Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Nov. 16, e- edition of the Taylor Press. The e- edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress. net.
CITY OFFERS SECOND HOLIDAY PARADE, CITING INCLUSIVITY
Recently, the city of Taylor announced it will host “A Very Merry Holiday Celebration” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, featuring a parade and followed by a treelighting ceremony, arts and crafts, and live music at Heritage Square.
The parade will be the same day, time and route as the annual Christmas Parade of Lights hosted by the Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance.
For many years, the TAMA has hosted the parade, but this year began specifying in their registration forms that the floats be consistent with traditional biblical and family values.
However, TAMA said they have no specific requirements for parade entries.
But some in the community think TAMA’s specification for registrants to only reflect biblical values is discriminatory.
At the Nov. 10 City Council meeting, one resident warned that if Taylor doesn’t support diversity and inclusivity, a negative picture of the city could develop.
City officials said despite being listed at the same time, the “Very Merry” parade would begin immediately after the “Parade of Lights” finishes.
WASTEWATER AVERAGING HAS BEGUN FOR RESIDENTIAL UTILITY CUSTOMERS
Taylor utility customers, now is the time to be mindful of water usage in order to get the lowest possible rate for the wastewater portion of your utility bill for the coming year.
For residential customers with a City of Taylor utility bill, the city bases its monthly wastewater charges on the average water consumption for three out of the four months of November, December, January, and February. From the fourmonth period, the city uses the three lowest consumption months to average and calculate your wastewater charge for the entire year.
An account must be active the entire four months to establish an average. All new accounts will be charged the new customer average until the account has established its own winter average.
City officials said for commercial wastewater customers, charges are based on actual water consumption each month.
For more information on how to read a City of Taylor utility bill, go to https://www. youtube.com/watch ?v=1ewPILWAMME
DICKEY DAY RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES AND FEEDS THE COMMUNITY
The Dickey Museum and Multipurpose Center hosted Dr.
Dickey Day Health Fair & Feast of Sharing, its annual celebration of the birthday and legacy of public health advocate Dr. James Lee Dickey, (1893-1959), on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Fannie Robinson Park Pavilion, 206 S.
Dolan St.
This year, the first since Dickey’s historic home was destroyed by arson last summer, Dickey Day was cosponsored by the City of Taylor and the Blackshear/O.L.
Price Ex-Students Association in order to display banners promoting the event on City- owned property, such as Heritage Square and the Taylor welcome signs, to draw more attention to the organization for fundraising efforts to rebuild the property.
ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION AN INVESTMENT IN TAYLOR’S FUTURE
To celebrate Arbor Day, the Taylor Parks and Recreation Department and the Tree Advisory Board came out to Heritage Square Park on the morning of Nov. 12 to share information about proper tree planting techniques, discuss the benefits of trees, and to plant 21 new trees, including Shumard Oaks, Live Oaks, as well as Crepe Myrtles.
About a dozen people, including families with kids armed with their own shovels, showed up to lend a hand for this effort.
THRALL PARK EXPANSION OFFERS PLACES TO GROW
THRALL – A $20,000 expansion to Thrall City Park will add space for more families to enjoy small town life, says its mayor, Troy Marx.
The addition to the park is under construction and is scheduled to be finished in time for the city’s annual Christmas in the Park event Sunday, Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The public is invited to bring the kids to meet Santa at the newly built stage area.
Funding for the expansion is coming from a federal art grant intended to help cities rebuild after the pandemic.
The park, located at 104 S. Main St. next to City Hall, currently features a playscape and large pavilion, but the expansion is intended to serve as a more natural area.
Plans call for boulders and tree stumps for kids to climb on, native plantings and grasses, an arbor and benches.
Located less than 20 minutes from the new Samsung plant, Thrall has seen some growth but not the exponential growth Taylor and Hutto are dealing with.
