Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Dec. 21, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www. taylorpress.net.
COMMUNITY REACHES OUT TO THE VULNERABLE AHEAD OF ARTIC BLAST
Low temperatures dipping into the teens and 20s during the holidays may evoke a cozy time with family and friends over hot chocolate.
But for people exposed to the elements for long periods of time, this cold weather could be deadly, and several community groups are stepping up to help.
As they have for years, The Bill Pickett Educational Foundation is reaching out to vulnerable people ahead of the extreme cold, with financial assistance from parishioners and other community members through St. James Episcopal Church, to fund hotel rooms.
Rev. Terry Pierce, a priest at St. James, said her congregation and other community members, who have also included Samsung Austin Semiconductor and the Sage Foundation, recently raised about $1,500 to prepare for the upcoming artic blast, and that this is a regular occurrence.
Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry & Community Ministries also works with vulnerable people to provide them with temporary emergency shelter in cooperation with the Taylor Police Department. The food pantry will also be giving out food on Thursday, Dec. 22 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Funding for these efforts, as well as other kinds of emergency assistance, comes from many churches and businesses.
The Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance is working with two hotels they normally use but can add another if need be. According to Pastor Jeff Ripple, there is a third hotel that will make rooms available if necessary. He said TAMA is encouraging people to open their homes to family members and friends who have no place to go.
LOCALS FEED AND CLOTHE THOSE IN NEED
On Saturday Dec.
17, local restaurant Seed to Soul Food and 10,000 Fearless First Responders, a disaster preparedness humanitarian organization, gave away about 1,000 coats, gloves and scarves to area residents from the parking lot of their restaurant.
Owner Christina Muhammad said she and her husband get involved in efforts like this every year.
Muhammad said their efforts are geared towards serving the people around them.
CITIZENS OFFER FEEDBACK ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
HUTTO – The city’s comprehensive plan, also known as Hutto SOAR 2040, is one step closer to completion after a public comment event held at the Downtown Christmas Fair. The communityinput portion of the plan kicked off in spring 2020 and has included various methods for soliciting public comment along the way.
Freese & Nichols, a research consultant firm, set up a website where members of the community can comment on the plan and make suggestions.
Many people were concerned about increasing the traffic congestion in town. One suggestion was to build a loop around the city and encourage people not to drive through Hutto.
Patti Smith, a real estate developer who owns property in Hutto, was hopeful that the plan would create an easier path for larger development opportunities.
The long-range plan incorporates over a year of data collection and analysis, according to city resources. Public surveys, focus groups, roundtable discussions and public input at city events were part of the data considered. A panel of Hutto residents serves on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group to help steer the process.
Historical preservation and authenticity, the economy, housing, transportation, connectivity, infrastructure and nature within the city limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction are all taken into account. The draft will go to the Hutto Planning and Zoning commission in January and the City Council in February, according to the city’s website. The plans are available at https:// freese.mysocialpinpoint. com/huttosoar2040/ downtown-plan.
TAYLOR PD EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR NNO
The Taylor Police Department has earned national recognition from the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization that works with law enforcement, neighborhood watch groups and others. This year, the city celebrated NNO on Oct.
4 with assorted block parties around the city, after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. Prior to this time, the city was on a winning streak in its category.
