Georgetown View Magazine/ December 2013

D E C E m b E r 2 0 1 3

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D E C E m b E r 2 0 1 3 G E O r G E T O W N V I E W 1

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c o n t e n t s

17

30

f E aT u r E SGEt tinG to Know

BECOMING SANTA | 36How a self-proclaimed Grinch developed a Santa-sized heart

D E pa r T m E N T SLivE anD LEarn

A LEGACY OF EduCATION | 11The Georgetown Study Club combines knowledge with kindness

CrEatE

WELCOME TO WHIMSY | 17Georgetown couple mixes marriage and authorship

risinG stars

LIFE AS A SuPERHERO | 30What it’s like to be a paramedic—through a GHS grad’s eyes

a stonE’s throw

SANTA’S ELVES | 42Check out a drive-through Christmas lights park in New Braunfels

how’s that worK?

MERRILY CAROLING | 46Old-fashioned caroling group spreads holiday cheer

GivinG viEw

A SHAREd TABLE | 50Local steakhouse makes sure senior citizens eat well

viEw From thE top

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE | 52Seton surgeons perform two lifesaving procedures— at the same time

naturaL viEw

HOLIdAY BIRdING | 56Worldwide census counts birds during Christmas season

hEaLthy viEw

THE VIEW AFTER CHEMO | 60Surviving breast cancer changed one woman’s view of what’s important

in thE KitChEn

’TIS THE SEASON FOR HORS d ’OEuVRES | 71Scrumptious little “gifts” for guests to gobble up

E x T r a SGREETINGS | 6

Extra viEw

STEP INTO THE ESCAPE | 14Ordinary doesn’t describe The Escape Fine Crafts and Gifts

CRAFTSMANSHIP, ELEGANCE, ANd dESIGN | 22A Christmas shopper’s delight: Quenan’s Jewelers

BRANCHING OuT | 62The Caring Place opens The Annex across the street

SPLENdIFEROuS STORYTELLING | 66Mad Hatters spread fairy tales among Georgetown schools

LIVING IN A BOx | 76SU students think inside the box about homelessness

PREdIABETES | 80Lone Star Circle of Care helps you recognize the warning signs

GoLFEr’s CornEr

LEARN FROM THE BEST | 69Tips from Pro Bill Easterly

GEORGETOWN LIVE | 75

71

14


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Our Events Section has moved to our new website. Visit us at www.GtownView.com

Georgetown View is a view magazine, inc. publication. Copyright © 2013. all rights reserved. Georgetown View is published monthly and individually mailed free of charge to over 31,000 homes and businesses in the Georgetown zip codes. mail may be sent to view magazine, p.O. box 2281, Georgetown, Tx 78627. for advertising rates or editorial correspondence, call bill at 512-775-6313 or visit www.gtownview.com.

Cover photo by Silver Image Photography

www.silver-image-photo.com

mEG mOriNGEdITOR’S NOTE

Every Christmas at Granny’s house, we kids had to pose for our yearly “cousins” photo. Our parents arranged us before the tree, left to right in order of our ages: four blond girls and my little brother, the youngest of us all, whose red hair stood out like Rudolph’s nose at the end of the line. The photos document embarrassing features like gapped-tooth grins and tinsel mouths, Farah Fawcett manes and short, boyish bobs, and clothing choices that seemed hip at the time (polyester bell bottoms, anyone?). Despite this mortifying evidence that some of us, as children, went through more than one ugly duckling phase, the photos document something else: the sheer wriggly, giggly joy of being children during the holidays.

It’s easy to misplace that joy as we move from the children’s table to the grown-ups’ table in life.

Our main feature this month, “Becoming Santa,” reminds us all that the holiday spirit is an attitude we can maintain all year. Phil Gingras, a self-proclaimed Grinch, found his Christmas spirit again when it looked like one of his children wouldn’t be around for many more celebrations. Now, as a year-round Santa, Phil basks in the delighted smiles of children and others when he appears, authentic beard and all, at hospitals and schools and nursing homes. Those smiles remind him that, even in the midst of adult concerns like car repairs and mortgages and drivers who cut him off in traffic, life is precious.

We hope you will also be inspired by some of the other holiday stories in this issue, from articles about a group of carolers and a family that strings millions of lights for a drive-through display, to an amazing story about two Seton surgeons who saved a car accident victim’s life days before Christmas.

Maybe you’re too grown up to wriggle and giggle, but we wish you lots of fun this holiday season! Don’t forget to take photos of the kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids! Unlike in the days when mullets and huge shoulder pads were in style, you can now Photoshop out some of those questionable fashion choices. Or not.

The view now has

a new website at

www.gtownview.

com. please visit

and we welcome

your feedback. also,

we are sporting our

new email addresses,

as noted on our

masthead.


wishing you a joyous

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BYCHriSTiNE SWiTzErPHOTOS BY RudY xIMENEz

lingering on the final notes of “White Christ-mas,” the voices of the young men and women swelled and then

hushed in the chilly November air. The twenty-five students of Georgetown High School’s Show Choir “Encore!” bowed deeply to the enthusiastic applause that erupted from the watch-ing women. The students had performed a special preview of their upcoming musical revue “A Holiday to Remember” for the monthly meeting of the George-town Study Club. The audience members stood to their feet and

continued to cheer, wide smiles animating their faces.

“It was a delightful Christmas choral program,” remembers Dixie Wilkinson, president of the nearly seventy-five-year-old women’s organization that counts roughly forty dedicated members among its ranks and devotes time every month to learning and growing together. “Our meetings are [usually] in members’ homes, but the choral program was presented outside. The weather had a chill in the air, but it was comfortable and certainly fit the season. [After the performance], we fed the students and sent them

back to school. They wanted to stay, but their teacher said no. They were so sweet and talented.”

Since char-tering in the fall of 1939, the George-town Study Club’s com-

mitment to learning has remained largely unchanged. That year, Mrs. Ralph Freund, one of the group’s founding members, made a phone call to a few close friends and shared her idea for a wom-en’s club that would offer educa-tional programs. The group em-braced this vision and established thematic monthly programs.

“The purpose of the George-town Study Club was to give many women the opportunity to become better informed on many subjects,” explains Margie Boyd, history consultant for the club. “I have been [a member] for five years, which is a very short time compared to [how long] most of the ladies [have partici-pated]. There is so much talent, energy, and intelligence that I consider it a privilege to belong. Our programs are interesting and informative, such as a tour of the Palace Theater and [the] library and talks from a WWII veteran, the Human Resources Director for the Georgetown Independent School District, [and] … a woman who flies her own plane.”

A Legacy of EducationWomen’s club members grow and give together

Mildred Igo and friends


a lEGaCy Of EDuCaTiON from page 11

In time, club members also developed a vision for supporting young women in their educational pursuits. In the 1970s, the women decided to provide a college scholarship every year for a George-town High School senior. Starting with a modest $100 for the first award, the women slowly increased the scholar-ship amount every year. By 2009, the award equaled $1,000, and in 2012, the group was able to provide scholar-ships for two young women, one who became a student at the University of Texas at Austin and the other who be-came a journalism major at Texas Tech University.

“We are proud of our scholarship program,” Margie says. “One of our scholarship recipients worked for HEB while … attending college. She is now in HEB’s management program. Our

recipient of four years ago will graduate from the University of Texas at Austin this spring. It is rewarding to … see that our future is in [the] capable hands … [of] these

wonderful young ladies.” Longtime members Linda-Marie Rice and Mary Fink agree with the importance of the scholarship program. Mary explains, “[These] young women … are such an encouragement and hope for the future of our community … and world.”

This coming year, the Georgetown Study Club will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. The women plan to hold a number of commemora-tive events, such as a 1930s-era costume tea, and they may publish a comprehensive history of the club as well. Margie says that they hope

to be able to present such a history to members during the anniversary celebration in September 2014. Dixie explains, “We have a year to plan. We [want to have] past presidents present, and we may try to dress as if it were 1939. We have big plans for the 75th anniversary.”

In the meantime, the women con-tinue to enjoy diverse educational programs—such as a presentation by Sun City geologist Don Beaumont and a performance by Georgetown composer Carlie Burdett—while deepening valued friendships. “Our monthly programs are up-to-date, informational, [and] inspir-ing,” says Linda-Marie. “I have found the experience to be rewarding and

stimulating.” Marj Allen, who has been a member for more than a decade, agrees: “[This] continues to be the highlight of each month for me, gather-ing with dear, talented friends to hear interesting and challenging programs to en-rich our lives.”

Mildred Igo, Dixie Wilkinson, Ethelann Knight, Margie Boyd,Sandra Wilson, Jeanie Simpson - Committee for 75th Anniversary commemorative events.

Scholarship candidates Molly Woodburn and Arden Baxter

Interested in joining the Georgetown Study Club? Send an email to [email protected].

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E x T r a v i E W

Opening the door to The Escape Fine Crafts and Gifts on the Square is like opening a door to

wonder and curiosity. The exqui-site and unusual catch shoppers’ attention with an array of colors and media. Looking for a stand-out necklace or a colorful scarf? Seeking the perfect gift for a spe-cial someone? These items and many others can be found at The Escape, where new delights wait at each display.

Len Lester, co-owner of The Escape with his wife, Judy, says, “Primarily, we started the store as a hand-crafted art and craft gallery, but we have morphed into more of a craft and gift store.”

When Judy reminds him of their home décor offerings, Len adds, “It’s all handmade and mostly all American-made.”

Many of their most popular items are made right here in Texas, in fact. The Escape sells beautiful pottery and dinnerware by Sunset Canyon, which, as Judy says, “is as functional as it is beautiful.” The shop carries stun-ning cedar boxes with turquoise inlays from Texas Mesquite and Cedar Treasures. Jewelry beck-ons from cases and displays at the shop’s center. One of The Escape’s best jewelers hails from West Texas, where she makes af-fordable jewelry in mixed media.

BYEmily

TrEaDWayPHOTOS BY

RudY xIMENEz

Carved Stone has been with The Escape from the very beginning, offering stone paperweights, bookends, and business cardhold-ers crafted from limestone. And Len and Judy believe that Music of the Spheres makes the best wind chimes ever. “We’ve tried about any American-made wind chime,” Judy says, “and Music of the Spheres is outstanding.”

When selecting inventory, Judy and Len aren’t as concerned about trends as about what ap-peals to them. “What people love here [at The Escape] is that everything is unique,” Judy says. “It’s timeless. It doesn’t really fit a trend.” Judy and Len don’t consider The Escape a “trendy” store; however, they do feel that their craftspeople and artisans are not on the cusps of trends but are in fact setting them. For example, a current kids’ fashion is to wear mismatched socks. “The original maker of mismatched socks is the Sock Lady,” Judy says, “and we carry her work. It’s all hand-knit-ted, cool, mismatched socks, and she was doing that for years and years before that hit the stores.”

Step into The Escape… and leave the ordinary behind

Visit The Escape Fine Crafts and Gifts in person at 713 Main Street or online at www.theescapegeorgetown.com.

Or call 512-930-0052.Len, with Shawnee and Linda


“When we first started this business,” Len recalls, “there weren’t a lot of businesses, not a lot of choices down here on the Square, so we covered a lot of ground for years. But as downtown has diversified and new busi-nesses have come in, we’ve learned we don’t have to be everything.”

“To everybody,” Judy inter-jects.

“Not anymore,” Len agrees.The Escape may not be everything to

everyone, but walking through its doors provides what its name suggests: an

escape, a welcome distrac-tion from everyday life. Folks who take a moment to enjoy works of beauty in a friendly atmosphere are greeted by the welcoming and knowl-edgeable staff that has been with Len and Judy almost from the beginning—people who are just as happy to talk about a shopper’s day as about the gift he or she might be searching for. “That’s what

people like about us,” Judy says. “We’re not what you find everywhere else.”

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BYTiffaNy r. WHiTEPHOTOS BY NAdIA MORALES

Walk into the cozy, cottage-style home of C. A. James, and it’s a good bet the au-

thor will be at the computer, im-mersed in a world where blank pages beckon for words. It’s also possible the author will be in the sewing room, happily surround-ed by bits of brightly-hued cloth and an assortment of thread. But rest assured: The author will likely be in one of those places—often, at the same time.

C. A. James is the pen name for James and Cynthia Ignizio, a retired couple who’ve taken their individual strengths and passions and infused their nom de plume with the whimsy and wisdom that comes with fifty-two years of marriage. They began their liter-ary partnership in 2012. But for James, the idea of spending hours at the computer was nothing new.

Even before he retired, James had made a name for himself in the writing world, publishing hundreds of articles and nearly a dozen books. As a former proj-

ect manager for the Apollo space missions and later a professor of systems engineer-ing and artificial intelligence, James’s extensive writing life usually revolved around the concrete realities of the scientific world. But that changed last year when his beautiful bride, Cynthia, asked him to take a walk on the fictional side. “She insisted I stop writing technical books for a while and start writing something else,” says James.

That something else was inspired by four little something elses, each a precious resident of Cynthia’s sewing room. Three stuffed bunnies and a Cynthia-made patchwork teddy bear snuggle together in the armchair across from her work table. As she fashioned her creations, Cynthia’s gaze would occasion-ally wander over to the quartet. “I would think about what this little group of stuffed animals could be

Welcome to WhimsyInside the minds of author C. A. James

Cynthia and James Ignizio

other than static things just sitting on the chair,” says Cynthia.

Her musings led her down various rabbit trails to “What if?” What if they were alive? What if they were characters in a story with person-alities and dispo-sitions unique to each of them?

What if they could talk?

Cynthia brought her ideas to James. Could these four animals be woven into a story that


WElCOmE TO WHimSy from page 17 they could write together? Cynthia wanted to tell a sweet story, one free from the crudeness prevalent in modern fiction. She had the characters, but she needed a wordsmith to make them come alive.

James saw the sparkle in his wife’s eyes. Cynthia poured her vivacious energy into every aspect of life—from moving the family numerous times during his career in the space program, to fueling her years playing com-petitive tennis. Also, Cynthia’s love of animals—stuffed toys or real—as well as her energy and creativity needed a path to travel. Thoughts began to swirl in James’s mind as he felt the edges of a story start to unfurl. The challenge in writing this book would be twofold: probing the fantasy borders of fiction writing and separating this writing from his professional work.

“One of the reasons we picked ‘C. A. James’ is because it stands for ‘Cynthia’ and ‘James.’ The other reason is that I really didn’t want my clients, people I work with, or my students knowing I was writing a book about talking bun-nies,” says James.

“I, however, had no problem with it!” Cynthia replies.

And just like that, C. A. James became another thread stitched into the fab-ric of their marriage. Part of each day began to revolve around their writ-ing: what the characters were going to do next or how a conflict in the story would resolve. “It was fun to talk about [the book], to have that element in our world different from what we normally

talk about,” says Cynthia.“It’s the first time we’ve ever been

able to talk about anything I’ve written. You really don’t want to talk to your wife about artificial intelligence,” replies James.

While James focused on writing their story, Cynthia spent her time doing the other half of writing—copyediting, developing the other characters in the story, and gathering the elements that turned their story into a pub-lished book.

Sweetie’s Song: Of Angels and Innocents tells the story of Fred and Sarah Davis, a couple torn by tragedy, whose lives are forever changed when they en-counter three precious bunnies and one silent but meaningful teddy bear. The novel speaks to the rich blessings of life and fulfills James’s and Cynthia’s mutual desire to captivate readers with an innocent and engaging story.

“I really didn’t want to have the coarseness and violence that you see and read so much of. I wanted our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren not to be

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embarrassed by what we wrote,” says Cynthia.

James and Cynthia readily agree that Sweetie’s Song is not easily assigned to a category on the bookshelves. Where fiction touches fantasy, the story is bound together with a heart of inspira-tion that welcomes readers into a world not so different from their own.

But Cynthia offers a bit of advice for readers encountering talking bunnies:

“Park incredulity at the door, and come in and have a good time and read the book.”


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E x T r a v i E W

bill Quenan watched from his bunk as his fellow

soldier repaired a watch for one of the men in their unit. It was the end of World War II, and Bill was stationed in Monroe, Louisiana, for navigation school training. Curious, Bill began talking to the jewelry repair-man about his work; he had no idea that moment would mark his introduction into the jewelry in-dustry and forever change his family’s legacy.

BYmErEDiTH mOrrOWPHOTOS BY

RudY xIMENEz

Craftsmanship, Elegance, and

DesignA sneak peek at

stunning holiday gifts from

Quenan’s Jewelers

A string of pearls or a pair of diamond studs is a great way to start a jew-elry wardrobe. Steve says, “Pearls are always a classic. They’ve been around forever, and they’ll continue to hold their value. You can wear them dressed up or down. They’re good everyday pieces.”

When it comes to ring shopping, Steve believes that “it’s really important for both people to get involved. The best thing for [couples] to do is come in and pick out some things together to get a good idea of what each likes.”

For the first time in its history, Quenan’s has started carrying engagement rings of rose gold, a metal more widely popular in the 1940s. Also newly popular are engagement rings with yellow diamonds or sapphires as accent stones or even as the main stone.

Since 1947, Quenan’s Jewelers has worked to fulfill a commitment to irreproachable craftsman-ship, elegance, and design. Now owned by Bill’s son, Steve, and his wife, Kyra, Quenan’s Jewelers remains a family business, intent on providing our community with personally selected, nationally recognized lines of jewelry, watches, and gifts.

Steve and Kyra moved the shop from Bastrop, Louisiana, to bring nationally acclaimed names to Georgetown. Look carefully, and you’ll see many of the designers featured in fashion and bridal maga-zines or on the runway during New York Fashion Week.


Stop by during Quenan’s

extended holiday hours to

discover their latest line,

“Rhythm of Love”—jewelry

made to shimmer in

perpetual motion, powered

by the wearer’s heartbeat.

Also, don’t hesitate to

ask Steve and his team

of talented specialists

about their new line of

men’s Luminox watches.

These Swiss-made athletic

timepieces were initially

used by Navy SEALS.

700 S. Austin Ave. Georgetown512 869 7659

QuenansJewelers.com

Quenan’s latest technology includes a laser welder, a tool that generates almost no heat, allowing the jeweler to leave stones safely in their settings while making repairs.

For custom designs, Quenan’s uses CAD/CAM to create new heirlooms like this emerald necklace. Quenan’s meticulous specialists work with customers who come in with a design in mind or who have stones that they would like to incorporate into a new piece.

The old wisdom that advises against mixing metals is a fashion rule to break. “It’s unusual not to mix metals,” Steve explains.

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Dolce Music Studio’s Music Direc-tor, Brenda Bedell opened her doors four years ago with 40 students and a dream of creating the premiere music school in

Georgetown. With 40 years ex-perience, Brenda has established a balance in her teaching methodology to include group lessons for a more complete music educa-tion. Now with 175 students enrolled, students agree. Group lessons develop a better understand-ing of rhythm, musicality, theory and performance. And, it’s just fun. Dolce’s most popular group for-mats are The Piano Lab, Voice Ensemble and Bella Musica.

THE PIANO LABWe love music and technology. The Piano Lab is a

mergence of the two. The Piano Lab combines five state of the art Roland Digital Pianos, the Roland MT Take Home Lab (rental available for group piano students), plus a flat screen TV for enhanced musi-

cal games and challenges for each student. Kids love the technology and look forward to playing their music at home, a perfect beginning for new students.

BELLA MuSICA CHILdREN’S MuSIC & MOVEMENT CLASSBella Musica is a Parent and Tot

class where basic music theory and rhythm are introduced through fun and interactive children’s

songs. Children also learn co-operation, waiting their turn, and

singing in unison as they strengthen their right brain activity and eye-hand-ear-brain connections. The purpose of Bella Musica is to establish a love for music at an early stage of life and lay foundational concepts for future musical endeavors that a child may pursue.

VOICE ENSEMBLEDavid Pencil,

Dolce’s Voice Ensemble direc-tor, encourages Voice Ensemble participation for all voice students because it offers an excellent opportunity for them to grow musically in ways that can be missed with only private lessons. A few examples would be: learning how to blend, harmonize, and choreograph with others. In line with Dolce philosophy, David states, “My main goal for all of our voice students is to help them become the most well rounded, knowledgeable, and prepared musicians they can be.” The Voice Ensemble also brings unique performance opportunities such as the Christmas Stroll and Poppy Festival as well as other community venues.

a D v E r T O r i a l

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Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

First Presbyterian Church Cantata Chorus & Orchestra

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’Tis the Season! Here are a few tips for the Designer Christmas look:

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4 Repeat look for mantle, but add grapevine for rustic feel, and ribbons for traditional style.

5 Tuck in lemons and oranges for aroma and color.

6 Create focal points in tree by using oversized items. Try framed art, elves, cowboy boots, etc.

7 Finally, scatter all of the “memory” items in and around the perimeter of tree. These are the children’s handcrafted ornaments, photos, and homemade goodies.

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r i S i N G S Ta r S

anna Lyons listened to the hospital radio in anxious anticipation, her mind racing with unanswered questions

as she tried to make sense of the 2009 Fort Hood shootings.

How many people were injured? Were her crews in danger? Would the first responders be requesting backup?

Each update suggested a new question to be answered—another piece of the puzzle to be solved—until, at last, the sinking feeling in the pit of Anna’s stomach had completely dissipated, and she was again in complete control.

Paramedics “learn to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” explains Anna Lyons, a 2006 Georgetown High School graduate. “But that was one of the most stressful days on the job.”

For professional first responders like Anna, each day dredges up

mixed emotions such as excite-ment, stress, and pride. But one thing’s for sure: Life as a para-medic is never dull. Each call presents a new patient, a new location, and a new challenge.

“I’ve run anywhere between two and ten calls in a twenty-four-hour shift,” says Anna, who is able to perform, in a pre-hospital setting, many of the procedures that doctors and nurses are able to do at the hos-pital. “You never know what you’re going to get next.”

To make working with the unpredict-able slightly

BYraCHEl

brOWNlOWPHOTOS

BY NAdIA MORALES

Life as a SuperheroGeorgetown paramedic saves lives daily

more manageable, paramedics assign every call they field to one of two categories: medical and trauma.

“The most common medical problems we see are abdominal pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and diabetic problems,” Anna says. “Usually we can treat those with medication.”

Trauma patients—those who have sustained an injury—require a doctor’s care, so paramedics usually can treat such patients only with pain medication, casts,

and splints while getting them to the hos-pital as quickly as possible. The most common trauma prob-lems Anna en-counters are hip fractures and injuries caused by car wrecks.

In the midst of chaos, it’s imperative that paramedics like Anna assess the situation and


stay levelheaded. “As soon as I get a call,” Anna says,

“I’ll do a ‘scene size-up’ and ask myself questions—‘What type of call is this dispatch? Is there one patient or more? Where are we going? Is the patient injured? Entrapped? Am I able to get the patients out on my own? Are these cars blocking the road, or do I need to have the police come block off the road so that we’re not in danger? Which patient has the most life-threatening problems?’”

It’s important to adequately assess the situation, she explains, because paramedics don’t have the luxury of expecting cut-and-dried scenarios. Even seemingly routine situations like collisions can quickly escalate into potentially dangerous situations for paramedics if the patient mistakes the Emergency Medical Services personnel for the police coming to make an arrest, if a crowd forms, or if the patient is up-set that paramedics were called.

However, despite the occasional dangerous or hostile patient, Anna says that the patients also make her job worthwhile. “You’ll get patients who, even though they’re in pain and hurting, will talk to you, and they’ll want to find out information about you, and they’ll want to tell you about their lives.”

“I’ve had several instances when family members or the patients themselves came up to the station later on and told us what happened after they went to the hospital—what they were diagnosed with in the end,” Anna says. “And they thanked us because we were the first ones there, and we were the ones who got them where they needed to go. It feels good to make a difference in their lives.”

Experiencing a life-threatening condition, or bearing witness to someone else’s, can be frightening. Here are four tips from Anna Lyons for handling a life-threatening condition and working effectively with first responders.

1Be aware of your surroundings. Know what’s going on. If it’s a collision, are you going to get injured running out in the middle of the road trying

to save the trauma patient? Remember—if you get hurt, then you won’t be able to aid the patient, and the EMS will have two people to treat.

2determine whether the situation is a medical or trauma case. Try to find out what’s going on with the patient. What is his medical history? Has

this happened to her before?

3Report the situation. Don’t assume that someone else has already called 911; instead, pick up the phone and call 911. Your call could save some-

one’s life. If you witnessed the event or found out any information about the patient’s medical history, tell the police or the EMS any pertinent information you have gathered.

4Always be calm. Whether you’re a patient or a witness, the calmer you are, the easier it will be to think clearly and to explain the situation to a

professional first responder.

5don’t impede. Don’t be that pesky bystander

hanging around the scene, snapping photos without valid reason. If there’s no reason for you to be at the scene, then you may be hindering EMS efforts.


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G E T T i N G T O k N O W

BecomingSanta

How

one man

transformed

his “Bah

humbug”

outlook into

a hearty

“Ho, ho, ho!”

here’s a man in Georgetown who sports a white beard, a jolly smile, and a bright red suit. Who else could it be but Santa? Yet this Santa—a.k.a. Phil Gingras—spent much of his adult life sporting a “Bah Humbug” cap.

Though Phil vividly remembers the magic of Christmas from his childhood, visiting Santa with his parents and enjoying large family gatherings, “Through the years I sort of became sour on the commercialization of Christmas,” he recalls. “Through most of my adult life, friends and family would char-acterize me more as the Grinch instead of Santa.” Life’s daily stresses, combined with the fact that he didn’t get to see his two sons from his first marriage very often, disheartened Phil. “I didn’t want to celebrate Christmas or even Thanksgiving ,” he says, “because I didn’t feel I had much to be thankful for.”

But as in the cases of Mr. Scrooge and the Grinch, Phil’s heart was to undergo a transformation, prompted mainly by the children in his life.

BYkarEN pOllarD


bECOmiNG SaNTa from page 37

He was married to his second wife for ten years before they had children, but when Phil became a father again, his heart began to expand. “I cher-ished being able to be there for them daily,” he says. In 1999, when his third son, Sean, became a Tiger Cub, Phil volun-teered as a Scout leader. He says, “I loved being around the kids and their infectious enthusiasm for everything in life, from bugs to holidays.” Phil helped the Scouts with any and all accomplish-ments, from earning merit badges to understanding the importance of taking care of the American flag. As his in-volvement grew, so did his enjoyment, and in 2006 he became an Assistant Scoutmaster.

That same year, Sean was diagnosed with leukemia. During the many diffi-cult months of treatment that followed, Phil says, “I learned a lot from Sean. To watch him and his attitude stay so con-sistent in the reality of what leukemia is, just flabbergasted me. I came to the realization that life is too short not to be happy all the time.”

With Sean’s continued improve-ment, Phil decided early in 2009 that he wanted to make a surprise visit to see his oldest son and his family in Indiana at Christmas. He didn’t get to Indiana often, so when he did see his grand-sons, he’d “go overboard and do the normal Grandpa thing.” And because it

was unlikely that, as Phil says, “grumpy old Phil would ever be mistaken for Santa,” he decided that Santa was the very person he wanted to be.

“I spent 2009 transforming myself,” he says. He began growing out his beard in March, and he purchased a Santa suit online. “I debuted my new look on Halloween,” he says, “and the response was overwhelming. Several families invited me to visit to surprise their children” during the upcoming holiday season. “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!”

But the best moment of all was the arrival at his grandsons’ house. “The look on their faces,” Phil says, “when I arrived unannounced and unexpected—I hadn’t told my son I was coming to Indiana, either—what a wonderful day. I really felt like Santa! It took my grand-sons about thirty minutes to recognize Papa.” Grinchy Phil was no more!

“Now I find my-self enjoying [be-ing] a year-round real bearded San-ta,” says Phil. With hospital, preschool, and nursing home visits, the George-town Christmas Stroll, and working with professional photographers on Christmas card productions, he stays busy.

One annual event that’s especially close to Phil’s heart hap-pens when he por-trays Santa at the Dell

Children’s Hospital. The doctors and staff there played a vital role in helping Sean win his fight with leukemia, and Phil loves being able to give back. The children sit on his lap, telling him what they want for Christmas—toys, dolls, and electronics. A few simply wish to get well. “Those moments are tough,” says Phil, but he tries to reassure them, saying, “Mommy and Daddy have got you the best doctors to help make you better.”

When he visits a family’s home, he typically crosses the threshold sing-


For more information, go to http://your-santa.com.

ing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” He poses for photos with each child, and then he sits on the floor—on the children’s level—and reads “The Night Before Christmas.” More songs follow, with everyone joining in, before he exits with “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”

He also surprises kids at day cares and preschools, where children often ask him if he is real. “One little guy,” says Phil, “put his hands behind my beard, gently lifted it to inspect my neck, and then pronounced, ‘Yep, he is real—there’s no glue!’”

“Where’s Rudolph?” asked another little girl. Phil responded, “He’s at the North Pole practicing his flying with the other reindeer.” Concerned that Santa missed his reindeer, she disappeared, only to return with a drawing of Rudolph. “I hope this makes you feel better!” she said.

It’s not just kids but also the young at heart that love Phil. Nursing home visits bring a special twinkle to Phil’s eyes: “Many residents get very few visitors throughout the year, so this visit from Santa is very special for them.” He adds that residents with memory loss “may not remember where they were born or how many children they have, but when they see the man in the red suit, their faces light up like little chil-dren’s.”

All year long, while his reindeer are away training for the big day, Phil drives around Georgetown in his sleigh—a red F-150 pickup truck—adorned with antlers and a bright red nose. “I’m very amused,” he says, “by the num-ber of double-takes and honks I get.” And even when he’s not dressed in the red suit, children recognize his white beard and quick smile. Keeping his beard through the long Texas summers isn’t easy, but “peeking around the corner at a child in the toy department and seeing their face light up is reward enough to continue.”

“For me,” says Phil, “being Santa is a responsibility—no road rage when I get cut off, no frowns when the person in front of me is causing a delay in the checkout process, and many other things that often upset our busy days. Portraying

Santa has made me much more tolerant of life’s little upsets. I strive to be jolly and friendly all year long.” To Phil, Santa’s true gifts are “joy, smiles, and kindness,” gifts that the children in his life helped him remember, and gifts that he now gives back on a daily basis.

PHOTO BY TERI MASON


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BYraCHEl

brOWNlOW

Santa’s ElvesFamily spreads holiday cheer with lights

Those who visit Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels may wonder if Santa’s elves themselves had a hand in creating this

magical winter wonderland of lights.

And, indeed, the idea may not be too far from the truth. While many people use the hot-ter months to soak up the sun, splash around the pool, and enjoy barbeque cookouts and sum-mer vacations, the Basses have something else on their minds: Christmas.

Rather than making toys by hand in the North Pole tradition, Melanie and Frank Bass, along with their twelve-year-old daugh-ter, Bailey, and ten-year-old son, Blake, work year round to bring more than 100 different displays—requiring more than 1 million lights—to their drive-through Christmas lights park.

“A couple months before the exhibit opens, it’s all hands on deck,” says Melanie. “It’s very, very important that the kids know that they are a part of this and that they know Santa’s Ranch is a heartfelt, very hands-on endeav-or—a reflection of us,” she says.

In addition to re-wrapping lights and giving advice on color arrangements, Bailey and Blake also have a say in deciding which new displays to add and which old ones to nix.

“A lot of ideas are inspired by them,” says Melanie, adding that the monster truck and space shut-tle ideas originated with Blake, and the planets and winter scenes wouldn’t have been created with-out Bailey’s inspiration. “They just pour their hearts into it.”

“It truly is a family-owned busi-ness,” she continues. Once all family members have approved an idea, they build the displays in their backyard. “My mother lives right next door, so we’ll light it up at night and say, ‘Hey, how does it look over there?’”

Santa’s Ranch opened its gates eleven years ago, but the idea originated several years prior with the aid of a single spiral notebook and the desire to contribute to the spirit of Christmas in their com-munity, Melanie says.

“It took several years of work-ing and praying about it, getting inspiration and fine-tuning,” Melanie says. “We wanted people to like it. And, by God’s grace, it just ended up working.”

Guests can expect to spend about thirty minutes taking the colorful, twinkling driving tour through about ten acres of more than 100 different light displays and animations.

“It’s become exactly what we prayed for it to be,” Melanie says. “And the most rewarding part is how it unites my family.”

For more information about Santa’s Ranch,

along with a coupon for $2 off the entry fee, visit

www.santasranch.net.

The Bass’ daughter Bailey and son Blake (right).


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Merry Christmas


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The Staff and Owners ofThe Gabriels Funeral Chapel & CrematoryInvites you to join us for our 5th Annual

�ervice of�emembranceIn our Chapel

Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.393 North IH-35 (West side Service Road)

We have placed an ornament to memorialize each of the loved ones we have served in the later part of 2012 and 2013 on our Tree of Remembrance.

Please join us in our service of dedication.

The Gabriels Funeral Chapel & Crematory is a community owned independently owned funeral establishment.



H O W ’ S T H a T W O r k ?

Oence a year, merry carolers from St. Hel-en Catholic Church join voices to delight homebound parishio-

ners. Now, ten years after she first spearheaded the effort, St. Helen’s choir director Denise Ramirez invites non-parishioners, friends, and families to help the carolers spread joy to the world.

WHAT IS YOuR FAVORITE PART OF CAROLING?

It has been very rewarding to see people’s reactions when they realize that this whole group has come to their house just for them.

We feel like it’s our way of sharing our community with those people who are unable to come to the community. It lets them know they’re not forgot-ten.

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WHERE dO YOu TYPICALLY GO CAROLING?

Our homebound ministry at St. Helen—a ministry that goes every Sunday to visit these different people—provides us with a list of homebound parishioners, and we caravan directly to their houses. I usually try to coordinate with the homebound ministry to let the residents of the houses know that we’ll be coming so that it’s not a surprise to them.

HOW MANY HOuSES dO YOu REACH?

We try to go to six to eight houses. My hope would be that, if we could get enough people to participate in this effort, we could have several independent groups and cover more houses.

HOW OFTEN dOES YOuR GROuP CAROL?

We carol every year, sometime in the month of December, usually on a Saturday or a Sunday during the day. We probably sing three or four carols per house, and we always close with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

dO YOu HAVE TO BE A GREAT SINGER TO jOIN?

We try to focus more on the ministry of singing for people instead of having the music be beautifully polished. So it’s pretty laid back. We don’t do any rehearsals in advance, but we do provide song sheets.

CAN CHILdREN jOIN AS WELL?We’ve had some young chil-

dren participate in the last couple years. So you don’t even have to be an adult to join, as long as you have adult supervision. My grand-daughter started when she was about four.

WHAT’S YOuR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL?

That’s hard to say. I think it’s “Joy to the World.”

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVEd?We carol every year, sometime

in the month of December, usually on a Saturday or a Sunday during the day. We probably sing three or four carols per house, and we always close with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Merrily CarolingChurch choir spreads holiday cheer

St. Helen’s choir director Denise Ramirez


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CHEM-DRY of GEORGETOWNis independently owned & operated by Kenny & Tracy Meek

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Our staff at Chem-Dry of Georgetown would like to wish you and your family a very

Merry Christmas and Happy New YearsMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power

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HEALTHY HOLIDAYS!


A Shared TableRestaurant makes sure seniors eat well

When Pat Schneider, director of Stone-haven Senior Cen-ter, received a call from LongHorn

Steakhouse offering to provide food donations to the center, she didn’t expect much. She pictured a box of food now and then that would provide welcome variety to residents who patiently endured menu offerings limited by the nonprofit’s modest budget. A few weeks later, though, when she arrived at the restaurant to make the first pick-up of food, Pat found herself quite mistaken—and hap-pily surprised.

“I didn’t think they were go-ing to give what they gave,” she explains. “When they called, I

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said ‘yes,’ but I didn’t realize what a blessing it would be. They took the cart into the freezer [at the restaurant] and loaded it up and brought it out. My jaw just dropped—meat, potatoes, bread, and much more—it was over-whelming, all that they gave us. The cart had three shelves, and all the shelves were filled. I had to find ways to fit it all in our freezer at Stonehaven. It is such a help and continues to be so nice. I am glad that I said ‘yes’—what they give feeds a lot of people.”

In donating to the Stonehaven Senior Center, the LongHorn Steakhouse joins thousands of other Darden Restaurants around the nation in contributing to local nonprofits through the organiza-tion’s Harvest Food Donation Program. For more than ten years, Darden Restaurants have been seeking to help feed the hungry in local communities by “harvesting” surplus, wholesome food that has not been served in the restau-rants. This food may include ev-erything from fresh fish and other meats to soups, vegetables, and breads. To date, the Darden Har-vest program has donated more than 62 million pounds of food to local food banks and 18 million

pounds of food to local charities.“The Harvest program began

due to a lot of feedback from employees and team members,” explains Michael Frazier, man-aging partner at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Georgetown. “We follow strict rotation guidelines regarding how quickly food is used, so we were throwing away a lot of food. One of our core values as a business is to be involved in community and to be good citizens, and the program is a way to do this. It is wonder-ful that food we don’t use in the restaurant, instead of ending up in the garbage, can be turned into a nice, wholesome meal for people in need.”

For Pat and the residents at Stonehaven, the Harvest Pro-gram has had a lasting impact on day-to-day life. “Meat can be so expensive,” says Pat, “and they give us so much meat. We make roasts, carne asada, stroganoff—I made chili the other day. It is end-less what you can do with it, and I’m very thankful for the program, because we enjoy the fruits of their labor. I pick up food every Tuesday and Friday, and every time, it’s very helpful. It’s such a blessing, and we really enjoy it.”

Stonehaven Director Pat Schnieder with Mike Frazier, manager of LongHorn Steakhouse


Sunday Worship; 8:30, 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

2300 Williams Drive Georgetown, TX 78628

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A Christmas MiracleSimultaneous surgeries save man’s life

When EMS wheeled the comatose twenty-three-year-old man into Seton’s Level II

trauma center a few days before Christmas, he was in critical con-dition. He was bleeding from his abdomen, and a blood clot was

pushing on his brain. Any extra pres-sure could have led to perma-nent—if not life-threat-ening—brain damage.

His inju-ries occurred when a driver ran a red light and hit

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him, recalls Dr. Glenn E. Harper, the neurosurgeon on the case. “Either [injury] would have been life-threatening had we not been able to [tend to] them in a timely fashion,” he says.

Dr. Harper and Dr. Drue Neel-ley Ware, Seton Medical Center Williamson’s director of trauma services, quickly assessed the situation. As they considered the blood clot, the doctors worried that if the patient’s blood pres-sure dropped too low, he’d go into shock from bleeding, which could worsen the brain injury. At the same time, the abdominal bleeding also needed immediate medical attention.

The accident victim needed two major surgeries. But which should take place first?

“In many large trauma facilities, they get the abdominal surgeries

done first; but in that time you have this extra pressure on the brain that can lead to brain dam-age,” Dr. Harper says.

Not wanting to risk further in-jury, the doctors settled on a rare practice that they believed would give the patient his best chance for recovery: They would perform surgeries simultaneously on his brain and abdomen.

During his twenty-one years of experience—fourteen years in practice following a seven-year residency—Dr. Harper had seen one similar case, so he knew that simultaneous operations, though rare, were possible.

“Fortunately, it was the right time of the day; we had all of the right staff here, and they were able to give us two separate teams in the O.R.,” Dr. Harper says.

After placing a drape to sepa-rate the patient’s two different surgical sites, the surgeons got to work: While Dr. Ware worked on the man’s abdomen, Dr. Harper worked on his brain.

“How’s it going?” they’d ask each other, checking in on the

For more information about Seton Medical Center Williamson, visit www.seton.net/locations/seton_

medical_center_williamson/.


progress of the other surgery. “Instead of the common two-way

conversation between the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, it was a three-way conversation among a surgeon, another surgeon, and an anesthesiologist,” Dr. Harper says. Counting the two sur-geons, their teams, and the anesthesi-ologist, he estimates that eight or nine medical personnel were in the operat-ing room during the joint surgeries.

The experience “was probably one of the best cases in point of how we’ve been able to get that teamwork to work

so well,” says Dr. Harper, praising the Emergency Medical Services for getting the accident victim to the hospital so quickly and Seton’s emergency cen-ter team for promptly getting the right people on board. It was a perfect storm of fast action, exceptional teamwork, and stellar communication.

Three days after the surgeries, a Christmas miracle occurred: The patient awoke from his coma.

“We expected him to have a bit of a rough course, but in fact he woke up within about three days to be almost

back to completely normal,” Dr. Harper recalls. By the sixth day, the man was in possession of his full faculties and was deemed ready to go home. He didn’t even need rehab.

Thinking outside the box isn’t new to Dr. Harper or his team at Seton. “We’re always on the lookout for ‘Is there something that can help the patients have a shorter recovery, get out of the hospital faster, back to daily activities faster, back to work faster?’ And I think that is kind of the holy grail for sur-geons.”

Dr. Drue Ware in the Trauma Room

Dr. Glenn Harper and Lisa Dufner, Certified

Physician Assistant

HAPPYHOLIDAYS

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elcome to our family at Mariposa Apart-ment Homes at River Bend where friends

and lifestyle make the difference. Tucked away in one of Georgetown’s quiet neighbor-

hoods, Mariposa at River Bend is situated in one of central Texas’ most desired locations, literally minutes from grocery shopping, retail, restaurants, theatres, churches and medical facilities. And, one of the best secrets about living here is the affordability!

Developed by Austin-based Bonner Carrington, Mariposa at River Bend offers beautiful Craftsman-style cottages surrounding a three story apartment/clubhouse that features a resort-style swimming pool, exercise studio, card and game room, movie theatre, library, beauty and barber salon, and so much more.

Mariposa is a comfortable place that active seniors 55+ love to call home. Home, where they grab a cup of coffee with neighbors at the coffee bar; where they watch movies and eat popcorn together in the theatre; where they gather for bingo or cards in the game room. Residents love to relax next to the pool or sit on the covered porches and visit with each other. It is that active adult lifestyle that helps create the Mariposa way of life; a life that focuses on the very spirit of our foundation… our residents.

Mariposa at River Bend continually encourages in-teraction, companionship and mingling. Spearhead-ing the abundant activities is the onsite CARES Team, a carefully recruited and trained couple or individual who specializes in welcoming new neighbors, event planning, and resident retention. Managed by faith-based Apartment Life, this team truly connects and cares for every resident on site and provides a wide range of fabulous activities.

Stuart Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Bonner Carrington, is always quick to point out the Vision of the Company: “To change lives and the culture of community by providing lasting and supportive home environments.” This is truly reflective of the lifestyle that Mariposa Apartment Homes affords each resident. Staying active among friends and peers en-riches and enhances your life. Mariposa is the perfect community to allow that to happen. Enjoy comfort-able small town ambiance with plentiful activities and convenience in a mainte-nance-free community. Be good to yourself, take a tour, and reserve your 55+ lifestyle today and let the satisfaction begin.


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121 River Bend, Georgetown, Tx 512-930-4242 www.MariposaApartmentHomes.com


512.863.88556915 Williams Drive Georgetown 78633

Happy TrailsBoarding • Grooming • Day Care

Owned and Operated By Troy & Louise Anderson

www.happytrailsluxurykennelsandgrooming.com

$4 OFFAny pet food or treats!

Great time to stock up for the holidays! Coupon will be valid thru Dec. 1- 31, 2013

512-868-4469 [email protected] www.TexasMedigapSelect.com

1530 Sun City Boulevard, Suite #125 Georgetown, TX 78633 Located in the Sun City Marketplace

Not connected with or endorsed by the United States Government of the Federal Medicare Program.

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— Cameron Kirchoff


Holiday BirdingCentury-old Christmas tradition draws avian enthusiasts

Training her binoculars on the red-headed bird tapping steadily against the trunk of the nearby cedar, the young woman

jotted down notes about the woodpecker. Along with dozens of other volunteers for the annual Christmas Bird Count, she was helping to canvass the George-town area, from the Blackland Prairie east of town to the lime-stone canyons running along the west, to count as many birds as possible during that day. In

years past, Georgetown area partici-pants have recorded more than 120 spe-cies within the fifteen-mile count area, with spotting highlights that include clay-colored sparrows, black-chinned humming-

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birds, and mountain plovers.“[The count] is the largest, lon-

gest running animal census in the world,” Ed Rozenberg says about the century-old tradition hosted by the National Audubon Society. The census occurs around the world between December 14 and January 5. Ed both organizes the Georgetown-area event and com-piles the information collected by birders. Each participant dur-ing the day-long event, he says, collects “information about birds sighted, numbers, participants, miles covered, habitat conditions, and weather conditions” for the National Audubon Society.

“A good count is one in which counters see and count as many species and individuals as possi-ble,” Ed notes with a laugh, “[and one where] there are no accidents or injuries and everyone has a good time. In 2012 there were 2,248 count circles with 63,200 participants who counted over 60 million birds. Species diversity is recorded with the numbers of each species seen. There’s good-natured competition between count circles,” he adds, “for total species, total numbers of birds, and most unusual birds seen.”

Begun in 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman as an alternative to hunting for animals and birds during the holiday, the Christ-mas Bird Count now plays a vital role in tracking bird species and populations. “Information gleaned … has been used in hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services decisions,” explains Ed. “Birds are very sensitive to environmental changes. The [count] has helped monitor the effect of changes in land use, urbanization, and climate changes, and otherwise [has] helped identify birds in need of conservation action.”

In addition to contributing to science, Ed says that he enjoys participating every year “to see what birds are around and to par-ticipate with other birders, many of whom I see only this time each year. And I always learn more about birds, their habits, and their habitats.”

For more information on this year’s Christmas Bird Count, scheduled for December 14, 15, 27, or 28, please contact Ed Rozenberg at birded78@

suddenlink.net or 512-869-7303.


512.633.6301 hicksfencing.com

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For the last 16 years it has been our families’ goal to take care of each and every resident as if they were our own family members.

Our promise to you is that we will strive to continually offer nurturing resident care and family support.

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1650 CR 245 Georgetown Lic # 102467


The Children & Staff ofMain Street

Children’s CenterWish Y ou All A Very

MerryChristmas

and Happy

New Y ear512-869-4505

www.msbchurch.com1001 S. Main StreetM-F, 6:30 am - 6 pm

Fresh HopeSupport Group for Ladies

with Incarcerated Husbands

When: 3rd Monday of the each month

Where: Grace Bible Church 302 Serenada Dr · Georgetown

Time: 6:30 pm

We are a support group for ladies who have a husband incarcerated in jail or prison. It is a place where you can find support amongst others who share a similar situation and are going through the same struggles. We provide a meal for each lady attending and there is free child care available also with a meal for the children.

If you would like more information or to RSVP (for meal and child care purposes)

please feel free to call Audrey @ 512-508-2577.

“The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not keep you.”

Hurt by Hurt…

One by One…He healed them all.


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H E a l T H y v i E W

kris Shelley sank into her recliner, fatigued from her first chemotherapy treatment the week before. Already, she

could feel her hair dying, becom-ing dry and brittle like straw. It wouldn’t be long until she shed it completely.

“My biggest fear, my hardest hurdle was the fact that I was going to lose my hair,” Kris recalls thinking at the start of her treatment. “I’d heard that it doesn’t always grow back the same. If you had straight blond hair before, it might grow back dark and curly or red and wavy.”

Luckily for Kris, her annual mammogram had caught a small cancerous mass early enough for her likelihood of recovery to be high.

As she continued the treatment, she found that losing her hair wasn’t such a big deal. “It was

not the devastation to me that I thought it would be, at all,” she says now. “Sometimes we get wrapped up in what we do and how we look, but we forget that what’s really important is taking care of yourself and taking care of others.” Getting cancer, she adds, “is humbling and puts [in] perspective that some of the things we think are so important aren’t important.”

An energetic and optimistic person by nature, Kris says that during her walk with cancer she made extra efforts to stay positive, handle her treatment with dignity, and surround herself with positive people, from her friends and family to the knowledgeable team at Scott and White’s High Risk Breast Clinic, to her radiation oncologist at Georgetown Cancer Center.

To lighten the mood, for example, Kris had a rotation of three wigs that she wore, depending on how she was feeling. She most often donned “Dee,” a short, casual style, while she wore “Fancy,” a more formal

wig, for dressier occasions. Then there was “Sexy Donna,” a wig she named after her neighbor, who helped her pick it out.

“Attitude is ninety percent of everything you do. And we always stayed positive. We never entertained the idea that there was anything we couldn’t get through,” she says.

Kris finished her fourth and final chemo session at the end of May, had her cancer removed in July, and completed radiation treatments in mid-October. Her hair has now grown back to a little over an inch in length, and she’s feeling stronger emotionally and in her faith.

“The experience, for me, was not necessarily one I’d want to do over, but it was definitely a strengthening, a learning, and an enriching experience,” Kris says. “For me, it was a faith walk, because I knew that whatever God put in front of me, we were going to go through together, and I was going to be okay. I had faith that he would take me through that. And he certainly has.”

BYraCHEl

brOWNlOWPHOTO BY

ALYSSA dYER

The View After ChemoSurviving breast cancer puts things in perspective

For more information about Scott and White breast cancer care:

www.sw.org/cancer-institute/breast/breast-cancer.


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E x T r a v i E W

Two visionary women, three bags of used cloth-ing, four volunteers, eleven local churches, and $17.00 planted the

seeds that grew into today’s The Caring Place (TCP) to help families in crisis. In 1985, twenty-eight years ago, Georgetown’s economy faced serious problems; people in need had few resources besides government agencies or church-to-church quests for canned goods or a few dollars for gasoline. Yoli Branson and Marty Maxwell envisioned a single assistance site, supported by the community, so they approached the Georgetown Ministerial Alliance. Reverend Tim van Antwerp from Christ Lutheran and Reverend David Duncan of First Presbyterian led in organizing other pastors and volunteers. Lay members from each participat-ing church and other community leaders formed a governing board. Mayor Carl Doering offered a for-mer slaughterhouse on 8th Street as a site, and the tiny seedling took root.

Nurtured by sweat, plan-ning, and commitment, TCP was “transplanted” several times as it grew. After four years in Industrial Park North, TCP thrived at 2001

Railroad Street from 1990 until 2004, squeezing ever more client services into 6,700 square feet. Next, a new TCP building blos-somed across the street, yet it too expanded in 2005 and again in 2011, to more than 28,000 square feet. Then 2001 Railroad Street came on the market, and TCP’s Board of Directors took decisive action to grow once more with a “new-old” facility. Renovation plans were finalized, walls were reconfigured and painted, and The Annex became operational in September.

Redesigned with three spacious meeting rooms and ten offices, The Annex provides a safe, com-fortable place for additional out-reach. There’s storage for season-al decorations and for tools used by TCP’s home repair program. There are fifty more parking spots. The familiar location offers easy access to clients. Prior to opening The Annex, TCP leadership hosted a community-wide meeting with other nonprofits, inviting partner-ships that can broaden the base for new programming. Twenty-eight different organizations came. Six offices are available to outside partners so that clients don’t have to travel around town

BYNaNCy

baCCHuSPHOTO BY

RudY xIMENEz

Branching OutThe Annex opens across from The Caring Place

for information and consultation. As Yoli and Marty did when they first envisioned TCP, current TCP leaders understand how strength increases when talent and re-sources unite for healthy growth.

TCP has planned a new self-sufficiency education program called SOAR (Success Through Opportunity and Resources) that will operate from The Annex. Classes in financial planning, job-seeking skills, and parenting will be offered to families that exhibit personal initiative. John Stock, TCP executive director from 2009 until his recent retirement, visual-ized “building assets for ‘what it takes to get there’ on a journey toward economic stability.” Ad-ditional space, now available, was a necessary component for this program to take root.

At least for now, TCP has more breathing room. Over thirty member organizations now make up the Advisory Council. Ginna O’Connor, TCP’s new executive director, stands ready to help carry the vision forward. The Annex, as carefully crafted as the bonsai cedar out front, forms the newest branch at The Caring Place to welcome the community. It’s all good.

Check out www.caringplacetx.org

for updates on options and programs or call

512-943-0700.


512.943.07002000 Railroad, Georgetownwww.caringplacetx.org

You Donate.

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Located on Georgetown’s beautiful historic downtown square, a trip to Camille’s Unique Apparel quickly becomes a one of a kind shopping experience. Georgetown is home to a thriving, diverse, and multi-talented community. Camille’s meets the needs of

our community with clothing which are works of art – clothing that explores life visually – clothing that allows you to share the beauty you have discovered and experienced within yourself.

Camille and her staff are known for their artists’ eyes and you see why the moment you walk through her doors. Let Camille and her staff help you to feel beautiful and comfortable, whether you need an out-fit that is casual or dressy, fun and flirty, but always unique to you.

At Camille’s you will discover an extensive selection of clothing lines, many in natural fibers, from petite to 1G. There is always something new to

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Johnny Was – for the modern gypsy in you, reaching across generations with comfort and style

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E x T r a v i E W

“Once upon a time” begins the nar-rator, her voice bolstered by the joined voices

of Cooper Elementary School’s second graders. They’re old hands now, having seen a variety of Mad Hatters fairy tale performances since their preschool year in the Georgetown Independent School District. Many know the rhyming introduction by heart.

The performance, however, will be new to them. Sun City’s Mad Hatters theatre group makes sure of that, selecting a rotating sched-ule of nine fairy tales to perform for students at each of George-town’s elementary schools.

“The thinking,” says Martha McGuff, this year’s Mad Hatters coordinator for the elementary

schools, “is that if a child stays in the Georgetown school system from pre-K through second and hears one story per semester, they’ll have been exposed to all of the stories by the time they leave the second grade.”

To reach all of these students, Sun City has two Mad Hatters groups: one that performs for pre-school children and another that presents fairy tales to elementary students in kindergarten, first, and second grade.

Both groups don plain black clothing and remain seated in chairs throughout the stories, says Martha, but “even though we’re sitting there, we are telling the tale instead of just reading it. … We’re trying to make the characters come alive.” To distinguish each character from the others, cast

BYraCHEl

brOWNlOWPHOTO BY

RudY xIMENEz

Splendiferous StorytellingSun City group performs fairy tales

members take along additional small props such as hats, scarves, and gloves. Performers bow their heads until their characters speak.

Costumes also help students identify each character. This past fall, for example, when the group performed the beloved classic “Little Red Riding Hood,” Little Red wore a red cape, while the mother and grandmother wore bonnets. The wily wolf wore a wolf mask, a red bowtie, a tail, gloved paws, and … an Old Navy shirt.

“Though the essence of each story is still the same, some of the language has been updated to make the tales more relatable,” Martha says. “For example, in ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears,’ when Papa Bear complains to Mama Bear that his porridge is too hot, Mama Bear looks over at him and says, ‘Oh, Papa Bear, you know I don’t know how to use this new microwave oven!’” That usually gets a big laugh from the [kids],” Martha says. “It’s a real delight because you can look out at the children’s faces and see that they’re into the story with you. … You know they’re really listening.”

Mad Hatters is an affiliate of Sun City’s charter club

AcTAG—Actors and Theatre Arts Guild—and of the

Linda Day Performing Arts Foundation.

For more information, visit www.lindadayfoundation.

org/actag.php.

We’re the Mad Hatters, and we’re here to say:We’ve come to tell a story on this winter day.

So settle on down, and put your hands in your lap;And when we’re all done, we hope you clap, clap, clap.

This is the end of our rap, our rhymeOur story begins with…


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G O l f E r ’ S C O r N E r

Want to eliminate that nasty slice? Here’s a quick way to do just that:

Take your normal grip, then slide your ungloved hand down the shaft toward the clubhead and stop once there is about two inches of separation between your hands.

At this time you will get a sense of your hands being very active as you take a few practice swings. It should feel as though it’s very simple to swing and roll your hands through the impact zone.

Take a few three-quarter practice swings. Then try to get the feeling of a swing going all the way through

BYbill EaSTErly

Let’s Stop That Slice

Find Bill Easterly through The Golf Ranch1019 W. University #310 (Wolf Ranch)

512-863-4573

to the top ending with a complete finish. Notice how your left hand has completely rotated and your right arm is extended throughout the swing.

After a few tries, go back to your normal grip and repeat the process. You should now get a much better sense of rotating the club head through the hit-ting area. You should also

be squar-ing the club face at impact instead of leaving it open and causing the ball to slice.

Give this drill a try and you may find yourself in the fairway more often than not.

THE PROWith 30 years ex-perience in golfing, BILL EASTERLY has spent 17 years as a pro player from the US to Australia, winning the Gulf Coast Invitational twice, and three times on the Sr Cir-cuit. Bill has spent 10 years helping others enjoy the sport. Here, he gives you priceless tips – free – every month – to improve YOuR game.



i N T H E k i T C H E N

BYNikki ElkJErPHOTOS BY CAROL HuTCHISON

’Tis the Season for Hors d’OeuvresAppetizers are like gifts in small packages

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with palette-pleasing ap-petizers? Every party needs them and every guest comes expecting them. The time of fruitcake has long passed,

so put on your chef’s hat and turn up the Nat King Cole—it’s party time!

TIPS:When preparing hors d’oeuvres, remember these

no-fail guidelines:1. When selecting the hors d’oeuvres, keep in

mind the nature of the event. Heavy selections will work well if a meal is not being served, while bite-size options are a good prelude to the meal.

2. Presentation goes a long way. Thoughtfully style your platter or tray so that the last guest is not rummaging through jumbled garnishes.

3. Pay attention to temperature. Cold appetizers should be kept cold, and likewise, hot appetiz-ers taste best when served hot.

Strawberry Salsa and Grilled Flat Bread Ingredients:1 pound strawberries, preferably organic, sliced thin4 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice¼ tsp salt5 green onions, thinly sliced½ cup yellow onion, chopped1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped½ cup cilantro, chopped¼ cup balsamic vinegar4 pieces flat bread or pita bread

Preparation:1. brush flat bread with olive oil. Grill or toast in the

oven.2. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl. allow to

marinate in the refrigerator for 6 hours.3. Serve with flat bread cut into triangles.


Sriracha deviled Eggs Ingredients:8 large eggs3 Tbsp mayonnaise—high quality, or

make your own for an even richer flavor1 tsp yellow mustard1 tsp Sriracha Sauce1 tsp red wine vinegarDash of Worcestershire sauce6 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped

fine

Goat Cheese Canapé with Roasted Pepper Salad Don’t want to roast your own peppers? You can find roasted peppers in the grocery store, next to jarred ingredients like olives and pickles.

Ingredients:2 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and

seeded2 green bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and

seeded2 yellow green peppers, roasted, peeled,

and seeded8 oz. soft fresh goat cheese½ cup sour creamThickly sliced bread (or hearty crackers)Shaved or shredded parmesan½ cup toasted almonds

Dressing:1 cup balsamic vinaigrette½ cup red onion, chopped½ cup black olives½ cup cilantro leaves, chopped1 jalapeño, minced2 garlic cloves, minced.

Salt and pepper to tasteSmoked red chile powder to finish

Preparation:1. place the eggs in a pot and cover with

cold water. bring the water to a boil; then immediately take off heat. Cover and let the eggs sit for 15 minutes. While the eggs harden, fill a large bowl with ice water.

2. Carefully drain the hot water and slosh the pot to crack the eggs a bit. Scoop

Preparation:1. Cut the peppers into ½ inch strips.2. Combine dressing ingredients in a

food processor and pulse to emulsify.3. pour dressing over peppers and toss to

combine. Hold at room temperature.4. Cut bread slices into small circles with

a biscuit cutter and toast. allow to cool. Crackers are a good substitute.

5. blend the goat cheese and sour cream until smooth. Spread a thin layer over the canapé (bread) or cracker.

6. mound about 1 Tbsp of the pepper salad onto each goat cheese-covered canapé and finish with fresh parmesan and a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

them out with a slotted spoon and place them in ice bath for 5 minutes. peel eggs under a stream of running water.

3. Slice each egg in half lengthwise, scoop out the yolks, and reserve them in a small bowl.

4. mash the yolks. Then stir in mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire, and Sriracha. add salt and pepper, and stir until creamy.

5. fill a large zip lock bag with the yolk mixture, pressing mixture into a corner. Cut the corner off the bag and squeeze the filling into the egg whites.

6. finish with a sprinkle of minced bacon and smoked red chile powder. Chill until ready to serve.


For questions and comments or to inquire about

culinary services, please email Chef Nikki at

[email protected]. Be sure to follow her

Facebook page at /GatheringsWithChefNikki.

Peppermint Martini Ingredients:2½ cups white chocolate liqueur1¼ cup peppermint schnapps1¼ cup vodkapeppermints

Preparation:1. pulse peppermint candies in a food

processor and transfer to a plate.2. make a simple syrup: bring 1 cup

of water to a boil. Dissolve 1 cup of sugar in the water, stirring constantly. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat. allow to cool completely.

3. Dip rim of martini glass in simple syrup, then in crushed peppermints.

4. in a martini shaker, combine 1 cup white chocolate liqueur, ½ cup schnapps, ½ cup vodka, and ice. Shake and strain into martini glasses.

5. repeat twice with remaining ingredients and serve immediately. Serves 3.

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DALES ESSENHAUS3900 FM 972, WalburgDales-Essenhaus.comFamily Karaoke Thursdays 7-11Closed Christmas Eve through Dec 30

GERMAN WALBURG RESTAURANT3777 FM 972, Walburgwww.WalburgRestaurant.comLive Music every Fri & Sat NightSeekers, Brushy Creek, Boys, The Walburg Boys6 The Walburg Boys7 The Walburg Boys13 The Walburg Boys14 Sieker31 New Year’s Eve 8pm-1amCheck Website for updates

HARDTAILS BAR & GRILL1515 IH 35, Georgetown512-869-5454www.HardtailsBarandGrill.comSundays: Bloody Mary Buffett ’til 2pmMondays: Texas Hold ’em 6:30 & 9:15pmTuesdays: Free Pool Wednesdays: Karaoke5 Lee Persons 6 Stooch 7 Leannasaurus Rex 12 Bad Self13 One Resistance14 Audio Queen19 Whitestone20 Instigators21 Red Neck Boys26 Fusion27 Groove Knights28 American Gypsy31 NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTYAll bands start at 8pm

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GEORGETOWN

C h e C k U s O U t at:www.citylightstheatres.com

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D E C E B E RO p e n i n g D a t e s

subject to change

6 Out of the Furnace

13 Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug

13 Tyler Perry – A Madea Christmas

18 American Hustle 20 Anchorman, the

Legend Continues 20 Saving Mr. Banks 20 Walking with

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MINT-INIIngredients: • 1 ½ oz Cruzan Vanilla Rum • 1 ½ oz peppermint schnapps • 1 ½ oz white chocolate liqueur • Peppermints for garnish

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Preparation: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well to blend. Strain into your martini glass, garnish with the peppermints and enjoy this delicious drink over the holidays!


E x T r a v i E W

Homeless.

What would it be like not to have a roof over your head or a place to shower,

or not to know where your next meal would come from? Would you beg at a street corner, relying on the kindness of strangers, or turn to a shelter in search of food and compassion? Or would you try to make it on your own?

According to the most recent report (2011) from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, about 636,000 people went un-sheltered on any given night in 2011, a statistic that translates to roughly twenty-one homeless people per 10,000 individuals.

To help college students to become better informed about homelessness, Southwestern University’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity hosted Shack-a-Thon,

their third annual homeless-awareness event, this past April.

Event organizers asked groups of up to ten people to build shacks out of cardboard, duct tape, and anything else they could scavenge to simulate what it might be like to spend a night as a homeless person.

Teams arrived around 3 p.m. Friday and each began building their shack on an allocated ten-by-ten-foot plot at Southwestern’s Academic Mall.

“Finding materials with which to build a shack is really difficult!” says Southwestern’s Shack-a-Thon chair, Katy Jones. “When I found cardboard, it was often damp or so small that it was of no use to me.” She eventually found a salvaged refrigerator box, from which she spent the night keeping a watchful eye on the compet-ing teams and making sure that at least one person from each team spent the entire night in their fabricated shack. This year, six teams—including teams from

BYraCHEl

brOWNlOWPHOTO BY

SHELLEY dORMONT

Living in a BoxShack-a-Thon teaches students about homelessness

two local high schools—took part in the Shack-a-Thon, compet-ing for distinctions such as “most structurally sound” and “most creative.”

Participants also listened to an address on the importance of homeless awareness given by a Habitat for Humanity repre-sentative and to another by the chapter’s faculty adviser, Ron Swain. The Shack-a-Thon group also hosted several musical acts, including the PHDs—a band of professors from Southwestern.

“Our chapter arranged both dinner and breakfast with the help of CiCi’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A, and H-E-B,” says Katy, who oversaw preparations for the 2013 event, recruited teams, and sought out donors from the community. “Even though we provide enter-tainment and food at the event, I really think it gives participants a taste of what it is like not to have the promise of a roof or bed,” Katy adds. “And that’s what the event is all about.”

For more information: www.southwestern.edu/ live/news/4450-helping-habitat.


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LansdaleAutomotive

WILLIAMS DR.

EXIT 261A

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Mercedes-Benz of Georgetown

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although awareness is growing that diabe-tes is a rising problem in the United States and a major contributing factor to health care costs, recent statistics are startling. According to the Center for Disease

Control (CDC), nearly 30% of U.S. residents aged 65 years and older had diabetes in 2010, and 50% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older had prediabetes. Diabetes is not just a problem affecting older Americans. Each year millions of people are newly diagnosed with dia-betes nationwide, and about one third of adults over 20 years old are estimated to have prediabetes.

Prediabetes is a term used to describe when a per-son’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. This condition leads to higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. One of the most important ways to protect yourself and loved ones is to recognize warning signs of prediabetes and take action if necessary. In some individuals, prediabetes may have no symptoms, but there are some warning signs and risk factors that can be present.

RISk FACTORS• Ifcharacteristicsinthislistapplytoyouoraloved

one, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for a blood glucose screening and check-up.

• Aged45yearsorolder• Overweight,withabodymassindexhigherthan25• Afamilyhistoryoftype2diabetes• HeritageisAfricanAmerican,Hispanic/Latino,

American Indian, Asian American or Pacific Is-lander

• Developedgestationaldiabeteswhenpregnantorgave birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds

• Physicallyactivelessthanthreetimesaweek

SYMPTOMSIf you or a loved one are experiencing any of the

symptoms below, it’s important to see a doctor right away for a check-up, as these may be signs of predia-betes or diabetes.• Darkenedareasofskinaroundneckandunder

arms• Increasedthirst• Frequenturination• Fatigue• Blurredvision• Bruisesorcutstakelonger

than normal to heal• Tinglinginhands,feetor

legs

If left undiagnosed and untreated, prediabetes can have detrimental effects on a person’s health and will often lead to type 2 diabe-tes, which can have severe and even catastrophic consequences. “The good news is that with early de-tection, monitoring, and simple steps such as diet ad-justment and increasing physical activity, individuals can often reverse the effects of prediabetes and avoid many negative outcomes,” said Dr. Gopika Gangu-pantula, family medicine physician and Diabetologist at Lone Star Circle of Care. “Regular screenings are an easy way to safeguard your health.”

PrediabetesRecognize the Warning Signs

Lone Star Circle of Care 2423 Williams Dr # 113 Georgetown, TX 78628

www.lscctx.org For appts call:

1-877-800-5722

PROVIdEd BYlONE STar

CirClE Of CarE

E x T r a v i E W

Seton – Circle of Care Senior Health at Texas A&M Health Science Center3950 North A.W. Grimes Blvd, Suite N104Round Rock, Texas 78665

Lone Star Circle of Care Senior Health at Lake Aire Medical Center2423 Williams Drive, Suite 113Georgetown, Texas 78628

STAY HEALTHY

The turkey is the only thing that should be stuffed.

Be realistic. Don’t try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead plan on maintaining your current weight and fit in fitness when you can.

At Lone Star Circle of Care, we’re always thinking about your health — even when you’re not in for a check-up. Our senior health centers strive to be a complete medical home for patients. With experience in caring for patients with unique and often complex medical conditions, our board-certified internal medicine physicians provide a high level of personal attention and service. We offer in-house lab testing, and Medicare prescriptions can be filled in our convenient, on-site pharmacies. So stay healthy out there. And if you need us, we’re here for you.

We accept all Medicare patients.Call today for an appointment 1.877.800.5722 or visit www.lscctx.org

Health care that revolves around you.

www.WilcoAngels.com ~ 512.863.4777 ~ New Location on the Historic Square

From Our

Family to Yours…

Merry Christmas Georgetown

NAtioNALLy KNoWN, LocALLy oWNed

Documents

Georgetown View Magazine/ December 2013