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and other waterways across the state, the Minnesota Department of <br />Natural Resources reminds parents and guardians to talk with their <br />kids about the importance of safety on the ice and around the water. <br />It’s especially important given that many children are home over <br />Thanksgiving break. <br />Falling into the water this time of year, whether through thin ice or <br />into open water, can turn tragic quickly. It can incapacitate even the <br />strongest swimmers, so it’s up to parents and guardians to teach <br />their kids about the dangers of cold water and to ensure they’re <br />properly supervised whenever they’re around water. <br />Already this season, a DNR conservation officer and other rescue <br />personnel saved two teenagers who fell through thin ice in northern <br />Minnesota. "Kids tend to be curious about the water, but they might <br />not understand the dangers,” said Capt. Adam Block, boating law <br />administrator for the DNR. “Every type of waterway can be <br />dangerous this time of year, from small neighborhood ponds all the <br />way to our largest lakes and rivers.” <br />Wearing a foam-filled life jacket is the best way to stay safe around <br />cold water or survive an unexpected fall in. Foam is better than <br />inflatable life jackets this time of year, since the latter might not fully <br />inflate in cold water. In addition, Block recommends people carry a <br />phone in case they need to call for help, let others know where <br />they’re going and when they plan to return, and plan for how to deal <br />with an unforeseen incident. <br />For more information about surviving a fall into cold water, visit the <br />DNR cold water dangers webpage. <br />Lake Elmo Tops Washington County’s Pumpkin <br />Recycling Collection <br />Thanks to everyone who brought their pumpkins to the City for <br />recycling after Halloween. Lake Elmo collected the most pumpkins in <br />Washington County, with 8,540 pounds of pumpkins! <br />The Holidays are a Great Time to Become a Food <br />Scraps Recycler <br />With many holiday celebrations this month, it's a perfect time to <br />recycle food scraps. Separate your food scraps for recycling so they <br />become part of the soil instead of going to the trash. <br />This program is free for Washington County residents! You can order <br />your food scraps bags and learn about accepted items here. <br />Be a Battery Hero This Holiday Season <br />‘Tis the season for twinkly lights, new gadgets, remote-controlled <br />everything… and a surprising number of worn-out batteries. Before <br />those little power packs roll around in junk drawers until next July, <br />give them the happy ending they deserve: recycling! <br />Instead of tossing old batteries in the trash (they hate that), drop <br />them off at a Washington County Environmental Center and let them <br />be reborn into something amazing. It’s like giving your used batteries <br />a second chance to shine—very on-brand for the holidays.