The City of Kearney offices and the Kearney Public Library will be closed Wednesday, November 11, 2009, in observance of Veterans’ Day. City Offices and the Library will reopen on Thursday, November 12, 2009.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that due to the upcoming Veterans’ Day Holiday, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, the following changes will be in effect for the refuse collection system and the Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill:

• Commercial businesses normally having garbage collection service on Wednesday will be collected either on Tuesday or on Thursday.

• Monday’s and Tuesday’s residential trash collections will be on schedule. Residential trash collection normally collected on Wednesday and Thursday will be delayed one day. Yard waste normally collected on Wednesday and Thursday will be delayed one day.

• Residential curbside recycling will be collected on schedule the entire week, including Wednesday. The commercial recycling route normally collected on Friday will be collected on Saturday. Please have your containers at the curb by 7:00 a.m.

The Solid Waste Agency Landfill and Compost and Tree Site will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that the Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill will adjust operating hours due to daylight savings time. Beginning Monday, November 2, 2009 the operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

Yard waste and trees will be accepted Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 8, and 15. The Landfill will be closed on Sundays beginning November 22 until the extended Landfill hours resume in April. Yard waste such as grass clippings, garden waste, leaves, and small branches less than one inch in diameter are accepted free of charge. All yard waste must be free of trash and unbagged.

The Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill has a covered load policy that requires all waste including yard waste and trees to be completely covered, tarped, strapped, or netted so that the debris cannot be dropped from vehicles or strewn along the roads leading to the Landfill. There will be an additional fee for uncovered loads. Yard waste is banned from the refuse collection system. Refuse containers that contain yard waste will not be emptied until the yard waste is removed.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that residents may now receive electronic notification of Press Releases involving Sanitation, Recycling, Yard Waste, and Landfill information. This will help inform citizens of scheduled changes due to Holidays and will provide other pertinent information.

To subscribe to this service, go to the City of Kearney’s web site at www.cityofkearney.org, click on the “Notify Me” tab and select the desired notification(s).

Meet Omaha author Chloe Neill at the Kearney Public Library, Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. She will introduce you to Merit, a graduate student recently turned vampire in her Chicagoland Vampires series. Her series is perfect for fans of Charlaine Harris and Julie Kenner, and for those who are on the prowl for another vampire series that has it all – blood, mystery, lust, and a bit of humor too.

A book signing will follow her presentation. This program is free and open to the public.

Shawna Lindner, Youth Librarian at the Kearney Public Library, has been named the Mad Hatter Youth Services Award winner for 2009.

The School, Children’s and Young People’s section of the Nebraska Library Association, Duane Munson, and Child’s World sponsor this award. The award recognized a librarian who has demonstrated outstanding service to children through innovative programming, service to the community, and professional contributions to the field of librarianship.

Lindner is dedicated to her profession and to providing library services to children of all ages. When asked about Shawna, Matt Williams, Director of the Kearney Public Library said that “Shawna has a magical ability to connect children and parents with just the right book. To me, the look of delight I see on children’s faces during a story hour says it all.”

In addition to the Summer Reading Program, Shawna has developed for Kearney Public Library the Paws to Read Program, which allows reluctant readers to practice reading to therapy dogs and cats, the Teen Advisory Group (TAG), Libraries Are Fun (LAF), and after school and home school series of programs. She has served on the Nebraska Library Commission Youth Advisory Board and was one of the first participants of the Nebraska Library Leadership Institute.

Shawna supports the Kearney Public Schools, collaborating with media specialists and teachers in the district to promote literacy through reading programs and by starting a Golden Sower Club. Judy Henning, Director of Media Services for Kearney Public Schools said, “She is a wonderful advocate for library youth programs and does what it takes to make sure all libraries are providing the support necessary to meet the needs of Nebraska youth.”

A free class on the Value Line database will be from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, at the Kearney Public Library. Value Line, an independent investment analysis company, collects data and analyzes the performance of thousands of stocks, mutual funds, options, and other securities.

The class, taught by reference librarian Rita Horst and registered investment advisor Bill Oldfather, will be in the Library’s Technology Learning Center on the second floor. Class size is limited to 15 participants. Registration is required by November 8. Basic computer skills are required. Participants do not need to have a library card to attend.

For more information or to register, call the Library’s reference desk at (308) 233-3256 or stop in at the Library.

The City of Kearney Park & Recreation Department announces that all of the City park restrooms as well as Cottonmill Park shelter restrooms will close for the season on Friday, October 30 at 4:00 p.m. The Lodge restrooms at Cottonmill Park will remain open throughout the winter months. Cottonmill Park will start their winter hours of 7:00 a.m. to sunset beginning October 30. Meadowlark North Park will be open from 7:00 a.m. to sunset, weather permitting.

The Kearney Park and Recreation Department is currently accepting registration for the Annual Fall Blitz Volleyball Tournament. The Coed Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, November 21 and the Women’s Tournament will be on Sunday, November 22. The entry fee is $75.00 per team. In order to be officially registered, teams must pay the entry fee, fill out the entry form, and submit the team roster by Monday, November 9. Registration is accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so don't wait to register. Teams must consist of players over the age of 16.

Proceeds from this tournament will go to the United Way as well as Horizon and Sunrise Middle School Volleyball Programs. If you have any questions or would like to receive an entry form, please contact the City of Kearney Park and Recreation Department at (308) 237-4644.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that due to the upcoming Veterans’ Day Holiday, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, the following changes will be in effect for the refuse collection system and the Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill:

• Commercial businesses normally having garbage collection service on Wednesday will be collected either on Tuesday or on Thursday.

• Monday’s and Tuesday’s residential trash collections will be on schedule. Residential trash collection normally collected on Wednesday and Thursday will be delayed one day. Yard waste normally collected on Wednesday and Thursday will be delayed one day.

• Residential curbside recycling will be collected on schedule the entire week, including Wednesday. The commercial recycling route normally collected on Friday will be collected on Saturday. Please have your containers at the curb by 7:00 a.m.

The Solid Waste Agency Landfill and Compost and Tree Site will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that the last regular collection of yard waste will be Wednesday, November 18 for Wednesday collection and Thursday, November 19 for Thursday collection.

The Sanitation Division would like to thank the residents that participated in the yard waste collection program and the lawn care companies that delivered yard waste to the compost site. By diverting yard waste from the Landfill cells, Landfill space has been saved for future waste disposal. Yard waste collection will resume the first week in April 2010.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that the Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill will adjust operating hours due to daylight savings time. Beginning Monday, November 2, 2009 the operating hours will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

Yard waste and trees will be accepted Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 8, and 15. The Landfill will be closed on Sundays beginning November 22 until the extended Landfill hours resume in April. Yard waste such as grass clippings, garden waste, leaves, and small branches less than one inch in diameter are accepted free of charge. All yard waste must be free of trash and unbagged.

The Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill has a covered load policy that requires all waste including yard waste and trees to be completely covered, tarped, strapped, or netted so that the debris cannot be dropped from vehicles or strewn along the roads leading to the Landfill. There will be an additional fee for uncovered loads. Yard waste is banned from the refuse collection system. Refuse containers that contain yard waste will not be emptied until the yard waste is removed.

The City of Kearney Sanitation Division announces that residents may now receive electronic notification of Press Releases involving Sanitation, Recycling, Yard Waste, and Landfill information. This will help inform citizens of scheduled changes due to Holidays and will provide other pertinent information.

To subscribe to this service, go to the City of Kearney’s web site at www.cityofkearney.org, click on the “Notify Me” tab and select the desired notification(s).