Over

December 2013

December/JanuaryCity Council regular meetings: December 9, January 13 and 27 at 7 p.m.

City Council work sessions: December 16, January 21 at 6:30 p.m.

City Council budget hearing: December 2 at 7 p.m.

Citizen Advisory Commission meetings: December 10, January 14 at 7 p.m.

Human Rights Commission meetings: December 2, January 6 at 7 p.m.

Planning Commission meetings: December 3, January 7 at 7 p.m.

Events: City offi ces closed for Christmas Day - December 25, New Year’s Day - January 1, and Martin Luther King Day - January 20

All activities are at City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave. N. unless otherwise indicated. Agendas and minutes for meetings are available on the city’s website.

Schedule is subject to change. Call 763-531-5100 for more information.

Lace up your skates and get out and enjoy some clear, crisp winter weath-er on an outdoor ice rink at one of four New Hope parks this winter.

Parks maintenance staff will fl ood rinks in Liberty Park at 60th and Get-tysburg avenues, Civic Center Park at 44th and Xylon avenues, Lions Park at 38th and Oregon avenues, and Hidden Valley Park at 32nd and Boone avenues.

Th e rinks are scheduled to open on December 21, weather permitting. Each park will have a rink for leisure skating and a separate rink, sur-rounded by boards, for hockey. For safety reasons, hockey sticks and pucks are not permitted in the gen-eral skating area. Each park will also have a warming house.

Warming house hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Expanded warming house hours are scheduled on school vacation days – from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. And, hours are reduced around the

New Hope will have outdoor rinks at four parksholidays – from 1 to 3 p.m. on De-cember 24 and 31 and closed on Christmas and New Year’s days.

Programmed activities, such as broom-ball, sometimes preempt regularly scheduled open skating hours. Check with the warming house attendant for details. New Hope’s rinks and warming houses are scheduled to remain open until February 17, if weather permits.

DWI patrols are coming to townDecember is a festive time with lots of holiday parties. Th e New Hope Police Department encourages everyone to make safe driving decisions this holiday season. Please don’t drink and drive. Make arrangements for a designated driver, take a cab, or call a friend or family member for a safe drive home. Never let a friend drive drunk.

To deal with motorists who drive impaired, the New Hope Police De-partment will once again join about 400 law enforcement agencies in a statewide Toward Zero Deaths DWI enforcement crackdown throughout the month of December.

Th e legal limit for driving impaired in Minnesota is 0.08. In 2012, 28,418 mo-torists in Minnesota were arrested for DWI. Th e consequences for a fi rst-time off ender is loss of license for at least 30 days and possible jail time, up to $20,000 in legal costs, and increased insurance premiums. Th e human toll is also high. Last year there were 3,813alcohol-related crashes in Minnesota resulting in 104 deaths, 2,644 injuries, and an economic impact of $263 million.

If you choose to drink, drink responsibly. Have a plan for a safe ride home before you party. Don’t make the selfi sh anddangerous decision to drive impaired.

Does someone in your neighborhood have a really nice display of holiday lights this year? Why not nominate them for the second annual New Hope Sparkles holiday lighting con-test. Th e contest, which has catego-ries for single family residences and businesses, is sponsored by the West Metro Fire-Rescue District Auxiliary.

Nomination forms are available on the city’s website, www.ci.new-hope.mn.us, or at City Hall. Nominations must be submitted by Th ursday, De-cember 12. Th e property owner being nominated must consent to partici-pate in the contest.

Judging for New Hope Sparkles will take place on Sunday, December 15. Th e winners will be recognized at the January 13 City Council meeting.

New Hope Sparkles holiday lighting contest

Sidewalk plowing❄ Property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from side-walks adjacent to their home or busi-ness in a timely manner.

❄ Although New Hope does remove snow from city sidewalks when time and resources permit, maintenance workers’ fi rst priority is to clear city streets. New Hope does not budget overtime for sidewalk plowing.

❄ Pedestrians should always use extra caution when walking on plowed sidewalks. City crews are frequently unable to clear sidewalks to bare pavement and, consequently, plowed sidewalks may have slippery spots.

Parking restrictionsWith wintertime here, it’s important for residents to remember New Hope’s on-street parking restrictions:

❄ On-street parking is prohibited year-round in New Hope between 2 and 6 a.m. On-street parking is also prohibited as soon as 1½ inches of snow has fallen.

❄ Vehicles must remain off the street until the pavement has been plowed to full width. If possible, residents are encouraged to avoid parking on the street for 24 hours after a snowfall.

❄ Vehicles violating the city’s parking restrictions may be ticketed or towed.

Recreation Corner

Safety Tip of the Month

Safety tips for the holidaysTh e Centers for Disease Control (CDC) off er these health and safety tips for the holidays. Visit www.cdc.gov/family/holiday for more:Wash your hands often. Keeping hands clean is one of the most impor-tant steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough, or sneeze into your upper sleeve - not your hands.

Stay warm. Cold temperatures cancause serious health problems, espe-cially in infants and older adults. Stay dry, and dress warmly in several layers.

Manage stress. Th e holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health and pocketbook. Keep a check on over-commitment and overspending.Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Make sure to get proper sleep.

Get check-ups and vaccinations. Exams and screenings can help fi nd health issues early. Vaccinations help prevent diseases. See your health care provider for a yearly exam.

Prevent house fi res. Most residen-tial fi res occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees, and curtains. Never leave fi replaces, stoves, or candles unattended.

Handle and prepare food safely. As you prepare holiday meals, and any meals, keep yourself and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.

Eat healthy, and be active. With balance and moderation, you can en-joy the holidays the healthy way. Se-lect just one or two of your favorites from the host of tempting foods. Find fun ways to stay active. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week.

Winter vacation sports campsBoys’ and girls’ basketball camps for youth in grades 4 to 8 and a girls’ vol-leyball camp for girls in grades 6 to 8 are scheduled for January 2 and 3 at the New Hope Community Gyms. Th e camps are taught by coaches from Cooper High School. Th e fee for any of the three camps is $32 for residents of New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale and Golden Valley. Call for details.

Register your rink rat today for outdoor hockeyRink Rat Hockey is an instructional hockey program for boys and girls ages 7 to 12 that is played outdoors. Games are played every Friday evening and Sunday afternoon from January 3 through February 7 at rinks in New Hope and six nearby communities. Participants must provide their own trans-portation and equipment. Teams are formed in two age groups. Each player will receive a league jersey and participation award. Th e league fee is $42.

Minnesota’s Greatest Generation at the History CenterTh e Community Tripsters will step back into Minnesota during the 1930s to 1950s and recall the depression, the war and the boom through the award-winning interactive exhibit, “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation” at the Minnesota History Center on January 14. Guests will choose their own meal with a voucher at the Cafe’ Minnesota in the center. Transportation, tours, a lunch voucher and escort are included in the $45 fee. Bus leaves at 9:05 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. Register by January 2.

Sesame Street Live at Target Center on January 26Elmo, Grover and Abby Cadabby and their Sesame Street friends will wel-come Chamki, Grover’s friend from India. Th ey will explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similiarities - from singing and dancing to sharing cookies. Th e show begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, at Target Center. Lower level reserved seats are only $14. Call for more information.

Give the gift of recreationNew Hope recreation gift certifi cates are available in any dollar amount and can be redeemed for any recreation program. Golf gift certifi cates are good at the New Hope Village Golf Course. Certifi cates are available at the recre-ation offi ce in person or by phone with a major credit card.

For more information about these programs or to register, call the New Hope Parks and Recreation offi ce at 763-531-5151.