A1 Vacation New Braunfels offers Waterfront Vacation Condos...

A-1 Vacation New Braunfels offers the newest and most elegant waterfront vacation condos, cabins and estates in the New Braunfels area.

Heavenly View at Canyon Lake has 75 feet of waterfront, as the Guadalupe River flows towards New Braunfels we have Villa on the 4th, Cabin on the 4th, Lil Ponderosa, Cabin on the Chute, and Lil Kahuna.

Once in town we have Bougan-Villa & Rose Cottage, dozens of condos on the Comal and Guadalupe downtown and in historic Gruene (NEW!).

As the river leaves New Braunfels, it forms Lakes Dunlap, McQueeney and Placid where we have Betsy's Bungalows, Elm Grove and Barefoot Ridge next to Deep Water Inn with more coming soon!

We can sleep from two to 50+ at one location for small romantic stays or large gatherings! Whether you would like to tube or take your ski boat out, we have the loveliest properties at the best prices. We love Winter Texans and Interim Guests in the winter months. Please visit www.A1vacationnb.com.

Catch a Fish, Help a Kid - 2nd Annual Big Bass Roundup

Anglers who love fishing for prize money and helping youngsters can do both on Saturday, October 25 at the second annual Big Bass Round-up, a tournament benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Burnet.

The day-long competition will begin at 6 a.m. on Lake Buchanan, with $2,000 guaranteed prize money for the winning team. Additional cash and prizes will also be awarded for top placements. An entry fee of $100 is required for either one or two-person teams. The team members must fish from the same boat and use artificial lures. An aerated live well is also required. Complete rules are listed on the website at www.bigbassroundup.com.

Only large-mouth, small-mouth and spotted bass will be weighed (no stripers), with a minimum length of 14 inches. The winning team will be based on the combined weight of the best five fish per boat (per team). Weigh-in will be at Canyon of the Eagles Park at 3 p.m., the headquarters hotel for the tourney.

The whole community is supporting this event with First State Bank of Burnet serving as the title sponsor. “The first annual last year brought in 44 teams. With Lake Buchanan’s water level and conditions being optimal this year, and there’s an abundance of fish due to diligent stocking over the past few years, we’re expecting a lot more anglers for this tournament,” said Travis Warren, the tournament director who is well-known in the area both as a competitive fisherman and as a tournament director. “We’ve got a great way for people to have fun fishing, help kids, and spend some time in our part of the state while the weather is great for fishing.”

Special hotel rates for anglers and their families are available at tournament headquarters, Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park 512-334-2070. Other lodging options in Burnet County are listed at www.visitburnetcounty.org.

“Fishermen and women will understand that with Travis Warren as our tournament director, we’re going to have a top-notch tournament,” says Tournament Chair, Russell Graeter. “He has a stellar reputation in the tournament world and has fished competitively for 35 years.”

Graeter also encourages anyone interested in sponsoring the event to please contact him at 512-715-2611. All donations are tax-deductible and will be used to directly assist in the operation of the Boys & Girls Club of Burnet.

For more information on entering the tournament please contact Travis Warren at 512-423-4473. Details are also available at the website at www.bigbassroundup.com .

Jellystone Park to Host Noah’s Ark Fall Festival Weekends

September 22, 2008 – Families are invited to the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Canyon Lake, Texas as they celebrate the fall season with a Noah’s Ark-themed festival. The weekends of October 3-5 and 10-12 are packed with interactive activities including pony rides and a petting zoo featuring a rare 30 inch cow.

Besides the animals, there will be a costume contest, campsite decorating contest, face-painting, crafts, candy hunts and games. “Jellystone Park is a place where families enjoy spending time together and our Fall Festival is a great non-scary alternative to typical Halloween events,” comments Larry Jones, owner.

The Camp-Resort, conveniently located between Austin and San Antonio, offers tent sites, RV sites and cabins. Plus, guests get full access to the Camp-Resort’s many amenities including an indoor and outdoor pool, volleyball court, and playground. You could also choose to explore the area with easy access to Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, Canyon Lake, Schlitterbahn, Natural Bridge Caverns, and all the other great hill country area attractions.

Come enjoy a weekend of fun and relaxation with your family. Yogi Bear looks forward to seeing you! For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.jellystonehillcountry.com or call 877-964-3731.

Final Roots Concert Features Musical First

For the final 2008 Roots Music concert at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg on Saturday, Sept 27, three bands push Irish music into a new light, using influences from rock, African, Caribbean, and Cajun music to create a new "world" style.

Beth Patterson is the leading instrumentalist on the Irish harp known as the bouzoukis. She pulls from eclectic influences as far-ranging as Cajun and Caribbean, African and Greek.

Poor Man’s Fortune keeps crowds hopping with a whirlwind take on traditional folk songs, using instruments from around the world.

Blaggards play "stout" Irish music, performing traditional Irish tunes in a rock and roll style that shows off the roots of familiar tunes.

In the afternoon from 2 to 5 pm, musicians of all ability levels are invited to join the free acoustic jam under the trees.

For the first time, the Longhorn Street Cafe will handle the meal, with a menu of Pork Loin stuffed with bacon, mozzarella and rosemary, mashed potatoes and green beans; or Irish Stew served with potato bread; or Corned Beef and Cabbage. Dessert is Apple Oatmeal Crisp with Irish Whiskey Cream. Meal with dessert is $9, and will be served from 5:30 pm until the concert ends, along with beer, wine, soft drinks, and water.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $10, with tickets sold at the gate. Visitors can receive a $2 discount by printing out the web page at www.pioneermuseum.com. Students age 17 and younger are free. Guests are welcome to bring in lawn chair.

The Pioneer Museum is located at 309 West Main Street in Fredericksburg.

This is the final concert in the 2008 series. Proceeds support the mission of the Gillespie County Historical Society. More information is available by calling 830-997-2835.his is the final concert in the 2008 series. Proceeds support the mission of the Gillespie County Historical Society. More information is available by calling 830-997-2835.

Photo: Leading Irish instrumentalist Beth Patterson makes her first Fredericksburg appearance this weekend as part of the Celtic themed Roots Music concert at the Pioneer Museum on Sat, Sept 27.

Blanco County Sesquicentennial Celebration

Join your neighbors at the grand slam event of our Blanco County 150 Year Sesquicentennial Celebration!

This Sesquicentennial Celebration will be held appropriately at the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City, on Saturday, September 20^th, beginning at 10am.

Don't miss the all-star line-up of outstanding pageantry and family fun activities, including at noon the reenactment of the founding of Blanco County 150 years ago.

Live music will entertain you from 1p-7p (one band will be polka/country and the other Austin Bluegrass), all complementary. Bring your chairs & coolers. Family members of all ages will enjoy this special event.

Hang on to your hats, as we will have: Armadillo Races, Hill Country Lawn Washers, Cow Chip Shuffleboard and Quick-draw redneck horseshoes. Plus, Terry's Texas Rangers, civil war camp setup with horses, and black powder demonstrations. We will also have Native American Dancers, demonstration of pow-wow dances, and artifact displays including teepees.

And more! Yes, see a Mountain Man demonstration of knife and tomahawk throwing and hand made art. Catch a glimpse of Saloon Ladies as they appeared at the time.

As a spectacular attractions, In The Spirit of the Old West......... we will be entertained and enlightened by the Brazos Bottom Cow'ographers, with their Wild West Entertainment....."Gunfighter of the Old West". Three shows plus a gun safety program.

Across the street, at the Old Blanco County Supply building (soon to be the Pecan Street Brewery, with space for this event donated by Tim & Patty Elliott) will be displays of artifacts from our cherished county history. Armed with PowerPoint presentations and artifacts, you will see period photos, oral history, hardware, kitchen wares, transportation, clothing, baking items, and much more.

We will have a number of vendor booths including a food court. If you have interest in participating with a booth, contact Sharon Cofran at sharoncofran@cofran.com, Cell: 281-543-4410.

This will be very educational as well as tons of fun! You will not want to miss this event! Come one, come all. We won't have a celebration quite like this for many years, perhaps not in your lifetime!

Don't forget that just down the street will be the "Now & Then" Quilt Show, from 9a-6p at the PEC Auditorium in Johnson City. Hosted by Johnson City Quilt Club. Contact: Charlotte Matthews at 830-868-0940.

For Sesquicentennial event management, contact: Sherry Smith Jenkins, Chair-North Blanco County, Johnson City. Home: 830-868-2683, Cell: 830-868-3243, sljenkins65@gmail.com

Media & Advertising Information: George Cofran, georgecofran@cofran.com, Cell: 281-300-7177

Celebrating 150 years of Friendly. . . Ours Roots run deep in Blanco County.

First Annual Texas Great Grape Stomp

First Annual Texas Great Grape Stomp Championship Set

Open Stomp for all ages!

(New Braunfels, TX, September 10, 2008) If you think you have what it takes to stomp the maximum amount of juice from a pile of grapes, then show off your stuff for free at the Texas Great Grape Stomp 2008 Championship.

The event is open to all ages from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Vintage Oaks at the Vineyards, 8484 Highway 46 just west of New Braunfels.

Along with public stomps, the grape stomp winners from area Texas wineries will compete for the first time in history to be the Stomping Champion of Texas. Other festivities will include live music from Owen Temple, wine and food tastings from local restaurants and wineries and children’s activities.

“This is a first class, free family event with live music, gourmet fare for area residents, plus a kid’s grape stomp, “said Barry Denton, Sales Manager of Vintage Oaks. “The schedule is jam packed with wine tastings, food, music, community & property tours and the ultimate test for grape stomping champions from Texas.”

Hosted by the San Antonio New World Wine & Food Festival and Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard, a master-planned residential community developed by Bluegreen Communities, the event will be held rain or shine and benefits the Comal Education Foundation.

The Open Stomp for the public begins at noon and takes place every hour with the grand finale between the Great Grape Stomp Champions about 4:30 p.m. If you want to take part in the Open Stomp, you can sign up in advance by visiting www.grapestomp.com. No sign up or RSVP is needed to enjoy the event without getting your feet deep in the grape juice.

“The winners of the all the stomps are determined by the measurement of grape juice produced in 10 minutes and will be recognized after each challenge and will advance to the “Champions Stomp-Off” at the end of the day to determine the Grape Stomp Champions of Texas,” adds Denton.

Some of the wineries participating in the event include Dry Comal Creek, Wolf Creek, Flat Creek and Driftwood. Restaurants signed up to cook and serve include Fork & Spoon, The Gristmill, Canyon Lake Golf Club and Liberty Bistro.

For a complete schedule, updates on participants, wineries and restaurants, plus driving directions visit www.grapestomp.com.

About Bluegreen Communities
NYSE-traded Bluegreen Communities® has proven itself a reliable and experienced developer creating high quality, master-planned communities for over 40 years.
Bluegreen Communities® has developed top-rated communities in some of our nation's most coveted areas. Bluegreen master-planned communities offer the perfect balance of country living and city convenience, with privacy and scenery paramount. Bluegreen has sold over 55,000 master-planned residential and golf community homesites in 32 states and is an award winning green developer. The company's commitment to responsible land use, environmental protection, as well as to the safekeeping and conservation of its communities through reasonable protective covenants ensures that they can be enjoyed by generations to come. Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard features 1- to 2-acre homesites in a beautiful vineyard community. For more information visit www.vintageoakstexas.com or call 800.303.6780.


About The New World Wine & Food Festival
The San Antonio New World Wine & Food Festival, founded in 2000, is a non-profit organization designed to promote everything that San Antonio has to offer as a premier wine and culinary destination. The foods and wines showcased at the Festival represent a myriad of cultures and countries. The Festival features both local and internationally known chefs and winemakers, creating an educational event designed to help introduce residents and visitors alike to the vast diversity of San Antonio’s culinary landscape. For more information on the festival, please visit: www.nwwff.org or call 210.822.9555

Big Bass Round Up on Lake Buchanan

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Description: 2^nd Annual Big Bass Round Up Fishing Tournament on Lake Buchanan, just Northwest of Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. $2,000 guaranteed prize money to the winning team. One or two-man team entry fee is $100. Anglers of all ages will enjoy testing their skills on Lake Buchanan, a big lake with lots of shoreline to fish and varying water levels that are challenging. The lake has also been aggressively stocked in the past few years, making it have one of the best catch rates in the State. Proceeds from this tournament will benefit the local Boys and Girls club – "Catch a fish, help a Kid!"

Contact Information: Tournament Director, Travis Warren, 512-423-4473 or protour.trailers@yahoo.com

Tournament Chairman, Russell Graeter, 512-715-2611 or rgraeter@tstar.net

Website: www.bigbassroundup.com