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Did You Know?BWy Connie McFall Clarke all love our public library! So many books, so many programs, such helpful staff.The Mammen Family Public Library has a rich history. In 1984 a group of Bulverde area citizens decided it was time to form a library. In 1985 the Bulverde Public Library was incorporated as a nonprofit. For two years the library was located in a former house in old town Bulverde and housed 5,300 books. Mildred Watson is named as the founder of the library. In 1988 Comal ISD leased a 1,440 square-foot portable building to the library and in 1989 added another building. The location was on Cougar Bend in old town Bulverde.Also in 1989, the San Antonio Express News donated books to the library. With a total of over 6,000 volumes the library became accredited with the Texas StateBTy Mayor James Mayer ChallengesLibrary Association. In 1996 capital campaigns started to generate funds for a permanent building and location. In January 2000 a special election established The Bulverde Area Rural Library District (BARLD) and the name of the library changed to the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library. In 2001 the library was located in a 6,000 square-foot section of the business complex where the H-E-B used to be located off of State Hwy 46.In 2001 the BARLD Board of Trustees and then Mayor William Cole started contacting developers for building a new library complex. The SCC Development Company donated land worth $1.6 million as part of the agreement with the Home Depot site on Warren Hill. In January 2007 the ground- breaking event dedicated the Bulverde/ Spring Branch Public Library at the William J. Cole Library Park, where it stands today. The doors opened on May 1, 2008 in the 18,680square-foot site.“Born in India, Sam Mammen was sograteful for his success after immigrating to the United States that he wanted to do something to give back. So after selling his successful business, he and his family formed the Mammen Family Foundation.” – San Antonio Express NewsThe Foundation donated $2 million to the library in 2018 and the name changed to the Mammen Family Public Library.Contact me at connieclark. conniecanwrite@gmail.com with historical events, people and places!Connie McFall Clarkspotlights historical and human interest stories from the area. www.conniecanwrite.comMayor’s CornerNational Night OutJoin In The Fun And Get To Know Your Neighbors!Ongoing Fragmentation Of Land Presents Environmentalhe ongoing fragmentation of changes to recognize watersheds and family land in Texas presents aquifers as critical infrastructure, proposing significant environmental that infrastructure expenditures should alsochallenges, especially in rapidly growing areas like Comal County. Andrew Sansom, a research professor of geography at Texas State University and founder of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, highlighted the dire consequences of land subdivision during a community program in Comal County, as reported by the Herald Zeitung.Land fragmentation typically occurs when family-owned land is subdivided and sold for reasons such as estate settlements or residential development. This trend is particularly pronounced in the Texas Hill Country, leading to a patchwork of smaller, privately owned plots that replace large tracts of rural and agricultural land. Over the past two decades, Texas has seen a dramatic reduction in the size of its working lands, with average ownership size decreasing from 581 acres in 1997 to 509 acres in 2017.The implications of this fragmentation are substantial. Ryan Spencer, Executive Director of Comal Conservation, notes that the transformation of these lands impacts local economies, food security, and the conservation of water and natural resources. With 95% of Texas land privately owned, fragmentation affects nearly all of the state’s wildlife habitats, watersheds, and aquifer recharge areas, putting immense pressure on natural systems already strained by unprecedented population growth between major cities like Austin and San Antonio.include the protection of these vital natural resources. He argues that traditional public financing too narrowly focuses on tangible assets like pipes and treatment systems rather than the ecosystems that support hydrologic health.Additionally, Sansom points out that remote work trends are accelerating land fragmentation, as the appeal of living in scenic, remote locations while maintaining employment becomes a more feasible option post-pandemic.Effectively addressing this issue requires more than acquiring public lands or investing in parks and wildlife areas; it involves supporting private landowners in maintaining and wisely managing their properties. Ensuring that families can retain their ancestral lands without succumbing to development pressures is crucial for preserving Texas’s natural landscapes. Spencer suggests that empowering private landowners is a distinctly Texan approach to conservation.As Texas confronts the challenges of land fragmentation, strategic conservation efforts are necessary to balance growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring the preservation of the state’s natural heritage for future generations.Spring Branch Mayor James MayerContact Info info@cityofspringbranch. orgBTy Debbie Lissoexas’ National Night Out 2024 isscheduled for Tuesday October1st and members of the Bulverde Police Department are looking for individuals or businesses who would like to either host or co-host a block party event. An estimated 700 citizens participated in NNO in 2023 which is a great community turnout.National Night Out is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and discuss ideas for a safer community. It’s also a great opportunity to meet your local first responders from the Police Department and Fire/EMS entities, the same people that will be responding should you call for assistance.We are also looking to partner with local businesses who would like to be a sponsor for National Night Out 2024. Sponsorships from these great community partners make it possible for host appreciation events as well as a luncheon event for seniors at the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center who may not be able to get out on the night of NNO. These events create a greatopportunity to get together and share ideas, meet other block party hosts, distribute gift bags, share a meal, and meet all those that make National Night Out in Bulverde a great success. What a great occasion to show support for the community as well as a great opportunity to showcase your business name in the community. A business sponsorship will get your business logo and or name on all National Night Out banners that will be prominently displayed in the community, advertisement opportunities in host bags and an invite to the host appreciation event and National Night Out block events. This year we have teamed up with the Bulverde Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce to assist with recruiting local businesses, but sponsorships are limited. If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring a National Night Out event this year, please contact Debbie Lisso here at the Police Department at 830-438-3612 or you may also reach out through the Bulverde Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce who can also assist.4www.bsbhighlights.comAugust 2024Sansomadvocatesforlegislative