From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
If the creek don’t rise, and its likely it won’t with the rainfall we are getting, I will serve again as mayor until at least 2011. Thank you all for the support and confidence you have placed in me. The position is certainly a love, hate situation with many hours and ups and downs. The positive aspects are the comments I receive from Garden Ridge residents that keep me going. It is certainly not the pay — zero! A recent comment to me was “I don’t particularly like you, but you are doing a great job!” That’s good, I guess.
Again thanks for the support. Without qualms I can tell you that the city continues to move forward and even in these temporary down times, we are fiscally and financially solid and will continue to be so.

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

James & Kristen Hansmann
Mark Koski
Kevin & Charlotte Matthews
Eric & Mary Wilbur
Nancy Woo

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.

Life Line Screening
It is our pleasure to make you aware of life saving screenings in our community.
Where: Forest Waters Club
Presented by: Baptist Health Systems
When: Monday, April 20, 2009
Pre-registration is required.
Call: 1-800-679-5192
Life Line Screening is the leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings in the U.S. Currently, in neighborhoods like ours, Life Line is screening approximately 1 million people each year, adding to the 6 million previously screened since their beginning in 1993.

Spring Rummage Sale
Saturday, April 4, 2009- 8am to NoonThe United Methodist Women will hold their Spring Rummage Sale on
Saturday, April 4, 2009- 8am to Noon at Bracken United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall located at 20377 FM 2252, one mile east of FM 3009.
For information, call 830-606-6717 or E-Mail: brackenumc@satx.rr.com.

Forest Waters Club
Did you know Forest Waters Club is a private health and social club located in the heart of Garden Ridge--and membership is open to everyone? Call Susan at 651-6505 and check out what we can offer your family.
Mark Sunday, May 31 on your calendar so you can kick your summer off at our Luau complete with great food, open pool and entertainment for the whole community.

GR Womens Club
HEB Central Market Cooking Class
Thursday, May 7 at 11:30am
Expand your knowledge of whole grains and their many uses as these healthy ingredients are incorporated in this exciting menu:
Sparkling Pomegranate Lemonade
Roasted Tomato/Vegetable Soup
Bulgar Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Apricot Grilled Duck Breasts
Baked Barley with Shiitake Mushrooms & Caramelized
Onions
Fruit Cobbler or Tart
Garden Ridge Women’s Club Members: $30
Non-members: $35
Questions? Please call Tina @ 651-4151
Class Size is limited to 30 students. Your payment is
your class reservation, so book now!
Mail Check payable to GRWC to:
Tina Schuman
7814 Star Circle
San Antonio, TX 78266

Driver Safety Program
Take the AARP 4 hour classroom refresher course especially designed for drivers 50 and over. Minimal Fee. Auto Insurance discounts in most states Consult your insurance agent.
Date: Thursday April 2, 2009
Time: 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Cost: AARP members $12,
non-members $14
Forest Waters Lodge
1st Floor Dining Room
21320 Water Wood Drive
Garden Ridge, TX
Call: 210-651-6505 or 830-438-2839

Comal Elementary School
Spring Fling - Go for Gold!Saturday, April 4th
2:00 to 6:00 PM
At the Playground
Silent Auction, Raffle, Cake Walk, Games, Prizes - Food and Fun, Inflatables, and Special Guests.
Come have a WONDERFUL TIME while supporting the school.

Triumphant Lutheran Church
The Community is invited to attend Holy Week and Easter Worship services at Triumphant Lutheran Church,
21315 Bat Cave Road.
April 9
Maundy Thursday Seder Meal — 7pm
April 10
Good Friday Worship Service — 7pm
April 11, Saturday
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt — 4pm
Easter Vigil Service — 5pm
April 12, Easter Sunday
Sunrise Worship Service — 6:45 am
Traditional Worship Service — 8:30 am
Contemporary Worship Service — 11am
Easter Breakfast 7:45 — 11am
www.triumphantlutheran.org

Library Footnotes
by Karen Bishop
Remember last summer’s circus reading program? Bongo Crunch is coming back in June to kick off this summer’s program! We have other great programs in the planning stages so watch for further information.
We have a number of newly acquired items ready for you to enjoy. For dog lovers, Rescuing Sprite by Mark R. Levin and Dog Years by Mark Doty are both true stories of the unconditional love of dogs. As Levin says, ”in the end we humans are the lucky ones.”
Several young adult titles have been added. Among them are The Red Necklace: a story of the French Revolution by Sally Gardner, How not to be Popular by Jennifer Zeigler, and The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Frietas. Even adults are enjoying the YA section of the library.
Our thanks to those of you who responded so promptly to our plea for more volunteers. Giving only a couple of hours a week helps keep the library schedule we now have. We can always use more volunteers!
Library Hours are:
Monday - Thursday 10 am to 6 pm
Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm

Bracken VFD Firefighters’ Annual Festival
Saturday 2 May
The annual Bracken VFD Firefighters’ Festival, the fire department’s primary fundraiser, will be held at the Garden Ridge Community Center on Saturday, May 2, 2009. This new venue will provide better parking, more room, air conditioning, and protection from rain we so desperately need.
Bracken’s famous Kartoffel Puffers (German Potato Pancakes) will be served for the 41st year. Other food and drinks will include applesauce, sausage, hotdogs, sauerkraut, various desserts, homemade ice cream, water, tea sodas, beer and wine.
This year’s festival will feature a live auction, a silent auction, and a raffle of great items donated by area businesses and individuals, while a jump castle and inflatable slide will entertain energetic children.
Schedule Of Events:
10 AM — 8 PM Meals served, Address signs sold
10 AM — 9 PM Silent Auction, Raffle Ticket Sales
Moon Bounce, Slide
6 PM — 9 PM Live Auction
9 PM Raffle Drawing and Silent Auction winners announced
Although BVFD is partially supported by tax revenue, fund raising is critical to provide the best fire rescue and medical first response service possible. Mark you calendar to come enjoy great food and company while supporting your local fire department!

Important Numbers

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

Meet the Candidates
The Garden Ridge Area Republican Club will be sponsoring a "Meet the Candidates" Night for all Garden Ridge City Council Candidates on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:00PM in the Garden Ridge City Council Chambers. All residents of Garden Ridge are cordially invited. The audience will be able to hear and ask questions from all the City Council Candidates. Feel free to call Charles Flink at 651-6631 with any questions.

Past Significant Events
9 Apr 1865 — General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Army at Appomattox.
21 Apr 1836 — San Jacinto Day — Texan forces defeated Mexican forces at San Jacinto

Garden Ridge Area Republican Meeting
The Garden Ridge Area Republicans will hold a meeting on Monday, April 13, at 7:00pm in the Bluebonnet Room of the Garden Ridge Community Center.  The guest speaker will be Michael Quinn Sullivan, President of Empower Texas and Texans for Fiscal Responsiblility.  He is uniquely qualified to discuss the fiscal issues facing our state and the nation. 
Everyone is cordially invited to the meeting.  Call Charles Flink at 651-6631 with questions.

Early Voting Schedule
April 27th to May 5th
For City of Garden Ridge May 9, 2009 General Election
Early voting for the May 9th election will be conducted from April 27th to May 5th in the City Council Chambers located in the City Hall at 9400 Municipal Parkway, Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm except on April 30th and May 4th early voting will be conducted from 7am to 7pm.
The last day to submit an application for a mail ballot is 5pm on May 1st. Mail ballot applications can be obtained by contacting the City Secretary at 651-6632.
Voting on Election Day, May 9th, will be conducted from 7am to 7pm in the Garden Ridge City Council Chambers.
All persons desiring to vote in the May 9th election must register to vote no later than April 9th.

Garden Ridge Women’s Club
Donated $1000 to City
The Garden Ridge Women’s Club is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization whose activities promote civic improvements, charitable organizations, and social activities for the benefit of the residents of the greater Garden Ridge community. During the past year, the Garden Ridge Women’s Club membership has had several events to raise funds for our support of various organizations within the greater Garden Ridge area.
The Garden Ridge Women’s Club Board of Directors has selected the City of Garden Ridge as the recipient of a donation in the amount of $1,000. The Garden Ridge Women’s Club appreciates all the good works of the City of Garden Ridge and is pleased to support our community.

QUARRY HAPPENINGS
On March 9, 2009 the Quarry Commission held its monthly meeting. The Commission reviewed and analyzed the blasting data from February 2009. There were 6 blasts in February. Blasting was conducted on the Blank property northwest of the main pit and in the “new pit,” which is in the main pit, but deeper. None of the blasts in February were significant. The blast on 3 March, however, was significant. Five Garden Ridge residents complained about that blast. The Commission asked the Quarry, the blasting company, and the monitoring company to research the 3 March blast and be prepared to discuss it in detail at the April meeting. More information about the Quarry Commission meetings is available at the City Municipal Building or on the Quarry Commission’s home page. The Quarry Commission welcomes citizen comments. If you wish to complain about a blast or have comments for the Quarry Commission, contact City Hall at 651-6632 or visit the city’s home page, where you will find the Citizens’ Blast Report. Citizens who are interested in having quarry blasts monitored at their residence should contact a member of the Quarry Commission. Citizens are invited to attend the next Quarry Commission meeting on April 13, 2009 at 7 pm.

Coming Events
Go to the Calendar.

Significant City Council
Go to Council Actions.

Grapevine Deadline
Grapevine Deadline. Submissions for the May GRAPEVINE need to be turned in by April 15th..