MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Luminarias at Newman Park

photo by Marco Milazzo

Looking for a Christmas Miracle

Let's help another little dog find her way home for Christmas. She has no tags and she isn't chipped. She was spotted near Elm and Louisville last weekend.

If you know anything about this sweet little dog, please contact Dave Williams at 433-0991 or email him.

Environmental Services Posts Pick-up Schedule for Holidays

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The Snow-Covered Franklins

Avid hiker, Rosario Rivera, climbs the 1,000 Steps

Snow-covered Ocotillos

The Ridge - Ranger Peak to the north above

You will recall our recent snow storms. Here are pictures from the last storm. They were taken on the 1,000 Steps Trail and at the ridge of the Franklins between Ranger and Comanche Peaks - just above our Red Rock Canyon and "A" Mountain. The trail is accessed just on the other side of Scenic from Newman Park. It is also accessed at the end of Stanton or by Temple Mount Sinai at the end of Joyce Kenyon.

We do live in a hauntingly beautiful place - sunshine or snow.

Just go outside to enjoy it.

Mount Cristo Rey in the distance

Holiday lights below

All photos courtesy of Rosario Rivera and John Walton.

Parks and Recreation Announces Holiday Hours

Holiday Hours for Parks and Recreation

Happy Holidays

All Recreation Centers, Senior Centers, Sports Centers, City operated Daycare Centers, Aquatic Centers and the Administrative Office for the Parks and Recreation Department at City Hall will be closed on December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day).

Holiday Schedule for Aquatic Centers only:

All indoor pools will be open from 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on December 24 and 31.

All indoor pools will have regular operating hours on December 26, 27 and January 2, and 3, 2010.

Holiday Schedule for Senior Centers only:

All Senior Centers will also be closed on December 26, 27 and January 2 and 3, 2010.

Holiday Schedule for the Parks and Recreation Daycare Centers Galatzan (650 Wallenberg) and Veterans (5301 Salem) only:

Daycare Centers will be closing at 5:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31, 2009.

Holiday Schedule for Sports Centers

Chalio Acosta (4321 Delta St.) Nations Tobin (8831 Railroad Dr.) only:

Sports Centers will close at 5:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31.

Sports Centers will have normal hours of operation on December 26 and 27 and January 2 and 3, 2010.

Holiday Schedule for Recreation Centers only:

All Recreation centers will be close at 5:00 p.m. on December 24 and December 31.

Recreation centers will have normal hours of operation on December 26 and January 2.

Recreation Centers will be closed on December 27 and January 3.

For more information call (915) 544-0753

You Can Still Get a Living Christmas Tree

Living tree begins to brighten the Milazzo home

You can still purchase a living Christmas Tree. They are grown at Archer Farms in La Mesa, New Mexico. Your check for $100 should be written to Keep El Paso Beautiful. City of El Paso Arborist, Brent Pearson, (whose better half runs one of the best Mexican restaurants in greater El Paso - the Little Diner) will deliver your tree and then pick it up after the holidays if you wish to donate it to the City. If you would prefer to have your tree planted at your home, just let Brent know. There will be an additional $40 fee but then you will have a beautiful Mondale pine professionally and properly planted. Mondales are drought tolerant and fast growing. They are a great tree for increasing the much needed canopy in El Paso.

High Winds Take Toll on Newman Park Area

The wind picked up the top of this backyard deck, carried it over the roof . . .

and slammed it into this house across the street.

Work just to board and secure the house continued the day after the storm.

High winds tore through the borderland on Tuesday. The Newman Park area certainly experienced the wrath of a wind storm that brought winds of 100 m.p.h. in many places. Trees, street signs, roofs, windows and more were damaged in the Newman Park neighborhood.

Most significantly, the back deck at the Harmon home on Memphis was torn off, lifted over the house and slammed into the Morales home across the street. This "act of God" was the most dramatic sign of the power of the same wind storm that also brought down a portion of the canopy at Cohen Stadium and scattered heavy debris and artifacts all over the City.

The storm toppled this venerable 50 year plus tree on Altura.

Flying debris broke windows at this house on Savannah.

Living Christmas Trees Can Benefit KEPB Too

The picture above is a living Christmas tree that is ready for you to donate to the City after you use it to decorate your home this season. Your donation is just $100. City Arborist Brent Pearson (the other half of Canutillo's delicious Little Diner) will have his team deliver it to your home and pick it up after the holidays. It will be planted in a City park to help increase the much needed tree canopy in El Paso. If you want to keep the tree, just pay an additional $40 and Brent's team will plant it for you.

Finally, if you want your donation also to benefit Keep El Paso Beautiful, make your check out to KEPB instead of the City.

It's as simple as that.

Just call Brent at 588-1562 or 533-2342.

Living Christmas trees now add to the City canopy at a nearby park

Living Christmas trees after 20 years!

Winter Storm Brings Snow to Newman Park

Newman Park playground rests silently in the snow.

Police closed Scenic Drive yesterday afternoon as children got an early dismissal from school. All who usually commute from their work in Northeast El Paso over Trans Mountain back to their homes on the Westside made the long trek around the south end of the mountains. Some left their cars off Alabama and were rescued by friends. City Council didn't begin today until 11 a.m. Ernie, the cat, took one look at the rain and snow this morning and buried himself at the bottom of his bed at the home he shares with Lee and Bobby Byrd.

Newmanista sweeps sidewalk along Savannah.

A little snow can't deter this jogger. Newman Park is used by many for their daily exercise regimen.

A big thanks goes to Newmanista Donna Stephens for these photographs.