the grapevine - garden ridge, texas
TRANSCRIPT
THE GRAPEVINE NOW OVER 1,600 HOUSEHOLDS SERVED
The Newsletter of the City of Garden Ridge
NOVEMBER 2019 www.ci.garden-ridge.tx.us
City Hall (210) 651-6632
Garden Ridge Police Department, general information (210) 651-6441
Police emergencies /assistance - 911 / (830) 609-3921
Water, Animal Services (including after hours/holidays) (210) 651-6831
Library (210) 651-6570
WELCOME TO GARDEN RIDGE New Residents
KAREN ADAMS ROBERT & BARBARA BIEL
BEAU BLEVINS RAMONA DOLSON
JUAN HERNANDEZ JAMES & KATIE KYLE
ROBERT & DANA MURRAY CHRIS WARD
NOTE: Newcomers are derived from water service records, and thus, not all family members are included. Those not appearing are also welcomed! Please remember the City of Garden Ridge requires that all dogs and cats be registered annually. Call City Hall for information.
REMINDER: Daylight saving time ends at 2am on Sunday, November 3rd. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back!
COMMISSION VACANCIES
Do you have a desire to serve the City and be closer to the action? You may be a valuable addition to a City's commission. Commissions assist City Council with making decisions for the betterment of our great City. Commission membership is open to all Garden Ridge residents with appointments by City Council. The City commissions are: Planning and Zoning Commission, Wildlife Management Advisory Commission, Water Commission, and Quarry Commission. Visit the City’s website for more details and show your interest in becoming actively involved in the City.
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
The holiday season is just around the corner and with that comes a spike of criminals looking to take advantage of good people. Stopping thieves from taking from others is nearly impossible, but we can all find ways to make our community a less desirable place to commit these crimes.
Unlocked vehicles continue to be an issue, but during the holiday season they are especially inviting to the opportunistic burglar. With the steady growth in and around our City, we encourage each of you to make it part of your end of evening rituals to also make sure your vehicles are locked.
Another thing to note when out and about is to make sure you are not leaving valuables in plain sight, that’s just asking for trouble. If you see or hear something suspicious, please report it to dispatch by calling 830-609-3921. Comal County dispatches Garden Ridge Police Officers as well.
GARDEN RIDGE MARKET DAYS
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 9, from 9am-2pm in the City Hall parking lot for another great opportunity to meet your local business owners as well as your neighbors! There will be many exciting activities for the whole family, including fall-themed games such as pumpkin ring toss and pumpkin bowling. We will have free face painting, live music, and the Library will be hosting Thanksgiving Story-time and Crafts. Also, Garden Ridge Market Days will be accepting donations such as canned food or pantry items for a Food-Drive.
Follow our Instagram account @gardenridgemarketdays or our Facebook page for additional and updated information. Please contact Kim Wood at [email protected] with any questions or if you’re interested in participating.
COMAL COUNTY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
The Dry Comal Creek Greenway Project will have a meeting on Tuesday, November 12th from 6pm—8pm. It will be held at Landa Haus on 360 Aquatic Circle in New Braunfels. Ylda Capriccioso, Park Development Manager, from the City of New Braunfels will be discussing the next steps for this project and how the community can support the effort. The Dry Comal Creek Greenway project may have missed inclusion in the latest City bond program, but this popular project is not going away.
Check out their website for more information: https://www.comalconservation.org/up-coming-events/html
SIGN UP FOR ELECTRONIC BILLS
The City of Garden Ridge is working towards becoming an “E-Government” by providing more information, forms, and applications through our website. We are also trying to go paperless! Are you interested in receiving your water bill through email? Well, we have exciting news for you then! Go paperless by signing up for e-billing services. You can sign up through a multitude of ways: complete and return the form in your water bill last month, submit the form on the City’s website, or even come into City Hall. The City of Garden Ridge plans to implement this process during the holiday season. If you have any questions, please call City Hall at (210)-651-6632 or email the Utility Clerk at [email protected]
DID YOU KNOW…?
The City of Garden Ridge has a multitude of ways to communicate with the residents. To list a few of the options: “Notify Me” and “Report It!” are amazing tools that a resident can access through the City’s website. All you have to do is create an account and sign up! It’s that simple.
“Notify Me” allows the City to notify residents of any updates on the website through a text message or email. Find “Notify Me” under Communications and type in your email to sign up. You have total control over what categories of information we send to you. Do you want to know when the next City Council Agenda is posted? Sign up for “Notify Me” to find out immediately!
Did you catch a squirrel and need the Animal Services Officer to come pick it up? Use the City’s “Report It!” system to notify Animal Services. This communication tool is excellent to use for making the City aware of a concern. Find “Report It!” under Your Community, provide any relevant information, select the applicable department for your report to be forwarded to, and click submit.
A special thanks to all of Garden Ridge’s Volunteers, especially as we head into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. We recognize at this time of the year “free time” is precious and we thank you for choosing to volunteer some of it serving the City. Our “SIGN-UP-GENIUS” link is available on the City’s website for residents who can spare an hour or two to help with the Christmas tree lighting event or at the library.
The Butterfly Meadow at Paul Davis Park has been seeded, compliments of the Wildlife Commission, and all we need is someone to donate some rain. Some new picnic tables and benches have been positioned at Paul Davis Park. They are portable; therefore, can be moved if needed by the residents. Very large boulders have also been temporarily staged at Paul Davis Park. They were donated by the residents of The Forest of Garden Ridge to be repurposed for landscaping at Paul Davis Park. As you will see, they are not portable.
Planning for the Christmas tree lighting event is under way and the Parks Committee is excited about some new, enhanced photo-ops and upgrades to old favorites and activities. The Parks Committee is especially thankful for several newly recruited committee members and the new part time volunteers who have helped continue the tradition. See the attached Christmas flyer for a list of activities and be sure to bring the kids and come join your neighbors on December 5th from 5pm to 8pm at the Community and Event Center.
Go to https://www.ci.garden-ridge.tx.us/352/Volunteer-Garden-Ridge for more information about volunteering!
Significant Actions–October City Council Meeting
Approved
• Resolution 456-102019 and Ordinance No. 222-102019
• Contract with Johnny’s Wrecker Service for Wrecker Service and Vehicle Storage for a three-year period
• Adoption of Capital Improvement Advisory Committee Procedural Rules
• Third-Party Monitoring Contract required by Ordinance No. 34-072019
Discussion and Updates
• CIP Projects • City Administrator Projects • City Board and Commissions • City Facilities • City Council Projects • Mayor Projects • Parks Committee • Volunteer Garden Ridge!
The Garden Ridge Women’s Club is planning a Hill Country Christmas Expedition to see the Johnson City Lights Spectacular on Saturday, December 14th. Garden Ridge Women’s Club Members and Spouse/Guest are invited. Bus transportation will be provided to Johnson City for dinner and combined bus / walking tours of Johnson City and Pedernales Electric Co-Op holiday light displays. Music, a living Nativity, shops, and food vendors may be found in some areas.
Meet at the Garden Ridge Community and Event Center parking lot at 5pm. $20 per person includes bus transportation and beverages on board. Individuals are responsible for their own dinner purchase.
RSVP by December 1st or until sold out to Cheryl Bither, [email protected] or 240-367-5100.
COMMUNICATIONS
Person to Person: 9400 Municipal Parkway, Garden Ridge, TX Phone: (210) 651-6632 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday)
Website: www.ci.garden-ridge.tx.us Coffee With the Mayor: Mondays, 9:30a.m. to 11:00a.m.
Social Media: Facebook-City of Garden Ridge, Nextdoor.com, Twitter
Coffee with a Cop: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at First United Bank at 9:00 a.m.
Citizen Comment Period: Opportunity to speak at all City Council and Commission meetings
Citizen Concern/Citizen Input: Interactive communication form http://ci.garden-ridge.tx.us/forms.aspx?fed+65
The Garden Ridge Lions would like to thank everyone who came out in support of our annual Fish Fry, BBQ & Auction fundraiser on October 5th. All proceeds went to the Garden Ridge Lions Charities, which supports Garden Ridge and the surrounding areas. This year’s event will
support local community & youth service organizations, sight/hearing services, and many other charities. A special thanks goes out to ‘Chords Of Grace’ for providing the entertainment.
Also, Garden Ridge Lion President Bill Swint and Service Chair Noelle Czerniak presented a check for $500 to Major Roman Leal of the New Braunfels Salvation Army this month.
LIBRARY FOOTNOTES
On Friday, November 8, 2019, at 10:30 am, the Garden Ridge Library will once again host a Veterans Day Celebration. While deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day, that day is basically set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military. I’m sure that most of you know it is also the anniversary of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the armistice of the Great War that was supposed to be the “war that ended all wars.” Since that war ended in 1918, there have been many wars. But, once they are done and the shooting stops, how quickly the nation forgets those who sacrificed. A Veteran – whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve – is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “the United States of America” for an amount of “up to, and including his or her life.”
For us in Garden Ridge it is a time to show we haven’t forgotten and to say thank you to all our veterans. This special event will be held at City Hall. Our featured speaker will be Lt. Col. Christina MacGregor, a former fighter pilot in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We will also welcome the Canyon High School ROTC and Garden Ridge Elementary choir.
If you have never sent your military service photo, please send it to [email protected] for our slide show.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION
Can you attract more than ants in your hummingbird feeder? Is it worth it to feed and water birds during the winter? What are the most common birds seen here in Texas? If you have ever asked any of these questions, please attend our next Wildlife Management Advisory Commission meeting on November 18th at 6pm to learn more about wild birds. The local store, Wild Birds Unlimited, has graciously donated samples of bird seed and copies of “Knowing Your Feeder Birds” for those in attendance. We will also have different types of feeders out on display as well as information on how to enjoy your backyard birds in a healthy way.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 Storytime, 10:30am
Stay & Play,
11:15am
2
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
3
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
4
Coffee with the Mayor, 9:30
- 11am @ City Hall
5
Northside Knitters, 10am
Lego Robotics, 3:30-
4:30pm or 6-7pm
6
A Matter of Balance, 10am
@ Community Center
Lego Club, 3:30-5pm
CITY COUNCIL
@ 6PM
7
Adult Coloring, 1pm
Prenda Coding, 5:30-
7pm
8
Veterans Day
Celebration,
10:30am @ City Hall
9
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
Garden Ridge
Market Days,
9am - 2pm
10
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
12
Northside Knitters, 10am
Lego Robotics, 3:30-
4:30pm or 6-7pm
P&Z @ 6PM
13
Coffee with a Cop 9am
@ First United Bank
A Matter of Balance,
10am
Lego Club, 3:30-5pm
14
Adult Coloring, 1pm
Prenda Coding, 5:30-
7pm
15
Storytime, 10:30am
Stay & Play,
11:15am
16
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
17
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
18
Coffee with the Mayor, 9:30
- 11am @ City Hall
WILDLIFE MGT.
ADVISORY @ 6PM
19
Northside Knitters, 10am
Card-Making Class, 1pm
Lego Robotics, 3:30-
4:30pm or 6-7pm
WATER COMM. @
6PM
20
VA Rep, 9am-3pm
A Matter of Balance,
10am @ Community
Center
Lego Club, 3:30-5pm
21
Workday in Gardens of
Garden Ridge, 8:30am
Adult Coloring, 1pm
Prenda Coding, 5:30-
7pm
P&Z @ 6PM
22
Storytime, 10:30am
Stay & Play,
11:15am
23
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
24
DUMPSTERS
8AM - 5PM
25
Coffee with the Mayor, 9:30
- 11am @ City Hall
26
Northside Knitters, 10am
Lego Robotics, 3:30-
4:30pm or 6-7pm
27
Coffee with a Cop 9am
@ First United Bank
Lego Club, 3:30-5pm
28
29 30
November 2019 www.ci.garden-ridge.tx.us City Hall (210) 651-6632 Library (210) 651-6570
Police Department General Information (210) 651-6441 Police Emergencies/Assistance - 911 or (830) 609-3921 Water, Animal Services (including after hours/holidays)
(210) 651-6831
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
CITY HALL AND LIBRARY CLOSED
*City meetings are in bold and subject to change, please refer to the City website. These meetings are held @ City Hall.
*Activities that are underlined will occur at the Library.
*City news/deadlines are in italics.
VETERANS DAY
CITY HALL AND LIBRARY CLOSED
Brought to you by the Garden Ridge Parks Committee elves
Sponsoring a FREE Children’s
Candy Buffet and a FREE Raffle
for a Child’s Audi R-8!
5th Annual Garden Ridge
Christmas Tree Lighting
at the Community and Event Center
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, 5PM to 8PM
FREE Admission
FOOD TRUCKS
Grouchy Mama’s
JustDogs34
Funnel Cakes
FREE Hot Cocoa
sponsored by
Danny Correa of
Free Raffle!
1 adult/1 child
Gift Basket
Carols by GRES
Kids
Visit Santa
“Give Them a Christmas”
Ornaments for $5 to benefit
Hope Hospice
Live Music Performance
by Chords of Grace