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My
Paco!
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Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 23
Find Us Online
www.docklinemagazine.com
24 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
AN EYE ON THE FUTURE
I have been utterly amazed at all the
ever before.
NEW advances in the eye, vision and opti-
One of those lenses is the Avaira contact
cal industry in the last few years. Technology
lenses by CooperVision. This lens has supe-
has opened the doors to advanced diagnostic
rior optics with the aspheric design. The sili-
equipment to diagnose eye diseases earlier,
cone material means that it breathes oxygen
new surgical procedures that will not only
better. The cornea has no blood vessels and
regain vision lost but correct vision to the
therefore relies upon the air for its oxygen in-
clearest possible standards and presented us
take. Wearing contacts from the older tech-
with NEW lens materials and designs that al-
nology where there is less oxygen permeat-
low people to have clearer night time vision,
ing the lens means the cornea must imbibe
sharper vision to improve depth perception,
fluid from inside the eye, which causes the
more vivid vision to enhance color percep-
eye to swell as it breaks down the H20 into
tion and contrast. All of which creates more
hydrogen molecules and oxygen molecules to
comfortable vision over the entire day! As I
get the necessary oxygen to keep the cells of
like to say, it will allow us to work (or play)
the cornea functioning properly. Of course,
longer harder and faster!
swelling in the cornea will also blur your vi-
I would like to talk today about HIGH
sion. The Avaira contact lens is water and
Manufacturing has
has a modulus of 0.5, which means it is the
gone digital. What this means is that comput-
softest contact lens on the market, making it
ers are now generating prescriptions in spec-
the most comfortable contact lens also. In a
tacle lenses and contact lenses. The results
recent study, 85% of the patients with the Av-
have given us the ability to accurately pro-
aira contact lens said that they could wear the
duce lenses to 1/100 instead of 1/10. Lenses
lens with stable vision for 14 hours.
DEFINITION lenses.
are no longer spherical but they are aspheri-
For more information on the contact
cal.All this technical stuff may not mean any-
lens, you can go to the CooperVision web-
thing to you but what it does is eliminate dis-
site at www.coopervision.com or call the of-
tortions in the lenses that erode the quality of
fice (see our ad in the magazine) for a free
your vision.
trial pair of contacts. Exam and fitting not
High definition spectacle lenses have
included.
been out for a few years now and recently that
As we continue throughout the year, I
technology has caught on with contact lenses.
will try to bring to you more information on
When you combine that technology with the
the newest products, procedures and treat-
new silicone materials and high water con-
ments to better serve your visual needs. Until
tent, you now have a contact lens that offers
next time, keep you eye on the future!u
clearer vision and better day comfort than
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 25
By: Jason C. Miller, DPM, FACFAS, FASPS
Achilles Tendon Pain and Pain in the Back of the Heel
The Achilles tendon is one of the longest
and most important tendons in the body. The
Achilles tendon runs down the back of the lower leg, connecting the calf muscles to the back
of the heel. The Achilles tendon is vital for normal walking, function, and activities. Unfortunately, due to a heavy workload, the Achilles
tendon can develop pain and become diseased
with “high mileage” causing pain and disability.
Achilles tendonitis is simply inflammation
of the Achilles tendon and is usually short-lived
and treated with anti-inflammatories and rest.
Achilles tendonosis is chronic overuse and degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The tendon
develops microscopic tears, becomes scarred,
and loses its elasticity. If degeneration occurs
along the tendon itself, this puts patients at a
higher risk of Achilles tendon rupture. Most
often, degeneration occurs at the attachment to
the back of the heel. Over time, the scarred and
diseased tendon calcifies at the back of the heel.
This is often called Achilles insertional calcinosis or heel spurring.
Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis, tendonosis, and calcinosis usually include pain (aching,
stiffness, soreness) anywhere along the tendon,
calf, or back of the heel. Often, pain occurs
when getting up in the morning or after periods
of sitting, then improves after it “loosens up”,
but then worsens with prolonged activities. As
the disorder progresses, the tendon (and often
the back of the heel) enlarges and may develop
26 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
nodules. Often the enlargement in the back of
the heel can be irritated and can be painful with
pressure from shoes.
These disorders are basically “overuse”
conditions caused by repetitive activity that puts
too much stress on the Achilles tendon. Repeated micro-injury to the tendon fibers and ongoing stress overcomes the body’s ability to repair
the injured tendon. Athletes are at high risk for
development of Achilles tendon disorders. Individuals that stress their feet/ankles with jobs
that require heavy work are also at risk. Overweight individuals commonly develop Achilles
tendon pain. “Weekend warriors” also place
their Achilles tendons in jeopardy as the tendon
is irregularly stressed and generally less conditioned for rigorous stress. People with biomechanical abnormalities (the way the feet function and the way the patient walks) can greatly
contribute to development of Achilles tendon
disorders due to greater demand placed on the
tendon. Individuals with a “tight heel cord” or
contracture/tight/shortened Achilles tendon are
also pre-disposed to Achilles tendon pain and
other conditions.
Achilles tendonitis, tendonosis, and calcinosis are diagnosed with clinical examination,
x-rays, ultrasound, and/or MRI. Treatment for
these conditions is selected based on the severity of pain/disability, age and activity of the patient, and degree of degeneration of the tendon.
When caught early, treatment is relatively simple and can prevent the Achilles tendon from
further degeneration and disease. Unfortunately, advanced tendon disease is more difficult to
treat conservatively and often leads to chronic
episodes/treatments or the need for a surgical
procedure. Conservative treatments include
anti-inflammatories, icing, rest, immobilization, stretching, shoe inserts/heel lifts, physical
therapy, and injection therapy. When these modalities fail, surgical techniques are successful to
eliminate pain and repair the tendon in an outpatient setting.
Prevention is the key to reducing degeneration of the Achilles tendon. Evaluation for
biomechanical abnormalities (treated with orthotics or proper shoes), stretching, and proper
conditioning can all help prevent long-term
Achilles tendon problems. If you have pain in
the back of your heel or Achilles tendon, get
evaluated today.
Houston Foot and Ankle
Jason C. Miller, DPM, FACFAS, FASPS
Daren M. Guertin DPM, FACFAS
Laura Woodcox, DPM
Elizabeth Fernandez-Arias, DPM
Offices in Kingwood, Atascocita, and Baytown
281-348-2166
www.houstonfootandankle.com u
How does Massage Work?
Wikipedia defines massage as “the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers
of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in
the healing process, decrease muscle reflex
activity, inhibit motor-neuron excitability,
promote relaxation and well-being, and as a
recreational activity.
The application of massage techniques
cause a reflexive response which we call
a relaxation response. The relaxation response is not something which a person
can consciously control and we call that,
involuntary. The nervous system response
to massage techniques applied in a safe, caring environment is very predictable and enhances a body’s calm mental state. Breathing
rate slows, blood pressure goes down, stress
hormone decreases and muscles relax. Studies have found the relaxation response increases Serotonin levels in the brain, improving mood.
The next predictable response the body
experiences during massage is the mechanical
response. Some of the benefits of the body’s
mechanical response is: improved circulation
and relaxation of tissue. The improved circulation is not only blood circulation but something many people don’t consider, lymph circulation. The Lymphatic system is a passive
system that requires movement to release the
toxins it gathers from the body. Massage aids
the movement of toxins and encourages the
release and disposal of them. This improved
circulation is a response by the body to the
physical manipulation of the soft tissue and
also the chemicals released as part of the relaxation response. Massage Therapy relaxes
muscle tissue. This relaxation directly reduces spasms and uncomfortable contractions
in the muscle. When muscles are contracted
nerves will be compressed causing a miser-
able response which frequently travels further away from the actual point of compression. Clients complaining of sciatic pain are
frequently interested to find the pain is not
the nerve itself but, a muscle placing pressure on it. Conversely, when the muscles are
relaxed the nerves experience proper flow of
nutrients and fluids and are able to efficiently
transmit information to and from the brain
which helps everything to work in harmony.
Touching the skin or applying pressure
relaxes muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In
addition, while some of the deeper tissues
of the body, such as deep spinal musculature, cannot be easily accessed by a
massage therapist, the release of more
superficial layers of muscles may also affect these deeper layers. This can lead to
both superficial and deep tissues finding a
better alignment and balance. Organs can
also benefit from massage as they share
neurological pain pathways with muscles,
bones, and nerves. When muscles, bones,
or nerves are distressed, organs can sometimes reflect distress and dysfunction. For
example, low back pain can intensify menstrual cramps and menstrual cramps can
cause low back muscles to tense. Massage
can therefore improve symptoms associated with the functioning of both the organ
and the muscles.
So, the next time you wonder if a
massage will do you any good, consider
it, or if you know someone who has stress
or physical issues, a massage is a nice way
to help them. Now you know some of the
things a massage can do for you and your
family and friends. Make an appointment
for a massage and feel better.u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 27
28 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
TPWD striper extraction event proves
great success
Since 1980, the Trinity River Authority’s
peratures caused the fish to spawn a few
TRA board members Steve Cronin, San
Lake Livingston Project staff have assisted the
weeks before the scheduled brood stock har-
Jacinto County; John Jenkins, at large; Manny
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by pro-
vest, leading to lower collection numbers and
Rachal, Polk County; and David Leonard,
viding access to the restricted area just below
prompting TPWD officials to approach this
Liberty County, attended the event this year,
Lake Livingston Dam, where the oxygen-rich
year’s event with cautious optimism and in-
with Director Leonard hosting all partici-
waters attract large numbers of striped bass.
tense prior planning.
pants at a muchappreciated post-event fish
Over the years, this area has proven an ideal
“We knew this year was important for
fry. Science students from Livingston High
location for capturing brood stock to use
maintaining the integrity of the program,”
School also observed, along with members of
in fingerling production and stocking pro-
said Brian Van Zee, TPWD inland fisheries
TPWD’s Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Com-
grams.
regional director. “Starting in March, every
mittee.
LLP staff provide additional support by
couple of weeks we were collecting and ex-
TPWD was prepared with alternate col-
preparing a ramp to the river for trucks and
amining fish to make sure they weren’t stag-
lection dates and sites if needed, but on the
trailers to reach the water’s edge and towing
ing quicker than we thought. The staff at Lake
big day, conditions proved optimal. “We
trucks onto level ground when the extraction
Livingston also checked water temperatures
started the event with a 2,000 cfs discharge
effort is complete.
once a week so we’d know for sure when we
from the dam,” said Mark Waters, LLP project
reached ideal spawning temperatures.”
manager. “Later in the day, our gate calcula-
Last year’s warmer-than-normal tem-
tions called for us to increase the discharge to
4,000 cfs. Once we made that change, we really saw an increase in how quickly the crews
were able to gather fish.”
TPWD collected a total of 178 female
and 141 male striped bass, which staff then
transported to hatcheries, where fingerlings
are produced and grown until they are big
enough to release into lakes throughout Texas. Thus far, the process bodes well for fishermen – the collected fish have shown a nearly
99 percent spawn rate, and TPWD hopes to
stock Texas lakes with more than 6 million
hybrid striped bass and 2.7 million striped
bass. In fact, some lakes were already being
stocked as early as mid-May. “We can’t thank
TRA and the staff at Lake Livingston enough,”
said Van Zee. “Every fisherman who enjoys
fishing for stripers and hybrid striped bass in
TPWD collected a total of 178 female and 141 male striped bass at this year’s extraction
event, and hopes to stock Texas lakes with nearly 9 million striped and hybrid striped bass.
Texas lakes owes that privilege, to some extent, to TRA’s support of this program.” u
Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013 29
8. Grab friends and get a group picture, or a fun Halloween themed family portrait! Remember, don’t break character!
9. Print an album! Facebook is fun, but
an album will last longer than anything online!
10. Make it a piece of jewelry! Charm
bracelets are a beautiful way to showcase your
portraits. If you don’t have a portrait charm
By: Kimberli Smith
bracelet, now is a great time to start one.
Halloween
One of my favorite parts of autumn has
always been Halloween. As a “creative person” This was my opportunity to express myself without judgment. On Halloween, you
could always be anything you ever wanted to
be or had dreamed up. You could imitate your
favorite Rock Band or transform into a Milk
Carton! Either way, these memories are not
one to be overlooked. Some of my favorite
childhood memories are of Halloween.
I would like to share a few ideas and tips
to get the best of this ghostly affair!
1. Pumpkin patches are great location
Another way to document this fun holiday is by joining us at our Annual Halloween
holiday.
5. If you choose to photograph your
children outside before they go trick-or-treating, do so at dusk, just before the sun goes
down. This will give you a spookier twilight
effect, without needing too much flash.
6. For spooky portraits put a flashlight
under your chin, just out of the camera’s view,
shining up at your face. This spooky look is
called “ghoul lighting”. I wonder why?
7. Don’t forget to take the mask off!
However, don’t take it out of the picture completely.
Charity Event. Held at Affinity Photography
(207 W. DeFee Avenue) on October 27th
from noon- 6, it is great opportunity to show
support for our community and come together and give back by helping others that
are hungry. We will be hosting a people and
pet food drive, along with a pumpkin patch,
creepy lab, costume contest, and other activities for your family to enjoy. With your donation, you will receive a portrait of your family
or just your children all dressed up in their
Halloween attire.u
for a themed portrait, but watch out for what
lies behind your subject in the background.
Sometimes these locations are overcrowded
with other families seeking out their perfect
future jack-o-lantern as well. Sit your kiddos
in front of a stack of hay to avoid the distraction of others hunting for their perfect
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pumpkin. Get down on their level for the best
pumpkin angle!
2. You can create your own mini
pumpkin patch with a few small pumpkins
and some small bales of hay. You may recreate
the same look year after year as your children
grow.
3. Photograph your children in action
carving their pumpkins, when they are so
intricately involved. Then make sure you let
them show off their masterpiece with a fun
glow-stick inside!
4. Throw some spider web over your
hedges and let your little one act out their
costume for a fun creative picture that shows
more than just what you chose to wear for the
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Serving: Atascocita, Baytown, Mont Belvieu Area, Kingwood, The Woodlands & Lake Conroe
Since 2001
30 Dock Line Magazine - Baytown & Mont Belvieu Area Edition October 2013
Tracey S. Wheeler, IOM, President & CEO
Each year as October 1 approaches, I tend to reflect of my many years
working for the Baytown community and the Baytown Chamber of Commerce. This
year on October 1st, I will have spent 41 years of my life in that capacity. I have heard many
times the question, “What is the Chamber going to do for me?” or the statement, “I don’t know why
I joined the Chamber…I haven’t gotten anything out of it”. Chamber executives like myself go to sleep
at night with that ringing in their ears. The fact is that the people asking that question or making that statement
were probably promised some type of involvement opportunity that doesn’t exist or they have never shown up for
any type of Chamber activity.
Another question that I am often asked is, “What do you do for a living?” It is an interesting question to try to answer.
There are those that are convinced that Chamber employees are city employees paid by local tax dollars. We are not a part of city
government but we are partners with the City, the Economic Development Foundation, the School District and Lee College. It takes all
of us working together to make the community grow and prosper. The answer to that question is that my job is to manage the day-to-day
operations of the Chamber to include administrative, staffing, events, financial, etc., however, my answer to the question is, “I walk with
giants”. Every day I am at the side of the community leadership…men and women business leaders, council members, school board,
college trustees, volunteers organizations chairs, and more. There are those in our city who will, (from their first day on earth to their last),
rush downtown to stand at the side of the street to watch the parade pass…and there are those who march in the parade. I have chosen to
walk in that parade beside those who give back so much to our community. The Chamber of Commerce can channel their efforts to make
things of great importance happen.
These individuals are the giants in our community … and I have the opportunity to be there to assist, guide, direct, facilitate and
sometimes even to lead them as they march along in a parade that when it passes through our community will result in something very
significant. After a very long stroll at their side, I can tell you that the trek is most likely the most rewarding thing I could have ever had
the opportunity to do.
These “giants” spend their days not only working at their own jobs but go to meetings all over the community and then when it is
7:00 or 8:00 in the evening, they are still at their desk. There are many “giants” in our community. The Baytown Chamber has enjoyed
valuable volunteer leadership for all of the years I have worked with them. Some of these individuals are the finest human beings you
could ever know. Our community is extremely lucky to have so many giving volunteers.
You may already be or could become one of these “giants” by volunteering in Little League, school activities, church, community
service organizations, the chamber and so much more. The uniqueness of America is the volunteer.
If you are interested in community programs, better business climate, and want more people to
know about your business or profession, then extend your ideas, talents and investment where the
ACTION is – in the Baytown Chamber of Commerce.
Tracey S. Wheeler, IOM
President & CEO
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Keep your Neighbors Working
Keep Our Local Economy Strong
Keep Our Community Strong
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