My Jarrell Monthly • October 2022

Bill Gravell

U.S. Congressman John Carter

Texas Senator Charles Schwertner

Texas Representative Terry Wilson

Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder

Jarrell Mayor Larry Bush

Jarrell Councilwoman Tanya Clawson

Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan

Round Rock Councilman Renee Flores

Round Rock Councilman Matt Baker

Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell

Taylor Mayor Pro Tem Gerald Anderson

Taylor City Council Dwayne Ariola

Bartlett Mayor Chad Mees Granger Mayor Monia Stojanik

Thrall Mayor Troy Marx

Coupland Mayor Jack Piper

Coupland Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Piper

Hutto YMCA Board Chair Bryon Borchers

Hutto Board of Trustees President Billie Logiuduce Precinct 4 Constable Paul Leal

Barry

PUBLISHERS

EDITOR

EDITOR'S NOTE | CAMY REYNOLDS

For my family, fall revolves around soccer practices, baseball games, and loading and unloading the sports chairs from the trunk of my car. I don’t mind the rush and chaos it brings because the weather is typically refreshing and good for my soul. I say typically because so far, the season seems to be unaware the calendar has flipped to fall. Bring on the cooler weather, roast ed marshmallows, and beautiful shades of amber, copper, and golden leaves.

Mike Payne Ann Marie Kennon

COMMUNITY EDITOR Camy Reynolds

Camy is a native Texan and mom of three who has lived in Jarrell since 2009.

She serves her community as a director on the Sonterra MUD Board, is on the board for the Jarrell Education Foundation, on the District and Igo's Educational Improvement Commit tees, and founded the local Facebook group Mom Tribe Jarrell that has over 1,400 members.

COMMUNITY LIAISON Janet Hage

Janet Hage has been part of the Jarrell community for almost 30 years. She has been involved in community fundraisers, campaigns, and com mittees; volunteered with JISD, and worked for the City for more than seven years. She is a development partner of NW Wilco, LLC and serves on the Community Library Board of Directors. Janet focuses her energy on serving, giving back, and uniting the community in positive ways.

SENIOR WRITER / EDITOR Charlotte Kovalchuk

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Linda A. Thornton • Cassidie Cox • Emily Tilly

& DESIGN

Evans

Ann Marie Kennon

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Election season is upon us, and though it may not be a Presi dential year, we wanted to impress upon our readers the lasting impact our local and county government has on our day-to-day lives. You can familiarize yourself with the candidates running for City Council and School Board on page 10 before you hit the polls to cast your vote.

Sonterra Family Dental has enjoyed a warm welcome from the community and shares all they have accomplished in their seven months here. With consistent homes sales in the area Dr. Katende is already planning to expand his practice and gave us a sneak peek of what is to come.

We also have news and information from State Rep. Terry Wilson on the importance and evolution of vocational education in Texas public schools. I am happy to see the renewed interest and emphasis on trades and industry and it is reassuring to see our state leadership helping students find alternative routes to prosperity.

If you are looking for some fall family activities you will appre ciate the list we have put together ensuring you get your fix of pumpkins, treats, and community fun.

I want to say a special thank you to the high school football players who show up to the elementary campuses on Friday mornings with smiles on their faces as they help the younger kids out of their cars. My kids (impatiently) wait for Friday to roll around to snag a high five or hug from one of the players. The impact these young men are making in the lives of the next generation is far greater than they could ever imagine and I am grateful for their willingness to show up.

Brinley, Colt and Walker are greeted by varsity football player Daniel Farr

Pro Choice Pro Education Pro Democracy

Providing Exceptional Dental Care to Jarrell Families

by Charlotte Kovalchuk Photos courtesy of Sonterra Family Dental

Seven months into running Sonterra Family Dental, Dr. Alan Katende is enjoy ing an abundance of new patients and opportunities to improve their health through brand-new confidence-boosting smiles. “We’ve been seeing more than 100 new patients a month, which is more than I had at my first office in Harker Heights in 2017. It’s been exciting because that office is well established with two doctors, multiple hygienists, and patients who have been seeing us for six years. There aren't many new patients there any more but in Jarrell everyone is new. It’s just really excit ing to see this practice grow so quickly.”

Dr. Katende has family roots in East Africa and was inspired to provide a modern, stress-free dental experience for patients after hearing his father's harrowing story about having a tooth pulled as a child, without anesthesia.

Dr. Katende studied at Washington University in St. Louis and the College of Dentistry at Howard University in Washington, D.C. After a fellowship in oral surgery at Columbia University in New York, he and his wife Yasai decided to make their home in Texas to raise a family.

The growth of his first office in Harker Heights motivated him to open a second location in a growing area with a smalltown feel and high demand for dental services.

“I intentionally created a team of different backgrounds. I think that makes us more relatable to patients.”

Today, Sonterra Family Dental offers a full range of services, including root canals, crowns, dental implants, dentures, whitening, and Invisalign orthodontics all in an office with a homey atmosphere that defies the typical, sterile dental clinic design. What sets his office apart from others, Dr. Katende says, is a commitment to being locally owned and diverse, including staff who speak Spanish. He added, “I own this practice 100 percent. Nowadays most practices are owned by corporations. We are literally a family-owned business with no corporate influence. It is truly a small business.”

To manage the increasing volume of patients, Dr. Joon Sohn, DDS, and hygienist Franazheá "Shea" Ragan have joined the Sonterra team. Shea says, “It's been nice hearing patients come in; they’re happy and they sound like they’re enjoying their dental experience." Plus, “it seems that when one family member comes, the whole family eventually comes. It’s a good enough place that they’re wanting their whole family to come here.” Dr. Katende calls Franazheá “awesome, so friendly and gentle. Everyone loves her and she’s extremely meticulous, detail-oriented, and thorough.” As for the rest of his team, Dr. Sohn specializes in root canals and cosmetic treatments, while Dr. Katende will do “just about everything, including Invisalign and various types of oral surgery.”

One of those treatments included restoring crowns for a woman who had undergone radiation, which ended up destroying many of her teeth. “She told me everyone compliments her new smile,” he says. Patient

stories like hers, and others of financial struggles, serve as a constant reminder to Dr. Katende and his staff how fulfilling it is to care for people’s dental health. “It’s been really rewarding. We’ve had many patients who have had a lot of dental pain but have not been able to get the work done due to finances. We’ve found a way to make treatment more affordable with payment plans. Some have avoided care for years and let their teeth get to a point where the level of pain forced them to finally get the treatment they need. We are eager and pleased to help them get out of that pain.”

To accommodate Jarrell’s explosive growth, Dr. Katende plans to add another hygienist, specialists, and technology such as an intra-oral scanner to replace messy physical impressions and a cone beam CT to take 3D x-rays. “My plan is to be a one-stop shop for dental treatment and have all patient services under one roof. I'm happy to say we are nearly there.”

Dr. Valentini

Dr. Daniels

Dr. Prudoff

KIDS ZONE PUMPKIN PATCH EAST LOCATION

Pumpkins will arrive at the patch the week of October 12th and will be available for purchase from 8am to 6pm each day.

104 Copper Lane

JARRELL COMMUNITY LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER FALL FUNDRAISER

OCTOBER 22ND

Come to The Granary at 11am and enjoy bounce houses, kid games, auction items, a cornhole tournament, and much more. All proceeds will benefit the library.

110 West Avenue L UPWARDS CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 23RD • 1-4PM

Bring the family for Trunk or Treat, bounce house, hayride, games, cake walk, maze, face decorating, prizes, music, concessions, and more.

1460 CR 313

TRUNK OR TREAT MOVIE NIGHT

OCTOBER 29TH AT 5:30 PM

Sponsored by R Bank and Williamson County Constable Precinct 4; Trick or treat before the movie Hotel Transylvania 3 begins at sundown.

Brookshire Brothers Parking Lot

JARRELL HOMECOMING PARADE AND PEP RALLY

OCTOBER 19TH

The parade will begin at 6:30pm at Jarrell Middle School and end at the Home Place subdivision entrance. Check the map to see the parade route.

WILLIAMSON CO. ESD #5 TRUNK OR TREAT

OCTOBER 29TH AT 5PM

Come in your costume for treats, food and drink, kids’ activities, and challenges, take a tour of the new fire station, and meet the firefighters.

212 N 5th Street

MILITARY APPRECIATION DINNER

NOVEMBER 12TH • 5-7PM

All veterans and active-duty military and family are invited to enjoy dinner at Upwards Church. Please scan the code to RSVP by November 9th.

1460 CR 313

Make Your Vote Count

CIVICS

YOUR LOCAL VOTE COUNTS MORE

Next month, Jarrell has an opportunity to go to the polls again. Nationally, when there are no Presidential candidates, voter turnout is low. But, by percentage, resi dents have a lot better chance of making a difference on the city council dais than they do in Washington, DC.

Consider how much the President of the United States affects your life on any given day? The Governor? Sena tors and Representatives? Daily...they really don’t.

But there are also people who fix the potholes, build the stores, determine what your children will learn, and decide how your taxes are going to be spent. Those are the candidates who win and lose local elections, in off-cy cle years, most often by less than 100 votes.

Citizens need to be aware, or remember, that it is the off-cycle, small elections that most directly and frequently affect their families and wallets; i.e., City Councils, School Boards, and Commissioners Courts determine the tax rates paid every year. Being involved and voting locally means finding out about planned projects and programs before they hit social media and it's too late to change the course of action.

Further, the court system in Williamson County affects citizens’ daily lives more than they may realize. While some probably expect they won’t ever be in a courtroom, there are valid reasons to know the differences espe cially during election season since the bench positions in many of our courts are on the ballot.

County Judge / Commissioners Court

Our County Judge isn’t just a throwback to the Old West when one person was sheriff and judge and maybe even the librarian. The County Judge is a Constitutional Judge, so named because he presides over the Commis sioners Court, the governing body of Williamson County. Our four commissioners and County Judge affect our lives every day in the taxes we pay and the quality of the roads we drive, and public safety services we enjoy. This court also helps determine what support and incentives are offered to entities wishing to provide goods and services for and within our county.

This vote is worthy of our study to ensure our taxes are managed and spent in a way that aligns with our own values and priorities.

Judges and Justices

The Impact of Local Elections

by Ann Marie Kennon

Judges and justices are elected positions and candi dates will have law degrees plus at least 10 years’ experi ence as attorneys. Judges preside over cases that may or may not have a jury and they may also be responsible for sentencing.

District and County courts hear criminal, civil, and fam ily law cases and are established based on population. With growth reflected in the 2020 census, Williamson County recently added County Court at Law #5 and the state added the 480th District Court. Newly appointed to the county bench, Judge Will Ward explained the reason district and county judge votes must also be researched. "The judges we elect define the atmosphere of the community. Safe communities have strong judges that protect public safety. Strong economies have diligent judges to settle disputes quickly. Judges may not always be seen, but they are the decision makers keeping each county safe and operating smoothly for its residents."

As well, votes for appellate and state Supreme Court judges are worthy of our time because even if we are not personally appealing a court decision of some kind, the decisions the higher courts make have bearing on things like how state taxes are paid; or a higher court decision about a police action may determine how your next traf fic stop proceeds according to statute.

Justices of the Peace

There are more than 800 JPs in Texas, and their ju risdictions are based on population. They are typically elected positions and when a vacancy occurs off-cycle, the Commissioners Court makes an appointment. JPs do not need a law degree, but they do have jurisdiction in Class C misdemeanor criminal cases, e.g., traffic viola tions and truancy. These courts also have jurisdiction of minor civil matters like evictions or small claims disputes. For many people, this is the only court in which they will ever appear. A justice of the peace may issue search or arrest warrants and may serve as the coroner in counties where there is no provision for a medical examiner.

JPs are worthy of our votes because they help arbitrate our civil needs at the most basic level; i.e., they are the most like us citizens with experience and wisdom, and capable of ensuring our laws and statutes are followed without bias.

City Council

The City Council is the city's governing body and is responsible for making decisions concerning the city's property and sales tax rates, infrastructure, city road maintenance, economic development, community ame nities, public safety, ordinances, permitting, and code enforcement. Ponder this... do you prefer leaders to build for more retail and restaurants or to build more parks? That's a Council action that may actually change when or how often you go out or spend money in Jarrell.

School Board

The Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the school tax rate, making district policies, hiring administration, district safety, budget and funds alloca tion and faculty pay scale, and reviewing district account ability for performance and student achievement. If you are a parent, and your kids go to school here, school board elections have a lot to do with the kinds of courses your kids can take, or the type of preparation and oppor tunities they will have for life beyond the 12th grade. That doesn't just hit close to home, that is home.

WHICH OFFICES ARE ON MY BALLOT?

Many people ask, 'Why are some people on my ballot and not others?' The answer is based on geography and ad valorem taxes. Everyone in 76537 lives in Williamson County and pays property taxes to that entity to provide roads, services, and programs.

Those who live in the Jarrell city limits pay taxes to the city and receive services from that municipal body. Therefore, they have a say in how those taxes are col lected and spent when they vote for City Council and Mayor.

Everyone in the 76537 zip code pays the largest por tion of their property taxes to the Jarrell ISD because all children attend school in this district. As such, all residents are eligible to vote for School Board Trustee positions.

JISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

7-member board;

Elected position with 3-year term;

Candidates are elected to specific "places", based on their residence;

Each place is elected by the residents who live within the boundaries set by the Board of Trustees; JISD plac es include Jarrell, Sonterra, parts of the ETJ, and parts of Georgetown.

JARRELL CITY COUNCIL

5-member council, plus the mayor;

Elected position with 2-year term limits;

Seats are at large;

Elected by residents within the Jarrell city limit.

YOUTH & KIDS

"APPLES TO APPLES"

My Jarrell Monthly asked all candidates the following questions to enable voters to compare their responses in an “apples-to-apples” format regarding issues and platforms. Responses were limited to 300 words total, but candidates could allocate their word count between the questions at their discretion. Answers are printed as submitted.

1. What motivated you to run for office?

Please describe any previous experience serving our community.

If elected, what are your top priorities once in office?

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

JARRELL MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Cozmo Lewis

1. I am running for mayor because I am invested in the future of Jarrell. In this mo ment, our city requires deci sion and action with utmost transparency, and I am con fident in my ability to bring just that. To me, this upcom ing election represents the direction in which we take a solid foundation through un avoidable change. Jarrell is filled with unique advantages to our neighbors, one being the opportunity to craft an identity that can withstand inevitable growth.

2. As a 6-year resident, just 10 miles from where I grew up, I’m proud to call Jarrell home. I currently serve as the city’s Chair of Planning and Zoning Committee and participate wherever possible in community events. Professionally, I lead a team of over 200 daily and bring strong negotiation experience and diverse business management experience to the table. More importantly, I value relationship building and networking people productively. Combining profes sional skills and a passion for people, I know I am fit for the role.

3. If elected, transparency is my greatest priority. Involve ment, input, and intention come with that—both on existing topics and ones that need the attention of city officials. As mayor, I vow to:

Continuously work to improve public safety

Keep taxes as low as possible for residents

Maintain property values

Support quality economic growth

Maintain the unique quality of life that defines our com munity

And most importantly, stay active and open to the needs of our community.

4. I am grateful for consideration, support, and the opportu nity to serve Jarrell. If you would like to get in touch, I invite you to do so through the Facebook page (Cozmo Lewis for Jarrell Mayor) or directly by email (cozmolewis@gmail.com).

Patrick Sherek

1. My family has a long history in Jarrell and I grew up here. I have seen Jarrell grow from a small town to a city in a short span of time. I have seen the successes and failures of the city and I want to help build a city one would want to raise a family in. I know if elected I can help manage growth responsibly without raising taxes on our residents.

2. I graduated from Jarrell High School in 2007 and received a degree from Texas State in Applied Mathematics. For the past eight years I have owned and managed Bill’s Corner, a convenience store in Jarrell that has been in the family since the early ‘60s. Growing up working for my dad taught me hard work, honesty, and caring for people is how you become successful. I have used these lessons throughout my life and as mayor I would use them to guide my decision making when working with city employees, the council, and residents.

3. First, I would work with the council to fix our deteriorating roads and the traffic conditions at main intersections throughout the city. I would work with TX DOT and the county to add turn lanes and even stop lights. Second, I would prioritize more businesses and projects for recreation and family to bring back a sense of unity to this community I feel has been lost. Third, I would seek to enhance police presence around the community for safety and to reduce crime.

4. The most important things in my life are my wife Danielle and son Ezekiel.

JARRELL CITY COUNCIL PLACE 2

Jason Oliver

1. I would like to see our city grow to benefit all residents of the city.

2. I am presently employed as a data analyst at Dell. I gained this position by previously being a manager at a call center, a large company and working global operations and workforce positions. This shows my ability to work with others to collaborate for a common goal and to deliver exceptional customer service. I am involved with listening to the community and actively participate in the Facilities Planning Committee for Jarrell ISD, currently the Vice President of The Homeplace of Jarrell HOA and member of the Jarrell Planning and Zoning Commission.

3. My primary focus for community success would be to concentrate on infrastructure (such as water and sewage) so the community has the capability to attract large businesses that could provide employment and additional tax revenue for the city and help alleviate the tax burden on the homeowners of the city. I would like to also work closely with the Sonterra community as they are not part of the city of Jarrell but are an integral part to the success of the city. With mutual agreements already in place along with negotiating new agreements, it would be beneficial to both communities to work together to achieve success for both communities.

4. I have lived in Jarrell for 13 years coming to understand the community needs. My wife continues to teach with Jarrell ISD for 13 years and my 2 children are attending and have always attended school here.

Jeff Seidel

1. I’m asking kindly for your vote to remain on City Coun cil, serving the residents of our community and ensuring your voice is represented.

2. Over 30 years experience in upper-level management for Fortune 500 Companies and also in Government, working for the State of Tex as Comptroller’s Office man aging Computer Systems/Data Communications. Owner of Americo Computing, which services computer systems, web hosting, and networking in the greater Austin Area. Founder and Pastor of One Accord Ministries, a community outreach: teaching, training, and public speaking.

3. First Term:

Created a planning and zoning Committee to aid in trans parency, allowing for more resident oversight and input.

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Hired seven police officers under the direction of Chief Kevin Denny.

Extended city boundaries north, south, east, west adding water lines and infrastructure to service business/retail growth as well as Housing.

Approved plans for Dairy Queen, The Granary, Wendy’s with Starbucks and Foodies coming soon.

Lowered speed limit on city owned section of 487 to 45mph.

Working on 487 school zone signage at the high School.

 Approved School Resource Officers at the high school and middle school.

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Placed 4-way stop sign at Western Sky/Magan Lane inter section.

Added cross traffic signage at Home Place intersection increasing safety.

Initiated a study on roads to reconstruct in Old Town especially 5th Street.

Re-instituted the invocation at city council meetings.

Working to create a ministerial alliance to serve Jarrell.

Participated in the creation and approval of the 2022 and the 2023 city budgets.

Working on city staffing to better serve growth.

4. Major projects include: new water/wastewater facilities, Stonebridge, Calumet, Rancho Del Cielo developments and much more. Vote Jeff Seidel as we continue to shape our future together. “Thanks again, Jarrell where all the men are good looking, the women are strong, and the kids are above average!” JeffSeidelCityCouncil.weebly.com • Facebook.com/Hueareheres

JARRELL CITY COUNCIL PLACE 5

Daniel Islas

business

Kwon

4. If you have questions or concerns, I can be reached at my place of business, before/after class, or by phone.

Thomas Hertel

Thomas Hertel did not respond.

JARRELL ISD SCHOOL BOARD PLACE 5

Humberto Carbajal

1. I chose to run for school board because I see a clear need for a change in our schools. Public education is a great passion of mine and I know I can provide fresh and informed decisions to help our kids succeed. My desire is to have the best school environment for not only my children, but all those in the community.

2. For the last ten years I have seen the ins and outs of the Jarrell school district. Throughout this time, I have gained a strong understanding of what can make a district effective in teaching our kids. As I worked in the schools, I saw the best and worst of education and I plan to use that to help make the right decisions for our community. I live here and my two elementary age children go to school here. I truly believe that better schools can create a better community and know that’s what we deserve.

3. If elected, I would love to address our school ratings head on. Re-evaluating the resources our teachers and students have to make the best of the time in our schools should be a top priority. Just as important, I believe it’s in our best interest to see how to best protect our schools. Finally, everything comes down to accountability. Everyone has a job to do. How we decide to hold our students, teachers, and administrators accountable to some concrete standards needs to be discussed.

4. In all, I’m excited for the opportunity and hope to be a part of a team that can make a real difference.

Tamara Dozier

1. To advocate for students, parents and staff and make a difference to benefit them. Choosing to run for re-election; there are over 3,000 reasons that helped me make that decision.

2. Having four kids grad uate from JISD and being

in the district about 20 years I have seen changes, having good and bad experiences. Being a mom and volunteering through the years I have gained much experience. Being a board member for the last three years, I have had much training and gained knowledge. With close to 500 hours of board meetings and 100+ training hours that are required, I have learned much about what the school board does and what we can do to improve the district. Being a board member requires much dedication and I am dedicated to the Jarrell ISD Family.

3. My goal is children, parents, and staff will always be heard and appreciated and know their best interest at heart. There are so many things that are important, and I work to make sure we accomplish things that are positive for the JISD Family.

4. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had these last 3 years. The many hours of board meetings and continuing education opened my eyes to endless possibilities kids can have to better their school years. My heart is that every child understands they are loved, and I want them set up for success when they graduate and move to the next phase in their lives. That the staff know I support them and appreci ate their long hours. Most importantly, that parents know I am dedicated to every child. It takes hard work to grow in a positive direction and that's what makes this experience so rewarding. I appreciate your support on November 8th.

JARRELL ISD SCHOOL BOARD PLACE 7

Sherry Roark

1. As a parent of a JISD student, I feel the commu nication between parents and our school system is lacking. Staff retention is causing difficulties for our teachers and our transpor tation department. I will visit our schools to talk with staff, find out their concerns, and help create solutions. It is

time for a change, which means getting new voices on our board. As a community, we need to hear ourselves being represented which is what I want to do. I want Jarrell to be the place everyone calls home and is proud their child goes to school here.

2. As a parent who has always been involved with my chil dren’s school success and has a child attending JISD, I feel like I can bring the knowledge from prior school districts we have attended. My background is in child development where I have worked with schools, worked as a parent/child advocate, with CASA, and currently work for the Early Child hood Intervention Program.

3. If elected, what thing/s will you prioritize? (Platform, big issues, solutions offered)

Campus safety

Bullying

Retention, pay, time management, classroom expenses, transportation

Transparency between our community, teachers, schools, and the JISD School Board

Advocate for our parents, children, teachers, and faculty

4. If you know me, you know I am never one to sugarcoat anything and I never do a job halfway. My plan is to visit the schools, listen to concerns and get solutions to build the best school district we can be. I’m not running for the school board with the goal of achieving a political agenda. My goal is to listen, research, and use my experience as a leader, a community member, and a parent to govern in a way that will unite and support students, faculty, and the residents of Jarrell. My focus will be on decisions that have a positive impact on students, staff, and facilities while representing the community.

Ginger Martinez

1. I am running for school board to be an integral part of the decision-making process, and make positive changes for our district. I want to see Jarrell ISD make growth and positive gains toward being the best dis trict in the area, as well as be a recognized voice for our staff and students who are normally not heard.

2. I feel I am a well-qualified candidate for the school board position due to having seen the effect of school board and administration decisions first-hand, not only on school staff members and gen. ed. students, but also on the special population groups of students. Having been involved on many boards for the youth leagues and a school bus driver for seven years, I have expert relationship development skills.

3. I hope to bring a fresh and diverse perspective to the issues that our district currently faces. The safety of our students and staff is always a top priority. For example: transportation, school resource officers, staff training, and better student-teacher ratios. The inclusion of our special population students must be more consistent throughout the district, and more inclusive of our general education students. I have witnessed the impact of the relationships between these students when they are given opportunities to interact with each other on a regular basis. It is phenom enal! Staff retention is an issue within our district that needs to be addressed as well. We need to listen to our district’s staff to see what their needs are, and get those needs met. We have some amazing staff members who give their all to the district, who often feel their struggles are ignored or downplayed. We need to strive to support our staff so they can continue to serve our students.

Rebecca Kirby

1. Three years I ago, I ran for the school board due to the passion I have for quality education. When we moved our family to Jarrell over 15 years ago, we watched the commu nity deal with complex challenges that had arisen because of the rapid growth. Knowing that change can be hard on everyone involved, I wanted to be able to help make the growth and changes, be a positive experience for everyone. I never wanted anyone to feel unwelcome in the community. I wanted to help facilitate the growth, while keeping those small-town values and traditions we had grown to love.

2. I have always been involved with the community by serv ing as a member of the PTO and being a classroom mother when presented with the opportunity. I also contributed through Girl Scouts and the local sports teams but felt like I could contribute more at a higher level. I realized that me being a parent with a sincere dedication to the community made me qualified. Now I have had three years of serving the community as well as having two kids graduate with two still in school. I have received 120 hours training along with being nominated by the board to be involved in legislative procedures.

3. My priority has been making Jarrell home. That means I want our kids to love growing up here! I want our teachers and staff to be proud of our district! I want us to provide the most equitable opportunities to those in our district young and old.

4. I’d encourage the community to get to know the mem bers of the board. We are all very transparent about our level of commitment to the community. We are parents that also have kids in the schools that we care about.

“Best Friday Afternoon Ever”

~Judge Bill Gravell, Jr.

Bluebonnet Trails at Samsung's $1 Million Anniversary

On August 19, Samsung Austin Semiconduc tor presented four checks totaling $1 million to tax-exempt organizations that separately provide food, youth programs, education, and community services in Taylor and across Williamson County. The ceremony was a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the city and Williamson County approving incentives to bring Samsung’s first $17 billion advanced semicon ductor fabrication site to the area, and an indisputable demonstration of their commitment to being a good neighbor.

Congressman Michael McCaul, who wrote the CHIPS for America Act, was present and said, “Samsung has been an amazing partner for Texas. Not only are they investing in our community and creating thousands of good paying jobs that will help boost local economies, they are also giving back to the community. I applaud Samsung for their generous donations to Bluebonnet

Trails, The Boys & Girls Club of East Williamson County, Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry & Community Ministries, and Taylor Independent School District. I am grateful for their partnership and continued leadership.”

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Bluebonnet Trails received $250,000 in support of their mission to provide wraparound care for individ uals from birth and through their lifetime. The agency serves all of Williamson County and manages the family health center at Jarrell ISD. Executive Director Andrea Richardson explained their mission includes early childhood intervention, crisis respite and ther apy, mental health treatment, and support for young people who are preparing to transition to adulthood. "We help people get connected with resources that may or may not be our own and we welcome anyone in crisis regardless of where they live. We serve people with many types of needs not just mental health but

also developmental disabilities and substance abuse. Or even just a simple phone call that gives a parent information to help her child and we start them on a path for a lifetime of success."

JARRELL SUPPORT

In Jarrell, through generous grant support from St. David’s Foundation and the Health Resources and Ser vices Administration (HRSA), Bluebonnet Trails Com munity Services partnered with Texas A&M School of Nursing and the ISD to open the Family Health Clinic at Jarrell ISD in November 2021. This school-based clinic serves the Jarrell community, connecting individuals of all ages with an array of integrated services. Available services and referrals include medical and behavioral health care such as medical examinations for illnesses and infections, immunizations, sports physicals, psychi atric evaluations, medication reviews, substance use disorder screening and treatment, crisis stabilization, counseling, and care coordination.

Reflecting on nearly a year of services, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services is grateful for the timely support of the Jarrell community and their innovative partners. Given the many community stressors COVID-19, inflation, workforce shortages, and oth ers that have contributed to increased mental health crises and delayed medical care, their ability to provide conveniently located and affordable care has connect ed children, adults, and families with the support they need to thrive.

A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

Recognizing that many are experiencing challeng es and struggles today, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, Jr. (right) asked the company to consider making a one-time $1 million donation to non-prof its in Taylor. He recalled, “I got a call at 1am their chief of staff had run it up the chain and said it would take a few days to do things lawfully, but ultimately they approved the ask. We've negotiated hard with this company for what's best for our residents and we've also asked them to do a few things and they are investing in Williamson County. I asked them for help after the recent tornado and they immediately made a $10,000 donation."

Judge Gravell was thrilled to be a part of the event. Knowing the amount of the gifts ahead of time, he described his anticipation as the recipients waited for the ceremony to begin. The judge asked the food pantry representative about the largest gift the agency had ever received. She said it was $8,000 then added, "While I have your attention, what kind of help can the county give us too?" Judge Gravell recalled, "I had a hard time not telling her what was coming, and, as it happened, there were tears.” He, too, added high praise for Samsung for choosing to help kids and provide food and mental health support for the community.

While the $250,000 checks were a one-time gift, they were also merely a kickstart to the tech giant’s corporate largesse. In their original agreement with the city of Taylor, Samsung agreed to provide a $300,000 charitable investment annually for the next 30 years. Those gifts will also be directed to tax-exempt organizations that have a civic and community development impact in Taylor.

by Ann Marie Kennon

B OOKS, T ECHNOLOGY, N EIGHBORHOOD HUB

The Jarrell Community Library is Helping Build a Healthy Community

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy of the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center

For parents and seniors craving connection, teen agers looking for a place to hang out, patrons in need of technology assistance, and the mom who just needs a minute, the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center (JCLRC) is both an outreach hub and commu nity anchor. “I think Jarrell’s a great place to live, but there’s not a lot of community gathering places. This is kind of it,” says Mary Johnson, the library’s mental health peer support specialist. “We see a lot of people who want to feel a sense of community. That’s what you get here at the library.”

THE VISION

Library Director Susan Gregurek adds, “Whether you need workforce help, assistance navigating technolo gy, a safe place, a break from the monotony of being at home, or just a laugh—we’re here to help you and meet your needs, whatever they might be.”

An annual, three-year $18,000 grant from St. David’s Foundation will help amplify that mission via Libraries for Health, a pilot program designed to bolster mental wellness in Central Texas communities. The JCLRC is one of six libraries that received the grant and is working on addressing mental health needs staff have observed in the area, with Mary at the helm.

Mary’s journey at the library began when she was in search of connection for herself and her kids in the waning months of the pandemic. She found it at the JCLRC and now helps others do the same as a mental health peer support specialist. Mary has been trained to use her own experiences with mental health and/or struggles with addiction to support others in finding their own path to wellness and recovery. “I’m here not as a counselor to fix anyone’s problems. I’m a listening ear, someone who can empathize and understand because I’ve been there.”

Funds are restricted to the support specialist position but the grant is flexible enough to allow Mary and Susan to brainstorm various programs appropriate for the needs of the library’s patrons. They are particularly engaged with active and former military and their families, domestic abuse victims, parents, and senior citizens. Recently, the ladies purchased books and resource materials on parenting, navigating Medicare, and overcoming financial insecurity. Upcoming mental health programs include a book club with fiction and nonfiction reads, grief and anx iety support, a group for parents of children with special needs, a veterans connection group, and many others.

BE A PART OF IT

Residents are encouraged to reach out to the library with suggestions for programs, classes, or guest speakers. There will also be a community survey available on the library’s social media platforms. Mary invites everyone to participate, especially to share ideas about mental health support in the community, or groups that will enable patrons to connect and bond. “We want to make it all happen,” she says.

Mary can be reached at 512-843-2455 or librariesforhealthmary@gmail.com. To learn about upcoming programs and events, check out the library’s Facebook page or calendar at jarrellcommunitylibrary.org.

Six libraries in Central Texas have received funding from St. David’s Foundation for mental health programs: Jarrell, Georgetown, Austin, Buda, Martindale, and San Marcos. The Libraries for Health initiative is a partnership between St. David’s, an Austin-based charity that works to improve the wellbeing of underserved Central Texas neighborhoods, and RAND Corporation, a research organization that is tracking data for the pilot program. Via Hope, a behavioral health nonprofit group, is also training peer support specialists at the libraries.

Your Health Insurance

Tips and options for end-of-year planning

contributed by Taylor Rogers

Many companies change health plans at the end of the year

ASK

It is critical for those with existing needs to understand the nature of these changes and how their care will be impacted moving forward. There is a laundry list of acronyms in the health insurance world, and selecting the 'wrong' plan for your circumstance can either cost or save you thousands of dollars. Always factor the premium contributions, expected medical expenses, and financial ability to cover unexpect ed expenses into your health plan selection.

What should people consider when updating or choosing a new plan?

Members need to consider their existing and potential medical needs in relation to their household budget. It is not always as simple as “I have an expensive condition, I need the richest health plan,” as you must also consider the premium contributions that are coming out of your paycheck.

For example, someone with type 2 diabetes may feel they should select a $1,000 deductible plan with low pharmacy copays, due to their known drug and physician expenses. However, if that plan is $4,000 more per year in premium contributions, perhaps a $5,000 HSA-qualified plan with 100 percent coinsurance is a better option, knowing you will also be able to pay for your health expenses with taxfree dollars.

What about using your HSA; does it roll over to the next year?

An HSA is a great tool for individ uals or families who feel confident in their ability to manage expected or unexpected medical expenses. HSAs must be accompanied by a qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP), which requires the member to be responsible for all medical expenses up to a his or her deductible.

HSAs allow members to put away and use funds tax-free for approved medical expenses. The money is retained by the individual in per petuity. It is important to note the median household in America has approximately $5,000 in combined checking and savings assets, which could be consumed by a single health encounter. For those indi viduals, it may be advantageous to select a non-HSA qualified plan with reasonable physician and prescrip tion copays, even if the patient responsibility for hospitalization or emergency is considerably higher. These individuals can often take ad vantage of charity care options and payment plans to assist with out-ofpocket responsibility for unforeseen expenses.

What can people do before their deductible starts over?

I recommend refilling prescrip tions, and checking your deductible accumulation to see if scheduling any important but non-urgent care makes sense. If you’ve accumulat ed very little to your deductible, it could make sense to schedule for

the beginning of the year. If you are near your deductible or outof-pocket maximum, it could make sense to schedule before the end of the year. Make sure you schedule as soon as possible, as physicians’ offices tend to fill their schedules for the end of the calendar year. What about getting services after meeting your deductible?

Once members hit the deduct ible, they often have a responsibility called 'co-insurance.' This is a per centage of the total claim members are responsible for until they meet their out-of-pocket maximum, and it typically ranges from 10 to 30 per cent of the total allowed charges. Any tips for those with non-traditional health plans?

I encourage members to always ask: 1) What does this service cost?

2) What are the possible outcomes if I choose not to proceed? 3) Are there any alternative treatment options?

There is a great myth that if “insur ance covers it,” we do not pay for it. The cost of unnecessary and costly treatment is felt through increased premiums and increased deduct ibles and patient responsibility for years to come.

For individuals in non-traditional arrangements like health sharing plans, there is a unique “unsharable amount” (effectively a deductible) for each specific encounter. In these arrangements, it is essential for an individual to understand the cost and value of a service to ensure that it is of sufficient value to proceed.

PASTOR ANTHONY VANNOY

WE C N'T W IT TO SEE YOU

Upwards Church is all about loving God, loving people, and sharing Jesus. Its members believe a church is not just a building to visit on Sundays, but a center of a community that meets and supports each other throughout the week. This is important for all ages, particularly parents with children at home, because a good support system can make a world of difference. Campus Pastor Lewis Alexander and his wife Lacy love leading the church, connecting with people, and reaching out to the community with a dedicated team of volunteers. See their ad on page 15 for more program details and schedules.

Youth Group • 6th-12th Grade

Dani Sybert, the head youth minister, is grateful for the many opportunities she is provided to get to know her students as they grow. “I love being able to connect with this new generation and understand where they’re coming from,” Dani says.

She and her volunteers meet with the kids weekly for dinner, games, worship and fun. On top of that, Dani insists on attending the kids' sports and school, events, and organizing get-togethers at least once a month.

MINISTERIO ESPAÑOL

Upwards Church has a rapidly growing Spanish ministry led by Pastor Michael Arce and his wife Yvonne. The Spanish service is at 11:30 on Sundays. Michael and Yvonne host VIERNES DE CONEXION (CONNECTION FRIDAY) with potluck every other week from 6:30-8:30pm.

Upwards Church tiene un ministerio español de rápido crecimiento dirigido por el pastor Michael Arce y su esposa Yvonne. ¡El servicio en español es a las 11:30 los domingos! Michael e Yvonne organizan VI ERNES DE CONEXION con potluck cada dos semanas de 6:30 a 8:30pm.

She says, “Being in their lives outside this build ing is a privilege.” Youth are encouraged to serve on Sundays and they do a great job of setting a positive example for the younger generation.

Kid Ministry

Newborn–5th grade

Upwards Kid Ministry is driven by Proverbs

22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (NIV) KidMin offers activities and events for the younger ages. Directors Cheryl Raeke and Caitlin Hamaker love teaching children about Jesus and feel there is nothing more satisfying than making a difference in a child’s faith journey.

Kids 4 Christ is a program for 1st-5th graders 6-8pm on the first Wednesday of the month. It is an opportunity for kids to gather for dinner, games, devotional, wor ship, and a variety of fun activities. It is also a fun time for volunteers to make new friends and visit.

Community Outreach

Members at Upwards Church are proud and happy to be known for fostering a warm, family-friendly environ ment. Whether gathering on Sunday or engaging in outward facing ministries throughout the week, it is no wonder that the church is adding new members and families every week. Pastor Lewis invites you to join them this Sunday or check out their other hosted events to see if this church family is right for you.

“Between the children and youth ministries, outreach programs, and a brand-new preschool led by youth minister Dani, there is something going on in this building every day of the week.” ~Pastor Lewis

Public and higher education has been the focus of Colonel Terry M. Wilson’s three terms as state rep resentative for District 20 in the Texas House since he was elected in 2017. We sat down with COL Wilson to discuss his work in the Legislature and his priorities for education funding.

MJ: In the 2021 Legislative Session you served on the House Appropriations Committee as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Article III. What did that entail?

CW: The Appropriations Committee writes the House's first draft of the state Budget, which is divided into arti cles that cover a different section of state government. Article III covers public education and higher education. Our subcommittee drafted the education budget for the state for 2022 and 2023, which represents more than one third of the state budget.

MJ: Was there one specific area of interest for you?

CW: Yes, vocational education. So much about pub lic education has evolved into getting kids ready for college, but college is not the only path to a bright future. The Texas Constitution makes it clear that it is the responsibility of the state government to provide an education sufficient for every Texan to continue to higher education or enter the workforce directly, and we haven’t done a great job fulfilling the workforce promise.

College is a great path, but it should not be the only one open for Texas students. Quality education requires feeding a child’s passion for learning some have a passion for trade skills and love for hands-on work. We should be encouraging those students, giving them a launchpad to build the future of our nation.

MJ: What originally sparked your interest in vocational education?

Making Vocational Education Happen

TX Representative Terry Wilson

CW: As an Army acquisition executive, I was chartered by Congress to turn completed research and develop ment efforts into real physical products to be manufac tured for the defense department. I was responsible for awarding contracts and then, on behalf of the govern ment, with my engineers, scientists, and production specialists, managing the companies that were actually producing the products.

We sent requests for proposals that stated we want this package of products built. Companies like Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Lockheed Mar tin, etc. made bids and went through source selection. I never found a company who could build anything by itself each always had to have foreign partners.

Why? Because there wasn’t enough domestic production capacity, and we didn’t have the required skilled workers to manufacture these products at scale. That’s why they brought foreign partners to the table, which is how we lose our intellectual property and com promise national security. You can’t keep major innova tions in military technology if you send them overseas to be built, where they can be copied, reproduced, and sold to others. Vocational education is the key to build ing up the skilled workforce our country so desperately needs.

MJ: What do you think has held vocational education back in Texas?

CW: Funding, faculty, and flexibility. First, putting together a vocational training program is expensive. If a school wants to put in a plumbing or automotive shop option, the tools, space, and necessary safety equipment require a substantial investment. A smaller rural school is not going to be able to put that together easily.

PHOTO

Second, finding quali ty instructors is not easy, especially in areas where the skill set is in high demand. When experts can make twice as much money in the job market over teaching their skill set in a public school, it can be hard to find people able and willing to teach the necessary courses. State teaching certification standards are also a barrier that must be addressed.

Finally, flexibility. In the last few years, the Texas Education Agency, Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board have come together as a tri-agency commission to identify where the greatest needs are in the Texas workforce, what skills are in the highest demand and in shortest supply.

These can shift quickly, so if a school wants vocational training relevant to the demands of the job market, it needs to be able to put new programs together quickly, which isn’t always easy, given the financial and faculty challenges.

MJ: What steps did you take in the 87th Legislature to help schools overcome these hurdles?

CW: To help fund startup costs, we put $180 million into the Pathways in Technology Early College High School, also known as P-TECH, a program in which schools work with community colleges, technical colleges, and in dustry to share resources and develop long-term paths for students to graduate with an associate degree or a trade certification.

We adjusted per-student funding formulas to reward schools focusing on vocational skills that provide grad uates with in-demand jobs. The more demand there is for a particular skill set in the Texas workforce, the higher the tier or funding the school receives for that student.

We also adjusted formulas so schools receive more money for student longevity in a particular track. For ex ample, a student who began a 7th grade survey class of trade skills, found a track that sparked his interest, and continued that track until graduating with a certification would earn far more program funding than a student who started in 10th grade. Incentivizing schools to get kids started well before high school increases their chances of graduating with a job.

MJ: What results have we seen from those investments so far?

CW: Before this last session, hundreds of schools applied for the P-TECH program each year, but we only had funding for 81. As of the 2022-23 school year, 235 schools have been approved and gone through the pro cess of adding new and relevant vocational education options, with many, many more still to come.

We want every cent put toward vocational education to lead to a well-paying job so the opportunities for students are based on what our economy needs and not limited to what their school could afford to offer on their own.

Finally, we are not going to waste taxpayer dollars on Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that don’t put kids on a pathway to a well-paying job right out of school, filling the gaps in our technical workforce that Texas so desperately needs.

Mental Health Benefits of Adopting

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

From exercise companion to stress reliever to social connector, pets play many roles in benefiting one’s mental wellbeing. “Dogs and cats help us to reduce stress and anxiety, help bring people out of depression, and they encourage people to get up and exercise, which can lead to lower blood pressure,” says April Peiffer, community programs coordinator at the Wil liamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

Research shows that simply petting a furry friend or even watching fish swim in an aquarium can lower stress levels. Further, if you find your social skills rusty after the pandemic, or just experience social anxiety in general, adopting a pet can enhance social connec tions and they are great conversation starters. Joining a pet club, attending pet shows, and visiting pet-friendly restaurants, events, beaches, and parks can all increase your social network, according to health information provider Health Direct. “You could make new friends just by taking your dog for a walk or waiting at the vet, due to the shared interest in your pets. If you have a fear of social situations, or social phobia, a pet can help by enabling you to slowly introduce yourself to other people who also have pets and enhance your mental health.”

Seniors, in particular, need look no further than a furry friend when it comes to a walking buddy or a sim ple need for companionship. “A long walk with a dog through a lovely park is good for the mind, body, and spirit, and a purring or tail-wagging companion lying next to you on the couch while watching television is the perfect answer to anyone who may be experiencing loneliness,” April says. The shelter’s Seniors for Seniors program is designed to match senior pets with senior citizens, and all pets age 6 and up are free to adopt to a citizen age 65 and older.

“Pet ownership is rewarding in so many ways, but its effect on our mental wellbeing might be the biggest contribution to us as a family member,” April says. “Pets are a source of joy, comfort, laughter, and just plain happiness, and they encourage us to get up and move, all of which leads to a healthier mind. Adopt a pet from Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and see for yourself!”

WHAT MAKES TEXAS

“TEXAS”?

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Each year, high school and college alumni “come home,” greet long-lost friends and beloved teachers as they join students in the fall celebration of school spirit with pep rallies, parades, football games, dances, tailgates, and mums.

While it is unknown which school hosted the first homecoming celebration, gather ings began taking place in the early 1900s at colleges like Southwestern, Baylor, Michi gan, Indiana, and Missouri. “It was beyond any doubt the greatest day known in the history of any educational institution in the State,” said Southwestern’s newspaper, The Megaphone, after the inaugural event in 1909 (facing page). The event was inspired by a former Southwestern employee, Allen K. Ragsdale, who suggested that former stu dents and professors be invited back to the university on San Jacinto Day. It turned into a community initiative, with Georgetown residents and former students raising funds, providing homes, decorating town build ings, and preparing and serving a barbecue picnic at San Gabriel Park, where senior classmates waited tables.

The Megaphone described it as an event that “grew out of the love borne for it by stu dents of the last 35 years who wished once more to visit their alma mater and grasp the hands of those beloved professors who labored for their interests and to greet other students, roommates, classmates and chums of the bygone days of youth.”

TEXAS MUMS

Homecoming soon grew from an alum ni reunion into a full week of school spirit festivities, from parades, football games, pep rallies, dances, and homecoming king and queen. In recent years, it has evolved to include a most extravagant, Texas-sized tradition mums.

Originally a small chrysanthemum corsage given as a token of affection to a girl by her date to wear on the day of the homecoming football game, mums have been trans formed into massive floral creations covered with ribbons, bells, glitter, lights, football trinkets, and stuffed animals. Fresh flower adornments were later replaced with artifi cial mums for girls who wanted to preserve the homecoming memory. Guys also get

into the fun by wearing garters on their arms with smaller, less elaborate versions of the mum.

While the origin of the mum is debated some say the first ones were worn in Missouri while others claim the tradition was born in Texas around the 1930s the homecom ing staple exploded in the Lone Star State. Today, these mega mums have grown so large that instead of being pinned they are usually worn around a girl’s neck and can hang down to her feet.

Whether you decide to go with a professional mum maker or visit a craft store and make your own, an average homecoming mum can cost hundreds of dollars.

SPIRIT OVERALLS

Another tradition unique to Texas is Senior Over alls. While no one knows for sure where or when it took root, this spirit apparel has been a staple of football season since at least the early 2000s and many schools claim a bit of fame for the scale and variety of their designs, including sewn fabric, ironed-on pictures and a total cost that is often in the triple-digits.

As much as showing spirit, the overall tradition is about spending time with friends to collaborate, share, and decorate the fabric, as well as a feeling of being connected via a quintessential senior expe rience. Another important priority in the making of senior overalls is to emphasize uniqueness. Most write on the bib portion of the overall, but other decorations vary. Common design features include grade level, class year, and the school mascot.

Most seniors agree the best thing to do is start with inexpensive overalls and enjoy the process rather than worrying about making them perfect. One member of the class of 2017 wrote, “Don’t care too much about how it looks. Even if you mess up, no one really notices. Mine were really bad, but I did that on purpose. I messed up, and then I thought ‘Oh, I liked that I messed up,’ so I messed up every where, on purpose."

Southwestern University Homecoming 1909

Above: Cougar Pride: Joshua & Destiny show off their homecoming bling (2021).

Below: Jarrell Spirit Overalls

IMAGE CREDIT:

Where are all the Teleporters?

Iknow I’m getting old but I am still going to brag about the fact that my generation will always be the one that happily sandwiched the Age of Information. We understand and enjoy technology so much because we remember what it was like when we didn’t have it. I stole this 1953 snippet from Facebook. It is amusing because I grew up in a house with a phone that was attached to the kitchen wall by a curly cord that only reached to the sink so there was no such thing as talking without parents listening, or even answering before you knew who it was. Lo and behold, Mr. Sullivan was probably considered a nut back then but he was clairvoyant after all. Maybe he was a time traveler and he just hasn't shared that technology with us yet.

I also watched the Jetsons, Star Trek, and Star Wars and they all had iPads. People laugh about how we thought we’d have flying cars by the year 2000 but we do have hoverboards and self-tying shoes like Marty McFly. People likely thought Gene Roddenberry was a nut but we do have armaments that are 'set to stun' and the military even has a directed-energy weapon that sends a pulse of electromagnetic radiation to stop someone cold in their tracks. Cool.

We don’t have warp speed but we do have Elon Musk and Erik Lentz who are working on negative mass and the math that will bend space-time and bring the stars to us. To answer your next question, I have no idea how so I am grateful to the DegrasseTysons of the world who will make a PowerPoint for me when the time comes.

We don’t have tractor beams but MIT did invent laser beam 'tweezers' that can hold and move microscopic objects. And the list goes on.

Meanwhile, and totally digressing, I'm watching hummingbirds on my back porch and marveling at how much better our Creator is at technology anyway. The size and energy it takes to make human aircraft hover and fly backwards (a.k.a. helicopters) is cosmically silly compared to the simplicity of this little feathered guy who weighs as much as a penny and lives on sugar. Yes, I know we have drones now but I'd rather have a Blackhawk in a fight and sci ence still doesn't know how hum mers change direction so quickly during aerial 'dogfights'. Okay, maybe that's a wash... or a tie.

In any case, we have figured out how to teleport, but only at the quantum level. Information from this photon is transferred to that photon without either of them actually moving. My question then is whether there has to be a copy of me already on the other side of the transporter to paste all the in formation from my 15 trillion cells? Even so, the original is destroyed in the process, so would I know I was a copy of myself? Can we style my photon copy to have less gray hair and abs?

I know there are already re al-world applications. Quantum banking is in the works and the servers-in-space will be impossible to hack so no one can steal my mon ey. Unhackable?... are you listening, every election board in America?

Still, I hope banks don't do away with dollars and cents all together. I'd miss dumping a coffee can of coins on the porch and counting them while I watch birds and clouds. Heck even Captain Kirk would enjoy that. By the way, he's due to be born in Iowa in just 206 years so let's be sure to save some sentimental things for him too.

Texas

who

people

a trusted advisor

It

through

the Ground Up Lara’s stellar service is grounded in experience

means

from years and years working in the home building industry, which has provided a deep understanding of land, construction, marketing, and nancing. She has an amazing knowledge of the communities, neighborhoods, and property values. Ask her clients and they describe a professional who is thorough, an excellent communicator, and someone who cares deeply about helping others.

WE ARE HIRING

rows of fruits

acres in Temple, the Robinson Family Farm

different kind of crop—family gatherings, first dates,

anniversary

don’t grow a whole lot of stuff, but we do want to grow

Helen Robin son says.

by Charlotte Kovalchuk photos by Robinson Family Farm

that really opened our eyes to what we could bring. That night, I went home and said, ‘It sounds crazy, but I can see where it’s doable.’ ”

Their vision came to fruition the following year with the opening of the Robinson Family Farm for a fall festival, Christmas tree sale, and Easter egg hunt. With five boys of their own, aged 4 to 16, the Robinsons' mission was to create a unique farm experience each of them would enjoy. “It was important for us to make sure this was something the whole family could enjoy,” Helen says. “I wanted this to be a place for people to come for first dates, family gatherings, anniversaries, or any occasion. It’s been very special for Brian and me, and humbling when you see birth announcements and proposals and baby’s first pumpkin patch. I consider it a special honor that we hosted three families that took photos, and we were the last place they visited together before someone in their photo passed away.”

WHEN YOU GO

From a pumpkin patch, hay rides, axe throwing, and archery to live music and food trucks, visitors can enjoy a wide array of activities at the fall festival, which runs through October 30. What makes the Robinson Family Farm unique, Helen says, is that unlike other farm fes tivals, all activities except pumpkins, food, and drinks

are included in the ticket price. “You’re not paying extra for axe throwing or corn cannons or $5 a bucket for apples. Even axe throwing, you could pay well over our ticket price to throw axes for an hour at other venues.”

Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the online discount tickets are $15.95 online and $19.95 at the gate. When it comes to a typical trip, Helen says, “Most people, if they can stand the heat, stay anywhere from two to four hours.”

This year, festival-goers can look forward to new offerings like a zip line, chainsaw wood carver, pump kin carver, Skee-Ball, pig races, and the Tangled Creek Wine and Biergarten. The biggest change is their new location in Temple. Helen says the decision to move was driven by the festival’s growth; “At times, we had people backed up for miles with an hour wait. That’s not the experience we want for our customers.”

And while festival crowds may be overwhelming for newcomers, the Robinsons hope guests will recognize that the Robinson Family Farm is still a small business happily rooted in the Temple community.

We are still Brian and Helen Robinson. We’re still local. We’re not a big company we're a thriving small business trying to support and enjoy our community and give them something to enjoy."

KILLER HALLOWEEN RECIPES

With so many creepy ways to re-imagine everyday ingredients, some of our traditional and favorite foods are just more fun to make at Halloween.

EYEBALL TACOS

cream

tomatoes,

lettuce,

large

DIRECTIONS

Mix meat and seasoning mix. Shape half of the mixture into 24 one-inch balls.

Place in 15×10×1-inch baking pan and bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Brown remaining seasoned ground beef and add salsa.

Fill each taco shell with a thin layer of ground beef, sour cream, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Position 2 meatballs inside the taco shell and add a dollop of sour cream to each. Garnish with olives to make “eyeballs.” Spread the cheese out along to the top for stringy hair.

HALLOWEEN DEVILED EGGS

• 6 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and sliced in half

• ¼ c. mayonnaise

• 1½ tsp. sweet pickle relish

• 1½ tsp. yellow mustard

• ¼ tsp. garlic powder

• Pinch of salt

• 1 - 6 oz. can of whole pitted black olives

INSTRUCTIONS

Separate egg yolks from whites in a medium bowl. Mash the egg yolks, mayonnaise, relish, mus tard, garlic and salt.

Scoop even amounts of filling into each egg half. For a cleaner look, use a piping bag to pipe dollops of filling into each egg.

Cut black olives in half for the spider body. Place on egg yolk mixture, then slice half olives longwise for 4 legs and arrange around olive halves to form a spider.

RED VELVET HOT CHOCOLATE

This recipe is for one cup; multiply for your desired number of servings.

• 2 tbsp cream cheese (regular or low fat is fine)

• 1 cup milk

• 1 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)

• 1.5 oz dark chocolate chopped

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ tbsp granulated sugar

• pinch salt

• red gel food coloring

Stir together the cornflour and a drop of milk to form a slurry. Place cream cheese in a saucepan and whisk in cornflour slur ry until smooth. Gradually whisk remainder of milk. Add chocolate, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt to the pan and place over a medium heat. Cook, stirring regularly, until choc olate has melted and mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in red gel food coloring for desired shade.

Role Models for Us All

by Camy Reynolds • photos courtesy Lara Hutchinson

Excitement is always in the air on Friday mornings as the elementary students eagerly wait for a high school football player to open their car doors as they are dropped off. This tradition has become exceptionally popular with Jarrell's elementary stu dents during football season. Principal Lara Hutchinson of Jarrell Elementary said, “Our students can’t wait to see the JHS football players on Friday mornings.  It's like having celebrities on cam pus! We love seeing the interaction between our littlest Cougars and their role models. The high fives and smiles are priceless.”

The football players say Friday mornings are their own high lights of the week as well. High school football player Jayson Price recalls a time he put his hand down for a little boy passing by to high five it but, instead, the youngster held his hand while they walked together all the way to his classroom. Though these inter actions may be brief, the impact is long lasting and is just another example of what makes Jarrell so special.