City hosts Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on Nov. 3
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department will host the Arbor Day Tree Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Georgetown residents can register in advance to receive one free 5-gallon tree per household. Trees are intended to be planted on private property. Four hundred trees across three varieties, including Shumard Oak, Cedar Elm and Tuscarora Crape Myrtle (20 foot tall hot pink variety), will be available. These trees are native or adapted to the Central Texas climate and soil. Tree species and quantities are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Trees can be picked up at the Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
For more information about the giveaway, visit parks.georgetown.org/tree-giveaway.
City considers Voluntary Annexation
The City of Georgetown is considering a voluntary annexation. The Public Hearings will be held at the September 25, 2018 3:00 pm Special Meeting and the September 25, 2018 6:00 pm Regular City Council meeting, located at the City Council Chambers, 101 E. 7th Street, at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Street. The area being considered for annexation is:
The Voluntary Annexation and designation of Public Facilities (PF) zoning district for an approximate 1.42-acre tract in the William Addison Survey, Abstract No. 21, generally located north of E University Ave and west of Inner Loop, to be known as Fire Station No. 7.
City extends pilot program with Lyft
The City of Georgetown has extended its partnership with Lyft to offer discounted rides to new and existing users through the end of October or until all available funds are expended, whichever comes first. The extension of the promotion will allow the City to learn about rideshare use in Georgetown.
Rides that originate in the Georgetown city limits are eligible for the Lyft partnership. Lyft passengers are responsible for the first $2 of the cost of the ride. The City will then pay up to $10 above that initial passenger payment. The passenger is responsible for any additional cost of the ride. The promotion allows for up to 10 rides per customer, per month until all funds for the pilot program are expended.
To use the promotion on a Lyft ride in Georgetown, download the Lyft app on an iPhone or Android smartphone and set up a Lyft account using a credit card. Then add the code GTOWNTX18 to the promo section of the Lyft app before requesting a ride. Note that you must be in “personal” mode for the code to apply. You will only need to enter the code one time. Once you have requested your ride, “applied credit” is displayed on the ride payment screen.
Data from the limited-time promotion will help the city to better understand ride use patterns for a transportation network company. Ride data available to the City after the pilot will not include names or addresses of riders or any credit card information.
K-9 Kerplunk postponed to Sept. 22
UPDATE: Due to the high chance of thunderstorms on Sept. 8, the K-9 Kerplunk event has been postponed until Saturday, Sept. 22.
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department presents K-9 Kerplunk on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-noon at the outdoor pool at the Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
The entry fee is $5 per dog, and pet owners get in free. Pet owners must provide a copy of each registered pet’s current vaccination records to gain entry. Only shot records will be accepted. All dogs must be accompanied by an adult, age 18 or older, at all times during the event.
For details, visit parks.georgetown.org/k-9-kerplunk.
Senior Dance at Georgetown Community Center on Sept. 14
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Senior Adult Dance on Friday, Sept. 14, from 6-9 p.m. at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St.
The event is designed for, but not limited to, adults age 55 and older. Dress is casual, and light refreshments will be served.
Advanced registration is encouraged. Tickets are $5 per person in advance, $7 per person the week of the dance and at the door. Register online, in person at the Georgetown Recreation Center, or by contacting Senior Program Coordinator Robert Staton at (512) 930-1367 or robert.staton@georgetown.org.
For more information, visit parks.georgetown.org/senior-adult-dance.
National Night Out and On the Table event on Oct. 2
National Night Out, an annual event to support safe neighborhoods, is on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Georgetown. Block parties are being organized from 6 to 9 p.m. The City’s planning department is also partnering with the police department for its On the Table Georgetown event on Oct. 2 as part of the public input process for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update.
National Night Out
Online registration for National Night Out block parties in Georgetown ends Friday, Sept. 21. Registering your block party provides the information to the Georgetown Police Department so that an officer or other City employees or officials can visit your block party.
Last year there were more than 100 registered National Night Out events in Georgetown. Georgetown Police Department officers as well as other local law enforcement officers, elected officials, Georgetown firefighters and EMS technicians, and other City employees attended block parties in Georgetown.
The Georgetown Police Department is hosting a reception for hosts of NNO block parties at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B Wood Road.
To register your National Night Out block party in Georgetown, go to pd.georgetown.org/national-night-out.
On the Table Georgetown
As part of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update, the City and its community partners are asking residents to put all their ideas on the table. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your voice in the 2030 Plan, which will be a roadmap to guide the City’s growth and future development decisions.
In the past, the City has held public meetings to gather community input for planning efforts. For the first time the City is asking the public to bring the discussion to their own tables, collect input from their peers and report it back. On the Table Georgetown is a citywide engagement effort that will allow residents across the City of Georgetown to participate in a brief small group discussion all on the same day, wherever they are at.
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, everyone in Georgetown is invited to host a mealtime conversation—breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between—with up to 12 of their friends and neighbors. Conversations can be hosted anywhere: homes, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, libraries, offices, parks, or places of worship. Residents participating in National Night Out are also encouraged to consider hosting a small group discussion about their ideas for Georgetown in the next 10 years before, after or during their gathering.
Several community organizations will be hosting venues for multiple discussion groups open to the public. Times and locations can be found at 2030.georgetown.org/how-do-i-get-involved/ott.
The City will offer a training session for table hosts on Sept. 26 in conjunction with the National Night Out reception.
For more information and to sign up to host or attend an On the Table Georgetown discussion, click on the On the Table icon at 2030.georgetown.org.
Low Cost Shot Clinic for Pets Sept. 22
The Georgetown Animal Shelter will conduct its next low-cost vaccination clinic of the year on Saturday, September 22, 8:30-11 a.m. The walk-in clinic is for cats and dogs. Help protect your pet from diseases they can pick up outside!
Pets may also get a FREE microchip with the purchase of any vaccine. No appointments. Cash or check only. The shelter is located at 110 Walden Dr., Georgetown, next to the McMaster Athletic Fields.
Dog Vaccines:
Rabies $5
DHPP Combo $10 (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parafluenza, Parvo)
Bordetella $5 (Kennel cough)
Cat Vaccines:
Rabies $5
FVRCP Combo $10 (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
All dogs must be on a leash and cats should be in a carrier. Payment is by cash or check only. (Debit or credit cards not accepted.)
The final low-cost clinics of the year will be Saturday, November 10, 2018.
The clinic will be held at the City of Georgetown Animal Shelter at 110 W.L. Walden Drive near the McMaster Athletic Fields. Contact the shelter at (512) 930-3592 or by email at animalsvc@georgetown.org. The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter website is pets.georgetown.org.
Vote for the Best of Georgetown, TX in September
Where is the best kid-friendly restaurant in Georgetown? Where is the best live entertainment? The best hotel or bed and breakfast? The best boutique?
Tell us your favorites during the month of September in the Best of Georgetown, TX contest.
This year’s contest will have two phases— a nominations phase and a voting phase. Nominations will be accepted from 9 a.m. on Sept. 1 until noon on Sept. 7. A business or organization must receive three nominations in an individual category to be on the ballot for the voting phase. Nominations will not be counted toward the final vote total.
The voting phase begins Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. and ends on Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m.
To nominate businesses for the Best of Georgetown, TX contest, please visit Bestof.Georgetown.org.
The list of winners will be posted at Bestof.Georgetown.org.
Winning businesses receive window decals as well as certificates showing their award and category. In addition, the business name will be listed on the 2018 winners’ flyer at the Visitors Center and on the Bestof.Georgetown.org website for one year. Winners will have access to the Best of Georgetown 2018 logo for use in their websites and printed material.
The annual Best of Georgetown, TX contest is sponsored by the City of Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Breakfast Bites: Crafting Your Business Narrative through Social Media on Sept. 12
The next Breakfast Bites meeting on Sept. 12 will feature Rachel Hancock, on the topic of #SocialSells: Crafting Your Business Narrative through Social Media. The informal meeting opens at 8 a.m. in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. The talk will start at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided.
Hancock will address the benefits of implementing social media marketing strategies into day-to-day operations, as well as teach business owners how to post memorable, interesting, and valuable content. She will also teach the basics of how to read page insights to understand what posts are effective and why. She will also address ad management and how to get the most return out of ad campaigns.
Rachel Hancock is the owner-operator of Something Social, a local social media marketing agency that specializes in promoting Georgetown businesses on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. She graduated from Southwestern University with a degree in Theatre and uses her theatre background to collaborate with business owners to create the ideal social media marketing strategy.
At the Sept. 12 meeting there will be updates from City staff on:
- Art Center and Public Library events
- Convention and Visitors Bureau updates
- City Hall campus project update
- 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update
- Environmental Services update
- Transportation updates
- Parking updates
Also, learn about updates from downtown partner organizations and find out about new businesses in the downtown district that have opened or are under construction.
Breakfast Bites is a quarterly meeting of the Georgetown Main Street Program. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, to Kim McAuliffe, downtown development manager for the City of Georgetown, at (512) 930-2027 or at kim.mcauliffe@georgetown.org.
GoGeo offers free rides for Southwestern students, faculty, and staff
By showing a Pirate ID card when boarding, Southwestern University students, faculty, and staff can take a GoGeo bus for free to destinations in Georgetown. The program started on Aug. 15 and is funded by an agreement between the City and Southwestern.
To mark the start of free GoGeo service, Southwestern University and the City of Georgetown will hold a kickoff event at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 29. The kickoff will be on the Academic Mall on the Southwestern campus near the flagpoles in front of the McCombs Campus Center. Southwestern President Edward Burger will speak at the event as well as Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross and Todd Hemingson, executive vice president of strategic planning and development for Capital Metro. Capital Area Rural Transportation System or CARTS, which operates the GoGeo buses, will also be at the event.
The GoGeo Orange Route 471 has two stops on Maple Street on the Southwestern campus. With a transfer to other routes at the Georgetown Public Library, students can take the bus to locations such as HEB, Wolf Ranch Town Center, the Rivery retail area, City Lights Theatres, the City Recreation Center, or shops on Williams Drive. Free bus service serves an important mobility need for many Southwestern students who do not have their own vehicle on campus.
GoGeo service hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Details about routes, service hours, and more is at gogeo.georgetown.org.
