From Our Mayor
Jay F. Feibelman
Thanks to all for the support given during 2007 insuring a wonderful place to live — Garden Ridge, Texas. This year saw the opening of the new city offices and many other monumental events. The state of the city is outstanding!
A very Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year to ALL!

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

Jay & Tracy Anderson
Avid & Marcy Bell
Aaron & Denise Braun
Carlos & Jeanette Castilleja
Daniel & Michelle DeLeo
Robert & Jill Dosee
Tom & Angelina Eckols
Oscar & Patricia Guajardo Jr.
Claudia Franco
Vincent & Andrea Hardeman
James Kelly
Obert Kraemer
Jesse Pee
Melvin Reese
Susie Scott
Ricky Shelton
John & Nancy Sides Jr.
Bruce & Marga Stanfill
Raynard & Joycelyn Taylor
Tony & Reagan Tunstall

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

Triumphant Lutheran
Christmas Events
Cantata - Come to the Manger
Sunday, Dec 9, 8:30 & 11:00 am
Children’s Christmas Program
Sunday Dec 16, 9:45 am
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Dec 24, 6:30 & 10:00 pm
Christmas Day Communion Service
Tuesday Dec 25, 10:00 am

For more information please call the church office at 210-651-9090, or visit us on line at: www.triumphantlutheran.org.

QUICK NOTES
Congratulations to Garden Ridge residents Johnathan Chang Liu, Kyle Struzyk, and Cory Massey upon attainment of Eagle Scout Rank.

Congratulations to Josh Morrow for winning top honors at the 27th Annual Lackland Bodybuilding Classic. Josh captured first place trophies in both Men’s Teen Class and Men’s Novice Heavyweight Class Divisions. He also won second place in the Overall Men’s competition, quite an accomplishment considering this was Josh’s first time to compete at age 19. Josh is the son of Christi and John Haberer.

COOKING CLASS
HEB and GRWC
The Garden Ridge Women’s Club HEB Central Market cooking class will be January 24, 2008, from
11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Cost to members is $30 per person; cost to nonmembers is $35 per person. Not only do you get to watch talented chefs prepare a delicious meal that you get to eat, but you also learn how to prepare each item and obtain many cooking tips throughout the class. This event fills up quickly and seating is limited to the first 30 people who send in their money. Send your check payable to GRWC to:
Diana Schonhoff
13014 Tonne Dr. E
New Braunfels, TX 78132
For more information or questions, call Diana Schonhoff (830) 609-2972 or Peggy Campbell (210) 651-6065

New Credit Card Scam
‘Tis the season. Beware of any calls regarding your credit card numbers, specifically the 3 digit security code on the back of the card.
The scammers may already have you credit card number and your address and phone number and they will use that information to get you to divulge the 3 digit pin code on the back of the card.
DON’T GIVE IT TO THEM!

Coyotes in City
Coyotes have been spotted in the City. Be aware and cautious regarding pets.

Register Your Pets
The City of Garden Ridge requires that all dogs and cats be registered. Call 651-6831 for information.
Online Registration form.

Library Footnotes
by Nancy Feibelman

Children’s Christmas Story Telling December 1st 11:45 to 12:30
for ages 3 - 10. Santa arrives at 12:30 to wish all a Merry Christmas!

The Library Ladies did some reading of new books at the Library this past month. Here are the results:
Linda Crosland read Mission Road by San Antonio’s own Rick Riordan, who is a triple-crown winner of mystery’s most coveted awards; the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus. He brings a Texas-style take on solving a cold case. You’ll enjoy seeing familiar names of streets and places as you ride along the Tres Navarre in his search for truth and resolution of an
18-year-old Mission Road murder.

Karen Bishop read Balaam Gimble’s Gumption, for which author Mike Nichols won the award for Funniest Book in Texas. Eccentric Balaam discovers miraculous waters on high land in fictitious Willoughby near Waco and the townspeople see the discovery as their way to economic renewal. He draws on his gumption to resist such commercialism from ruining the peaceful lifestyle he enjoys. Exploding cow chips and Balaam running amuck in his 23-year-old Frankenford add to the fun.

Suzanne McCandless read Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which was an unusual story of an autistic boy who tries to solve the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog. If you like the movie “Rainman”, you will enjoy this novel.

For Sale
The Library is hoping to sell some computer components and their old card catalogs. See Jay Feibelman or Linda Crosland for details.

Precinct 205 Amendment
Election Recap
Garden Ridge had a great election on Tuesday, November 6. We had 400 voters vote on election day, which was a 10% voter turnout—better than the state-wide average. This does not include any early votes. Garden Ridge voters did not follow the state-wide trend and pass all 16 amendments. Two amendments failed in Garden Ridge: Proposition 4, which provides $1billion in bonds for state projects, failed 49% to 51%. Proposition 16 which provides $250 million in bonds for water projects failed 49% to 51%. Also, Proposition 15 which provides $3 billion in bonds for cancer research barely passed, 50.1% to 49.9%. The rest of the Amendments followed statewide trends.
I want to thank everyone who voted in the amendment election. The next big election will be Tuesday, March 4, 2008 when the Republican and Democratic primaries will be held.
Charlie Flink, Election Judge.

Bracken VFD – Thanks!
Kartoffel Puffer Fest a Success
Bracken Volunteer Fire Department wants to thank EVERYONE who helped make our first Potato Pancake Sale at the Garden Ridge Community Center a success! The Garden Ridge Police Department and Public Works shared the Community Center with us; the many volunteers did all the work; the community came out and supported the event; and the bands made the Puffer Fest festive. It was truly a fun-raiser and a fund-raiser. Thanks for being such loyal and generous supporters of your volunteer fire department!
Chief Donald Zipp

United Way Campaign 2007
United Way of Comal County
We want to tell you about a different campaign that is going on right now. By the end of this year, the United Way of Comal County will have given out over $433,000 to 26 different agencies here in the county benefiting our residents. Twenty-five percent of that money was donated by people like you who made a direct cash donation.

Our campaign this year is to raise more funds to help more people in our communities and county. We need your help and commitment to make that happen. Any donation amount will be appreciated and put to good use. You can even donate specifically to any one of 22 agencies we will serve in 2008 if that is your wish.

If you’d like more information or would like to learn how you can donate, give us a call at (830) 620-7760 or send e-mail to us at unitedway@uwcomal.org. We will be happy to send you a brochure and a pledge envelope.
You can really make a difference right here in Comal County. Thanks for your help!

Important Numbers

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

GRCPAAA

The Appreciation Dinner for the Police Department will be December 1, 2007 at 7 PM at the Community Center.

Bracken Village Christmas
Nov 29th through Dec1st
Bracken Village invites you to its 6th annual Charles Dickens Christmas on November 29th, 30th and December 1. The beautifully restored turn of the century Village of shops and eateries is located at 18771 FM 2252 (Nacogdoches Road). Step back in time and enjoy the holidays the old-fashioned way among strolling musicians, choristers, horse drawn carriages, actors, and a host of Village shop keepers at their Dickens’ best!
Admission to the Charles Dickens Christmas is $5 for adults, children 5 - 12 are $3, and children under 4 are free! For additional information contact Bracken Village at 651-6935 or from the website www.brackenvillagesa.com.
It is the most wholesome fun you will ever have! In the Village this year will be the Fiesta City Chorus of the Sweet Adelines, the Arcade Quartet of the Chordsmen, Bradley Bohn — Violinist, Treasure Trio — American and Celtic Music, J. Damien Gillen — Actor in his play Bah Humbug!, Professor Pottersfield — Ventriloquist, and Henry Little, Father Christmas, Tim St. John — Dickensian Juggler, San Antonio Bagpipes and Drums (Friday only), and horse drawn carriage rides through the Village and Village forest!

Candlelight Caroling
9:00 pm each evening around the Great Christmas Tree in the Village Green! Enjoy a Dickens’ Faire Dinner, Great BBQ, and refreshments!

Pony Express Riders
On Saturday December 1st at 1:00 pm, Bracken Village and local dignitaries will welcome the Pony Express Riders as they make a stop on their way to Ft. Sam Houston in celebration of “Christmas Along the El Camino Real de Los Tejas Corridor”. Immediately following at 1:15 pm, Santa Claus will arrive on the Bracken VFD Fire Truck — so bring your camera, your Christmas list, and your kids to meet Santa in the Gazebo for pictures. Your stamped Christmas mail can be postmarked with the special one day only Bracken Village Stop Station cancellation stamp!

The Garden Ridge
Women’s Club
proudly presents and encourages citizens everywhere to enjoy:

“A Christmas Gala”
December 8, 2007
7:00 – 11:00 PM
Garden Ridge Community Center
(decorated for the season)

Gather your friends, family and neighbors for an evening of elegant dining in our Garden Ridge Community Center,
festively decorated for the season.
Ken Parrock’s terrific 13 piece orchestra will play again this year; dance the night away or just enjoy his music from your table.

Table reservations for up to 8 available.
Dress is coat & tie/cocktail
(black tie optional).
Member and guest $55.00 per person
Non-members $60.00 per person
Cash bar available

For further information contact:
Connie Furbish 651-6981 or
June Fordiani 651-9111
It's not too late!
Send reservation with checks to:
Connie Furbish
8814 Garden Ridge Drive
Garden Ridge, TX 7826

QUARRY COMMISSION
Eighteen blasts were monitored during the month of October with a peak PPV reading on Oct 4th of 0.29 and a peak air overpressure reading of 126.0 db on Oct 5th. A significant number of the blasts were in the lower frequency range (below 14 Hz) which could have caused the blasts to feel stronger. The eighteen blasts were in various areas of the quarry. (Details available from the Commission.) Timing delays are being reviewed in order to raise blast frequencies and thereby reduce blast effects on homeowners.
Those interested in having quarry blasts monitored at their residence should contact a member of the Quarry Commission. Citizens are invited to the next Commission meeting on Dec 10, 2007. Read more.

Coming Events
Go to the Calendar.

Significant City Council
Actions in October

Grapevine Deadline
The deadline for articles/notices for the GRAPEVINE for the December issue of the Grapevine is November 15!