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Peter Sandford, owner of Smarter Homes, brings decades of experience in Austin to the home technology industry. The West Lake Hills business was established in 2006, offering expertise on home automation systems to locals. 

In a nutshell: Sandford specializes in designing systems for lighting, motorized shades, security and more, with a focus on reliability, longevity and easy-usage, he said.

Zooming in: One of his areas of interest is smart irrigation systems, which use connected controllers, sensors and live data to automate watering schedules. The system takes into account environmental factors, including weather, soil moisture and temperature to adjust watering needs. 

“When integrated into a smart home, irrigation becomes dynamic, improving efficiency and reducing water waste,” Sandford said.

Sandford connected with Community Impact to talk about the home automation process and further details for implementing smart irrigation systems. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

A secular private microschool servicing students from pre-K to eighth grade is set to expand its operations for the 2026-27 school year, relocating from Kyle to San Marcos.

The overview: Godfrey Learning Academy started as a small private school in founder Ashlynn Godfrey’s home. The school size grew from eight to 24 kids, requiring the move to a larger space.

Additionally, the academy recently became accredited and accepts Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFA funding, resulting in the enrollment increase, Godfrey said. Half of the school’s students utilize TEFA funding

“We [provide] individualized, hands-on learning,” Godfrey said. “Our families really like us because we have a community-type feel.”

The details: The school is almost full for the 2026-27 school year, Godfrey said. There are three available spots in the kindergarten-through-second-grade classroom.

Godfrey Learning Academy is owned and operated by certified teachers. The academy is one of the few secular private schools in the area, holding cultural heritage months for students.

• 20075 San Marcos Hwy., San Marcos

Universal Kids Resort will open in Frisco on July 1.

What you need to know: The theme park is a first-of-its-kind that is designed for kids. Guests can start planning their vacations with tickets sales and hotel bookings now available, according to a May 28 news release.

Tickets, packages and the first annual pass option for Universal Kids Resort are officially on sale.

Looking back: The theme park was announced in January 2023 and it was always geared toward young children and families. The project later broke ground that year and the hotel joined the Frisco tourism group in early 2026.

Quote of note: "When Universal opens, it's going to be something that's really unique about growing up in Frisco," Mayor Jeff Cheney said. "It's going to be kind of a big part of the Frisco DNA going forward."