Carl Winters Blog, Real Estate Inspector, New Braunfels, Texas

One third of all homes are more than 50 years old, and half are at least 30 years old. Even if you use energy-efficient appliances, in an old home, you're probably using more and bigger appliances than an older home is equipped for.

According to consumer reports, you may want to consider a promising new technology called an "arc-fault circuit interrupter--or AFCI--which detects arcs at low levels of current that wouldn't trip a circuit breaker. The devices are installed in the circuit breaker panel. They do offer added protection for older wiring.

Good Information

This "Question" came up recently on another site discussion bureau. It also came up again this evening. I want everyone to give suggestions on how we can get "passwords"  under control. I have so many passwords I can not get them straight. I have them written down on Google Clips (which I lost and can not find anymore), in notes, on paper hard copy and no telling where. You have to answer so many questions you can not remember which end is up. However, they tell you on the news to frequently change your password.

Ummmmm What are we to do? I almost got locked out of my yahool email the other day because I changed my passcode and could not remember the new passcode and kept putting in the wrong one. Can you imagine what it is going to be like in another ten t fifteen years. Oh well, I will be too old to even spell internet.

Suggestions Are Welcome.........HELP

Hee is a little history of why New Braunfels, TX has such a celebration each year. You may want to click on the link for more information.

http:www.wurstfest.com

Wurstfest Associationl (830) 625-9167
178 Landa Park Dr
New Braunfels, TX

Proclaimed by the Mayor for the first time in 1961, the festival honoring this most delectable of local foods was a one-day affair held on Saturday climaxing a week of activity featuring sausage dishes on menus of local cafes and specials on sausage products in local meat markets and grocery stores.

The first year it was "Sausage Festival" . . . later "Wurst Week" . . . and finally "Wurstfest". What he thought would be a typical small town festival was conceived by Ed A. Grist , who was a practicing Veterinarian and City Meat Inspector. He went to the Chamber of Commerce in late summer of 1961. Chamber officials liked the idea and helped get the first Sausage Festival off the ground. At the time, no one anticipated the phenomenal success this festival would achieve.

The first Wurstfest drew a crowd of 2,000 sausage-hungry visitors attracted by literally world-wide publicity. . . there were feature stories on this unique celebration in newspapers in Canada and Germany, as well as most major cities in the United States.

Visitors watched ladies of the Grange demonstrate sausage-making practiced by their forebears who brought their recipes to the Texas wilderness form Germany 116 years before. They saw modern methods used today, which have left unchanged the mouth-watering flavors of original recipes.

While local German singing clubs sang and the Amtliche Stadt Wurst Kapelle (official City Sausage Band) played, visitors viewed the exhibits of local sausage-makers who produced 152 tons of sausage annually.

The first festival was scheduled for Landa Park, but because of threatening weather it was moved to the National Guard Armory. The second year was a two-day affair and survived the worst storm of the year, a hail and windstorm that blasted the county. Held in Landa Park, its visitors and exhibitors rode out the storm while consuming 1,500 sausage plates.

The festival went "big time" in '63, moving downtown to the Rathskeller (a burned-out department store basement, now the New Braunfels Utilities parking lot) with an event scheduled every night of Wurst Week.

Attendance in '64 tripled, reaching 30,000 and the visitors consumed 5,000 pounds of sausage. In '66, the pressure on the Rathskeller was so great (an estimated 35,000 attended that year) that is became imperative to move to larger quarters. Over five tons of sausage disappeared from food booths that year.

Wurstfest broke in a new site in '67 . . . half of the present Wursthalle . . . and attendance jumped to 40,000. In '68, the entire Wursthalle, having approximately 33,000 square feet and seats for over 2,000 people, was leased in time for 56,000 visitors in the expanding ten-day run.

In '69, balmy weather throughout the ten days of Wurstfest contributed to a record attendance of 75,000. Food served from 48 booths included Wurst Tacos, Sauerkraut Pizzas, Corn on the Cob, Shish-ka-bobs, Wurst-ka-bobs and all kinds of sausage.

The festival had its first big time entertainer in '68 when Myron Floren of the Lawrence Welk TV show appeared. In '72, a segment of Floren's performance at Wurstfest was shown on the Lawrence Welk show.

In spite of almost ten days of cold, rainy weather, 1974 attendance rose to 150,000 and in '75 over 160,000. In '74, the Biergerten was added along with new security facilities and restrooms. In '75 new gate buildings were added and in '77 the Wursthalle was painted and the tower received a new roof.

1978 was a benchmark year with the purchase of the Dittlinger Feed Mill property, and a sub-lease on a portion of the LCRA property. This tripled the size of the Wurstfest grounds and entertainment area for the 150,000 visitors. A grounds admissions charge and strict policies, along with improved facilities, removed any doubt that the festival would continue to be a family oriented event. Wurstfest was listed among the top attractions in the world for the month of November.

Attendance in '79 climbed to 165,000. Wurstfesters who purchased 42,000 Kartoffel Puffers, 22,000 Shish-ka-bobs, 19,000 ears of corn, 10,000 turkey legs and 42 tons of sausage.

In '80 and '81 the attendance leveled off to 150,000, but food and beverage sales stayed at '79 levels. In '81 rain caused an attendance drop of 50% on the first Saturday, but returned to normal for the rest of the fest.

Proceeds from '79 though '81 were used for beautification and land development in Landa Park. $120,000 was spent on landscaping, erosion control and traffic flow improvement at the entrance to Landa Park. $600,000 was spent by Wurstfest in '80 and '81 for erosion control and landscaping along the Comal River.

In '82, Wurstfest acquired Jerome Nowotny's "World's Largest Beer Bottle Collection" consisting of over 10,000 bottles. A Goebelfest and Hummel Figurine Look-Alike contest were held.

Shuttle bus service from local hotels and motels was introduced in '83 and continues today.

In '85, Wurstfest celebrated its 25th Anniversary with Myron Floren and the University of Texas Longhorn Band opening the festival. A postal cancellation was designed to commemorate the 25th Anniversary celebration and a temporary postal station was located in the Marktplatz.

In '86, Wurstfest opened its administrative offices on the grounds in the Kleinehalle building and an information booth was constructed at the base of the tower to serve the 120,000 visitors. A portion of the Dittlinger Mill Building housed the first arts and crafts show on the grounds.

In 1987, larger, clear-span entertainment tents were situated at each end of the Marktplatz. The size of Das Grosse Zelt (Big Tent) was doubled, and the new arrangement was well received by the 125,000 visitors to Wurstfest. A 32 piece brass band from Bonbaden, Germany, performed to the delight of the crowds and Myron Floren celebrated his 20th anniversary as featured entertainer. Favorable weather for nine of the ten days and wide-spread media coverage contributed to increased attendance and Wurstfest was rated in the top 100 events in North America by the America Bus Association.

The '88 Wurstfest drew 135,000 visitors from 48 states, Canada, Mexico, Germany and other European countries. They were entertained by a 40 piece brass band from Runkel, Germany. Unseasonably warm weather allowed young ones to enjoy the expanded children's area with parents nearby.

National media attention focused on the '89 Wurstfest as the reunification of Germany began with the opening of the Berlin Wall. Earlier that week, members of the Texas Accordion Association gathered . . . bringing instruments as unique as the individuals themselves.

The '90 festival introduced the Schorsch Pfeiler Band from Munich, welcomed four time Grammy Award Winner Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra to Wurstfest for the first time and arranged for Park and Ride service from San Antonio. Organizers were encouraged by the increase in attendance and sales on opening day; however, periodic cold, wet weather slowed attendance overall.

In '91, the coldest weather of the entire winter season settled in New Braunfels during the ten day event, but loyal patrons braved the cold and enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship that this festival is famous for!

The festival success story continued. In '92, the Children's Museum created a special hands-on exhibit, "Where in the World is Germany?" in the Landa Recreation Center adjacent to the festival grounds. The additional charge to enter the Wursthalle was eliminated in '93. Weather continued to be a major factor and kept attendance figures around the 100,000 level. The weather picture for '94 was a welcome change from recent years . . . eight days of mild temperatures and sunshine brought thousands to the ground and the highest number of paid admissions was recorded since 1989. Concession receipts rose 32.5%. '95 was another good year for the festival.

In '96 special attention was given to the accessibility and appearance of the grounds by adding a paved walkway complete with decorative iron fencing along the water from Gate #1 to the waterfall, and a decorative façade on the south end of the Marktplatz. Ten days of ideal weather allowed the '96 festival to surpass previous records. In '97, Floren made his 30th consecutive annual appearance at Wurstfest. Access to the north end of the riverwalk was improved and planning for the development of a multipurpose area in the Kleinehalle adjacent to the Biergarten continued. Fabulous fall weather and a tremendous line-up of entertainment pushed attendance upward again in '97.

1998 was quite a year. On October 17, just thirteen short days prior to the festival opening, floodwaters devastated New Braunfels. More than twenty inches of rain caused the Comal and Guadalupe rivers to rise to levels never recorded before . . . much of the property along the Comal River owned by the Wurstfest Association was underwater, and enhancements to the Gate #1 area completed in '96 were destroyed. Festival officials immediately surveyed the damage and declared the festival would continue as planned.

Many were amused by such optimism, but members and local businesses pitched in and prepared the grounds for opening day. Those who attended found it hard to believe that such damage had actually occurred. Myron Floren visited with his loyal fans by phone from his home in California as he recuperated from surgery, Die Froehliche Dorfmusik returned for their second visit to Wurstfest, and a progressive young group from New York, Die Schlauberger, made their first appearance at Wurstfest. Their modern and traditional alpine music was a marvelous addition to favorite entertainers such as Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, Alpenfest, Sauerkrauts and others. Rainy weather five out of the ten days slowed attendance, however organizers declared this festival one of the most successful ever!

Visitors contributed thousands to flood victims and Wurstfest matched every dollar contributed to flood relief during the month of November. A total of $50,000 was turned over to the Community Service Center by the Wurstfest Association to aid flood victims.

In '99 festival patrons enjoyed he finest in Alpine and Bavarian style entertainment. Clear skies, mild temperatures, good food and a strong line-up of popular performers proved to be a winning combination for the 39th annual Wurstfest . . . the '99 festival earned its place in history as the top income producer for the ‘90's!

2000 . . . Opening day was reminiscent of the very first sausage festival in 1961 when storms drove the sausage and sauerkraut from Landa Park to the National Guard Armory; and it continued to rain throughout the entire ten days of the 40th annual Wurstfest! But they came, the ate, sang, and danced and had a great time anyway!

The 2001 festival opened with a concert by the Comal Community Band and the first annual Wurstfest Polka Contest. Blessed with fine weather, outstanding entertainment and great food, the 41st annual Wurstfest came close to setting new records in attendance and sales.

Wurstfest is a non-profit corporation designed to promote local commerce, especially through tourism, and preserve the community's heritage. It provides a vehicle for local civic organizations to raise large amounts of money for a wide variety of community projects. Wurstfest is a special event that visitors can attend, enjoy themselves, and leave gratified, knowing that their expenditures will go for worthwhile projects.

 

Willkommen zum WURSTFEST!
Prosit, und hab' Spasz!

FUTURE DATES
2006 -- November 3 - 12

WURSTFEST always starts on the Friday
before the first Monday in November!  

A friend sent this email; it had many nice pictures that I did not include. This is interesting and I suspect many of us, myself included, did not know this information.

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns ------ All three missed it --- here are the facts you need to know, please share!

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance, it's very fascinating.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the
tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the

highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his
return walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the

rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time

and if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.

After his march across the path, he executes an about face

and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes,

twenty-four hours 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be

between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other

requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the

tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on

or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the

rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in

any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on

their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only

400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their

lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat

and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the

top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty

in front of a full-length mirror.

The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor

watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid

to rest in Arlington National Cemetery A guard must memorize who they are

and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft , Joe

E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy , {the most

decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for

guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.


In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our

US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. O n the ABC

evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the

hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of

the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They

respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin,

marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding

the Tomb was not just an assignment it was the highest honor that can be

afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously,

24/7, since 1930.

God Bless and keep them.



I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be
very proud if this one reached as many as possible. We can be very proud
of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

Kitchen Oil Fire - Must listen! I hope this link will work. The video to click on may be at the bottom of the page.

http://www.bio.uci.edu/bsa/oilfire.html

Good reminder for everyone.....

Kitchen fire safety
 This is a powerful message----watch the video and don't forget what
you see. Tell your whole family about this video. Or better yet, send
 this to them.
 This is a dramatic video (30-second, very short) about how to deal
 with a common kitchen fire ... oil in a frying pan. Please read the
 following introduction and then watch the show ... It's a real eye-opener !!
 Perhaps you'll want to send this one on to your family and friends ...
 When I was at the Fire Fighting?
Training school we would demonstrate this with a deep fat fryer set on
 the fire field. An instructor would don a fire suit and using an 8 oz
 cup at the end of a 10 foot pole toss water onto the grease fire. The
 results got the attention of the students.

 The water, being heavier than the oil, sinks to the bottom where it
 instantly becomes superheated. The explosive force of the steam blows
 the burning oil up and out. On the open field, it became a thirty foot
 high fireball that resembled a nuclear blast. Inside the confines of a
 kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room.

 Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One cup creates
 the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite.

This is a "free" link to be notified when a recall should happen. You can sign up for email notifications from the CPSC- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

http://cpsc.gov/

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I went over to check my mother's smoke detector, guess what, only one in the entire house. Fortunately it did work. I finally convinced her we needed to add some additional detectors. I know, you are not suppose to argue with your parent but even if she is 89 I won. Also, a link with great information. Please be aware don't leave it to someone else to do, it's your responsibility to make sure your home is safe.

12 Top Safety Tips

How to make your house a safe home:

1. Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them once a week. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year.
2. Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
3. Keep the exits form your home clear so that people can escape if there is a fire. Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find keys for doors and windows.
4. Take extra care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
5. Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. Consider buying a deep-fat fryer which is controlled by a thermostat (if you don't already have one).
6. Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that does not burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
7. Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly, disposed of carefully and never smoke in bed.
8. Get into the habit of closing doors at night. If you want to keep a child's bedroom door open, close the doors to the lounge and kitchen, it may well help save their life if there is a fire.
9. Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket.
10. Keep matches and lighters where children cannot see or reach them.
11. Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking.
12. Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when not in use.
13. Have a Plan

If you have trouble moving around you'll need a way of getting help quickly. There are many ways of doing this, including fitting a buzzer or an intercom connected to a neighbour or warden's home. Or you could have your phone fitted with a system that automatically calls for help if a smoke alarm goes off.

If there's a fire you will also need to prepare and practice a plan of action to help you act quickly if there's a fire. This section explains how to make an action plan for your home to make sure that everyone gets out safely.

Plan your escape route

• Make sure you know how you would get out in a hurry. If you need help, make sure you can call for it immediately.
• Choose the best way to get out, and then keep that escape route unobstructed.
• Think about a secondary escape route in case the first is blocked by fire.
• If you live in a residential home or rented property be sure to ask your landlord about fire safety and escape plans.

Always know where door and window keys are

Keep the keys to your escape route in the same place. Don't leave them lying around. You need to be able to find them instantly.

Make sure everyone knows

Everyone in your home should know the plan. Everyone should know what route to keep clear and where to find keys.

http://www.firekills.gov.uk/electrical/01.htm

I thought this may be of interest to folks in San Antnio, Texas area referencing our bridges. I recently read this article in the San Antonio newspaper. I think it would be imporant for each of you to please read this article and follow the progress in repairs on our bridges. If it happened in another state it could happen here.

This is for some very interesting reading as our roads are heavily travelled. I hope this link will work.

www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/stories/MYSA080407.01O.bridgewoe1ed.215e0d3.html