Ban on Watercraft for Local Creeks Cancelled at Noon on Friday
The water flow on both Lefthand Creek and the St. Vrain is falling off rapidly. It is now at or below the “threshold” the city would normally use for a ban. As a result, the City of Longmont will be lifting the swimming, tubing, boating, and other form of watercraft ban on Friday June 26, 2015 at noon for areas within the Longmont city limits. Even with the ban being lifted, it is recommended that you use caution around water ways, especially this time of year with the chance of severe afternoon thunderstorms, which could increase the flows and raise the water level without warning. Several areas along the St. Vrain and Left Hand Greenways have been temporarily closed. Please respect all closures and use alternate routes; plan ahead with our Trail Status Map at www.LongmontColorado.gov/trail-status. Residents can find information on flood preparedness and safety, as well as local creek conditions at www.bit.ly/floodpreparedness. It is important that residents stay vigilant throughout spring runoff season and to be informed and prepared as conditions could change rapidly.

Coffee with Council 
Longmont City Council will host Coffee with Council from 9 to 10 am on Saturday, June 27, at Ute Creek Golf Course, 2000 Ute Creek Drive. At this event, you can talk informally with at least two council members on any topic of your choice. Mayor Dennis Coombs and Council Member Brian Bagley are scheduled to attend. For information about council meetings and agendas, call the City Clerk’s Office at 303-651-8649.

City Holiday Hours on July 3 and 4
Longmont city government observes the Independence Day holiday on Friday, July 3. These facilities will be CLOSED: Civic Center, Service Center, Development Services Center, Library, Senior Center, and Youth Center. On Friday, July 3, the Longmont Museum, the Waste Diversion Center, St. Vrain Memorial Building, and Centennial Pool will be OPEN. On Saturday, July 4, all City facilities except the following will be CLOSED: the Longmont Recreation Center will be OPEN from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunset Pool and Roosevelt Activity Pool will be OPEN regular hours. For more information about schedules visit LongmontColorado.gov.

Celebrate the Fourth with Music and Fireworks
Begin your holiday fun at noon on Saturday, July 4, with a picnic and the annual free holiday concert by the Longmont Symphony Orchestra in Thompson Park, 4th Avenue and Bross Street. Then, at about 9:30 pm, enjoy the explosion of fireworks over Longmont. The best viewing is from within one mile of the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Handicap-accessible parking is available at the fairgrounds’ south Nelson Road entrance with permit. Special thanks to the Skyline Kiwanis Club and their primary sponsor 1st Bank, whose generous donations help make this event possible. Additional thanks to Thrivent Financial, Hampton Inn, Pacific Auction Companies, Edward Jones, Mountain Truck and Equipment, Main Street Mat, Wagner Welding Supply, Colorado Materials, Nixcavating and Home Run Heating.

Summer in Longmont Means Music!
In addition to the free symphony concert on July 4, enjoy the family mariachi band Mariachi Vasquez at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, July 1, at the Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road. (Exhibition galleries are closed during the concert.) Bring your picnic, chairs and blankets. Alcohol is not allowed in City parks and facilities. For more information and a complete summer concert schedule, visit http://ow.ly/NCzyg.

Roger’s River Run 5K Fun Run/Walk
Sign up now for the annual Roger’s River Run 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 11. The race begins at 7:30 am, and free parking is at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Race includes a free Prairie Breakfast that spectators also can enjoy for $3 cash. Preregistration, until noon on July 9, is $17 for adults and $15 for youth 14 and younger and seniors 60 and older. Race-day fees increase $5. For information or to register, call 303-651-8406 or visit LongmontColorado.gov/ROTR.

Block Party Grants Available
Block parties are a great way to develop relationships with your neighbors. The City of Longmont provides small grants to improve quality of life and help residents form a stronger sense of community with neighbors who live on their block. All neighborhoods are eligible. Apply today and discover the benefits of knowing your neighbors: a safer, healthier, and more stable neighborhood and a place that feels like home. For information call 303-651-8444.

Keep Your Meter a Cut Above
It’s fun to get out in the summertime – so make sure your meter can do the same by trimming back any plants or grass that may be covering it up. City workers read about 67,000 electric and water meters per month, and overgrown vegetation can make that difficult. Rather not have the visit? Consider getting an ERT electronic meter that can be read remotely. For more information, call Longmont Power & Communications at 303-651-8386 or visit LongmontColorado.gov/lpc and select “Electric Service” from the left menu.

Longmont Museum Hosts International Robotics Competition
Thirteen teams of high school students will compete in four different contests programming a humanoid robot on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at the Stewart Auditorium, 400 Quail Road, from 11 am to 3 pm. Students will be challenged to get their robot to dance, play interactive games, discuss movies and more. The goal of the competition is to get students excited and motivated to learn, especially in math, science, programming and technology disciplines included in STEM learning, in addition to teamwork and creativity.