E-EDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Dec. 6, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www. taylorpress.net.

LET IT SHINE

Held after the Christmas Parade on Main Street Dec. 2, spectators and parade walkers huddled into Heritage Square to see Taylor’s large Christmas tree officially lit for the first time.

Taylor Parks and Recreation programs coordinator Ian Davis said this year’s treelighting ceremony was “the biggest ever.” He said there were over 1,000 attendees, which he said is twice as much as last year. Organizers served about 300 cups of free hot chocolate to attendees during the event, Davis said. They also provided over 500 arts and crafts tree ornaments for children to decorate and bring home once the tree was lit.

Taylor Public Works put the tree up just before Thanksgiving.

Now that it has been lit, the tree’s lights will be on from now until the end of the holiday season.

Stacey Osborne, city of Taylor communications director, estimated that there were about 40 entries for the Christmas Parade.

The parade route ran from Twelfth Street and Main Street to Third and Main with spectators gathered on the sidewalks of the road.

RED SANTA DONATION DEADLINE APPROACHING Taylor residents have the opportunity to fulfill the role of Santa for local families this Christmas.

Organized in a joint effort by the Taylor Fire Department and the Taylor Professional Firefighters Association, the Red Santa Program is in full swing.

The program provides gifts to children 18 years old and younger. According to Taylor Fire Department officials, around 150 children from 39 different families are expected to benefit from the donations.

Those who wish to donate items will have until Monday, Dec.

11. Donations can be dropped off at Station 1, 200 Washburn St. or Station 2, 705 NW Carlos G. Parker Blvd.

ERCOT ADDS MORE INSPECTORS

AUSTIN — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says it is continuing to prepare for the upcoming cooler weather. ERCOT announced Monday, Dec. 4 in a press release that a new group of weatherization inspectors have completed the Certified Weatherization Inspector program.

The new weather inspectors will immediately be deployed into the field to begin inspections of electric generation units and transmission facilities, the press release said.

According to the press release, ERCOT continues to deploy a comprehensive suite of programs and tools to ensure grid reliability and resiliency during the winter months.

Programs include additional ancillary services, an expanded firm fuel supply service and the deployment of additional weatherization inspectors.

In addition to mentioning the added weatherization inspectors, the press release highlighted some of ERCOT’s winter preparations and grid improvements.

ERCOT is entering the third season of winter weatherization inspections with enhanced requirements for generation and transmission facilities, compared to last winter season. The weatherization and inspection program is on track to complete 450 generation resource and transmission facility inspections this winter.