Historic Rural Schools Benefit BBQ - 4/3

Friends of Gillespie County Country Schools, preserving the past to enrich the future. This event raises funds to help preserve the twelve historical former rural school buildings currently being used as public community centers in Gillespie County. Enjoy a chicken BBQ meal with all the trimmings as a drive-thru or dine-in at 724 South Washington. Cost is $8 per plate donation, while it last. Call (830) 685-3385 for more information.

Fredericksburg CARES Hosting Recycling and Sustainability Meeting - March 29

Fredericksburg CARES is hosting an open public meeting on the future of recycling and sustainability efforts in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. Attendees are invited to bring a healthy food or drink item to share. For more information contact John Watson at 830-998-4133, or email jwatsongreenliving@gmail.com Fredericksburg CARES will also hold its semi-annual electronic recycling (E-waste) collection on April 16. The sixth such event sponsored by FBG CARES, the City of Fredericksburg, and Gillespie County, the drive will be held from 9 am to 3 pm at the corner of Adams and San Antonio Streets. More details forthcoming. Fredericksburg CARES is still taking nominations for its two annual $250 awards to recognize local businesses and non-profit organizations for their contributions of outstanding sustainability endeavors in their community environmental/conservation/sustainability leadership in Gillespie County. Contact Sherryl Brown at info@fbgcares.com or 990.9305 by April 1, 2011.

410 West Main – Knopp Building

F. C. Radeleff bought this lot for $650 in 1870, which suggests that some portion of the building was in existence. He ran a store from the front of the building and was elected Sheriff and Tax Collector in 1874. His short-lived term was ended when John Walter was sworn in as sheriff in December of the same year. To make restitution for a deficiency in the office funds, they sold the property to Frederick Probst in January 1875. Probst paid them $500, and assumed payment of $1400 to the County for the deficiency in funds. Probst sold the property to E. Wahrmund in 1896, who turned around and sold it to John Knopp, who ran his general merchandise business in the two-story combination store and home across the street. His son Jacob moved into this house to be near the business. Jacob, who was born in Germany in 1865, and his wife Auguste raised eight children in the house. Jacob died in 1913, and the house was rented to different tenants.

415 West Main - Wilhelm Crenwelge Home

John Schmidt built a log cabin to the west of the house site in 1850 that has been torn down, then sold it to Jacob Schneider in 1852. In 1860, Schneider, by this time blind, sold the property to Wilhelm Crenwelge. And his heirs lived in this house until the mid-1950s. Wilhelm Crenwelge lived in the log and rock house next door while his parents used the bigger house after it was finished. He and his father were wheelwrights and conducted their business here. The Crenwelges raised a large family on the property.

By the 1930s, Erwin and Paul Kraus who used the building for storing Coca-Cola and Pearl Beer. They ran their business from the building on the corner. They sold the property to Mary Crenwelge, no relation to the previous Crenwelge owners, in 1966, who conveyed it to her son Milton in 1972.

419 West Main – Crenwelge Rent House

This house was built in the 1860s or early 1870s as a rent house. It was built on property originally granted to Conrad Kolmeier, whose grandson Otto married Dorothea Crenwelge who lived next door. Wilhelm Crenwelge bought the property in 1856 and it stayed in the family until 1960. The property was bought by Erwin Kraus in 1963. The house is still being rented out.

LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour - March 26

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park announces the 4th annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, “A Ride to Preserve History,” which begins on the historic LBJ Ranch airstrip near Stonewall, Texas on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

The tour provides four separate routes of 10, 30, 44 and 65 miles throughout the scenic Texas Hill Country and one special historical tour narrated by Luci Baines Johnson beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m. Cost of the event is $40.00 as of March 1, but there are discounts for kids, tandem riders and family riders. Registration includes the ride route of your choice, post-ride hot meal, Ranger-led tour of the Texas White House, and the tour led by Luci Johnson. Non-riders can also purchase the post-ride meal.

This year a contingent of Wounded Warriors – British and American troops undergoing rehab in San Antonio – will be riding in the event. “These guys are amazing”, marvels Superintendent Russ Whitlock. “We’re honored to have them, and I invite the public to come out and support them.”

Luci Baines Johnson’s “Historical Tour of the Ranch” is 10 miles in length and will feature her reminiscences and stories about her parents and life on the ranch in the 1960s. It includes several stops at various historic locations. This event is one that supports Ms. Johnson’s desire “to get the owners of the park to use it.”

The LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour is sponsored by the Friends of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club, the National Park Service, and Western National Parks and Monuments Association. All net proceeds will support the educational programs and historic preservation of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.

Auslander Spring Music Festival - 3/10-19

Auslander Restaurant kicks off their Spring Music Festival on Thursday.

March 10 - Josh Grider & Drew Kennedy (free show)
March 11 - Marcus Eldridge (free show)
March 12 - Joe Ely
March 13 - Jimmy LaFave
March 14 - Mike McClure
March 15 - Slaid Cleaves
March 16 - Max Stalling
March 17 - Cory Morrow
March 18 - Two Tons of Steel
March 19 - Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros

Tickets and Tables available at www.theauslander.com

Spring Gardening Event at Woerner Warehouse - 3/19

Woerner Warehouse, 305 South Lincoln Street, is offering Free Gardening Classes on Saturday, March 19th.

10am
Organic Gardening

1130am
Fruit Tree Maintenance

1pm
Herb Gardening

Featuring Expert Speakers, Andy Chidester-The Natural Gardener, Austin; and LeeAnn Barton-Dave Wilson Nursery, California. There will be gardening activities for the Kids While You attend the class!

Arrive early for best seating. Seating is limited, you are welcome to bring your own chair. Additional parking available at the back of the store. All class attendees receive 10% off all plants and gardening products (excluding fertilizer and not eligible to be combined with other offers). Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Fredericksburg Food Pantry. For more information and to sign up, please call 997-2246.

Pioneer Museum plans a week of frontier fun in Fredericksburg

Families looking for a different kind of getaway during Spring Break will find it at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg March 14 through 19. For seven days the Museum staff will offer approximately 10 daily frontier activities and presentations on the grounds of the historic museum, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

you’ll learn how early German settlers spun wool, quilted, worked with metal and wood, made soap, and rope, cooked with a chuck wagon and much more. Special guests include members of the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe, complete with tipi. Activities vary daily during Spring Break, March 14-19 – with events kicking off early this Saturday, March 12. These activities are free with regular museum admission during regular museum hours.

Admission to Spring Break activities is the regular Pioneer Museum fee of $5 for adults; $3 for ages 6 through 17, and 5 and under free. The Pioneer Museum is located right on Main Street, at 325 West Main. Parking is free.

Turner Hall Dance - 3/12

Dance to the music of Josh Peek Band at Turner Hall, 103 West Travis Street. $10 per person. Advance tickets available by calling 830-998-9019; 889-8640; 998-0213. Great dance floor and great music. Beer & Set-ups available. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Lincoln St's Annual Fat Tuesday Party

Indoor and outdoor party, live music, great food, local restaurants, wine & beer, face painting and prize giveaways all day and all for free today at 111 S. Lincoln Street. Please call Lincoln Street at 830-997-8463 for more information.

Luckenbach Spring Break Party - 3/12

Luckenbach, Texas kicks off spring break with its Spring Break Party beginning Saturday March 12 at 1:00 p.m. with an afternoon of live music and good times. At 8:00 p.m., the legendary dance hall opens for a dance featuring music by Reckless Kelly and Micky & The Motorcars. Admission for the dance is $20. Follow the crowds to Luckenbach on RR 1376 off Hwy 290 E outside Fredericksburg. For more information, call 888-636-6641

Fat Saturday at Pedernales Cellars - 3/5

Pedernales Cellars, 2916 Upper Albert Road, is going to let the good times roll with some traditional Louisiana food and live music by Wendy Colonna from 1pm until 6pm. We are getting a jump on Fat Tuesday by starting the fun a tad bit early. Call 830-644-2037 for details.

Cooking Demonstration with "The Food Dude" - 3/4

This is the first ever Wine & Food cooking demonstration/pairing by the Food Dude, Bob Nascimento at Pedernales Cellars, 2916 Upper Albert Road, at 3 pm. Bob will demonstrate the execution of an appetizer and entree for the audience and pair several of our award winning wines with the dishes. The event will begin at 3 pm and is free to the public. Recipes will be available at the time of the class. Call 830-644-2037 for more information.

Texas Independence Celebration at Luckenbach - 3/5

Texas is 175 years young! Come celebrate Texas Independence with Luckenbach. Doesn't matter when you get there, just get there! A great day for the Family and it's all FREE. There will be a Flag Retirement ceremony starting around 12:30pm and music after performed by K.R. Wood and Brian Burns. At 8 p.m., join The Original Texas Star Trailride & Dance with Dusty Britches & the Rhythm Ranch Hands. In Luckenbach, on RR 1376, off of Hwy 290 East.