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7 Summer 2013 Summer is here and for many residents in Lake Elmo that means bicycles will be coming out of storage and hit- ting the streets. Before you venture out, there are safety checks that should be addressed. First, check the pressure on your bicycle’s tires. It is not uncommon for tires to lose air over the winter or obtain a crack. Sec- ond, check your brakes and cables to make sure they are operating proper- ly. Cracks in the cables are one of the leading causes in bicycle related ac- cidents. Third, check your chain and make sure it is set at the correct ten- sion and it is lubricated. If your chain is rusted, make sure to change it be- fore you venture out on your bicycle. Finally, check all of your reflectors on the bicycle to make sure that none of them are broken. If you observe a broken reflector, make sure to replace it immediately for your safety. Most importantly, WEAR YOUR HELMET. There have been several accidents every year with serious injuries that could have been avoided if the rider had been wearing a helmet. It is important to keep in mind that there are state laws that apply to bi- cycles. The following is a summarized list of some of the laws most com- monly overlooked: • Persons riding on a bicycle shall not attach themselves to any vehicle on a roadway; • Every person operating a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as close as prac- ticable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. Children under the age of 10 may use the sidewalk, but be aware and careful of walkers; • If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the same direction as adjacent ve- hicular traffic; • A continuous arm signal is required during the last 100 feet prior to a turn or lane change (unless the arm is needed to control the bike) and while stopped, waiting to turn; • No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle or its op- erator is equipped with a lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear. Please see Minnesota statute 169.22 for a complete list. Have a safe sum- mer! From the County Sheriff Department: Bike Safely this Summer Members of the Lake Elmo Fire De- partment were recognized at their an- nual awards banquet held on Sunday, May 5, 2013, at the Machine Shed Restaurant. Captain Bernard Sachs and Fire- fighter Mark VanDemmeltraadt were awarded with plaques to thank them for their service as they retired from the team. Captain Sachs was with the department for 12 years, and followed in the tradition of the Sachs family as a member of the LEFD. As the Train- ing Captain, he was instrumental in improving the department’s training process. Vandemmeltraadt, giving 18 years of service, was very involved in the development of the department’s surface water rescue program and ongoing water rescue training. Other members received pins to com- memorate milestones in their service careers. Captain Mike Cornell was acknowledged for 5 years of service. Members receiving pins for 10 years of service included Firefighter Lee Olson, Safety Officer Brian Hauser, and Firefighter John Laatsch. Fire- fighter and Engineer Brian Johnson was honored with a pin and ring for 20 years of service. The Fire Department also presents an “Outstanding Service Award” each year to recognize a member of the community that has gone above and beyond within the department, the fire service, or the community at large. This year’s recipient was Al Bever, whose primary contributions included building maintenance and organiza- tion of office space. Lake Elmo Firefighters Recognized for Years of Service MARCH, APRIL, MAY EMERGENCY CALL RESPONSE Fire: 27, Rescue: 13, Medical: 53 Please Don’t Feed the Deer Throughout the spring and early summer the City has received several concerns from residents whose gardens have been dam- aged by the over population of deer roaming through City neigh- borhoods. City officials have been working with the DNR to discuss options for reducing the deer population. Until a course of action is decid- ed, residents are being urged to stop feeding the deer. Feeding deer not only leads to bringing a surplus of deer into the community, but it is harmful to the deers’ health and diminishes their ability to survive in their natural habitats. Refraining from feed- ing deer will also help stop the spreading of diseases and keep our wildlife healthy.