News About Town:

Grapevine is a vibrant, active city with exciting events happening every day, so we offer short, up-to-date community briefs on news to keep you in touch. In addition, our Grapevine lifestyle and many events in the city are covered weekly in our favorite local papers listed at the bottom of this page.                 ________________________________________________________________

Texas Round-Up Governor's Challenge 2010!

It’s time for the residents of Grapevine to prove to the rest of this state why the City of Grapevine can be deemed "The Fittest City in Texas!” In 2009, the City of Grapevine employees were the Texas Round-Up Governor's Challenge Gold Medal Award winners. We want to win the Governor's Cup in 2010! On Tuesday, January 19, at 3:00 pm at the Lancaster Theater, 300 South Main Street, we will proudly kick-off the challenge to every citizen to help us become the fittest city in Texas. Each year, beginning January 1, Texas Round-Up issues the annual Governor’s Challenge, encouraging Texans to make regular physical activity a part of their weekly schedule. Adults are challenged to be active for 150 minutes per week and children are challenged to complete a minimum of 300 minutes of physical activity per week, for six weeks. Mayor William D. Tate will kick off Grapevine’s participation in the Governor’s Challenge and will challenge other Mayors to make healthy living a priority in their respective communities by participating in the Governor’s Challenge. In addition to Mayor Tate, Michelle Aguilar, the winner of NBC's show "The Biggest Loser", from Season 6, will be attending our Texas Round-Up press conference and official kick-off. Michelle weighed 242 pounds when she started the show and dropped 110 pounds and 45.5% of her body weight. This year's program runs from January 1-April 10, 2010 and residents can register at any point during this 12-week period as long as they complete at least six weeks of the exercise program. Texas Round-Up provides a complimentary online tracking tool for all registered participants at no charge to help participants keep track of their exercise times and activities. For more information, please visit www.gvpard.com or contact Trent Kelley at tkelley@grapevinetexas.gov

Relay for Life - BBQ & Chili Cook-Off

Are you ready to do some cookin’??  The Grapevine Chamber is having a BBQ & Chili Cook-Off to raise money for our 2010 Relay for Life Event for the American Cancer Society.  March 6, 2010, 10:00am to 6:00 pm, at Texas Toyota of Grapevine, 801 State Hwy. 114 E.  So get your gear ready and get signed up to cook!!  Donation is $20.00 per Team.   We will be selling Bowls to people that attend to come around and taste your good cookin’ for $5.00.  All Proceeds go to Relay For Life. Email or Fax Marti Pevehouse:  P: 817-528-6867, F: 817-424-5208 martip@grapevinechamber.org

6th Annual Chocolate Fest

The Travelers Aid "Traveler" dressed in chocolate and his blue artist's smock and holding his paintbrush is the official representative of the Chocolate Fest DFW Chocolate and Art Festival. Chocolate Fest DFW is an annual fund raising event benefiting Travelers Aid Dallas/Fort Worth.  The Festival features two different events bringing together the best in chocolate, art and wine.  The 2010 Chocolate Fest will be held March 12-13, 2010 in Historic Downtown Grapevine, Texas. Adult or child, if you love chocolate, this is your event! Chocolate Fest Features and Events: Friday, March 12, 2010; 7-10 p.m.    - An Evening of Chocolate and Wine, held at La Buena Vida Vineyards, featuring chocolate, wine, hors d'oeuvres, live music, silent auction and more!   Saturday, March 13, 2010; 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - A Day of Chocolate and Art, held at the Palace Arts Center in Historic Downtown Grapevine, featuring chocolate sampling, art exhibits and sales, live music, contests and more!

4th Annual New Vintage Arts Show

The Grapevine Heritage Foundation presents the Fourth Annual New Vintage Arts Show, on Saturday, April 17th 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Lancaster Gallery, Palace Arts Center, 300 S. Main Street, Grapevine. For interested artists, contact Bruce Rosenstiel, 817 528-5993, brosenstiel@verizon.net. For non-artist queries, contact Barbara Nunn, 817-481-5851 or nunns@dfwrelocation.com.

Blessing of the Vines and Wine Tasting Reception

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 11:00 AM - Noon, complimentary On Saturday, April 17, start the day at Delaney Vineyards as hundreds of wine enthusiasts gather to take part in the Blessing of the Vines and New Vintage Wines, a centuries-old European ceremony to ensure robust vines and savory grapes. The ceremony begins with a colorful procession through the largest vineyard in North Texas, comprised of Grapevine dignitaries, the Knights of Columbus, Mariachis, and the general public. A complimentary wine tasting with live entertainment will follow.

New Vintage Wine Trail

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM On Saturday, April 17, taste your way along the Grapevine wine trail during the Blessing of the Vines and New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail. The New Vintage Wine Trail begins at 11 a.m. and will run through 5 p.m., offering a memorable journey to experience first-hand the many unique winery tasting rooms of Grapevine. Complimentary shuttle service is available to all of Grapevine’s winery tasting rooms. For event tickets or passports, contact www.grapevinetexasusa.com or 817 481-3185.

New Vintage Jazz Wine Train

Saturday and Sunday, April 16, 17, 6:40 PM - 9:30 PM Jump onboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, with the popular Jazz Wine Train, which will run on two evenings – April 16 and 17 – from Grapevine’s historic Cotton Belt Depot, 705 S. Main Street. This excursion features several Texas wines, various delectable foods and live jazz entertainment in each passenger car. The Jazz Wine Train departs both evenings at 6:40 p.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. For event tickets or passports, contact www.grapevinetexasusa.com or 817 481-3185.

News Releases

Grapevine Police Launch 'Nixle'

The Grapevine Police Department is launching a new Community Information Service designed to deliver important and timely information to residents in our area using the latest technology. This service, created by Nixle, LLC delivers trustworthy and important neighborhood-level public safety and community event notifications by web, e-mail, and cell phone. Grapevine residents can now take advantage of Nixle which is a community information service that issues alerts concerning public safety threats and community events.   Nixle is a new community information service provider built exclusively to provide secure and reliable communications. Its authenticated service connects municipal agencies and community organizations to residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted consumers over their cell phones (via text messages), through e-mails and through Web access. Nixle is offered at no cost to all governments, their agencies and organizations, nongovernmental organizations and consumers. In October the Denton Police Dept. used Nixle to help locate a missing Alzheimer patient. With construction of the Hwy. 114/121 corridor soon to begin the service can also be used to notify subscribers of lane and road closures. The Grapevine Police Department urges citizens to go to the Nixle website, www.nixle.com and sign up for the free service. Anyone with questions can contact Crime Prevention Officer Johnny Jones at 817 410-3209. crimeprevention@grapevinetexas.gov

Grapevine Citizens Police Academy Taking Applications

The Grapevine Police Department is currently taking applications for the 22nd Grapevine Citizens Police Academy.  The Academy will begin in February and will run for 14 weeks.  The classes meet Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Click here for more information. The class is open to all Grapevine Residents and City Employees.  If you would like more information or have any questions please contact:  Sgt. Dale Roath, daler@Grapevinetexas.gov or 817 410-3206.

Three Large Developments Announced

There are three massive development projects currently in various stages within Grapevine's city limits: the World Villages of Grapevine, Silver Lake Crossings and Legoland Discovery Centre. These developments are focused on the tourist industry: hospitality, retail, restaurants and entertainment. Announced earlier this year, the World Villages of Grapevine is a planned $1.6 billion, 3-million-square-foot development including a one-of-a-kind indoor ski park and an Asian cultural center to be developed by The Gardens of Grapevine Development LP and set to break ground between state highways 121 and 2499, adjacent to the Grapevine Mills Mall. Nearby is the planned Silver Lake Crossings, a 52-acre master-planned, mixed-use development by Newcrest Development that will feature a 301-room Courtyard by Marriott as well as additional hotels and some multifamily facilities. The most recent project announced in Grapevine, is in entertainment. Merlin Entertainments soon will build Legoland Discovery Centre, a $12 million project, within Grapevine Mills shopping mall. Dan Truex, Grapevine Economic Development Manager stated, “It’s very exciting for us,” Truex said of the three developments. “And then of course you have The Gaylord, which has plans for an expansion, and Great Wolf Lodge, which just wrapped up an expansion.”

DFW Connector Project

Overview The DFW Connector is a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project "dedicated to improving mobility along 8.4 miles of State Highway (SH) 114 and SH 121 in a safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally sensitive manner". The $1.02 billion project, to be built without private funds, will rebuild the corridor through Southlake, Grapevine and the north edge of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The project includes the reconstruction and expansion of 114/121 on the north end of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, one of the busiest freeways in the region. Other highways in that corridor between Southlake and Irving include Interstate 635, Texas 360, Texas 26 and Farm Roads 2499 and 1709. The project will be funded by $667 million in state highway money, $250 million in federal Recovery Act funding and $107 million in bond funding from Proposition 14, which was approved by Texas voters in 2003 to improve mobility statewide. When the toll express lanes open in 2014, drivers on Texas 114/121 can expect to pay 64 cents for a four-mile trip. Existing lanes will remain free.  Update: January 22, 2010 - DFW Connector Open House on February 17. Grapevine's Main Street and Hwy. 114 is the 1st construction area, so you will want to attend this meeting!   Join us for an open house for the DFW Connector Project - and learn more about the transformation of state highways 114 and 121 into roadways that are safer, cleaner, faster.  Date: February 17, 2010 Place: Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main Street Time: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Formal presentation at 6:30 pm     Update: January 22, 2010 - Project Signs Going Up January 25   With initial construction of the DFW Connector Project starting the week of February 15, crews will begin installation of perimeter signage beginning January 25.   Signs along SH 114 and SH 121 will inform commuters of the project limits and a reduction in speed limit to 50 mph throughout the corridor. A total of 240 signs will be installed over a three-week period. Update: December 8, 2009 — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) formally approved all plans and schedules for the DFW Connector Project, clearing the way for NorthGate Constructors to begin construction on February 15, 2010. The next critical step will be getting the word out to the driving public about what to expect in terms of detours and narrow lanes. These details will be released over several weeks. Part of NorthGate's contract with the state calls for the same number of existing lanes to remain open on weekdays. But even so, the area will still be what amounts to an 8.4-mile-long work zone, and motorists will be asked to endure detours, narrow lanes and other potential hurdles that are definitely going to keep traffic slow, for about the next 4 years. For the very latest in project updates, contact TxDot's Website or call a new toll-free DFW Connector hotline: 877 411-4212.

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.