Home Maintenance 101
Upcoming city program to provide knowledge and tools needed to maintain your property.
SATURDAY JANUARY 22, 2022
Temple takes the first step toward the creation of a countywide plan for managing homelessness and affordable housing.
A Downtown restaurant hopes speed dating helps singles build new relationships.
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Temple to start program for home owners
City’s Home Maintenance Academy likely to start in upcoming months
By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple
Buying a first home is a big commitment of time and money, and many new homeowners soon realize they lack basic skills and tools needed to take care of their purchase.
For many, using a drill to hang window shades or a wrench to fix a leaky faucet can be as daunting as performing surgery. YouTube videos and Chip-and-Joanna shows can help, but you first need to learn the basics. And, many folks don’t have proper tools for the job.
Thanks to the city of Temple, help is on the way.
The Home Maintenance Academy is a free 16-week program designed to teach participants home repair basics, according to Kirby Fiebig of Temple’s Department of Housing & Community Development.
Once a participant has completed the program, they will have the skills and tools needed to perform many maintenance tasks.
Fiebig presented the program to City Council on Thursday, and the concept was met with praise and support. The academy likely will begin in March.
“It’s going to be eight classes,” Fiebig said. “There will be a session every two weeks at different locations around town.”
Applications for the course are expected to be available in late February, he said, and 15 people will be accepted.
Fiebig outlined the program and said the first session will deal primarily with project safety.
Other topics will include changing electrical outlets and switches; repairing and replacing ceiling fans; interior wall repair; caulking and grouting around tubs, tile and windows; internal toilet components; basic under-sink plumbing; and preventative maintenance such as changing air filters, cleaning gutters and the setting and disposing of rat, mouse and insect traps.
In the final class, participants will receive a certificate of completion and will be awarded a variety of tool kits and repair supplies.
“Each person who completes the course will receive a lengthy list of tools and supplies,” Fiebig said.
These supplies will include an Apollo 39-piece tool kit; a Klein Tools test kit with a multimeter, volt tester and receptacle tester; a wall-repair kit; a Husky 10-piece combination wrench set; a Dewalt 34-piece drive socket set; a toilet repair kit; fast drying silicone caulk and a caulk gun; and various electrical outlets.
“Also, if a person completes the course, their name will go into a drawing for a $500 gift card,” Fiebig said.
He said the Home Maintenance Academy could become an ongoing program if there is enough interest and if city funding remains available.
This story will be updated when program applications are available.
Temple takes first step toward creation of countywide plan for addressing homelessness
By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple
The city of Temple has taken the first step in the creation of a countywide strategic plan to manage homelessness and create new affordable housing choices in Bell County.
Temple’s City Council approved a resolution Thursday that authorizes an agreement with Killeen to develop such a plan.
“Temple approved a memorandum of understanding, now the Killeen council will need to do the same,” said Nancy Glover, Temple’s director of Housing & Community Development. “Then, we will begin the process of selecting a consultant to help develop a plan of action.”
Glover said a consultant should be in place by spring, then a panel representing Temple, Killeen, Bell County and other cities within the county will begin the process of developing a strategy.
“Once the we start working on the plan, it should take about six months to complete,” she said. “Then it will go back to the Temple and Killeen councils for approval.”
Glover said that other cities in the county will be represented on the plan-building panel, but Temple and Killeen are the one’s footing the bill.
According to Glover, Temple has about 300 people living in shelters, temporary housing and on the streets, and numbers also are high in other Bell County cities.
The issue has prompted the county and several cities to work toward a county-wide approach to addressing affordable housing and the needs of Bell’s homeless population.
Glover said about 60 percent of Temple’s homeless suffer from mental illness and are in need of supportive services.
“The VA center brings some to town,” she said. “These people served their country, but when they are released from the VA’s medical care, many have no place to go. There is no supportive home in the area.”
Some of Temple’s homeless live on the streets, or in some cases, under them. But, Glover said, the problem isn’t only a shortage of housing.
“There needs to be supportive services for the homeless who suffer from mental illness,” she said. “Some of these people don’t have a thought process that tells them to shower and take their medicines.
“Even if in a perfect world we had homes for all of them, they wouldn’t be able to stay in it without a safety net of supportive services,” she said.
Glover hopes the countywide partnership can address gaps in affordable housing and support services. She said shelters and organizations that provide food, clothing and other support for the homeless also will be involved in the new coalition.
Glover said the selected consultant will make recommendations for constructing affordable and transitional housing, and help pinpoint needed services.
By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple
Remember first dates?
You put on clean clothes, socks that match, comb the mop and pick up or meet your date. Perhaps flowers, a nice dinner and dancing — or maybe drinks and a movie — got the night started. The goal of that initial encounter was to make a good first impression, and sometimes that took a little time.
Not any more — you’ve got five minutes. Go!
Welcome to the world of speed dating, where guys and gals spend 300 quality seconds together before moving on.
“You’re trying to get in as many dates as possible in a short period of time,” said Nikki Nicole, an iHeart Media radio personality and host of ‘Match by March’ speed-dating events at Ras Kitchen in Downtown Temple. “Hopefully, you’ll find your match.”
“When you come in, you are greeted, you register and you are assigned a number,” Nikki said during an interview this week. “We give you a cheat sheet to break the ice.”
A cheat sheet?
“Basically, it’s a card with some questions and topics you can discuss,” she said. “It’s an ice breaker — it gets the conversation rolling. The questions range from ‘What’s your favorite hobby’ to ‘What kinds of music do you enjoy.’”
Ice breakers can be a good thing — five minutes can pass in a flash or drag into eternity.
“Usually, the women are assigned a table, and the men move around,” she said. “We take a break between each round so everyone can grab a drink and mingle.”
Ahh…a drink. Perhaps one of Ras Kitchen’s famous love potions such as Meant to Be, Classic Love or Deep in Love.
“We have love-themed cocktails for speed dating,” explains Emilie Wright, co-owner of Ras Kitchen. “We want customers to find a new love or start some sort of relationship, whether they become romantically involved or just start a new friendship.”
While participants, and those who are just curious, are sipping their love potions, mood music is played by DJ Selectah SpidaTech.
Norris Barr, Emilie’s partner, said speed dating is great for those who have been cooped-up during the pandemic.
“It’s a way to get back to being social,” he said.
Ras Kitchen held its first speed-dating event in January in conjunction with First Friday activities. A small group came to participate in the “dating,” but the restaurant had a crowd.
“The restaurant was full of love — and couples,” Emilie said. “They watched and observed. We invite married people to come out and have a good time.”
At the end of the speed dating rounds, Nikki matches up the contestants and puts cards with phone numbers in bags given to “the daters.”
"They take the bags home, and can call their “match” for a date if they so desire," she said.
Ras Kitchen will host more speed-dating nights on Feb. 4 and March 4. And, if they are well attended — and love is in the air — speed dating might become a regular First Friday attraction.
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Belton Lake: GOOD
Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 2.66 feet low. The water temperature has finally met the typical “threshold” to bring in predictably slower winter fishing. This means from this point until the spring warm-up fishing success will rise and fall with the passage of fronts and the fishing will be deep and slow. Success will come primarily with slabs. White bass are good around 30 feet of water on three-eighth-ounce or five-eighth-ounce bladed hazy slab. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
Catfish are good, scattered from mid to deep water in the river channel and in structure. Drifting using fresh cut bait will put the cats in the boat. Report by Jason "SPUD" Barton, Cattin' Around Adventure's Professional Guide Service.
Stillhouse Hollow: GOOD
Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 2.50 feet low. The water temperature has finally met the typical “threshold” to bring in predictably slower winter fishing. This means from this point until the spring warm-up fishing success will rise and fall with the passage of fronts and the fishing will be deep and slow. Success will come primarily with slabs. Stillhouse is holding big white bass on five-eighth-ounce bladed hazy eye slab worked vertically along the old Lampasas River channel. Report by Bob Maindelle, Holding the Line Guide Service.
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