Local News:

More on the Grapevine lifestyle and many events in the city are covered weekly in our favorite local papers listed at the bottom of this page. 

GCISD Teachers Get 1 percent raise

The school district's $139.6 million operating budget includes the first raise in two years, but cuts 51 positions.

City Council approves $14 million to Grapevine Mills mall

The City Council approved allocationg $14 million from a tax increment financing (TIF) district to Grapevine Mills mall for an estimated $40 million face-lift.

"Peace Officer Memorial Day" a note from RaDonna Hessel, President, Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

As you drive down Main Street Grapevine today, you might notice the American flags along your route.  If not on Main Street, you may see flags flying at half-mast and briefly wonder what that is all about.    Grapevine is joining cities across the Metroplex, State and Nation to recognize “Peace Officer Memorial Day”.  While those driving the black and whites annoy us on the highway when they are trying to slow us down, they are the men and women who  are who we call at the first sign of trouble –  whether we are at work, home or play.    And over time, many of those public safety officers sacrifice their lives while protecting ours.   We encourage you to take some time out of your day to thank an officer that you see, slow down a little on your drive, and say a prayer for their safe keeping! Wikipedia:  Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and Federal peace officers. The Memorial takes place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the Memorial falls. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress asked the president to designate May 15 to honor peace officers. John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962. Amended in 1994, Bill Clinton, through Public Law 103-322, directed that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on May 15. According to a proclamation by George W. Bush in 2002, "Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week pay tribute to the local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers who serve and protect us with courage and dedication. These observances also remind us of the ongoing need to be vigilant against all forms of crime, especially to acts of extreme violence and terrorism." Much of the holiday centers on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., whose walls feature the names of more than 19,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

Parks and Recreation Dept. Receives Gold Medal Award

The city's Parks and Recreation Department received the gold medal award - the highest honor - at a recent meeting of the Texas Recreation & Park Society. Heritage Park, the city's oldest park, also was recognized with the Lone Star Legacy Park award, and the department received awards for recreation programming and maintenance innovation. But the gold medal was the highlight. "There are only three of these given each year, based on population," said Michael Massey, the society's past president and director of parks and recreation for Richardson. The medal is given for excellence in management in all aspects of running the department and providing opportunities for residents and visitors. A Lone Star Legacy Park is a park that has "endured the test of time" and has "become iconic to those who have visited, played and rested on their grounds," according to the society's description. In recognizing Heritage Park, the society is saying it meets the criteria of being at least 50 years old, has unique natural features and has hosted local events. As the first park in Grapevine, originally called the Community Park when it opened in 1938, Heritage Park was expanded in the 1990s to include what is now the city's botanical gardens. Rusty Walker and Kevin Mitchell, as well as others, received the maintenance achievement award for their solution to ensure a safe Christmas tree at the gazebo on Main Street. The tree, 35 feet tall with a 7-foot star at the top, requires multiple electrical lines and connections to make it light up on cue. In the past, someone had to climb inside the tree to check on any problems. The solution was construction of a large, round platform -- made to look like a large, toy drum -- for the tree to stand on. Inside the drum, wires and connections are tacked securely, and, if there are any problems, there is plenty of room to work safely. The department's workers built the drum for about $2,000 in materials after discovering a similar solution would cost $100,000. When it was decided to not have Halloween on Main Street last fall, the parks department wanted to ensure something else was still offered for the kids. Out of that came the idea for the GrapeYard out at the Vineyards Campground. It was a success, said parks worker Randy Self, because it took a "theme park" approach.

Unwind the Vine - Support Grapevine's Businesses

Unwind the Vine- DFW Connector Business Retention Program In an effort to assist the businesses impacted by the DFW Connector Construction, the City has partnered with the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce in a business retention program. All Grapevine residents (and many in neighboring cities) should have received an "Unwind the VIne" loyalty card in the mail in the past week. The cards can be stamped at any of the participating businesses on  The Unwind the Vine website . Once the card has 10 stamps, it can be turned in at any of the participating businesses. The completed cards will then be turned back in to the Chamber of Commerce for a prize drawing at their monthly luncheon.  The first prize donated is a set of tires donated by Blagg Tire & Service.  Extra cards are available at the participating businesses, City Hall, or the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce.

i5 web works Selected to Design Website for Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

Southlake, TX (PRWEB) July 26, 2010 — i5 web works (www.i5ww.com), a website development and internet marketing explained company headquarted in Dallas-Fort Worth, has been selected by the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce (www.GrapevineChamber.org) to design its new website. “We are honored to have been chosen for this project and are excited about the opportunities this new website will provide to the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and its members,” commented Michael Burns, co-founder and partner of i5 web works. The new website will include a custom design which will reflect the diversity of the Grapevine business community and provide information about the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce and the businesses which makeup the chamber. According to RaDonna Hessel, president of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, i5 web works was chosen after an extensive RFP and interview process. “For over a year, the Technology Committee of the Grapevine Chamber considered various proposals for the creation of a new website to serve the business investors of the Chamber as well as the Grapevine Community,” explained Hessel. “While there were several bids from quality companies in the Grapevine area that were received, the ultimate selection of i5 web works was based on a complete package – which included pricing, experience, examples of work and the ability to create a unique final product. As a long-time Chamber member and community partner, i5 web works has been committed to creating websites with up-to-date features with world class components.” The new website is scheduled to launch late September, 2010.

Local News Sources:

The Grapevine Courier

The Grapevine Courier, part of the Alliance Regional Newspaper publications group, is owned by The Fort Worth Star Telegram. The Courier specializes in the local news of citizens that reside in the Grapevine/Colleyville Independent School District area. Contact Executive Editor Charles D. Young for publication information.

Tarrant County Newsletter

For business news about the Grapevine marketplace in Northeast Tarrant County, Gary Fickes, Tarrant County Commissioner Pct. 3, also offers an economic development newsletter for your information.

ilovegrapevinetexas.com

Our team will post news online about events that are open to the entire Grapevine community. Please feel free to put us on your media mail list for publication consideration. At least two weeks before your event, please send an e-mail or mail your news release to: P.O. Box 7, Grapevine, Texas 76099.