Shop Small Business Saturday and be a hero
Shoppers are invited to Shop Small with local merchants during the annual Small Business Saturday event on Saturday, Nov. 30.
This year’s theme is Be a Hero! Shop Small! Celebrate how you can be a hero to a small business, by shopping local this holiday season.
The day will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Georgetown Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St., where shoppers can pick up special Shop Small shopping bags, giveaways, and compete for prizes. Shoppers are encouraged to dress as superheroes and have fun while shopping small.
The annual Small Business Saturday event is sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street Program, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Georgetown Association.
Texas Speed and Performance expanding in Georgetown
Georgetown-based Texas Speed and Performance, a high-performance aftermarket automotive parts retailer, is expanding its operations in Georgetown. Founders Trevor Doelling and Jason Mangum have plans to construct two buildings through their real estate company Motion Commercial Properties LLC.
Motion Commercial Properties purchased 157 acres next to the Georgetown Municipal Airport and will build two commercial buildings with a total of 200,000 square feet. Texas Speed will occupy 70,000-square-feet within the first building that will total 120,000 square feet, and the remaining space will be leased to other businesses.
The total capital investment for the project is expected to be $11.5 million, including $1.5 million in infrastructure improvements.
“It’s great when our local businesses expand here in Georgetown because it shows they know this is a wonderful place to do business,” Mayor Dale Ross said. “Georgetown residents have said one of the top needs in our community is creating employment opportunities, and Texas Speed and Performance’s expansion helps us get one step closer to that goal. We work hard to build relationships with our existing businesses to support their continued growth that helps make Georgetown the best place to live, work and play.”
Doelling said the company purposefully chose to expand in Georgetown because so many of the company’s employees are already located in the Georgetown area.
“We also wanted to stay on the same electric provider because of its reliability, which is a concern due the power requirements to run all of our machining equipment,” he said.
“We love working with the City of Georgetown with all of our businesses, and we are very excited for the opportunity to expand our business even further. Georgetown is a great location, and with the significant growth it makes it a no-brainer to continue our expansion in the city that has supported us with our other ventures,” Doelling said. “We are anxious to begin the construction of our facility that will offer lease space to attract additional businesses to Georgetown, and the ultimate goal is to add a second facility once the first one is fully leased out. Georgetown is a prime location for continued growth, and we are excited to be a part of it.”
Texas Speed, founded in 2002, is now one of the largest high-performance late-model General Motors parts retailers in the country and currently leases 36,000 square feet of space from Texas Outdoor Power Equipment. The company employs 62 people and plans to add 45 new employees with an average salary of $50,000 over the next five years.
Community Thanksgiving on Nov. 28
Organizers of the communitywide Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day are seeking volunteers and monetary donations. Community Thanksgiving takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28. A traditional Thanksgiving meal is served to 500 people at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St.
This event is free and open to the public. There is no ticketing involved. Meals are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Monetary donations to help fund the event can be made to Sertoma Club of Georgetown, with “Community Thanksgiving” in the memo line. Mail donations to Sertoma Club of Georgetown, P.O. Box 1501, Georgetown, TX, 78627. Donations can also be dropped off at First Texas Bank, 900 S. Austin Ave.
Volunteers are also needed to assist with event set-up, food preparation, serving, logistics, and clean-up. Dinner includes turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls, and sweet potatoes. Water and tea are also available.
Community Thanksgiving is planned and supported by the City of Georgetown, City of Georgetown Police and Fire departments, Do Yourself a Flavor Catering, CJ’s Catering, GW Pyro, and The Salvation Army of Williamson County.
If you or your organization would like to help volunteer, or if you have questions, please contact the organizing committee at gtxthanksgiving@gmail.com or signup online at bit.ly/gtxthanksgiving19.
Veterans Day events
The annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Georgetown is at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, 2 Texas Drive. All veterans and their families attending will be recognized and several veterans will participate in the program. The ceremony also includes a dedication to Gold Star families and a musical salute to our armed forces.
The guest speaker during the event is The Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris.
Parking is available at the Sun City Social Center at 2 Texas Drive and across the street at the Activities Center at 1 Texas Drive. Seven-hundred folding chairs will be placed at the Memorial for event seating. Guests also may bring a folding chair and sit at the plaza under the trees. The Sun City Community Association will serve refreshments on the Social Center patio after the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the event will be held in the ballroom at the Sun City Social Center, 2 Texas Drive, Georgetown, TX, 78633.
Field of Honor
The Rotary Club of Georgetown is hosting its annual Field of Honor in San Gabriel Park, at Chamber Way and East Morrow Street in cooperation with the City.
The event features a field of approximately 2,000 American flags each purchased to honor a veteran, active or reserve duty military individual or first responder.
Flags will be set up on Nov. 8 and on display Nov. 9-17. More information, including a schedule of events, can be found at www.georgetowntxfieldofhonor.org.
Calixtro and Fuller in runoff for Council District 1
The Williamson County Elections office has posted final, unofficial results for the City Council District 1 special election on Nov. 5 in Georgetown.
These are the final, unofficial results for District 1 as of 10:57 p.m.
| Race | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
| District 1 | Mary Calixtro | 178 | 38.70 |
| Alex Fuller | 200 | 43.48 | |
| Stevie Nicole Jones | 82 | 17.83 |
To see complete Nov. 5, 2019, election results, go to wilco.org/elections.
Votes for the District 1 special election will be canvassed at a City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, in the Council and Court building, 510 W. Ninth St.
Run-off election for District 1
Since no candidate received 50 percent of the votes cast, a District 1 run-off election between those with the most votes, Alex Fuller and Mary Calixtro, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10. There will be a five-day early voting period for the runoff election from Monday, Dec. 2 through Friday, Dec. 6. Details about the runoff election polling places and times will be available at Williamson County Elections office website at wilco.org/elections.
Proposed Voluntary Annexation of 30.14 Acres (Rockride Lane Subdivision)
The City of Georgetown is considering a voluntary annexation of property into the city limits. A Public Hearing will be held at the November 26, 2019 meeting at 6:00pm. City Council meetings are located at the City Council Chambers, 510 W. 9th Street.
The area being considered for voluntary annexation is approximately 30.14 acres in the William Addison Survey, Abstract No. 21 and 1.182 acres of Rockride Lane, a right-of-way of varying width of record described to the State of Texas, generally located at 2488 Rockride Lane, to be known as Rockride Lane Subdivision.
After holding the required public hearing, the City Council will consider an ordinance for the annexation.
For additional information, please contact Michael Patroski in the Planning Department, 512-930-3580 or email at michael.patroski@georgetown.org.
Collectible Christmas Ornament, greeting cards on sale Nov. 1
A limited-edition collectible brass Christmas ornament featuring the Georgetown Public Library at 402 W. Eighth St. will go on sale during First Friday on Nov. 1. The 13th annual ornament sale is a project of the Georgetown Main Street Program. A limited number of the ornaments will be available.
The library opened in its Eighth Street location in January 2007. The two-story, 49,500-square-foot facility was approved by voters in 2004, and is the library’s fourth location.
The Main Street Program is also introducing holiday greeting cards this year featuring art by residents and Georgetown ISD students highlighting “The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas.”
Ornaments and greeting card packs may be purchased at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. The cost of the ornament is $20, and greeting cards are $12 for a pack of 10. Payments by cash, check, or credit are accepted.
All proceeds from the ornament and greeting card sales help fund Main Street projects and the Façade Fund Grant Program.
Youth Fishing Derby on Nov. 10
Catch a fish and win a prize. Georgetown Parks and Recreation will host its annual Youth Fishing Derby on Sunday, Nov. 10. This family-friendly event takes place at Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, from 1-4 p.m.
Admission into the derby is $3 per person, and spectators are invited to watch at no charge. Garey Park admission fees will be waived during the event. Please limit one fishing pole per person. Participation is open to children age 12 and younger. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Any fish caught will win a prize. Prizes are first-come, first-served, and only registered participants wearing a wristband are eligible to win.
Advanced registration is encouraged as event capacity is limited.
Fishing permits are required in Garey Park for anglers age 17 and older. All fish are catch and release.
For more information and to register, visit parks.georgetown.org/fishing-derby.
Low-cost shot clinic for pets Nov. 16
The Georgetown Animal Shelter will conduct its final low-cost vaccination clinic of the year on Saturday, Nov. 16, 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 are not accepted.
For more information, call (512) 930-3592, email animalsvc@georgetown.org, or visit pets.georgetown.org.
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Day event on Nov. 17
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will make a stop in Georgetown on Nov. 17 on its way to Washington, D.C., from Carson National Forest in New Mexico. The tree will be parked on Main Street between Seventh and Eighth streets from 4-5 p.m.
To celebrate, the City is hosting U.S. Capitol Tree Day in Georgetown on the Square from 2-5 p.m.
During the event, visitors will be able to meet Santa Claus and his two reindeer with his antique sleigh, participate in children’s crafts, and purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise and Georgetown collectible ornaments.
The 60-foot tree will be making stops for community celebrations throughout its journey from New Mexico to the U.S. Capitol from Nov. 11-25. The journey will culminate with the official tree lighting on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building in early December.
For more information about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, visit uscapitolchristmastree.com.
