From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
A good turnout of approximately 250 people on June 18th to learn more about Oak Wilt. For years the city administration has talked and preached on the danger of this devastating tree disease which has hit the Kerrville-Comfort area and other parts of Texas hard. Now we have learned of a verified discovery less than one mile from Garden Ridge. If unchecked, this disease could create an economic disaster. The costs to treat and/or remove trees could be astronomical. Costs aside, imagine the loss of these beautiful trees.
Steps that must be taken:
Paint all wounds as quickly as possible. Even one hour could be too late.
Insure hired tree trimmers provide paint to cover wounds. ASK!
Report any unpainted wounds to the GRPD at 651-6441.
Avoid, if possible, any trimming/cutting of oak trees during the Feb - May period.
Although somewhat complex, the disease is basically spread by sap beetles carrying live Oak Wilt spores to healthy trees through open wounds. From there it spreads through the root systems. For more information visit www.texasoakwilt.org. I consider this an immediate and urgent problem that requires cooperation by all.
Have a safe summer.

Welcome to Garden Ridge
New Residents:
Those listed and families:
John & Rosemary Aguilar
Matthew Bates
Harvey Bell
Calvin & Willa Bobbitt
Monica & Derrick Candler
Clifford & Stephanie Dahl
David & Shannon Drichta
Massoud Moezzi
John Mott
Thomas & Mary Murrin
Paul Curtis & Julie Reding
William & Bonnie Van Steenberg
Theresa Thomas
Wade & Christina Powell

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

Fireworks are Illegal
Fireworks are illegal in Garden Ridge.

Dumpster July 12-20th
Dumpsters at City Complex 12 - 20 July for brush only.

Paint Oak Immediately
Paint oak wounds immediately — any type of paint!

Register your Pets
Register your pets with the city to insure their safe return. Call 210-651-6831 or fill out Pet Registration form online.

Prepare for February 2009
On February 17, 2009, the United States will transition to an exclusively digital broadcasting format for full-power broadcast TV stations. This is a significant change that will impact many of our citizens. Texas is well above the national average in terms of the number of households that rely exclusively on antennas for TV reception. These households will require a digital to analog converter for each TV that relies on an antenna for reception. The government will provide 2 coupons worth $40 each toward purchase of 2 converters.
These D-TV converter boxes will be available at electronic stores and other US retailers. You may apply for your coupons through a web site, via a toll-free number, or by mail. There is a limit of two coupons per household. Coupons will expire 90 days after they are issued. To get updates on how to order your coupons, call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) or visit www.dtv2009.gov.
You can find more information at the following:
Senator Hutchinson’s web site: www.hutchinson.senate.gov/dtv
Federal Communications Commission www.dtv.gov
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
Department of Commerce www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv
(202) 482-5802
Broadcast Insustry www.dtvanswers.com

Drought Management
(Go to Water Management website.)
Garden Ridge is aligned with the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) regarding drought management. Currently, when the aquifer averages less than 660’ mean sea level (msl) for a period of 10 consecutive days, we implement Stage 1. Confusion exists regarding media notification of drought management rules as they report San Antonio Water System (SAWS) rules that implement Stage 1 at 650’ msl. The mayor spoke with the EAA general manager regarding this inconsistency. Hopefully, they will implement a system with the media to clarify confusion. When in doubt, call the Garden Ridge Water Department at 651-6831 for status.

Children’s Story Hour
Saturday Mornings 10:30 - 11:30
Please join us Saturday mornings: July 12, 19, 26, and August 2
Featuring: Guest Readers, prizes, fun
Garden Ridge Library:
10:30 am to 11:30 am
Children 10 years old and younger are invited. Parents are asked to stay with their children. For more information call
651-6570 10 am to 6 pm, Monday - Thursday, 10 am to 12 Noon Friday - Saturday.

Library Footnotes
by Nancy Feibelman
A very nice crowd of approximately 80 parents and children were on hand June 10th to see and hear Bonzo the Clown. He put on an absolutely delightful show which was enjoyed by all. Special thanks to Paul and Evelyn Miller for their donation of pewter plates and to Gary and Gloria Stegman for a framed Fiesta poster.
Visit your library. Now open 6 days a week - 40 hours.

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

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
August 5 - 7 to 9 pm

National Night Out is August 5, 2008 - 7 to 9pm at the Community Center sponsored by American Bank of Texas.
This year, Digi Kids sponsored by your local Ameriprise Financial Advisors — Doris Dollar and Ivan Friend — will have equipment to fingerprint and photograph your children. In case of an emergency, your children’s finger prints and photograph will be in a national data base for reference. Last year it was such a big success, that they kindly decided to sponsor it again. This community is grateful for their generosity.
We will have a theme “Meet Your Neighbors and Community” with picnic tables where you may sit and eat the free food that is provided and meet your neighbors.
We would like local churches, homeowner associations, clubs, sports groups and scouts to participate by manning a table. There will be tables to sign up new residents to register to vote and one to verify names that will be in the 2009 Garden Ridge Phone Directory.
Jerry Warden of Texas Parks and Wildlife will be there with his “skins and skulls” display that attendees can touch and learn about wildlife.
There will be a face painter and bounce machine for the children, as well as fire equipment from the Bracken VFD and helpful information from the GRPD. Mark the first Tuesday in August on your calendar.
Contact Mickey Sanders at 651-5782 if you would like a table.

Comal Elementary PTO
Comal Elementary PTO is planning for 2008-2009 school year. Parents, if you are interested in getting involved and volunteering contact:
Rhonda Jahns 210-274-7112 rhondajahns@satx.rr.com
Kathy Riley 210-651-3228 twitchets@aol.com

Important Numbers

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

Significant Dates in July

Happy 36th Birthday
City of Garden Ridge

Friday 4th of July
Parade and Picnic
You are cordially invited to participate and attend the annual City of Garden Ridge Party and Parade at the Paul Davis Park on Friday, July 4th.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Gather 9:30 am
Flag Raising 10:00 am
Parade 10:30 am
Food 10:45 - 3:00 pm

Activities throughout the day including:
Dunking Booth
Face painting
Pet Adoptions
Pictures on horseback
Food — ice cream, caramel apples, snocones, roast corn, brownies
Drinks
Cowboy grub — a BBQ caterer will serve brisket and sausage for $4 a plate with the proceeds going to Area Crisis Action Centers. Please come out, celebrate our country’s Independence Day, support a worthy cause and party in the Park! See you there!

Quarry Happenings

On June 9, 2008, the Quarry Commission held its monthly meeting.
The Vibra Tech representative reviewed the blasting analysis data from May and reported that there were 18 blasts with the highest readings on the seismograph monitors occurring on May 6th and 16th. Eleven blasts were on the west wall, two blasts were on the upper 50 foot face, four blasts were on the lower fifty foot level, and one blast was in the South Texas Aggregate pit.
Forty-four of fifty-four blast readings registered 14 Ha 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 will have the opportunity to tour the Hanson Quarry on July 22nd. Please go to the City Website or contact City Hall for details.
More details about the Quarry Commission meetings are available at the City Municipal Building or on the City’s web site.
Citizens who are interested in having quarry blasts monitored at their residence should contact a member on the Quarry Commission. Citizens are also invited to attend the next Quarry Commission meeting on July 14, 2008 at 7:00 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 August Grapevine in by July 18th.

You Know You're in Texas
in July When . . .
The birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground.
Hot water now comes out of both taps.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
Farmers feed their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?