by Joe Castilleja, 2015 Chair of the Board
“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – one tall smart mayor (Barron Casteel).
“On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – two beautiful rivers (the crystal clear Comal River and emerald green Guadalupe River).
“On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – three HEB’s (the third location coming soon to the intersection of FM 306 and IH-35).
“On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me “ – 4B Funds (to promote primary job development and associated quality of life and public infrastructure initiatives).
“On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – five dancing Opas (celebrating 55 years of German heritage and culture).
“On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – a six pack of local micro beers (Faust Brewing Company – Golden Ale & German Style Alt Bier, New Braunfels Brewing Company – Luft Weiss & Les Fleurs Du Mal , and Guadalupe Brewing Company – Texas Honey Ale & Scottish Ale) .
“On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – a $7 million renovated golf course (Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs).
“On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – eight competitive swimming lanes (at the newly approved recreation center on Landa Street).
“On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – nine small business seminars (from the Small Business Development Center).
“On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – $10 million in local parks renovation and improvements (Landa Park & Fischer Park).
“On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – FM 1101 and the Town Center at Creekside (many new stores and businesses and more jobs!).
“On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me” – twelve articles from the Chamber Chair (Ha-Ha-Ho-Ho).
Our community is blessed with beautiful natural resources, great schools and many job opportunities. It is truly a great place to live, work and play. But, it is our citizens who have the opportunity to preserve, promote and shape the future of our town. I invite you to get involved in your community and make a difference. It is our obligation to leave this community better than we found it. I hope and pray that New Braunfels will always be the proud and rich community that our German ancestors founded in 1845 on Good Friday.
My theme for this year was “New Braunfels for the Time of Your Life” and I know that I had the time of my life this past year, as your Chamber Chair. I will treasure this time for the rest of my life and thank the many folks who made this possible for me.
May you all have a safe and fun holiday season – Frohliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr! Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year New Braunfels!
Joe Castilleja
Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Chair of the Board