train event Saturday, Nov. 16

FARGO, N.D. (Nov. 12, 2013) – November is National Model Railroad month and we are celebrating with trains at the Fargo Public Library. All ages are invited to the downtown Main Library on Saturday, Nov. 16, when the Red River Modules Model Railroad Club visits to display and demonstrate model trains all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the library’s community room. A special train-themed storytime is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Children’s Room. Area youngsters are also invited to make a themed craft throughout the day. Contact the Children’s Librarian at 241-1495 for details.

Club members will be on hand to answer questions about the trains, the display, and the hobby of modular railroading. Modular Railroading combines modular trains and miniature scenery to make unique track configurations. The library invites people of all ages to stop by and see these fine trains in motion. 

Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. Adults must accompany children 9 and under. For more information regarding the Fargo Public Library and a complete list of upcoming events, visit the library’s website, www.fargolibrary.org.

People with disabilities who plan to attend Fargo Public Library events and need special accommodations should contact Beth Postema at 701-241-8198.

Scams to be aware of

One targets taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.  Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.  Please see more information here: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam

The second scam:  There are a number of scams currently circulating that target members of the military and veterans, such as fake military charities, identity theft targeting active service members, and veteran pension scams.  Here’s what it says on StopFraud.gov  (http://www.stopfraud.gov/service-members.html)

Charity Scams:  Many legitimate charities are soliciting donations to support the nation’s military veterans as well as the families of active-duty personnel. And despite tough economic times, people reportedly are responding generously to these requests. However, not all “charities” are legitimate. Some are sham operators whose only purpose is to make money for themselves. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, says there are several ways to make sure your donations go to a legitimate charity rather than a greedy scam artist trying to use the cachet of veterans and military families to cash in. For example, did you know that the words “veterans” and “military families” in an organization’s name does not necessarily mean that veterans or the families of active-duty personnel will benefit from the money. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) does not endorse any charity, but recommends Military OneSource http://www.militaryonesource.mil/ a DOD-funded program providing comprehensive information on every aspect of military life at no cost to active duty, Guard and reserve service members, and their families.

Parade Entry Forms NOW AVAILABLE!

The Downtown Community Partnership and Xcel Energy are proud to announce that Entry Forms for this year’s Xcel Energy Holiday Lights Parade are available online! Forms and information are located at http://www.downtownfargo.com/events/article/xcel-energy-holiday-lights-parade.

The 2013 theme is “Olde Fashioned Holidays.” Parade participants will compete in the annual Parade Float Competition sponsored by Xcel Energy with the top three winning gift certificates to their favorite Downtown restaurants. Long standing participants, Moore Engineering, Inc., are especially excited this year, having taken 1st place in the 2012 event. “Moore Engineering’s participation in the Holiday Lights event has become a holiday tradition in our office. The employees are always enthusiastic to design and build a new float then participate in the parade. The event showcases our firm’s holiday spirit and provides great exposure for the company; it sure doesn’t hurt that we have placed in the top three the past three years” said Nick Gludt, Vice President of Moore Engineering, Inc.

Mike Hahn, President of the Downtown Community Partnership, stated “This annual tradition is a great way to celebrate the kick-off to the holidays and showcase our wonderful Downtown.  We couldn’t be more proud to have such great participation from the community and businesses that make this event a spectacle! We look forward to another festive celebration in the heart of our city.”

The 2013 Xcel Energy Holiday Lights Parade will be Tuesday, November 26 starting at 6:30pm in Downtown Fargo-Moorhead.

8,297 UNBELTED MOTORISTS,

PASSENGERS RECEIVE CITATIONS

DURING OCTOBER ENFORCEMENT

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Law enforcement cited 8,297 motorists and passengers for not buckling up as part of a statewide Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign, Oct. 4–19. In a similar enforcement effort in October 2012, 8,569 motorists and passengers were cited for not wearing a seat belt, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety.

 The enforcement campaign featured 336 participating law enforcement agencies statewide. In addition to the seat belt citations, reporting agencies issued 341 citations for child passenger safety seat violations during the campaign.

 “Our goal with these seat belt campaigns is to both educate motorists and passengers, and enforce the law in an effort to reinforce safe driving behavior,” says Donna Berger, DPS Office of Traffic Safety director. “Enforcement efforts like this one have served an important purpose by increasing belt compliance to record-high levels.”

Minnesota’s statewide seat belt use rate is at a record-high 94.8 percent, according DPS’ 2013 observational seat belt use survey. Each year, DPS conducts an observational survey of more than 16,000 motorists across the state.

Minnesota Seat Belt Statistics (2010–2012) — 361 Unbelted Deaths

Unbelted motorists continue to represent a significant amount of Minnesota’s traffic fatalities, especially in Greater Minnesota. In the last three years on Minnesota roads (2010-2012):

•             852 motorists died in crashes, of which 361 (42 percent) were not buckled up.

•             171 (49 percent) of the 361 unbelted deaths were motorists ages 16–29.

•             302 (84 percent) of the 361 unbelted deaths occurred outside the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.

 Drivers, Passengers — Including in the Back Seat — Must Be Belted

In Minnesota, drivers and passengers in all seating positions, including in the back seat, are required to be buckled up or seated in the correct child restraint. Officers will stop and ticket unbelted drivers or passengers. Seat belts must be worn correctly — low and snug across the hips; shoulder straps should never be tucked under an arm or behind the back.

 The Importance of Buckling Up

In a crash, odds are six times greater for injury if a motorist is not buckled up.

In rollover crashes, unbelted motorists are usually ejected from the vehicle. In most cases, the vehicle will roll over the ejected motorist. Often, unbelted motorists will crack teeth out on steering wheels or break their nose, and even slam into and injure or kill others in the vehicle.