45th Annual Friends
of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library invite everyone to attend the 45th Annual book sale on Nov. 15-18 at the Heart of Texas fairgrounds.

One of the largest book sales in the Southwest, the Friends’ Sale features more than 110,000 books, CDs, videos and more.

General sale books, videos and tapes will be priced at $1.50 and paperbacks for $1.00. Children’s books are 50 cents to $1.50.

The Collectors’ Corner has an assortment of unique, rare and special books, which are priced individually. Admission to the sale on Thursday is $5 per individual and $10 per family.

Ticket sales begin at 8 a.m. The following three days admission is free. Bargain shoppers should be sure to return on Sunday when hardback and paperback books will be sold for $8 per bag - tax included and Collector’s Corner items will be half-price.

For more information or to volunteer, call Kim Salome at 750-5974. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Waco-McLennan County Library.

Thanksgiving
Collection Schedule

Solid Waste Administration and Cobbs Convenience Centers will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Landfill will be closed Thursday but will observe its normal operating hours on Friday. Thursday’s trash collection will take place a day early, on Wednesday, Nov. 21 (the day before Thanksgiving).

Friday’s pickup (including recycling, brush and bulky waste) will take place as usual. For more information, call the City of Waco Solid Waste Department at 299-2612.

Flu Shots Available Soon at Public Health District

As the nation prepares for the first wave of seasonal influenza this winter, the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is strongly recommending the flu vaccine for people 65 and older and for children 6 months to 5 years of age.

Both groups are at high risk for serious complications from the flu. The flu shot is the best way to protect against this serious disease and its potential complications, which can lead to hospitalization and even death.

Each year in the United States, an average of more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of complications from the flu, and 36,000 people die from the disease.

The flu causes symptoms including high fever, headache, coughing, weakness and muscle aches, and spreads easily from person to person.

It is often transmitted through sneezing and coughing, and healthy adults may be able to pass on the flu before they are sick, as well as while they are sick.

The flu shot is safe and effective and cannot cause the flu. Everyone should get a flu shot, including infants beginning at 6 months of age.

People who were vaccinated last year are not likely to be protected from this year’s influenza, as the virus changes each year. It is also important to remember that it takes two weeks to build up immunity after receiving the flu shot, so get your shot as early as possible.

Flu shots are available at many places. In addition to your doctor’s office and the Public Health District, many pharmacies also offer the flu shot. Medicare Part B covers the shot in full.

The Health District clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. The clinic is also open late on Wednesdays until 7:30 p.m.

The clinic does not give shots on Friday afternoon. For more information, call the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District at 750-5410.

Texas Recycles Day

In conjunction with Texas Recycles Day, Keep Waco Beautiful will be collecting gently worn business clothing during the first 15 days of November to be given to the Christian Women’s Job Corps for those who need clothing for job interviews. This project is called 2nd Chance Clothes.

Keep Waco Beautiful is also sponsoring the McLennan County Recycling Challenge from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15 for local elementary schools. There will be great prizes for the school collecting the most paper, cardboard, and aluminum, including a trip to Sea World.

Businesses and citizens are urged to partner with their neighborhood schools by donating their recyclables to the school during that month.

Another Texas Recycles Day event will be ReUse Roundup. This is a partnership with Goodwill, TxDOT, and Keep Texas Beautiful. The organizations will be collecting reusable items and asking the public to participate.

Items for reuse should go to any local Goodwill on Nov. 15. Donors will receive goody bags for their efforts. This collection is a one day event.

If you do not recycle at home or work, Texas Recycles Day is a great time to begin a year round program of recycling!

Recycling Carts Are Recycled

The average life expectancy of a curbside trash, recycling or yard waste cart is three to five years. The wear and tear of the weekly disposal routine eventually splits or puts holes in them, making them unusable.

Previously, there was not much to be done except recycle the cart and get a new one. Waco has recycled its carts for many years, keeping them out of the landfill and helping to conserve valuable landfill space.

New carts can cost upwards of $50 each. This adds up when you stop and think about how many carts there are in Waco.

We are now able to repair carts using a plastic welding process. The welds are durable and add another two to three years to the life of the cart. All three carts (trash, recyclables and yard waste) can be mended by this process.

You can help extend the life of your cart by making sure it is placed properly on pickup days and returned to storage after pickup.

If your cart is damaged and in need of repair, please let us know by calling 299-2612. We’ll be happy to schedule a pickup and repair or replace it at no charge.

Fire Safety -
Change Clocks & Batteries

The Waco Fire Department reminds citizens to set their clocks back one hour on Nov. 4 due to the end of daylight-saving time.

The occasion is also a good time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors to make sure it is working properly.

The Waco Fire Department has a limited number of smoke detectors that they will install for free for senior citizens. For more information, call 750-1740.

Youth Basketball
Registration Tips Off

The registration deadline for the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Basketball League is Nov. 30.

The cost to register is $300 per team or $35 per individual player. The league is open to boys and girls and has divisions for 14-and-under, 12-and-under, 10-and-under and 8-and-under teams.

Teams and individuals can register between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation office at 201 W. Waco Dr. Games will begin Jan. 5 and will be played each Saturday at the City of Waco’s recreation centers.

Team and individual awards will be presented and the top teams will advance to the T.A.A.F. State Tournament. For information call 750-8092.

Brazos River Cleanup

Keep Waco Beautiful and the City of Waco Parks & Recreation Department will host the annual Brazos River Cleanup on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

Registration will be at the Bledsoe Miller Recreation Center Pavilion. Volunteers should wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Groups will be cleaning the Brazos River shoreline and the Herring Street ditch, which feeds into the river. For more information, call 750-5728.

Native American
Culture Days at Zoo

The Cameron Park Zoo will sponsor Native American culture days Nov. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Activities will include dancing, story telling, crafts, games and demonstrations. For more information, call 750-8400.

Ride Cameron Park

The Parks and Recreation Department and Bicycles Outback will host the 3rd annual Ride Cameron Park Mountain Bike Clinic on the weekend of Nov. 3.

The event is designed for women to learn about mountain biking and ride through the trails in Cameron Park.

Camping, meals and professional instruction are included in the event. For cost information or to register, call 750-8057.

WCCC-10 TV Offers Copies of Programs on Waco’s History

Over the years, the City of Waco has produced more than 20 videos that tell the story of Waco’s past.

In addition to airing on the Waco City Cable Channel, anyone interested in owning a DVD copy of any of these videos can come to City Hall at 300 Austin Avenue in downtown Waco or visit our Web site at www.waco-texas.com for a description of each video.

These videos are also available for checkout at the Waco-McLennan County Library. Some of the titles include:

• “100 Years-The McLennan County Courthouse” as told by Judge Bill Logue,
• “It Stands for Freedom: Story of the Freedom Fountain”,
• “The Waco Interurban”,
• “Waco: Elvis Presley’s Home Away from Home”,
• “Early Waco Radio”,
• “Katy Ball Park Remembered”,
• “Jules Bledsoe: A Dream Realized”,
• “The Uncle Elihu Show Reunited”
• and “Pete’s Café - 3rd and the Square”.

The City has also produced three award winning, two-hour documentaries on the Waco tornado. For more information about WCCC-10 TV programming call 750-5637.

Diabetes Extravaganza

The Heart of Texas Diabetes Educators Coalition, which includes the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, is hosting the 1st annual “Diabetes Extravaganza” on Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Waco, 500 Webster.

The event will include door prizes, health screenings, cooking and exercise demonstrations, featured speakers, vendors, and other resources to prevent and control diabetes. For more information call 297-3406 or visit www.mclennanpublichealth.org/diabetes.

HEB’s Feast of Sharing

The annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing is scheduled for Nov. 28 at the Waco Convention Center.

The free dinner is open to anyone wanting to share in the camaraderie of the Waco community while enjoying a warm holiday meal in a family setting.

The feast will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to the meal, H-E-B will make the Feast of Sharing dinner a memorable evening by providing entertainment for all ages, including a fun-filled children’s activity area organized by the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department.

Tax Preparation
Volunteers Needed

Community volunteers are needed to offer free assistance to low to middle income citizens and senior citizens with their income tax preparations.

Training will be provided. Volunteer translators are also needed for this program. The sites will operate from Feb. 1 through April 15.

The Waco-McLennan County libraries will be among the list of tax preparation sites. To learn more, call Mary Routly at 757-1210 or Diane Waltman at 666-9459.

City Auction

• Rene’ Bates Auctioneers Inc. at (972) 548-9636,
• or City of Waco, Purchasing Services at 750-8060,
• City of Waco, Fleet Services, Attn. Joe Demas at 750-8059.