Georgetown View Magazine • November 2023

READY TO GIVE? Profiles of Georgetown Non-Profits that are Making a Difference

BROOKWOOD IN GEORGETOWN A New Home at Grace Place

ELECTION DAY Rep. Terry Wilson (TX-20) Explains Ballot Amendments

WORTH THE DRIVE Back in Time at Bertram's Globe theater

The Giving Issue 2023

GEORGETOWN'S GENEROSITY IN ACTION BiG's Grace Place Cover Feature Sponsored by the Gopani Family of Georgetown

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EDITOR'S NOTE Dear Readers, As the holiday season approaches, we tend to be more mindful of the needs in our community. We are fortunate to have so many individuals and organizations that provide examples and opportunities to give back, and I’m always proud to live in a place in which a person need only suggest a need before someone creates an event or organization to help. For this issue, we updated our list of nonprofits and charities that are in or serving Georgetown and organized them by type to help you discover ways to lend a hand in your community.

For our nonprofit series we bring a variety of organizations to the page, starting with BiG and its new tiny home community that will give adults with special needs the opportunity to enjoy a more independent lifestyle. Another nonprofit, The Key2Free, strives to empower human trafficking victims, while Isaiah 117 House is working to change the way foster care begins.

We also feature several animal organizations that either provide forever homes to senior dogs or healing through horses to participants of all ages facing various challenges. In addition, the Wilco Regional Animal Shelter encourages dog and cat lovers to consider fostering a pet as part of its Home for the Holidays program.

Check out Worth the Drive for a fun fall trip idea to the Globe Theatre in Bertram, and for holiday recipes, visit our Food page for some sweet and savory charcuterie board inspiration.

I hope you all got to enjoy a glimpse of October’s dazzling solar eclipse. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next astronomical event – a total eclipse on April 8, 2024!

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Published by Optimus Media Group, LLC PUBLISHER | CATHY PAYNE cathy@georgetownview.com

Like many of the best in her craft, Cathy has a specialized degree—in her case, hard science—and a gift for writing. She found her voice and fulfillment reporting and writing news and magazine features for a regional Central Texas audience. Along with serving as the publisher of the Georgetown View, Cathy oversees multiple news magazines, marketing campaigns, and books.

EDITOR | CHARLOTTE KOVALCHUK charlotte@georgetownview.com

SENIOR WRITER Ann Marie Kennon

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Linda A. Thornton • Rachel Strickland

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR Camy Reynolds

GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Eaton • Sandra Evans

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rudy Ximenez • Christianna Bettis

SALES DIRECTOR Allison Smith

IT / WEBMASTER Jesse Payne

ADVERTISING SALES Mark Elliott 512-240-2267 • 512-598-3500 mark@georgetownview.com Georgetown View is an Optimus Media Group, LLC publication and a product of AdvocateNewsTX Newspaper Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved.

Georgetown View is mailed monthly by USPS to homes and businesses in Georgetown, TX zip codes.

Mail may be sent to: Georgetown View, P.O. Box 203, Jarrell, TX 76537.

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GIVING BACK 2023

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CONTENTS ON THE COVER Amy and Emily celebrate their new home at BiG's Grace Place in Georgetown | p. 32 PHOTO COURTESY ERIN KILTZ SPONSORED BY VIPUL GOPANI AND OM PROPERTIES AND RUPE GOPANI AND BLUE ACRE DEVELOPMENT

M

As a family, we give back to the community in a number of ways. In addition to making donations, we're proud to be part of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care USA — a 501(c)3 organization that offers service and brings joy to the lives of the under served sections of society. SRLCUSA has 20+ centers nationally and has benefited 475,000 lives in the United States via a number of initiatives. As a family, we believe it is just as important to give back with your time and energy, as it is to give with your wallet.

eet Rupe and Vipul Gopani, father and son developers who are the embodiment of the American Dream.

As owners of Blue Acre Development and OM Properties respectively, they are equally hard at work building relationships, developing real estate, and facilitating the growth of our community in a positive way. Both have a passion for transforming raw land into thriving developments and have become well-respected figures in Williamson County.

We are grateful for the Gopanis' generosity and love of community that, together, make them the ideal patrons for this month's message and cover sponsorship.

At the end of the day, giving back is about caring for others and being a good human being. Our family has always believed in uplifting others, spreading joy, and spreading positive energy.

PHOTO BY RSX STUDIOS

~Rupe Gopani

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GEORGETOWN LIONS CLUB Lending a Helping Hand

RIDE ON CENTER FOR KIDS Healing Through Horses

LIVING GRACE CANINE RANCH

KIWANIS SUN CITY GEORGETOWN

Forever Homes for Shelter Dogs

Focus on Kids and Community

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THE KEY 2 FREE Empowering Trafficking Survivors

STATE LEGISLATURE Rep. Terry Wilson Explains State Ballot Amendments

ISAIAH 117 HOUSE Changing the Way Foster Begins

LOCAL NON-PROFITS Georgetown's Silent Samaritans

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SHELTER STORIES Happy Paw-lidays

BROOKWOOD IN GEORGETOWN There's No Place Like Home... Grace Place

GEORGETOWN BEARD CLUB Creating Change One Whisker at a Time

WORTH THE DRIVE The Globe Theatre in Bertram

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FOOD Holiday Charcuterie

POPPY TALKS PSL Season

PARTING SHOTS A Stellar Show

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Visit our Facebook page for follow-ups to these stories, out-takes & hints to those upcoming.

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GIVING BACK 2023

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LION'S CLUB

photos courtesy Corey Bailey

Lending a Helping Hand

The Georgetown Lions Club was chartered September 24, 1923 by Lions Clubs International, which was formed in 1917 by Melvin Jones of Chicago, and has been helping our community ever since.

WHAT WE DO

COMMUNITY IMPACT

The Lions Club provides eye screenings in schools and has already screened 600 kids this school year. They have 30 eyeglass collection boxes around town and send the used glasses to their Eyeglass Recycling Center in Midland, where they are refurbished and sent around the world. They also sponsor kids with special needs to go to Lions Camp in Kerrville at no charge.

They lend a helping hand in any way they can to the Georgetown community, which is basically where the club serves. They have also provided assistance via food drives and monetary donations to Helping Hands, The Caring Place, Georgetown Boys and Girls Club, to name just a few.

The club's success stories are numerous: Referring preschool and kindergarten children with early onset blurred or distorted vision for medical attention.

Seeing special needs children with big smiles after achievements they didn’t think were possible before attending Lions camp.

Providing food donations for those in need year round and especially during the holiday seasons.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION President Corey Bailey says, "In celebrating our 100-year anniversary we reflect back on our accomplishments as part of Lions Clubs International, with more than 1.4 million members in 48,000 clubs in over 200 countries. Together we have served to make a better place in this world and as a local non-profit club with 30 members, we want to make a difference in our community. Our motto is 'We Serve' and we need your help."

The Lions are looking for more and energetic members who want to help our community and have fun doing so.

Scan the code or contact club member Gary Cocanougher at 512-773-3988, gary7realtor@gmail.com, or President Corey Bailey at cbailey@firsttexasbank.com.

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R.O.C.K.

photos courtesy Nancy Krenek

Ride On Center for Kids Healing Through Horses

COMMUNITY IMPACT ROCK has changed countless participants' lives, like the young man with cerebral palsy who was able to walk across the stage at graduation thanks to equine-assisted therapy. Or the veteran with a head injury who couldn’t walk or talk but was able to start both after receiving equine-assisted services. Other veterans who struggle with anxiety and PTSD have found support at ROCK and testified that the horse saved their lives. Individuals with strokes, MS, and Parkinson's have also gained strength and improved movement.

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stablished in 1998, ROCK Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that strives to improve independence and life skills in partnership with horses. Dr. Nancy Krenek, a physical therapist, founded ROCK after seeing individuals break out of the box of their diagnosis through the life changing connection with a horse. ROCK seeks to help individuals fulfill their unlimited potential physically and emotionally for improved life skills and independence. In 1998, ROCK started with one horse and four riders and now serves more than 300 families yearly, with over 300 volunteers and 32 horses.

WHAT WE DO ROCK provides equine-assisted services to children, adults, and veterans with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Services include equine-assisted therapy and activities, equine-facilitated learning, school programs, competition horse shows, summer camp, instructor training program, and ROCK On Veterans.

They cover nine counties in Central Texas from a central location on 60+ acres in Georgetown. ROCK participants range from 2 to 90+ years and see improvement in most aspects of their life — from muscle tone, strength, flexibility, and balance to cognitive, behavioral, communication and emotional improvements.

HOW TO HELP Horseshoe Club: Sponsor a horse via a monthly or annual gift to provide for the herd's ongoing needs.

Amazon Wish Lists: Check out ROCK’s wish lists at rockride.org/donate.

In-kind gifts: ROCK is always looking for office and art supplies, farm equipment, halters, saddles and other tack, etc. plus horse care supplies as well as horses.

2024 Giving Events • Amplify Austin March 6-7 • ROCK Barn Dance April 6 • ROCK Cowgirl Bruncheon Nov 2 • Carriage Rides on the Square Volunteering: ROCK is looking for more Welcome Wranglers. These amazing ROCKateers help in the office by answering phones, working with small projects, and being the first friendly face our families and guests see when they enter the Welcome Center.

Nov 10, Ribbon Cutting for Sport Clips Heroes Arena Nov 4-12, Georgetown Field of Honor: Support ROCK by purchasing your flag at georgetowntxfieldofhonor.org/ROCK. Dec 2, Christmas Stroll Parade: See a few of our horses and many of our participants in the parade.

Dec 7-9 & 14-17, Carriage Rides on the Square. Tickets must be bought in advance; on sale Nov 14.

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LIVING GRACE CANINE RANCH

Forever Homes for Senior Dogs

a little Pomeranian named Ginger.

Someone picked her up and put her in Bob’s lap and she stayed there three hours. That happened for months and months. One day I told Rhonda, ‘I think I’ll take Ginger home a couple of days.’ She never went back.”

n 2019, Central Texas lacked community resources for senior pets to secure new companions after a pet parent’s passing or caregiving incapacitation, which created a burden for shelters and rescues. During that time, Rhonda Minardi, LGCR founder, saw hundreds of old dogs, orphaned or displaced, sitting in shelters without hope, needing vet care, and a slim chance of adoption. But, since 2020, hundreds of senior dogs with medical, physical, and behavioral challenges have experienced belonging, purpose, and wellness as LGCR residents in a new permanent home in Bertram.

Rhonda says, “Look no further than an old dog’s eyes to gauge life – our residents’ eyes twinkle from a joy-filled life.”

After Ginger passed away in April, the couple continued to volunteer and, two months later, found themselves taking Penelope, another Pomeranian, home. Penelope is part of LGCR’s Senior to Senior foster program, in which the ranch provides for a senior dog’s medical needs and grooming to make it financially easier on senior foster parents.

Penelope goes on errands with the couple, from the grocery store to Bob’s group meetings at the Sun City Worship Place. “She goes pretty much everywhere with us,” Vicki says. “LGCR is a huge blessing to us overall. We’re all like a family out there. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful place.”

WHAT WE DO Living Grace Canine Ranch is a senior dog life care sanctuary dedicated to serving senior canines across Texas that are displaced, unadoptable, and unwanted due to old age or illness. Some of their programs include: Let’s Shake Paws: Dogs provide companionship to seniors who are often at high risk for loneliness and depression. In addition, LGCR canine residents serve the community as visiting therapy dogs.

Forever Foster: To increase lifelong senior dog companionship, LGCR supports all aspects of caregiving, including food, vet care, grooming, and medications.

Forever Home: An endowment-based pet planning option that offers parents peace of mind when they can no longer care for their canine pets.

LASTING IMPACT LGCR has transformed countless lives—canine and human—like Sun City residents Vicki and Bob Moore.

The two began volunteering at the ranch three years ago; Vicki managed whatever tasks were needed while Bob, who has memory and mobility issues, cuddled with the dogs. Vicki says, “A couple years ago, there was

HOW YOU CAN HELP Since 2020, managing the cost of veterinarian services has been an ongoing challenge. With more than 100 senior dogs, the average monthly expense for veterinarian services, prescriptions, and therapies is $30,000.

Monetary gifts and volunteering directly impact homeless old dogs’ quality of life and are profoundly appreciated. Visit LGCR online at LivingGraceCanineRanch.org or scan the code for additional information and upcoming events.

GIVING BACK 2023

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KIWANIS

by Linda A. Thornton • photo courtesy Sandra Montgomery

Kiwanis Sun City Georgetown Focused on Kids and Community

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andra Montgomery, Alexa Griffin, and Myra Hill have lost track of how many Holiday Home Tours they have co-chaired together. As they put the finishing touches on organizing their 175+ docents, Sandra, also foundation chair, took a few minutes to give us some insight into Kiwanis.

“THE EXPRESSION ON A C H I L D ’ S FA C E A S YO U H A N D THEM A BOOK OF THEIR OWN J U S T WA R M S YO U R H E A R T.” ~ S A N D R A M O N TG O M E R Y Important annual events include the Kiwanis Sun City Georgetown

to assimilate into a new culture, Luisa found a bright spot in her participation with Key Club and its faculty adviser, Krystal Grimm. Luisa became the club’s president in her junior year and was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Texas from Texas Leadership Scholars.

Holiday Home Tour Featuring five, fabulous Sun City Homes dressed up for the holidays and The Sisters on the Fly fun glampers December 1–3, 2023.

Tickets on sale at: Georgetown Visitors Center Sun City Community Assn Luisa Suarez, UT freshman, Renée Jantzen, Kiwanis and Krystal Grimm, Jarrell Key Club adviser IMAGE CREDIT: KIWANIS SUN CITY GEORGETOWN

WHAT WE DO Sun City Kiwanis Club, part of Kiwanis International, was formed in 1997 with 27 charter members; a few of whom are still active.

The group sponsors active Key Clubs at four area high schools to promote student leadership and hosts a yearly college scholarship program for members. This past year, their Literacy Program gave away 6,000 books to students from pre-K to second grade.

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Holiday Home Tour, which they have hosted since 2001. Another major fundraising activity is their bi-annual Kiwanis Sun City Garage Sale. To date, the Club has contributed more than $250,000 to various organizations in our community.

IMPACT When Luisa Suarez was 15 years old, her parents sent her to live with her aunt in Jarrell as a means to escape the political turmoil in Colombia, South America. As hard as it was

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HOW TO HELP Be a guest at the annual Holiday Home Tour, a great way to begin the holiday season, and plan to visit the garage sale.

As well, due to normal attrition, the group is greatly in need of a new crop of members willing to get involved.

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Luxury homesites are selling now at The Canyons at HCH Ranch in Georgetown.

Located off of FM 3405 in Georgetown in a private gated community, these heavily wooded home sites will offer expansive hill country views throughout. The Canyons at HCH Ranch feature luxury custom homes built exclusively by Grand Endeavor Homes. The Canyons is a place of unmatched natural beauty in the Texas Hill Country.

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Custom Homes

G I V I N G B A C K 2023

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Situated on some of the most scenic land in Williamson County, The Canyons rests atop rolling hills looking out over the vast landscape. Offering an abundance of natural beauty and lush vistas, The Canyons has been carefully planned to integrate seamlessly into the natural environment. The development of The Canyons pays homage to the rich heritage of the land and encourages the continuation of this existing beauty to create a timeless natural environment. The homes in The Canyons are considered part of a cohesive element that melds the natural beauty with a place to call home.

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THE KEY2FREE

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy of Teri Jansen

empowering trafficking survivors survi vors 2023 CAMPAIGNS

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he Key2Free was founded in April 2013 after a group of ladies went on an educational trip to Thessaloniki, Greece to learn of the global prevalence of human sex trafficking. It was there that now CEO Amy Davis received a calling to start an organization to serve women who have been exploited and trafficked.

WHAT WE DO The PATH2Freedom Restorative Housing program provides education and awareness via a long-term (12-18 months) program but, more importantly, includes free, 24-hour, comprehensive residential care for women who have been sold in the commercial sex industry. Though the primary focus is Williamson County, The Key2Free has worked with victims and survivors nationwide.

The Key2Free also hosts "Be The Voice", a podcast to educate the public about human trafficking; available on Spotify, iTunes, and Twitter.

Follow on Instagram @bethevoice. pod.

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We are currently in our annual 100 Days of Giving Freedom Campaign, which runs until midnight December 31. We believe, with the help of the community, we can impact survivors of sex trafficking. Together, we have the potential to transform the course of their stories, as lives will be changed, hope will be restored, and a generation of survivors will rise up empowered to fight back against modern-day slavery. The goal for our giving campaign is $150,000.

On October 21, The Key2Free opened Eden’s Corner, a women’s thrift boutique providing sustainable income for programming as well as job training and employment opportunities for program participants. For more information, follow @edens_ corner.k2f on Instagram.

In the near term, our goal is to renovate the garage at Freedom House (our restorative home) to provide a recreation space for residents. This Recreation Room would allow survivors to take a break from the heavy topics and issues they are addressing. Additionally, the space can be used for myriad creative outlets that help them process the trauma they are working through.

Our 11th annual gala, “A Night at the Movies,” will be held at Reunion Ranch in Georgetown Saturday April 27, 2024. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now at TheKey2Free.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Key2Free believes one of the most successful ways to support someone in recovery and restoration is through genuine, authentic relationships, so we call our volunteers “KEYpers.” Volunteer opportunities include event support, administrative/office help, meal delivery, boutique help, survivor advocacy. For more information on how to become a KEYper, contact MGuzman@TheKey2Free.org.

The Key2Free is also always looking for community partners to help us provide services to the organization, e.g., dental assistance, car maintenance, lawn maintenance, legal services, therapy, etc.

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TEXAS SIT-REP

VITAL ISSUES

FOR THE FUTURE OF TEXAS

Colonel Terry Wilson (USA-Retired) Representative TX-20

Story and photos contributed

by Rep. Terry Wilson R-TX20

“

It is an honor to serve you as Texas State Representative for the 88th Texas Legislature. The regular and special sessions delivered on vital issues for the future of Texas. The 2024-25 Texas budget will invest $50.4B in public education, $42.9B for public health, $9.3B in infrastructure investments, $5.1B for border security, and $5B in property tax relief from legislation passed in the 2019 legislative session.

I

was honored to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs. The committee oversaw legislation to support veterans’ mental health, help military and veteran families obtain and transfer occupational licenses, and improve the position of Texas’s military bases for future Department of Defense base realignment, benefiting the Texas economy, military families, and their surrounding communities, all while supporting our national defense.

There is still work to be done, and you play a significant role. To protect the rights and authority of the people of Texas, the Texas Constitution requires that certain types of legislation receive authorization from the voters before becoming law.

This year, 14 propositions will appear on the ballot addressing funding water, broadband, higher education infrastructure, and providing $12.7 billion in property taxes back to taxpayers.

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When a bill comes up for a vote on the floor of the House, I always have a summary on hand with information on what the bill would do along with the arguments for and against it. In this article I wanted to highlight five of the proposed amendments I believe are of particular importance and have my wholehearted support.

Proposition 4 Property Tax Relief Property taxes are the main funding mechanism for local governments in Texas. Every year, the chief appraiser for your county asseses the value of your home or business to find its “market value,” or how much it would be worth on the market if you sold the property.

The chief appraiser then checks if there are any limitations on how much their official assessment of a property’s value can increase from one year to the next, regardless of how much the market value may have risen. Once that cap has been applied, the resulting value is known as the “assessed value.” These re-

strictions are typically percentage limitations; e.g., assessed values of homesteaded properties are limited to a 10 percent increase each year.

Once the assessed value has been found, the appraisal district applies any deductions or credits, reducing their assessment of the property to the final “taxable Value”.

For example, homestead properties currently receive a $40,000 exemption from school districts, causing their “taxable value” to be $40,000 lower than their “assessed value” for the calculation of the taxes owed to their local school district.

When your local school district builds its budget, staff use a formula set by the legislature to determine how much funding they should receive based on the number of students attending schools in the district, plus the various needs of those students that make their education more expensive (e.g., CTE courses require expensive equipment used for student training that are not required for standard textbook-only courses).

TEXAS SIT-REP

“

I wholeheartedly support Proposition 4.

These changes would save the average homeowner $1,357 per year on school M&O taxes (based on the $331,000 median home price).

Once districts determine how much funding will be required according to the formulas, they calculate the revenue they could potentially collect from their maintenance and operations (M&O) property tax. In 2019, the 86th legislature capped M&O collections so ISDs cannot collect more than 2.5 percent more money in the current year than in the previous year from the set of properties they taxed that year.

If more money is needed than the district can collect, the state will make up the difference out of “general revenue,” the main pool of funds the state collects from sales taxes and other state revenue. When the state wants to lower the level of property taxes charged by an ISD, we change the formula to replace specific property tax revenue with general revenue funds, and the school district lowers its M&O rate accordingly.

As a result, the school district gets the same amount of funds, but the taxpayers pay less in property taxes.

This process is known as “compression,” since it is lowering—or compressing—the M&O tax rate down as long as the state continues to provide the funding needed to replace the reduced property tax revenue for the school district.

I wholeheartedly support Proposition 4. These changes would save the average homeowner $1,357 per year on school M&O taxes (based on the $331,000 median home price). It will provide businesses with much needed relief from unexpected tax bills if the value of their property increases

PROPOSITION 4 WOULD MAKE T H E F O L LO W I N G C H A N G E S TO T H E P R O P E R T Y TAX S YS T E M I N T E XA S Increase the Homestead Exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 Ensure homestead exemptions are applied equally to all homestead owners.

Authorize the Legislature to provide for $12.7 billion in new M&O compression Provide non-residential properties a 20 percent cap on increases in their Assessed Value Limit the term length of appraisal board members to four years in counties with a population over 75,000 and allow positions on appraisal boards to be publicly elected.

Exempt appropriations for M&O compression from counting towards the state’s “Population + Inflation” spending cap on general revenue, simplifying the process for providing more tax relief in the future. in a short span of time, and it will allow voters a voice on the board of appraisers who determine the taxable values of their homes. I encourage all voters in Williamson County to make sure they get to the polls to support this measure.

The establishment of the Public University Fund (PUF) has proven to be one of the most effective and beneficial decisions in the history of higher education in Texas. In 1876,

concerned about their ability to make biannual appropriations for the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, the 15th Texas Legislature set aside a parcel of land to provide for the needs of the universities through rents, sales, farming, and whatever other means of return the investment managers could glean. That land turned out to be rich with mineral and oil deposits, which provided our higher education systems with the revenue needed to become what they are today.

Proposition 5 Texas University Fund Despite the overwhelming success of the 1876 PUF, we have yet to create a similar model for the public institutions of higher education created since then, all of whom receive their state support directly from general revenue funds collected primarily from state sales tax.

While no funding system can ever expect to literally “strike oil,” the proposed Texas University Fund would take us a step closer to relieving the burden of providing for vital portions of public higher education institutions from taxpayers. Specifically the Texas University Fund will provide resources for high-quality research at our universities that have raised at least $20 million in funding through private or federal research contracts, and have awarded a three-year rolling average of at least 45 research doctoral degrees per academic year.

Research universities are among  the most powerful drivers of economGIVING BACK 2023

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TEXAS SIT-REP ic growth. Researchers set down roots and work to develop new technologies. Manufacturers that want to build products based on those new technologies want to locate near the people who know the technology best, bringing new jobs with them and helping fund education opportunities that keep the cycle of technological and economic progress moving.

“

I support the Texas University Fund because it will save taxpayers money in the long run and help grow the capacity of our state for economic and technological growth.

Without a sufficient water supply, nothing else we do to grow our state and provide for future prosperity will matter. Proposition 6 is essential for the future of Texas, plain and simple.

Proposition 8 Broadband Infrastructure Fund

Proposition 6 Texas Water Fund Diminishing water resources are the single largest barrier to Texas becoming the most populated and prosperous state in the nation. The Texas State Demographer anticipates that by 2050 Texas will eclipse California with a population of 54.4 million, nearly doubling our current 29.6 million in just 27 years. Providing water for that level of growth will require a great deal of investment and infrastructure.

Proposition 6 would provide for the creation of two new funds, the “New Water Supply for Texas Fund” and the “Texas Water Fund” to help provide funding for the water project Texas will require to meet those needs. The “Texas Water Fund” will provide local

`

governments with low interest loans to finance water infrastructure projects needed to provide their populations with water. The “New Water Supply for Texas Fund” will be used by the Texas Water Development Board to secure and provide seven million new acre-feet of water supply for Texas by 2034.

Business goes where there is infrastructure. As the cost of living and population density of Texas urban centers grows, the opportunity for new industry to locate farther out increases, but only if there is infrastructure for them to be able to operate effectively and for their workforce to be able to live there and thrive.

Rural areas of Texas are brimming with this potential with inexpensive land, good community values, and lower cost of living. However, any business looking to locate outside of urban areas would be hesitant to start operating in an area without access to modern information infrastructure.

Proposition 8 would create the Texas Broadband Infrastructure fund, which will invest $1.5 billion into rural broadband infrastructure over 10 years. Establishing this fund will also allow Texas to retrieve tax dollars paid to Washington DC via the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and De-

ployment program, which will match $4 for every $1 Texas invests in rural broadband.

Proposition 9 • COLA for Retired Teachers Texas Retired Teachers have long deserved the same type of Cost-ofLiving Adjustments (COLA) received by other state retirees and social security recipients. Rising inflation and cost of living combined with restrictions preventing them from returning to work after retirement left many retired teachers struggling to choose between paying for necessary medication and feeding themselves.

Over the last six years, the legislature has worked diligently to improve the health of the Teacher Retirement System Trust Fund. In 2019, we took the fund from insolvency to being able to reliably provide current levels of benefits for the next 30 years. In 2021, we improved the fund’s health to prepare to provide a COLA and a single 13th check for those in greatest need. Finally, in 2023, the changes to the funds and levels of investment have finally reached levels that allow for a small, regular, COLA that will help adjust for inflation so that their pension does not evaporate just because the value of the dollars they are being paid goes down over time.

We owe it to our retired teachers to uphold our end of the bargain and provide the value in their pensions that they earned over a lifetime of providing Texas with the world-class workforce we have today.

If you would like a version of this information you can take with you to vote at the ballot box, or if you have questions, please contact HD20.

(512) 463-0309 • terry.wilson@house.texas.gov.

ELECTION DAY FOR THESE PROPOSITIONS IS NOVEMBER 7 EARLY VOTING ENDS NOVEMBER 3 MAIL-IN BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

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photos courtesy Tara Thornton

Changing the Way Foster Begins

I

n 2021, Tara Thornton found out multiple kids had been sleeping in the Child Protective Services offices for over 100 days straight, right here in Georgetown, while awaiting foster placement. She and other community members began to ask the question, “What if there was a home?”

While the team was trying to come up with a way to provide a home, Tara was invited to a kick-off event for a new Isaiah 117 House in Waco. After hearing about this new non-profit, Tara was ready to bring it to Williamson County.

What services does Isaiah 117 House provide?

Founded in Carter County, Tennessee in 2017, Isaiah 117 House provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children and teens who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect 26

G I V I N G B A C K 2023

and are waiting on placement with a foster or kinship family. Every Isaiah 117 House provides brand-new clothing, toiletries, school supplies, bedding, and other necessary items to make it easier for a foster family to welcome the child into their home. In October, Isaiah 117 House began serving in Williamson County by providing clothing and meals to kids entering foster care.

Tara says, "We do not yet have our physical house in Williamson County.

Therefore, we have been focusing on raising awareness in the community, building relationships, and being a blessing to our Child Protective Services department." Stories that are most impactful come from CPS workers who feel cared for and appreciated. Their jobs are very difficult and every month volunteers deliver treats, encouragement, and a listening ear.

Future plans for Isaiah 117?

Our primary goal right now is to begin construction on the Isaiah 117 House. They hope to start that during the first half of 2024.

Where can we see you around Georgetown this year?

We will be at the Downtown Christmas Stroll on December 1 and 2.

We invite individuals of all ages, families, businesses, groups, and churches to join our next Expansion Meeting (1-hour volunteer meeting open to the public) January 7 at 4pm at First Baptist Church. We will plan for community awareness events, the Hot Chocolate Stand Challenge, monthly CPS appreciation events, and more.

HOW YOU CAN HELP We love to share our story—invite us to your groups to speak about the mission of Isaiah 117 House.

Donations: We’d love to stock our Giving Room with needed items for kids entering care.

Become a “sock buddy”: Walk the journey with us by becoming a monthly giver as we change the way foster care begins. isaiah117house.com/sockbuddy Hot Chocolate Stand Challenge: Host a hot chocolate stand at your house or business in January.

Scan the code for more information about our needs and events.

IMAGE CREDIT: TARA THORNTON

PHOTO BY RUDY XIMINEZ

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UNSUNG HEROES

by Ann Marie Kennon

silent samaritans of georgetown I

n Georgetown, there is much valor and virtue in the hearts of our smaller, less well-known non-profits. These organizations regularly weave threads of hope and warmth into the fabric of the community, but are sometimes overshadowed by the glitz and glamor of the holiday season.

These silent samaritans, perhaps unknown to many, will also labor to fill the lives of the less fortunate with the spirit of holiday joy and kindness. They sprinkle goodwill, expecting nothing in return but the smiles (or tail wags) of those they serve.

If you are looking to be a part of their stories this holiday season by donating or lending a helping hand, here is your invitation to visit their websites and social media pages to find out what needs they may have and how you can support. On the left are the agency names, and on the right, the demographics they serve.

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G I V I N G B A C K 2023

AGE of Central Texas

Health, Seniors, Veterans & 1st Responder

Ageless Aviation Dreams

Seniors

All Things Wild Rehabilitation

Animals

Annunciation Maternity Home

Women, Health, Victims, Children & Youth

BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse), Austin Children & Youth, Victims Blue Moon Equine Rescue

Animals

Caring Smiles Foundation

Children & Youth

Celebrating Heroes

Veterans & 1st Responders

Critter Crusaders

Animals

Doggies for Dementia

Animals

Driving Hope of Texas

Seniors, Health

Family Eldercare

Health, Seniors, Special Needs & Disabilities, Social Services & Poverty

Friends of the Georgetown Public Library Arts HELP Crisis Assistance

Victims & Illness

Helping Hands of Georgetown

Food Insecurity, Homeless

Heroes Night Out

Veterans & 1st Responders

Jail to Jobs

Education, Recover & Restore

Key2Free

Victims & Illness, Women, Children

Laundry Love Georgetown

Children & Youth, Homeless, Social Services & Poverty

Lions Club

Children & Youth, Recover & Restore

Maranatha Home Health Care

Seniors

Military Order of the World Wars

Veterans & 1st Responders

Oak Ridge Disciple House

Recover & Restore

Pregnancy Help Center of Williamson County

Women, Children

Redeemed Ministries

Women, Victims & Illness

S.A.F.E.

Women, Victims & Illness

Stonehaven Center

Homeless & Housing, Special Needs & Disabilities

TEARS Foundation

Victims & Illness, Women

United for the People

Veterans & 1st Responders

We Are Not Broken

Victims & Illness, Women

WilCo FCA

Children & Youth

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SHELTER STORIES

contributed by April Peiffer

Happy Pawlidays

from the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

T

he holidays are a time for love, celebration, family, and togetherness, so there’s no better time to invite a foster dog into your home than now. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is excited to host its annual Home For The Holidays fostering program again this year.

As part of the program, you can pick out any medium-to-large adult dog as a foster pet through the holiday season! Fostering is a wonderful way to help the shelter by making space for new pets in need of the shelter’s help, and it’s an activity the whole family can participate in. Giving back to the community through fostering is a gift for all, not the least of which is that lucky dog being fostered.

Home For The Holidays is an important program for the shelter because it introduces peo-

ple to the growing needs of the shelter and is a fun and meaningful means of doing so during a time when everyone is looking for ways to give back. Plus, staff and volunteers are able to enjoy their holiday just a touch more knowing their favorite furbaby is in a temporary loving home.

And it provides that space that the shelter so desperately needs for the new dogs who come to the shelter.

So, why not give the gift of a home, love, comfy beds, and lots of extra helpings of holiday treats to a deserving shelter pet this season and enjoy the love and affection you’ll receive in return?

Your foster pet will repay your holiday generosity of spirit with plenty of love and affection right back. There will also be plenty of tail wags and doggie kisses thrown in as thanks – we can guarantee that!

HOW IT WORKS It’s simple! First, scan the code to become a foster for the shelter, click the Join Our Foster Program link, and fill out the New Foster Registration tab.

Then you can either make an appointment to come pick out the medium-to-large adult dog by emailing adoption@wilco.org or drop in any day of the week, starting at noon, to have staff help you choose your Home For The Holidays foster pet!

Pro tip: Fosters can choose to adopt their foster pet at any time, if it turns out that the match is the perfect fit. Otherwise, simply bring the dog back to the shelter once the holidays are over. The program runs through January 2, 2024.

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G I V I N G B A C K 2023

Let Your Pet Be Our Guest!

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BROOKWOOD IN GEORGETOWN

There’s no Place Like Home...

Grace Place!

O

ne of the first things Michelle Meyer will talk about after meeting you is how excited she is to move into Grace Place, a new tiny home community for adults with special needs at Brookwood in Georgetown (BiG). “We’re really happy for her. She’s going to have a safe place when we travel," her mom Cathy says.

That peace of mind is one reason Michelle is excited to be one of the first residents at Grace Place. “My parents are worried about who will be with me when they go out of town.

This is an answer to their prayers,” she says. “It’s so amazing living out here.

I’m glad I have my own place. I’m very independent.”

Kylie Gilleland, the inspiration for Grace Place, is also looking forward to a more independent lifestyle.

“She likes her quiet time and her space,” her mom Robin says. “This village will enable her to have that social aspect, but when she wants to get away, she can have her space.”

For resident Bart Madeley, Grace Place also means “a lot more independence. It means a home, a place of connection. We’re having a blast over there.”

VIBRANT JOURNEY When Erin Kiltz searched for a place for her daughter Gracie, who had Down syndrome, the options for adults with special needs felt black and white, providing custodial care instead of the productive, meaningful life she wanted for Gracie. She ultimately found that in a residential and vocational community for people with special needs based in Brookshire, Texas. “The Brookwood model was beautiful, life giving, and productive. I felt like Dorothy on The Wizard of Oz after she opens her door and sees everything around her in color.”

Grace Place reflects Erin’s journey to finding and replicating that model in Brookwood in Georgetown—a nonprofit organization that creates meaningful jobs for adults with special needs.

One thing Erin assured was that Grace Place had homes she would want to live in herself. “I think it’s important to have a beautiful place to live. I wanted them to have homes where they would be proud to invite their friends Bart Madeley and Emily Franz over and be able to thrive for a The grand opening of Grace Place Phase 1 is lifetime.”

Dec 3 from 1pm - 5pm at 2148 CR 120 in Georgetown and will unveil their secure and inviting black and white farmhouse-style community.

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G I V I N G B A C K 2023

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

WHY GRACE PLACE? Grace Place is answering the number one fear of every parent of a child with special needs – what happens when I am gone? Where will my child live and who will care for them? However, Grace Place will be much more than a beautiful residential community for Citizens; it will be what the café and shop are to BiG, a true destination. The vision for Grace Place includes three different lifestyle offerings for Citizens to choose to live in, plus revenue generating enterprises.

The enterprises accomplish three things: jobs for citizens, income to sustain Grace Place, and the opportunity for the community to engage with Citizens, therefore changing the way the world views this population.

Some of these enterprises could include a drive-in movie theater/amphitheater, chapel, wedding venue, and pet resort where Citizens can earn a pet care license so locals can board their family pets. With 127 acres, the sky’s the limit on what might evolve at Grace Place.

HOW YOU CAN HELP “Of course, this vision is only possible and dependent upon generous funding,” Erin says, “so as funding is provided, we will build. However, Grace Place always needs our wonderful volunteers.” Those interested can email volunteer@bigtx.org and you can check out BiG’s rolling wishlist at BrookwoodInGeorgetown.org.

citizen spotlights AMY MICHELLE MARLEY “My happy place” is how Amy describes her life at BiG. Thanks to the community for adults with special needs, she has found purpose, friends, a place to belong, and soon, a house of her own at Grace Place – a new residential community BiG is opening in December. “I just love it so much,” she says.

He has already started making a difference after being recruited to coach a baseball team at San Gabriel Park in the spring. “People look to Bart as a leader,” BiG founder Erin Kiltz says.

MICHELLE MEYER “It’s a wonderful program and I’m glad there’s something here for us,” Michelle says. “We’re one big family, it’s amazing.” Her mom Cathy has been thrilled to see her daughter blossom as a BiG citizen. “She loves this program, loves every job – the café, shop, everything. It’s changed her life.”

BART MADELEY “What I love most about BiG is the community itself – the people that I connect with and the friends we have. It’s empowered me and gave me more confidence to be me. It gives me purpose and meaning to be impacted on a daily basis and that we can impact others.”

Robin appreciates the peace of mind BiG gives her. “I’m totally trusting, just so at ease and knowing that she’s being taken care of well. I know she’ll be here if anything happens to us, and she’ll be well loved and well taken care of.”

ROBIN GILLELAND VOLUNTEER, CITIZEN MOM For an empty nester mom of three children, one with special needs, BiG has given Robin a sense of purpose.

“Kylie doesn’t like to miss work. I’ll ask if she wants to stay home sometimes.

She’s like, ‘No!’ ”

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JOAN O’BRIEN VOLUNTEER, CITIZEN MOM As a mom of twin boys, one typical and one with special needs, Joan says she has had her foot in two worlds for the last 28 years. “As a special needs parent, you’re constantly told, ‘This is the way the world is and somehow they’ve got to fit in.’ At BiG, they adjust to the citizens. They’re like, ‘They see the world differently and react to things differently.’ There’s a lot of grace. “We’ll be driving home and Will will say, ‘Mom I love my life.’ ”

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GEORGETOWN BEARD CLUB

photos courtesy GBC

Creating Change One Whisker at a Time

T

he GBC was conceived in 2015 as a way for community-minded guys to improve the often-negative image the public holds of bearded men. From there they morphed into a more charity-oriented organization dedicated to serving in any way they could, but always with an irreverent, fun-loving style.

WHAT THEY DO The GBC is dedicated to filling needs in the community. Sometimes they volunteer for other organizations but they also create signature fundraisers and activities to raise money for organizations and people in need.

Quite often, their goal is simply to get people out in the community and working together for public service.

Members are sometimes recommended by local justices of the peace to provide community service hours for juveniles. One young person, having completed his service hours, realized he had developed a passion for helping and stayed with the group even after meeting his requirements.

He went on to get an internship with a government entity and was kind enough to write a letter to the judge in praise of the GBC's efforts.

This year, the club is pleased to have partnered with others in the community to bring back the Community 36

G I V I N G B A C K 2023

Thanksgiving dinner at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park. They are also happy to count the biggest name of the holiday season, Santa Phil Gingras, among their members. Santa brings out the best in people all year long but especially during the holiday season.

HOW YOU CAN HELP If you haven’t already done so, the GBC asks readers to consider donating to the Community Thanksgiving campaign or the general fund, which gives them flexibility to share funds with a variety of charitable causes.

For those interested in volunteering, the GBC has been cleaning the Square on Saturday mornings— weather permitting—for a little over three years now. Anyone with work gloves and a positive attitude may join them and stay for breakfast tacos at Mikey V’s Tacos on the Square afterward.

Georgetown Beard Club Holiday Events Saturdays at 8am at Lamppost Coffee 11/23 Community Thanksgiving at the Georgetown Community Center 11/24 Lighting of the Square with Santa 12/2 Christmas Stroll Parade and Santa’s Village 12/16 Christmas Caroling on the Square

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WORTH THE DRIVE

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G I V I N G B A C K 2023

by Rachel Strickland

WORTH THE DRIVE

Today, the Globe features big artists in the industry who To tell the story of the Globe Theatre in Bertram, Texas, want to play for a smaller audience, since the Globe only

it is necessary to go back in time to early 1935, when the citizens of Bertram decided it was time for their small town to have its own theater. A building contract was granted to Marble Falls residents C. C. Cardwell and Mike Toliver, and construction began. In July 1935, the Bertram Enterprise newspaper wrote that the new theater would be “one of the prettiest theaters to be found in Texas in a town the size of Bertram, or even larger.” Finally, on August 20, 1935, the theater opened its doors.

As Bertram’s new theater didn’t have a name yet, the owners held a contest and Roy Dycus won for suggesting Globe Theatre.

Ownership of the Globe eventually went to Tommy Knight, who had begun working at the theater when he was still just a child. Tommy ran the theater until it was no longer profitable, and was still collecting tickets at its last movie showing in 1982. The theater remained deserted until 2009 when friends Zach Hamilton and Lance Regier purchased it with dreams of renovating it and bringing it back to its former glory.

In late 2015, after years of intensive restoration, the Globe Theatre reopened and is now owned and managed by Hamilton’s sister, Emily Ann Jones, and her husband, singer Jesse Lee Jones.

| MUSIC DREAM | Emily Ann’s family has called Bertram home since the 1960s and passed down their love of music for generations. Emily Ann began singing in church as a child and, in her late teens, began recording and touring with some big Texas artists, which got her on the Texas circuit. In 2012, Emily Ann won a singing competition in Austin and got a record deal, but instead, found herself at a live music bar in Nashville called Robert’s Western World, where she met her husband and became his artist-manager.

In 2014, Emily Ann hosted a songwriter’s TV show out of the Broken Spoke, a famous dance hall in Austin, which gave her the opportunity to form a relationship with many talented artists. “Music has always kept me grounded,” she says. “Some way, somehow, life always brought me back to music.”

seats 248. Emily Ann says that when she and her husband reopened the theater, they featured names like Bruce and Kelly Willis, Leroy Parnell, Jesse Daniel, and Robert Earl Keen right before he retired.

While the Globe mainly puts on live music these days, they still show movies on occasion, particularly during the holiday season. They also host weddings, birthday parties, and memorials, and are in the process of opening a biergarten next door.

Every first Wednesday, they host free Honky Tonk Wednesdays where folks come out and dance to different bands. Emily Ann is also working with the governor’s office to have Bertram designated a music-friendly community so they can host festivals and receive sponsorships from historic groups to preserve live music venues and live music in general.

| PRESERVING HISTORY | Emily Ann and her husband are enthusiastic about preserving downtown Bertram’s history and have purchased multiple pieces of real estate in hopes of restoring and preserving them. “We see a lot of potential, and so we’ve got some real estate we’ve slowly been rehabbing,” she says. “We like to preserve, and we like to educate about the history so people will respect it. Change is inevitable, and growth is happening. You have to embrace the growth, but there’s a way to do it so people will respect the history and retain the traditional aspects of a small town.”

Many people don’t realize all that downtown Bertram has to offer, she adds. “There’s Standard on Vaughan, which is a full mixology bar, Flanigan’s Distillery across the street, and three wineries within five minutes of downtown. It’s really starting to grow around here, and we’re true advocates for supporting the local community.”

GLOBE THEATRE 132 W. Vaughan St. | Bertram, TX 78605 GlobeTheatreTX.com

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FOOD

by Ann Marie Kennon

better boards & beyond Taking your Holiday Charcuterie to the Next Level

During the holidays your boards can be as visually stunning as they are brimming with festive flavors. Plus, they offer the ideal opportunity to capture picture-perfect moments for your holiday social media feeds. This holiday season, beyond the usual cured meats and cheeses, enjoy a culinary holiday renaissance, featuring everything from yuletide pancake boards to DIY decorating spreads, offering an even more delightful and festive culinary experience.

s ' boards

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S'MORES OPTIONS • 1 box family size graham crackers • 1 box chocolate grahams • 2 bags giant roaster marshmallows • 1 bag marshmallows • 3 one-lb milk chocolate bars • 3 cookies and cream bars • 9 Reese's peanut butter cups • 9 Reese's white chocolate peanut butter cups • 2 white chocolate bars • Mega Stuf Oreos • 1 jar marshmallow fluff (for no-cook s'mores) • 1 jar cookie butter • 1 jar peanut butter • 1 jar Nutella • strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries

BREAKFAST BOARD • Buttermilk pancakes • Baked bacon • Scrambled eggs • Butter

When the bacon is cooked, turn the oven down to 200°F and slide the pancakes in to keep everything warm while you scramble eggs and start arranging everything on the board.

• Fresh fruit

Arrange the cooked pancakes down the center for the board. Finish by placing the baked bacon and scrambled eggs on the left side of the board.

• Chocolate chips

Serve immediately while everything is warm. Enjoy!

• Maple syrup

• Peanut butter • Nutella • Whipped cream

Celebrating the holidays often means entertaining house guests, so when they wake up hungry, start by washing and slicing the fruit to put on the board first. You can also add syrup, butter, chocolate chips, Nutella and peanut butter any time.

While the bacon is baking, get started on the pancakes.

Charcuterie Chalet You can always build your foundation with a gingerbread house kit, but for a complete DIY, cream cheese is your best bet for charcuterie chalet glue. You can also use it to make a beautiful, smooth snowy drift (on the rooftop or elsewhere).

• Triscuits are excellent for wall construction.

• Salami rounds make great roofing tiles. You can also use ham or prosciutto to make rosettes for your landscape.

• Pretzel squares are great for window frames.

• Dried fruit pieces add a pop of color for any type of decor, plus, half slices of dried oranges as window awnings/coverings or decorative transom.

• Rice or popcorn cakes cut in half make great doors and you can attach a cranberry as a doorknob.

If you are vibing for a rustic scene and have plenty of pretzels on hand, you can stack them on your exterior walls for a great log cabin look.

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POPPY TALKS

I

PSL Season, Again

t’s just past Halloween so naturally it’s time to start ignoring the resolution I will surely make to lose weight after the holidays. Incidentally, Costco won the “first Christmas decoration” battle — before the first day of school.

I don’t even plan not to gain weight over the holidays any more. I passed my 35th birthday a long time ago. You know—that age when you know you HAVE to exercise a little more to compete with the stay-at-home yoga moms in skinny jeans carrying green smoothies in matching Yeti mugs.

At age 40 I realized exercise alone is a waste of time so I actually have to eat less no matter how much I work out.

Wait for it… hahahahaha. The cashier at McDonald's sees me three times a week and still says, “Thank you, come again,” as if she doesn't even know me and there's not a 1,000 percent chance of that happening.

And now that I’m well past the off-ramp to 50, I just don’t care any more. My bad habits are burned-in at this point and like all those crazy ads on TikTok have shown, I will do anything to lose weight except eat right and exercise.

So here’s how it works during PSL (pumpkin spice latte season). October 20: buy more Halloween candy because I ate all the chocolate I got in September before the seasonal prices kicked in.

November 1: Change radio pre-set to Sirius XM Holiday to get in the mood. Eat all the leftover Smarties I had to buy because I ate all the good stuff before October 20 and had to choose between candy corns or Smarties at the last minute. There’s only one way to eat candy corns… first, throw them in the trash. If you’re like me, they are lying in the can right next to those disgusting orange marshmallow peanuts. What diabolical sugar-Satan invented those nasty chalk bombs anyway?

Thanksgiving: It’s a good idea to sign up for a Turkey Trot or some other kind of fundraising race. I think it’s a nice thing to do to remind myself of those who are less fortunate during the season of giving. But then, I’m so out of shape at oh, say… the quarter-mile mark, I have to stop and get sick in the bushes. On the plus side of that, I won’t feel as much guilt later when I shovel in turkey and more calories than Michael Phelps on butterfly day.

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While I’m on running, who invented marathons? Okay, I know it was a guy in Greece and there was a battle. I suppose I might run during a war, but seriously, I can’t remember the last time I Googled anything; restaurants, job sites, or doctor offices, that I didn’t include “within 10 miles” in the filter. I won’t even drive 26.2 miles.

Early December: And so begins the round robin of Christmas brunches, lunches, dinners, parties, cookie exchanges and, in my case, a visit from Insulin Claus. Plus, it’s a rule that I have to have savory snacks and thick drinks to watch “The Grinch” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. That’s tradition so there’s really nothing to be done there.

December 20, begin wearing yoga pants, or Santa suit to hide what shakes, when I laugh, like a bowl full of jelly. Also start stocking up on alcohol for the family events soon to come. Most of the time I don’t visit as much as I just sit on the floor with the dog and take notes for future Poppy columns. It’s good therapy.

By December 29 I’m ready to rip out my radio because I’ve heard Mariah Carey say all she wants for Christmas is meeeee about a billion times, so I go back to my regular pre-sets; Classic Rock, 80s (which is actually also 'classic' now), Fox News, and USA Comedy. I frequently just move straight up the dial to the jokes when I simply can’t take the news any more.

Naturally, also during this last week of December, I’ll also get at least a half-dozens cards that were mailed late and inevitably they are from people I forgot and it’s too obvious if I send them one now. Next year I’m just scheduling Facebook posts.

January 1: Wake up bright and early to start my new exercise regimen. I have no hangover because I’m too old to stay up to midnight any more. Around noon I’ll decide there is too much football to watch so I don’t have time to exercise. Cycle complete. And by that I mean, cycle of life.

I’m still not touching a bike.

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PARTING SHOTS

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Meredith and Tony Reyes and their two sons were especially excited to watch the eclipse after learning about it together. “We homeschool and have been learning about the solar eclipse as a family all week, so it was really neat to see what we’ve been studying in action,” Meredith says.

Tony and Meredith Reyes, and their sons Oliver and Ryder

Stellar Show

Solar Eclipse Dazzles Georgetown

On October 14, families and friends turned their eyes to the skies at Berry Springs Park and Preserve to catch a glimpse of the annual solar eclipse.

Duane Davis, Robert Goodrich, Vicki Goodrich, and Keri Davis Pochun Lin and his wife Yajong Lin and their son Clayton

This year’s annual eclipse was visible for the first time in North America since 2012. An annual eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and sun, leaving a ring of the sun visible.

A total eclipse, on the other hand, completely obscures the sun for a few minutes.

If you missed it, mark your calendars for the next total eclipse, April 8, 2024.

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