FARMER’S MARKET IN 14TH YEAR

OF PROVIDING FRESH FOOD IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT TO LOCALS AND VISITORS

The Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market (FFM) begins its seven-month-long schedule of bringing locally grown and produced foods to downtown Fredericksburg in late April.

The market will be celebrating its 14th year of operation and will take place at the Adelsverein Halle at Marktplatz.

Every Thursday, rain or shine, from 4-7 p.m., from late-April to mid-August, shoppers can meet farmers and producers, while shopping for fresh produce at Marktplatz. No dates are set in stone yet.

The producer/grower market consists of farmers, ranchers and wineries located within the geographic neighborhood of Gillespie and adjacent counties,offering a wide variety of tomatoes, vegetables, peaches, blackberries and other fruits, mushrooms, meats, goat cheese, eggs, Gulf seafood, baked goods, wine, vinegar and herbs, as well as beautiful flowers.

Shoppers are invited to come for the food and stay for the family friendly party atmosphere where they can purchase meals and snacks while listening to live music.

People of all ages can enjoy fresh, locally grown produce at the Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market.

— Standard-Radio Post file photo

While 2020’s Farmer’s Market looked a bit different, fans still enjoyed the “grab-and-go grocery” model. Organizers are planning for a return to the normal market, featuring food, wine

and ice cream.— Standard-Radio Post file photo

Pizza baked in a wood burning oven, various dishes, including soups, salads, sliders and pastries are all made with local ingredients and can be enjoyed picnic-style under the pavilion.

Wine from local wineries can be purchased by the glass or bottle and non-alcoholic iced beverages are also served.

Desserts and ice cream are also available.

At the Chef’s Corner, visitors will find free samples prepared by local chefs using ingredients from the market. Chefs and volunteers are happy to “talk shop” and answer questions about how to cook the dish being sampled.

Meet the farmer, rancher, chef and artisan baker. Support local agriculture and viticulture in Fredericksburg, the community way to shop for great food.

ROCKETS “GO FOR LAUNCH” IN 2021 A rocket launches from the Stonewall launch site as part of the SystemsGo “All systems are go” once again as SystemsGo resumes the countdown for Rockets 2021 at three launch sites across Texas. program that originated at Fredericksburg High School. The goal is to send rockets up to a mile high and past the

After canceling the 2020 launches due to the speed of sound. — Submtted photo COVID-19 impact on schools, the Fredericksburgbased nonprofit STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program has scheduled the following launch dates: • APRIL 22-23: NORTH TEXAS/JACK COUNTY; • APRIL 29 TO MAY 1: CENTRAL TEXAS/STONEWALL; • MAY 6-8: SOUTHEAST TEXAS/SMITH POINT; • MAY 10-14: JAL, NEW MEXICO.

Students from 42 high schools will launch up to 150 rockets in Texas (more in New Mexico).

Rockets 2021 is the culminating event for the SystemsGo program in which high school students design, build and launch rockets designed to loft a one-pound payload one mile high, or exceed the speed of sound.

COVID-19 mitigation procedures will be in place and strictly enforced at all sites, according to organizers. Safety procedures include smaller working teams for participating students, socially distant workstations, no group food concessions, controlled flow in and out of the sites, temperature checks, frequent sanitizing handwashing procedures, and face coverings.

County judges in Jack, Gillespie and Chambers counties approved SystemsGo’s request to host an outdoor event involving more than 10 people. In order to reduce the number of people on each launch site, and to better comply with CDC guidelines and local county policies, the public will not be allowed access to the preparation or launch sites as in previous years. There are no exceptions, including no admittance for family members or nonparticipating classmates.

Plans are in place to livestream the event, weather and internet access permitting. Students and teachers are encouraged to use their personal video devices to record the experience for sharing with family and schoolmates.

SystemsGo executive director Scott Netherland, left, is with Brett Williams, who created the program from scratch as a teacher at Fredericksburg High School, beginning in 1996. — Submitted photo

More information and updates on the launches will be posted online at www.systemsgo.org, as well as on social media: Facebook: SystemsGoNews, Twitter: SystemsGoNews; by email at info@systemsgo.org; or phone at 830-997-3567.