From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
The City Fiscal Year 2009 budget and tax rate was completed and approved in September. City resources are very strong and we are in a solid position as we move into the future. Another tax decrease this year — from .221024 per $100 valuation last year to .209537 this year. Your actual tax bill, of course, depends on your appraisal. The capital worth of the city increased this year by more than $76.9 million to over $534 million. Growth!

Please support our local Lions on October 4th so that their charitable works can continue. This looks to be a big year with many auction items and good food.

Hope you had a great summer and even a better fall. Remember those less fortunate due to Hurricane Ike. Thanks for your continued support!

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

Jariel & Columba Castillo
Teresa & Anthony Colatarci
Jim & Verna Flahive
Rob Gilmore
Laura Goebel
Matthew & Carrie Inderlied
Charles & Doria Liberatore
Craig Schreader
Michelle Zachry

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

3rd Annual Haunted House
on Timber Rose October 31st
The Haunted House at 20666 Timber Rose will be open to the public. The Salyers Family is happy to offer the Garden Ridge community a fun and scary time for all. Visits to the House are free, however material donations and adult volunteers are needed. If you have a club or group that would like to go through the Haunted House on Thursday, Oct 30th, call Greg at 210-316-4354 for reservations or to volunteer.

QUICK NOTES

THANKS !!
Special thanks to the Garden Ridge Women’s Club for remodeling of restrooms in the Community Center.

PARK LANE POCKET PARK
Congratulations to Ryan Meade, son of Jay and Henrietta Meade, who planned and carried through on major improvements in the Park Lane Park for his Eagle Scout Project. He coordinated the purchase of materials and worked with his scout troop to lay pavers along the decayed granite path, and stain the Gazebo, swing, and bench seats. We are grateful for his diligence and efforts to beautify our Garden Ridge Pocket Park.

No Haunted Hayride this Year
The Garden Ridge sponsored Haunted Hayride will not be held this year. Please support the Haunted House on Timber Rose (See Article).

The Garden Ridge
Women’s Club
proudly presents
“A Christmas Gala”
Celebrate the holidays with friends and neighbors.
Enjoy a special holiday dinner, Dance if you wish or just come enjoy the music of Percy Lewis & Jazz Prodigy.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
from 7 to 11 pm
Garden Ridge Community Center
Only $45.00 per person, $50.00 for non-members
Checks payable to GRWC due by 12/5/08
Send to: Connie Furbish
8814 Garden Ridge Drive
Garden Ridge TX 78266

Fish Fry, BBQ and Auction
Bracken Lions Club Annual
Saturday October 4th

Starts at 3pm Community Center
Food served from 3:30 until 7:30 pm
Silent Auction is open from 3 - 6:30 pm Live Auction starts at 6:30 pm

Come join us for a great time, some great food, and enjoy the auctions and raffles. Please invite your friends, and help make this fund raiser a great success. All profits go to charity.Support your local Lions Club!

“Holiday A’Fair”
Marketplace Saturday Oct 18th
Start your holiday shopping early! More than 50 vendors will be at the Holiday A’Fair Marketplace on Saturday, October 18 from 9 am - 4 pm at the Garden Ridge Community Center. Sponsored by the Knotty Knotters of the Garden Ridge Women’s Club, all proceeds will be donated to the New Life Children’s Treatment Center in Canyon Lake, a residential treatment center for girls 11-17.
Only $2 admission fee (includes 2 free raffle tickets), free parking. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
Join us for this fun event, and help make the fundraiser a success. For additional information, call 651-9241.

BRACKEN VFD
KARTOFFEL PUFFER FEST
Original World-Famous Potato Pancakes
Saturday and Sunday October 25 - 26

The Bracken Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) will again hold its annual Kartoffel Puffer Fest at the Garden Ridge Community Center on October 25-26. Watch the next Grapevine for times and more details.
In addition to pancakes, there will be drinks (beer/sodas/water), sausage, and some good ole foot-tapping German music. There will NOT be an entrance fee or parking fee.
So mark your calendars and tell your neighbors, friends and family so they won’t miss out on this very special event. It will be the only place around to get those famous potato pancakes this year!
David Hencshel
BVFD, President

BVFD Seeking Candidates
for the Board of Directors
The 9 member BRacken Volunteer Fire Department Board has 3 positions available for election by the general membership at the annual membership meeting in October. The nominating committee is seeking candidates from the membership to serve on the board. Current members of the board can stand for reelection. Attendance is required at regular board meetings normally held the 4th Monday of each month at the BVFD. Points of Contact: BVFD, Mr. Buddy Boone or Mr. Mark Schroeder.

Library Footnotes
by Suzanne McCandles

Suzanne McCandles
This month, the library added to our collection of DVDs. These are mainly older movies and classics you may have missed. Included are A&E classics such as Tom Jones, Victoria & Albert, Lorna Doone, Ivanhoe, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. There’s a little more action in Junior Bonner with Steve McQueen and Madigan with Richard Widmark and Henry Fonda. For a bit of history, try Warm Springs which tells of FDR’s struggle with illness that left him paralyzed. Aging actresses Lillian Gish and Bette Davis star in The Whales of August as widowed sisters dealing with old age. On a lighter note, you might enjoy the British comedy, A Private Function with Maggie Smith and Michael Palin. (Do you suppose he’s related to Sarah?)
Speaking of politics, we do have several books on both candidates to help you make up your mind. Just in case you are still wavering. The most recent addition is Obama Nation.
Finally, I just completed and the library has The Story of Edward Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. If you enjoy dog stories, suspenseful mysteries, multigenerational tales, genetics, dog training, or ghost stories, you might enjoy this one. It has a little of everything. I think the author was influenced by Hamlet, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Jungle Books.

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

Important Numbers

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

EARLY VOTING
CITY COURT ROOM

Oct 25 — 9 am to 4 pm
Oct 27 — 9 am to 7 pm
Oct 28 — 9 am to 6 pm
Oct 29 — 9 am to 7 pm
Exercise a precious gift — VOTE !!

Community CPR Class
at Bracken UMC October 7th
The mission of the health ministry at Bracken United Methodist Church is to provide useful information and education to the people in the surrounding community. The next event will be:
Community CPR Class
Tuesday, October 7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Ages 12 to adult. Please call 830-606-6717 to sign up.
Space is limited. There is no cost.
This is not a class for certification!
Bracken UMC is located at 20377 FM 2252, one mile north of FM 3009.

Triumphant Lutheran Church Annual Oktoberfest
Saturday October 18th
2315 Bat Cave Rd.

10 am - Arts and Crafts Fair

2pm - Children's activities and silent auction

4pm - Live music with dancing by the Bohemian Dutchmen

5pm - Homemade BBQ supper served.

6pm - Raffle Drawing

All proceeds will benefit local charities.
Anyone wanting a table for the Arts & Crafts Fair contact Kristin at 210-843-7953.

Quarry Commission Happenings
On September 8, 2008, the Quarry Commission held its monthly meeting.
The Vibra Tech representative reviewed the blasting analysis data from August and reported that there were 6 blasts with the highest readings on the seismograph monitors occurring on August 11th. All blasts were located on the north side of the quarry. No blasts occurred on the west wall due to the rain and reduced demand.
More details about the Quarry Commission meetings are available on the Quarry home page.
Citizens that 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 October 13th at 7 pm

Bexar County Pharmacy Association
38th Annual Fine Art Auction
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Dr. Burton E. Grossman International Conference Center Sky Room
University of Incarnate Word
847 E. Hildebrand Avenue (Corner of Hildebrand and US 281) San Antonio, Texas 78209
Works of art sold by silent auction. All art is custom framed. (Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Checks accepted)
Open to the public, free admission, great door prizes.
Proceeds support BCPA community Health Pharmacy programs, Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy and the Felk School of Pharmacy at UIW.
For Information: www.bcpatx.org or call 210-732-7979

Coming Events
Go to the Calendar.

Significant City Council
Go to Council Actions.

Grapevine Deadline
Grapevine Deadline. Inputs for the November GRAPEVINE need to be turned in by close of business on October 14 due to publishing constraints.