Purchase a Living Tree for the Holidays This Year

Living Holiday Tree Flyer

Time to Order Luminarias for Christmas Eve

Newman Park playground sparkles with luminarias

This year you can use our handy PayPal button in the upper right hand column of this blog to place your orders. The flyer below gives added instructions. You can even print it out and use it to make your order. Note: All orders must be done by December 18th. Luminarias will be delivered to your home on Christmas Eve. Contributions for luminarias at Newman Park and the Mayfield Wildscape are welcome.

Luminarias Flyer 2010

Sign Up for the El Paso Emergency Alert System

El Paso Emergency Alert System FAQ’s

For more information, go to the Citizen Alert Web Portal.

Q: Who is responsible for the El Paso Emergency Alert System?

A: The City/County of El Paso Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is the facilitator of the El Paso Emergency Alert System.

Q: What is the El Paso Emergency Alert System?

A: The El Paso Emergency Alert System is a reverse, emergency notification process/system.

Q: How do citizens of El Paso County benefit from this system?

A: The El Paso Emergency Alert System provides a secure and reliable way of notifying citizens about a city and/or county wide crisis or disaster.

Q: So how do citizens receive these emergency alerts?

A: Citizens who live within the boundaries of El Paso County have to register with the El Paso Emergency Alert System by visiting this website: EPEmergencyAlert.com

Q: What should I expect to see on my device during an emergency?

A: Depending on the device you will see or hear a message that says EMERGENCY ALERT and this will be followed by further instructions pertaining to the crisis on hand.

Q: What happens if the incident is isolated, will I still receive an alert?

A: The system uses GIS-based mapping technology which allows the Office of Emergency Management to isolate incidents and send alerts to only those targeted area/s.

Q: When will the El Paso Emergency Alert System be used?

A: Used in these situations:

§ Emergency Evacuations

§ Natural or Man Made Disasters

§ Hazardous Material Incidents

§ Border Violence Incidents

Q: What personal information is required to register for the El Paso Emergency Alert System?

A: Citizens must create an account by supplying some basic information:

• Creating a user ID and password

• Email address

• First and Last Name

• Street Address

• City

• Zip Code

• Check the box “Agree to website policy”

Q: What is required after the account is created?

A: Citizens need to choose their method of notification and devices. You can select several options at once and prioritize the order for the alert notifications. Alerts may be sent by:

• Email
• Text
• Phone Call
• Devices for the Deaf such as Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Teletypewriter (TTY)

Q: How many times may I register with the El Paso Emergency Alert System?

A: Citizens may register several times and enter various addresses, phone numbers and devices if needed. Citizens may register a home, business, friend and family member’s information.

Q: Who can I contact for assistance?

A: Ask a friend for help or visit these community partners for registration assistance:

• 211
• Area Agency on Aging
• DSHS-Division for Blind Services
• DSHS- Deaf / Hard of Hearing
• VOLAR
• LULAC Project Amistad

Crime Down in Central El Paso

Here's a News Release from Officer Henry Slack of Central Police Command that was sent at the end of October:

BURGLARY OF VEHICLES DOWN ACROSS THE CITY WITH CENTRAL, PEBBLE HILLS & MISSION VALLEY LEADING THE WAY

Date/Time: Saturday, October 23, 2010

Location: Various

El Paso, Texas – El Paso, an All-America City for 2010 continues to see a decrease in overall crime. Through Saturday, October 23, 2010 overall crime is still down 1%, compared to this time last year. The crime categories with the largest decreases across the city are Murders, which are down 80% (10 in 2009 compared to 2 in 2010) compared to this time last year, Burglary of Vehicle’s are down 23% (2,670 in 2009, compared to 2,049 in 2010) and Vehicle Thefts are down 14% (1,486 in 2009, compared to 1,283 in 2010).

By Police Region the Central area has a decrease in overall crime by 5%, Northeast area is down 3%, Mission Valley area has no change 0%, Pebble Hills area is up 3%, and Westside area is down 3%.

Murder is down 80% with 2 reported for 2010, Robbery is up 7%, Assaults are up 5%, Burglary down 6%, Larceny down 4%, Vehicle Thefts down 14%, and Burglary of Vehicle down 23%.

Burglary of Vehicles are down in the Central area by 33%, down in Pebble Hills by 25%, down in Mission Valley by 24%, down in Westside by 17% and down in Northeast by 11%.

Fungi Mungle to Perform Benefit Dance this Saturday

Click image to enlarge.

Newmanista, Cody Ritchey, and the rest of the Fungi Mungle band will perform a benefit dance to support 1970 Austin High School graduate, Norma Ramos, in her battle against cancer. All are invited to enjoy the group that has been voted 4 times as "Best of the Border" and 5 times as Best of the Best Award Winning Group.

The benefit dance will be this Saturday evening from 8 until midnight at the Wild Wild West Ballroom at 7141 Stiles.

Tickets are just $10 per person.

1300 Visit Ho Baron's Home on Eve of All Hallows

Not Christine O'Donnell but a happy Newmanista ready to Trick-or-Treat

Newmanistas were well visited with happy trick-or-treaters on Sunday night. Ho Baron's home with its collection of surrealistic sculptures displayed throughout the yard and gardens drew an estimated crowd of 1300 people by 9:30 when they closed-up. They gave out 60 pounds of candy. The interacting living statues were exquisitely beautiful.

A living statue of unearthly beauty performs at the home of Ho Baron

The costume detail captures the essence of the second living statue

Best animal costume or 3 for $5 hold the pickle relish?