“Divas” smile and wave from points along the Hill Country Mile Thursday, making the most of the annual Diva “Spring Fling.” Hundreds of Boerne and Kendall County women made their way along Main Street, stopping for extended shopping hours, food and beverage and camaraderie.

Written for: Boerne Star

A 1982 Lamborghini Countach LP400S draws a crowd of onlookers Saturday during the Italian Motor Gathering at Main Plaza.

Written for: Boerne Star

The Dining Divas took to the streets of Boerne again to sample some of La Four’s “hill country, hearty home cooking.” La Four’s originally opened its doors in 19983 — originally from the Cajun state of Louisiana before establishing the first restaurant in Kerrville, Texas, before finally moving to Boerne to their current location on South Main Street.

Written for: Boerne Star

Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary second-grade teacher Denise Bakkar walked out of the Boerne Education Foundation’s “Rock On in Music City” gala Saturday $10,000 richer, being named the Boerne ISD Teacher of the Year.

Written for: Boerne Star

Boerne celebrated its sweetest event of the year this weekend — the annual Chocolate Walk. Participating businesses purchase or create specialty chocolates that “walkers” can enjoy after a purchase.

Written for: Boerne Star

Hungry Horse Restaurant & Catering will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants later this month, for a show to be broadcast on its social media sites. America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently owned restaurants, plans to be in Boerne Feb. 27 to film the restaurant, interview owner Steve Artale, and feature some of the dishes that have made the Hungry Horse a special place in the community.

Written for: Boerne Star

A 79-year-old man died Tuesday afternoon in a house fire on Green Valley Drive, according to local officials. Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Bandera Fire and Rescue and Castle Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze on the 200th block of Green Valley Drive at 2:08 p.m. April 15. 

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

The Kronkosky Foundation, Peterson Foundation and Stevens Foundation came together to support Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department in their purchase of a new fire engine last month.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

The City of Bandera has declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month following an official proclamation by Mayor Denise Griffin at the March 25 City Council meeting. The proclamation aims to bring awareness to what Suzanne Tomerlin, crisis response team coordinator for the Hill Country Crisis Council (HCCC), calls a public health crisis.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Bandera local Chris Hensley has been inducted into the 2024 Texas A&M-Kingsville Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a linebacker on the Javelinas football team from 1994 to 1997.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

ACE Wine Room co-owner Eric Cothran, McMullan Auto Insurance owner and Bandera Chiropractor massage therapist Betheny Tankersley were unanimously appointed by the Bandera City Council to the Bandera Economic Development Corporation at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

​Bandera EDC board member Andrea Jankoski expressed her anger toward the Bandera City Council at March 11’s meeting for  comments made in a Feb. 19 Bulletin article regarding the EDC’s funding for the city’s proposed Christmas in the Park budget.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

The Texas Land Conservancy has expanded its efforts to protect Texas’ natural habitats with the acquisition of the East Verde Creek Preserve, a 96-acre property in Bandera County. Former landowners James Smyle and Joan Miller are thrilled that their land will now serve as a permanent sanctuary for the golden-cheeked warbler, a “threatened” species that nests exclusively in Central Texas.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Bandera faced a challenging weekend as three separate fires swept through the area, all attributed to human error, according to Fire Marshal Jason Rutherford.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

ACE Wine Room held their grand opening Friday, March 7, to much community support, including from Mayor Denise Griffin, city councilmember Lynn Palmer and Bandera’s Chamber of Commerce.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Kin Faux, a country music band that played the stage at 11th Street Cowboy Bar last Saturday, March 15, sat down for a Q&A with the Bandera Bulletin.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

11th Street Cowboy Bar is playing host for yet another big event for Bandera: The Kin Faux band are taking over the stage on Saturday, March 15th. The four-member band have made a name for themselves by playing extensively throughout the Midwest, opening shows for big names like Luke Bryan and Trace Adkins.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Warriors Heart, a private treatment center for military service members, veterans, and first responders, presented a newly built ceremonial cauldron for the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) on Thursday, March 6. The AFW2 director, Col. Edward “Tre’” Irick was in attendance for the unveiling.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Councilmember Tony Battle expressed hope during Feb. 11’s Bandera City Council meeting that the EDC would recognize Cowboy Christmas’ value and consider investing in it later this year.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

There was some apprehension about the turnout for the 2025 Cowboy Mardi Gras parade with the sudden cold front South Texas endured, but Bandera did not disappoint. Crowds lined Main Street, bearing through the cold and misty rain for Bandera’s biggest event of the year.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

The newly appointed Bandera City Marshal Earl Heidelberg is excited to continue his work for the city of Bandera, after serving fifteen years in law enforcement.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Bandera’s City Council heard from two frustrated citizens at its regular meeting on Jan. 28 regarding the Cowboy Christmas resolution and its funding. Although the issue was not on the meeting’s agenda—which covered affirming Bandera as the Cowboy Capital of Texas, appointing a city marshal, adjusting employee compensation, and protesting increased rates from Atmos Energy—funding the $60,000 Christmas event became a heated topic for some residents.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Bandera’s City Council tackled a range of issues at its most recent meeting, including reaffirming the city’s title as the “Cowboy Capital of Texas,” reviewing budget reports, and debating the appointment of a new City Marshal.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Ranch Valley Café and Cantina opened its doors on Nov. 24, 2024, and according to owner Gracie Valenzuela, business has been booming. Valenzuela is following in the footsteps of her mother, Bee Valenzuela, who owned Bee’s Restaurant in San Antonio for 45 years before passing away three years ago. She said the community has been incredibly supportive.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Acrylic pour art classes stand as a popular social media sensation ideal for those who don’t exactly have the best artistic skillset, particularly drawing. Former elementary teacher and now painter Julie Majek led her Jan. 25 class through the entire acrylic art process, from mixing the base paints to creating cells, to different pour methods you can try in your own home.

Written for: Boerne Star

The ladies were greeted by a hostess in an intimately lit seating area, where music was playing over the speakers at just the right volume. We were seated at a half regular table, half booth. The taller ladies preferred tableside, finding that the booth was seated a little too high for them. The main menu placed neatly on the center of the table was accompanied by an impressive wine selection and a list of delectable appetizers. We had an easy task at hand.

Written for: Boerne Star

With Alzheimer’s cases on a dramatic rise in the baby boomer generation, Hannah Calame, memory care director of Franklin Park Boerne, is presenting a seminar on Alzheimer’s and other dementia- related diseases at the senior care living facility. The seminar, a three-part series, covers everything from recognizing symptoms, what to prepare for right after a diagnosis, how to decode behaviors and other expressions and the different types of therapy that have proven to be successful.

Written for: Boerne Star

Bandera City Council opened their first 2025 meeting with several resolutions, including an employee policy for vacation payout, a social media policy, an employee compensation adjustment policy and an approval for the Economic Development Board’s (EDC) expenditure of 60k for Cowboy Christmas. 

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

In a 4-1 vote, the Bandera City Council voted during a special meeting on Jan. 2 to remove Nancy De Foster as City Marshal, citing insubordination against her supervisor, City Manager Stan Farmer. Though the meeting was announced on short notice (in Texas, city council meeting agendas must be posted at least 72 hours in advance with the exception of special meetings or emergencies), the room was not able to house the many attendees, leaving quite a few listening in on YouTube just outside the doors.

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

Although there was standing room only for those supporting Bob Preston, a Bandera resident whose property is included in the proposed site for a wastewater treatment plant, tensions remained surprisingly low at the Bandera City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

Written for: Bandera Bulletin

The Wimberley Players have secured a total of 11 nominations with the 2024 BroadwayWorld Austin Awards for their performance in the musical Legally Blonde. Directed by Donna Provencher, the small theater group was founded in 1979 and was thrilled that their “female-centric” musical — which ran from July through August — garnered nominations in 10 categories, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Scenic Design of a Play or Musical, among others.

Written for: The Boerne Star 

Just in time to give back during the holiday season, Good for the Sole asks the community to donate shoes for those in need. The charity organization, started by Noah Patton when he was attending Boerne High School in 2022, has donated to such places as Haven for Hope, Boerne ISD, and other areas in inner city San Antonio.

Written for: The Boerne Star

Selina King, a widowed mother of eight children from 1903, ascended the staircase in the Kuhlmann King House Saturday, thumping loudly with each step, creating an eerie atmosphere for her visitors that day.

Written for: The Boerne Star

Both locals and out-of-town attendees enjoyed Comfort’s 12th Annual Art Festival on Saturday. The event, organized by Comfort Merchants Association, invites artists from all around the area to sell and display their works. Everything, from abstract to realism, is welcome for display. Almost every shop in Comfort leant their front area spaces for artists to set up. 

Written for: The Boerne Star 

Noted biographer Rudi R. Rodriguez presented an overview on the life of legendary Native Tejano José Policarpio “Polly” Rodriguez at Comfort Public Library. Polly carries an impressive resume of former careers as a frontiersman, U.S. Army scout and guide, rancher, county official and minister. Along with his ancestors, Polly went on to establish many parts of Texas we recognize today.

Written for: The Boerne Star

 Boerne celebrated the 4th annual Tug the Truck event on Saturday, September 6th outside of the Black Rifle Coffee on South Main Street. Organized by the 100 Club of Kendall County, a charity geared towards helping first responders manage their mental health, this event calls teams from all around for a chance to tug a 30,000-pound firetruck across the finish line 40 feet away. Every team receives two chances to pull, with each pull timed to determine the winner.

Written for: The Boerne Star

Your wedding venue is something that your guests will remember most – apart from how enchanting you will look, of course. There are so many options to choose from: Historic, Outdoors, Elegant, Modern; it simply depends on what you and your soon-to-be spouse find most alluring. Because our job is all about weddings – including the smallest of details – we know which venues are leading experts in the business of weddings . Let’s walk through a handful of venues, organized by max guest capacity to best accommodate your guest list!  

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide San Antonio

Although the city of Boerne houses 11 EV charging stations, including stations at the Sonic Drive-in on Bandera and The Bevy Hotel on Herff Road, plans to build additional charging stations are on pause. 

Written for: The Boerne Star

Seeing your wedding vision come to life is one of the most satisfying moments of your entire wedding experience. All of your planning, time, and effort has finally paid off – and your wedding venue looks amazing. But before we get to that happy time, let’s go over some must have décor tips and vendors who would love to be a part of your special day. Trends come and go – but your theme is forever. From the invitations to your centerpieces, everything is a reflection of the theme you and your spouse selected. So, what’s step one to planning out these details?

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide San Antonio

When Thistlewood Manor & Gardens transferred ownership to Ginny Tipton, she wasted no time in implementing changes. But no decision was rash; every change reflected Ginny’s faith and love. 

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide San Antonio

Inmates at the Kendall County Adult Detention Center are free to attend the Christian Journey Courses’ Prepped for Life Program. Rather than focusing on the faults of the program attendees, the instructors center on each inmate’s strengths and go into detail about their childhood – right up to the events that led to their incarceration.

Written for: The Boerne Star

“My friend said they would take pictures on their cell phone.” NO! Don’t fall for that. Your wedding day is such a special occasion; a memory you will want to share with your family and friends for years to come. Hiring a professional photographer is an absolute must – and we’re here to help find the right one for you! 

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide San Antonio

Everyone wants to make their special day a day to remember. So, how do you go about doing that? Take a look at these unique features and places to incorporate on your wedding day to cultivate an unforgettable experience. Trends come and go in the wedding world; everyone wants their day to stand out, after all! But everyone’s definition of unforgettable varies, so we are going to go over some amazingly unique vendors and venues to get your thinking gears going!

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide Austin

Rehearsal Dinners, Cocktail Hour, and Receptions all require catering. Where to begin? It’s already a challenge to find a place to eat with the family, but for an entire wedding guest list? You need a caterer that can provide you with multiple menu options –  and lucky for you, we did the leg work in finding vendors that can deliver a variety delectable dishes.  

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide San Antonio

For our brides in the Austin area, the options for a wedding venue seem endless. Thankfully, we’ve made it easy for you and narrowed it down to four venues, each with different aesthetics. From Austin to Fredericksburg, these four wedding venues offer unique settings for your special day.

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide Austin

Austin brides, we have some gorgeous Austin-area venues for you! Each of our selected venues offers something different for you and your weddings guests, while also providing a convenient location in between San Antonio and Austin. Take an online tour with us as we showcase four exciting wedding spaces! 

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide Austin

We have another gorgeous style shoot for you! Each of our style shoots are planned down to the smallest detail, to help inspire you in your own wedding planning. For this shoot, we chose burgundy, gold, and other popular fall colors set in a gorgeous garden-style venue. Get out your notebook, we’re going to walk you through every detail!  

Written for: Texas Wedding Guide Austin & San Antonio

Q4 Publishing Pending

Written for: Austin County Insider