My Jarrell Monthly December 2021

D E C E M B ER

2021

We B u i l d Co m m u n i t y • Un i t i n g 7 6 5 3 7

"YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN" Jarrell High School's First Musical Production

CELEBRATING

HONORING

What Samsung Means for Williamson County

Wyatt Camp's Special Day at Jarrell HS

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PRAISING Come as You Are to Faith Summit Church

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

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PROUDLY ENDORSED BY 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

VOTERUSSBOLES.COM Paid political ad by the Russ Boles Campaign

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

INSIDE

FEATURES 6 WELCOME, SAMSUNG

What Texas' Largest-Ever Economic Agreement Means for Williamson County

11 HOMETOWN HEROES A Touchdown To Remember

14 GOVERNMENT

An Insider Look at State Redistricting

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34 COMMUNITY Be Santa to a Senior

ON THE COVER Jarrell High School Theater's "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (photos by Brandi Lacey)

FAVORITES 12

FAITH & CHICKEN SOUP Faith Summit Church: A Haven for the Hurting

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WHAT MAKES TEXAS "TEXAS"?

Pecans

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AROUND TOWN It's a Wonderful Neighborhood

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HOME & GARDEN New Year's Eve Hacks

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EDUCATION JHS Musical Production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

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WORTH THE DRIVE Elf: The Musical at Georgetown's Palace Theatre

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NEIGHBOR LEIGH A Ted Lasso Christmas

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FOOD Holiday Entertaining...

Just in the (Saint) Nick of Time

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PARTING SHOT Jarrell FD is Ablaze with Christmas Spirit

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WELCOME, SAMSUNG

Everything is still bigger in Texas, including microprocessors. (photo courtesy Judge Bill Gravell)

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A TOUCHDOWN TO REMEMBER Wyatt Camp's Triumphal moment (photo credit Klay Camp)

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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EDITOR'S NOTE | CAMY REYNOLDS

PUBLISHERS

Cathy Payne

Mike Payne

EXECUTIVE EDITOR 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 Committees, and founded the local Facebook group Mom Tribe Jarrell that has over 1,200 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 committees; volunteered with the JISD school district, and worked for the City of Jarrell for more than seven years. She is a development partner of NW Wilco, LLC and serves on the Jarrell Community Library Board of Directors.

Janet focuses her energy on serving, giving back, and uniting the community in positive ways.

SENIOR WRITER Charlotte Kovalchuk

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Greta Bauer • Cassidie Cox

GRAPHICS & DESIGN Sandra Evans • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Todd White SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR • Jenny Campbell ACCOUNT SERVICES • Debbie Tolliver DISTRIBUTION • David Schumacher IT/WEBMASTER • Jesse Payne

This is truly the most magical time of the entire year.

There is nothing better than a warm cup of hot chocolate, Christmas music playing in the background, and my kids decorating their own Christmas trees. Their contagious excitement for Santa and our special family Christmas traditions spread rapidly and pull my husband Blake and I right in with them.

A few fun holiday options are visiting The Palace Theatre to see “Elf: The Musical”, or adopting a senior citizen for Christmas through Be Santa to a Senior. If you like the movie It’s a Wonderful Life you will love our story on the Bailey Park subdivision in Sonterra.

If you didn’t have a chance to see the high school musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” be sure to mark the date on your calendar for their next performance, "Decision Height." For those who haven’t heard about an inspiring young man named Wyatt Camp, be sure to read about his special place with the Jarrell football team.

If you’ve been keeping up with the news in our county you’ve probably heard about redistricting at the federal and local level. Texas Rep. Terry Wilson answered important questions about why redistricting is necessary. I also want to say a special congratulations to my Dad, County Judge Bill Gravell, and Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell on all their hard work to bring Samsung to Williamson County.

You did it! This is a tremendous win for all and the benefits will be felt across the county.

CONSULTANT • W. Ben Daniel ADVERTISING Jenny Campbell 254-251-9167 (Cell) 512-598-6538 (Direct) jenny@myjarrell.com My Jarrell Monthly is a Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC publication.

Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. My Jarrell Monthly is published monthly and mailed USPS, free of charge, to homes and businesses in the 76537 zip code. Mail may be sent to My Jarrell, P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537.

Email: info@myjarrell.com 4

D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

P.S. Within and among our other seasonal features, please take note of some special holiday "Facts to Blow Your Mind" that appear here and there. We invite readers and kids to play a letter search game and let us know if you found all the Santa Hats (hint: there are 6), and what word the letters make. Please DM your guess to us on Facebook (don't want to give it away in a feed!) and we will draw one name at random to win a $50 gift card to Mighty Fine burgers.

S AMS UNG

Everything IS Bigger in Texas Ann Marie Kennon annmarie@georgetownview.com

THE LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEAL IN LONE STAR HISTORY

At the Table with Samsung

by Ann Marie Kennon‑

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hen Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell met with BGR Group corporate consultant Jerry Strickland last January to discuss pandemic testing and vaccinations, he made a connection that would impact Williamson County for generations. BGR Group represents multiple large corporations.

Strickland later called to ask the Judge if the County would be interested in making a corporate pitch for a $17 billion project.

Aerial view of Samsung's north Austin plant (credit: Samsung)

JUST HOW BIG IS IT?

The Samsung Taylor plant will have “He gave me 36 hours to respond,” Judge 6,000,000 square feet of floor space. For comparison, the Austin Gravell says. “I sent out emails with details Amazon Distribution site, Tesla Giga, and Austin Apple headquarters about the company, and received affirmative —together—would fit inside five times. responses from Leander and Taylor. While Taylor is now receiving international attention The Judge explains, like everything from home as the awardee, I am incredibly proud that construction to military bases, access to water in Central Leander was one of the top six locations in the world.”

Texas is something city and county leaders must ensure He notes Leander did not go further only because during negotiations at every level. “We couldn’t take Samsung had larger requirements for land to create a away from our existing water supplies here. We knew we significant space buffer at the site. had to be innovative and creative.”

Partnerships

While Judge Gravell was the point man, the scaled agreements are the product of work and cooperation by people and agencies at all levels. Much work and commitment was provided by the City of Taylor, Taylor ISD, Williamson County, the State of Texas, and the Federal Government. There is also a utilities partnership with EPCOR, a Canadian company that provides clean water and energy to communities in Canada and the United States.

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

To facilitate the need, Williamson County’s negotiating team brokered the meeting between Samsung and EPCOR, which will funnel millions of gallons of water into Williamson County from adjacent Milam County. “EPCOR will be bringing in water from an alternate water site that won’t take away from our residents,” the Judge says. He is also pleased that the benefit to Williamson County will be two-fold; “Not only will we have tax revenue from Samsung, and water for generations, EPCOR will be paying the tax on the half-billion-dollar infrastructure that will bring the water from that alternative source.”

SAMSUNG IS THE LARGEST-EVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROJECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE LARGEST FOREIGN-BORN IN THE NATION. “EVEN MORE THAN JOBS AND TAXES, THE HOUSING, ANCILLARY RETAIL, AND SERVICE BOOMS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN." ~JUDGE BILL GRAVELL

“Seismic” Economic Impact + Year 4* The Taylor plant will produce the most advanced semiconductors in the world but, today, what those will be is unknown. Judge Gravell explains, “This type of technology grows and changes so quickly that the only thing the Samsung folks know is that they will be building semiconductors. Their current factory replaces $100200 million in equipment every year to keep up with evolving science and development. As such, specifics of design and capability will change many times before construction is complete in 2024 so even the machines that will build the semiconductors have not been built yet.”

YEAR 4 OF THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNIFICANT A S I T I S T H E E X P E C T E D D AT E O F T H E R I B B O N C U T T I N G — M A N U FA C T U R I N G W I L L B E G I N , AND SAMSUNG WILL BEGIN EARNING R E V E N U E A N D PAY I N G TA X E S In the meantime, he anticipates the construction force to peak at 12,000 workers and, in Year 4, Samsung will hire 1,800 direct employees earning $65,000 and up for technical and administrative positions. He says, “I expect very high employment numbers even after the facility opens; their plant in Austin has between 3,000 and 6,000 daily contractors. While their production process is nearly fully automated, it is running 24/7 so there are people providing everything from machine and HVAC maintenance to cleaning and landscaping.”

“ THIS AGREEMENT IS A WIN FOR WILLIAMSON COUNT Y BECAUSE IT IS PERFORMANCE-BASED. WILLIAMSON COUNT Y FIRST COLLEC TS ALL TAXES ON THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE COMPANY AND DOES NOT GR ANT BACK ANY FUNDS UNTIL PERFORMANCE MEASURES HAVE BEEN ME T. THIS ALLOWS US TO BE COMPE TITIVE IN RECRUITING LARGE COMPANIES WHILE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR PROMISES.”

Samsung’s taxes in Year 4 will be paid to Williamson County, the City of Taylor, and Taylor ISD. Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell’s team also negotiated $300,000 in philanthropic donations to the City of Taylor, per year, for the next 30 years, for a total of $9 million in gifts to benefit education across the board. photo courtesy Bill Gravell

Additionally, in support of the project, the Texas Department of Transportation has pledged $67 million for construction and upgrades to local roads.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, Taylor ISD Superintendent Dr. Devin Padavil, Taylor City Manager Brian LaBorde, Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell

Aside from the potential tax benefits, Taylor Superintendent Dr. Devin Padavil is encouraged by Samsung’s public assurance that they will significantly invest time and resources into the ISD. “Taylor ISD and Taylor, Texas are honored and proud to be selected as the home for the new Samsung Semiconductor Plant in North America. Our partnership with Samsung will provide us an opportunity to transform the lives of our students through learning opportunities, internships, resources, and financial support. We are preparing our children to contribute and compete in a global society and, in many ways, Samsung is bringing a global society to them.”

Judge Gravell adds, “I voted in favor of this agreement primarily because of the opportunities it will give to the students in Taylor schools. In addition to the more than $245 million estimated tax revenue the school district will collect, Samsung will hire 24 paid interns. This will give them opportunities with an international company that would not have otherwise been possible.”

~PC T 4 COMMISSIONER RUSS BOLES  D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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S AMS UNG Samsung’s tax payments—in year 4— will be twice as much as the top ten largest tax-paying companies in Williamson County, combined.

Mark Thomas, president and CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation said, “A $17 billion investment would have an impact on a very large community. The impact on a community with 20,000 residents is unprecedented. The world has heard about this already and we’re seeing inquiries increase. It put Taylor on the map. High-tech companies will ask, ‘If the largest high-tech company can come here, why can’t we?’ It will open the door for that.”

Judge Gravell says, "Williamson County has again proven to be a leader in attracting the world's top technology companies. To Samsung, I want to say, 'Welcome home.' We want to thank Governor Abbott for his amazing leadership and help on this project. With the addition of Samsung on the east side of our county, Apple on the west side, and Dell Computers World headquarters in the center, Williamson County is now home to the technology superhighway of the world."

Thoughts on Negotiations

He frequently quotes JFK; A rising tide lifts all boats, but says of Samsung, “This is a controlled tsunami. It is a legacy not likely to be topped and I am still wondering how we got here. I’ve never worked so hard in my life as I have in the last nine months. I don’t believe I’m arrogant but I am pretty proud that my grandchildren will pass by the Samsung site and say, ‘My Pawpaw helped bring this to Williamson County.’”

He reflects on these and other extraordinary circumstances during his first four years as Judge. He believes it might make sense to write a book about it; not just about the biggest deal in American history with foreign investment, but a guide to landing it. “A global pandemic, Texas’ worst snowstorm, the largest deal ever, and a new multi-million dollar children’s hospital. God only puts us in those places that give us the experience to get through to the next thing.”

photo courtesy Bill Gravell

Judge Gravell recalls being exhausted at the end of negotiations every day. “It was stressful and very complicated; I went home many nights thinking it would never happen.”

photo courtesy Bill Gravell

Local and Regional Impact

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

S AMS UNG

Ann Marie Kennon annmarie@myjarrell.com

What if...?

The Judge frequently asks others to consider the scene at empty car dealerships as an example of the means by which China may be able to control our economy. Providing fewer chips will prevent manufacturers from completing production on many products Americans take for granted, which will handicap our GDP and widen the nation’s global trade gaps.

Key to National Security

The concentration of fabrication facilities in East Asia creates supply chain risks. Trade disputes, military conflicts, or other disruptions in the region could significantly affect U.S. access to semiconductors.

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n 1990, China had no chip manufacturing capabilities. Today, their government is excessively subsidizing semiconductor production, putting them on track to be the global leader in chip manufacturing by 2030. This trend makes increasing U.S. production of semiconductors critical to our own national security.

In March 2021, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence found: After decades leading the microelectronics industry, the United States will soon source roughly 90 percent of all high-volume, leading-edge integrated-circuit production from countries in East Asia.

This means the United States is almost entirely reliant on foreign sources for production of the cutting-edge semiconductors critical for defense systems and industry more broadly, leaving the U.S. supply chain vulnerable to disruption by foreign government action or natural disaster. (Source: NSCAI.gov) Fortunately, Senator John Cornyn and others in the Senate are working, with

bipartisan support, on the CHIPS for America Act, which will boost domestic manufacturing and lower the risk of supply chain interruption or corruption.

Proactively, the American Foundries Act will provide grants and economic development incentives for research and development. The fortification to be gained from these bills led to their inclusion in the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

“Consider how reliant we are on technology and the Internet,” the Judge says. “Our business environment, health care, communication, and education are critically dependent on devices.

Samsung is from South Korea—a friendly nation—and we must consider the electronic brains in our cell phones also go into our tanks and planes. Those we purchase from China may be made to be hackable. Perhaps they will be programmed with malware and designed to fail at critical times, leaving our businesses dark, unplugged, and forcing us to send ever-increasing revenues overseas.”

Unified Support

Why it Matters Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell says, “National security is the number one reason to support this project.

Semiconductors are the brain of every electrical device; from your thermostat to your pacemaker to our stealth bombers. We should not have to depend on countries we don’t trust to produce things we use to protect ourselves.

Further, when the next pandemic or ice storm occurs, I want the things we depend on for survival to be made in the USA—I want the most advanced semiconductors in the world to be made in our backyard.”

Given all factors, it is significant that the partners in the Samsung agreement are not just in Taylor. Judge Gravell adds, “This isn’t fighting to bring a new car or furniture manufacturer to America. This goes all the way to the White House and is being aggressively pursued by both parties. In Williamson County, we are twice fortunate— prosperous and protected—that Samsung will be here.”

D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@myjarrell.com photo courtesy Klay Camp

HO ME TO W N HE RO E S

A TOUCHDOWN TO REMEMBER

W

hen his son Wyatt was diagnosed at 2 years old with autism and at 7 with a rare genetic condition known as IQSEC2, Klay Camp realized Wyatt wouldn’t be able to participate in regular school activities like band or sports. Those challenges made watching him score a touchdown with the Jarrell High School football team in October even more special. “He’s part of the school as much as everyone else,” Klay says.

“When people hear about the invitation to run a touchdown, it makes them really proud of the school and kids for wanting to involve him.”

Having IQSEC2 means living with developmental delays, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. Wyatt is also nonverbal and needs a wheelchair at times but his condition has never kept him from making friends. “It’s pretty amazing and incredible when kids become friends with him," Klay says.

"They treat him as an equal...and are very inclusive of him. It’s inspiring and it humbles you really fast.”

Now a freshman at Jarrell High School, Wyatt’s favorite memories so far have been riding a homecoming float, attending the homecoming dance with his date, performing with his school choir at a school board meeting, and his bus driver transporting him, his mom, and grandma

to his graduation when his dad and brother, who also has IQSEC2, were in the hospital. One such unforgettable moment began when Wyatt and his nurse came to watch the football team practice. Concerned Wyatt might be in the way, Klay was surprised when the nurse told him the coaches were not only fine with his son sitting on the sidelines; they wanted to give him the chance to be part of the team by running a touchdown at one of their games. “He loved it. He was all kinds of excited,” Klay says. “We are always thankful and blessed whenever opportunities for Wyatt occur.”

As he helped Wyatt put on his pads for the game against Salado in October, Klay was reminded of when his dad would do the same thing for him as a kid, something he never thought he’d get to do with Wyatt.

Then came the moment when Wyatt, held up by two football players, ran a touchdown during halftime. Klay says, “Watching him run the touchdown and get cheers and clapping from both sides of the field, and then the whole team ran onto the field to congratulate him, it was just pretty amazing.”

D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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FAI T H & CHICKEN SOU P

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@myjarrell.com photos courtesy Anthony VanNoy

Faith Summit • A Haven for the Hurting At first, Anthony saw the small town as an unlikely location. “I didn’t want to move to Jarrell," he recalls.

"There was nothing there. God had other plans.” As they were searching for a church to pastor in the area, they stumbled on the non-denominational Faith Tabernacle Church. They immediately felt like they belonged and ultimately took over leadership in 1998.

Over time, Jarrell has grown on Anthony. “I love the people. I love the area,” he says.

F

aith Summit Church wants people to come as they are—blue hair, tattoos, piercings, and all. No matter what struggle they’re facing beneath the surface, everyone is welcome.

“The people who come to our church have been divorced, incarcerated, even suicidal,” Pastor Anthony VanNoy says. "Here, everyone is family. It’s just a blessing to be able to give back in society and help people. That’s our heart’s cry, to help people.”

An Army brat from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Anthony followed in his family’s footsteps and was an artilleryman for three years before settling in the small Colorado town of Montrose. Over time, drug and alcohol struggles caused him to hit rock bottom and he moved to Belton to be near his mother.

Faith Summit Church holds services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, along with a Wednesday night Bible study.

They also produce FYI Ministries, a Facebook livestream series Anthony says is an encouraging, mid-week pick-me-up.

Thanks to friend and Top: Pastors Anthony and Sue VanNoy shepherd Faith Summit Church in Jarrell. pastor Lonnie Huett, Above: Pastor Sue VanNoy teaches a Sunday School class.

Anthony had a life-changTo learn more about ing encounter with God Faith Summit Church, call 512-746that inspired him to help transform Seeing Anthony’s impact, Lonnie others’ lives, starting with Bell County told him God would call him into full- 2X or scan the code to visit their Facebook page.

Jail inmates who were struggling time ministry. His prediction became

THE CALL

with alcohol and drug addictions.

“I came back from rock bottom and now, seeing these men behind bars, I thought, what God’s done for me, He can do for them,” he says.

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a double blessing, as Anthony’s wife Sue became a pastor alongside him.

Together, they have shepherded Faith Summit Church for the last 23 years at 150 West FM 487 in Jarrell.

D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

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GO VE RNMENT

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com

Passing the State Map

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CONSTITUTIONAL RULES

ow that Governor Abbott has signed the 2020 Census Redistricting Maps into law, the state can move forward to a March 1 primary election. The Georgetown View sat down with Texas District 20 Representative Colonel Terry Wilson (US Army-Retired) to talk about why, how, and the process when House district boundaries are re-drawn.

A primary consideration in new House boundaries is the County Line Rule.

Rep. Wilson begins, “This is a process the Legislature goes through every ten years. When the decennial census takes place, we receive an exact count of the citizens in our state, and where they live."

Any county with a population smaller than one ideal district must be kept whole and combined with one or more contiguous counties to form a single district. Representatives must make every effort to keep counties whole to prevent gerrymandering.

The Texas Constitution mandates that the Legislature draw boundaries to ensure the general—not voter—population of all State House voting districts is as close to equal as possible. The simple math divides the total population of the state by the number of House seats. The complicated math becomes necessary when population blocks grow or shift, or both, and those changes require the application of other Constitutional rules.

IDEAL OR CLOSE ENOUGH

The Constitution allows that any county with sufficient population for exactly one district (plus or minus 5 percent) must be formed into a single district.

The lines cannot be drawn to include any amount of land of another county.

In the 2020 census, Williamson County showed sufficient population for three full districts. "With just 10,000 more residents," the Colonel says, "we would have had to create a fourth district that grabbed some of Williamson County and other counties added together." As a result, House District 20 no longer includes parts of Burnet or Milam Counties. Rep. Wilson's representation is wholly within Williamson County, and he is moving his residence to Georgetown to continue serving the district.

Rep. Wilson says, "The key to the process—the core principle underlying everything we do—is that we will follow the Texas Constitution and ensure it all comes down to one person-one vote. Every person who goes to the ballot box should have an equal impact.”*

The County Line Rule was broken this year only in the case of Cameron County, which was broken into two districts. This exception was granted for the purpose of preserving minority opportunity districts; i.e., at least a 50 percent minority voting-age population.

Through the years, with massive growth and competing government principles, the courts determined that exceptions would be necessary and allowed that, while still striving for equal numbers, district populations may fall within a 10 percent margin; i.e., they must be “close enough” with a minimum of 95 percent and maximum of 105 percent of the “ideal district.”**

While the County Line Rule is a rigid regulation in the State House, it is more of a preferred guideline in the Senate, where the districts are much larger. Rep. Wilson says, "It is not a law and a claimant may not take a Senate map to court just for breaking a county line."

*WHY IT MATTERS

DISTRICT A HAS 300,000 RESIDENTS.

Because a Representative represents all the people in a district, his or her single vote in the State House is a compression of the will of 300,000 people. As such, every time a delegate casts a vote, each voter has 1/300,000th of the vote’s impact on the floor.

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

G O VE RNME NT **WHAT IS IDEAL AND CLOSE ENOUGH? The official U.S. Census counted 29,145,505 Texas residents. With 150 House seats, the exact average per district would be 194,303. To adjust for other factors, the House is allowed to create districts 184,588 and 204,018 citizens. Rep. Wilson explained, within these limits, there is no wiggle room. One Representative submitted a map with two extra people in it and the map was rejected.

image courtesy Rep. Terry Wilson staff

He adds, “As Texas grows in certain places, it becomes more difficult to make the voting districts even while still keeping counties together. That is why some of the district lines are irregularly shaped." He cites Hays and Blanco Counties, and Harris County (Houston) as two distinct examples.

Larger counties are more able to create equal districts without splitting votes with another; Harris County has 24 complete districts. With so many residents, it is possible to move boundaries within the same county while keeping population counts within that ten percent margin.

Conversely, in 2010, Hays and Blanco Counties were both smaller than the ideal number but, together, they fell within the 95-105 percent range. Those two counties whole, with no breaks, used to be House District 45.

After ten years of growth, however, Hays County now has enough population to make one complete district, plus one-quarter of an ideal district left over to join another multi-county district.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY Rep. Wilson says, despite some objections based on gerrymandering in the State, this was not an issue in Williamson County. "Williamson County is very diffuse and diverse. The data show that, as a county, we are very evenly spread by age and race. We are also diffused very

well across the county, with a lot of mixing of various groups. There is no singular place where either of those things are a potential issue."

He adds the challenge to keep County voter precincts the same was nearly impossible due to growth, which outpaced the growth of the state. "We tried to only create breaks in those places that would have to break anyway; moving a voting precinct from one district to another can be as many as 10,000 votes."

THE SPECIAL SESSION Following the Constitution, House Representatives must vote on new maps by the end of the regular session. Due to the late release of census data, they could only work with data as it arrived in waves. Rep. Wilson says, "At first, we received the state count and learned how many U.S. Congress Representatives we would have.

The detailed data was released after we had gaveled out, so the governor convened a special session to complete the work."

He adds, "There are contingencies if the legislature doesn’t agree on a map, but we did agree and we did pass the bill in a special session and we will continue to do it every ten years. Now we know what the one person-one vote will be and that's a great thing for Williamson County."

DISTRICT B HAS 50,000 RESIDENTS. Each time their Representative goes to the floor, he or she casts the same vote, but with fewer citizens, each resident has 1/50,000th of the compressed impact. While that number still seems small, it carries six times the weight of a District A voter.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

17

WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”?

Pecans

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com

T

here is good reason the pecan is the official tree of Texas. While trade records tell us pecans have been exported from the state since before the Civil War, there is also archaeological evidence the tree has been growing in Texas regions since prehistoric times. Today, it is native to more than half of Texas counties, including most of the river valleys, and it is the only commercially grown nut in the state. Plus, its leaves and coverage make it a wonderfully preferred shade tree in the Texas heat.

SOME HISTORY For a long time, the pecan tree was not duly honored for its fruit and con18 18

tributions because most were cut down to make room for more valuable cotton crops. On the plus side of that razing, pecan wood was handy for making farming tools and wagons. But, by 1904, when the state was in danger of losing them all together, the nut trade made a significant comeback and quickly became one of the leading money crops. That comeback grew to the point that the Texas Legislature declared the pecan the state tree twice; in 1919 and 1927.

In the years after, and fortunately for pecan growers, trees did not know they were in a Great Depression and Texas’ annual crops weighed in the tens of millions of pounds. With all that prod-

W HAT MAK E S T E X A S " T E X A S " ?

The name “pecan” is a Native American word that was used to describe nuts requiring a stone to crack.

Pecan trees produce nuts on alternate bearing years; one heavy, one light.

The trees can live to be over 200 years old.

One ounce of pecans provides 10% of your daily fiber intake.

The pecan is heart healthy and contains antioxidants, 19 vitamins and minerals and healthy fat.

One of the mineral components is zinc, which is important in producing testosterone in both males and females.

You will enjoy about 80 of these beauties in a single, average pie.

uct, growers and shelling companies in some of the more prolific cities and counties were able to keep as many as 15,000 people employed at any given time.

Hey, NEW TEXANS, this is important... 

THIS IS A P’KAHN...

By 1945, Texas was producing about 30 percent of the nation's crop. While, prior to 1900, commercial shellers used railroad spikes to crack the shells and needles to pick out the meat, mechanization allowed growers to keep up with rising demand across the country. The result was as much as 75 percent of Texas' annual crop being exported north and east to satisfy a growing number of shelling and candy companies.

In the 1960s, growers had begun expanding into more counties, creating new varieties, using greater mechanical devices, and the state was up to 1.8 million trees. This led to a boom in commercial planting in the 1970s and state production began edging toward 100 million pounds annually.

THIS IS A PEA-CAN



TODAY While Texas has slid to the #2 spot behind Georgia in total numbers, gathering pecans is still a major enterprise for many in the Lone Star State. At its simplest (and most fun) level, families bring buckets and pick up pecans around Georgetown or perhaps in their own yards. Commercially, they are collected by the millions by mechanical shakers or spread sheets under the trees to catch them.

All for a taste of Texas' official state dessert... 

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W H AT MAKES TEXA S "T E X A S " ?

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS MAKE IT OFFICIAL In 2013, Diego Rodriguez, a student in Mary Mikeska’s first grade class at Ford Elementary in Georgetown discussed with his dad how cool it would be to create a law for Texas. Diego’s class had been studying state emblems and his father, an attorney, talked to the class about how the legislative process works, so the kids decided to lobby the legislature to make a new law.

After the class agreed on Pecan Pies, they reached out to State Rep. Marsha Farney and Senator Charles Schwertner who guided them through the process and advocated for the new Official State Dessert.

The bill itself was drafted for the students by staffers. It included language regarding the state’s production plus several century-old recipes and references to the nut-based dessert. To help garner “yea” votes, students wrote letters and drew pictures for lawmakers, interviewed senators and, in what is still remembered as “The Most

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

Adorable House Committee Hearing in Texas History,” testified before a Senate committee. Needless to say, the bill passed!

“Texans generally agree on two things: Texas pecan pies are, hands down, the best, especially when made with Texas pecans by a Texan; and secondly, whether served hot or cold, with a scoop of ice cream or without, pecan pie is indeed the perfect ending to any meal.”

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AROUND TOWN

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com

It's a Wonderful Neighborhood "Look at it today...dozens of the prettiest little homes you ever saw."

I

f you're a movie fan and live in or near Sonterra, you may enjoy the pop culture and sense of nostalgia as you drive through Bailey Park, particularly during the Christmas season. No, there was no Mr. Bailey who previously owned and lived on the land; the neighborhood and its streets are named for Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life movie. From Bedford Falls Lane to Oddbody Court, several of the movie's great themes and characters are represented.

Developer Andy Bilger says he and his partner, Shawn Breedlove, were looking for a new way to name streets and subdivisions. "Names have to be approved by municipal authorities and we wanted to do something different because there are already many places named after animals, trees, or notable people. We didn't want to duplicate names from other towns so we decided to go with a movie theme. We chose this movie because it has a positive meaning and a great ending."

Andy says he has received positive feedback from residents on their choices. "Some noticed the names the moment they drove in," he says. "Oddly enough, there were several who lived here for quite some time before they made the connection."

If holiday movie names don't suit your taste, there is another neighborhood near Igo Elementary that may make your day. If you are a fan of the 'man with no name,' the streets off of CR 314 include Bronco Billy and Harry Callahan Drives and Joe Kidd Lane. If you like Westerns, you may want to take a drive down El Dorado Road and Quiet Man Drive off of CR 3001.

Andy adds that he and Shawn will continue to use movie themes and names until they get tired of the idea.

"It has been a good run for us using movies," he says.

"There are plenty of great movies and names out there just waiting to be used to help us keep things interesting."

Author's Note: Perhaps something for Halloween with an Alfred Hitchcock theme; although North by Northwest Way might be a bit confusing.

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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H O ME & GARDEN

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com

New Year's Eve Hacks My favorite New Year’s Eve hack? Noise canceling headphones, because I go to bed at 10pm.

But, if you’re more fun than I am, you’re likely either planning a rockin’ party and looking for tips, or you can’t wait to have a few friends over for wine and football, or you’ve not planned anything yet, and we are going to talk you into it.

If you want to have a fabulous party but don’t want to stay up late, make it a “London 2022” event and ring in the New Year at 6pm. You can stream or download archived celebrations from around the world at EarthCam.com and time them for any hour.

Ask your party guests to bring 2022 calendars and have a swap meet. For extra kicks, make sure they fill in important birthdays or notes so everyone will remember your party all year.

Year-round hack for the ladies: If you know you are a diva in those 4-inch heels but don’t look forward to the pain of dancing on them for hours, tape your third and fourth toes together. These two toes share a nerve that can become strained when the toes are separated, which can happen when you’re pushing on them for a while. If your shoes are open-toe, I’d recommend clear medical tape, or zazz it up with coordinating colors of duct tape. You can extend the fun, or be less sore in the morning.

If you don’t have fancy chafing dishes and Sterno, wrap a brick in a few layers of aluminum foil, put in a 200° oven for 20 minutes, and put your dishes on top to keep them warm on the buffet.

It’s Texas, so New Year’s Eve is just as likely to be not-cold as it is to be dark.

Use frozen grapes to keep white wine chilled. To freeze grapes, rinse and dry them. Spread them out on something flat so they aren’t touching. Put them in your freezer for four to five hours—they start to lose flavor after that.

P.S. - If you can’t find the corkscrew for your wine, twist a household screw into the center, slide between the tines of a dinner fork—face up—and press down against the bottle’s lip for leverage.

Don’t forget to create a few signature “mocktails” for designated drivers.

Red Solo Cups... they’re not just *in* a song, they also make great amplifiers to hear music. Drop your phone in one (make sure it’s empty!) for a great sound boost.

Look cool... make sure you call the little wire cage around the top of the champagne bottle a “muselet”. That’s it’s real name.

When it’s time for cleanup, vacuum up 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon first. The heat from the motor will leave a nice aroma behind when you’re done.

While we’re on pretty smells, dump whole coffee beans in a large bowl and partially bury tea light candles in the top.

Light and enjoy for a lot less cost than jar candles.

If Santa visited 640 million homes every Christmas Eve, he would consume 150 billion calories. If you lived on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, you would have to live approximately 205,480 years to match that.

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I

If you’re tired of the same old Christmas games, break out the Victorian-era classic, “SNAP-DRAGON.” Soak a bowlful of raisins in brandy, set it on fire, then take turns pulling out handfuls of raisins and swallowing them whole. One tradition says the person who snatches the most treats out of the brandy will meet their true love within a year. Another suggests one of the raisins contains a gold button and becomes "the lucky raisin". The person who fishes that raisin out can claim a reward or favor of their choosing.

(Aren't you glad someone invented Pictionary?)

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E D UC ATION

by Camy Reynolds • camy@myjarrell.com photo by Brandi Lacey

You're a Good Man...

T

heater Director Tara Grandberry is enjoying and thriving in her second year at Jarrell High School. She is also extremely proud of her students and their performance in the school's first musical theater production, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”.

Tara says there were many reasons to choose the classic piece; "It is important to have a friendly production with roles for elementary kids. This helps create program continuity and provides an opportunity for older kids to mentor the younger players." Happily, her choice has demonstrated a great tendency for students to get excited about theater at an early age. As well, she is eager to put on shows that have big meaning behind them and a purpose; “The audience should experience something during the performance that makes their lives better”.

Tara believes the characters are relatable to all age groups. "Though the characters in the play are children, they all struggle with real adult problems," she says. "It al-

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

lows everyone in the audience to connect with the actors' performances."

Also, with a musical, no one is left out. In addition to the stage performance, there are many backstage needs and moving pieces that provide skills development for students onstage and in the crew. Tara explains, "Costume design, set design, and lighting design are all skills taught to the students during the process of the production along with the acting."

COMING SOON...

Tara has already begun planning the school's next big production; a one-act play called "Decision Height," about the WASPs (Women Air Force Service Pilots) of WW2 who trained on Avenger Field in Sweet Water, Texas. Rehearsals are underway and theater goers can save the date; March 6th at 4pm in the Jarrell High School auditorium.

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W ORT H THE DR IV E

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@myjarrell.com photos by Todd White

Palace Spreading Christmas Cheer "Elf: The Musical" Now Playing

“ T H E R E I S J U S T S O M E T H I N G S O M A G I C A L A B O U T C H R I S T M A S S H O W S . I T ’ S M Y FAV O R I T E T I M E O F T H E Y E A R , A N D I T E V O K E S S U C H F E E L I N G S O F N O S TA LG I A A N D H A P P I N E S S .” ~ S T E P H E N Q U I N N , B U D DY ’ S FAT H E R WA LT E R H O B B S

THE CHARACTERS

D

ecked out in an elf hat, Grinch sweater, and pointy green shoes during the Palace Theatre’s opening night of Elf: The Musical, attendee John Sterling reminisced about many childhood Christmases that revolved around the already-classic 2003 movie. “It was a family tradition,” he says. “We would watch different holiday movies on Christmas morning, but Elf was the staple. Getting to see it as an adult brings back much-needed Christmas wonder.”

“A hoot and a holler,” is how John describes Elf: The Musical, in which a young orphan named Buddy mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of toys and ends up being raised as an elf at the North Pole. When he discovers the truth of his identity, he embarks on a quest to find his birth father in New York City. Realizing his father is on the naughty list and his stepbrother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy becomes determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Full of Christmas spirit and energy on and off the stage, actor Nick Xitco found Buddy’s character to be the perfect fit. “I’ve always loved Christmas and the holidays since I was a little kid,” he says. “Playing Buddy has been such a joy. Anyone who knows me knows I’m full of whimsical energy just about all the time, so it’s been pretty easy to channel that energy into a character who basically is that.”

An equally energetic audience made the performance rewarding for Nick and the rest of the cast. “I think my favorite part was them clapping and cheering along to the overture and some of the other numbers.

It gives us so much energy on stage, which we try to give right back to them!” he says.

“That was a huge encouragement after all the work we have put in. We finally shared what we created and saw the happiness it brought,” adds Lisa Harper, who plays Buddy’s stepmother, Emily Hobbs. Lisa says getting to do the show with her daughters, Lucy and Ella Grace, was an early Christmas gift. Lucy works backstage and Ella Grace plays Buddy's love interest, Jovie.

Palace Theatre 810 S Austin Ave, Georgetown •

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

W O RT H T HE DRIVE

IN THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR For Richard Cerato, directing and choreographing such a joyous, festive musical was an exciting adventure. “I’ve never laughed more during a rehearsal process than with Elf. We workshopped many brand-new additions to the musical, including fun sight gags, slick tap choreography, and larger-than-life props.

This production is completely unique from any other, all the while paying tribute to the source material Elf film and honoring the iconic hero’s journey as we follow Buddy from the North Pole to midtown Manhattan,” he says.

“ I A B S O LU T E LY LO V E W O R K I N G O N T H I S S H O W, B E C AU S E E V E N T H O U G H I T ’ S H I L A R I O U S , F U N , A N D E N T E R TA I N I N G , I T A L S O H A S S O M E R E A L LY I M P O R TA N T M E S S A G E S A B O U T FA M I LY A N D LO V E .”

– ELLA GRACE HARPER, JOVIE

As for why people should see Elf, Richard says, “Our Elf is overflowing with holiday magic. You’ll have to come and see it for yourself! We’ve had a ball in rehearsals. Now we’re excited to share the gift of Elf with our community!”

ELF: THE MUSICAL RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 30 AT THE PALACE THEATRE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT GEORGETOWNPALACE.COM.

"I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WORKING ON THIS SHOW, BECAUSE E VEN THOUGH IT ’S HILARIOUS, FUN, AND ENTER TAINING, IT ALSO HAS SOME REALLY IMPOR TANT MESSAGES ABOUT FAMILY AND LOVE." ~ELLA GRACE HARPER (JOVIE) D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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C OMMU NITY

by Cassidie Cox

"Be Santa to a Senior"

T

he holidays are fast approaching, and our community is preparing to spread cheer and goodwill to mark the season. Some in Jarrell may be missing the gift trees that used to be in place at area Walmart stores, covered with gift tags for local seniors.

My Jarrell sat down with Lacey and Tyson Murphy, local Home Instead franchise owners who deserve credit for those trees and the attendant good-neighbor gift-giving. They have great new plans for helping the entire community join in on the sharing and continuing to celebrate Jarrell's generosity.

Lacey and Tyson have been part of the Home Instead network of local caregivers for more than ten years. Every year, in addition to the quality care they offer year-round for seniors, they also participate in Home Instead's seasonal Be Santa to a Senior. This program helps those in need by giving gifts to seniors in nursing homes who might not otherwise receive any.

Due to health concerns, the trees are not available this year but everyone is invited and encouraged to join in the fun online. The 2021 process is very simple and, fortunately, is not limited to those who shop at Walmart. Lacey says, "People really liked the tree tags because it was so clear that the gifts were purchased and given locally. But I am also very excited that, with Amazon's help, everyone can shop for a stranger, on their device, from anywhere. And the gifts are still wrapped and delivered locally."

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D E C E M B E R 2021  M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY

MAKE YOUR LIST To participate, scan the code on the facing page and enter a local zip code. Seniors' first names and last initials will appear, and each has a wish list from which you can choose their items and preferred sizes and colors.

The names that appear on the website are individuals who live in or visit care facilities in Williamson County. Lacey says, “Our clients live in their own homes but, at the holidays, we receive names from resident facilities and activity directors in our area of others who wish to receive gifts. Seniors usually ask for things like sweats, slippers, pajamas, a calendar, a large-print novel...nothing really big.”

photo credit: HomeInstead.com

C O MMUNIT Y

“We love doing it every year,” Lacey says.

“We are short-staffed this year so we made a tough decision to scale back but, even last year in a pandemic, we distributed a bar-raising 1,200 gifts." She is extremely proud to report numbers like these are what strengthen her belief in the passion the local community shows to help people in need.

MAKE IT YOURS The Wish Lists are courtesy of the agency's partnership with Amazon. Every senior was invited to create a personalized gift list, providing easy resources for everyone in the community to give back in a fun way. This year, she hopes to provide gifts to more than 200 seniors in our community.

Participating agencies include: Trinity Care Center Riverside Nursing Center AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Centers

MAKE IT COMMUNITY Buying the gifts isn’t the end of the journey to celebrate the holidays with these seniors. Once the packages are received at Home Instead, partners pass on the presents to Jarrell Elementary School students for some creative gift wrapping. All the little elves get together with staff for a wrapping party worthy of Santa's workshop to prepare the gifts.

Then, the unique holiday packages are given over to capable hands who pass them out to the nursing homes and activity centers.

This program is national in scope so any zip code will allow you to help a senior in your home town, or share the website with long-distance relatives who would like to help someone in our area. "With just a few minutes, from anywhere, you can bless someone in your community," Lacey says.

She believes the need to stay local is just as important to this organization as it is to everyone.

"Many of [the seniors] grew up in this area, and we understand that these really are local people living in these facilities. It doesn’t matter where they live now, they’re likely to be from within a 20-mile radius,” Lacey says.

No matter where you are, or what your holiday plans are, it is never a wrong time to give back to your community. Lacey adds, "If everybody in the community is going to celebrate, it takes us all to give, and spread joy a little further than normal this year."

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N E I GH BOR LEIGH

A Ted Lasso Christmas I

recently started watching Apple TV’s Ted Lasso and I don’t typically promote stuff, but I am a word person and I love how the character sometimes creates one-liners that require a bit of thought, however goofy.

For instance, if you live in England and you get fired, you might put your footwear in the trunk of your car when you pack up your office. In other words, you got the boot so you put your boots in the boot.

So… just for fun, here are some Christmas Lassos.  When Santa Claus rings your doorbell because he brought some snacks to your party, it’s a Kringle jingle for a Pringles mingle.  On Christmas Eve, when you’re running around getting last-minute gifts and you get into an argument with your driver, it’s a swift gift Lyft rift.  If your canine pet left a mess on the floor because he knocked over and drank your Christmas dairy drink, you’ll be cleaning up a dog nog log.  Realizing that trimming your cheerful robot with a green garland was a mistake is a jolly Wall-e holly folly.  When you really want to spontaneously swat a person who doesn't like Christmas, you're making a Grinch flinch an inch in a pinch.  Your friend in Georgia who enjoys orange soda and volunteering at the mall is an Atlanta Fanta Santa.

 When your cat is enjoying the scent of the perfume you spilled on her, the myrrh on her fur sure made her purr.  If your mom wants you to add more silver icicles to your holiday greenery you need tinselmo' the mistletoe.  When the street market guide says you can buy decorations from the man in the booth with all the wind damage, they are in the gent’s bent Advent ornament tent.  My brother, who agrees Die Hard is the best Christmas movie ever, and invites me to his house to drink beer while we watch the movie will throw me a foamy at his homey and show me Nakatomi.  When the former President decided to go to a holiday singles party, it was Nixon fixin' to do some Vixen mixin'.  My friend was trying to flirt with the sales guy to get a discount on a BB-gun for her son but the insider Red Ryder provider denied her.  When you are concerned for the safety of the kooky man who guards the Nativity scene in a national park, you are aware of the stranger manger Ranger danger.

Yes, Leigh knows your eyes are rolling but I really had fun doing them. Feel free to send your own Lassos to us and have a wonderful, blessed Christmas season!

A TOILET BRUSH CHRISTMAS Artificial Christmas trees first appeared in America during the late 19th century. These early trees did not resemble live pine trees; they were made of metal wires covered in dyed-green feathers. In the 1930s, the Addis Brush Company, an American toilet bowl brush manufacturer created the first brush artificial tree. This tree was actually manufactured using the same equipment as the company’s toilet brushes.

The introduction of these trees increased the popularity of the artificial tree.

(Patentplaques.com)

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 21  M Y J A R R E L L M O N T H LY

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EL PITAYO MEXICAN KITCHEN

10% OFF YOUR ORDER 102 N 5TH ST. JARRELL, TX ELPITAYO.COM GETb10% OFFbYOUR TOTAL BILL WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS COUPON IN PERSON ONE TIME USE ONLY. NOT REDEEMABLE FOR CASH OR GIFT CARDS. OFFER MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTIONS. OTHER RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. EXPIRES DEC 10 2021

THE CHRISTMAS TREE PICKLE is a tradition to keep eager kids calm on Christmas morning. As the quirky tradition goes, the first child to find the glass pickle hidden in the tree on Christmas morning either wins a prize or the privilege of opening the first gift. The goal? To keep kids from rushing through the process of opening presents, and instead take the time to enjoy each one.

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FO O D

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING... JUST IN THE (SAINT) NICK OF TIME! THE NIGHT BEFORE?

The holidays mean parties, get-togethers, and gatherings of all kinds.

This month, we’re sharing some ideas that will get you fivestar reviews whether you have plenty of time to prepare,or just whipping something up quickly for hungry revelers.

CRANBERRY FETA PINWHEELS Not only are they pretty and look festive with the reds and greens, they’re great because you can prep them up to 24 hours ahead of time, making them the perfect holiday snack or appetizer. (Prep time 10 minutes)

INGREDIENTS 8 oz cream cheese , softened 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/3 cup chives , chopped 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries 4 flour tortillas (10 inch) Place cream cheese in a small bowl and beat until fluffy. Add in remaining ingredients (except tortillas) and mix well.

Spread the mixture evenly over the 4 tortillas. Roll each tortilla in plastic wrap and refrigerate until time to eat. When ready to serve, cut into slices.

GUESTS COMING LATER TODAY?

BUTTERMILK SAUSAGE BALLS One of Betty Crocker’s most-requested recipes, quick and easy to prepare, and a hands-down favorite with hungry family members and party guests alike. These can be frozen—before or after cooking—for a snack any time. (Prepped and ready in 40 minutes)

INGREDIENTS � 3 cups baking mix (Bisquick™ or similar) � 16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese � 1/2 cup milk � 1 pound uncooked pork sausage (any flavor) at room temperature Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a baking sheet. Mix baking mix, cheddar cheese, milk, and sausage together in a bowl. Roll mixture into golf ball-sized balls (about 1 inch) ; arrange balls on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are no longer pink in the middle and browned on the outside, 25 to 30 minutes.

You can also mix things up with rosemary, parsley, scallions, or any of your favorite spices... top it off with Parmesan, pesto or ranch for dipping.

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FAMILY PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY?

10-MINUTE CHOCOLATE PIE

Party Tips

INGREDIENTS 8 oz chocolate chips

Write Out the Full Menu

18 large marshmallows (cut up) 1/2 cup milk 9 oz cool whip (thawed) chocolate no-bake pie crust Melt chocolate chips, marshmallows, and milk in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth.

Allow to cool to room temperature.

Fold in cool whip. Pour into pie shell and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Top with additional whipped topping and chocolate chips.

Include everything: from the appetizers, including things like olives or chips, to the garnishes. List out everything in the order you will be serving the meal. This way you won’t forget anything — and you won’t look in the fridge the following day to discover you never served the sliced chorizo.

Write Out Your Task List for the Day Of...

READY ALL THE TIME

DIY SNACK BAR This one requires a little planning, but will allow you to be ready for guests on a moment’s notice. If you have an old bookcase or shelf, it’s time to put some contact paper on it or freshen it up with some paint.

Keep the menu simple and to the point. Creating a snack bar theme lets you focus on traditional basics — popcorn and chips to candy and soda. For a hearty add-on that’s budget-friendly, keep some hot dogs on ice just in case.

Some of the most popular concession-style snacks include candy and popcorn; you can find theater-style candy at a dollar store. Keep a large bag or tin of popcorn handy and clear plastic cups for individual servings. Use plastic serving trays to serve them on and to make a more distinct look on your party table. These ideas would be perfect for holiday drop-ins, New Year’s, Superbowl, or family movie night any time!

No job is too small to be included: bringing the chicken to room temperature, mincing parsley, putting ice in the ice bucket, peeling the potatoes.

Organize the tasks into time frames: morning, afternoon, two hours before the party and right up to the arrival of guests.

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PART IN G S H OT

by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@myjarrell.com

Ablaze with Holiday Spirit

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he Officers, Firefighters, and First Responders at Jarrell Station #5 wish everyone safe and happy holidays, and want to share some practical holiday advice to remember to keep family, home, and pets safe.

Don’t use electric lights on a metal tree.

Electrical shock and L-R: Firefighter John Nelson, Firefighter Chayton Drake, Firefighter Andrew Allison, and Lt. Jonathan Neilson Below: Holiday Throwback - Jarrell Firefighters on the job, Christmas 2010 fire are risks with this combination. Decorate If you have a live tree, keep the water reservoir filled. these trees with ornaThe tree is still alive even though it’s cut but, the longer ments, garland, or tinsel, but nothing that needs to be it goes without plenty of water, the drier it will become. plugged in. For PVC or other plastic trees, be sure to Firefighter Nelson says, "Even a small spark can cause check that your wires have not frayed in storage or due a dry tree to be engulfed in flames in about 15 secto anything that may have chewed on them. onds."

Make sure, when hanging lights or placing decorations Fried turkeys are a wonderful entree and we have all on a roof, to stabilize or have another person hold the seen the videos of hot oil explosions and grease fires base of the ladder. Nationwide, there are an average that spread quickly. Remember to fully defrost your of 15,000 emergency room visits due to decoration turkey before slowly lowering it into hot grease. Also, hazards. Lt. Neilson adds, "In Jarrell particularly, there something people may overlook is the water content are frequent strong winds that should be considered. of anything they might inject into the meat before Be particularly mindful when carrying large objects that cooking. Marinates and brine solutions are sure to can catch a quick breeze, multiply wind resistance, and have some water content so be sure there are no residcause a fall." ual or excess fluids on the skin or in the cavity.

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