The annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Georgetown is at 11 a.m. Friday, 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 Georgetown High School band, orchestra, and choir will provide music beginning at 10:45 a.m.

The guest speaker during the event is Juan Amaya Jr., Williamson County Veterans Services Director.

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 Social City Social Center, 2 Texas Drive.

More information available here.

Field of Honor®

The Rotary Club of Georgetown Foundation, in cooperation with the City of Georgetown, is hosting its sixth annual Field of Honor® from Nov. 5-12 in San Gabriel Park, at Chamber Way and East Morrow Street.

The event features a field of up to 1,600 American flags, each purchased to honor of a past or present veteran, active or reserve-duty military, or first responder, including K-9 and equestrian heroes. This year the event also will include the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 “Never Forget” Mobile Exhibit. An escorted arrival and ceremony is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 in San Gabriel Park.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, large static displays – tanks, fire, police, sheriff, and emergency vehicles – will be on display. The Grand Opening Ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. with a Parade of Colors. A Veterans Day Ceremony will also be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, with a Patriots Celebration barbecue that evening.

Flags will be on display Nov. 5-12. The flag sales and repost tent will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday-Thursday (Nov. 5-10) and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Nov. 11-12). Proceeds from flag sales benefit veteran and first-responder organizations. Flag pick up will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.

More information, including a schedule of events, can be found at georgetowntxfieldofhonor.org.

City offices closed

Many City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Click here for a full list.

The City wants to know what is and isn’t working about Georgetown’s current transportation network and is asking the community to share their feedback and perspectives as it works to update its Future Mobility Plan, formerly known as the Overall Transportation Plan.

The Future Mobility Plan will make recommendations to improve transportation in Georgetown. These recommendations allow the City to apply for more local, state, and federal funding to implement the projects. Public feedback on the process will help identify and prioritize future road projects and planning.

“Public input is critical to helping Georgetown prepare and plan for our future transportation needs,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “We need your help to understand the current challenges, so we can build a transportation network that serves and meets our growing needs.”

When the City went through this process in 2014, residents identified the need to have an alternate to Williams Drive, and the plan included the concept of Northwest Boulevard Bridge. In 2015, residents overwhelmingly supported the bond election to fund the bridge, which was completed in 2021.

Members of the public can share feedback on the project website through Dec. 1, and in person at a community open house. The open house is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Friends Room of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.

At this stage, the City is asking for information from the community regarding gaps within Georgetown’s transportation network (for sidewalks, bicycle facilities, roadways, etc.), safety issues, and any other related feedback. Members of the public also can share how they currently get around the City. You can also sign-up to receive emailed updates on the plan at the bottom of the project website.

The City will provide additional opportunities during the next several months for the public to continue to provide input and inform the plan.

More information can be found at engagekh.com/gtx_fmp.

The first day of early voting is Monday, Oct. 24, for the November election. Georgetown residents will be able to vote on Proposition A, which is the reauthorization of the 0.25 percent sales tax for the resurfacing and repair of city streets.

The early, in-person voting period is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.

Early voting locations in Georgetown are:

• Cowan Creek Amenity Center, 1433 Cool Spring Way, 78633
• Georgetown City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St., 78626
• Georgetown ISD Technology Building, 603 Lakeway Drive, 78628
• Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, 78626

For early voting, polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24-29 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 30.

All polling locations in Williamson County, dates, and times during early voting and on Election Day are listed at wilco.org/elections. Also on the elections website, find information on voter ID requirements, voter and sample ballot lookup, and an app to check live wait times at the polls.

For information about the 0.25 percent street maintenance sales tax, go to transportation.georgetown.org/quarter-cent-sales-tax. For details about the City election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.

The City of Georgetown is joining other cities across the country for  this year’s Imagine a Day Without Water day of action on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Imagine a Day Without Water is an annual, “national education campaign that brings together diverse stakeholders to highlight how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment.” According to the website, “the U.S. Water Alliance and DigDeep identified that there are two million individuals who experience lack of access to adequate drinking water and sanitation.”

“The Georgetown Water team works around the clock to provide several millions of gallons of clean, drinkable water to more than 50,000 customers every day—water that not only helps us in our daily necessities, but also goes into manufacturing, fire prevention, and more,” Water Director Chelsea Solomon said. “This day is an opportunity to celebrate how important water is to our lives.”

Georgetown residents and visitors will be able to visit businesses around the Square, including Black Sugar Café, Hydrate, and others, to receive free cups featuring the Imagine a Day Without Water messaging. Limited quantities are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

People who collect at least one stamp on an informational postcard from participating businesses and bring it to the City’s booth at the Autumn Art Stroll between 4 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 20 will be entered into a goodie bag giveaway. The Water conservation booth will be located near the information/check-in table in the Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.

The Water conservation team also will be in the South Main Arts District (located between Founder’s Park and Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.) Sunday, Oct. 22, for a silent auction for the Painted Rain Barrel Project.

People can submit bids for the rain barrels 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in person at the Water conservation booth at the South Main Arts Festival. Bids start at $125. Proceeds from the auction will go toward water conservation education and outreach efforts in our local school systems.

For more information about our water conservation program, please visit water.georgetown.org.

Oct. 21 update: The mosquito traps that tested positive for West Nile Virus Oct. 11 came back negative this week. The City and WCCHD will continue expanded testing next week.

Two mosquito trap samples collected Oct. 11 in Georgetown have tested positive for West Nile virus. The traps were located in Geneva Park, 1021 Quail Valley Drive, and in Berry Creek, at Diamond Dove Trail and Airport Road.

This testing is part of the City of Georgetown’s participation in the Williamson County and Cities Health District’s (WCCHD) Integrated Vector Management program. The positive tests were indicated in lab results received Oct. 13 from the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin.

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States. In 2022, there have been four mosquito samples pools that returned positive for West Nile virus in Williamson County. These are the first positive traps in 2022 at these locations. The last positive trap collected at Geneva Park was in October 2018 and in October 2021 in Berry Creek..

The City and the Health District are encouraging everyone to be especially vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites when outdoors and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property. Recent rain and continued warm temperatures are prime breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

While there have been no reported incidences of human infection of West Nile virus in Williamson County this year, symptoms of infection may include fever, headache, and body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Those age 50 and older and/or with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which may include stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis, and in rare cases, death.

City of Georgetown parks staff will continue mosquito control efforts with the treatment of standing water with larvicide, and WCCHD will continue enhanced monitoring and testing, along with increased public outreach and education. The City is prepared to take additional action if necessary.

Mosquitoes are present in Central Texas year-round, but the population is largest and most active from May through November. During this period, WCCHD monitors the mosquito population and tests for mosquito-borne viruses.

The most important way to prevent West Nile virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes where people work and play. Health officials strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquito bites and preventing mosquito breeding on their personal property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, needing as little as one teaspoon. By draining all sources of standing water in and around your property, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.

What you can do

Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile virus. As part of its Fight the Bite campaign the Health District recommends the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:

• Drain standing water in flowerpots, pet dishes, or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained,
• Defend by using an EPA-approved insect repellent, and
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.

For more information, go to the WCCHD website at www.wcchd.org or visit the Texas Department of State Health Services West Nile website at txwestnile.org.

Updated: The silent auction will take in person Saturday, Oct. 22.

The City of Georgetown Water Conservation team and Arts and Culture Board have awarded 10 pieces of work by nine different artists for the Painted Rain Barrel Project, a water conservation project with the objective of bringing awareness to the accessibility of conservation methods.

The artists and their works are:

The rain barrels will be displayed at local businesses and City facilities in the downtown area Oct. 17-21. Each barrel will be up for auction, and people can place bids in person from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in the South Main Arts District (located between Founder’s Park and Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.). The Water conservation team will have a booth set up as part of the South Main Arts Festival. Bids start at $125. Proceeds from the auction will go toward water conservation education and outreach efforts in our local school systems.

Visitors to the Square Oct. 20 also will have an opportunity to “Imagine a Day Without Water.” Downtown businesses will have free swag available, and people can enter a raffle to win a chance for themed giveaways. Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, and this event is designed to bring awareness to what life would be like without water.

For more information about our water conservation program, please visit water.georgetown.org.

The City of Georgetown is celebrating the Month of the Arts this October with several events for our residents and visiting art lovers.

Oct. 13 | Brown Bag Luncheon: How the Hotel Occupancy Tax Can Help Fund the Arts

The City will host the quarterly Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon Oct. 13.

Ann Graham, executive director of Texans for the Arts, will present on the Hotel Occupancy Tax Toolkit and discuss ways to utilize 15 percent of the tax revenues for community arts and culture initiatives.

The meeting begins at noon in the Friends Room at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. There will be time after the discussion to share and learn about arts and culture programs happening in the Georgetown Community.

This quarterly professional development presentation is sponsored by the Georgetown Arts and Culture program. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to arts@georgetown.org.

Oct. 20 | Autumn Art Stroll & South Main Arts District ribbon cutting

Patrons are invited to engage in arts experiences from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at various locations across the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District. Experiences include kids’ activities, artist demonstrations, art exhibits, live music, and art shopping opportunities.

During the Art Stroll, the 2022 Georgetown Sculpture Tour award winners will be announced at 4 p.m. at the Shotgun House, 801 West St., and the South Main Arts District ribbon cutting will be at 5:30 p.m. SOMA is located between Founder’s Park and Grace Heritage Center (817 S. Main St).

 Oct. 22 | South Main Arts Festival

Celebrate Georgetown’s inaugural South Main Arts Festival dedicated to the fine arts and located in the new South Main Arts District – a project that received Cultural District grant funding from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Shop the juried artist booths for a variety of artistic media while viewing the yarn bomb installation that was designed and created by Preservation Georgetown, the Knitting Cup, and passionate fiber artists and volunteers from the community. Enjoy food trucks, live music, and ribbon dancers throughout the day, as well as kids arts activities and pottery by Cordovan Art School, an outdoor theatrical performance, and more. The evening’s live music headliner is Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster Artist, Sue Foley. Foley’s performance starts at 5 p.m.

For more information about this and other Arts and Culture events, visit our webpage here.

Oct. 17-21 | Water conservation events

The City of Georgetown’s Water Conservation team is looking to bring awareness to the importance of water and sustainable watering through two opportunities, planned in conjunction with the arts events.

Ten rain barrels painted by area artists will be displayed at local businesses and City facilities in downtown area Oct. 17-21 as part of the inaugural Painted Rain Barrel Project. The vibrant, painted rain barrels will be up for auction during that week, and people can place bids via a QR code. Proceeds from the auction will go toward water conservation education and outreach efforts in our local school systems.

Additionally, in efforts to spread more awareness and promote community engagement about water conservation, the Water Conservation team will also be hosting its first Imagine a Day Without Water event on Oct. 20.

Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, and this event is designed to bring awareness to what life would be like without water. Downtown businesses will have free swag available, and people can enter a raffle to win a chance for themed giveaways.

More detail will be provided closer to the event. More information about Imagine a Day Without Water here.

The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 19 at the old show barn site in San Gabriel Park, 425 E. Morrow St.

The event will be available for up to 400 Georgetown solid waste customers who have solid waste service through Texas Disposal Systems. Customers must contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to have their name placed on a list. Please include your name, address, and utility account number when emailing customer care. Customers must have their name on the list to participate.

Residents must remain in their vehicles during the no-contact collection. Staff will unload items from the back seat or trunk of the vehicle.

All items to be dropped off must be in their marked original containers. Commercial disposal and trailers are not allowed.

Acceptable items include:

• Batteries (household, hearing aids, cell phone, etc.)
• Automobile batteries
• Pool and spa chemicals
• Used oil/oil filters (up to five gallons per vehicle)
• Transmission fluid
• Light bulbs (including regular, compact, and four-foot fluorescent)
• Grease
• Thermometers
• Over the counter, residential lawn and garden chemicals
• Aerosols
• Household cleaners and disinfectants marked caution, warning, or poison
• Art and hobby chemicals
• Paint (up to 10 gallons per vehicle)
• Over the counter one-pound disposal propane bottles
• Gasoline (up to five gallons per vehicle)

Unacceptable items include:

• Unmarked containers or unknown chemicals
• Construction, commercial, or landscape waste
• Professional, concentrated chemicals that require a professional license to mix
• Medications or pharmaceuticals
• Oxygen tanks
• Electronics
• Tires
• Explosives (including ammunition and fireworks)
• Radioactive materials
• Biological materials

For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.

After a nationwide recruitment, City Manager David Morgan has appointed Cameron Goodman as Economic Development Director for the City of Georgetown. His first day will be Oct. 10.

“This is a critical time for Georgetown to capitalize on economic development opportunities that will continue to lift quality of life and prosperity for our community,” Morgan said.  “Cameron is the right professional to guide our efforts and the right leader to guide our team.  I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to Georgetown.”

Goodman comes to Georgetown with experience running economic development departments in two fast-growing communities in Texas.  Most recently, he served as economic development director in Leander, which has been listed alongside Georgetown as one of the five fastest growing cities in the country during his time there. Previously, he served as economic development director in Richmond, a suburb of Houston, and served in economic development roles for the cities of League City and Waco.

Goodman is a Certified Economic Developer. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History from Sam Houston State University, and his Master of Public Service and Administration degree from the Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service.

“Georgetown is a fantastic community full of history and opportunity,” Goodman said. “I am excited to join the City of Georgetown team and look forward to building on the hard work that has already been accomplished by city leadership and staff.”

Kimberly Garrett, City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation director, has been elected as a fellow into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Garrett was inducted at the Academy’s virtual General Membership Meeting on Sept. 14, 2022.

“Kimberly’s dedication to parks and recreation is evident in her work in Georgetown, where she oversaw the development of many new trails and parks, the largest being Garey Park, which is the largest gift ever received in the City’s history,” said Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer. “Her energy, teamwork, and professionalism make her a role model for staff and the community.”

The Academy is a group of distinguished practitioners and educators who are leaders in the parks and recreation profession. Members must have served for at least 15 years in a high level of administration in a park and recreation agency or as a recognized educator in parks and recreation administration, or they must manage a parks and recreation department for an agency with a population of more than 500,000. They also must have demonstrated outstanding ability in administration, management, or education in the profession; displayed broad interest with a direct service benefit to the advancement of public parks and recreation; or assumed leadership with a keen desire to contribute to the advancement of the field. The Academy is limited to 137 active members.

Established in 1980, the Academy was formed to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to support and encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators to enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and to conduct research, publish scholarly papers, and/or sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration.

“The Class of 2022 is a great addition to the Academy,” said President Bill Foelsch, Township of Morris, N.J. “The Academy is honored to induct Kimberly Garrett into its ranks. The Academy represents a diverse group of professionals and educators—all with superior career experience and a dedication to improving the quality of life through the provision of high-quality parks and recreation opportunities. We welcome our 2022 Fellows.”

View more information on the Academy.

About Kimberly Garrett

Kimberly Garrett has been the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Georgetown since 2006, overseeing more than 1,500 acres of parkland and facilities. She began her career with the City of Georgetown in 1995, serving in various capacities before becoming director. Under Garrett’s direction, the Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department received the Texas Recreation and Parks Society’s Distinguished Gold Medal Award in 2007, 2011, and 2017.

Garrett is an active member of the Texas Recreation and Parks Society, serving as President in 2020-21 and a member of the board of directors from 2016-19. She is also a member of National Recreation and Park Association, International City/County Management Association, and the Texas Municipal League. She serves as a mentor with both the Texas Recreation and Parks Society and the American Association of Park and Recreation Administration. She believes in investing in our young professionals who are our leaders of the future.

Garrett graduated from Texas A&M University, where she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. She also attended NRPA’s inaugural Directors School in 2008.

Garrett is married to Lee Garrett, and they have two daughters. She is involved in numerous organizations in the community. She currently serves as chair of The Georgetown Project, where she has been an active board member since 2016. She is also a member of the church council at Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown. Garrett enjoys working out, spending time with family, and being outdoors.