Abbey Archer

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Williamson County Sun •

Family Barn offers play space for families

Family Barn, an indoor play area with a coffee shop, offers local families a break from the summer heat. Designed for children ages six months to 6 years, the play space provides a safe, engaging environment for children to explore while parents relax.“It’s a win-win situation for parents and their kids,” said Artyom Korenskiy, who has operated Family Barn for the past year. His step-brother opened the Georgetown business at 1231 Leander Road three years ago.Mr. Korenskiy said he designed the sp...
Williamson County Sun •

The Vera Gallery opens on the Square

The Vera Gallery is a high-end art showroom and gallery that opened on the Square earlier this year.The business sells paintings and scarves by American artist and entrepreneur Vera Neumann, as well as work by local female artists. It is located at 110 West Eighth Street, the former site of the Georgetown Antique Mall.Christina and Greg Sharp own the gallery and the licensing rights to Vera’s art collection. Ms. Neumann was born in 1907 to Ukrainian immigrants and grew up in New York City. She a...
Williamson County Sun •

Wilco hemp businesses experience surge in sales

Dozens of Williamson County hemp and THC retailers are facing closure amid new state regulations, while hemp users could be fined or face jail time if Senate Bill 3 is signed by Governor Greg Abbott.Senate Bill 3 passed the Texas House of Representatives in a 95-44 vote on May 21. The bill — which, as of June 5, sits at the governor’s desk for final approval — would ban the sale of hemp-derived products containing Delta THC variants. Delta variants are the psychoactive components of the cannabis...
Williamson County Sun •

Gym owner finds motivation in training others

Warm up, stretch, workout, track progress — this was the usual regimen Brennan Eggers would start his clients off with when he started as a trainer at Georgetown Fitness more than five years ago. A student at Southwestern University at the time, he fit working as a personal trainer into his busy schedule as a physics major. Mr. Eggers liked that, through personal training, he got to help others achieve their health goals. His more motivated clients helped motivate him. He loved the gym. Georgeto...
Williamson County Sun •

Aviation company expands to Georgetown airport

Southwest Aerospace Technologies — a Georgetown-based aviation services company — has expanded into a new hangar at the Georgetown Executive Airport.A family business, CEO Kurt Encinias runs the company with his wife and CFO Renee Encinias. Mr. Encinias said the company now touches “every spectrum of aviation” for business jets, with clients including large corporations and wealthy individuals. SWAT sells used airplane parts, has a teardown facility, a repair station and an engine shop.Mr. Encin...
Williamson County Sun •

First moon mission by Wilco-based Firefly Aerospace a success

Firefly Aerospace — a private aerospace company with headquarters located in Cedar Park — successfully completed Blue Ghost Mission 1 in partnership with NASA. On March 16, the company’s unmanned Blue Ghost lunar lander completed 14 days of surface operations on the moon and operated over 5 hours into the lunar night. This marks the longest commercial mission on the moon to date. The mission was funded by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload services, a program dedicated to collecting data that could...
Williamson County Sun •

Rise Up Chiropractic opens in Georgetown

Georgetown Chiropractor Shanna Jackson has opened a new clinic, Rise Up Chiropractic, just north of Westinghouse Road at 2951 Farm to Market Road 1460, Ste. 1402.After spending 10 years at the start of her career as a surgical technician, at age 40, she decided to go back to school because she believed there were alternative ways to address medical issues. She started practicing in 2017, after graduating from Sherman College of Chiropractic.Dr. Jackson is now certified to provide services for ev...
Williamson County Sun •

BiG opens Grace Place community for special needs adults

For 14 years, Brookwood in Georgetown has operated vocational programs for adults who are diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Programs are offered at three campus communities four days a week, while the soap, jewelry, pastries and other goods produced by Brookwood’s clients — called citizens — are sold at the BiG Cafe and Shop in Georgetown.Now, the organization has opened its new permanent residential community, Grace Place, on a 127-acre property between Georgetown and...
Williamson County Sun •

Brass Peacock speakeasy opens near City Post Chophouse

A new prohibition-era themed bar with a secret entrance is hiding near City Post Chophouse, just off the Square.Brass Peacock had a soft opening this fall, and is set for a grand opening early in 2025. The speakeasy-style bar serves specialty cocktails, charcuterie boards and desserts, and is open Fridays and Saturdays after 6 p.m., with live jazz music starting at 7 p.m.“This [speakeasy] space is really giving Georgetown an elevated late night option,” said Kevin Cummings, the owner of Brass Pe...
Williamson County Sun •

Boy scouts, tree sales keep holiday traditions alive

Christmas is only two weeks away, and many Georgetown residents have already picked out their trees for this year. The Sun spoke to three local groups that have provided trees to families for years, who spoke about holiday traditions and shared their experiences, as well as insights into proper Christmas tree care and how the industry has changed in recent years. Troop 155 sells trees to fund scouting experiences Instead of selling popcorn or a typical chocolate bar fundraiser, Georgetown Boy Sc...
Williamson County Sun •

From behind the scenes to the main attraction

December is a time of holiday cheer, community service and making things happen even when facing obstacles. This is especially the case for the Williamson County facilities team when hanging lights at the county courthouse, a historic structure that can’t be pierced by screws or nails. This year, the team started installation on Veterans Day and spent a total of 920 man hours stringing lights on the courthouse, setting light up Christmas trees on the balconies, illuminating aspects of the courth...
Williamson County Sun •

Katï Coffee roasts want to be part of community

In the industrial business park located on University Avenue, amidst much larger manufacturing and storage facilities, is the small Katï Coffee roastery. Marked by a sign advertising free coffee samples and a neon “open” sign, the roastery invites curious customers. Katï Coffee is an ethically sourced, roast-to-order coffee roastery. The business is owned and completely operated by Mirian Diop. Originally from Ghana, she holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Northwestern University. She start...
Williamson County Sun •

Antique seller to close shop after more than 3 decades

Since its early days, Georgetown Antique Mall has found appreciative new owners for old antique furniture, clothing, jewelry and home goods.“I’ve had people, four generations now, of families coming in,” Owner Carolyn Martin said. “Grandparents started as a young couple, then their kids are coming, then their kids, then their kids...”Ms. Martin has owned the business for longer than she can remember, but she estimates it has been more than 30 years. The store is set to close soon after the holid...
Williamson County Sun •

Aerospace company plans to launch lunar lander by end of year

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost team is getting closer to blast-off. After spending the past four months running lunar simulations and evaluating data, the Williamson County-based team is working non-stop on the company’s new lunar lander, which is scheduled to launch by the end of the year.Blue Ghost Mission 1 is a part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services — a federal program that works with American companies to take technology and science to the moon’s surface. Program findings could...
Williamson County Sun •

Georgetown Health Foundation CEO outlines mission, impact at luncheon

“We want all to be empowered, to thrive,” Georgetown Health Foundation CEO Scott Alarcón said during a lunchtime presentation with Georgetown residents in October.Sponsored by Frost Bank, the lunch put a spotlight on The Georgetown Health Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of those in need in Williamson County. "What makes the nonprofit unique, Mr. Alarcón said, is the way it funds its endeavors. Instead of traditional fundraising, he said the nonprofit uses “a three-legge...
Williamson County Sun •

Staccato Ranch opens “Lone Star Hideout” run-n-gun course

Staccato — an award-winning, Florence-based manufacturer of high-performance pistols for both law enforcement and civilians — opened an 800-acre shooting ranch on County Road 233 earlier this year. The company hopes it will one day will have the reputation of being the “Disneyland of shooting.”The ranch’s ever-expanding arsenal of experiences include indoor and outdoor ranges, run- n-gun courses, clay shooting and even fishing, alongside Staccato’s product store, manufacturing facility and headq...
Williamson County Sun •

Blue Sage Clothiers offers rock-n-roll, Western styles

“One of my favorite things is to help somebody realize that they are beautiful just as they are,” said Kim Cauble, owner of Blue Sage Clothiers.Blue Sage Clothiers is celebrating one year of being open next door to Western Blonde Salon, at 806 South Myrtle Street. From fringe skirts to turquoise jewelry and cowgirl hats, Ms. Cauble described the store as being “a little bit rock ‘n roll and a little bit Western.”After she closed her spa business after the pandemic hit in 2020, she opened up Blue...
Williamson County Sun •

El Monumento will become ‘Encantada’ with change of ownership

Rusty Winkstern has sold Georgetown Mexican restaurant  El Monumento to his nephew Alex Webber and his wife Cherie. The couple is renaming the restaurant Encantada. “We've been a part of the Monument family for decades plus now. Cherie about 10 years, myself about 12 years.” Mr. Webber said. “Operationally, the restaurant will run the same but we're adding our own twist to it.” The new name, Encantada, means “charming and delightful” in Spanish. The restaurant will be closing down November 4 and...
Williamson County Sun •

Fire dancer offers lessons, energy healing care

Georgetown resident Jessica Francis wears a lot of hats.She is the in-school-suspension coordinator at Forbes Middle School. She’s a bartender at both Barons Creek Winery and Six Strings Guitar Lounge. She owns her own Reiki therapy and mindfulness business, Mindful Movements. And she is a professional fire dancer and instructor.“Fire dancing doesn’t sound like a typical thing to do,” Ms. Francis joked. “I was a typical woman — good mom, good wife, all that stuff — trying to hold it all together...
Williamson County Sun •

Mermaid Pearl offers swim lessons for humans

She goes by Christen Killebrew on land and Pearl the Mermaid in the pool. In Georgetown, she’s been making the dreams of both children and adults come true through mermaid swim les- sons, parties and advocacy.“I teach students not just how to use the tail, I teach them basic diver safety rescue skills,” Ms. Killebrew said. “In the long run, you get to learn how to actually save somebody while you're in the tail.”Mermaid tails became a popular swim accessory in 2023, after the Netflix docuseries...
Williamson County Sun •

Sertoma helps hearing health while lighting up the sky

Georgetown Sertoma — a loose acronym for “Service to Mankind” — has been serving the local community for 45 years.The group is a part of the international Sertoma Inc. a large nonprofit organization of charity clubs that was chartered in 1912. The service organization brings people together to im- prove the lives of others, with a special focus on hearing health support.Jim Wilson is Georgetown Sertoma’s current president and the director of SHARP, the Sertoma Hearing Aid Recycle Program. Before...
Williamson County Sun •

Harbor Health brings innovative/flexible primary care to Georgetown

Harbor Health Clinic is a primary care center located near Sun City on Williams Drive. This is the clinic’s 11th location and was chosen by Dr. Clay Johnston based on the need for doctors in the area.Dr. Clay Johnston, the founding physician of Harbor Health, said throughout his career, he has been trying to create a new healthcare model. “A new model for how to keep people healthy, focused on: how we can improve people's outcomes, and how we can take waste out of the system and reinvest it in t...
Williamson County Sun •

Women’s group still going strong after 50 years

The San Gabriel Women’s Club celebrated 50 years of supporting local women and nonprofits on October 2 with an afternoon tea at the Wesleyan Independent Living Facility. “People think that we’re a little group of ladies who just get together and have lunch,” said Sharon Grooms, an active member of the group. “[They think] that we don’t do anything active to help support the community and make people’s lives better for people. It’s a common misconception.” The San Gabriel Women’s Club was started...
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