The June 21 event is fast approaching and limited to 100 youth. Sign up online now to guarantee a spot.

“It’s an awesome program for kids,” says Joanne Paul, crime prevention specialist. “They develop relationships with police and firefighters while having a great time learning about safety.”

Awards are presented to all participants.

The $25 fee includes snacks, lunch, supervision, and a Safety Camp T-shirt. Parents must provide transportation to and from Brookview Park. Camp is held rain or shine. Scholarships are available.

Registration is open to anyone, including non-Golden Valley residents, and is taken through the Park and Recreation Department.

Launched in 2010, Neighbors Helping Neighbors supports homeowners who have trouble keeping up with home maintenance. It’s a collaboration between PRISM, Calvary Lutheran Church, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, and H.O.M.E. North/West, with support from the City of Golden Valley.

For past projects, homeowners and participating organizations provided what they could, materials or cash, to get the job done. In one case, Neighbors Helping Neighbors secured a loan from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for a project that needed more extensive work.

To aid the process in 2011, the City of Golden Valley secured a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to establish a funding base. The loan fund can be tapped to help with emergency needs such as a new hot water heater or damage from ice dams. Depending on the scope of job, work is done by volunteers (helping to keep the cost down) or contractors. In either case, Neighbors Helping Neighbors helps homeowners navigate the process.

One goal of the Spring Cleaning Blitz is to raise the profile of Neighbors Helping Neighbors in the community. For more information, visit www.prismmpls.com/programs/neighbors.html or call Neighbors Helping Neighbors at 763-529-1350.

Theodore-Wirth  Park is a regional park that’s located primarily within the Golden Valley City limits.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has convened a Citizen Advisory Committee to review and prioritize needed improvements for Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Because of the scope of this project, CAC members would like to collect feedback from neighbors on their use and ideas of the northern area of the park that is used for trail, winter recreation and golf activities. Take the survey here.

The organizing group would like Golden Valley residents to contribute ideas about the design and location of  the time capsule as well as suggest general categories of materials or specific items that could be included in the time capsule, says Tremere.

The time capsule will be opened by residents 25 years from now, in 2036. If you have ideas to share or would like to help with the project, contact Sandy Werts, Golden Valley’s volunteer coordinator, at SWerts@goldenvalleymn.gov or at Brookview Community Center, 200 Brookview Parkway, Golden Valley, Minnesota 55426. Contributors should include  their name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

The deadline for submitting ideas is May 13, 2011.

The time capsule project is just one of many commemorative activities in place for Golden Valley’s 125th anniversary. A group of volunteers, coordinated by Marshall Tanick, is planning for events throughout the year.  Most will have a historical theme. To get involved, contact Werts at SWerts@goldenvalleymn.gov or 763-512-2341.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has convened a Citizen Advisory Committee to review and prioritize needed improvements for Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Because of the scope of this project, CAC members would like to collect feedback from neighbors on their use and ideas of the northern area of the park that is used for trail, winter recreation and golf activities. Take the survey here.

The event, beginning at 7 pm, will feature speaker Kathryn Higgins, who volunteers extensively in the Hopkins and Minnetonka community. As a Hopkins Rotary member, Higgins participates in that organization’s Thrive Mentorship Program (similar to Big Brother Big Sister). She also coaches an adult adaptive basketball league through Reach for Resources, assisted with the ResourceWest annual gala, painted homes with Hearts and Hammers, and is one of 15 directors of Minneapolis’ Pub and Putt event that raises money for local charities. Higgins is originally from Plymouth, Minn.

This event is a collaborative effort among the cities of Golden Valley, Hopkins, and Minnetonka, the Minnetonka and Hopkins school districts, and the Glen Lake Optimists of Minnetonka. The Minnetonka Community Center is located at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka.

Civic and service organizations, schools, and faith community members in the Golden Valley, Hopkins, and Minnetonka communities nominated the 2011 Caring Youth recipients, who include:

• Farhiya Ali, a Hopkins High School student and Hopkins resident, nominated by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis for her work with young patients.
• Sarah Baker, a St Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts student and Golden Valley resident, nominated by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis for her work with young patients.
• Caitlin Beauchamp, a Minnetonka High School student and Shorewood resident, nominated for her work with the Minnetonka High School Optimists Club.
• Erin Breen, a Minnetonka High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for volunteer work with the school district’s Youth Development Council.
• Bentley Clarke, a Minnetonka High School student and Golden Valley resident, nominated for his work at Speak the Word Church International in Golden Valley.
• Sarah Cook, a Minnetonka High School student and Chanhassen resident, nominated for volunteer work with the school district’s Youth Development Council.
• Caroline Doherty, a Minnetonka High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work at the West Suburban Teen Clinic in Excelsior.
• Bridget Friendly, a Minnetonka High School student and Shorewood resident, nominated for volunteer work with the school district’s Youth Development Council.
• Scott Gleason, a homeschooled student and Golden Valley resident, nominated for his volunteer work at the Church of St Margaret Mary in Golden Valley.
• Fiori Goitom, a Hopkins High School student and Hopkins resident, nominated by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis for her work with young patients at Children’s Hospitals.
• Megan Gonzalez, a Hopkins High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work with children in the Hopkins School District.
• Kira Hanna, a homeschooled student and Minneapolis resident, nominated for her volunteer work at St Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka.
• Emily Herrmann, a Benilde St Margaret’s High School student and Hopkins resident, nominated for her volunteer work at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hopkins.
• Alexandra Johnson, a Hopkins High School student and Eden Prairie resident, nominated for her volunteer work with an after-school homework program at Eisenhower Elementary School in the Hopkins School District.
• Brendan Johnson, a Minnetonka High School student and Eden Prairie resident, nominated for volunteer work with the school district’s Youth Development Council.
• Tyler Keller, a Minnetonka High School student and Excelsior resident, nominated for his volunteer work at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley.
• Ryan Kemp, Minnetonka High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for his volunteer work at the ICA food shelf in Minnetonka.
• Alexander Kimball, a Hopkins High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for his volunteer work at the Minnetonka Library.
• Denzel Kla Diihbah, a Hopkins North Junior High School student and Hopkins resident, nominated for his volunteer work with the Hopkins Police Department’s “face2face” community event.
• Zoe Korengold, a Hopkins North Junior High School student and Plymouth resident, nominated for her volunteer work with Students Promoting Positive Actions. Her most notable accomplishment has been working with other youth to persuade the city of Minnetonka to declare certain youth-oriented park facilities in the city as tobacco-free.
• Nick Lunde, a Minnetonka High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for his volunteer work with the Minnetonka United Methodist Church.
• Courtney McDougal, a Minnetonka High School student and Deephaven resident, nominated for volunteer work with the school district’s Youth Development Council.
• Malika Musa, a Hopkins North Junior High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work with the Hopkins Police Department’s “face2face” community event.
• Soraya Nassiri, a Minnetonka Middle School East student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work with the Minnetonka Heights Community Program.
• Ryne Nichols, a student at the Robbinsdale School District’s Cooper High School in New Hope and a Golden Valley resident, nominated for his volunteer work at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley.
• Hannah Pearson, a Hopkins High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work with the Girl Scouts.
• Jeni Pederson, a Hopkins High School student and Edina resident, nominated for her volunteer work with All Saints Lutheran Church in Minnetonka.
• Skai Plotnick, a Hopkins High School student and Minnetonka resident, nominated for her volunteer work with the West Suburban Teen Clinic in Excelsior.
• Katie Segner, a Benilde St Margaret’s High School student and Golden Valley resident, nominated for her volunteer work with a wide range of organizations, from Feed My Starving Children to food shelves to the Autism Society of America to student opportunities at her high school.
• Maray Singleton, a Hopkins North Junior High School student and St.Louis Park resident, nominated for volunteering at First Church in St Louis Park.
• Matthew Stetler, a student at the Robbinsdale School District’s Armstrong High School in Plymouth and a Golden Valley resident, nominated for his volunteer work with the Golden Valley Library.

Team Golden Valley included Steve Baker, Ken Bence, Brent Hadoff, Andy Hutson, Bryan Magnuson, Gregg Prest, Ben Vogel, and Steve Yingst. Golden Valley firefighters Jenny Toavs (representing Metropolitan Airport Commission Fire Department) and Matt Preston (representing West Metro Fire Rescue District) also climbed.

Ice dams form on roofs when the heat of an inadequately insulated attic causes snow to melt and trickle toward the edges of the roof. There, because the attic heat does not affect the ledges near the gutters, the water refreezes and ice slowly accumulates. After an ice dam forms, subsequent melted water pools at the dam, backs  up, and sometimes leaks through the roof, soffits, and gutters, creating dangerous icicles and inner-wall damage.

Snow accumulation on a roof acts as an insulator for the attic below, contributing to the initial melting. This, combined with below-average temperatures, leads to ripe conditions for ice dams and headaches for homeowners.

If you see a large build up of ice at the edge of your roof with snow melting above it, if your gutters are beginning to look weighed down by ice, or if icicles are forming on the undersides of the eaves, you may have ice dams.

What To Do

The removal of ice dams is a tricky and often hazardous job, says Roger McCabe, Golden Valley community standards inspector. Once you are on a roof, it’s easy to fall. The ladder may slip out from under you.  The icicles may drop. The entire ice and snow build-up may slough off the roof in one swift motion, taking with it anyone in its path.

McCabe advises hiring a professional. There are people who clear ice dams for a living. They have the right tools to fix the problem and know how to take proper safety measures.

Weatherization contractors may be listed under “Energy Management and Conservation Consultants” or “Insulation Contractors” in the Yellow Pages. Be sure to get multiple quotes, McCabe says, and ask for proof of license and insurance.  

How to Prevent Ice Dams

If the primary cause of ice dams is warm air leaking from the house into the attic, says McCabe, the key to preventing ice dams is to replace or increase the attic insulation and to seal any air leakage paths between the house and attic. Anywhere there is a penetration into the attic space around plumbing pipes, light fixtures, wiring clamps, and poorly insulated attic heat ducts are potential air leaks. These preventive measures are best done in the summer.

For more information on ice dams, visit the University of Minnesota Extension Web site at www.extension.umn.edu and type “ice dams” in the search engine.

This is a change from the Feb 22 and Feb 25 dates published on the front page of the January/February CityNews, which mailed Jan 22.

Replays can be viewed on GV 16, the City’s government access cable channel, and on the City website.

The annual State of the City reports the City’s accomplishments of the past year and previews goals for the coming year. This year’s report will take a longer look back at progress made since the community was founded 125 years ago and at progress made on Envision Golden Valley goals.

For more information, contact Communications Manager Cheryl Weiler at 763-593-8004.

Replays can be viewed on GV 16, the City’s government access cable channel, and on the City website.

The annual State of the City reports the City’s accomplishments of the past year and previews goals for the coming year. This year’s report will take a longer look back at progress made since the community was founded 125 years ago and at progress made on Envision Golden Valley goals.

For more information, contact Communications Manager Cheryl Weiler at 763-593-8004.