LIFESTYLE: How to Make New Year’s Resolutions That Stick January 2007 $1.95 HOWHOW GREENGREEN ISIS OUROUR GROWTHGROWTH FORFOR THETHE BRAZOSBRAZOS VALLEY?VALLEY? )S-OTHER.ATURE TOUGHONYOURJOINTS SPINE TOO THATSALLWEDO THISTIMEOFYEAR 7INTERWEATHERTAKESITSTOLLONEVERYTHING!NDTHEREARETIMESWHENYOU LITERALLYFEELITINYOURBONES3UBTLESYMPTOMSSUCHASMORNINGSTIFFNESS SWELLINGANDLIMITEDJOINTMOTIONCANPROGRESSINTOARTHRITICDISEASESTHAT AFFECTSMILLIONSOF!MERICANS 4HEONLYFELLOWSHIP TRAINEDSPINE $ONTLETTHECOLDWEATHERSTOPYOUFROMBEINGONTHEMOVE3CHEDULEA SURGERYSPECIALISTINTHE"RAZOS6ALLEY Brazo pine DIAGNOSTICEXAMWITH$R'RANT4AYLOR AT3COTT7HITE#OLLEGE3TATION 'RANT4AYLOR -$ BEFORETHEONSETOFWINTERnANDTHEJOINTPAINITBRINGS 2HEUMATOLOGIST 7EACCEPT"LUE#ROSSAND"LUE3HIELDOF4EXAS 3COTT7HITE(EALTH0LANS (UMANA -UKUND)'UNDANNA -$ 5NIVERSITY$RIVE%AST 3UITE &IRST(EALTH 3T*OSEPH%MPLOYEE(EALTH0LAN "RYAN 4EXAS ANDMANYOTHERINSURANCEPLANS 4ROY-$ULEY 0! # 4EL 5NIVERSITYs &AX "RYAN#OLLEGE3TATION"RENHAM2OCKDALE-EXIA WWWBRAZOSSPINECOM #ELEBRATING9EARSOF%XCELLENCEIN4HE"RAZOS6ALLEY publisher’sdesk THANKS for joining Insite Magazine in a new year. Like birthdays that end 6 with a zero, Januarys beg a certain contents level of introspection. With that in mind, what better question to ponder areaevents | page 6 than what the future of growth in the What’s Happening Brazos Valley will look like and what Brazos Valley African American Museum banquet impact it will have on each of us? and OPAS Gala highlight January events Growth affects everyone: employment 11 compiled by the Insite Magazine staff rates, economic opportunities, lifestyle and convenience including traffic. How lifestyle | page 11 Resolutions to Live By city leaders define quality of life will Expert advice on how to (finally) make them stick ultimately answer the growth question. by Erin Hill Littlefield Unfortunately, not everyone agrees on the definition. For the past several businesssense | page 15 months, not a week has gone by that Let’s Have an Event! Time, Newsweek and other national Goals, focus keys to successful planning magazines haven’t devoted at least one by Naomi Giroux story to the “greening” of the economy. story | page 18 From eco-builders to eco-friendly 18 cover How Green is our Brazos Valley? mortgages, to 100 percent sustainable Sadly, our environmental scorecard homes, there is a national trend that 24 could be a lot greener recognizes it’s finally starting to be by Kelli Levey economically green to cater to those 15 concerned with being ecologically communityoutreach | page 29 green. From those who want to reduce A Good Neighbor our dependence on foreign oil to those Where there’s a will, there’s United Way When you have your tax return prepared by Bowman Business by Erin Hill Littlefield & Tax Services, we guarantee you lowest income taxes allowed who want to join the battle against by law. global warming, statistics show that Subscribe & Save There were major changes to the tax code this year. Do your- nationally, more consumers are letting 2 years for just $19.95 1 year for just $12.95 departments self a favor and let Bowman Business & Tax Services give you the their conscience guide their wallets. (57% off newsstand price) (45% off newsstand price) 24 Around Town Local faces, local places peace of mind that your tax return has been professionally and 28 Business Briefs Notable Brazos Valley news Locally, these kinds of eco-friendly Call (979) 823-5567 or email [email protected] correctly prepared. 30 KAMU-TV Public television listing for January options are few and the city leadership We offer tax preparation, electronic filing and refund anticipa- GET IN TOUCH WITH INSITE MAGAZINE to follow this trend is almost non- INSITE Magazine is published monthly by Insite Printing & Graphic Services, 123 E. Wm. J. tion loans. Call us at 979-696-6776. Letters to the Editor · Send to Angelique Gammon, Insite Magazine, 123 E. Wm. J. Bryan Bryan Pkwy., Bryan Texas 77803. (979) 823-5567 [email protected]. www.insitegroup.com Volume existent. Both cities are in the process Pkwy., Bryan Texas 77803 or send email to [email protected] 23, Number 10. Managing Partners: Kyle DeWitt, Angelique Gammon, Greg Gammon. Happenings & Around Town · Deadline to submit information is the 5th of the month preceding 7607 Eastmark Dr., Ste. 210 publication. Send Happenings to Insite Magazine, 123 E. Wm. J. Bryan Pkwy., Bryan Texas Reproduction in any part without written permission of publisher is prohibited. Publisher/Editor: BOWMAN College Station, TX 77840 of updating their comprehensive plans. 77803 or email [email protected] Angelique Gammon; General Manager: Carl Dixon; Account Executive: Cynthia Kauder; IT Electronic Submissions · All photos submitted electronically must be at least 3” wide at Manager: Glenn Richards; Graphic Design & Prepress Manager: Karen Green; Graphic Business & Tax Services 979-696-6776 If you want to have a say in how green 300 dpi to be considered for publication. Be sure to include names and event description with [email protected] photos. Email Business briefs, What’s Happening events or Around Town photos to agammon@ Designer: Alida Bedard; Office Manager: Molly Barton; Production: Daisy Acosta, Anthony our future is locally, now is the time to insitegroup.com Battles, Steve Beatty, Linda Browning, Joe Campice, Don Coburn, Ricky Conchola, John Daniels, George Mail · Mail business/event listings or photos with names and event description to Insite Galloway, Connie Gosch, Erin Hagar, Brad Hillegeist, Cynthia Justice, Doug Madison, Arthur Maldonado, Pam Magazine 123 East WJ Bryan Parkway, Bryan, TX 77803. speak up. – Angelique Gammon Mize, Frank Ramirez, Ramon Ruiz, Randy Valencia, Wes Vilo, Jimmy Welch, LaCheryl Wilson. 4 Insite/January 2007 January 2007/Insite 5 what’shappening compiled by the Insite Magazine staff January 27 from 6:30 p.m. until about dying; it’s about living every moment to its fullest. midnight, the OPAS Guild will host its annual Gala at January 9 at 12 noon, the Brazos County A&M Club the College Station Hilton will hold their monthly luncheon at the Clayton W. Grand Ballroom. Headline Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. The featured speaker entertainment will be provided by will be Pat Henry, head Track and Field coach for Texas Blood, Sweat & Tears along A&M. For more information, visit www.bcamc.org or with Chuck Negron, formerly of call (979) 775-0336. Three Dog Night. In addition, the Aggieland Orchestra will January 20-21 beginning at 10 a.m., the Classic Country providing entertainment during Design Show and Country Wedding Show will be dinner and dance music to close held at the new Round Top Arts Center building, 1235 out the evening. A champagne N. Hwy. 237, Round Top. Parking and admission are reception begins at 6:30 p.m. free. For more information, call (281) 493-5501 or email as the silent auction begins. [email protected]. Doors open at 7 p.m. and dinner is served. Following dinner is January 28 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m., the Bridal Show & JANUARY a live auction and headliner Benefit presented by the Bridal Association of the entertainment. Tickets are $125 Brazos Valley will be held at Reed Arena on Texas A&M each and are available by calling campus. Proceeds will benefit the local chapter of American events (979) 823-1526. Red Cross. Visit www.iDo-iDo.org for more information. Arts Council of the Brazos Valley at (979) 696-2787. January 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rudder Theater, MSC OPAS presents The Romero Guitar Quartet, areawide On Saturdays, January 6 through February 10 a.m. to Intimate Gatherings. For more information, contact 11:30, will host the MSC Box Office at (979) 845-1234. January 4 through February 1, the Texas Gallery Hospice Brazos Valley Beyond presents our Artist in Residence show by artist Grief: A Bereavement Support Group available at no Frank Stanford at the P. David Romei Arts Center. cost to all adults at the Hospice office, 502 West 26th St., Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. Bryan. Meet others who have experienced a recent loss continuingevents to 6 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and share the challenges grief has brought. To register, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the call Joan or Bertha at (979) 821-2266. Hospice is not Through January 15, the Brazos Valley Museum 6 Insite/January 2007 what’shappening presents Texas Snakes Alive!, featuring venomous and non-venomous snakes native to Texas. Come learn the facts and the myths surrounding these amazing creatures. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 pm. For more Get Your information, contact the Museum at (979) 776-2195. Through January 15, the Brazos Valley Museum presents The Republic of Texas, featuring artifacts from the Battle of San Jacinto including Gen. Santa Ana’s silverware and a replica of the Lone Star Flag. Come learn the facts about this important time in the history of Texas. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 pm. For more information, contact the Museum at (979) 776-2195. Aggie iPod & Nano Holders Here! Through March 18, the George Bush Presidential Library presents 100 Tall Texans. This exhibit showcases 100 Texans who made significant January 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Hotel in College Station, the Brazos Valley African American contributions to Texas and the world. The George Bush Museum will host its 2007 Annual Appreciation Banquet to recognize all those individuals who have Presidential Library and Museum is open Monday made significant contributions to the museum. Frank Jackson, mayor of Prairie View, will be the guest speaker. through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday Tickets are $50 per person and are available by calling the museum (979) 822-0469. Proceeds from the event from 12 noon to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the will support the Brazos Valley African American Museum located at 804 Waco Street in Bryan.