Kids Fishing Derby
at Buena Vista Park

The trout will be biting on Dec. 8, as the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department teams up with Texas Parks and Wildlife for a free kids fishing derby at Buena Vista Park, 2001 Madera. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Prizes, bait and poles will be provided. Kids of all ages can participate. Rainbow trout thrive in cold water and can be caught with hooks baited with cheese or corn.

Adults must have a fishing license with a rainbow trout stamp to fish, which can be purchased at area convenience stores and sporting goods stores. For information, call 750-8057.

WCCC-TV Programming
for December

After more than a year in development, the Waco City Cable Channel, WCCC-TV, will air a documentary in December on the history of railroads in Waco.

Included are numerous interviews with former employees and rail historians who describe the various railroad lines and service to Waco.

From its beginning in the late 1800s to the final run of the Texas Special, viewers will learn of the value and importance of the railroad in our city’s past.

Other holiday programming includes Christmas storytimes for children, a concert by the Waco Community Band, and a program about holiday traditions called “Christmas Around the World.”

In addition, WCCC-TV will continue its annual tradition of encouraging viewers to call in to submit locations of exceptionally decorated homes that will be photographed and featured on the station.

To suggest a home, call the WCCC-TV Viewer Comment Line at 750-5639.

Great Zoo Stampede

The Great Zoo Stampede 2007 is set for Saturday, Dec. 15. The start times are as follows: 1 Mile at 7:30 a.m.; 5K at 8 a.m.; and 10K at 9 a.m.

Early registration is $17 per race, and late registration, Dec. 12 through race day, is $25 per race. You may register on line at www.cameronparkzoo.com or www.signmeupsports.com.

Courses are certified and automated timing is used for more accurate finish results. A race map will be posted at www.wacostriders.com and at the zoo on race day. All entrants will receive a T-shirt.

The registration tent will open at 6:45 a.m. on race day for late registrations and packet pickup for runners who pre-registered. This year will be the 1st annual Critter Crawl for 3, 4 and 5 year-olds. Registration is $5 per entrant including race day.

All participants will receive a prize and ribbons will be awarded to the top three finishers in these age categories. Critter Crawl entrants will not receive a T-shirt. Bring your family and friends to join in the fun and excitement.

For the health of Cameron Park Zoo’s animals & yours, pets are not allowed in the zoo. Please leave your fuzzy friends at home. For more information, call 750-8400.

2007-2008 Solid Waste
Holiday Schedule

Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 & 23, 2007) The Solid Waste Offices and Cobbs Recycling Center will be closed both days. The Landfill will be closed on Thursday, but will be open on Friday.

Thursday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Nov. 21; Friday’s trash will be collected on Friday as usual.

Christmas Day (Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007) Solid Waste, Landfill, and Cobbs Recycling Center will be closed.Tuesday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

New Year’s Day (Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008) Solid Waste, Landfill and Cobbs Recycling Center closed. Tuesday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 21, 2008) Solid Waste and Cobbs Recycling Center closed. Landfill will be open. Monday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Yard waste (green cart) pickup begins.

Memorial Day (Monday, May 26, 2008) Solid Waste, Landfill and Cobbs Recycling Center closed. Monday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, May 28.

Independence Day (Friday, July 4, 2008) Solid Waste, Landfill and Cobbs Recycling Center closed. Friday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, July 2.

Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1, 2008) Solid Waste, Landfill and Cobbs Recycling Center closed. Monday’s trash will be collected on Wednesday, Sept. 3. No yard waste (green cart) pickup this week.

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 - Yard waste (green cart) pickup ends.

Volunteers Needed

The Central Texas Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) began in November 2007 and includes volunteers in McLennan County. The mission of the MRC is to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers.

The Central Texas MRC uses both medical and non-medical volunteers in its two main programs: Volunteers In Preparedness (VIP) and Community Health Ambassadors.

For more information about the Central Texas MRC, contact Bambi Barron at bambib@ci.waco.tx.us or visit: www.mclennanpublichealth.org.

City Fireworks Ordinance

The City of Waco Fire Department encourages everyone to have a safe holiday season.

In connection with the New Years’ holiday, the Fire Department reminds everyone it is a violation of city ordinances to possess, use, manufacture, sell, give away, transport or discharge fireworks within the city limits of Waco without a permit from the fire marshal.

The ordinance also prohibits the possession of fireworks by a minor. The fine for violating the ordinance is $215 for possession, sale, give away or use of fireworks; and the fine for aiding a minor to use fireworks is $255.

For more information, call the City of Waco Fire Department at 750-1740.

Holiday on the Square

Bring the family downtown for Keep Waco Beautiful’s 27th annual Holiday on the Square on Saturday, Dec. 1. Keep Waco Beautiful will host activities provided by several organizations to make the celebration a memorable one.

The annual Jingle Bell Run, sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, will begin registration at 4 p.m. Runners in costume will participate to make the occasion festive.

As the evening progresses, the Downtown Merchants Association will light up the street with shop lights and fun activities. Waco Cultural Arts Fest volunteers will lead children in designing holiday cards and local talent, Kimberly Kelly, will perform.

Snacks and drinks will be offered by local nonprofit organizations, as well as other holiday items. The 55th annual Waco Jaycee Christmas Parade will immediately follow at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will travel down Austin Avenue from 17th Street to Heritage Square. Following the parade, Keep Waco Beautiful will sponsor the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which will feature the 25-foot reusable tree, donated to the City by Keep Waco Beautiful.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive during the parade, and they will be present for pictures under the tree. Children can share their Christmas wish lists with the jolly couple. To participate in the Jingle Bell Run, call the Arthritis Foundation at 772-9303.

For parade registration, contact Brandee McFarland with the Waco JayCees at 761-6301. For questions about Holiday on the Square, contact Keep Waco Beautiful at 750-5728.

Christmas Tree Recycling

After the presents are unwrapped, it’s time to recycle your Christmas tree. Bring the undecorated tree to Keep Waco Beautiful at the Paul Tyson Field parking lot on Saturday, Jan. 5 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and watch the tree turn into a bag of mulch.

Those who participate may take the mulch home and use it on their lawns or gardens. They will also receive a small tree sapling. For more information, contact Keep Waco Beautiful at 750-5728.

Winter Break Camp at Recreation Centers

Kids can enjoy their break from school at the City of Waco’s recreation centers. Bledsoe-Miller, Dewey and South Waco will host day camps from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 -31 and Jan. 2-4.

The cost is $60 for children ages 5 to 13. Children will participate in various recreational activities and field trips. The recreation centers will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

For registration information, call the recreation centers at Bledsoe-Miller 750-8684, Dewey 750-8677, South Waco 750-8650.

Santas Secret Service

Kids can send Santa Claus a personal message this holiday season thanks to the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department's Secret Santa Hotline.

Children and parents can call Santa at 254.750.5848 and leave a message, telling him what they wish to receive for Christmas.

Santa Claus can also be e-mailed at Santa at Santa@ci.waco.tx.us. Santa can receive messages through Dec. 15.

Santa Claus will then respond to the messages with a letter. For more information call South Waco Recreation Center at 254.750.8650.

Tips for Obtaining Copies of Birth Certificates

Do you have a copy of your birth certificate? Is it certified? Is your name spelled correctly? If you know that you will need a birth certificate for any reason, it’s best not to wait until the last minute.

You will need a Certified Birth Certificate if you are planning to travel outside of the United States and need a Passport.

Birth certificates are also needed for Social Security, to enroll in school, employment, insurance, obtaining a driver’s license, and housing.

If you have a birth certificate from the hospital with footprints, it is not an “official” certified birth certificate. It is a remembrance of your birth.

This will not be accepted by most agencies. If you know you will need a birth certificate soon, it is important to look at your birth certificate now.

Make sure it is an official certified birth certificate and check for misspelled information. A birth record can be corrected with proper documentation, but it can take up to 12 weeks to get a corrected birth record, sometimes longer.

Vital Statistics is located in the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District building, 225 W. Waco Drive, Waco, Texas 76707.

The fee for a Certified Birth Certificate is $23 each. There are three sizes of Certified Birth Certificates; a long form, short form and a wallet size.

The price is the same for each. The long form is usually required for a Passport. The long form can only be obtained in the county or the Vital Statistics state office where you were born.

What is the difference between a long form and the short or wallet size? The Long Form has more information such as; parents’ date of birth, address, doctor’s name, hospital’s name.

Depending on the year of your birth, the long form birth certificates may include other information that can also be used for genealogy research.

For more information, please call Vital Statistics at 750-5468.