From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
As many know, as I write this we are in the worst draught in our history with a gloomy forecast for the near future. Without significant rainfall, it can be expected that we will soon enter draught restrictions which will be well publicized. In the meantime, one way to effectively conserve is to set your sprinkler systems to manual. The grass now, as it lies dormant, does not need systematic watering. Please do what you can to conserve and we will continue to apprise all of conditions and restrictions as they occur.

Welcome to Garden Ridge
New Residents:
Those listed and families:

Dallas & Cindy Christian
Michael & Linda Decock
Benjamin Dunn & Wilma Lusk-Dunn
William & Queen Edwards
Jason Gillman
Robin Kerr
Rick & Kathy Lowe
Thomas & Paula Renken
Richard & Marsha Walenta
James Wills

Note: Newcomers are identified by water service records. Consequently, not all names in the household will appear. Those not appearing are also welcomed! The City of Garden Ridge requires that all dogs and cats be registered. Call 651-6831 for information.

QUICK NOTES

Block Cell Phone Telemarketers!
Remember cell phone numbers have gone public. All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. You can be charged for these calls.
To prevent this call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the national do not call list. It will only take a minute of your time and blocks your number for 5 years. You must call from the cell phone number you want blocked, you cannot call from a different phone number.

Garage Doors. A reminder to keep garage doors down and secured when not in the immediate area. Garage thefts are classified as a crime of opportunity. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.

Pets Should Not Be Fed
These Foods
Alcoholic Beverages — Avocado
Chocolate (all forms) — Coffee (all forms)
Fatty foods — Macadamia Nuts
Moldy or spoiled foods — Onions, onion powder
Raisins and grapes — Salt — Yeast dough
Garlic — Products sweetened with xylitol
Poison Control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic.
Reprinted from a Humane Society bulletin

GOOD INFO!
Here’s a number worth putting in your cell phone or your home phone speed dial:
1-800-goog411 This is an awesome service from Google, and it’s free - great when you are on the road. Don’t waste your money on information calls and don’t waste you time manually dialing the number. I am driving along in my car and I need to call the golf course but don’t know the number. I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed. The voice on the other end says, “City & State”. I say “Garland, Texas”. The phone says “Business, Name or Type of Service”? I say “Firewheel Golf Course”. The phone says, “Connecting” and Firewheel answers the phone. How great is that? This is nationwide and it is absolutely free! Go to the website below and watch a short clip with a demonstration. http://www.google.com/goog411.

An Open Letter
Hi, my name is Hailey Ballard and I am 8 years old. I live in Garden Ridge and I am so lucky to be playing on a soccer team that practices at Garden Ridge Park. At the park there is a nice big space of land where we can play and have fun practicing soccer. Now if you have a brother or sister, there is a big playground where they can play when we are practicing. The grass is kept nice and short. It’s a nice place to play soccer and I really like it. Thanks to the City of Garden Ridge for letting us play at the park. Thanks to Coach Mike, Coach Katie, and Coach Dave for helping us learn how to play soccer and maybe someday play in a championship. We’re really glad to have our soccer team, the Ravens and we’re having a great time.
Hailey Ballard

Cowboy Casino Night
Saturday, February 7, 2009
6:00 to 10:30 pm

Dust off your cowboy boots and hat again.It’s our 4th Cowboy Casino Night, this time with a touch of Valentine’s Day. Bring your sweetheart, your family and your friends and enjoy casino games, barbecue dinner, cash bar, live music, prizes and our NEW silent auction!
This fundraising community event is open to everyone. All proceeds will benefit charities and civic activities in the Garden Ridge area.
Tickets go on sale now. Price includes dinner, dancing, and $1000 in faux chips for a chance to win great prizes, all right in our own backyard!
Only 200 tickets will be sold; reserve yours now!
GRWC members $30 per person,
non-members $35 per person. Questions?Call Kay Bower at 650-8881.

Make checks payable to: GRWC
Mail to: Kay Bower
8947 Garden Ridge Dr.
Garden Ridge, TX 78266

Brauntex
Upcoming Performance in February
What:  Jazz, Blues and Diamonds - doing it all from jazz to funk and everything in between
Where:  Brauntex Theatre, New Braunfels
When:  February 14, 2009, 7:30 p.m. 
Tickets:  Can be purchased $30/$35 by calling 830-627-0808, or at the Brauntex Office on San Antonio St., New Braunfels.

Library Footnotes
by Nancy Feibelman
It was quite a year for the City Library. Over 3500 patrons graced our doors in 2008. We continue to be innovative and hopefully carry the materials you like. We are always open to ideas for improvement.
In conjunction with the Garden Ridge Women’s Club Annual Garage Sale on March 21st, the Library will also be having a book sale at the library. Please browse and buy. Your donations and purchases enable us to continue stocking the very latest materials.
The library will be open on President’s Day, February 16, for the convenience of those on school holiday. 651-6570.

Library Hours are:
Monday - Thursday 10 am to 6 pm
Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm

Garden Ridge Women’s Club
Annual Garage Sale

The GRWC citywide Garage Sale is Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 8 am to noon at the Garden Ridge Community Center. It’s not too early to start planning now. Rent a table to sell your under-loved items or plan to shop for someone else’s amazing treasures, or both!

Member reservations for tables are being accepted now. Member Cost: (Inside table $25; outside table $30)
Non-member reservations will be accepted beginning Saturday February 7th.
Non-member Cost: (Inside table $35; outside table $40)
THERE IS NO ADMISSION FEE
For information or questions, call
Catherine O’Neal (683-8864) or
Diana Scott (651-3320).

Rio Cibolo Ranch Event
April 2nd 10am to 2pm

The Garden Ridge Women’s Club invites you to experience “a little bit of Texas” at Rio Cibolo Ranch in Zuehl, Texas on Thursday, April 2 from 10 am to 2 pm. Enjoy a cooking lecture and demo followed by lunch. Take time before and after to tour the gardens and nature trails; take a wagon or river barge ride; or feed the resident longhorns. Consider carpooling for the 25 minute drive. Cost is $35 for members or $40 for non-members.
Checks payable to GRWC should be sent to Janet Fleckenstein,
9412 Gardenia Bend Dr.,
Garden Ridge, TX 78266
to arrive no later than Thursday March 26.
Questions? Contact Janet at 651-0026

Important Numbers

City Hall 210-651-6632
Lost Pet 210-651-6831
Police Department 210-651-6441

Filing for City Election
February 9 - March 9th
Filing for City Election for May 14, 2009
The General Election for the City of Garden Ridge will be held on May 14, 2009. City Council, Places 2, 3 and 6 (Mayor) will be up for election for 2 year terms. Individuals interested in filing for a place on the ballot can do so beginning February 9 with the last date to file is March 9. The last date to file for a write-in is March 16. Do this at City Hall during regular business hours 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Call 651-6632 for more information.

Past Significant Events
in February
5 Feb - Anniversary of the U.S. Constitution
12 Feb - Lincoln’s Birthday - 1809
22 Feb - Washington’s Birthday - 1732

WESTERN SUNDAY and COWBOY BREAKFAST
Come join TRIUMPHANT LUTHERAN CHURCH at 21315 Bat Cave Road, Garden Ridge, for Country Western Services and a free Cowboy Breakfast. Sunday Morning, February 8th, at 8:30 & 11:00 am. Wear your boots and jeans or other cowboy/cowgirl attire. The Cowboy Breakfast featuring biscuits and gravy will be served between services beginning about 9:45am. Also for kids of all ages:
Pony Rides
Trick roping by Karen Fitzpatrick
Craig with Oreo the Longhorn Steer
Shaun & Mayhem the Frisbee Catching Dog
S’mores by the camp fire
Bring your cameras. Free Nursery available. For additional information, call 651-9090. YA’LL COME

Make a Difference in a Young Person’s Life
Hosting an exchange student is a great opportunity to learn about the world without leaving home.
Volunteer families are needed to host international exchange students. SHARE! Your heart and home with a boy or girl from over 30 countries like Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Slovakia, Taiwan and many former Soviet countries.
The SHARE! High School Exchange Program matches host families with international teenagers who attend local high schools for a semester or an academic year. All students are between the ages of 15 and 18 years old and carefully screened as well as proficient in English. Students arrive with medical insurance and pocket money to cover personal expenses Families are able to review student application and choose the boy or girl that best matches your family.
For more information, please call:
Tina DeSorbo at 210-651-0517 or the
SHARE! Southwest Regional Office at 1-800-941-3738

	www.sharesouthwest.org

PET REGISTRATION
If you did not register your pets in January, please do so as soon as possible! This is required by city ordinance, costs $5.00 and requires proof of a rabies vaccination every 3 years. For Information: 651-6831.
Complete the form online.

Coming Events
Go to the Calendar.

Significant City Council
Go to Council Actions.

Grapevine Deadline
Grapevine Deadline. Submissions for the March GRAPEVINE need to be turned in by February 15.