New hours at The Nest

The Nest Restaurant, located at 607 S. Washington St. in Fredericksburg, has new hours. The restaurant is open for lunch business Tuesday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (no reservations are needed for lunch), and is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until closing. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday. For information, call 830-990-8383.

2009 Peach Crop 90% Loss

According to a Fredericksburg Standard online story, Jim Kamas, a fruit specialist with the Gillespie County Extension Office, estimates 90 percent of this year’s peach crop has been lost due to a hard freeze on April 7. He also added that the local grape harvest was also affected, and local wineries are hoping for secondary buds to salvage their harvest.

First Annual Fredericksburg Golf Tournament Announced

The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce has announced that Boot Ranch will host the first annual Chamber-sponsored golf tournament on Tuesday, October 13. This tourney will be open to both Chamber members and non-members alike. If you would like to be a sponsor for the tournament, please contact Frances or Peggy at the Chamber offices at 997-6523for more information.

UPDATE ON FORT MARTIN SCOTT

The City of Fredericksburg owns Fort Martin Scott and the Gillespie County Historical Society managed and manned it for tours and other events in the past. The City Council recently made the decision to have the Fort unmanned and to allow for self-guided tours with signage telling its story and history. Currently the signage is in production, and until completion there will be temporary signage at the Fort explaining to visitors the new plan for the Fort.

Pacific Combat Area Tour Hours

Effective immediately until further notice, the Pacific Combat Zone at the National Museum of the Pacific War will operate a reduced schedule on Mondays and Tuesdays with tour hours now from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Please call 992-2785 for more information.

Annual January Closings at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area will be for their annual public hunts from Sunday, January 6 at 10:00 p.m. until Friday, January 11, at 2:00 p.m. and from Sunday, January 13 at 10:00 p.m. until Friday, January 18, at 2:00 p.m. For more information, contact Texas Parks & Wildlife at 1-800-792-1112.

Albert, Texas sold for $3.8 million on eBay

SAN ANTONIO - Someone in Italy placed the winning bid of $3.8 million on Friday for an unpopulated, one-house Texas town auctioned online.

No one lives permanently in the 13-acre town of Albert, about 60 miles north of San Antonio, but the tavern created from the frame of the old general store is open on weekends.

The town also includes a pavilion, an 85-year-old dance hall, a tractor shed, a three-bedroom house, plus peach and pecan orchards.

But before town owner Bobby Cave signs the deed over, he must ensure the eBay bid is legitimate. Cave said that unlike the usual items bought through eBay, there are no contractual obligations when it comes to real estate.

"There's just not any way to insist that a guy from Italy write me a check for three million," said Cave, 47, an Austin real estate agent.

The reserve price for the town was $2.5 million. Even if the deal doesn't go through, Cave said he has about five other prospective buyers genuinely interested in the town.

Bridgeville, in northern California, was the first town ever put on the eBay auction block. The 83 acres were twice sold on the site, in 2002 (that deal fell through) and again last year.

On the Net:

http://www.alberttexas.com

http://www.ebay.com

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

Grand Opening for Pierce’s Disease Research Facility

The Gillespie County Economic Development Commission cordially invites you to the grand opening ceremony for the Pierce’s Disease Research Facility on Thursday, June 14, at 10:00 a.m. The new facility is located at 259 Business Court, in the Gillespie County Business Park off Tivydale Road.

Quintessential Chocolates Now in Whole Foods!

Selected liquid center chocolates from Quintessential Chocolates of Fredericksburg are now available in Whole Foods in Austin and San Antonio. Visit Chocolat, the retail store, at 330 West Main in Fredericksburg to learn more about these delicious treats.

Southern Living Readers’ Choice Awards Announced

Fredericksburg was selected by some 25,000 readers of Southern Living as one of the top three “Small Southern Towns.” Truly amazing is that Fredericksburg was the ONLY Texas entity (town, city, restaurant, beach, shopping, etc.) that made the readers’ top three lists. Route 66 was selected and that goes through Texas, as well as other states. San Antonio was included in the “Southern City” category by the magazine’s editorial staff, but not by the readers.

Gillespie County Implements Lodging Occupancy Tax

On Monday, August 14, the County Commissioners passed a resolution implementing a 7% lodging occupancy tax in the county, effective January 1, 2007. This resolution does not affect any accommodations currently collecting the city’s 7% occupancy tax.

Christmas Holiday Guide Now Available

The Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau has produced its first glossy “Christmas Holiday Guide.” It describes holiday shopping, holiday events and overnight lodging in Fredericksburg from Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s Day. Approximately 15,000 guides will be distributed over the next three to four months. Call (830) 997-6523 to get your copy.

Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

This weekend, August 4 - 6, Texans will have the opportunity to shop tax-free for clothes and shoes priced under $100. For more information on the regulations and a list of items that are tax-free, visit www.window.state.tx.us .

Only Two Months until Oktoberfest

OKTOBERFEST, October 6-8, is a colorful, festive celebration of Fredericksburg, Texas' German heritage. OKTOBERFEST has become an annual tradition around the world. OKTOBERFEST is a community event of family entertainment featuring two stages and two tents with continuous oompah music, art & crafts, polka and waltz contests, Children's fun area ~ Kinder Park, a German Bier Tent, and Oktoberfest Vineyard area, plus delicious food and drink ... all weekend long! For more information on OKTOBERFEST, write to them at PO Box 222, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624, or call 830-997-4810.

Now is the time to make your Oktoberfest lodging reservations. By the end of August, there won't be any rooms left in town.