KIDS

by Ann Marie Kennon photos courtesy Vanessa Schrauner

Although she plans to bake only as a hobby, Kylie got her first taste of entrepreneurship this past December when she was contracted to bake 300 macarons for Fidelis Publishing Group to distribute as holiday gifts to their customers. "This was a bigger job than she's ever attempted and it was a great opportunity and learning experience, especially at her age," observed Kylie's mom and Jarrell City Manager, Vanessa Shrauner. Kylie's macarons received rave reviews from recipients who were positive they were made by a professional chef.

Renaissance Girl

Though she's only in 7th grade, this Jarrell chef and baker has been cooking up great things for six years. As a young child, Kylie was inspired by the great taste of her grandmother's cinnamon rolls. "I saw gramma just putting things in a bowl and then it came out cinnamon rolls. I thought, 'I need to learn how to do that!'"

Despite one melted plastic baking sheet (from a playset), Kylie learned quickly as grandma taught her and allowed her to help make pies, rolls, biscuits, and more from scratch. "I still help her cook and bake and we try recipes out on each other. When I do my own creations, I like to give away the results because I just like the cooking and I can't eat it all. In our family, food is one way we show love." She gets many requests from family for special recipes, particularly around the holidays.

Kylie really enjoys making bread, particularly from the old recipes she's received from her grandmother. She also makes and modifies recipes from three cookbooks handed down from her great-grandmother, some of which are handwritten.

She is known to many in Jarrell for her excellent macarons, which require expert-level skills, but she says being in the kitchen relaxes her and she can't think of a better way to express herself. Mom Vanessa says her mother has the great "feel" of a southern cook but Kylie loves the exact science and precision of baking, which is one reason her macarons are so good.

Outside the home, Kylie is a straight-A student and participates in band, theater, and basketball at Jarrell

Middle School. If she ever has spare time, she is still working with her hands on embroidery and making earrings.

While still young, she thinks she would enjoy a career as an English or History teacher, or maybe a band director someday.

Vanessa says, "I believe kids should do something that means something to them and Kylie chooses to do everything... and is good at doing them."

Kylie admits, "The kitchen is my favorite thing. It makes other people happy and I love that they appreciate the thought and the effort."

Williamson County Vaccine News

Williamson County has begun providing COVID vaccine to all those who wish to have it. Working diligently with state and private sector partners, County Judge Bill Gravell is committed to acquiring adequate doses of the vaccine to deliver to our most vulnerable populations as quickly as possible.

As of January 20, 15,000 doses have been administered; a number which will justify to the State of Texas that Williamson County is registering quickly and waiting for vaccines, which will move them to send more.

The walk-in site, at the Sun City ballroom, will be in operation as the vaccines are made available. Judge Gravell stresses that this clinic is not just for Sun City; all residents of Williamson County are eligible.

Judge Gravell says, “We pushed hard because our county has the largest number of veterans in Texas, and the 6th largest in the nation. It is incumbent upon us to care for seniors and those who served our nation.”

Last month, the County reported all of Group 1A; local hospitals and healthcare systems, EMS personnel, and 2,020 seniors in 14 long-term care facilities or nursing homes received the vaccine.

Group 1B includes all individuals 16 years and older with at least one chronic health concern; e.g., cancer, heart disease, sickle-cell, COPD, diabetes, obesity, and others. The County estimates there are 120,000 residents who qualify for Group 1B, and the Judge expects distribution to take about three months.

He added, “From the beginning I have stated our seniors are our most valuable population, and they are the group of people who have suffered the greatest loss of life in our county and country. That is why we are using every resource available to protect them.”

Medical personnel are eager to deliver shots and enter data, real-time, into the state database. Additionally, the Judge says, as availability expands, there will be more than 100 locations county-wide, and the plan also includes a mobile vaccination van to address homebound elderly and rural populations.

Most Texas counties, including Williamson County are using the Moderna vaccine. Judge Gravell says. “It will take some time to take care of our seniors first, and there is not currently an unlimited supply. It is important to note, also, that getting the vaccine is entirely voluntary, but we will ensure everyone in Williamson County who wants it will be able to get it.”

Visit Wilco.org for news and dates; register at FamilyHospitalSystems.com

Judge Gravell with Diane Snyder, who received her first dose of the vaccine.