Fargo announces

holiday schedule for offices, library, garbage collection

City of Fargo offices and the Fargo Public Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 31. The Fargo Public Library will also be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

The Fargo Solid Waste Department’s garbage and recycling schedule for the week of Dec. 27 is as follows: Monday and Tuesday collections will be on Monday; Wednesday collections will be Tuesday; Thursday collections will be Wednesday; Friday collections will be Thursday.

Garbage carts should be out by 8 a.m. on collection day.

The landfill will be open Dec. 24 and 31 but closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

For more information on the garbage collection schedule, call 701-241-1449.

Moorhead to host sleigh rides

Moorhead Parks and Recreation will host sleigh rides Dec. 27—30.

Enjoy a scenic ride through MB Johnson Park located at 3601 11th St. N. from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.

Tickets are $4 per rider, and children under age 2 will ride free if they sit on an adult’s lap. No advance ticket sales or reservations are needed. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the park shelter.

Cookies and hot chocolate will also be available for purchase. Proceeds from concession sales will go to local youth organizations that volunteer at the event.

For more information, call Moorhead Parks and Recreation at 218-299-5340 or visit www.cityofmoorhead.com/parks.

Fire Up the Kettles results announced

The Salvation Army has announced that the third annual Fire Up the Kettles event raised more than $26,087 for The Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

Off-duty firefighters from Fargo and Moorhead and Fire Tech students staffed all 29 of The Army’s red kettles located throughout the Fargo-Moorhead community. Last year the firefighters raised $23,430.

“We’re so grateful for what the Fargo and Moorhead fire departments give our communities, and we are honored to partner with them to provide assistance during fire calls,” said Captain Bill Mealy of The Salvation Army. “To see these firefighters giving back even more during their off hours is truly heartwarming.”

To date in 2010, Fargo and Moorhead firefighters and The Salvation Army have responded to more than 90 emergencies.

The Salvation Army has attained 59 percent of its $650,000 goal for its 2010 campaign, which continues through December 24. Contributions can be dropped in any of the red kettles around town or mailed to PO Box 1979, Fargo, ND 58107.

There is also a continued need for volunteers to help staff the 34 kettles located across Fargo-Moorhead between now and Dec. 24. There are 199 two-and-a-half-hour shifts remaining to be filled. If you’d like to help The Salvation Army finish the 2010 Kettle Campaign strong, call 701-356-2689.

Comstock House tours
this weekend

The Solomon G. Comstock House will host its annual Holiday Tours and Treats event from 1—4 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5. Admission is $5 per person, and children 5 and younger are free.

Tours of the 1882 Victorian home will be conducted and guides will talk about the family’s involvement in the civic affairs of Moorhead, educational institutions and their impact on the community and region. You can view the home’s original furnishings, including tapestries, china and crystal, as well as the exquisite varnished oak and butternut woodwork. Trace the history of the young lawyer, Solomon G. Comstock, as he built the region’s railroad system with James J Hill; discover more about the family; and learn about Ada Comstock, who was the first dean of women at the University of Minnesota and the first female president of Radcliffe College.

For more information, call The Comstock House at 218-291-4211.

Ski trails groomed

Moorhead Parks and Recreation has begun weekly grooming of cross country skiing trails in MB Johnson Park and Viking Ship Park this winter.

The trails will be open and accessible during regular park hours of 10 a.m.—10 p.m.

Prairie’s Edge Nordic Skiers will host events from 10 a.m.—2 p.m. Dec. 18 and from 1—4 p.m. Dec. 19 at MB Johnson shelter, 3601 11th St. N. Each event will include equipment rentals, tips and techniques, instruction and limited concessions.

For more information regarding these skiing opportunities, contact Moorhead Parks and Recreation at 218-299-5340.

Sex offenders move

Police said two local sex offenders have moved.

Moorhead police said David Hamer, a level three (high risk) sex offender has moved from Fargo to the 900 block of 18th Avenue North in Moorhead. Police said Hamer, 48, engaged in sexual contact with a 14-year-old female victim in Bay City, Mich.

Fargo police said Adam Nicholas Anderson, a level three (high risk) sex offender, has moved from 1372 32nd S., Fargo, to Harwood, N.D. Anderson was convicted in 2007 in Cass County District Court for corruption of a minor. His victim was a 16-year-old female acquaintance.

For more information about level three offenders in Moorhead, go to www.moorheadpolice.com. For more information about registered sex offenders in the city of Fargo, visit www.fargopolice.com. Information on high-risk and lifetime offenders is also available on the North Dakota Attorney General’s website at www.ndsexoffender.com and the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at www.nsopr.gov.

Berry returns to Detroit Lakes

John Berry makes his return to the Holmes Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 with his big stage holiday show, underwritten by SJE Rhombus.

And if you can’t get enough of John Berry, he’ll do his “unplugged” show at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Holmes Ballroom.

Berry’s holiday concert combines Christmas music with his country music which his fans have come to know and love.

“John Berry: Unplugged” will be an intimate evening with the artist. Completely different from the Dec. 11 show, this is a rare opportunity to be up close and personal with him as he performs some favorite songs and new pieces, takes requests and answers questions. There is limited seating for this additional show, so call 218-844-7469 to reserve tickets. Tickets are $35 ($30 with your John Berry Holiday Concert/Dec. 11 ticket purchase).

Tickets for the main stage Holiday show on Dec. 11 are $28 (adult) and $14 (student), and can be purchased online at www.dlccc.org, by calling the box office at 218-844-7469 or at 806 Summit Ave. For more information, visit www.dlccc.org.

Comstock House event Dec. 12

Moorhead Parks and Recreation will hold its first “Topic, Tour and Tea” event at the Solomon G. Comstock House at 2 p.m. Dec. 12.

The afternoon will include history, discussion and fun. Listen to a historical presentation while enjoying a cup of tea, followed by a tour of the Comstock House.

December’s topic will be “The Comstock Family’s Photo Album.”

Admission is $5 per person and space is limited, so reservations are required. Call the Comstock House at 218-299-4211 to make your reservation by Dec. 10.

For more information regarding this event or the Comstock House, call 218-291-4211 or e-mail comstock@gomoorhead.com.

‘Food for Fines’ extended

Due to the great community response to the Fargo Public Library’s Holiday Amnesty “Food for Fines” event, the library is extending the event through Dec. 12.

To participate, library users should bring in any overdue library items, along with unexpired, nonperishable food items, to the check-out desk at any Fargo Public Library location during regular library hours. One food item equals $10 in library fines. Library staff will waive the appropriate fine amount and collect the food donation.

All food collected during the event will be given to the Great Plains Food Bank for local distribution. Non-returned items or lost library items are not eligible for the library’s Holiday Amnesty event.

Library customers are encouraged to sign up for e-mail courtesy notices during this time to receive automatic e-mail reminders two days before items are due, thus avoiding library fines. Those who sign up to receive e-mail notices will no longer receive paper notices. E-mail addresses will not be given away, sold or traded.

To sign up to receive e-mail courtesy notices, or for more information about the library’s Holiday Amnesty event, go to www.fargolibrary.org or call the check-out desk at the Main Library at 701-241-1472.

Fargo donating computer
equipment to nonprofits

The City of Fargo is donating surplus computers and other equipment to area nonprofit organizations.

Items available include desktop and laptop computers with operating systems installed; monitors; printers; scanners; and network switches.

Nonprofits must apply by Dec. 23 to be eligible to receive the equipment. Applications are available online at www.cityoffargo.com/planning or by contacting Nate Bailly at 701-476-6751.

The City’s Community Development Committee will review the applications and make recommendations to the City Commission about who should receive the equipment. Criteria used to select recipients will be based, in part, on how the donated items would impact the organization. The computer equipment is expected to be distributed in January 2011.