Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon: Partnering with Local Schools
The City will host its second Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon on Jan. 22 featuring a presentation by Georgetown ISD Fine Arts Director Carol Watson about partnering with local schools.
Watson’s presentation will focus on partnerships between communities, artists, arts and culture organizations, and local schools that promote educational opportunities and community engagement. Watson’s art education experience includes time in the classroom as well as school administration, and she has worked as an artist and served on community art boards.
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.
MLK Day Events in Georgetown on Jan. 20-24
A variety of events including a public march and program, service day events, and a race and ethnicity symposium will be held in Georgetown on Monday, Jan. 20, through Friday, Jan. 24. The events honor, celebrate, and continue the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK Leadership Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 20
The Georgetown Ministerial Alliance and the Georgetown Police Department will host the MLK Leadership Prayer Breakfast from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 DB Wood Road. For more information, contact GMA president Rev. Harriett Jones at harriettjones.gma@gmail.com.
Day of Service on Jan. 20
The United Way of Williamson County is sponsoring a Day of Service on MLK Day from 9 a.m. to noon for youth or adults. The Day of Service includes project locations in Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, and Taylor. To register, go to unitedway-wc.org or call (512) 255-6799.
March and Program on Jan. 20
A march to honor the MLK Day holiday begins at noon Monday, Jan. 20, at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St. After meeting on the north side of the Courthouse on Seventh Street, there will be a seven-block march to Macedonia Baptist Church, 206 Martin Luther King Jr. St. The annual event is sponsored by the Georgetown Fellowship of Churches.
A program beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church features a panel discussion with Georgetown High School senior Malakhi Perry; Chuck Collins, South East Georgetown Community Council executive director; and Rev. William Quickley, pastor of Wesley Chapel AME Church. The program’s theme is “Today’s Relevance: Dr. King’s Dream Speech.” The march and program are sponsored by the Georgetown Fellowship of Churches and are free and open to the public. For details, contact Tyrone Adams at (512) 968-6361.
In addition, the African American Shotgun House, 801 West St., will be open for visitors from 2-4 p.m. Jan. 20.
Youth Service Day on Jan. 20
The Georgetown Project hosts a Youth Service Day on MLK Day for high school students in grades nine to 12. The Youth Service Day starts at 9 a.m. at the Georgetown Community Center at 445 E. Morrow St. Students needing service hours will be given certificates for three hours of service.
Participation in service projects will be followed by a free pizza lunch at the community center. For details, contact The Georgetown Project at www.georgetownproject.org or call (512) 943-0074.
Southwestern University events, Jan. 21-24
“The More You Know about Racism:” The Office of Diversity Education, Race and Ethnicity Studies Program and the Coalition for Diversity and Social Justice sponsor this student panel with representatives from a variety of organizations. The panel will discuss race and racism and the impact on their college experience followed by question and answer session. The event will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 21 in the McCombs Campus Center Ballrooms. Refreshments will be provided.
MLK Keynote Speaker: David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow
Museum and vice president for diversity and inclusion at Ferris State University, speaks at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in Olin Building, Room 105. Pilgrim is also the author of “Understanding Jim Crow: Using Racist Memorabilia to
Teach Tolerance and Promote Social Justice.”
Symposium: The Race and Ethnicity Studies Program at Southwestern University is hosting a symposium titled “Peruvian Lives Across Borders: Power, Exclusion, and Home” by Christina Alcalde of The University of Kentucky, Lexington, from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 23 in the McCombs Campus Center Ballroom. The interdisciplinary symposium features research on race and racial discrimination.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multi-faith Service: A multi-faith service will be held Jan. 24 at noon in the Lois Perkins Chapel. Lunch will be served immediately following the service.
Friday Night Live: Comedian Jasmine Ellis performs at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at The Cove.
All the Southwestern events are free and open to the public. Southwestern University is located at Maple Street and University Avenue in Georgetown. For more information, contact Terri Johnson at (512) 863-1342, email tjohnson@southwestern.edu, or visit southwestern.edu.
MLK Day closings on Jan. 20
City of Georgetown offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on Jan. 20.
City offices and facilities closed Jan. 20 for MLK Day include the following:
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
- Municipal Court, 510 W. Ninth St.
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
- Planning Department, 406 W. Eighth St.
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20.
The Collection Station at 250 W.L. Walden Drive will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20.
GoGeo bus service
There will be no service Monday, Jan. 20.
Solid Waste and Recycling Collection
There will be normal residential solid waste and recycling collection for Texas Disposal Systems customers in the City of Georgetown on Monday, Jan. 20. For questions about solid waste collection, call TDS at (512) 930-1715.
Adults with Disabilities Dance at Georgetown Community Center
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a dance for adults age 18 and older with disabilities from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. The theme is Winter Wonderland.
Admission is $5 for participants and includes a meal. Advanced registration is recommended. Only cash or check will be taken at the door. There is no charge for family members or caregivers, and they must remain present at all times.
For more information and to register, call (512) 930-3596 or visit parks.georgetown.org.
Upcoming dances:
April 3
County Fair
Oct. 30
Halloween
New pet for Christmas? Here’s what you need to know
Did Santa bring you a new puppy or kitten for Christmas? Here are some important things to remember when caring for your new pet.
Leash your pet: Always leash your pet in public. It is against City ordinances for dogs to be at large in the City limits, and for cats that have not been altered or vaccinated to be at large. It is also against City ordinances to chain or tether your dog unless a person is holding the restraint.
License your pet: All dogs and cats that live within the city limits are required to have an annual city license. The City’s pet license requirement help keep rabies under control by enforcing the rabies vaccination requirements. The cost of a license is $5 for animals that are spayed or neutered or $20 for unaltered animals. For residents age 65 and older, the license is free if the pet is spayed or neutered. Free licenses are limited to one per person.
Take care after your pet: You may not allow an animal to damage private property other than the owner’s property. Pick up after your pet by immediately removing any waste on public or private property and properly disposing of it. Free roaming cats that cause a nuisance while off their owner’s property can be impounded and their owner can be fined.
Learn more about Georgetown’s animal-related ordinances at pets.georgetown.org/overview/ordinances.
About the Georgetown Animal Shelter
The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. The shelter offers animal control and adoption services, as well as various programs throughout the year, including low-cost immunization and sterilization clinics, citywide dog and cat licensing, and adoption events. For more information, visit pets.georgetown.org.
Georgetown Parks and Recreation hosts Fitness Fusion event Jan. 11
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting Fitness Fusion at the Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave., from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11.
The event is open to the public and features a variety of fitness classes, such as yoga, Zumba, cycling, and Silver Sneakers classes. The goal of the event is to showcase the variety of fitness programs available at the recreation center that accommodate all ages and fitness levels.
During the event, fitness instructors will host 20-minute sample classes in four different locations within the recreation center. Guests can participate in as many classes as they would like.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit parks.georgetown.org/fitness-fusion.
Top 10 stories from 2019
10. Growth continues: Last year, growth colored much of the City’s work. Construction began on more than 1,300 new homes in our city and we were ranked by the U.S. Census Bureau as the seventh-fastest growing city with more than 50,000 residents in the U.S.
9. Community events: Georgetown celebrated the 20th Red Poppy Festival with a performance by Texas Country singer Pat Green, great weather, entertainment, and record crowds. The event added more than $2.5 million to the local economy. The first Blazin’ Beer Crawl was a popular new event on the Square in August. The City again sponsored the lights around the Square, helping Georgetown remain a top holiday light destination in the state.
8. Cost of service: While customers faced higher electric bills this year, the overall cost of monthly service including utilities and property taxes for a home valued at $285,000 is the fourth-lowest when compared to 10 other large cities in the Austin-metro area. Georgetown’s property tax rate is the lowest among those cities.
7. Electric utility challenges: Electric customers faced higher bills as the City worked to address increased purchased power costs. Steps to address the wholesale power cost issue included hiring a new general manager and hiring Shell Energy North America to assist with energy forecasting and energy market trading. The City ended the year with a higher reserve in the electric fund than in 2018. This year the City electric utility employees achieved diamond-level status for reliability as a provider.
6. Water utility projects: The water utility expanded capacity with the Sun City water tower and new waterlines along DB Wood Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The utility began work on a new Braun water tower on West Highway 29, a larger water intake structure and expanded capacity at the water treatment plant on Lake Georgetown, and design for a second water treatment plant at Lake Georgetown.
5. Transportation improvements: Road and mobility projects included the opening of Rivery Boulevard extension and continued work on the Williamson County segment of Southwest Bypass, which is expected to open next year. Resurfacing of runways at the Georgetown Municipal Airport, work on the Seventh Street sidewalk project, and the completion of the Bicycle Master Plan were other significant mobility projects in 2019.
4. City facilities and parks: The new City Hall and Council and Courts building opened in January and work started on Fire Station 6 and Fire Station 7. The second phase of the San Gabriel Park renovations was completed this summer, and a proposed downtown parking garage was a hot topic of conversation.
3. Downtown businesses: A number of new shops and restaurants opened downtown this year, including 309 Coffee, Lamppost Coffee, Barrels and Amps, Lark and Owl Booksellers, Barron Creek Vineyards, and the Daytripper World Headquarters.
2. New retail: The opening of Academy Sports and Outdoors as well as the first businesses at Wolf Crossing, including Goodwill and Olive Garden, were among the big retail openings this year. The City also approved agreements with Costco, which plans to open a store at Lakeway and I-35.
1. Safe city: The Georgetown Police Department achieved state accreditation by the Texas Police Chiefs Association’s Recognized Law Enforcement Agency, a recognition of 170 best practices by the department. In addition, Georgetown ranked No. 3 for safest cities in Texas by SafeHome.org, and, as a safe city for animals, the City Animal Shelter achieved no-kill status for the fourth year in a row.
Georgetown Recreation Center hosts New Year, New You Challenge
Get a jump start on your 2020 fitness goals with the New Year, New You Challenge at the Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
Pick up a Bingo card at the front desk to get started. The program kicks off on Monday, Jan. 13, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 9.
Prizes will be distributed starting on Friday, Feb. 14, and range from a complimentary individual day pass to a free one-month individual membership.
Participants earn points and can fill in squares on their Bingo cards by participating in classes, trying new activities and working out with friends. Fitness courses are not included in the challenge.
Each box on the Bingo card must be initialed by the class instructor or Georgetown Recreation Center staff.
For more information about the challenge, including how to earn points and information about rewards, visit parks.georgetown.org.
Applications for City boards and commissions: deadline extended to Dec. 27
Updated Dec. 20: The application deadline for City boards and commissions has been extended to Dec. 27
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The City of Georgetown is seeking highly qualified and dedicated individuals to serve on one of Georgetown’s Advisory Boards or Commissions. The City Council depends on citizen board members to assist in evaluating local issues to enrich and promote the community.
The City has 30 active boards and commissions with 220 total seats. Approximately 100 seats need to be filled this term, with each appointed member serving two year terms.
Individuals interested in serving as a board member must complete an application.
The deadline to submit an application is Dec. 20. Board and Commission appointments are made in February, and new members begin serving in March.
For more information regarding the variety of boards and commissions and their roles in City government, visit georgetown.org/boardscommissions.
For more information or assistance with the application process, contact the City Secretary’s office at (512) 930-3651.
Recycling Christmas trees and boxes
City of Georgetown residents are encouraged to recycle Christmas trees, boxes, and wrapping paper to reduce material going to the landfill. If you recycle your tree, please remove the tree stand and any garland, ornaments, or lights. Artificial trees cannot be recycled.
Curbside pick-up: Texas Disposal Systems customers in the city limits of Georgetown can put Christmas trees on the curb for collection on your regular yard trimmings pickup day. Trees seven feet in length or less can be placed at the curb uncut. Longer trees should be cut into sections. Artificial trees are not accepted.
Collection day look-up: For City of Georgetown residents, your yard trimmings collection day is on your first recycling day of the month. Georgetown solid waste and recycling customers can check their collection days, sign up for text or email reminders, and find out how to sort your solid waste and recycling on Texas Disposal Systems’ Waste Wizard at texasdisposal.com/waste-wizard.
Boxes and wrapping paper: Cardboard boxes and wrapping paper are recyclable. If they won’t fit in your recycling cart, you can put wrapping paper and boxes in a larger box and set it next to your recycling cart. Ribbons and bows are not recyclable.
Cellophane wrap and plastic bags are recyclable if they are placed in a yellow bag-the-bag, tied, and placed inside the recycling cart. Bag-the-bag recycling bags are available for pick up at the Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave., and the Sun City Social Center monitors desk, 2 Texas Drive, and the Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Road. Note that extra plastic bags next to your trash cart are not permitted without a bag tag. Go to recycle.georgetown.org for a complete list of recyclables.
Christmas tree drop-off: Christmas trees will be accepted at the City of Georgetown Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, from Dec. 26-Jan. 31 at no charge. Normal fees apply to other items. Recycled Christmas trees are turned into mulch, which is available year-round, free-of-charge to City residents.
Collection Station: Normal hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Collection Station is closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. For details, contact Texas Disposal Systems at (512) 930-1715.
The City of Georgetown also offers holiday string light recycling through Jan. 31 at three drop-off locations throughout Georgetown. For more information, click here.