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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter January 2013© City of Georgetown, 2013 VOL. 11 • NO. 1 A Publication of the City of Georgetown January 2013 Architectural design work is com- plete for the Public Safety Operations and Training Center on D.B. Wood Road. The planned facil- ity, next to the newly opened Fire Station 5, will be the home for Georgetown Fire Department administration and the Georgetown Police Department. The two-level, 75,000 square-foot building also will house emergency communica- tions, emergency operations, and evidence processing and storage. The site also will include a firing range, indoor training building, and obstacle training course. The center was designed by Architects Design Group in associa- tion with KAHickman Architects. Bartlett Cocke, the general contrac- tor, expects to begin construction in the spring of 2013 with completion in the summer of 2014. Georgetown voters approved fund- ing for the facility in a bond election in May 2011. Public Safety Center Update The Explore Georgetown smart- phone application, developed by the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau, won a statewide award this year from the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Launched earlier this year, the app allows users to easily find Georgetown restaurants or hotels, look up events, find attrac- tions, check the local weather, and even find other friends in the area. Use a GPS-directed walking tour to check out the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas or other attractions in town. The app has features for visitors or residents who want easy Explore Georgetown Phone App Wins Award access to local information. The Explore Georgetown app is available for iPhones or Android phones. Just search for Explore Georgetown, Texas. The Georgetown Swirl was named a winner of the Best Promotional Event by the Texas Downtown Association at their annual meeting in November. The Georgetown Swirl is an annual food, wine, and shopping event on the downtown Square sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street Program. The award recognizes excellence in creation and execution of downtown or commercial district promotional events. Judges thought the Swirl was a comprehensive event that achieved many goals by encouraging support of local restaurants and retail busi- nesses as well as regional wineries. The 2013 Georgetown Swirl will be held on Saturday, March 2. For details, go to swirl.georgetown.org. Online ticket sales started in December. Georgetown Swirl Wins Statewide Award Good Neighbor Fund Make a Pledge Online Now it’s easier than ever to donate to the Good Neighbor Fund. Make a pledge by filling out an online form at billing.georgetown.org. Look for the Good Neighbor Fund Donation Form link. Your donation will be included with your monthly bill. The Good Neighbor Fund helps those in the community facing a crisis, such as a medical emergency or job loss. The fund is administered by The Caring Place and provides utility bill assistance to those in need. Each year the demand for assistance far exceeds the funds available. You can donate to the Good Neighbor Fund if you are currently signed up for automatic monthly bank or credit card drafts. Make a monthly pledge, change it, or discontinue at any time. Questions? Contact the City Customer Care Center at (512) 930-3640, or billing@georgetown.org. Holiday Closings City offices closed Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Jan. 21: MLK Day No solid waste or recycling pickup on Jan. 1. For New Year’s week: Tues. pickup slides to Wed. Wed. pickup slides to Thurs. Thurs. pickup slides to Fri. Fri. pickup slides to Sat. Regular solid waste and recycling collection on MLK Day Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org The Palace Theater Dearly Beloved,Jan. 11 – Feb. 3 Details at GeorgetownPalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. Georgetown Symphony Society January 27 The Georgetown Symphony Society presents the Temple Symphony Orchestra in a patriotic concert, For Love of Country at the GHS Klett Center for the Performing Arts, 4 p.m. Adults $27 and $20; students $5; available at both Georgetown HEBs, the Sun City CA office, or at the door. Details at www.gsstx.org or call (512) 864-9591. January Events Art Center Plans for Spring Opening Work is progressing on the Art Center in the first floor of the his- toric Fire Station and City Hall building at 816 S. Main Street. The new Art Center, which will include gallery space and a studio area, will be run by volunteers organized by the nonprofit Georgetown Art Works. Designs for the Art Center exterior and corner plaza, by architect Gary Wang, were approved by the Historic and Architectural Review Commission in November. Demolition of interior walls was completed in October. Relocation of The Georgetown City Reporteris a publication ofthe City of Georgetown Public CommunicationsDepartment, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas,78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director, at(512) 930-3690 or by email atkeith.hutchinson@georgetown.org. utility lines in front of the building was completed in November. Construction of new expanded side- walks will allow for outdoor café seating for ThunderCloud Subs, which will be next to the Art Center in the former fire truck bay build- ing. The sub shop also is expected to open in the spring. Interior construction on the Art Center and work on an outdoor plaza and splash pad is the next step. The Art Center is scheduled for a spring opening. Andrew Spurgin started in October as the City’s new planning director. Spurgin comes to Georgetown from the City of San Antonio where he was a plan- ning manager in the development services department. Spurgin’s expe- rience includes managing planning New Planning Director staff, development code changes, working with zoning and board of adjustment commissions, and work- ing on redevelopment plans. Spurgin grew up in Austin and has a bachelor’s degree in metropolitan studies from New York University. He earned a master’s degree in com- munity and regional planning from The University of Texas at Austin. Winners in the 2012 Best of Georgetown, Texas contest included familiar favorites and first-timers. A total of 1,416 ballots were counted in the annual online contest by the City of Georgetown Economic Development Department. Here’s a few of the gold (first-place) winners: Best Overall Restaurant: Monument Café Best Hamburger: Burger University Best Steak: Longhorn Steakhouse Best Coffee (or Tea): Cianfrani Coffee Company Best Charity Organization: The Caring Place Best Happy Hour: The Uptown Social For a complete list of the gold, silver, and bronze winners in 49 categories, or to see photos of some of the winners, go to Bestof.Georgetown.org or Shop.Georgetown.org.