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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Apr 08© City of Georgetown, 2008 VOL. 6 • NO. 4 A Publication of the City of Georgetown April 2008 the Marshall Ford Swing Band, and Nakia. Cooking demonstrations will feature Bob Waggoner, the award-winning executive chef of Charleston Grill at Charleston Place, Jeff Blank of Hudson’s on the Bend, Paul Peterson of the Gage Hotel in Marathon, and David Bull of Bolla at the Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa. More than 50 vendors and 60 wineries are expected and 4,500 attendees. Tickets to Sunday Fair are $45 per person before April 1, or $50 through April 13. Reserve your ticket at texaswineandfood.org. The ninth annual Red Poppy Festival cele- brates the arrival of spring with a weekend of fun on Georgetown’s historic Square on April 26 – 27. Downtown festivities begin with the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Arts and crafts vendors, a children’s activity area, and live entertain- ment continue through Sunday evening. Music:Kelly Willis, “alterna- tive country’s golden goddess” according to National Public Radio, will headline the Saturday evening entertainment. A reviewer of Willis’ 2007 release Translated from Love says “her sumptuous vocals have never sounded bet- ter” (SFweekly.com). The musical lineup for the festival also includes Two Tons of Steel, Lonestar Bluegrass Band, Joe McDermott, the Siekers, the Georgetown High School Jazz Band, and The Brew. For a full schedule of events, go to RedPoppyFestival.com. There is no admission charge for any of the festival concerts. Bike Ride:The fourth annual Red Poppy Ride, sponsored by the Georgetown Sertoma Club, begins on Saturday, April 26 at 8 a.m. The charity ride includes a 14-mile family route as well as 30-mile, 45-mile, and 62-mile routes with rest stops and full SAG support. The ride benefits scholarships for stu- dents at Georgetown schools, the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center, and bicycle safety and advocacy programs. See the link at RedPoppyFestival.com for all the details or to register. Red Poppy 5K: A 5K run starting on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., sponsored by Run-Tex. All proceeds benefit the Main Street Facade and Sign Grant Program. See the link at RedPoppyFestival.com for all the details or to register. Car Show:Classic cars, Corvettes, and hot rods on the Square on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. Red Poppy Festival April 26 – 27 Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival Sunday Fair in the Park on April 13 The grand finale of the 23rd Annual Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival will be held once again in Georgetown in San Gabriel Park. Come to the relaxed Sunday Fair on April 13 for tastes of Texas food and wine from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy live music by Austin favorites Carolyn Wonderland, Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org Georgetown Reads! A Twist at the End Downtown The Palace Theater The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, weekends April 4 – 27 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, weekends May 16 – June 15 Details at GeorgetownPalace.org or call (512) 869-7469. First Friday,April 4 Downtown shops, galleries, and restaurants open 6 – 8 p.m. Market Days,April 12 Handmade arts and crafts, jewelry, woodcrafts, ironworks, and more. The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of Georgetown Public InformationOffice located in City Hall, 113 E. Eighth Street, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, Public Information Officer for the City of Georgetown at (512) 930-3690, or by email at pio@georgetowntx.org. With nearly 300 votes cast throughout the city and online, the public has chosen Steven Saylor’s A Twist at the End as the selection for the fourth- annual Georgetown Reads! program. The library, along with local book- stores, will purchase numerous copies of the book. Programs will begin in mid-March. For all the details, go to library.georgetown.org, or contact Richard Groves, adult services librar- ian, at rgroves@georgetowntx.org. The Georgetown Public Library is located at 402 W. Eighth Street. Election on May 10 According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding is one of the most serious public safety hazards in Texas. That’s why public safety officials say, if you come to a flooded road, Turn around, Don’t drown. Floodwaters can easily stall or float a vehicle, or make a road impassable due to submerged debris or road damage. There are two low-water crossings in the Georgetown City Limits. One is on Oak Tree Drive in the Berry Creek neighborhood. The second is in San Gabriel Park on Morrow Street at N. College Street. Last year, rising floodwater on the Oak Tree Drive low-water Low-water crossings Safety in Flooding Events crossing took the life of Fred List, a Georgetown-area resident. The current City budget includes $1.2 million for a new bridge on Oak Tree Drive. The Texas Department of Transportation approved $5 million to construct a new bridge on N. College Street over the San Gabriel River, and the City is contributing $452,000 towards the engineering cost for the bridge. Both bridges will be above the 100-year flood plain, and both bridges are currently in the design phase. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, and is expected to take six to 12 months to complete. Managing growth, traffic, and education were the top concerns for Georgetown residents in the 2008 Quality of Life biennial survey. Traffic and managing growth were also top concerns in the 2006, 2004, and 2002 surveys. The Ampersand Agency conducted the 2008 telephone survey of 400 residents in January. Respondents reflected all areas and demographic sec- tors of the community. Here are some of the highlights from the survey: 65%said managing growth/development is a top three issue 60%said traffic/transportation is a top three issue 31%said education/schools is a top three issue Quality of Life Survey 49%support expanded roads for a property taxincrease of $50 annually perhousehold 59%support public transportation for a cost of$25 annually per family 55%support expanded side- walks and bike paths for a costof up to $25 annually per family 52%oppose changing existing roads into toll roads 90%support expanded energy and water efficiency standardsfor new construction 63%said they always use curbside recycling 54%said the quality of life in Georgetown was getting better 34%said the quality of life in Georgetown is about the same 81%gave an overall rating of good or excellent to the City of Georgetown for providingquality customer service 73%said they feel very safe in Georgetown, and 27% said theyfeel safe (0% said they feel unsafe) Residents said they would pay an extra $5 per month in taxes and fees for these improvements: 85%for new roads that reduce traffic congestion 71%for new City parks and recreational opportunities such as swimming and hike andbike trails 65%for more green and open spaces 80%for additional public safety personnel and equipment 65%for affordable housing for low income residents For a complete summary of thesurvey results, see the link atgeorgetown.org. Council seats for mayor and the council representatives from Districts 2 and 6 will be on the May 10 ballot. Early voting starts on April 28 and goes HAPPENINGS through May 6. For a list of candidates on the ballot, as well as polling locations and hours, go to georgetown.org, or call City Hall at (512) 930-3652.