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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter June 2011© City of Georgetown, 2011 VOL. 9 • NO. 6 A Publication of the City of Georgetown June 2011 Using 2010 census data, the City’s Geographic Information Systems technicians have estimat- ed the population in each council district. The population total reflects the census count on April 1, 2010. Re-balancing council districts by redrawing boundary lines to equalize population counts, a process known as redistricting, will begin after the city council elections in May. Council district lines must be redrawn so that differences in population size among the seven districts are no more than 10 per- cent. In addition to population bal- ancing, federal law requires that the new district plan address representa- tion of African American and Hispanic voters. The City Charter specifies seven sin- gle-member districts and a mayor elected at-large. Changing the num- ber of council districts would require voter approval through a char- ter election. Assisted by a law firm specializing in redistrict- ing, the council will cre- ate an illustrative council district plan that will be presented in one or more public hearings this summer. The public can comment on the plan at the hearings. The council will take all public comment into considera- tion in adopting a final plan. A new council district map must be approved by a majority of the city council. By September 1, the council should have finalized a plan and will submit it to the U.S. Department of Justice for legal clearance. If approved, the new district plan would go into effect for the city council elections in May 2012. Redistricting Starts This Summer Council 2010DistrictPopulation 1 5,756 2 5,399 3 4,503 4 13,460 5 7,156 6 4,351 7 6,775 Total:47,400 The Friends of the Georgetown Public Library want to buy a book- mobile for the library, and they’re working to achieve their goal of $150,000 by the fall of 2011. The bookmobile will be called the WOWmobile—WOW stands for Words on Wheels. If the fundraising goes well, next year the Georgetown Public Library will begin using the WOWmobile to provide materials to places like nurs- ing homes, retirement communities, the Boys and Girls Club, Getsemani Center, apartment complexes, and City swimming pools. To help make the WOWmobile a reality, you can donate to the Friends of the Georgetown Library at wowbook- mobile.org or bring cash or checks to the library. Help Bring the WOWmobile to Georgetown The summer reading program for kids—Dig Up a Good Book—kicks off on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m. at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street, when the Impact Dance Troupe transports the whole family to Wonderland. After their performance there will be food and more fun, and you can register the kids for the Texas Reading Club. Throughout June the general weekly schedule for children’s programs will be as follows: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. – entertainment for 4- to 7-year-olds, crafts for 8- to 12-year-olds Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. – entertainment for all ages, best for 6 and older Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. – storytime (ages 6 and older) or demonstrations Fridays at 1 p.m. – interactive events for tweens only (ages 9-12) For full details about the reading program and other summer events, go to library.georgetown.org. Read Stuff, Do Stuff, Eat Stuff is the theme of the summer program for teens. Games 2U with their mobile gaming theater will be the featured entertainment at the kick- off on Wednesday, June 8 at 3 p.m., but there also will be a giant ham- ster ball, food, and other kinds of fun. Activities throughout the sum- mer include a Bollywood day, air- brush tattoos, drawing workshop with Tony Sansevero, song writing workshop, Lego robots, Teen Iron Chef, yoga and smoothies, movies, and crafts. The third annual art show will also take place. Teens who read 10 hours or more during the months of June and July will be eli- gible for prizes at the end of the summer. The summer program is free and open to all teens ages 12 through 18. For more information visit teenspace.georgetown.org or email Teen Librarian Bethni King at Bethni.King@georgetown.org or call (512) 930-3551. Library Programs for Children and Teens during June Current council districts Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org June Events The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of GeorgetownPublic Communications Department, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas, 78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director, at (512) 930-3690 or by email at keith.hutchinson@georgetown.org. The Georgetown Festival of the Arts enters its seventh sea- son with a celebration of the music of Johannes Brahms. Held in several Georgetown venues June 2 – 5, Brahms in Georgetown offers a series of musical performances and lectures. Featured performers include the Shanghai and Miró Quartets, bari- tone Weston Hurt, a Southwestern University graduate who is now a nationally-renowned opera star, and soprano Mela Dailey, known for her performances with many American orchestras and opera companies, including the Austin Lyric Opera. Homeowners may not think of get- ting a building permit for projects like a new fence, enclosed porch, or patio cover. Consider a building per- mit and completed inspection as an audit by a trained professional to ensure the work was done correctly. Why is that important? Insurance Coverage.Construction work that was not proper- ly permitted and inspected may not be covered by your insurance company. It could even lead to the cancellation of your homeowner’s policy. Getting the work permit- ted and inspected assures the insurance company that work was done cor- rectly and safely. Safety.Building permits and inspections are your check to make sure that the work met or exceeded minimum safety standards. A deck, patio cover, or electrical outlet that is not prop- erly installed could pose a serious danger to your family or guests. Resale.Interested buyers can con- tact the City to inquire about per- mits and inspections. Having the right paperwork on file gives confi- Was the Work Done Right? Hiring a Contractor Farmers Markets Sun City Market, Tuesdays 9 a.m. to Noon, 2 Texas Drive at Social Center Georgetown Market, Thursdays 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., E. Morrow Street Details at www.gtfma.com The Palace Theater Cabaret, May 13 – June 12 Wait Until Dark, June 24 – July 17 Details at GeorgetownPalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. First Friday, June 3 Downtown live music, shops and restaurants are open late. See the Downtown Georgetown Association website at TheGeorgetownSquare.com. Market Days, June 11 Handmade arts and crafts, food, and more on the Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details at TheGeorgetownSquare.com. dence to a prospective buyer that improvements were properly permit- ted and inspected. Buyer Protection.Permits and inspections involve trained profes- sionals who make sure you have not been swindled by an unethical con- tractor. A final inspection is proof that the job was done correctly before you make your final payment to the contractor. A variety of projects may require a permit—call (512) 930-2550 to see if you need one. Many contrac- tors will acquire permits and contact the City for inspections, but the responsibility is that of the homeowner. To confirm that a permit has been obtained or that inspections have been done, please contact the Inspections Services at (512) 930-2550 or inspec- tions@georgetown.org. Before you or your contractor starts any work, make sure you have a permit for: •Interior remodeling that requires electrical work, plumbing work, and/or removal or addition of walls •Swimming pools, hot tubs, or spas •Patio, deck, or handicap ramp •Patio cover, arbor, pergola, or carport •Fence •Water heater replacement or water softener addition or replacement •Roof replacement •Solar tubes or skylights •Sidewalks and driveways •Accessory buildings The annual Saturday night concert in San Gabriel Park, with the Temple Symphony and Georgetown High School orchestra, band, and chorus, will conclude with a brilliant fireworks show, sponsored by the Williamson County Sun. The Festival Chorus, conducted by Kenny Sheppard, will conclude the Festival on Sunday with Brahms’ sublime German Requiem, with large orches- tra and chorus, comprising the San Gabriel Chorale and Chorus Austin, with Weston Hurt and Mela Dailey. Noted author Jan Swafford, whose biography of Brahms is the definitive work on the master, will deliver the keynote lecture. Go to www.gtownfestival.org for details and ticket information. Georgetown Festival of the Arts Johannes Brahms June 2 – 5 Softball League Registration Early registration for the Softball Summer II season is June 20 through July 18. Late registration is July 19 – 25. The season will begin the week of August 1, and each team will play an eight-game season. The registration fee is $335 per team for early registra- tion, and $380 per team for late regis- tration. Go to parks.georgetown.org for more details.