Fall 2009
Welcome to the seventh issue of GeorgeTown & Country Magazine, a resource for residents and newcomers alike. The magazine’s primary focus is on Georgetown and secondarily, the beautiful Hill Country area. We’re happy to announce that we are now publishing the magazine four times a year! The historic Dan Moody trial reenactment will take place again this year for six weekends in the historic courthouse. The 4th annual Up the Chisholm Trail event takes place in San Gabriel Park, with a chuckwagon cook-off and more. The Williamson Museum is featured in this issue, a perfect place to learn about our local heritage. Our day trip in this issue is the Austin Zoo in southwest Austin. Another informational article covers the chocolate factory on the Square and the coffee basics article covers the process from the grower to the roaster. We also have information on the Writer’s Voice event at Southwestern University as well as their calendar of events for the fall. If you are interested in Georgetown history, we have an article about a new book, The Ties that Bind: a Georgetown Texas Memoir. We value your feedback, so let us know if there’s something that you think might make the magazine better! Also, if you would like to be an advertiser or would like to contribute an article for the magazine, please feel free to contact me at 512863-3263. I hope you enjoy the magazine and find it useful! Lucas Adams, Publisher
Your Guide to Georgetown & the Hill Country
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You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody
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Up the Chisholm Trail
Play recreates historic trial in the original courtroom 4th annual event to be held in San Gabriel Park
12 Williamson Museum A place to look back at history
13 The Austin Zoo
Day trip to southwest Austin
16 Writer’s Voice event at SU
Author Tobias Wolff is the guest speaker
20 Candy Factory Tasty treats made locally
23 Coffee Basics From the plantation to the roaster
25 Georgetown Memoir New book about Georgetown in the early 1900s
26 Southwestern University Fall calendar of events
27 28 4 8 11 11 17 15 15 19 16 21 10 17 18 9 3 19 22 11 17 4 3 27 8 10 29 15 10
Cianfrani Coffee Company Dog-Eared Books Franklin & Company Jewelers Gatherings Georgetown Winery Georgetown Antique Mall Gingersnaps Kids Boutique Harper-Chesser Historic Inn Hollandaze Gourmet Inner Space Cavern Just Kidds & More Keller Williams Realty Keva Juice Kiss My Beads Laurie’s Too Lone Star Properties Novitá Spa Plaka Greek Cafe San Gabriel House B&B She, Etc... Day Spa Sweet Serendipity The Collector The Escape Tony & Luigi’s Tribal Impressions Whimsey Appraisals Wildfire Wonderful Things Zoot Pet Hospital Advertise in Magazine
Phone 512-863-3263 For more information
or visit www.georgetownandcountry.com for rates and to view previous issues © 2009 Lucas Adams. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without express written permission from Lucas Adams, of any portion of this publication is prohibited. Reasonable efforts have been taken to prepare this publication for accuracy, however the publisher assumes no liability for errors. Content in GeorgeTown & Country Magazine may include paid advertisements. Booklet designed, photographed and published by Lucas Adams. Phone 512-863-3263.
Business Happenings Georgetown Winery
Georgetown Winery won three medals at the Lone Star International Wine Competition in June, including a Grand Star Winner & Gold Medal for their Chocolate Cherry Port. They also won a bronze medal for their Shiraz. They had the best dessert wine in the entire competition in which more than 3,000 entries were submitted. For more information, phone 512-869-8600.
Genghis Grill
Located in the southeast corner of Wolf Ranch Shopping Center near the water sculpture, Genghis Grill is Georgetown’s newest restaurant. Pick your own meat, vegetables and sauce and they cook it for you on a giant wok. Phone 512-930-5401 for more information or visit www.genghisgrill.com.
Amante’s
Located at the corner of 7th Street and Main in the historic Masonic Lodge building, Amante’s will be the latest addition to the downtown restaurant scene, scheduled to open in September. They will feature a variety of Italian food from the north of Italy.
Copper Ridge
The antiques store is having a silent auction on selected items for a week at the first of each month. Go by and check it out! They are at 3700 Williams Dr.
The Escape
The Escape was selected as one of the top 25 retailers for 2009 from 600 stores and galleries located all over the country. The awards ceremony was held in Philadelphia and was sponsored by Niche Magazine. For more information, phone 512-930-0052.
Hill Country Bookstore
The bookstore is celebrating its 14th year on the Square and they are celebrating with a free book with every purchase! The Hill Country Bookstore says thanks to its customers for their support! For more information, phone 512-869-4959.
James Avery
Located in Wolf Ranch Town Center, James Avery has opened into Georgetown. For more information, phone 512-868-1279 or visit www.jamesavery.com.
kids
Franklin & Co. Jewelers
Franklin & Co. Jewelers has added the unique and beautiful Arista line of jewelry to its product line. For more information, phone 512-869-2300 or visit www.franklin-and-co.com.
Zoe’s Gifts & Accessories
Zoe’s is coming soon as an online store, at www. zoesgeorgetown.com. If you are interested in hosting a trunk show, phone 512-863-7685. Be sure to check out her site!
Framer’s Gallery
Framer’s Gallery, located at 610 Main St., is now offering art classes taught by locally recognized art instructors. For more information, phone 512-863-2214.
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Gingersnaps Kids Boutique
Gingersnaps is scheduled to open in September at 201 University Oaks Blvd., Suite 520 near Ikea. They are a children’s boutique and photography studio. For more information, phone 512-653-1095 or visit www.gingersnapskids.com.
Tony & Luigi’s
Located at 1201 Church St., Tony & Luigi’s now has live music by Ken Krause Thursday through Saturday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Ken’s performance is “Song Stylings Reminiscent of the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra.” For more information, phone 512-864-2667.
Artwork by Sarah Blankenship
The Palace Theatre is presenting the You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody hit play from
September to October in the original Williamson County courtroom where the trial took place. Based on the 1923 trial in which a 27-year-old prosecutor named Dan Moody took on the Ku Klux Klan, the play offers insight into the historical event that put Georgetown on the map. At the time of the trial, Moody was the youngest district attorney in the state, a tall, lanky redhead who lived in Taylor. (His home in Taylor is now the Moody Museum). The nationally observed trial elevated Moody into the public eye, resulting in his becoming Texas attorney general and later, the youngest governor in the state’s history. The play, based on Ken Anderson’s book and titled the same, was written and directed by Tom Swift. The Palace Theatre produces the play, which has become so popular that it has run for six seasons, albeit not in consecutive years. Each year is a sellout, though, a testament to the power of the storyline and the interest in our local history. In 2006, the Williamson County Courthouse was closed
for a total renovation and at that time extensive work was done to the original courtroom, restoring it to its previous condition with balconies (which had been removed in the 1960s). The play comes alive in this atmosphere and one finds oneself envisioning in great detail the events of the past. (The only difference in the courtroom from then to now is the inclusion of air-conditioning.) The regular show runs every weekend in September, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m., and also the first two weekends in October, same days and times. To purchase tickets, contact the Palace Theatre at 512-869-7469, or visit www. thegeorgetownpalace.org. (See the following page for the entire 2009-2010 Palace Theatre schedule.) Additionally, The Williamson Museum and the Palace Theater will present two special dress rehearsal performances with two separate casts, an opportunity to see each cast and enjoy a wine and appetizer reception. The special performances will benefit The Williamson Museum. The two performances will take place September 3rd and September 24th at the Courthouse. Tickets are available for both special performances through The Williamson Museum. For information, call 512-943-1670 or email caguirre@williamsonmuseum.org.
Georgetown Event
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512-869-7469
www.thegeorgetownpalace.org
2009~2010 Season DRIVING MISS DAISY by Alfred Uhry Aug. 28, 2009—Sept. 20, 2009 MAN OF LA MANCHA by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh & Joe Darian Oct. 2, 2009—Nov. 1, 2009 ANNIE by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strause & Martin Charnin Nov. 20, 2009—Dec. 30, 2009 NUNSENSE II (The 2nd Coming) By Dan Goggin Jan. 8, 2010—Feb. 7, 2010 A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC by Hugh Wheeler & Stephen Sondheim Feb. 19, 2010—Mar. 14, 2010 HARVEY by Mary Chase Mar. 26, 2010—Apr. 18, 2010 JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT May 7, 2010—June 6, 2010 THE QUEEN OF BINGO by Jeanne Michels & Phyllis Murphy June 18, 2010—July 11, 2010 THE WEDDING SINGER by Chad Bequelin, Tim Herlihy & Matthew Sklar Aug. 6, 2010—Sept. 5, 2010
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October 2nd through the 30th
The show will consist of original works in painting, collage and photography, and will be juried by three Austin artists: Jade Walker, painting/mixed media; Katherine Brimberry, printmaking; and Bill Kennedy, photography. The exhibition will begin October 2nd, First Friday, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at the library. The awarding of prizes in each of the three categories will take place at the reception, $750 for Best of Show, $500 for 1st Place and $150 for Honorable Mentions. Tours will begin at the Georgetown Public Library and continue to the other venues around Georgetown, including The Georgetown Public Library, The Framers Gallery, Cianfrani Coffee Company and Dog-Earred Books. For more information, visit www.georgetownartworks.org.
Swirl on the Square... Sip, Savor and Shop
Saturday, November 21, 6 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of shopping around the Georgetown Square while sampling Texas wines and dining on the local restaurants’ best holiday fare. Start your Christmas shopping early and find unique gifts at the event’s silent auction held in the Courthouse.
Tickets are $25 each and are available at the Georgetown Visitors Center at the corner of Main and 7th St. The event is a fund-raiser for the Main Street Facade Fund, sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street Program and the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. For more information, phone 800-436-8696 or visit www.mainstreetgeorgetown.com.
Georgetown Events
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The Williamson Museum’s Up the Chisholm Trail Event September 11 & 12, 2009
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Georgetown Event
again this year on September 11th and 12th.
The event, which celebrates the Chisholm Trail’s contributions to our local Texas heritage, has gained in popularity and now offers more activities for the whole family. Continued on page 7
Photo by Ellen Davis
The fourth annual Up the Chisholm Trail Cattle Drive and Cook-off Event will be held in San Gabriel Park
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Schedule of Events Friday, September 11
Cookin’ the old-fashioned way Chris Dyer, who has organized the event since its inception, says, “With the overwhelming support of the community, this event continues to grow in size and quality every year.” Dyer continued, “This year, look for more authentic food, more longhorn cattle, live music, activities for all ages and a western fine art show. There’s also an expanded Ranch Rodeo this year featuring teams from all over the state demonstrating working-ranch skills.” Dyer is the director of the Williamson Museum, which plans and hosts the event each September. As you might figure, the museum also has a lot of information and exhibits associated with this part of the history of Williamson County and the Chisholm Trail.
Kids’ Cook-off Event
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Live Music
6:30 - 9 pm
Kids’ Cook-off Awards
8:30 pm
Saturday, September 12 Live Music
9 am - 5 pm
Children’s Costume Contest 12 pm Chuckwagon Food Served 1:15 pm Chuckwagon Awards
3 pm
Cattle Drive
5 pm
Ranch Rodeo
6 pm
Interactive museum displays
See the featured artist article on page 9 and the related Williamson Museum article on page 12.
For more information visit www.upthechisholmtrail.org, or phone 512-943-1670 7
Sampling the vittles
Heritage Society Sponsors Program about the Texas Rangers In conjunction with the 2009 Up the Chisholm Trail event, the Georgetown Heritage Society is sponsoring a lecture titled “The Texas Rangers: Then and Now.” The lecture will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3rd., at 7 p.m. at the Grace Heritage Center, 811 S. Main St. It is free and open to the public. The lecture will be given by Robert Utley, a Georgetown resident who is a former chief historian for the National Park Service. Utley has written 16 books on the American West, including two on the Texas Rangers. Lone Star Justice: The First Century of the Texas Rangers was published in 2002 and Lone Star Lawmen: The Second Century of the Texas Rangers was published in 2007. For more information on the program, phone 512-869-8597.
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Coffee puts the finishing touches on his sculpture located in downtown Georgetown
Artist Bob Coffee will be the featured artist at the Up the Chisholm Trail
Cattle Drive and Chuckwagon Cook-off event in September. The fine arts show will be the first go-round for the event. Coffee is an architect, craftsman and sculptor currently living in Austin. He has been involved as the restoration architect at three frontier cavalry posts and also as an architect at Big Bend National Park. His sculpture, Waterin’ the Work Mules, was the winner of the City of Georgetown’s competition and was unveiled in February. It is located in front of the City Council Chamber at the corner of 7th and Main. Coffee’s other works draw from nature and his love of animals is apparent in his representations of them through his work. Studio: 804 Wayside Dr. Austin, Texas 78703 (512) 474-5261 www.bobcoffeesculpture.com
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Looking Into The Past At
One of several murals at the museum painted by In Your Space
The Williamson Museum, formerly known as the Williamson County Historical Museum, is one of the crown jewels of Georgetown.
Located in the historic Farmers State Bank Building on the west side of the downtown Square, the museum has devoted itself to the documentation of the heritage of Williamson County.
The Williamson Museum also offers group tours of the historic courthouse, downtown Square and museum by appointment. For an insightful look into the past, visit the museum at 716 South Austin Ave., on the west side of the downtown Square, or at www.williamsonmuseum.org. For more information, phone 512-943-1670 or email caguirre@williamsonmuseum.org.
The museum’s historical artifacts, photos and archives are complimented by several large paintings depicting every aspect of our local history, from native Americans to the early settlers, farmers, Chisholm Trail cowboys and Prosecutor Dan Moody, best known for the Ku Klux Klan trial that took place here in Georgetown. Other exhibits depict the earliest animal life through fossils and bones, giving insight into a time we can only imagine. (It’s hard to picture mammoths roaming the area.) Early immigrants to this part of Texas are represented in a variety of exhibits as well, with period clothing, utensils and documents. A large mural of the county shows various points of interest at a glance, perfect for getting a quick overview of the area.
Around Georgetown
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Many people are not even aware that Austin has a zoo, but it does, and it makes a great day trip from Georgetown.
The zoo is really a wildlife refuge, where animals that were either orphaned or rescued have found a new home. It does have many of the features of a typical zoo, however. For example, there is a small train that is a popular attraction for children.
The zoo is well shaded and is pleasant to walk around, even on hot days. There are picnic tables throughout if you want to bring a lunch.
Train rides tour the hill country The zoo is located about 40 miles from Georgetown on the southwest side of Austin. To get there, go to Oak Hill and take Hwy. 290 at the “Y” intersection toward
The zoo has a wide variety of animals, including monkeys, turtles, parrots, wolves, bears and peacocks. There were even some animals I had never heard of before such as a genet (a distant cat relative), a kinkajou (a member of the raccoon family) and a marmoset (a species of monkey). My favorite animals were the big cats, and the zoo has a good collection of them. They had Canadian lynx, cougars, jaguars, tigers, leopards and a lion. Unfortunately, most of the cats had sad stories. One of the lions was rescued from a junkyard in Arkansas where it was so poorly taken care of that his back ankle shattered from supporting his own weight. Two other lions were seized from a circus. A Discovery Center has a variety of snakes, and a Petting Corral has some domesticated animals such as goats and sheep that love to be fed pellets that are available for purchase. The zoo is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children. - Ellen Davis
Dripping Springs. Go a couple of miles and turn right off Hwy. 290 onto a street called Circle Drive then look for Rawhide Trail. There are signs that will direct you to the zoo.
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For more information: Austin Zoo 10807 Rawhide Trail Austin TX 78736 (512) 288-1490 www.austinzoo.org
Day Trip
Llama relaxing in the shade
Feeding the goats
Regal tigers are a popular attraction
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Tobias Wolff to Give 2009 Writer’s Voice Lecture at Southwestern Fiction writer and memoirist Tobias Wolff will be the 2009 visiting author in the Writer’s Voice Series sponsored by the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center at Southwestern University. Wolff will give a public lecture at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Alma Thomas Theater. Wolff’s books include the memoirs In Pharaoh’s Army and This Boy’s Life, which was made into a 1993 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro. He also has published a novel, Old School, and a short novel, The Barracks Thief. In addition, Wolff has written four collections of stories including the 2008 book, Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories, as well as the earlier collections In The Garden of the North American Martyrs, Back in the World and The Night in Question. He also has edited several anthologies, among them Best American Short Stories, A Doctor’s Visit: The Short Stories of Anton Chekhov and The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Stories. “Tobias Wolff is the quintessential American novelist and short-story writer,” said Lynne Brody, dean of Library Services. Brody said her favorite book by Wolff is Old School, which she describes as “a celebration of the impact of literature on young people.” Born in Alabama in 1945, Wolff travelled the country with his mother, finally settling in Washington State, where he grew up. He attended the Hill School in Pennsylvania until he was expelled for repeated failures in mathematics in his final year, whereupon he joined the Army. He spent four years as a paratrooper, including a tour in Vietnam. Following his discharge he attended Oxford University in England, where he received a First Class Honours degree in English in 1972. Returning to the United States, Wolff worked variously as a reporter, a night watchman, a waiter and a high school teacher before receiving a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing at Stanford University in 1975. He is currently the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor in the Humanities at Stanford University. Wolff’s work is translated widely and has received numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, both the PEN/ Malamud and the Rea Awards for Excellence in the Short Story, and the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. More information about Wolff’s Georgetown appearance will be available this fall at www. southwestern.edu/library/.
Georgetown Event
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Avoiding Probate When an individual dies owning property solely in his or her name without a beneficiary designation, a formal procedure known as “probate” is usually needed to determine to whom the property should pass. If there is a valid will, the property will pass according to its terms. However, probate of the will is required to give it effect. If there is no will, the property will pass to the individual’s heirs at law, but legal proceedings (like a suit for declaration of heirship) need to be completed. However, it is possible to legally pass property to another person without going through probate. The following are examples of some probate avoidance devices. Additionally, probate is sometimes the best option depending on the situation. Joint Tenancy – Adding another person to your assets as a joint owner of “joint tenant with rights of survivorship” will allow your property to pass to the other individual upon your death without the need for a probate proceeding. The obvious pitfall is that while you are alive the other owner has access to 100% of that asset and the asset is subject to any claims of the co-owner and/or creditor of the co-owner. Beneficiary Designations – Adding Transfer on Death (TOD) Beneficiary to your brokerage accounts; Pay on Death beneficiaries (POD) on bank accounts; Deed, Reserving a Life Estate to real estate: Unlike joint tenancy, adding beneficiary designations to your property allows you to name an individual to inherit your property at your death without giving them any current ownership. The property will pass to the individual of your choice without going through a probate proceeding. One of the problems associated with beneficiary designations is that the estate may not divided equally among the family as was intended by the individual.
Peanut Butter Cookies 1 cup sugar 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup margarine, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup creamy peanut butter 2 large eggs 1 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
Mix in order given, roll into balls, then dip in sugar. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork crosswise. Bake at 350ْ until lightly brown, about 8 minutes. Recipe from Treasures from Laurie’s Tea Room.
Revocable Living Trust – Revocable trusts are documents wherein an individual “Grantor” creates a trust instrument and names an individual (usually themselves) or a bank “Trustee.” The Grantor then transfers property into the trust and the Trustee manages the property and distributes the property according to the terms of the trust. Unlike the addition of joint tenants or beneficiaries on your accounts, which may lead to conflict among family members, a Revocable Living Trust allows you to specify how you wish your property to pass. A Revocable Living Trust also avoids some of the adverse tax consequences associated with joint titling and beneficiary designations, while accomplishing the same goal of avoiding probate. Other considerations: It is VERY important to understand that if you have beneficiaries listed on your assets, upon your death your assets will be distributed to those beneficiaries you have listed. They WILL NOT be distributed according to your Last Will and Testament. Incompetency: What happens if an individual is incompetent? If you have a well-drafted power of attorney in place that specifically states you can create a trust or add/change a beneficiary on the individual’s account, you may do so. Spousal Elective Share: If you are married, before titling/adding beneficiaries to your assets, you need to take into account your husband or wife’s spousal interest in community property. In Texas, each spouse owns one-half of all property acquired since marriage except that obtained by gift or inheritance. Charles E. Lance, J.D., Attorney at Law, is the author of Elder Law Today. He’s located at 3613 Williams Dr., Suite 701, Georgetown, Texas. This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.
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The things that make Georgetown special are the interesting people, historic buildings and unique businesses that are here, and one of my favorites is the chocolate factory on the west side of the downtown Square. You wouldn’t know it when you first walk in, but their chocolate is made fresh daily on site. The variety of chocolates that they make include everything from fudge-center truffles to candy cups, dipped apples, toffee, milk chocolates and more – much, much more.
Owner Bev Adam started the candy business in Houston in 1998. She eventually moved to Georgetown, bought the historic Mileham Building and in 2005, remodeled and converted it into not just a candy factory, but a gift shop as well. They create one-of-a-kind gift baskets and tins for special occasions, and also have a variety of everyday decorative items, Christmas decorations and specialty food items, perfect for parties and get-togethers. But where does chocolate come from? In a nutshell (literally), it comes from the seed of a tropical tree that grows in equatorial zones, the cacao tree. The Latin name, Theobroma cacao, roughly means “food of the gods,” because it was a favorite of the Mayan kings who were thought to be deities. It has been documented to have been used in Central America since about 1000 BC, and has now gained worldwide popularity. The health benefits of different types of chocolate are now being extensively studied, with indications that there are some positive results from this “food of the gods.” It has an impact on serotonin levels in the brain, responsible for feelings of well-being, as well as an impact on blood pressure. Health benefits aside, it just tastes good!
Sweet Serendipity
Cutting and shaping the fudge center
Each fudge center is hand-dipped
Adam says, “I nurture through chocolate! It makes people feel good, and in this economy we all need to feel good.” She continued, “My customers can find excellent values and yummy treats here.” (And who isn’t looking for value these days?) For more information about chocolate, phone 512-864-1511 or even better, visit Sweet Serendipity on the west side of the historic downtown Square. You can taste the difference in fresh chocolate for yourself!
Around Georgetown
A broad selection of treats
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The Assistance League Benefits Georgetown The Assistance League® of Georgetown
Area represents “caring and commitment in action.” With 120 chapters spread from the east to west coast, the Assistance League was started over 100 years ago to serve children in need. Its signature philanthropic program is “Operation School Bell,” which provides new clothing for area children. This year 1,308 Georgetown, Jarrell and Florence elementary school children were provided new school clothes, shoes and a hygiene kit. For many, this represents the first time they had a new toothbrush. In partnership with the local Wal-Mart, Assistance League members meet the families for back-to-school shopping. Children may choose appropriate clothing of their choice and volunteers assist with sizing and checkout. Funding for this program begins in August when “Ring the Bell” solicits donations from the community. Just one $75 donation clothes a child! Further funding is obtained when you shop at the Assistance League Thrift Shop, located at 603 West University Ave. This shop is a treasure trove of gently used items ranging from clothing to furniture to household goods and seasonal items. Assistance League volunteers staff the shop Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday & Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are often $1 racks, half-price sales and Christmas in
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July sales. This past year proceeds allowed the Georgetown chapter to return over $248,955 back to the community by providing 11,969 hours of volunteer service. Additional philanthropic programs provide a monthly birthday party, “New Friends” for residents of the Alzheimer’s unit at the Wesleyan Retirement Home and a literacy and tutoring program, “Reading & More,” for the children of Jarrell. The Assistance League is grateful to be part of a caring and committed community such as Georgetown and welcomes your donations to the Thrift Shop, your membership in the organization and your financial support to help a child. For more information, contact Lorraine Wheeler, public relations chair, at 512-869-8554.
Georgetown Heritage Society Sponsoring Bus Trip to LBJ Ranch The Georgetown Heritage Society is sponsoring a bus trip from Georgetown to the LBJ National Historical Park in Stonewall on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd.
The trip will include a guided tour of the LBJ ranch given by the former president’s youngest daughter, Luci Baines Johnson Turpin. The tour of the ranch will include a visit to the former Texas White House, which is gradually being opened to the public. Two more rooms in the house – the dining room and the living room – are expected to be open by the Sept. 23 tour. The tour will depart from the Grace Heritage Center, 811 Main St., at 10 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Cost of the trip is $70 for GHS members and $75 for non-members. Trip price includes bus fare, lunch at the Silver K Café in Johnson City, admission to the former Texas White House, and a contribution to the Friends of the LBJ National Historical Park. To sign up for the tour, send a check to the Georgetown Heritage Society, P.O. Box 1265, Georgetown, TX 78627 or visit www.georgetownheritagesociety.com and pay by PayPal. Checks should be made payable to Georgetown Heritage Society. For more information on the trip, call the Heritage Society office at 512- 869-8597 or write georgetownhs@verizon.net. LBJ’s home on the Johnson Ranch
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Coffee Basics Coffee bushes under the shade trees in Guatemala
One of the first businesses that I visited when I first moved to Georgetown in 1995
was Cianfrani Coffee Company, which at that time was located on the east side of the downtown Square. The ambiance of the coffee shop still sticks in my mind, with large original Don Snell paintings on every wall, stacks of burlap bags of raw coffee beans everywhere, and a little red roaster in the back. The pink shelves on the right of the store were filled with jars of coffees from around the world and it wasn’t long before the coffee barista was describing the entire process involved in creating that coffee. The coffee shop quickly became a daily routine. On a trip to Guatemala in 2006, my wife and I were able to take a tour of a coffee plantation and a processing plant with a guide who knew every step of the industry. The plantation was located in Antigua, at the base of a somewhat active volcano. (Volcanic soils are the best for growing high-quality coffee due to the acidity and fertility of the soil.) The first thing we saw were the coffee trees, which are the size of bushes, growing underneath a canopy of larger shade trees. The branches were filled with green and red fruit of the coffee plant. The beans are actually the seeds inside the fruit. The fruit, which look like ripe cherries, ideally is handpicked at a stage of colorful ripeness when it is red or yellowish red. It is then processed in one of two ways to separate the fruit from the seeds: a quick 24-hour water process or a slower 10-day drying process. Either way, the soft gelatinous material surrounding the bean is removed, and the bean ferments to the right acidity and
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Around Georgetown
Raw beans
moisture content. It is then packed in large burlap bags and shipped all over the world as green coffee, ready for roasting.
One of the main factors in creating a high-quality coffee is the ratio of primo beans to average beans. Many growers harvest a wide range of beans at the same time, from the perfectly ripe to the not-soripe, opting for an average coffee. Other growers pick the beans only when plump and red, creating a higher-quality product. The second factor in creating a high-quality coffee is the roast, or cooking. Raw beans are pale, with high caffeine levels and little flavor. The proper roast does two things. It reduces the caffeine level and releases the flavor. In a full-city roast, the beans are cooked to a medium brown color resulting in a coffee without a strong flavor but retaining high caffeine levels. With a little more Our guide, Juan Carlos, standing cooking, a Vienna roast is created, resulting in next to beans laid out to dry a stronger flavor and less caffeine. In a French roast, the beans are cooked longer, turning darker and bordering on burned. The result is a coffee with even stronger flavor and much less caffeine. Espresso roast is actually a Vienna roast. So, the trick is in the cooking. At Cianfrani Coffee Company, they roast small batches of beans, carefully monitoring them to ensure the perfect roast. This is accomplished by periodically pulling a small sample from the rotating roaster and visually inspecting it until it looks and smells perfect. The beans are then released immediately from the roaster into the cooling hopper. Minutes later they John Cianfrani operating the roaster are moved to a storage container, or if flavored, Drinks made from coffee include lattes, cappuccinos, to a container where mochas and more, all made from a shot of espresso and concentrated flavorings various amounts of steamed milk. Inspecting the roast like hazelnut are added. Cianfrani’s does wholesale roasting as well as supplying Decaffeinated coffee is another option in the process, local restaurants like the Monument Cafe and City accomplished by soaking the beans in water which is Market Grill. For more information on coffee, visit then treated to pull out the caffeine. There are other Cianfrani’s on the north side of the downtown Square or methods as well, but that goes beyond coffee basics. go online and check out www.coffeeresearch.org.
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NEW BOOK RECALLS LIFE IN GEORGETOWN IN THE EARLY 1900s “I realized this isn’t just about us, it is about Southwestern and Georgetown,” Walsh said. After her mother died last fall, Walsh found additional material that needed to be incorporated into the book. The result is a 283-page book that brings the letters to life with period photographs, vintage postcards, newspaper and magazine clippings, greeting cards, invitations, letterhead, telegrams, announcements and Victorian ornamentation. Some 130 early Georgetown families are mentioned in the book. Walsh took the title for the book from the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” which was sung at Southwestern’s first Homecoming in 1909. “That song fondly described Early’s close association with the school and its influence in her life,” Walsh said. Southwestern’s first homecoming in 1909 is among the events documented in the book through letters, photographs and articles.
As Southwestern University prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first homecoming in 1909, a new book offers a glimpse into what life was like in
Georgetown at that time.
The Ties That Bind: A Georgetown Texas Memoir 1904-1909 is based on more than 500 letters to Early Price, who attended Southwestern from 1901 to 1908, both as a student in the Fitting School and as a music student at the University. Price was the youngest daughter of a large, socially prominent family whose ancestors arrived in Georgetown in the 1870s. Early’s uncle, Captain Frank L. Price, was one of the men who helped get Georgetown selected as the site for the central Methodist college that was eventually named Southwestern University. Her father was a founding attorney in the law firm of Makemson, Fisher & Price. The Price family home still stands on 10th Street across from a house that used to be owned by Early’s aunt and served as a boarding house for young men who attended Southwestern. Many members of the Price family are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery behind Southwestern. Louise Walsh, a granddaughter of Early Price, started the book project two years ago as a gift to her mother, Early Fleming Cook.
Many of the letters in the book were written to Early Price by Morris Fleming, a fellow Southwestern student who boarded across the street from the Price house. Several other young men also courted Price until she finally decided to marry Fleming in 1909. The couple moved to Talpa, Texas, where he worked as a cashier in a bank, and then later to Paris, Texas. “Early put off marrying many times because she didn’t want to leave Georgetown,” Walsh said. The book also includes letters written to Early by her sister (who lived in Chihuahua, Mexico), her four brothers, aunts and grandmother as well as from other Georgetown residents and former Southwestern students. Southwestern University Historian William B. Jones noted that letters such as those contained in Walsh’s book enable readers to “feel as if they know persons from long ago better than their own contemporaries.” “For all the ubiquity of e-mails, they do not compare with the letters of the past,” Jones said. “Letters were written with the knowledge that the contents were, in a sense, committed thoughts, authentic expressions of our mental processes. They might even be classified as mini-essays; they were literature. I congratulate Mrs. Walsh on presenting and preserving this exciting body of work.”
Walsh will discuss her book at a Nov. 7th program sponsored by Southwestern University and the “When my aunt, Louie Fleming Snow, died 12 years ago, I Georgetown Heritage Society. had to clean out her house and found a box containing all the The program will begin at 9:30 letters,” Walsh said. “I decided to put them all on the computer.” a.m. at Grace Heritage Center, Walsh spent months reading all the letters. She e-mailed family 811 S. Main St. Copies of the members who sent her material to go with them. book will be available for sale at the program. ~ Ellen Davis Although the book was originally just designed for her family, Walsh realized that she had something much more significant on her hands.
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Author Louise Walsh
Southwestern University Events Fall 2009 Aug. 31 Faculty Recital Eri Lee Lam, violin 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Sept. 10 - Oct. 9 Art Exhibit: “Off the Plate/Under the Sheets” Reception, Sept. 10 4 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery Sept. 10 Faculty Recital Oliver Worthington, baritone 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Sept. 15 Faculty Recital Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Sept. 20 Faculty Recital Eric Stone Miller, bassoon, and Adrienne Inglis, flute 3 p.m., Caldwell-Carvey Foyer, Fine Arts Center Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 Theatre Production: “Good Night Desdemona” 7 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jones Theater Oct. 3 Guest Artist Kevin Ayesh, piano 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Oct. 23 - 25 Black Box Theater performance: “The Fifth Sun” 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Heather Hall, Fine Arts Center Oct. 26 Faculty Recital Hai Zheng, cello, and Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater
Nov. 10 Writer’s Voice lecture featuring Tobias Wolff 8 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 13 - 14 Southwestern University Opera Theatre 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 15 Southwestern University Orchestra 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 16 Guest Artist: Recital Nancy Zhou and Long Zhou, violin 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 17 - 22 Theatre for Young Audiences: “Pinocchio” 11 a.m. Tuesday–Friday. Additional performances Friday at 7 p.m., Sat & Sun at 3 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. Jones Theater Nov. 21 Southwestern University Wind Ensemble 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 22 Southwestern University Chorale 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Dec. 1 Southwestern University Jazz Band 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Dec. 3 Candlelight Service 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Lois Perkins Chapel Dec. 5 Tuba Christmas 2 p.m., Courthouse Steps (facing Main Street) Georgetown Square
Oct. 30 Guest Artist Michael Partington, guitar 7 p.m., Alma Thomas Theater Nov. 6 - 8 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
Georgetown Events
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New Location on the Historic Downtown Square At 109 West 7th Street, Suite 115
• Huge selection of hardback & paperback books • Bring your books in for store credit
512-868-3363
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