Volume 100821 | Oct. 8, 2021

Your weekly news & updates

Are you ready for a month loaded with fun?!?!?

October in Taylor, Texas, is my absolute favorite! We are a busy, busy community this month from stem to stern! Before you go ANY further, if you have never gone on the Haunted Taylor Tour, just stop now and register. You can do it by clicking the picture (above) or just click HERE. Now that you have your tickets, you should be so excited. This tour has sold out every year so, congratulations, you are in for a wild ride. This tour is a fundraiser for the Taylor Conservation and Heritage Society and their guides will lead you on a nighttime stroll ​through the murderous and macabre, the frightening and fascinating, history of Taylor. These amateur historians know their Taylor history and make each tour so much fun! Tours begin at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 23 and 30, from the Heritage Square Park Pavilion 400 N. Main St. The tour lasts up to an hour and a half and is approximately 3/4 of a mile long. Please wear comfortable shoes.

...and, yes, there's more...

There is also the Main Street Car Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. This super Main Street event features music, food, vendors and, oh, yeah, amazing cars. Click this link to learn more about how to become a vendor, sponsor or to display your car at this fun, fun, fun event! ...and, oh yeah, even more! Check the listings down below to learn about music on Main, fall festivals, food pantry fundraisers and more!

Taylor’s Spooktacular Scare on the Square will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Heritage Square in downtown Taylor, including a costume contest sponsored by the Taylor Public Library at 7 p.m. on the stage. For more information about the costume contest and contest rules click here.

Information & Education

Chamber News and Community Calendar

Ribbon Cutting-Dickey-Givens Community Center

The City of Taylor, Chamber and community celebrated the official opening of the Dickey-Givens Community Center in Robinson Park, 260 S. Dolan St., with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Sept. 17.  The Center offers a gathering place for the Taylor community and is available to rent for special gatherings or events. Click HERE to learn more.

Calendar Community events are underlined. Chamber events are bolded. Saturday, Oct. 9 – 2nd Saturday Shopping Saturday, Oct. 9 – Good Life 5K at Bull Branch. Cluck (it's chicken-themed) HERE for more information. Sunday, Oct. 10, 1-3p.m. -- St. Mary's Catholic Church newly renovated Open House Monday, Oct. 11, 5:15 p.m. -- Chamber board meeting at Holiday Inn Express Wednesday, Oct. 13, noon -- Advocacy committee on Zoom Thursday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m. -- Tourism committee on Zoom Friday-Sunday, Oct. 15-17 -- St. Paul CDC Garage sale Friday, Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m. -- A Shot in the Dark nighttime golf tournament at Mustang Creek Golf Course. Click HERE to register. Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – Life Park Center Community Festival in Heritage Square. For more INFO Monday, Oct. 18, noon -- LUNCHEON: A look at the area workforce with Carl Braun of Rural Capitol Area Workforce Solutions. Click HERE to register. Wednesday, Oct. 20, noon -- Programs & Services at the Chamber Wednesday, Oct 20 -- Wilco Fair and Rodeo Baking Contest. Click HERE for details Thursday, Oct. 21 – 3rd Thursday and Music on Main featuring the Czech Melody Masters at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 11a.m.-1p.m.-- KC Hall BBQ Chicken dinner pickup (drive-thru only) Wednesday, Oct. 27, noon -- Ambassadors at the Chamber Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Main Street Car Show in downtown Taylor. Click HERE for more information or to register. Sunday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. – Halloween Spooktacular Scare on the Square in Heritage Square. To learn more, click HERE. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 10:30a.m.-6 p.m. Baylor Scott & White Taylor Blood Drive SIGN UP For information on joining these or any Chamber meeting or committee, email info@taylorchamber.org.

What is up with the local workforce? Carl Braun, area manager with Rural Capital Area Workforce Solutions, will help us answer that question and many others as Taylor is poised for growth and struggling to fill many jobs around the community. With a background as an HR manager in manufacturing, Carl realized that he enjoyed recruiting and the challenge of finding great people. It turned into a 35-year obsession. Thank you to Central Texas Refuse for your first sponsorship of our monthly luncheon. This luncheon will be catered by Thrall Country Diner. Thanks to our sponsor...

Member Appreciation Contest Chamber members, watch for the appearance of a duck in each weekly newsletter and send us an email with your business name describing what makes the duck unique and we will enter you in a monthly drawing for a FREE AD for four weeks in the next month's newsletter. Email info@taylorchamber.org your business name and tell us what is special about this guy. (This week, it's EASY! The wee lad is right here!) A Veteran Storage (see their ad on this page) was the winner for September. Will your business win for October? You can't win if you don't enter. Just send us an email!

Member Announcements

This year's Good Life 5K, Kids K and festival are Saturday, Oct. 9, in Bull Branch Park. Click HERE to learn more or register for the races!

St. Mary's Church and school Renovation Open House 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10 You are invited to tour the newly renovated St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church at 301 E. 4th St and Open House of St. Mary's Catholic School at 520 Washburn St. Get your BBQ Tickets! Contact Karen Chandler at 512-365-4357 or email her rakdchan4@gmail.com Grab your spoon! Don't miss out on the Annual Empty Bowl FUNdraiser supporting Shepherd's Heart Food Pantry. 11: 30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 Details and Tickets sold online HERE Halloween at TBC On Halloween night join the Texas Beer Company at the production brewery (1331 W. 2nd St) for a movie and pumpkin carving contest and pumpkin smash. We will be showing the movie starting at 8:30 p.m. Please bring your own lawn chair or a blanket. The brewery will open at 5 pm, pumpkin carving 5-6:30 (BYO pumpkin). After the sun goes down we will light all the pumpkins and pick a winner. Once pumpkins have been judged, we'll smash 'em (if you want to). The movie is free and Texas Beer Company beers will be sold onsite. Please no outside alcohol but feel free to bring a picnic if you would like. Costumes encouraged!

St. Paul Child Development Center is planning the long-anticipated Community Garage Sale on October 15, 16, 17. Sale Hours: Friday 7 AM until 3 PM.                     Saturday 7 AM until 3 PM                     & Sunday after Church and Brunch                  Brunch Food Appreciated. Volunteers are welcome to help set-up (beginning on Monday, October 11). Volunteers needed to work sale Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Call the Child Development Center to deliver your Garage Sale Items or if you need information 512-352-2773

Entertainment calendar  WilCo EXPO: Click here to look at what's going on out at the Expo Center.  SPJST Post 29: You can find October's schedule here. Texas Beer Company: To keep up with everything going on at TBC, click here. Red Cap Cigar Lounge: See their schedule here Marshall's Tavern 2: Find out what's going on here.