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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter July 08© City of Georgetown, 2008 VOL. 6 • NO. 7 A Publication of the City of Georgetown JULY 2008 During his nine-year tenure as fire chief, Lincoln helped to cre- ate the SAFE Team, a group of firefighters and police officers that perform a puppet and clown show in elementary schools. Another highlight of his career was the news ear- lier this year that the fire department’s Insurance Service Office rating had been raised from a 4 to a 2, placing Georgetown among the top three percent of fire Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln Retires After 29-year Career On May 16, after 29 years of reporting for duty at 103 W. Ninth Street, Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln turned over the keys to the old fire house. A retirement ceremony for Lincoln included a final inspection by Chief Lincoln, a flag presentation by the Georgetown Fire Department Honor Guard, a “last alarm” call, and music by the Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums band. Creative Playscape is Tops in Texas–Think our playscape is awe- some? You’re not alone. In a story on “68 awesome things to do with your kids” in the April 2008 issue of Texas Monthly, the Creative Playscape was named the best playground in Texas. The playscape in San Gabriel Park was built by nearly 900 community volunteers in 1993. A Blueprint for Future Parks departments in Texas. Assistant Fire Chief Clay Shell will serve as acting fire chief while the City conducts a search for a new fire chief. Over the last few months, the Parks and Recreation Dept. has solicited community input in as part of a comprehensive update to the Parks Master Plan, origi- nally completed in 1992. An online survey, an open house meeting, and review by the Parks Advisory Board provided several opportunities for people to comment on priorities for future parks facilities. The updated plan recommends new hike and bike trails, new parks and athletic fields to serve growing areas, and funding for the eventual development of the Garey Park property. The plan also proposes renovations at San Gabriel Park, including new pavilions, an amphitheater, a festival area, improvements to the Sunken Garden, and more parking. This summer, the City Council will consider a bond election to pay for parks and recreation improvements. For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation website at parks.georgetown.org. Artist rendering of a possible idea for an amphitheater and festival or market area for San Gabriel Park. 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. The City’s swimmingpools will be open July 4 weekend. For details, see the Aquatics page atparks.georgetown.org. Independence Day Friday, July 4 City Offices closedNormal Trash Pickup Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org As in other Central Texas cities, homeown- ers have been battling oak wilt in the River Ridge, San Gabriel Heights, and Country Club neighborhood of Georgetown for many years. Once infected, it is often difficult to save an oak tree. However, through some simple prevention methods, the spread of oak wilt can be minimized. Susceptible species Oaks in the red oak family, including Spanish, Texas, Shumard, pin, and blackjack oaks, are the most susceptible. Oaks in the white oak family, ■Avoid pruning oaks between February 1 and June 1. Beetles that spread the disease are more active in mild weather and less active in the hot summer months and in the colder winter months. ■Do not transport or buy unseasoned firewood, which could carry the disease. ■Promptly remove and burn, grind, or bury all red oaks that are dying or have been recently killed by oak wilt. ■Fungicide injections can have limited success if done prior to or in the very early stages of infection. Consult with a profes- sional arborist to find out if this would help your trees. ■If there are infected trees near your property, trenching to a depth of four feet in a 100-foot perimeter around healthy trees can provide some protection against root transmission. Talk to a professional arborist to determine if trenching is a sensible option. Another overall strategy when planting new trees is to use a variety of species that are less susceptible to oak wilt and suitable to the Central Texas climate. This will ensure that some of the urban forest will remain even if some oak trees are affected. Source: www.texasoakwilt.org, a collaborative guide sponsored by the Texas Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Biological Information Infrastructure, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. such as post, bur, chinkapin, and Monterrey oaks, are generally the least sus- ceptible and are rarely infected. However, live oaks, which are in the white oak family, are among the susceptible species. Transmission Spores of the oak wilt fungus invade and clog the tree’s water- conducting system, called xylem. This can occur when sap-feeding beetles deposit the fungus through a wound or cut, or via tree-to-tree connections through a common root system. Symptoms In live oaks, the oak wilt fungus causes the area around the leaf vein to turn brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. Once infected, live oaks die within six to 12 months. Red oak symptoms are much harder to identify. In early spring, young leaves simply wilt, turning pale green then brown. Mature leaves can turn pale green or bronze in a progression from one branch to another. Red oaks generally die within four to six weeks. Prevention There is no single solution for stopping oak wilt, but by taking several steps, the spread of oak wilt can be greatly reduced: ■Immediately seal all pruning cuts or wounds from storm damage by using a pruning seal or latex paint. ■Sterilize pruning equipment with a disinfectant before and after each use. Oak Wilt Prevention—What You Can Do Heather Brewer, urban forester, City of Georgetown Downtown Happenings The Palace Theater Daddy’s Dyin. Who’s Got the Will?, weekends: June 27-July 20 Nunsense, weekends: Aug. 1-31 Details at www.TheGeorgetownPalace.org, or call (512) 869-7469. First Friday, July 11 Downtown shops, galleries, and restaurants open 6 – 8 p.m. (held on the second Friday this month due to the holiday). This month’s theme is all about red, white, and blue. Come join us for a patriotic happening around downtown! Blood Drive, July 11 Parks and Recreation Admin Building, 1101 N. College Street Call Brandi Williams at (512) 930-3596 to make an appointment Market Days, July 12 Handmade arts and crafts, jewel- ry, woodcrafts, ironworks, Animal Shelter adoptions, food, and more, on the streets around the Square, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art for Animals Call for Art Save this date. The Art for Animals live and silent art auction will be October 19. Last year’s Art for Animals auction was a great success, raising more than $8,000 for the Georgetown Animal Shelter in the inaugural year. Proceeds from the event are used to help fund special projects at the shelter, such as low-cost spay or neuter services. To donate works of art for the auction, contact Jackie Carey, ani- mal shelter supervisor with Georgetown Animal Services, at (512) 930-3592 or via email at jcarey@georgetowntx.org. Water Conservation Pilot Study This summer, two hundred homes in the Sun City neigh- borhood will be involved in a pilot study on water conserva- tion. The goal of the City’s Water Services Department is to assess the viability of a new twice-per-week irrigation sched- ule and to assess the effect of usage feedback on water use. A variety of methods will be used in the study to notify resi- dents when they are nearing 20,000 gallons of water con- sumption for the month. At this level, the water rate increases from $2.25 to $3.00 per thou- sand gallons for City residents. Results from the pilot study will be used to formulate notification methods and communication efforts to encourage wise water use. To see the voluntary 5-day watering schedule, go to 5day.georgetown.org.