Seguin Today: December, 2021

DECEMBER 2021, Vol 1 l Iss. 11

LOCAL GIFT LOOK BOOK Find gifts for everyone on Santa’s list without leaving Guadalupe County to shop

Hometown

Holidays KEEPING IT LOCAL

This Christmas Season!

PLUS!

Special columns from local leaders you know!

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THIS ISSUE

7 DECEMBER 2021, Volume 1 l Issue 11

‘Twas the month of Christmas, and all through Seguin, people were stirring, unlike in quarantine. The pickups were packed by volunteers with care in hopes that Blue Santa soon would be there.

Children were covered in fluffy white ‘snow’ while parents laughed, sipping their hot cocoa. When out in downtown, there arose such a clatter!

Folks sprang from their homes to see what was the matter!

With flashes of light and bountiful spirit, bands marched through downtown, and everyone could hear it! Horses went clopping on down the road, joined by angels who smiled while by trucks, they were towed.

Now Grinch! Now Jeepers! Now Fair Queens in light! Bring us a vision of joy in darkness of night!

To the top of the courthouse, lights cascaded red and green, signaling the start of Christmas with lines at Burnt Bean!

Down the street came Santa and Mrs. Claus, waving at bystanders to thunderous applause. But I heard him exclaim, ere he rode down Court Street, “Merry Christmas, Seguin, you’re always a treat!”

Shopping local can mean stretching dollars across multiple local stores. Find out how the ripple effect is impacting the community at large!

Crafting space to grown in Seguin with the Downtown Business Alliance!

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Kick off your new year right with these 3 tips from Tess in this month’s Welcome to Pecantown.

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A Very Merry

Happy Holidays Ya’ll!

facebook.com/KWEDradio kwed.seguindailynews @kwed

COVERSHOT Christmas isn’t complete without a stunning tree and Father Christmas in downtown has an assortment to inspire your imagination. According to store owners, this country design has been the shopper favorite this holiday season.

Photo by Lizz Daniels

Lookbook

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Kick off your Holiday shopping with these local gift ideas and columns from local leaders!

STAFF GENERAL MANAGER Darren Dunn CREATIVE EDITOR Lizz Daniels WRITERS Cindy Aguirre-Herrera, Mike McBride, Lizz Daniels, Tess Coody-Anders PHOTOGRAPHER Jarred Kindles

SALES MANAGER Nick Spence ADVERTISING Laurie Cheatham, Linda Duncan, Mary Jane Windle OFFICE MANAGER Priscilda Rodriguez

Seguin Today is published by KWED, Seguin Daily News www.seguintoday.com

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RippleEffect

Shopping Local can mean stretching the dollar across multiple hometown businesses Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera Photos by Lizz Daniels

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hop Local, Shop Seguin is more than just a slogan or a saying, it’s a ripple effect. When spent locally, those dollars in the register are often multiplied against the ripple’s waves and at the end, contribute to Seguin’s bottom line – a bottom line that determines the quality of life that we all have come to know and enjoy here in Seguin.

So exactly, what does it all mean? How much money stays local, and how is this ripple effect reported?

Better identifying this ripple effect and all its influences is Josh Schneuker, the executive director of the Seguin Economic Development Corporation. Schneuker says not only is more money kept in local coffers, but a domino effect begins to also trend for some other unsuspecting businesses.

“We preach shopping local from a consumer standpoint, but businesses locally are more likely I guess shop local with other support operations like banks and things like that and that helps to create an additional effect of keeping that money in our local economy and that goes to creating higher paying jobs. It goes to helping our neighbors grow, helping create a lot of positive momentum for areas that we want to see continued investment in like downtown Seguin so it’s not just about supporting the local business. When you are making that purchase at a Serenity Boutique or at a Gift & Gourmet, you are also making that investment in downtown Seguin. You are making that investment in the city of Seguin and that’s going to go a long way to creating additional positive impacts and additional investments within our local economy,” said Schneuker.

Schneuker says on top of Shopping Local is Shopping Small.

This is where they can identify an even far more reaching ripple effect.

“You’re supporting your fellow community member, your neighbor and like I said earlier, local businesses are more likely to use local vendors and things like that for their business support, for their business operations or to source their products things like that so when you are spending that money, maybe at Gift & Gourmet, there’s kind of a trick down effect where it’s not only going to support Gift & Gourmet but it might go to support somebody locally maybe it’s with Gretchen Bee Ranch and maybe there’s honey there or something like that or maybe another product like coffee or something along those lines or pecans – the products that might

be sold at a local store are going to be unique to the community and when you are buying that product, is it not only impacting that one small business that you are making the purchase at but the other small businesses that have some sort of play in the operation of that local business here in Seguin,” said Schneuker.

Schneuker says the domino effect of stretching that dollar locally can also be seen as in the example of Texas Monthly’s Top 4 Best BBQ Joint in the state.

In this particular case, that ripple effect is identified in simply watching customers go from business to business.

“I would also encourage folks outside of Seguin to shop in Seguin because when they are spending their money here, it is going to benefit the city as well. I kind of have started thinking about I guess the Burnt Bean Effect – is one thing that I have started noticing. You might have somebody that comes in from Austin and San Antonio to have lunch at Burnt Bean on a Saturday, and what we are starting to see now is those folks are having lunch and then they might want to go do some shopping around the downtown square or they might want to grab a beer at Seguin Brewing, it’s really been beneficial especially with these kind of destination type places. It’s making a huge kind of impact not only with what we are seeing with Burnt Bean but it’s also having an impact on the local businesses as well throughout Seguin seeing that kind of effect that a business like that can have on our community,” said Schneuker.

Schneuker says the slogan to Shop Local, Shop Seguin is a true investment in the community. He says there is an actual dollar value every time you spend your dollars in town.

“In the months of November and December, we average about $600,000 to $750,000 in sales tax collection within the city and that money is basically used and reinvested in the community. So, we can take that sales tax money and we can invest it in parks and roads and infrastructure and all these things that you know we as a growing community need to definitely address so the more money that is spent here locally especially in high sales tax collection months like November and December during the holiday season, it is very important for us as a community to make sure that that money is being spent here locally so we can continue to make those investments into making Seguin an even better place,” said Schneuker.

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Describing it as adding up like pennies – Schneuker says that twomonth total of $750,000 are actual individual dollars – dollars that go to support our neighbors, friends and overall community.

“Going back to that statistics for every $100 you spend at a locally owned business, the $68 that stays in a local community as compared to when you are doing it at the national chain, that number is much less and that reason is because the national chain – usually, it might be outside of Seguin where we are not directly getting maybe that direct sales tax infusion – when you are shopping here local, as a city collecting that local sales tax that we can then go invest in other areas to better our community. But when you are also shopping at that local business, it is more likely that you are going to have folks that are here locally as well that are living in Seguin that are going to be continuously making that investment. They are going to be paid their wages and they are going to go shop somewhere else in the local community. So, it’s helping to ensure that the money that is being spent in Seguin can stay in Seguin with folks that are not only working there but in other areas like tax dollar collections and things like that,” said Schneuker.

The campaign to Shop Local is of course very important especially during this time of year. He says it’s a crucial time for adding up those numbers.

“We do see as a city, I think it’s pretty obvious, we see some of our higher sales tax collections in the months of November and December and you can definitely see the kind of changes after the holiday season so you can definitely see the increase in consumer spending and I think we do a pretty

good job of shopping local already but I think there are always opportunities to continue to grow that,” said Schneuker.

More importantly, all areas of the city and community get to enjoy their slice of the pie when the majority of money is kept local. He says even for his office, this local money is vital.

“Our primary funding source is actually that quarter cent sales tax that is collected in the city so for us, shopping local is a direct impact on our bottom line because it’s our primary revenue source for the EDC so I guess we set budgeted revenues each year when we are working on our budget and I can tell you that especially the past two years, the sales tax collections in the city have noticeably picked up quite a bit. That is a very encouraging sign. I would say that we’re pretty slow and had stagnant growth definitely pre-COVID but it seems like 2020 and now through 2021, our sales tax numbers are really growing a very nice pace and I think that’s kind of an indication that we are seeing more folks in the community and more folks shopping here locally and we as the EDC can attest to that. We can look at our numbers every month in terms of what we are bringing and in terms of that sales tax revenue so that shopping local and making sure that money stays in our local economy, that’s a big thing for us because it funds our efforts as an economic development corporation,” said Schneuker.

Schneuker says although shopping local might sound like a numbers game, in the end, it’s a reinvestment in the community. He says it’s keeping money where it belongs and that’s right here in our community. •

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Grow Crafting a space to

with the Downtown Business Alliance Story and Photos by Lizz Daniels

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aughter filled the air as cocoa flowed, filling mugs during this year’s downtown Sip ‘n Stroll event. It’s a local Holiday staple, and for many, it is the official kickoff of their Christmas season.

The event was launched 11 years ago by the Seguin Downtown Business Alliance, who has helped keep the tradition going all these years later. The DBA, much like the Sip ‘n Stroll, began small but has grown over time.

DBA President Dana Hall owns the downtown crafting studio, You’re So Crafty.

“That was our event,” said Hall. “It was really just formed to help our own investments in opening a downtown retail store. And then it just kind of –– there were only five of us, and you know how that goes. So we continued to do Sip ‘n Stroll with the support of Kyle (Kramm) and the Mainstreet department, they’ve helped keep it alive.”

The downtown area in Seguin is expanding, despite the hardships caused by the pandemic. You’re So Crafty has been in its current location for the past six years.

“It’s the most retail we’ve had downtown in a long time,” said Hall. “There have been a couple of large investors. Mary Reiley, when she bought her building, it sort of sparked a little something.”

Gift & Gourment, owned by Reiley, has

become a downtown staple carrying local wares and wildly popular brands like Kendra Scott. But when new businesses with unique aesthetics come in, like Culture (a downtown skate and clothing shop), the area continues to expand local commerce options.

Part of the Downtown Business Alliance’s purpose is to help manage this growth in a way that is beneficial to them and the shoppers, no matter if they are tourists or locals.

“We can make things happen a lot faster than government can,” said Hall. “Kyle’s department is amazing in supporting downtown, but he is limited to the historic segment of downtown. He’s funded by the Texas Historic Commission. Keepers is outside of the historic downtown, Serenity Boutique is not inside downtown, but they’re DBA members.

So we work in conjunction with Mainstreet, but we are a private association. There are so many new people in town, and it was like we got to get them and we need our own local residents to understand that we’re down here.”

To achieve this, they launched a now-familiar downtown event, Third Thursdays, where shops stay open late to allow those community members that work during regular business hours a time to go shopping in the places they know and love.

The DBA’s current focus is to help fill out Austin Street so that once shoppers make their rounds downtown, they can continue the strolling shopping experience all while seeing more of Seguin. Part of this initiative is to introduce Wayfinding, or something similar, much like you would find in a shopping mall.

“People aren’t going to walk down there if they don’t know what’s down there,” said Hall.

“It’s a very walkable downtown, but if you don’t know what’s down there you might not go. And so Kyle’s like ‘yeah, we’ve been talking about that,’ and I was like can we help pay for that? If it’s not in your city budget, can we help pay for it –– do a fundraiser or some sort of awareness campaign?”

While these plans have yet to come to fruition, Hall is excited about the positive direction downtown is heading because it helps her shop grow.

You’re So Crafty is a labor of love but allows her to share her creativity with the Seguin community. Despite the hardship of opening a business, the people she meets make it all worthwhile.

“I was too stubborn to give up,” said Hall.

“I really like the people and helping them do something they didn’t think they could do. And they’re just adorable, kids are adorable. But that makes it all worthwhile, just meeting people. I really enjoy telling people about Seguin. “ You’re So Crafty has a comfortable, familiar feel to it, and maybe that is because it has a heart that beats for Seguin. They offer a wide variety of crafting-related supplies and have lots of space in the back for customers of all ages to create their projects in store with supplies (and help) at hand.

“All of it is walk-in crafting; you can come in anytime and do the things,” said Hall. “You just show up –– canvas, pottery, mosaics, glass –– you just come and bring your snack, and drinks and stuff and hang out.”

During COVID, You’re So Crafty had to put their creative thinking skills to the test to find ways to cater to clients when meeting in person wasn’t possible. They began curbside, take-home service to solve the problem, which has inspired their Christmas-themed takehome kits.

“We embellished the kits, and put candy, and then we also started carrying a line called Spice Box –– it comes with a sketch pad, plus markers, brushes and paint. And it tells you how to draw the dinosaur.”

The Guadalupe County area continues to grow, which means new opportunities for local businesses, translating to good things for local shoppers. With downtown shops of every variety, Seguin continues to establish its presence in the wider Texas area, building itself up by banding together. •

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Local SHOPPING at its

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Turn the page for local gift ideas plus special columns from local business leaders!

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Crazy socks, Southern Good (top) and Culture (bottom), prices vary

Circle E Candles, Soechting Motors, $15-$75

Goodr Sunglasses, The Shop at Design Associates Photo courtesy Facebook

Eclectic Family Farm Goat Milk Soap Set, Keepers Photo courtesy Facebook

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Special by Louis R. Ramirez, Sr.

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hop Local Shop Seguin” is a positive promotional effort which originated with the Seguin Guadalupe County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2008. The Hispanic Chamber’s original goal was to remind shoppers to do their shopping in Seguin in order to increase Christmas sales in the small businesses located throughout Seguin and Guadalupe County. To promote the event, the Hispanic Chamber printed large posters with the “Shop Local Shop Seguin” slogan and gave them to small business owners and chamber members to display in their stores. The Hispanic Chamber also coined the phrase, “Keep the Green in Seguin.” The event became a popular marketing project in which the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, Seguin Main Street, and the Seguin Chamber of Commerce participates. This assembly of civic organizations encourages shopping locally, not only for the holiday season, but throughout the year to assist the small business community to realize increased annual sales.

Why not shop local? Small and larger businesses and corporations exist throughout Seguin and Guadalupe County. One of the many advantages of shopping locally is not having to drive to distant shopping malls, fighting traffic, highway construction, and crowds of shoppers. A greater percentage of the dollars a shopper spends with local businesses will circulate and stay within the community. Local businesses provide unique goods and services. They provide employment opportunities to local citizens. They get involved in and contribute to community events.

They pay taxes to the City of Seguin and Guadalupe County which helps to fund parks, roads, and other services. They remember your name when you shop regularly, and they really appreciate your business! The Hispanic Chamber believes that the publicity generated by the “Shop Local Shop Seguin” campaign results in upward sales for the small business community during the Christmas holidays and throughout the year.

During the last three years, the Hispanic Chamber has confronted and overcome many challenges to keep our doors open and to control expenditures. Because of Covid 19 mandates on congregating, we were not able to hold our major fund-raising events. We cancelled Fiestas Patrias, Fiestas Juan Seguin, the annual awards banquet and our power luncheon, which recognizes leaders and decision makers. These cancellations affected our bottom line, so we recognize and empathize with local businesses facing similar challenges. To continue operations and raise funds, the Hispanic Chamber held a barbecue plate sale in October, and we also partnered with LULAC to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. During the shutdown period, the Hispanic Chamber met on-line and over the phone, and we cut excessive expenditures. Board directors also met in the chamber office while maintaining social distance and wearing masks to keep the organization active as much as possible. At this time, the Hispanic Chamber is outreaching and providing information to small minority-owned businesses which are not aware of the SBA loans and grants available to them during the Covid 19 shutdown.

The Chamber is also disseminating information to minority-owned small businesses that are unaware, or do not understand the process involved, in applying for City of Seguin and other grants. Specific grants allow eligible applicants to repair buildings, purchase essential equipment and repair their parking lots if necessary. Knowledgeable board members personally assist individuals to complete the appropriate application for the grant for which they qualify. The Hispanic Chamber will be hosting its Annual Awards Banquet in February of 2022.

The Seguin Guadalupe County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce office is located at 971 West Court Street and is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number is 830-372-3151. •

Can’t get enough of your local team? Show your support with these acrylic tree ornaments available at Gift & Gourmet for $10.99.

Special by Lea Phelps

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mall town shopping, or Shopping local as we prefer to say, is the best way to support your friends and neighbors doing business here in Seguin.

The owners of our locally owned stores face the same daily issues we face. They have been hit hardest in the last almost two years. Some have had to close their doors. Others have lost employees. Our local retail owners are our friends and neighbors. It is so important for us to sup-

port these “mom and pop” shops. The dollars spent here, the taxes paid here stay in Seguin. Every locally owned store here in Seguin has unique, sometimes one of a kind, merchandise. There’s no waiting for shipments to arrive at loading docks to be trucked to warehouses for distribution.

From frames to jewelry to handmade gifts from the local craft store to unique clothing and one of a kind earrings....yes! Seguin has it! This Holiday Season remember Shop Local, Shop Small! •

Jane Marie Christmas Tree Earrings, $16.99, Southern Good

Father Christmas is ready for the Holidays all year round. Check out their assorment of Christmas decor and gift items, which include unique globes and nativity scene handcrafted from olive wood in Bethlehem, Israel.

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Believer t-shirt, Southern Good

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Special by Kyle Kramm

he bustle of the holiday season is in full force as everyone counts down to Christmas Day, which means hunting for that perfect gift for family and friends. Seguin offers a variety of retail shops and restaurants to explore and find those ideal presents. These small businesses are the backbone of Seguin’s economy – creating jobs and wealth for their employees while investing their profits back into their business and community.

Shopping local helps your community, your neighbor, and yourself.

Shopping with a local, small, independent business keeps $68 for every $100 spent in the local economy, versus $43 when spent at a national retailer and even less when spent online. That is money invested in Seguin’s infrastructure, parks, police and fire, and quality of life improvements. Shopping at a local business is helping your neighbor’s dream come true and supporting their family, versus going to shareholders across the country. And finally, you benefit by shopping local by lessening the distance you travel, meaning a savings on gas.

Shopping local doesn’t stop with just our local boutiques and retail shops. When you start to think outside the box, there are lots of small businesses you can support outside the traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.

Here are a few quick ideas: Commission a Piece of Art – Seguin is filled with talented artists in all sorts of mediums from watercolors and clay to fiber and pencils. Need help finding a local artist? The Seguin Art League’s web site, www.SeguinArtLeague.com, lists their members with websites and contact information.

A Day of Pampering – Have that special someone who always is taking care of others but never themselves? Provide them a day of pampering with a gift certificate for a session with esthetician Karly Noyola at Kueen Esthetique. Or book them a tooth whitening session with the Whitening Lounge on River Street. Perhaps a massage is more up their alley – the Hair Haus has a variety of massage options to consider.

A Staycation – Book your friends and family a night away in downtown Seguin. The Seguin Travel Company, located in downtown Seguin, offers ten loft apartments in the downtown district for overnight stays. Or if fright is their thing, book them a stay at the Magnolia Hotel with all the ghost hunting equipment. Make it a full get away package with gift certificates to downtown restaurants and stores.

Donate in Honor – Perhaps you are trying to find a gift for that person who has everything – consider making a donation to a Seguin nonprofit in their honor. Are they passionate about the arts – donate to Seguin Art League or Teatro de Artes. Do they love animals? Donate to Waggin Tailz or Animal Rescue Foundation. There is no shortage of quality nonprofits that are all working to improve the quality of life in Seguin.

Find the Makers – In a time of uncertain shipping, now is the time to look for our local makers, like Gretchen Bee Ranch. Gretchen Bee Ranch has a variety of honeys and candles all produced from local bees. Other local Seguin makers include Noni’s Natural Soaps, a producer of natural soaps and body care products; Sassy Mae Creations, a producer of car aromies; Designer Custom Leather, a producer of purses, jewelry, and more; and E Norman Shoemaker, a bespoke shoemaker. All these makers live in Seguin – connect with them via their social media channels.

So, remember, shopping local means so much more than supporting our brick-and-mortar retailers. It’s the personal service providers, the local art community, the lodging facilities, the local makers, and nonprofit organizations. A thriving Seguin means a strong mixture of businesses backed with the support of their neighbors.

This holiday season and all year long, shop local, shop small, 22 shop Seguin. •

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DECEMBER

Events and special promotions happening locally this month!

To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com

December 2021 5

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The Country Church Attic Toy Store Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9am to 2pm.

Available to low income parents residing Guadalupe County.

Eligibility must be proven. Parents select toys for each child!

For more information call 830-305-2610

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19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 HOLIDAYS 24th - Christmas Eve 25th - Christmas Day 31st - New Years Eve

Featured Events

December 16 Chamber Mixer

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce will have its Mixer from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by Third Thursday Christmas shopping, Thursday, Dec. 16 at the Chamber office, located at 116 N. Camp St. in Seguin.

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Dec. 11

Living Drive-Thru Nativity

Dance at the Silver Center’s Crystal Chandelier Ballroom

No Child Left Behind Toy Drive

The Faith Lutheran Church is hosting a free Living Drive-Thru Nativity that will feature several community churches and their youth groups from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11 on the east side of Faith Lutheran Church. There will be seven scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. Each will include scripture readings and live performers.

There will be a dance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 at the Silver Center’s Crystal Chandelier Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 pm with music provided by Freddy Cruz and the Noble Outlaws. Presale tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. For reservations or more information call 830-303-6612.

The Precious Life Services is now accepting New Toy donations for children 1 through 17 years of age, through Saturday, Dec. 11. at the Woodforest Bank located in Walmart off Hwy. 123 Bypass in Seguin. Donations may also be made by calling 830-372-5980 or visiting www. preciouslifecrusadeteensuicideprevention.org.

Dec. 31 Dec. 17

Dec. 12 Seeking 42 Players There is a group looking for 42 players from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays at Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, located at 206 N. Travis St. in Seguin. For more information call Alton at 830-433 1193 or call or text Craig at 210-846-5369.

Good Time Polka & Waltz Club Christmas Festival of Lights The Silver Center will have a free Christmas Dance The Good Time Polka & Waltz Club Dance will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Elks Lodge, located at 353 Seguin St. in New Braunfels. Music will be provided by The Travelers Orchestra. For more information call 210-566-5864 or 210-800-3625.

Festival of Lights from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 at 510 E. Court St. in Seguin. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance to visit with all children and those who are just “young at heart.” There will be wassail and cocoa for all.

New Year’s Eve Dance at the Silver Center’s Crystal Chandelier Ballroom

The Silver Center will have a New Year’s Eve Dance in its Crystal Chandelier Ballroom featuring Paul Sanchez and Wrangler Country at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at 510 E. Court St. in Seguin.

The Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 pre-sale or $25 the day of the event. Ring in the New Year with black-eyed peas and ham served with cornbread and a complimentary glass of champagne. To purchase tickets, call 830-303-6612.

Kay, Bubba & the Staff Wishing You Merry Christmas!

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Welcome to Pecan Town

Three Boxes to Unwrap for a Better

NEW YEAR! Column by Tess Coody-Anders Photos by Lizz Daniels

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s we lower the curtain on 2021, many of us need a fresh start more than ever. Last year – with all its disruptions, losses and disappointments – made it abundantly clear that tomorrow isn’t promised. So rather than approach 2022 with an erstwhile resolution or two, now is the time to take stock and proceed with intention to shape our lives and our community.

Just as downtown Seguin is moving through a visioning process, I’m imagining what I want my own future to be. In both cases, getting there won’t happen without making some hard choices.

Harvard Business School professor Vijay Govindarajan offers an approach that we can use at home as well as work. His book,

“The Three Box Solution,” is based on the Hindu principles of balanced action: Vishnu, the preserver; Shiva, the destroyer; and Brahma, the creator. In Hindu scripture, no one of these is more important than the other. “It’s only through balanced action that humanity as we know it can be sustained,” he says.

This means reprioritizing how we spend our time, energy and resources to support a solid foundation for today (Box 1 work), even as we create the headroom to work toward the future (Box 3 work). Importantly, this means we have to let go of people, work, behaviors, processes that aren’t helping us do either (Box 2 work):

Another great way to start your year off right is by donating to those in need this Holiday season. Pictured, community members came out on December 3 to help with the KWED Holiday Food & Toy Drive. Proceeds from the event were donated to Blue Santa and the Christian Cupboad, which are still accepting donations in town.

Box 1: Manage the Present In this box, we identify all the things we must keep doing to live our best lives, or to maintain peak performance. This is where we identify what it takes to keep the trains on the track. These efforts need resources - time, energy, money, and we should align those resources accordingly. Our Box 1 work requires steady focus and attention.

Box 2: Forget The Past This is the hardest box to fill. This is where you place people, habits, practices, businesses that aren’t helping you perform at peak happiness or success, and/or won’t help you get to the future you imagine. Letting go and stopping are the hardest things for us to do personally or professionally, but we have to do this to create time and resources for Box 3 work - which is where we create and innovate. Our Box 2 work takes the courage to say no.

Box 3: Imagine The Future With the time and resources we freed up in Box 2, we can focus on those new activities, new ventures, new learnings that propel us toward the future we desire. At work, this is where we finally get to spend time on new ideas. Personally, this is where we commit time to learning new skills, or developing new relationships. Without the “destruction” of our Box 2 work, Box 3 work is easy to set aside. Box 3 work takes commitment and tenacity.

“By balancing the activities and behaviors associated with each box, every day, we invent the future as a steady process over time rather than as a one time, cataclysmic, do-or-die event. Simply put, the future is shaped by what you do, and don’t do, today,” Govindarajan says.

Collectively, this approach may help us focus our time and energy on the things that create a better Seguin. Individually, this reprioritization creates the emotional headspace we need to be a positive and compassionate presence at home and in our community.

Wishing you, my neighbors, all good health and happiness as we end one year and begin another with hope in our hearts and and our eyes on the future. •

Tess Coody-Anders is a serial small-towner, having spent most of her adult life in towns where everybody knows your business. A Seguin High School graduate, Tess currently serves as Vice President for Strategy and Strategic Communications at Trinity University.

Welcome to Pecan Town is Tess’s column which seeks to explore opportunities and challenges from explosive growth in our area.

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Whisk the milk and chocolate mixture until smooth. Return the remaining milk to the heat and return to a boil, then pour onto the chocolate, whisking constantly.

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