City Insider February 2017

FEBRUARY 2017

The Premier Senior Lifestyle Magazine for Sun City Texas

CHUNKY COW CAFE (Pg 14) & CREAMERY: A CLASSY TAKE ON COMFORT FOOD

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What’s Inside:

Look What’s Coming To Williams Dr. (Pg 4)

Sun City Photography Show (Pg 6)

Skydiving Centenarian Al Blaschke (Pg 9)

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A Guide To Quality Living in Georgetown A local resource for residents of Sun City, Texas © 2017 Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC

CONTENTS Helping neighbors in need since 1985

Thank you for your support!

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With the help of our supportive community, we provide assistance to people in financial crisis.

4 6 7 9 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Look What’s New On Williams Dr. Sun City Shutter Speeds: 8th Annual Print Competition Love At Any Age Al Blaschke: Skydiving Into A New Century N13’s Annual Mardi Gras Parade Beyond Bingo: Georgetown Parks and Rec Senior Programs Chunky Cow Cafe and Creamery: Classy Comfort Food in Florence San Gabriel Presbyterian - Committed, Caring & Cultural Sun City Town Hall Meeting Mayor’s Update Ask the Chief The Bucket List Savvy Senior Health & Wellness Ask Your Lawyer

STAFF Managing Editor/Lifestyles: Cathy Payne Writer: Ann Marie Ludlow Design: Elysia Davis

Food • Clothing • Housing & Utility Assistance Medical & Prescription Assistance Emergency Transportation and more!

Marketing: Bill Mateja Guest Columnists: Mayor Dale Ross, John Bickle, Webster Russell and Dee Coffeen, Michael Henderson, M.D., Jim Miller, Police Chief Wayne Nero

CONTACT US

Info@CityInsiderTX.com P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537 To Advertise in City Insider, call a sales exec at 512-746-4545 © Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC, 2017. All rights reserved.

2000 Railroad Ave., Georgetown 512-943-0700 www.caringplacetx.org

Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook at City Insider for more news & pictures!

FEBRUARY 2017 | 3

New Senior Living Opportunities Coming to Williams Drive Merritt Communities is scheduled to open a new senior community in Georgetown in summer 2018. The property, on Williams Drive near Westlake Terrace, will include a four-story tower in the front, and casitas (small houses) in the back. Apartments will be studio, one- and two-bedrooms; half of the 246 units will be Affordable Housing and half will rent at market rates. Residency will be available for those “62 years and better.”

The Georgetown property will include many of Merritt’s standard amenities: beauty shop, fitness center, library, arts and craft room, movie theater, and a business center. Outdoors there will be a pool, shaded verandas, lattice seating and barbecue pits. Depending on construction limitations, it may also include bocce ball courts and horseshoe pits.

The company estimates being able to break ground in late summer or early fall of this year, and is currently accepting names for the interest list at 512-574-3589 or MerrittCommunities.com.

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“We will be cooking from scratch every day, and we will serve breakfast all day as well. We are already getting requests from friends and neighbors about what they would like to see on our menu, and I hope to get a lot of feedback prior to opening so we can really give people what they want.”

Marino also cooked for a while at BB’s and Andice General Store and is thrilled that the site was available for his new venture. His wife Terry says, “He is excited about a new challenge and being able to pull together all of his cooking experiences into one great restaurant. It’s a lifelong dream and we hope the success of his pizza shop will translate here to Georgetown.”

Simmer Down will be a family restaurant and will serve beer and wine.

The finalized menu will be available shortly so everyone knows which favorites will be served.

Simmer Down is located at 4702 Williams Dr., Bldg. 1.

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John Hesser Georgetown City Council Member District 3 (Sun City Area) “Mayor Ross has accomplished a great deal in his first term largely because he knows this town so well and has a solid vision for the future. I support his re-election and encourage you to support him.”

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Sun City Shutter Speeds:

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The Sun City Photography Club held the opening reception for the 8th Annual Print Competition and Exhibit. Expertly judged January 7 by Brian Loflin, a photography instructor at UT Austin, the photos will be on display at the Activities Center at 1 Texas Drive until February 24.

The competition featured 111 entries by 38 different photographers, whose stories were as unique as the photos they entered, and each was judged in a subject category by expertise; 44 ribbons were awarded. The club also added a “Creative” category for the first time this year, which features unusual or unrealistic images they modified by computer.

Larry Lorimor (N35) earned first place in the Intermediate Cityscapes & Architecture category for his photo Chicago Twilight. “The credit really goes to my wife for making me stay in our spot to get the perfect picture. We waited for the sunset, the perfect fountain height and just the right light choreography. We also had to avoid all the people going to the Taste of the Chicago festival.” Larry says he was ready to go 45 minutes prior to the shutter click, but his wife was certain they could get the right shot.

Kathy Lorimor (N35), Larry’s wife, also won first place in the Intermediate Landscape & Waterscape category for her Super Moon Over Berry Creek Pond. “We were

outside for the Supermoon in November. It was just before sunrise; this is a setting moon. And we were the only people in Sun City to be there to see this in person, which is why we entered that photo. It was a spectacular moment.”

Best in Show photographer, Glenn Rudd (N13), won for his photo Cardinal. Rudd’s story began at Laguna Seca, a bird photography ranch in Edinburg. “There were seven of us in the blind and a dragonfly hatched from a pupa. One of the guys carefully lifted the dragonfly and set him outside the blind. Within a half hour, that cardinal got the dragonfly and flew up to that perch and sat there for about 30 seconds posing for us.” … thus immortalizing the very short life of one dragonfly.

Rudd also received a 3rd place ribbon for his Landscape, Milky Way Hoodoos. For that photo, he and a group of photographers were working nightscape settings on a very cold night in Utah; 2am to be exact. “That was a last setting we could do. Everyone was freezing and that turned out to be the best photo of the trip.”

Next up for the Club is an exhibit at the Georgetown Library in March and April, followed by an exhibit at St. David’s hospital. They also have monthly competitions, three special interest groups, field trips and many weekly classes.

Love At Any Age

BEST IN SHOW:

Tina Latta (N13) and Joe Masek are proof that it’s never too late to take a leap and you’re never too old to feel like a teenager.

The couple only had eyes for each other on a recent day trip to Salado and they shared the pretty unlikely story of how they met.

Tina has been a widow two years and decided to sign up on an online dating site. While planning a trip to Illinois to see family over Christmas, she decided to put in the destination zip code to see who might be out there. Turns out, Joe, also widowed, lives in the town next to where she grew up and he is a volunteer at a wildlife preserve near her parents’ property.

Glenn Rudd’s Cardinal took the coveted Best of Show Award.

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“A younger generation might appreciate ‘long walks on the beach’ or weird selfies,” she says, “But I liked that he is a volunteer and he loves animals. One thing after another about him seemed like fate.” She contacted Joe and they agreed to have coffee, then dinner, then lunch and ended up spending all seven days of her trip together. I asked if her family was disappointed they didn’t get to see her much; “They were thrilled. They were glad to see me having fun and so happy.”

Just two weeks later, Joe has flown to Austin to spend more time together, and says he thinks Sun City is great. “Although my dog is probably not too happy about it, it’s an open ticket and I think I’ll stay a while.” Both agree that with cheap Southwest tickets, Internet chat and FaceTime, they hope to have plenty of opportunities for their budding romance. So if you see them around the neighborhood, give these two lovebirds a wink.

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Getting To Know your Neighbors

AL BLASCHKE: SKYD I VI NG INTO A NEW CENTURY On January 4th, Sun City’s Al Blaschke (N24) made history. For his 100th birthday, he did something most people don’t do in their lifetime; he jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. He also did it from 10,000 feet while a crowd of nearly 200 people shivered on the ground in 30-degree weather.

Doing so tied him with the oldest American to make a tandem jump.

When a friend asked him, on his 97th birthday, if he would like to jump out of a plane, he said it was a good idea but decided, “No thank you, I’ll wait until I’m 100.” Prompting one guest at the jump to comment, “While most people blessed enough to make it to 97 might reflect on accomplishments, Al was still making long range plans.”

Al was born in Wisconsin and, being a young man in The Great Depression, he went to vocational school rather than college. He worked on aircraft engines during World War II and spent 40 years in the tool and die industry. He met his wife, Ellie, in 1960 when he simply

helped a lovely stranger pick up something she’d dropped.

Ellie passed away in 2010 and he began visiting his friend Ben every week to play cards or dominoes or gab with some of the other Sun City men. Ben’s wife Betty heard about the jump back in 2014 and she shrugged and said, “Sure I’ll do it with you on your 100th birthday.” As an observer at their weekly meets, Betty enlisted Ki Browning, a yoga instructor, to work with the men on their stretches and strength, which was very important to Al’s agility and a safe jump.

At press time, Al’s story has been told and seen many times over, but the coverage of this inspiring goodnews story has become part of the story itself.

Not only were all the of the publications and outlets in Georgetown and Austin represented, but since January 4th, Al’s jump has been viewed across the United States on all four major networks; morning shows and nightly news, and has also been replayed in Russia, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Schleder received calls from relatives from Maine to Connecticut who all saw the story on their local news, and she reports that every city that is home to one of Al’s relatives showed the story on local news as well, from Wisconsin to Arizona to Washington D.C. Blaschke’s son David was a little anxious about the jump, but proudly attributed Dad’s secret to his lifelong generosity. He is also a vibrant

member of the Sun City community.

He is a member of the low-vision club and drives friends to appointments (he just renewed his license for two more years!); he is a member of the Rotary, Shrine Club and the Wisconsin Club; plays golf and actively supports the Palace Theatre.

Al was all smiles on the day, saying many times, “I’m ready to jump!” After a few aerial flips and turns, some spin under the parachute, upon his happy landing Al exclaimed, “I’m ready to go again this afternoon!”

Having checked this bucket list item, Blaschke wants to see the Northern Lights next, and see his twin grandsons graduate college when he’s 104.

Mid-jump photos are courtesy of instructor Glaze Horster, who has done more than 400 tandem jumps and over 1000 solos.

FEBRUARY 2017 | 9

At age 100, any landing you walk away from is a “10”.

Al’s birthday jump made headlines around the country and the world (with friend Betty, who made her own jump that day, and instructor Glaze Horster).

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Neighborhood 13 Prepares For 11th Annual Mardi Gras Parade

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The 2017 Parade (10 am - February 25) will offer fun and fellowship for all ages. (Photos from the 2015 and 2016 event).

Neighborhood 13 is preparing to laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!) at the 11th Annual Sun City Mardi Gras Celebration.

Once again, residents Randy Gehr and Donna Braun and their ‘Krewe’ of about 40 volunteers are coordinating the grand parade on Saturday, February 25 at 10 am. Staging begins at 9 am, so Gehr encourages everyone to get out and get a good seat early.

“Everyone in Georgetown is invited to the parade— it’s not just for Sun City, and we hope to see a few thousand people on the parade route.”

This year, the decked out golf carts, decorated cars and masqued marchers will be joined by the Jarrell High School band; the return of the Sun City Georgettes; Sun City Model A Club; Corvette Club; and members of the Cajun Club. The parade will run the entire length of Rio Grande Loop, and there will be plenty of throws and music along the way. “We just had our bead party last week. We recycle them every year, so the parade doesn’t really cost anything, but we enjoy throwing and catching. We have boxes of them, but (smiling) we

don’t throw candy ‘cause it sticks to the carts.”

After the parade, the Krewe will be setting up for the evening dance, which usually sells all 350 tickets pretty quickly. The Louisiana-style event includes decor, some in costume, food, and adult beverages, and a Zydeco band direct from Baton Rouge. As is custom, the Mardi Gras King and Queen will be crowned at the dance. This year the Royal Court are Troy and Linda Mohon; the couple have been a big part of the parade activities for several years.

Gehr himself is excited and eager for the event. “I just love Sun City and we never have trouble recruiting people for activities in NH13. Anyplace else, you may or may not get to know your neighbors; here I even have keys to my friends’ houses. I love being active and I think the parade is the best event of the year.”

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Mardi Gras dance, contact Randy Gehr at 512-863-4100 or Donna Braun at 512-948-5116.

FEBRUARY 2017 | 11

Carl Fiegel, Larry Kaufman, Wally Altom, Marge Altom, Anne Kaufman, Barbara McCasland, Dale Dagitz

B E Y O N D Georgetown Parks and Recreation SENIOR PROGRAMS Georgetown Parks and Recreation has a senior center with an activity list to rival most college intramurals. Whether you like dominos or zip-lining, they have something for you.

Program Director Robert Staton 12 | FEBRUARY 2017

has always had a love of the outdoors and worked at a church camp in high school. When he started thinking about college, his mom suggested he find a program that would qualify him to run summer camps for a living. “I didn’t know you

could major in it, but I have a Bachelor of Science in Recreation with a focus on outdoor activities. I get to do all my favorite things in the world and they actually pay me to do it.”

Staton created the Teen Adventure program at the center to share his lifelong passion for the outdoors; “We were the first municipal Parks department to do that; everything from rock climbing to caving. Prior to the center’s expansion in 2009 we didn’t have room for specific senior activities but we did have a van, so we started our Day Trip program.”

Once the Day Trip program began to take off, Staton asked the participants for feedback about what they would like to see and do when the center had space for it. Many wanted exercise classes, but didn’t necessarily want to do yoga with people half their age, so he worked

Robert Staton coordinates senior activities for the Georgetown Rec Center.

with contract instructors to teach classes for 55-and-over students.

His background and education are the ideal combination to be able to adapt nearly any activity for a

Beyond Bingo: kayaking is one of many senior activities available through the Georgetown Rec Center.

particular age or ability level. “Hiking or kayaking for a teen group is much different from a senior group, but the goal is always to have fun, so the only requisite is that people are realistic about their ability.”

After the Rec Center expanded to its current 16,000 sq/ft, the department began the Senior Adventure program. “One of the pitfalls of retirement is that some can become isolated. Still, baby boomers aren’t the types to want to sit and relax, so

we’ve provided plenty of things to do for folks who want to stay active and involved and engaged with others. Even if it’s just listening to a presentation on gardening, people are coming out and making friends.”

Staton does a lot of the adventure trips himself. “I love the diversity of the programs and variety in my days. Sometimes it’s nice to be behind a desk, and I don’t do yoga or dancing but I make sure it happens.”

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because someone offers to bring a skill to the table, like tai chi or memoir writing. “We realized when we expanded the center that the old adage is true, if you build it, they will come.”

Staton says the biggest challenge with the senior programs is dispelling the stereotype of board games, cards and coffee. “Granted, we do have a full complement of visitors for donuts and dominoes every Thursday afternoon, but we also have hiking, tennis, kayaking and more.”

Anyone can be a member at the Community Center, and Staton recommends joining, even those living in Sun City. “Our facilities have a lot of free space during the day, so if things feel crowded in one of the fitness centers there, come see us.”

He also encourages everyone over 55 to check their health insurance coverage. “Some plans cover well-

ness programs and exercise classes under the ‘Silver Sneakers’ program.

Members receive a card and have free access to the center.

Residents of Georgetown pay a reduced fee for facility use, monthly or annually. The center includes an outdoor pool, splash pad for the grandkids, racquetball courts, basketball, crafts, and many regular classes. All are welcome to call Robert to take a tour and see everything they have to offer.

“I have the energy of a young man and I have enjoyed getting to know my senior clients on a different level than my youth programs.

I enjoy talking to them and sharing something brand new every day or reliving favorite family vacations. It hardly feels like a job.”

For more information, call Robert at 512-930-3595 or visit https:// parks.georgetown.org.

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FLORENCE WELCOMES CHUNKY COW CAFÉ AND CREAMERY Allen Lewis, a trained chef, and his wife, Ashley, moved to Texas in 2009.

Allen worked at several restaurants in Austin and Marble Falls; Ashley is a native of Texas and is a teacher and coach at Florence High School.

Allen originally opened Chunky Cow Creamery as a dessert-only establishment in Leander. Desserts were the main attraction until he realized what he really wanted to do was cook great food. “It wasn’t my full-time vocation at that time. I still had another job, but I wanted to make a go of the business and the

Leander location didn’t have a kitchen. We closed Chunky Cow Creamery in 2013 and kept the equipment because we knew we just needed the right time.”

Allen and Ashley had their first child in March 2016, and Allen decided it was time to make a go of the restaurant full-time. Ashley got her teaching job in Florence, and Allen found the space he had been waiting for and re-opened as Chunky Cow Café and Creamery. “Being away from home 80 hours a week going to and from my job was going to

mean very little family time. I’ve seen families run down from that so I took the plunge with a partner and a few months later took over the property as a solo owner.”

Business has been on an upward trend since last fall and has grown more quickly than even Allen thought it would. “It’s a little scary to have the kind of growth we have, but I have to give credit to the friendly people in Sun City who bring us a lot of repeat business and new friends.

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“We are really doing things from scratch and, I hope, in the right way.

By staying at a certain price point and keeping customers happy, as long as I can afford to grow I will keep growing.”

Allen Lewis makes the most of his open kitchen to build relationship with customers while he cooks. Chunky Cow Café & Creamery in Florence offers Southern & Cajun classics, burgers, panini, salads, desserts, and, of course, homemade ice cream.

ing to Florence to see us.”

Allen and Ashley developed the concept together using his special recipe for ice cream, which he still makes fresh every day in new and unique flavors. The restaurant also sources ingredients locally and sponsors the Florence High School Ag program. Once Allen became the sole owner, he rebranded as Chunky Cow Café and Creamery, put up billboards and added all the furniture and keepsakes in the storefront. “We loved the catchy name and thought it was very marketable; even franchise-able, so we kept it close to the original.”

“I’m excited to introduce Florence to some home-cooked country cooking. Everything is made from scratch; nothing comes out of a can,” Allen says. “We are a family restaurant and we want people to see is as a place for the whole family; something for everyone.”

The café has an open kitchen so Allen can keep an eye on the flow, visit with customers and he makes every effort to speak to each one personally for feedback or just to see how they like the meal. He also is happy to provide catering services

for parties of nearly any size. He is also in the process of approval to cater at Sun City venues.

Thanks to the steady customer growth, he has already expanded the restaurant space to add another 100 seats. “We fill the room for dinner Thursday through Saturday and we have another 3000 square feet next door for more. I really want to go the full measure to make my customers happy.”

In addition to ice cream, Chunky Cow Cafe & Creamery has malts, smoothies, Cow Patties, coffee, homemade pies and a full lineup of southern and Cajun classics. The menu includes sandwiches; pulled pork, panini, buffalo chicken and prime rib; burgers, salads, and kids meals. The entrées include favorites like brick pressed chicken, shrimp and grits (a Southern favorite), ribs, pasta, tacos, meatloaf, and chicken fried streak. You can also get loaded or specialty baked potatoes. Allen says the menu may feature some seasonal changes to reflect local flavors and customer suggestions.

Chunky Cow is at 212 East Main St. in Florence, and is open Monday through Saturday 11am-8pm.

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San Gabriel Presbyterian: C O M M I T T E D , C A R I N G A N D C U LT U R A L

“San Gabriel Presbyterian Church,” the Reverend Dr. Bill Pederson says, “is a place that takes care of its members.” Pederson, who goes by ‘Pastor Bill’ is new to San Gabriel and Georgetown. A native of Texas, he returned to Georgetown after a decade in North Carolina to be near family and to be a part of the growth in Central Texas and Georgetown. “This church has a very strong base and a promising future.

I wanted to come here, help develop it further and engage that future as Georgetown grows.”

Pastor Bill says their congregation of just over 200 is very active in the community. Founded in 2001,

they began in a storefront and moved into their current building on Williams Drive in 2007. They have always been involved in local mission efforts, like Meals on Wheels, The Nest, and The Caring Place; they also helped found the Backpack Buddies program. “Our people are committed to literally being there for these organizations on a regular basis—interacting with the kids and the seniors. We are most nurturing and concerned about our most vulnerable neighbors. We join with churches of all kinds to be at our best in support of social justice and seeing society’s good.”

The church is currently looking at

Reverend Dr. “Pastor Bill” Pederson looks forward to continuing & growing San Gabriel Presbyterian Church’s legacy of community engagement & care.

their mission and hoping to take advantage of new opportunities as the city changes and grows. “We know that for a church this size, we are extremely charitable with our hearts and hands, and we are intentional about finding and filling specific needs in the community.”

They are also a congregation that is open to the community and the arts. Their pumpkin patch is quickly becoming a staple of October activity, and they have two to four musical events annually with local and visiting choirs. “We enjoy the intersection of theology and the arts, and will always open our doors to make that happen.”

Pastor Bill says, “Come to a service and let us know you’re a visitor.

We are here to nurture the young, care for the aging and provide authentic worship of all God’s children.

Our vision is to be the best darn church we can be serving Jesus Christ and the world.”

SGPC has one service Sunday at 10:30 am, Sunday School at 9 am and fellowship in between.

There are also very active men’s and women’s groups, as well as several outreach programs for young families. “We bloom where we are planted and we are delighted to be so near to Sun City to engage with that generation, and we are excited to engage between every generation to make the church a home for every age.”

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The nine-foot natural cross at the chancel wall in the church was fashioned from a hundred-year-old mesquite tree trunk found by Charlotte Rufenacht at a local saw mill. At 400 pounds, it is about half the size of the original wood; having been sawed in half so Rufenacht could work with it. Once she carefully made the cuts for the cross beam, she sanded and rubbed the wood many times to enhance and protect the natural color and the wood itself. “Although it was a lot of work,” she said, “the whole project flowed with ease... because this was a task given by God.”

2017 Sun City Town Hall Meeting

Officer Delta Jolly is a familiar (and friendly) face from the Georgetown Police Department.

The City of Georgetown held its annual Sun City Town Hall Meeting January 12 and shared some of the city’s accomplishments and plans for 2016-17 with about 300 visitors and guests. The presentation was a repeat of last year’s successful take on the tabletop/expo (and donuts), which was well received and gave residents a chance to shop their questions and concerns to specific

departments and staff members.

Members of all major departments had booths and giveaways; Parks and Recreation, Finance and Administration, Safety Center, Planning and Development, Utilities and more. Director of Planning and Development Sofia Nelson explained, “We are continuing our relationship building and looking at the economic impact between Sun City and the

City of Georgetown. Sun City is still growing and the City is staying on top of that growth.”

Mayor Dale Ross gave a wrap-up on the City’s accomplishments in 2016, including everything from the Animal Shelter’s new “catio” to the City’s green energy progress.

City Manager David Morgan followed with updates on transportation in and around the city. He also highlighted the current Transportation Study on Williams Drive and is hopeful residents of Sun City and Georgetown will continue to participate in that study with feedback and suggestions. “We are looking at how we can expand capacity, get more turn lanes, get signals synchronized and more,” Morgan said.

“We plan to finish the study this year and will provide several strategies for short-, mid- and long range plans; more than ten years, and we encourage all of you to participate in the feedback and let us know how you’re using Williams Drive.”

Sun City residents will also be part of the process of strong preventive road maintenance. “Streets are our most expensive asset and they decline. Most communities don’t spend enough on preventive maintenance and spend millions to tear them up and start over. We are committed to the former and providing good roadways in Sun City.

Your input will be included as part of that process.”

He also provided more detail on the Randall’s grocery store timeline, received with an audible wave of approval. Set to break ground in February and complete construction in late 2017, the planners have added a fueling station and a restaurant with a drive-through.

One Neighborhood 9 resident was very pleased to attend. “It was wonderful and we loved it. So much information and it’s nice to see your City Mayor and Manager, the people that make it happen, so close and ‘regular’, here to share with us.”

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MAYOR’S UPDATE The Year Ahead in 2017

BY MAYOR DALE ROSS In the year after Georgetown was named the fastest-growing city in the nation, it is perhaps fitting that 2017 might be best symbolized by the hard-hat. This year you will see construction happening in our city from east to west.

Roads, parks, city facilities, schools, apartments, houses, and businesses are being built to support the 13 residents each day, on average, who are moving here. Here’s what to look for that is already underway or will be breaking ground in 2017.

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ROADS

Work continues on Southwest Bypass, the 2.4-mile long road that will provide a north-south connection from Hwy. 29 to Leander Road. The road should be open in early 2018.

The City’s segment will connect with a Williamson County segment from Leander Road to Interstate 35. When finished, the road will provide a new loop around the southwest side of the city.

The FM 1460 project also continues this year and is on track to be completed early next year, providing a key north-south route to Round Rock and the growing higher education corridor.

An extension of Mays Street also got underway last year and should be completed this fall. This new road segment will open up development opportunities south of Westinghouse Road near the Bass Pro Shop.

PARKS

The first phase of renovations to San Gabriel Park start this spring.

Look for improvements to the park entrance on Morrow Street, restorations of the natural springs along the river, and renovated picnic areas along the river. Work is funded by the voter-approved 2008 parks bond.

Phase 1 is expected to be completed in early 2018.

A complete renovation of VFW Park on Second Street is on track to be finished in April when new

softball fields should be ready for the first games. New parking areas, restrooms, concession stand, and lighting are nearly complete.

Construction on Garey Park, a 525-acre ranch on Leander Road that will become a city park, is set to start later this year. The new park will include hiking and picnic areas, an equestrian area, the Garey House event center, and other features.

When it opens in late 2018, Garey Park will be one of the largest municipal parks in the state.

CITY FACILITIES

Detailed design on the Downtown West project is nearing completion with construction to start this fall. The project along Martin Luther King Jr. Street on the west side of the downtown includes renovating the former public library to become City Hall as well as renovating the current building at 510 W. Ninth St to become the new Municipal Court and Council Chamber. Construction should be completed by the end of next year.

The city’s sixth fire station is set to begin construction later this year and should be operational by the end of next year. The station, which will be owned by Emergency Services District 8 and operated by the Georgetown Fire Medical Department, will be located near Williams Drive and FM 3405.

TRANSPORTATION

A fixed-route bus system is scheduled to begin service on four routes in August. Federal funds will help pay for new buses and bus stops on the first fixed-route transit system in Georgetown. A grant from the Georgetown Health Foundation will help fund the system’s operating costs.

Recommendations from the Williams Drive Corridor Study will be included in a report this spring, based on input from workshops and

public input meetings last fall. The primary issues identified include traffic congestion and circulation, traffic operations and safety, redevelopment and reinvestment barriers, gateway aesthetic enhancements, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

RETAIL

New retail development can be seen in a number of locations in the city, including a shopping center with a new Randall’s grocery store at Williams Drive and Jim Hogg Road. The new grocery store should open later this year. The City will be targeting new retailers this year based on the Retail Strategy and Recruitment Plan that was completed last year.

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A new Holt Cat construction equipment sales and service dealership will begin construction later this year. The facility on Airport Road near Lakeway Drive is expected to create 129 new jobs and a net benefit to the City of more than $13 million over 10 years.

RESIDENTIAL

Several new residential developments are under construction with their first homes for sale this year.

This includes the Hillwood Wolf Ranch development along Wolf Ranch Parkway and Saddle Creek, a project on Sam Houston Avenue in southeast Georgetown. Each of these major residential projects include multiple phases with more than 1,000 single-family residences as well as retail areas.

In all these ways, the City and private development are responding to the remarkable growth we’ve been experiencing. That growth is the result of many people like us who have found and embraced the city we love. Look for updates on all these projects that are helping us prepare for our future.

ASK T

H

E

CHIEF Georgetown Police Chief Wayne Nero and Assistant Chief Cory Tchida answer your questions: Is it possible and/or how soon could we get speed bumps in Sun City?

Speed bumps are speed mitigation devices that the City has always declined to install due to effectiveness issues. The major issues are as follows:

• When speed bumps are placed upon a roadway, motorists often tend to make up their “lost” time by traveling faster between the speed bumps.

• Homeowners who have speed bumps in front of their residence tend to tire quickly of the noise generated by vehicles traveling over the speed bumps.

• There are reports of increased carbon monoxide emissions in the area of speed bumps due to the constant acceleration and deceleration.

• Larger emergency vehicles tend to have issues safely traversing speed bumps.

Please send your questions to info@cityinsidertx.com with the subject “Ask the Chief” FEBRUARY 2017 | 19

THE BUCKET LIST:

Recently, Sun City residents Webster Russell (Russ) and Dee Coffeen checked a major item off their bucket lists—a 111-day trip around the world! Russ and Dee invite you to experience this adventure as they share photos, anecdotes, travel tips, destination recommendations, and maybe even a little gossip about finding love on the high seas.

Valletta, Italy’s port.

We are now on the final stretch of this bucket list item. We sailed from Venice to Valletta, to Mallorca, Cartagena, Ceuta, Funchal, Bermuda and finally, Fort Lauderdale.

As interesting as these stops were, the two most interesting in these final days were Ceuta, Spain and Funchal, Portugal.

Ceuta is a seven square-mile Spanish city located on the north

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coast of Africa that shares its shore excursion to see the area. We western border with Morocco. More stopped at the border—not to see a interesting is the fact that Ceuta is fence or a border station—but to look separated from Spain by the Strait at the mountain formation called of Gibraltar with the Rock of Gibral‘the Princess’. While we were there tar just off of Ceuta’s shore. at the border, a second excursion We had no idea that a part of bus was stopped on the Moroccan The princess and of thethe Moroccan border Spain was in Northern Africa, what side border and everyone was is really fascinating is found at the taken off the bus, along with all of border with Morocco and what hap- their belongings. They were then led pened there. As usual, we went on a to the border station and across the border. The Moroccan authorities then combed that bus with great O N E G E T AWAY ! care. One young man was found under the bus and escorted back to TRY OUR NEW the border guard shack, and another SENIOR/LITE MENU young man who would not come Includes Caesar Salad Bar, Beans and Coleslaw, out was found hanging on under and choice of fries, rice or mashed potatoes. the bus. They eventually got him out and led him off to the border shack, 2 Fried or Grilled Catfish Strips $9.99 as well.

2 Jumbo Fried Shrimp $9.99 The border guards would not re1/2 Portion Grilled Chicken $8.99 lease the bus, so another bus had to 2 Chicken Tenders $8.99 be called. Four hours later, the secPopcorn Shrimp $8.99 ond bus returned to the ship. On a 1/2 Portion Meatloaf w/Creole Sauce $8.99 side note, this is one of the benefits of taking cruise-sponsored excurAvailable Nights and Weekends sions; if an excursion is delayed for any reason, the ship will wait.

Valletta, Italy's port

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The Rock of Gibraltar viewed from Ceuta

Dee and Russ at Ceuta.

One of our final stops was Funchal, Portugal. Built with trade and wine, it is a beautiful port with us at Ceuta history that goes back over 500 years. Additionally, at that port there are three distinctive thermal zones, ranging from costal to semi tropical to cool. We experienced this on a gorgeous drive and a wonderful visit.

Our final stop was in Hamilton, Bermuda. I had not seen Hamilton for 58 years. Although it had changed with the times, it was still a uniquely British territory and the best of British culture can be seen in downtown Hamilton and the Royal Navy Dock Yard.

Next month will be our final scribblings on this voyage, and we will share with you some of the things we learned and the people we met on this wonderful adventure. We will also share a preview of our next journey!

– may very well cause these free preventive services to be eliminated in the future. But in the meantime, here’s how it works.

How Medicare Covers Preventive Health Services by jim miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

Does Medicare cover 100 per-

cent of all preventive health care

screenings? I’m due to get a colo-

noscopy and a few other tests, but I want to find out if I’ll have to pay anything before I proceed.

New to Medicare Dear New,

Medicare currently covers a wide array of free preventive and screening services to help you stay healthy, but not all services are completely covered.

You also need to be aware that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) – which helps financially support Medicare

free preventive services

Currently, most of Medicare’s preventive services are available to all Part B beneficiaries for free, with no copays or deductibles, as long as you meet basic eligibility standards. Mammograms; colonoscopies; shots against flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B; screenings for diabetes, depression, and heart conditions; and counseling to combat obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking are just some of Medicare’s lengthy list of covered services. But to get these services for free, you need to go to a doctor who accepts Medicare “on assignment,” which means he or she has agreed to accept the Medicare approved rate as full payment.

Also, the tests are free only if they’re used at specified intervals.

For example, prostate cancer PSA tests, once every 12 months for men over 50; or colonoscopy, once every 10 years, or every two years if you’re at high risk.

Medicare also offers a free “Welcome to Medicare” exam with your doctor in your first year, along with annual wellness visits thereafter. But don’t confuse these with full physical examinations. These are pre-

vention-focused visits that provide only an overview of your health and medical risk factors and serve as a baseline for future care.

For a complete list of services along with their eligibility requirements, visit Medicare.gov and click on the “What Medicare Covers” tab at the top of the page, followed by “Preventive & screening services.” hidden costs

You also need to know that while the previously listed Medicare services are completely free, you can be charged for certain diagnostic services or additional tests or procedures related to the preventive service. For example, if your doctor finds and removes a polyp during your preventive care colonoscopy screening, the removal of the polyp is considered diagnostic and you will likely be charged for it. Or, if during your annual wellness visit, your doctor needs to investigate or to treat a new or existing problem, you will probably be charged here too.

You may also have to pay a facility fee depending on where you receive the service. Certain hospitals, for example, will often charge separate facilities fees when you are receiving a preventive service.

And, you can also be charged for a doctor’s visit if you meet with a physician before or after the service.

To eliminate billing surprises, talk to your doctor before any preventive service procedure to find out if you may be subject to a charge and what it would be. cost sharing services

Medicare also offers several other preventive services that require some out-of-pocket cost sharing.

With these tests, you’ll have to pay 20 percent of the cost of the service, after you’ve met your $183 Part B yearly deductible. The services that fall under this category include glaucoma screenings, diabetes self-management trainings, barium enemas to detect colon cancer, and digital rectal exams to detect prostate cancer. medicare advantage members

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plans are also required to cover the same free preventive services as original Medicare as long as you see in-network providers. If you see providers that are not in your plan’s network, charges will typically apply.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Jim Miller is the creator of Savvy Senior, a syndicated information column for older Americans and their families that is published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jim is also a regular contributor on NBC’s “Today” show and KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City,and is the author of The Savvy Senior, The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens, (Hyperion).

Jim is frequently quoted in articles about issues affecting senior citizens and has been featured in numerous high profile publications, including Time magazine, USA Today and The New York Times. In addition, he has made multiple appearances on CNBC, CNN, Retirement Living Television and national public television.

FEBRUARY 2017 | 21

HEALTH & WELLNESS Heart Disease Prevention: Know Your Numbers

By Michael Henderson, M.D. It’s never too late to start making healthy changes and taking better care of your heart. Heart disease is a major threat to seniors, and it is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

That’s why it is so important to reduce your risk factors and know the important indicators of your health. “Knowing your numbers” and family history can lead to a longer, healthier life.

What are the key indicators for heart health?

Medical conditions strongly correlated with heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being overweight.

As such, it is important to know the following definitions: • Blood pressure – the force of blood against the arteries when the heart beats and rests • Cholesterol – a fat-like substance

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that is found in all cells of the body • Glucose levels – sugar circulating in the blood as the body’s main source of energy • Body mass index (BMI) – the measurement of body fat based on weight and height

Also, it is equally as important that you know your family history and risk of hereditary diseases.

You should share this information with your healthcare providers to evaluate risks and determine steps toward prevention.

What are the target numbers for a healthy heart?

• While a typical blood pressure is 120/80, most experts recommend a blood pressure of 140/90 or less for people 60-79, and a pressure of less than 150/90 for people 80 and older. Patients with diabetes or kidney disease may need more specialized blood pressure goals.

• Your total cholesterol is made up of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. The goal is to increase your good cholesterol while decreasing your bad cholesterol.

Most experts recommend HDL greater than 40 for men and 50 for women. LDL goals vary based on age and other medical conditions. You should meet with your doctor to calculate your LDL goal.

• A BMI range of 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy.

• A normal blood sugar level is less than 100 mg/dL after fasting, and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. Your doctor may also measure your A1C level, which is

your average blood glucose for the past three months. An A1C below 5.7 percent is considered normal.

Most of these numbers are tested during annual checkups, so it’s important to “know your numbers” and understand what they mean.

What can you do to reduce the risk of heart disease?

People can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease by taking the following steps: • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products.

• Exercise at a moderate intensity level at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This means any activity that increases your heart rate 50-60 percent higher than your resting heart rate.

• Quit smoking and limit alcohol.

• Manage stress by getting enough sleep, taking time for yourself, and using meditation or calming techniques.

• Visit a physician regularly for annual health checks and determine high-risk medical conditions.

Disease prevention is a numbers game that can be controlled. Take steps to be aware and accountable.

“Knowing your numbers”—and how they compare to healthy, normal levels—is a powerful way to take charge of your health.

Michael Henderson, M.D., is a board certified cardiologist who practices at Austin Heart and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital.

By John W. Bickle, Attorney at Law 3. What should I do if someone takes my credit card without my permission and charges on it?

Welcome to another in my series of articles regarding matters involving Texas and Federal law which I hope will be interesting and useful to you. As before, I’ll continue to quote liberally from and use the format which was inspired by the Elder Law Handbook of the Tarrant County Bar Association. However, remember this is information and not legal advice. For legal advice, ask your lawyer.

Let’s take a look at some other aspects of CONSUMER PROTECTION.

1. What information can you get if you are denied credit?

Under the Fair Credit Act, the business that denies you credit is required to give you an explanation of the reason for the denial. Also, remember that under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, you may not be denied credit on the basis of gender, marital status , race or age.

2. What should I do if I am disputing a credit card charge?

Notify the credit card company that you are disputing the debt. Then refuse to pay the disputed portion of your card balance if the dispute involves more than $50 dollars and you can prove that you have made a good faith effort to get the disputed resolved. The issuing bank may not exercise its common law right of set-off against your account for payment of the disputed amount.

Contact the credit card company immediately and request that they suspend all charges to that card until further notice. File a police report to document your response and describe the circumstances under which your card was misplaced, lost or stolen.

4. How can I protect myself against someone using my credit?

Periodically check your credit report at the three major credit reporting companies. This will reveal whether someone has used your identity information for fraudulent purposes. If you do not check your credit report from time to time, fraudulent use of your identification information may continue over time and make correcting your credit report may difficult. You can obtain copies of your credit reports by calling the following credit reporting agencies: Experian 888-397-3742; Trans Union 855-6813196; and Equifax 800-685-1111.

• Falsely accuse you of fraud or other crimes.

• Threaten to have you arrested, or threaten repossession or other seizure of your property without proper court proceedings.

• Use the telephone to harass you by calling anonymously or making repeated or continuous calls.

• Make collect telephone calls without disclosing the true name of the caller before the charges are accepted.

In addition, you can try to stop harassing telephone calls by sending a cease and desist letter by certified mail to the creditor, or creditor’s agent, telling F R E E

D E L I V E R Y

• Threaten violence or other criminal acts.

• Use profane or obscene language.

John W. Bickle resides in Sun City, is licensed to practice law in Texas and continues in practice today as a member of the Williamson County bar. He can be reached by phone at (512) 868-8593 or by email at jbbickle@msn.com T O

S U N

C I T Y

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5. What can I do if a creditor is harassing me?

The Texas Debt Collection Act and the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act limit the number of times and the manner in which a creditor, or the creditor’s representative, such as a collection agency, may contact you regarding payment of a debt. If the creditor’s agent violates these laws, you may be entitled to statutory damages. Under these laws, it is illegal for any creditor, or its agents, to:

them to stop calling you and to only contact you by mail in the future.

I’ll be back next month with more questions and, hopefully, more answers.

Remember, we’re all in this together and the more information you have the better questions you can ask your lawyer and the better decisions you will make.

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