From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
All is well within the city. With the support of our citizens, we continue to grow at a phenomenal rate with little visible impact. Our infrastructure is sound, water issues quiet, and monetary reserves are excellent. Looming, however, as we approach summer is a possible dry period which may involve water issues. Please use water wisely at all times.
Thanks for all your support.

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

Earl Belcher
Shirin Blackwell
Matthew & Lisa Brooks
John & Traci De Golier
Christopher & Erin Graham
Kris & Lisa Janicke
Rodney & Diane Larsen
Karen Maier
Robert Manga
John & Lisa Martin
Scott & Mary Moberley
Kevin and Cheryl Mills
David Peacock
Margarita Peralta
Salvatore Tornabene

Note: Newcomers are identified by water service records. Consequently, not all names in the household will appear. Those not appearing are also welcomed!

QUICK NOTES

Year around sprinkler operating hours are 8:00 pm to 10:00 am ONLY.

When walking your pet, carry means to clean up after nature’s call.

For those in the fringe areas of waste collection, please do not put out your waste across the street for extra collection. Thanks!

The most critical period for Oak Wilt is Feb 1 to June 1. Paint all wounds ASAP!

Vote May 10 Comal ISD Bond Election

Brush Disposal
Bexar Waste, our new waste collector, will be providing roll-offs for brush disposal six times per year for the convenience of Garden Ridge residents only. The disposal site will be located off Municipal Parkway on the following scheduled dates:

2008
May 10 -18
July 12 - 20
September 13 - 21
November 8 - 23
2009
January 3 - 11
March 7 - 22

7 Steps to a Happier Pet
The Humane Society of the United States, in battling to end animal neglect, cruelty and abuse, encourages you to take the following actions to support animals.
Make sure your pet wears an ID tag to let him be returned if lost.
Enroll you new puppy or dog in behavioral training classes and visit www.petsforlife.org.
Animal behavioral problems can be health related. Get a complete physical at a veterinarian at least once a year.
Prepare for disasters. Make sure you have a plan that includes your pet.
Plan for your pet’s future in case something happens to you, see www.hsus.org/petsinwills.
Learn how to avoid dog bites, and how to prevent your dog from biting by going to www.nodogbites.org.
Have a heart, be smart and have your pet spayed or neutered.

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 applications 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

The SHARE! High School Exchange Program is sponsored by Educational Resource Development Trust, a nonprofit educational foundation.

Barbershop Harmony
Fund Raiser

Texas Dinner and Show
Saturday, June 7 at 6 pm
Garden Ridge, TX Community Center
Complete Texas dinner and show $15 per ticket, Call 651-9261 for tickets.
Contacts: Larry Clemons clemons@earthlink.net
Alamo Metro - Brenda Miller brenda325@sbcglobal.net
Heart of Texas - John Worthington johnw@heartoftexaschorus.org

Library Footnotes
by Nancy Feibelman

Since September 1995, more information is being released and confirmed concerning World War II. What is so strange about these reports, the map illustrations and the German photographs of their bombers and fighters is that they were all perfectly clear but made no sense.
What we needed was a spy...and we had one! Admiral King had been following some Navy airplanes coming down the runway; and taking off before the deck’s yellow lift off stripe and then lifting up to run another touch and go!
Forgot to mention that Admiral King was not in a Navy fighter or bomber….He was in an Army Air Corps B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Above the circling planes was another Army B-25 watching each plane touch and go successfully. No one paid any attention as Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle headed northeast to another Navy base to practice on another carrier. Our spy had a number of things to check out.
As he saw the carrier waiting for him away from the crowded sky, he lined up and made a perfect touch and go.
Just needed a little practice and sixteen crews.
On April 18, 1942, Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and his 16 crews took off from the carrier Hornet and flew into history.
The war plans from Tokyo had to be changed.

Children’s Story Hour the first Saturday in May from 10 am until 12 Noon.
Call 651-6570 for information.

Library Hours are:
Mondays and Wednesdays 10 am to 6 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 8 pm
Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to Noon

Kitten Foster Homes Needed
Kitten foster homes are needed. Please save a pet’s life.
See www.homesforpets.org or
call 651-6469 for information.

Important Numbers

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

Significant Dates in May

May 11 - Mother's Day

May 17 Armed Forces Day

May 26 Memorial Day
Remember with great gratitude and honor all members of our Armed Forces. Especially those who fought and died serving America!

Annual Firefighter’s Festival
May 3rd at Central Station FM 3009

Your Bracken Volunteer Fire Department is hosting their spring fundraiser Saturday, May 3rd at the Central Station on FM 3009. A fajita dinner will be served from 4pm to 8pm, with to-go orders also available.
The Live Auction at 5:30pm.
Raffle tickets are being sold for some really great raffle prizes; you do not need to be present to win. So come on out May 3rd to have some good food and fun, visit with your neighbors, and help make this our biggest and best fundraiser ever!

Comal Independent Schoool District Bond Election

Early Voting:
May 1st and 5th
7 am - 7 pm
May 2nd and 6th
8 am - 5 pm

Election Day:
May 10th
7 am - 7 pm

Garden Ridge City Hall,
9400 Municipal Parkway

Quarry Happenings
On April 14, 2008, the Quarry Commission held its monthly meeting.
The Vibra Tech representative reviewed the blasting analysis data from March and reported that there were 10 blasts with the highest reading on seismograph monitors occurring on March 6th. Other high readings occurred on March 19th, 25th, and 28th. Two blasts were on the fifty foot face, seven blasts were on the west wall, and one blast was near the clay seam.
Eighteen of 29 blast readings registered 14 Hz or higher. Please note that blast readings that register at 14 Hz or higher are less likely to cause a residence to shake. Blast readings below 14 Hz are more likely to produce noticeable shaking of a structure.

Citizens who are interested in having quarry blasts monitored at their residence should contact a Quarry Commission member. Citizens are also invited to attend the next Quarry Commission meeting on May 12, 2008 at 7 PM.

More details about the Quarry Commission meetings are available at the City Municipal Building or on the Quarry Commission page of this website.

Coming Events
Go to the Calendar.

Significant City Council
Go to Council Actions.

Grapevine Deadline
Grapevine Deadline. The deadline for articles/notices for the GRAPEVINE is the 18th of the previous month. Please have all submissions for the June Grapevine in by May 18th.