Addison, TX

The Oktoberfest in Addison TX starts this thursday September 17th and runs till Sunday September 20th at the Addison Circle Park. This is a Fun event for the entire family with authentic German food, Spaten Bier, local restaurant vendors, music, folk dancing, sing-a-longs, childrens entertainment and rides.

Thursday night is FREE entry. Hours are 5 to 11pm.

For more information visit Addison Oktoberfest.

Need a Night Out? Sure you do! And that night should be Tuesday, October 13th. Save the date!

National Night Out brings neighorhoods together to fight crime and increase communiity awareness through police-community partnerships. It is celebrating its 26th anniversary this year.

In conjunction with National Night Out, the Midway Meadows subdivision in Addison Texas is having a neighborhood get-together at Dome Park (corner of Dome and Sherlock) from 6:30-7:30 pm. Come meet your neighbors, visit with the police and fire fighters, and enjoy cookies and camaraderie.

If you live on any of the following streets in Addison, you're in Midway Meadows:

• Le Grande
• Winter Park
• Pokolodi
• Leadville
• Rush
• Sherlock
• Bobbin
• Dome

If you don't live in Midway Meadows in Addison, Texas but would like to, call me to find you your Addison home!

Lorrie Semler, e-PRO, GRI
Keller Williams - Dallas North
972-416-3417

Addison Pacesetters (the 50+ group) meet the first Wednesday of each month at Dunn Bros. Coffeehouse on Beltline Road and learn about the Town of Addison. This month, the Addison firefighters from Fire Station #2, C-shift ,spoke to us.

Here are some interesting tidbits from their presentation:

There are 3 shifts per week (A, B and C) with 13 firefighters on duty per day in both fire stations. They work every 3rd day for 24 hours, starting and ending at 7:00 am. When they first come on duty, they get the report from the outgoing shift, check the equipment and buckle down for training. They are required to have 20 hours/month of fire specific training. Since almost all Addison firefighters are also Emergency Medical Specialists, too, they must also complete 80 hours per year of continuing EMS training. Most get in a one-hour workout in the morning. They also plan the menu for the next 24 hours, shop, and cook. The most difficult decision they make is "What's for dinner?". We learned that the C-shift makes a mean hot sauce. The afternoons are for relaxing, watching TV (what the heck is on in the middle of the afternoon - Oprah?). They generally get to sleep between 9 and 11 and wake up at 6:30 to prepare to go off duty.

The number of emergency calls varies, but Tuesday is usually the busiest day.

About 60% of the calls they receive are medical. The Addison fire department responds to commercial calls, not just residential calls.

New construction in Addison over 500 sq ft must be sprinklered. Contrary to what you see on TV, sprinklers do not go off everywhere in the building, only near the source of the fire. If there is a fire in an home or office with sprinklers, the fire is usually out before the firefighters get there. Not because they're slow, but because the sprinklers are that good!

All Addison fire trucks also have EMS equipment on board, including drugs. And, every ambulance call gets a fire truck, too.

Food left on the stove (usually beans!) is the most frequent cause of fires in Addison.

There are several programs offered by the Addison Fire Department:

• They will do free blood pressure checks if you drop by the station.
• Free CPR and Basic First Aid classes monthly.
• They will replace the batteries in your smoke detector in October for free. Call for an appointment.
• They conduct home safety surveys.
• The fire department has taken a page out of the real estate agent's plan book: they hold an open house!

October is Fire Safety month. Thank a fireman today!

Next month, the first Wednesday is os October 7th. Come out and join the Addison Pacesetters at Dunn Bros.

Addison's 2009 Oktoberfest

It's Oktoberfest time again in Addison! The 2009 festivities (the 22nd Annual Oktoberfest Celebration in Addison) kick off on Thursday, September 17 and run through Sunday, September 20. There's lots to do and see this year.

Thursday, September 19th:

• Polka-thon!
• German spelling bee.
• Largest "Chicken Dance" in Texas.

Friday, September 20th:

• The official "tapping of the keg" is Friday at 7:00 p.m. Addison Mayor Joe Chow will tap the first keg of Paulaner from Germany, hopefully without spilling any bier. Maxwell had a silver hammer, but the Mayor will use a wooden mallet to hammer the bronze spout into the keg.

• The Addison Oktoberfest Yodeling Competition is back! 9:00 pm at the Bowl Stage.
  It's Karaoke gone German! The Addison Oktoberfest Yodeling Competition is back! Twenty-five contestants will yodel their best to win great prizes. A panel of judges will score contestants based on the following criteria: Stage Presence, Audience Appeal, Dynamics/Technique, Difficulty, Uniqueness, Overall presentation. Competitors will be separated into two divisions - Adults (19+), Children (18 and under).

Saturday, September 21st:

• The Addison Oktoberfest 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run is on tap (pardon the pun!). Registration begins at 6:30 am, with the 1 mile kid's fun run/walk taking off at 8:00 a.m. and the 5k run/walk/wheelchair race at 8:30 a.m. Put back the calories you've burned off with a beer when Oktoberfest opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. This race supports Wipe Out Kids' Cancer, a nonprofit organization helping fund research, education and treatment for children with cancer.
• Two great Bier Barrel events: Bier Barrel Rolling and Bier Barrel Bowling

Sunday, September 22nd:

• Sunday is "dach" day. Dachshunds rule! The short-legged dogs will parade across the main stage at 2:00 p.m. and at 3:00 they will run in Sidewalk Races. The parade is sponsored by the Dallas Dachshund Club and they will have an adoption table next to the main stage if you'd like to take one home. Visit the Addison Texas website for an application and rules for the dog races. Did I mention the costume contest? For the dogs!

There will be a Kids Tent. Entertainment. Weingarten. Bier Tasting. Vendors. Food. Carnival rides and midway games. Paintball. Face painting. And so much more!

So why is Addison's Oktoberfest held in September, you ask? The world-renowned 14-day Munich Oktoberfest celebration ends the first week in October and Addison's event is scheduled to coincide with it.

Location: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive, Addison TX 75001
Hours:

Admission: Free admission on Thursday night, then $5 for ages 4 & up at the gate. Discount tickets available at Tom Thumb stores.
Free Parking: NW corner of Dallas Parkway & Arapaho Road

For more information on this event, visit the Town of Addison's website.

Village on the Parkway - Free Outdoor Concerts

Village on the Parkway (also known as Sakowitz Village to us old-timers) will host a series of free concerts on the newly built Village Main Stage. The September series called "Rock the Village" kicks off Thursday, September 10 with Voodoo Blue, a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute band playing from 6 to 8 p.m. The 8tracks rewinding '70s rock'n roll will perform on September 17, and Suburban Legend, a classic rock band, takes the stage September 24.

Guests are encouraged to visit the patio seating offered at Sherlock's, Blue Mesa, Friday's, Mercy Wine Bar and the other exciting restaurants featured at Village on the Parkway to enjoy the great sounds. Additional concerts are planned for Thursdays in October.

Village on the Parkway is on the south east corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Belt Line Road in Addison, Texas. The Village Main Stage is on the East side of Bed Bath & Beyond.

Visit www.thevillageontheparkway.com for more details.