A Fun Palace Start to 2013
The fabulous Palace Theatre on the Georgetown Square is coming on strong at the start of a new year with “Dearly Beloved,” a modern-day comedy set in small-town Texas. The families are getting ready for a wedding, but more than anything, it focuses on the stresses and relationships of the Futrelle sisters, Honey Raye, Twink and Frankie. I’m not sure if these actors are native Texans, but they’ve sure got it right! You can’t go wrong with this one, folks. It’s directed by Mary Ellen Butler, the Palace’s artistic director. It plays weekends through February 3. Don’t miss it if you get the chance to go.
A Walk for Water
48 hearty members from The Worship Place, an interdenominational church in Sun City, Texas toted buckets of water last Saturday morning during their “Walk for Water” fundraiser. During Walk for Water, participants made a 1.4 mile round trip walk from the church to Sun City’s pond, where they gathered water in their buckets and returned to the church. Among the walkers was 82-year-old Bill Harrah, carrying a bucket that belonged to his father, born in 1888. The walk’s goal was to raise funds to help dig a water well in a remote town in Nicaragua, where clean water is not easy to come by. 13 members from the church will join others from Living Water International next month to dig the well. Dr. Kelly Barnett, Associate Pastor at The Worship Place, was happy to report the group raised over $10,000 for their efforts. The photos accompany a Williamson County Sun story by Joyce May.
Staying Fit in 2013
Just after New Years Day last week, I headed to the Georgetown Recreation Center to photograph an intense hour-long cycling class led by instructor Laura Lucenti-Quiroz. There, I watched about 15 very fit folks peddling working through their session. The photos accompanied a Williamson County Sun story on staying in shape in 2013. Nobody had to convince this hearty group! Through the years, I’ve been a marathon runner and cyclist, but I’d have been hard-pressed to keep pace with this group. Stay fit, friends.
Elected Officials Inducted
The beautiful 26th District Courtoom of the historic Williamson County Courthouse was the New Years Day setting for the induction of elected officials, including Jana Duty (District Attorney), Dee Hobbs (County Attorney), Betsy Lambeth (425th District Judge), Valerie Covey (Williamson County Commissioner), Deborah M. Hunt (Tax Assessor), James R. Wilson (Sheriff) and Tom Maynard (State Board of Education). The fellow saluting at the posting of the colors is Judge Dan Gattis, the day’s master of ceremonies. I particularly liked the emotion of Betsy Lambeth, embracing her father, Curtis Figer, and putting on the judge’s robe made by Betsy’s mom, Billie Figer. It was also fun to watch 2-year-old Hunter Hobbs, oblivious to all the pomp and circumstance.
A Christmas Made Brighter
The Austin American-Statesman has been highlighting the stories of needy Austin-area families for years through their annual “Season For Caring” campaign. One struggling family that includes Eddie Cousins, Jamie Yancy and their six children were happily surprised at their Round Rock home on Thursday night with a complete home makeover thanks in great part to 21 team members from Amplify Credit Union
. Staffers contributed 180 hours of time fixing up this family’s home and contributed $20,000 in repairs. Wanting to get away from the drug culture and lifestyle of southern California several years ago, the family packed their bags and moved to Texas. They’re getting by despite the challenges. Christmas will be brighter this year though!
Blue Santa!
The Georgetown Police Department held its Blue Santa distribution last weekend at the old Georgetown library. Blue Santa, going strong for over 20 years here, provides Christmas boxes of gifts for families in the area who might otherwise have nothing to place under their Christmas trees. It’s a wonderful way to give back to the community. These are a few photos taken for the Williamson County Sun.
Christmas in a small Texas town
The little town of Weir, in Williamson County, Texas, only has a few hundred people, but that hasn’t stopped them from putting on a great little Christmas parade every Christmas season for over 25 years. Where else can you see vintage John Deere tractors and pet goats taking a prominent role? And mayor Mervin Walker, always there in his cowboy hat, sitting astride his El Camino automobile? It’s a whole lot of fun, very Texas!
