Georgetown | November 2024

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Georgetown Edition VOLUME 18, ISSUE 3 NOV. 21DEC. 20, 2024

From vine to table

A part of Heath Family Brands, Grape Creek Vineyards, which has a tasting room on the Georgetown Square, produces 45,00050,000 cases of wine a year.

COURTESY HEATH FAMILY BRANDS

Hill Country wine region contributes to $20.35B industry statewide

the square’s open container policy, Downtown and Tourism Director Kim McAulie said. “They want to be able to shop, they want to explore ...,” McAulie said. “But they love doing it with a glass of wine in their hand.”

to a multibillion dollar wine industry statewide. The industry’s growth has brought new busi- nesses and jobs to Georgetown, where ocials work to maintain “The most beautiful town square in Texas.” With three dierent wineries on the square, a large number of tourists enjoy utilizing

BY ANNA MANESS & CHLOE YOUNG

Across the Texas Hill Country, there are more than a hundred wineries and vineyards positively impacting their local economies. The growth of wineries in the Hill Country, many of which were established in the last 10-20 years, has contributed

CONTINUED ON 24

Also in this issue

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Impacts: A new roastery is sourcing coee beans from around the world—learn more about how Katï Coee is preparing them (Page 6)

Nonprofit: Looking for an organization to volunteer with in the Georgetown area? Check out our guide to local opportunities (Page 38)

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Denise Seiler General Manager dseiler@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Publisher Travis Baker Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Senior Product Manager Haley Grace Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara

Claire Shoop Editor cshoop@ communityimpact.com

Dana Smyth Account Executive dsmyth@ communityimpact.com

16225 Impact Way Pugerville, TX 78660 • 5129896808 CI Careers

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Impacts

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• 2351 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown • www.gt.school

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SERENADA DR.

4 Culver’s The store is owned and operated by franchisee Andrew Gravely. The chain offers frozen custard, Butter Burgers, cheese curds, salads, chicken sandwiches and fish. This is the first Culver’s to arrive in Georgetown. • Opened Oct. 21 • 4795 Williams Drive, Georgetown • www.culvers.com 5 Spa Studio The massage studio is opening in a space at Hill Country Salon Suites. Owned by Vivian Xu, the business offers deep tissue massages, Thai massages and cupping therapy. • Opened Nov. 1 • 5361 Williams Drive, Ste. 102, Georgetown • https://salons-spa.wixstudio.io/spastudio 6 Core Collision The locally owned business provides collision-repair services to all vehicles, including mobility accessible vehicles, non-structurally damaged Tesla vehicles and work vans. The repair shop’s first location is in Kyle. • Opened Nov. 18 • 103 Halmar Cove, Georgetown • www.corecollisiontx.com JOB Home Solutions Owned by Brett Gissler, the company offers Christmas lights installation, pressure washing, window cleaning, mowing and edging to the northern Austin-area communities including Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Georgetown. • Opened in mid-October • Facebook: JOB Home Solutions 110 29 110 110 29

130 TOLL

NORTHWEST BLVD. RIVERY BLVD.

HALMAR COVE

95 TOLL

218

183

337

341

WOLF RANCH PKWY.

236

Florence

366

RIVERY BLVD.

Georgetown

WOLF RANCH PKWY.

1460

U N I V E R S I T Y A V E .

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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therapy and counseling services, psychiatry and medication management, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The business’s other locations in the greater Austin area are in Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Round Rock and central Austin. • Opened Sept. 23 • 3626 Williams Drive, Ste. 100, Georgetown • www.fccwellbeing.com 3 GT School The private school specializes in hands-on, project- based workshops, and is now teaching kindergarten through eighth grade students who meet its qualifications. The school uses 2hr Learning, a program that uses artificial intelligence to customize curriculum around each student’s needs. Tuition is $25,000 per year, and the school has rolling admissions. • Opened Aug. 26 1460 1460

Now open

1 Once Upon A Child The store, owned by husband and wife Neal and Leslie Ellis, offers gently used clothes, shoes, toys, equipment and other accessories for young children, according to a news release. The store began accepting inventory from community members on Sept. 29, and officially opened to both buy and sell items in early November. • Opened Nov. 7 • 1103 Rivery Blvd., Ste. 170, Georgetown • www.onceuponachild.com 2 Family Care Center The mental health clinic treats a variety of patients, including individuals, couples, families and veterans, according to a news release. Care at the center includes 1431

S E

Coming soon

7 Residence Inn by Marriott Due to construction delays, the hotel is now expected to open in April. The business was originally set to open in the fall, according to previous Community

110

Dr. Craig P. Torres D.D.S., Endodontist Board Certified (COL US Army Dental Corps RET) • Non-surgical root canal therapy • Root canal retreatments • Root canal surgery Dr. Gloria T. Torres D.D.S., Prosthodontist (LTC US Army Dental Corps RET) 66 Years Combined Experience (Retired Army Dentists)

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Call for an appointment 512-868-5999 Advanced Technology CEREC (one day all ceramic crowns) Endodontic Microscopes Digital radiography/photography CBCT (3-D) scans Oral/nitrous sedation www.Torres-Dental-Specialties.com

• Restorative Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Full mouth reconstruction

(severe wear/malocclusions) • Complex esthetic and functional cases • Dental implants • Dentures / partial dentures

4402 Williams Drive, Suite 104 • Georgetown, TX • Hours M-F 8-5 • Most insurance accepted

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DACIA GARCIA, ANNA MANESS & CLAIRE SHOOP

Impact reporting. The hotel will offer complimentary breakfast, a social hour and an outdoor pool, among

working on tenant improvement build-outs, projects from the ground up and more. The company’s new space, which it moved into in early September, is located on the second floor of the R Bank building. The business was previously located in Round Rock. • 405 S. Austin Ave., Ste. 202, Georgetown • www.greystoneconstruction.com 10 Tx Payroll Plus Owned and operated by Belinda and Mario Muñoz, the business opened on Nov. 24, 1999, and is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The business offers bookkeeping and payroll services for small- to medium- sized local businesses, and specializes in in-person detailed services for each client. • 1911 N. Austin Ave., Ste. 503, Georgetown • www.payrollplustx.com 11 Lonestar Range & Academy The full-service outdoor gun range marked its 10th anniversary Oct. 31. Owned by Tony and Tenise LaCoste, the facility is a certified training academy with National Rifle Association-certified instructors. Available classes include those for a license to carry, gun safety, self defense and hunter safety. The range has options for rifle, pistol, shotgun and clay shooting. • 10000 N. US 183, Florence • www.lonestarrangeacademy.com

Now open

other amenities. • Opening in April • 934 W. University Ave., Georgetown • www.marriott.com

Expansions

8 Sweet Eats Adventure Farm and Petting Zoo

The establishment will offer choose-and-cut Christmas trees beginning next year. The farm features holiday activities during Christmas at the Farm occurring Nov. 29-Dec. 24, including breakfast with Santa Claus, photos with Santa Claus, Cookie Palooza and candy cane hunts.

12 Katï Coffee Founded by Mirian Diop, the roastery sources coffee beans from around the world and prepares them for customers in-store. Diop said she envisions Katï Coffee growing with the community, and looks forward to co-branding with local partners. Customers can purchase beans from Brazil, Nicaragua, Tanzania and other countries. • Opened Oct. 8 • 3871 E. University Ave., Ste. 195, Georgetown • www.katicoffee.com

• Expanding in December 2025 • 14400 E. Hwy. 29, Georgetown • www.sweeteats.com

In the news

9 Greystone Construction The general contractor offers design-build and construction management services, with employees

In a month that centers around a spirit of thankfulness, we want to take a moment and say THANK YOU! The success of our pediatric dental and orthodontic practices is due entirely to the loyal support of our patients and their families. And for that we are grateful beyond words. Since opening our doors back in 2008 we’ve watched infants mature into high schoolers, and some of our first patients are now driving themselves to school! Watching your kids—and ours—grow continues to be a blessing. As parents, small business owners and fellow Georgetown residents, please know how thankful we are for the opportunity to continue to serve you and your family. THANK YOU!

Dr. Kenny

Dr. Aaron

Dr. Kenny Havard | Dr. Travis Hildebrand | Dr. Aaron White

Dr. Travis

4507 Williams Drive Georgetown • 512.869.4100 GtownKids.com

GEORGETOWN EDITION

Welcome to Parmer Ranch, a thoughtfully designed master- planned community in the heart of picturesque Georgetown, Texas. Our premium collection of beautiful new homes come in an array of sizes and custom styles, with modern architectural details and built-in smart technology. Many homes also have generously oversized backyards with mature trees. th mature tr You’ll love the amenities at Parmer Ranch, including our new ities at Parm activity center opening in spring 2025, featuring common er opening ctivity center open areas, a fitness center, a swimming pool, play areas, pickleball a swimming pool, pla areas, and basketball courts, and more. Plus, Benold Middle School, Middle School, part of the award-winning Georgetown ISD, is located on-site. cated on- Experience the Parmer Ranch difference — contact us today at parmeranch.com/contact Premium living in a location you’ll love The information and drawings contained herein are for illustrative purposes only. Planned amenities, open space, lot size and configuration, land use and zoning may be changed without prior notice. out prior notice. Prices, availability and builder offerings are also subject to change without notice. ge without notice. 1201 N. Parmer Ranch Blvd., Georgetown, TX 78633 | ParmerRanch.com

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Rebecca Clemons named as first-ever Williamson County manager Williamson County named Rebecca Clemons as its very first county manager Oct. 1—a position created to help navigate the county’s continued growth. In December, Clemons will have been employed with Williamson County for 18 years, most recently serving as the senior director of human resources prior to her new managerial role. On the one-month anniversary of her start date as county manager, Community Impact sat down with Clemons to discuss what the job entails. What brought on the need for the county manager role? As our population has grown, obviously, the complexities of what a county has to address has grown also. Whenever you look at the fact that we have over 16 county leaders and 25 county departments that report up to the Commissioners Court, it’s hard to keep that oversight whenever you’re a county of our size. ... It made more sense to bring somebody in that could help centralize things, follow up on some priorities and policies and funnel stuff up to the court as needed. You’ve been employed with Williamson County for almost 18 years. Why do you enjoy working here, and what’s kept you around for so long? Hands down, it’s the people. It’s the citizens that we serve; it’s the people that we work with. Service is a really important aspect to me. I’ve always enjoyed having a job where I feel that I can help others and contribute, and I think that’s something that definitely spoke to me. As far as keeping me around, I really love what I do, and I like the people that I work with, and so I am excited that I keep getting different challenges and different opportunities, and I’m able to stay within the county and utilize my skill set to do that. How do you feel like you’ve been able to apply your previous work experience as the senior director of HR to your county manager role? One of the things I love the most about HR is that I got to interact with so many other departments, from leadership down to entry- level employees. I think building relationships across the county is really going to help me going forward, as well as knowing how a lot of the departments function and work. I know who I can reach out to for assistance on something, or

Williamson County population growth

As the county continues to grow, Williamson County Commissioners Court created the county manager position, and hired Rebecca Clemons. Residents

720K

680K

640K

10TH FASTEST-GROWING COUNTY BY NUMERICAL GROWTH

600K

2020 2021

2022 2023

Consistently, Williamson County has ranked as the 12th largest county in the state.

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT

ANNA MANESS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

maybe if there’s a more efficient way we could do something, I have that relationship with that leadership. ... I think it’s just going to benefit me because both of these positions—my previous role and my current role—are so relationship-heavy; it just helps to already have that foundation. You’ve been in this position for one month. What has this role been like so far? It’s been busy; I think that that’s no surprise. I’m still wearing two hats, as I just recently found someone internally that we promoted into my previous role, and so doing a lot of training and stuff with that, working with the departments that have already been assigned to me ... and then just getting out a little bit more into the community and meeting community leaders. Tell me about what your day-to-day role looks like. Right now, [a] main focus [is] getting my replacement up and trained. ... I’m working a lot with the Pretrial Services team. ... We are starting up the death inquest investigator department, and so we’re working on policies and meetings and stuff for that. And so right now, that, and getting to know other people that I haven’t maybe had to interact with as much along and around the county, I think are the main priorities. What do you see as the biggest challenge within this role? The biggest challenge is probably just the fact that it’s new. And so really getting people to understand what my role is going to be within the

county, and probably the philosophy of the court as to what they would like for that to look like over the next year. Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Williamson County? I grew up in the north Dallas—Plano area. ... Whenever I was in high school, we moved to East Texas to a really small town named Canton. ... I ended up at Texas A&M. I graduated from there and met my husband. ... We just always really liked the Central Texas area, we’re both very into [the] outdoors and thought it’d be a great place to raise a family, and so we ended up moving to Round Rock. Is there anything else you think Williamson County residents should be aware of with your new position? One of the things that excites me about the role is the fact that I do think it will be very impactful over the next decade as we have so much growth. We’re always at the top of the fastest growing cities list. You know, we’re the 12th largest county in the state of Texas—I think that we’ll probably move up on that list. I think our last number was the 10th fastest-growing county in the nation. ... Along with all of this growth [are] a lot of changes, and my hope is that this position can help provide some of that stability as we move through that.

GEORGETOWN EDITION

Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Georgetown’s transfer station is now open following 14 months of construction to upgrade and add to the facility’s services. At the station’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 4, Mayor Josh Schroeder said the reconstruction created a better flow for customers to drop off recycling, landfill and yard waste items. The station added a 25,000-square-foot transfer building with three lanes for commercial trucks to unload recyclables and solid waste onto larger trucks, according to a news release. Commercial and residential collections are routed separately at the station to improve safety, and its roads were paved to reduce dust and help with drainage. City transfer station reopens

Georgetown transfer station

What else?

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The project was funded by solid waste revenues, according to the release, and enhancements could improve the transfer station’s current annual revenue of about $200,000, according to the city’s website. Texas Disposal Systems operates the station as the city’s contracted solid waste provider, according to the release. At the transfer station, Georgetown residents can request bulky waste pickups four times per year and recycle Christmas trees or holiday string lights free of charge, according to the city’s website. For a fee, residents can drop off tires, mattresses and other items. Novak Commercial Construction, the project’s general contractor, also recently finished a $2.2 million project next to the transfer station that included adding a truck wash facility and an improved fuel station for city vehicles, according to the release.

RIVERHAVEN DR.

W L WALDEN DR.

Additional upgrades to the transfer station, which totaled $13 million, include:

A 1,200-square-foot Garden-Ville building selling garden and lawn products

A 3,000-square-foot canopy for the recycling drop-off area

A new gatehouse building

New scales

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY ANNA MANESS

County approves tennis court contract renewal At an Oct. 15 Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting, officials unanimously approved renewing a one-year contract with RippnerTennis after commissioners agreed the owner should evalu- ate several issues citizens brought forward. The background RippnerTennis, owned by Brie Rippner, manages the eight tennis courts at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park through a county contract that started in 2017, Williamson County Parks Direc- tor Russell Fishbeck said at the Oct. 15 meeting. RippnerTennis can use four courts for lessons and camps, and the other four are for public use, Fishbeck said. The renewal was originally on the Oct. 8 agenda but was pushed back after concerns from Round Rock resident Barbara McGary, who captains local tennis teams. McGary said Rippner has caused turmoil within

WilCo approves incentive agreement Williamson County Commissioners unan- imously approved an incentive agreement with Soulbrain, a South Korean-based semi- conductor supplier, at an Oct. 8 meeting. What’s happening? In return for a 10-year consecutive tax abatement for Phase 1 and 2 of Soulbrain’s U.S. headquarters in Taylor, the company must meet the following requirements: • Making an investment of $175 million and $400 million for Phase 1 and 2, respectively • Creating a minimum taxable value of $100 million for both phases • Employing at least 50 people through a five-year phased hiring schedule • Establishing internship and employment opportunities for high school students

175

SOUTHWEST WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL PARK

Tennis courts

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the tennis community by dissolving tennis teams that were previously able to play on the courts. Rippner addressed community members’ con- cerns, and said a new lottery system RippnerTennis recently incorporated means not all league teams are able to play on the courts at their desired time. Going forward Judge Bill Gravell made a motion to adopt the renewal, with a caveat that RippnerTennis will work to discover areas of improvement.

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Honor in The place for

While the City of Georgetown’s story began with our founding in 1848, this area’s history is rich with the stories of the indigenous people who lived and still live in this area. For National American Indian Heritage Month, we recognize the history and contribution the Native peoples have had on our community. Learn more about their history and traditions at hiddenherstories.com.

#LoveWhereYouLive |

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY CLAIRE SHOOP

Voters pass sales tax increase to fund emergency services

A majority of the electorate has passed a prop- osition that would increase sales tax in George- town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction by 2% and allocate those dollars toward Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 8. The measure would increase the sales tax in the ETJ to 8.25%, the maximum rate allowed in the state of Texas. ESD 8 and the Georgetown Fire Department partner to provide fire and emergency medical services to the city of Georgetown and the ETJ. The additional funding provided by the sales tax revenue would allow ESD 8 to keep up with its portion of the cost-sharing agreement between the two entities, according to previous Community Impact reporting. As of press time Nov. 13, the proposition has received 7,784 votes in favor, or 56.19% of the vote, and 6,068 votes against, or 43.81% of the vote. What they’re saying Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan said he is humbled by and grateful for the results of the election. He thanked ESD 8 voters for approving the proposition, which he said will provide much needed funding to emergency services. “The results of the election speak to our genuine and deep appreciation to each voter,” Sullivan said. Why it matters The funds will help the ESD and the George- town Fire Department execute on a plan to hire six additional fire fighters every year for the next 10 years, and open a new station every three years during that time. Sullivan said together, the priorities will “stabilize response times” and “increase the

Results breakdown

Democrat D

Libertarian L

Republican R

Incumbent

Winner

Liberty Hill ISD and Williamson County

49.35% For 50.65% Against Liberty Hill ISD, Proposition A 53.39% For 46.61% Against Liberty Hill ISD, Proposition B

Williamson County constable, Precinct 4 56.43% Paul L. Leal R

43.57% Kenneth Guerrero

Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 8, Proposition A

56.19% For 43.81% Against

Williamson County attorney

Williamson County sheriff

53.25% Dee Hobbs 46.75% Amy Lyn Lefkowitz

52.13% Matthew Lindemann 47.87% Mike Gleason

76.79% Valerie Covey 23.21% Wes Benedict Williamson County commissioner, Precinct 3 R L

For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/ voter-guide.

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

footprint of emergency services” within the growing community. New sales tax revenue from the proposition will likely be received starting in April, Sullivan said. The next steps will be for the ESD board to meet and look at what items in the plan it can begin funding this year, and which it will prepare to budget for next year.

What else? Georgetown area voters also cast ballots in a number of Williamson County races, and those living in Liberty Hill ISD also decided the outcome of two propositions there. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Education

GISD attendance rates higher than projected With the first six weeks of school for the 2024-25 school year completed, Georgetown ISD adminis- trators say average daily attendance is trending a little higher than projected. A 2-percentage-point difference—94% average daily attendance versus the 92% planned for the fiscal year’s budget—could provide significant opportunities for the district, GISD Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hanna said. This is because higher attendance allows the dis- trict to retain more of its local tax collections, even as recapture increases. At 94% attendance, com- bined with other factors impacting the budget, the district could end up with around $8 million more in funding than originally projected. Two-minute impact In a Nov. 4 budget update, Hanna said the higher than average daily attendance rate—a

District earns A for financial rating Georgetown ISD earned a “superior” rating of its financial integrity for the 2023- 24 school year from the Texas Education Agency, administrators shared Oct. 21. What you need to know The Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas scores districts as A through F. This rating is based on different metrics, such as audit and governance disclosures, cash and investments, tax collections, fund balance, debt management, administrative costs, capital projects, and staff levels. GISD earned a rating of 98 out of 100, translating to an A or “superior” rating, said GISD Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hanna. The data used to assess the district’s financial practices is from the 2022-23 school year, administrators said.

$8 million in state funding, with $14.57 million paid back in recapture 92% Though the district’s recapture payment would increase with higher attendance, the district would also see its funds increase.

$11.85 million in state funding, with $17.79 million paid back in recapture 93%

$12 million in state funding, with $16.7 million paid back in recapture 94%

SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

measure of the proportion of students enrolled in the district attending school each day that is then divided by the total number of instructional days that have passed—presents a few possibilities for the district. If the trend holds throughout the year, the district could see a balanced budget and pos- sibly some wiggle room to address campus-level needs, she said. Hanna said the district will provide updates to the board on what direction might be taken.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

GISD creates new budget committee Georgetown ISD has created a new com- mittee to assist in working toward the goal of creating a balanced budget. The gist In an Oct. 21 board meeting, GISD Superin- tendent Devin Padavil shared the committee held its first meeting last month. The budget and compensation committee, he said, is one of several feedback committees estab- lished by the district. This committee is charged not only with providing feedback to administrators about the district’s budget as it works to balance expenses and revenues, but also to find ways to improve employee compensation, Padavil said. He said the district will consider the impact of any proposals on its employees.

Southwestern Athletics, Ascension Texas partner Athletes at Southwestern University will now receive sports medicine and athletic training ser- vices through a partnership with Ascension Texas, the health care organization announced Nov. 1. The details The two entities contracted a three-year agree- ment Oct. 31, in which Ascension Texas signed on to provide both on- and off-field medical services, including prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. By providing sports medicine services, Ascen- sion Texas will help Southwestern athletes achieve their performance goals in a safe and healthy manner, according to a news release. What they’re saying “We are thrilled to be joining with Ascension

“The resources and expertise provided by Ascension is helping us craft one of

the most comprehensive sports medicine structures in all of Division III.” KEN RALPH, SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Texas to provide best-in-class service to our students,” Southwestern Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Ralph said in the release. Did you know? Southwestern University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III school, with 20 varsity athletic programs, including soccer, baseball, track and field, football, volleyball, and swimming and diving, to name a few. These programs count over 500 student athletes in their participation, according to the release.

At the Georgetown Health Foundation we identify community needs through intense research, interviews and surveys as we listen to, hear and acknowledge the voices of Georgetown. It’s the formula for how we get to the heart of a problem and improve the health of our residents through partnerships, knowledge, and funding.

2425 Williams Drive, Suite 101• Georgetown, TX 78628 www.gthf.org • 512-931-2221

GEORGETOWN EDITION

Transportation

BY ANNA MANESS

Construction improvements for the Austin Avenue vehicular bridges in Georgetown are underway, with completion expected by the spring of 2026. The rehabilitation project for the two bridges that cross the San Gabriel River started Oct. 14. The existing two lanes in each direction on Austin Avenue—spanning from West Morrow Street and going to Second Street— will be reduced to one lane in each direction during construction. All lanes of the project will close overnight Monday-Thursday from 10 p.m.-7 a.m. Detours will be in place to direct traffic in the area, according to a city news release. Vehicular bridge work begins

What else?

The project looks to: • Address deteriorating bridge components • Improve safety and mobility • Provide effective connections to the surrounding trail network

Crews are starting construction on the west side of the bridges first before work begins on the east side. Hike-and-bike trails under the Austin Avenue bridges will remain open, but short-term trail closures could be needed in the future, per the release. The need to replace or refurbish the bridges was identified in 2014, and funding for the project comes from the 2021 Georgetown mobility bond, according to the city’s website. The project is separate from one that looks to replace the pedestrian bridge alongside Austin Avenue, according to previous reporting. In April, Georgetown City Council approved a contractor and a design for the $18.3 million pedestrian bridge. Construction will start in December 2025 and conclude in July 2027.

SAN GAB

2ND ST.

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Recognizing Our Veterans

At the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, we salute our veterans. Our Qualified Veteran Discount Program allows qualified veterans to drive toll-free on select toll roads, including 183A Toll, 290 Toll, the 71 Toll Lane, 45SW, and 183 Toll. If you have a specialty plate and meet eligibility requirements, you can apply for the program today.

Qualified Veteran Discount Program

MORE THAN MILES

Learn more about the program at www.MobilityAuthority.com/veterans

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY ANNA MANESS

Georgetown leaders expand parking restrictions downtown, eective Dec. 1

Existing

Approved

2NDST.

3-hour parking No parking

Future city parking garage Williamson County Courthouse

City ocials approved adding portions of streets in downtown Georgetown to an ordinance that limits parking to three consecutive hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. In a nutshell On Oct. 22, Georgetown City Council members discussed adjusting parking near the square. The update would aect parking on sections of Sixth Street, South Main Street and Church Street by adding hourly parking limitations and no-parking zones, according to city documents. “As downtown continues to grow, the demand for more parking options has increased,” Down- town & Tourism Director Kim McAulie said during a presentation to council.

What to expect City Council members unanimously approved the ordinance’s rst reading Oct. 22, and gave it nal approval Nov. 12. The updated parking provisions will go into eect Dec. 1, according to city documents. Current 15-minute parking spots will not be aected by the proposal, McAulie said. Remember this? In March, city ocials broke ground on Georgetown’s rst downtown public parking garage, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The garage, which is designed to add 315 parking spots, is expected to nish out in September 2025.

E. 5THST.

E. 6TH ST.

W.9THST.

W. 10THST.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWNCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Real estate

While Georgetown area ZIP codes 78628 and 78633 saw year over year increases in the number of homes sold in September, 78626 saw a more than 45% decline, with just 25 houses selling this September. Residential market data

September 2023

September 2024

Homes sold

Average days on the market

-45.65%

+21.57%

+16.9%

-24.64%

-20.24%

-1.3%

78626

78628

78633

78626

78628

78633

Median home sales price

78633

78626

September

2023

2024

$385,974

$399,990

78626

130 TOLL

78628

$539,500

$500,143

78628

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND UNLOCK MLS 5124547636 • WWW.ABOR.COM

$417,995

$429,900

78633

Homes sold by price point in September

78626

78628

78633

$900,000+

$700,000-$899,999

$500,000-$699,999

$300,000-$499,999

<$299,999

Georgetown area September

2023

2024

September

2023

2024

September

2023

2024

Homes under contract

Price per square foot

292

314

212

286

$228 $221

New listings

Months of inventory

235

248

3.6 4.6

978 1,036

Closed sales

Active listings

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Development

BY ANNA MANESS

The Preserve project in Georgetown seeks infrastructure funding At an Oct. 22 meeting, Georgetown City Council members gave feedback on the proposed creation of a public improvement district for a mixed-use development off Highway 29. What you need to know City officials discussed a request for a fully commercial PID at The Preserve, a development currently under construction near the entrance of the Water Oak neighborhood. The project includes 18 buildings that will pro- vide retail, commercial and office space through- out 20.26 acres, Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said during the meeting’s presentation. The PID request was submitted by Rupe Gopani on behalf of the site owner, 3701 SH29 LLC. PID reimbursements for nine authorized

Georgetown shopping center affected by fire Several business owners look to rebuild their stores after a fire broke out in a George- town shopping center Oct. 16. What we know The fire started around 9 a.m. at 1000 Oaks Center, a strip mall located off Leander Road, said Jennifer Riker, the manager at Office Lounge, a bar located in the center. While the investigation is ongoing with the Georgetown Fire Department, Riker said current information suggests the fire started inside Office Lounge. The fire spread onto several rooftops, causing significant ceiling damage for a number of stores, 1000 Oaks Center landlord Scott Schneider said. Several businesses will require long-term solutions for electricity to reopen, he said.

VISTA HEIGHTS DR.

The Preserve

PARKSIDE PKWY.

improvements are being sought by the developer, with a combined cost of about $5 million, accord- ing to the presentation. Explained PIDs are physical areas governed by the city or county where certain assessments are levied, or imposed, Woolery said. The PID would be used to help fund infrastructure improvements for the development, according to city documents. “What’s unique in this case—and would be the compelling reason to consider a PID in this case—would be to support a commercial develop- ment happening in an area of town that needs it,” Woolery said.

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Health care

BY CHLOE YOUNG

St. David’s Georgetown begins providing 3D mammography services

Keep in mind

Women age 40 and over should get screened for breast cancer by receiving an annual mammogram, Dupre said. Those with a history of breast cancer may want to get screened at age 35. Patients do not need a doctor’s order to receive these screenings, she said. “The whole reason for mammography is to visualize the breast cancer before you notice it,” Dupre said. Anyone experiencing symptoms, such as a lump or pain, should contact their health care provider. A doctor may then order a diagnostic screening that will include a mammogram plus additional imaging, such as a breast ultrasound or MRI, she said. Dupre recommends women conduct monthly self-breast exams to check for any lumps, skin changes, discharge or pain.

St. David’s Georgetown Hospital began oering 3D mammograms to patients in September. The advanced imaging technology is allowing providers to better detect breast cancer in its beginning stages, said Debbie Dupre, lead mammographer at St. David’s Georgetown. Additionally, the hospital provides various treatment options and surgeries for individuals who receive a diagnosis. The new 3D mammography system provides sta more detailed imaging that can lead to the early detection of breast cancer, Dupre said. The software captures around 50 images of the breast compared to a traditional 2D mammogram that may only capture around four images. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women, according to the American Cancer Society, but is easily treatable when detected early, Dupre said. An early detection may allow patients to avoid chemo and radiation treatments, she said. “It’s really benecial with this 3D machine what we can visualize early, that way those patients don’t have these long-term treatment plans,” Dupre said. St. David’s Georgetown stopped providing mammograms for the last two years due to stang shortages and its mammography machine breaking down, Dupre said. The hospital decided to return these services

Women with a high risk of breast cancer include those:

Debbie Dupre, lead mammographer at St. David’s Georgetown, has led the hospital in restarting its mammography services.

CHLOE YOUNGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

With a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation

as there are not many care options in the area, Dupre said. Few facilities in the area provide 3D mammograms, and those that do often have long wait lists, she said. “Having this up in this area, any of those patients that have a history of breast cancer really will benet from being able to come here,” Dupre said. The hospital hired Dupre to restart the program this spring, renovated its radiology department, and received a new dressing room and new equipment, including a CT scanner, she said.

With a rst-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation

Who have had radiation therapy to the chest

Who have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan- Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or have rst-degree relatives with one of these syndromes

SOURCE: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Health care

BY ATIRIKTA KUMAR

Texas to see lowest number of drug overdoses since 2020

An increase in the distribution of fentanyl-laced substances is among the deadliest drug threats for Texans right now, said Wendell Campbell, a drug intelligence officer with Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, a federal agency focused on reducing drug trafficking. “About 7 out of 10 pills that we seize off the streets and send to the [Drug Enforcement Administra- tion] lab ... are all fake pills,” Campbell said. Over the last year, the U.S. has seen a 15% decline in the number of all drug overdose deaths report- ed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. Texas, while improving, only saw a 1.67% decline. Just nine states nation- wide saw an increase in the number of overdose deaths in that time. Dr. Allen Dennis, the medical director of Round Rock Surgery Center and a member of the Texas Medical Association, said states such as Florida and Kentucky have seen higher levels of opioid use in the last few decades, which could explain why other states have seen larger declines. Dennis also said manufactured fentanyl is coming into the U.S. from across the Mexico border, so Texas being the largest border state in the nation is an additional factor to consider, he said.

Change in drug overdose deaths, June 2022-May 2023 vs. June 2023-May 2024 Health care experts report the majority of all drug overdose deaths involve the use of opioids.

Less than -20%

-20% to -10%

-9% to 0%

0% to 10%

More than 10%

U.S. overdose deaths

111,422 94,758

2022-23: 2023-24:

-15%

70%+ of all drug overdose deaths involve opioids

5 Texans die every day from fentanyl poisoning

Overdose deaths per 100,000 residents

Texas overdose deaths

5,643 5,549

27.34 18.19

2022-23: 2023-24:

U.S.

-1.67%

Texas

SOURCES: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The background

The approach

This year, Texas is expected to see the lowest number of drug overdose deaths since 2020, according to the CDC. Overdose deaths decreased in Texas from 5,643 between June 2022-May 2023 to 5,549 between June 2023-May 2024—a 1.67% decrease. About 18 in 100,000 people die annually from an overdose in Texas compared to the national average of about 27 per 100,000 people, according to a report from the CDC. The majority of drug overdose deaths can be attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyl being added to other pills, according to the National

Institute on Drug Abuse. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 79 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2014 and 2,306 in 2023. “There’s a huge increase in counterfeit pills. What that means is, if you get a pill off the street, it’s likely to ... have fentanyl as part of the drug,” said Marcia Ory, a professor at Texas A&M University School of Public Health and the co-lead of the TAMU opioid task force. “So, before, [what] people talked about was prescription drugs; ... what’s killing people [now] are counterfeit drugs that are laced with fentanyl.”

In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott launched a $10 million multimedia awareness campaign as part of his “One Pill Kills” initiative to combat the fentanyl crisis. The initiative through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission educates Texans on how to prevent, recognize and reverse fentanyl poisonings. The campaign also distributed naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug also known as Narcan, to all 254 Texas counties through the Texas Division of Emergency Management. For the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature, Dennis said the Texas Medical Association is asking the state to pass bills that would: • Legalize fentanyl test strips • Mandate the tracking of opioids from manufacturers to patients “There are things we can do to mitigate the issue, but it’s going to take a collaborative effort with everyone concerned,” Ory said.

5,093

Fentanyl poisoning deaths in Texas All drug poisoning deaths Fentanyl-related deaths

0 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000

2,306

2,111

SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

GEORGETOWN EDITION

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