News

The Giddings Food Pantry Celebrated it’s 8^th year of service to families in the Giddings Area during September.  The Food Pantry, which incorporated as a non-profit Corporation under the name Giddings Area CARE Center, currently distributes free food to over 325 families per month.  During the Thanksgiving and Christmas season the Food Pantry is able to distribute 10 lbs of Chicken leg quarters to each family in addition to the regular food assistance, as a special Holiday gift.

• ·         The Food pantry operates 2 weekends per month, the 2^nd Friday/Saturday weekend and the 4^th Friday /Sat Weekend.
• ·         On the 2^nd Friday/Saturday weekend of the month doors open at 7:30 am for folks to get canned goods, dry foods, fresh fruit and vegetables and bread and pastries.

• ·         On the 4^th Friday door open at 1pm for Free Produce.

• ·         On the 4^th Saturday doors open at 730 am for folks over 50 years of age to get shelf stable food.

The Food Pantry operates thanks to generous donations from the citizens and businesses of the Giddings Area.   

The Food Pantry is located at 190 N Harris is always welcomes VOLUNTEER HELP and monetary donations.

Greetings,

We want you to see our newest addition to the Museum collection!  Calvin & Brennice Koether are so kind to donate their Southern Pacific Railroad items to the museum.  We are going to honor them with a ROOTIN’ TOOTIN” ROOT BEER FLOAT party!  Jonathan Socha is providing us with some good ole Triple X Root Beer and I will go get some Blue Bell!  

It will be great to see him with his train at the Union Station Transportation Museum. Calvin worked on the railroad for many, many years.  He would love to see you!

GIDDINGS

THE DEPOT CAPITAL of TEXAS

 

Friends of the Depot-Giddings, Texas

& The Giddings Chamber of Commerce

 

Invite you to the

Union Station Transportation Museum for

Triple XXX Root Beer Floats!

 

October 23, 2012 at 2PM

289 W. Railroad Ave.

 

We are going to have a Rootin’ Tootin’ good time!

Come see the Calvin Koether Collectible Train.

Greetings,

Reminders about the upcoming events this week.

Upcoming event information:
Early Voting begins  - Date: 22 Oct 2012 8:00 AM

Early Voting
October 22-November 2, Monday through Friday
8:00am-5:00pm

Chocolate Lover’s Festival will be held in downtown Lexington on Saturday, Oct. 20^th. Check out their website for more details. www.lexingtontexas.com

Lexington Chamber of Commerce invites you to Lexington, Texas for its eighth annual Chocolate Lovers Festival which will be held Downtown on the Square on Saturday, Oct. 20. The theme of the day will be – Chocolate in all its forms.

No admission fee for the Chocolate Lovers Festival. Small charges for Chocolate Alley, where you can sample and purchase a variety of chocolate goodies; kids games (Plinko, Slip & Slide, Bounce House), and other activities. For more information, reply to this email or call 979-773-4337 or 979-773-9100.

All the wonderful things that happen in this community can be attributed to small business owners, civic organizations, local shoppers and travelers that pass through Giddings on their way somewhere else. These groups and individuals are what drives our economy.  Each is completely dependent and interdependent upon the other. The ripple effect of how each one affects the other is amazing. 

We support local businesses, so they can support the civic organizations, so they can support those in need. 

Small Businesses are the engine that drive the economy. Keeping our shopping dollars local helps our community, our State and our Country!

There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.
Sam Walton    

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_business.html#w0JKlYX5E6osgEZz.99

Greetings,

There is great news to share with you this week. 

WE ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE FEATURED IN TEXAS HIGHWAYS! Praise God!

There will be some that say that Giddings is an overnight success… well the ten years of hard work that go into making and overnight success can tell you it has been a challenging road.

However, the reporter was escorted on a full day of discovery and we should see something around April or May.  Print takes time so magazines usually have a two to six month story lead.

I don’t care which issue as long as the tell our story!

Next cool thing is that we had a Japanese film crew staying in Giddings on Friday the 12th. They had originally planned to shoot a bit at the calf roping on Saturday but something came up and they had to cancel. However, we did send some visitor packages to their hotel full of great information about our town as well as a few goodies to welcome them. The Japanese love all things Texas; they know about Giddings and no doubt they'll find reasons to return the next time they want to film about Texas smalltown life.

Remember we have your "Yes! I Built This Business" sign! Show your STRIPES!  Let me know how many you want!

Greetings,

Our community, especially our Chamber member Board of Directors decided to raise the red, white and blue at their places of business to let the world know that small businesses are the engine the powers our community, our state and our country! It is our obligation as Chambers of Commerce to rally our business owners and let them know that we understand their concern and we applaud their efforts!

Too many people, groups and organizations have chosen the path of least resistance and to not "anger" the public.  I am sorry but if we do not start stepping forward for our small business owners and making a difference, they will close their doors and go home. 

Our biggest concern at the Chamber is that necessary tax measures may not get passed in time and other government programs may go through that will strangle every mom & pop business in America.  I am afraid they will make the decision to close the doors before they have to give every dime they make to the government for taxes and fees. 

It is horrible to think of the ripple effect that this will cause across every small town in America!  I can do the math and the ramifications are apocalyptic.

Our community is proud to Show Their Stripes! at their place of business.  Your cover says vote for jobs, but the real more important issue is we must vote for entrepreneurs, mom & pops, and every business owner that employees someone! 

In the future we must remember to elect only people who have owned a business, paid a payroll and worried about customers, community or employees before they serve in any office.

Yours in service to my community,

Denice Harlan, Executive Director

Greetings,

Take time from your busy schedule to drop by some of these great events!  You will meet new people, make new connections and develop wonderful business relationships when you spend time networking.

See you in the neighborhood!

Thursday – Ribbon Cutting and Open House at Parkside Apartments at 3:30pm. Meet owner/operator Malcolm Fleet and take a tour of this newly renovated property. The apartments are located right next to Veteran’s Park on North Joekel Street.

Saturday – Golf Tournament at Giddings Municipal Golf Course, benefiting the Beau Diddle Scholarship Fund.

**********************************************************************

We are pleased to have the “Yes! I Built This Business!” signs available at the Chamber office.  They come in 12x18 Coroplast for $10 and in the 3x6in sticker for $1.50, for your desktop or notebook.  We will have them for a limited time.  Let us know how many you would like and we will deliver them with the wire to your place of business.

Quote for the day - The father of electronic gaming, Nolan Bushnell, invented Pong, then founded Atari with a $500 budget in 1972 and sold it to Times Warner four years later for $28 million. As of 1998, Bushnell had founded 18 companies, including popular chain restaurant empire Chuck E. Cheese. His thoughts on entrepreneur motivation and success: "The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."

Have a great week!

Greetings Friends & Neighbors!

We have a full schedule of events and activities for you to put on your calendar.  You have to only look around this great community to find something to suit your taste!  We are fortunate to live in an active, thriving city that supports many organizations and groups.  We hope you find something fun today as we blast into FALL!  SO EXCITED IT IS COOL!

 

September 22 – Lions Club Brain Power Five & Dime 5K/10K Run Walk for Alzheimer’s Research at the Giddings Municipal Golf Course starting at the clubhouse at 8am.

September 23 – Wendish Fest in Serbin at the Serbin Picnic Grounds. Church service starts at 8:30am and begins the day’s festivities.

September 25 – the vendors will begin rolling in for the Round Top Arts & Crafts events that will bring 1000’s to Giddings

~~~

October 2 – Walk IN Coffee and SO Much more at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall from 9am to 1pm.  These ladies can cook!

October 2 – New Horizons Lions Club of Giddings will celebrate their 25^th Anniversary at the Lion’s Den. Tickets available from Denice Harlan.

October 4 – Community Blood Drive will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Fellowship Hall from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Sponsored by the New Horizons Lions Club.

October 5-6 – Dime Box Mini Marathon and Black Bridge Festival

October 6-7 – Tough Mudder in Paige

October 9 – The Pink Ribbon Affair benefiting the Lee County Area Cancer Resource Center will host their annual event at the

American Legion Hall. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Shop local and support Giddings & its many unique events & activities!

Greetings,

It is very busy this time of year! Thank goodness for the cooler weather and a nice breeze.  We have been visited by hummingbirds and butterflies here at the office.  It is so wonderful to look out the window and see the beauty of our world taking time to smell the flowers.

We will have the Circus this week and the Texas Word Wrangler Festival and then on Sunday there is the Bull Ball in the Fall out at the Rodeo Arena.  There is the Fire Department Golf Tournament and a Water Forum too. 

Busy, busy, busy.  And don’t forget the Rotary Club of Giddings is sponsoring a golf tournament, we have the Family Crisis Center Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening, and the Brain Power Fun Run.

September 11^th – Patriot Day - GVFD Golf Tournament – Sept. 11^th at Giddings Public Golf Course (all day)

September 12^th – George Carden Super Spectacular Circus at the Lee County Fair Grounds(Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Arena) 5pm and 7:15 performances

September 13^th – Texas Word Wrangler Gala at the Giddings Public Library at 7pm

September 14^th – Texas Word Wrangler Festival at the Giddings Public Library from 9am to 5pm. 25 Texas authors will be on hand to visit, talk about books and sign copies.

September 16^th – Bull Ball in the Fall Bull Fighting at the Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Covered Arena, Gates open at 4pm.

September 18^th – Water Forum in Bastrop at 7pm

September 20^th – Rotary Club of Giddings Annual Golf Tournament at the Giddings Public Golf Course.

September 21^st – Ribbon Cutting for Family Crisis Center in their newly renovated facility.(the old sheriff’s office)

September 22^nd – Brain Power 5K & 10K Fun Run/Walk. Sponsored by the New Horizons Lions Club at the Giddings Public Golf Course.

September 23^rd – Texas Wendish Fest at the picnic grounds in Serbin all day long.

We want to remind you about the upcoming Wendish Fest that is held annually out in Serbin.  The Wendish Fest is a traditional Wendish festival with all the activities that you would have done as a family back in the early days.  Join the Serbin community as they celebrate their history and heritage.

 

Texas Wendish Fest

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23^rd

 

8:30 am English Service

9:30 am Bible Class & Sunday School

9:45 am Noon meal ticket sales begin

10:00 am Welcome & Table Prayer

10:00-2:30 Silent Auction

10:00-3:00 Easter Egg Decorating

10:30 am German Service

11:15-2:15 Kovanda’s Czech Band

12:30, 1:30 & 2:30 pm Church Tours

1:30 pm Noodle Making at the Pavilion

1:30 pm Children’s Coloring Contest

2:00 pm Sausage Stuffing at the Pavilion

2:00 pm Washer Pitching

2:30 pm Snack Booths Open

3:00 pm Special Entertainment

4:45 pm Cross-Cut Saw Contest

Other Events & Demonstrations:

*Quilting *Stone Ground Corn Meal *Sauerkraut Making

*Old Farm Equipment *By-Gone Years *Blacksmithing

*Central Texas Old Iron Collector’s Tractor Exhibit

*Classic Auto Display *Train Rides by SLCVFD

*Moon Walk *Face Painting

*’’Kletternpfosten” (Greased Pole Climbing) *Stick Horse Races

*Sale of Heritage or “pass along” plants

Hope you have a great week!

 

Real Estate Center Online News

$10 MILLION WATER-RESEARCH CENTER PLANNED

SAN MARCOS (Austin American-Statesman) – Texas State University plans to expand its research and teaching related to drought, rivers, springs and other water matters under a $10 million plan.

The university's River Systems Institute will get a new name, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, in recognition of a $1 million donation from the Dallas-based Meadows Foundation.

The $1 million gift is to endow the center, and the foundation expects to make additional endowment gifts during the next few years for a total of $5 million, said Bruce Esterline, its vice president for grants. Texas State will seek other philanthropic gifts as well as state funds earmarked for emerging research universities to achieve the $10 million goal.

"Establishing the center is a critical step toward our goal of preserving a sustainable supply of water to support the needs of Texas' residents, wildlife and natural habitats by providing scientific research on which to base sound water management policies in Texas," said Linda Perryman Evans, president and CEO of the Meadows Foundation.

The $10 million plan is intended to underwrite graduate student fellowships, research projects and endowed faculty positions in environmental flows, watershed management, environmental education, and water conservation and sustainability.

LARGE SELF-STORAGE TRANSACTION IS WORLD CLASS

AUSTIN (Inside Self-Storage) – In what represents one of the largest self-storage portfolios sold in the United States this year, World Class Capital Group LLC has acquired a 12-property self-storage portfolio from Sovran Self Storage.

The portfolio includes more than 8,000 units totaling almost one million sf. The units are in Houston and Dallas.

World Class has planned a multi-million-dollar capital-improvement project for the self-storage facilities. The investment firm will rebrand the properties under its Great Value Storage flagship brand.

Sovran operates under the Uncle Bob’s Self Storage brand.

RETAILING SUMMIT SET FOR OCT. 11, 12

COLLEGE STATION (Center for Retailing Studies) – The 2012 Retailing Summit will be Oct. 11–12 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in uptown Dallas.

This year's program includes speakers from H-E-B, AT&T, GameStop, Southwest Airlines and Toys 'R' Us.

The conference is sponsored by the Center for Retailing Studies, part of Texas A&M University's Mays Business School. Proceeds will fund educational programs for students pursuing retail studies at Texas A&M University.

Greetings,

We are pleased to keep you up to date on the events & activities that are happening in Giddings.  Just a reminder to all of our Chamber businesses – we are looking for coupons, business cards and brochures to put into our visitors and hospitality bags for our many visitors. This is one of the promotional benefits our local businesses can enjoy when they join the Chamber.

Local Events & Activities in Giddings ~

Giddings Swap Meet – Aug. 24-26^th at Firemen’s Park from 9am to dark

Fedor Fish Fry – Saturday, Aug. 25^th

Grace Lutheran Pipe Organ Dedication Ceremony - Sunday, Aug. 26^th at 4pm located at Grace Lutheran Church –

·       Grace Lutheran Church ELCA will dedicate its newly refinished and restored pipe organ on Sunday, August 26th at 4:00 P.M. Grace is located at 1123 North Orange (Hwy 141) in Giddings. The organ was a gift to the church by Jeffrey Arnold who will be the special guest at the dedication program. At the organ will be Aaron Garcia, Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance, and Master of Sacred Music.  

The program will consist of hymns in which the attendees will participate, interspersed with organ voluntaries. In addition five Master Musicians from the University of Texas will present several compositions composed by Mr. Garcia. Mr. Arnold will present a history of the organ. Refreshments will follow the Dedicatory Program. All are invited with no ticket required and no offering taken.

Anytime Fitness Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening – Aug. 28^th from 10am to Noon. Come tour the facilities and meet the staff at our newest 24 hour fitness center.

Writers Seminar – Sept. 8^th from 9am to 4pm at the Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center featuring

Texas Word Wrangler Festival –Friday, Sept. 14^th at Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center from 9am to 5pm. Join us for a day filled with stories, books and meet 26 Texas authors.

 Hope to see you in the neighborhood!