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Did You Know?By Connie McFall ClarkA s you’re speeding along US Highway 281 towards Blanco, just south of State Highway 306, have you ever noticed the small Gass family cemetery in the median? The family descendants negotiated its preservation with TxDot during the expansion of the highway in recent years. The first internments were in 1889 and the last in 2009. It became Spring Branch Community Cemetery and welcomed members of theKnibbe, Elbel and Schaeferkoeter families. Andreas and Anna Marie Berns Gass had arrived on the Texas coast near Indianola with their five children 1852. Their oldest son, Friedrich Gass is considered a founder of first Smithson Valley in 1850 and then Spring Branch after he served as a private in the Comal County Volunteer Infantry in the Confederate Army. Friedrich was a farmer and rancher who bought 462-3/4 acres fromDietrich Knibbe in January 1890.Members of the family are also buriedin the Old Gass Cemetery off of Rittimann/ Sattler Road on Old Spring Branch Road in Kendall County, the first being interned in this location in 1910. Friedrich, his wife and Heinrich Gass are there.As you travel the backroads near Bulverde and Spring Branch you’ll discover many family cemeteries, most not visible from the road. Since the first German immigrants settled the area, they buried their deceased family members on their land. I read on one website that there are 68 cemeteries in Comal County. Another source said 75 cemeteries are in our area.One of the earliest settlers in Spring Branch, Adam J. Becker’s grave stands alone near his homestead and barn, now the Charleen Soechting Long Ranch, in the Cypress Springs on the Guadalupesubdivision. Bulverde was first called Pieper’s Settlement, after August Anton Pieper. The Piepers are buried in the Leesch Family Cemetery, located on Bulverde Road, in a pasture now owned by Charles Staudt.There are four family cemeteries in the Anhalt area; eighteen in Bulverde; four in Smithson Valley; and twenty-three in Spring Branch. Let’s honor those that wentbefore us!Connie McFall Clarkspotlights historical and human interest stories from the area. www.conniecanwrite.comMayor’s Corner Of Spring BranchGot Water ?Looking For Dads To RecognizeNBy Mayor James Mayerot a cute catch phrase, but ratheran ever-growing concern. Ona regular basis I hear from folks about failing wells and concerns about development and the future of our water supply. Canyon Lake, our primary water supply is down 10 feet from a year ago and 12 feet below full pool levels. The Trinity Aquifer, our other main water source is very slow to recover from demand causing wells to temporarily or in some cases permanently fail. We’ve experienced exceptional drought conditions for well over a year. Much of Spring Branch saw less than 10 inches of rain for all of 2022, and so far less than three inches for 2023. How long this drought lasts is anybody’s guess.GET TO THE POINT, MAYOR!The point is this. Water is a shared resource that is not available in an endless supply. (Take a look at what’s happening along the Colorado River in Nevada andHighlights Publications wants to recognize fathers of all ages. How many of you have everArizona) Each of us has a responsibility to use it wisely. We all have choices about our water use; how much we use and what we do with it. We have direct control over both of these things every time we take a shower, water plants or the yard, wash our cars, flush our toilets and brush our teeth.I’ve talked about it before, and probably will again because I believe it’s important to remember, especially as we head into Spring and warmer temperatures. Watering restrictions don’t solve the problem. It comes down to all of us being good stewards of our water resources.Thanks, Mayor MayerSpring Branch Mayor James MayerContact info: info@cityofspringbranch.orgwanted to let your dad know how much you appreciate him? Well, why not make it public and show them how much you care? We are giving you the perfect opportunity to do so.Highlights Publications is doing a special section to honor Dads in the June edition. It will be a great keepsake for you and for him. He will be totally surprised and it will make a great gift from the heart. Tell us why your dad is special to you and keep at 150 to 200 words max.We will be selecting one father to receive a $50. Please send your submissions with contact information and photo via email to contest@bsbhighlights.com. Deadline for Father’s Day articles is May 10 2023.Can You Cut, Iron, Sew Or...?We Need Your Help!TBy Threads Of Lovehreads of Love is a 501-C-3 groupthat originated in 1993. They are known worldwide as a volunteergroup that make a variety of items for babies that are born premature. ThoughThreads - continued on page 8Margarita Paw - Off FundraiserBenefitingSat., May 6th 2:00pm - 6:00pm Blue Bonnet Palace17630 Lookout Rd. Selma, TX 78154Vendors NeededADMISSION $ 15 15yrs. & under FREECoolNEWHang Out SpotFull-Service Bar • Live Music Indoor & Outdoor Seating Food Truck ServicePet & Kid Friendly33855 Blanco Road Bulverde, TX 78163(830) 438-442550% offFIRST DRINKwith this AD!UP TO $20 VALUE EXPIRES 5-31-23www.thatplaceob.comwww.beyondfaithhomecare.comOur Private Duty Services Include: • Personal care• Companionship Care• Transportation• Light Housekeeping• Additional Services With RN OversightBook your FREE assessment today!210-982-34158535 Wurzbach Road Suite 108, Galaxy II Bldg. San Antonio, TX 782404www.bsbhighlights.comMay 2023Family FunLive MusicGamesPour OffPrizes