Christmas Safety to consider:

Safety while decorating for the holidays: According to The National Safety Council at https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/winter-safety/holiday  This site is titled: Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season

As a reminder, Decorating is one of the best ways to get in a holiday mood, but emergency rooms see thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every season. When decorating follow these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

● Keep potentially poisonous plants – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from children
 ● If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant”
 ● If using a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, remember to water it, and remove it from your home when it is dry
 ● Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways
 ● Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them
● Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights
 ● Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections
 ● Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket
 ● Never nail, tack or stress wiring when hanging lights and keep plugs off the ground away from puddles and snow
 ● Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house

 Continued: For fire-starters, Candles and Fireplaces

Use of candles and fireplaces, combined with an increase in the amount of combustible, seasonal decorations in many homes during the holidays, means more risk for fire. The National Fire Protection Association reports that one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles and that two of every five decoration fires happen because the decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

● Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over and out of reach of children
 ● Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children in a locked cabinet
 ● Use flameless, rather than lighted, candles near flammable objects
 ● Don't burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace
 ● Use a screen on the fireplace at all times when a fire is burning
 ● Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when you are asleep
 ● Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year

Lastly, Consider these holiday shopping safety tips:

• Keep your purse close to your body or your wallet in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket.
• Don't argue or fight over an item.
• Don't take your money out until asked and don't flash a lot of cash.
• Use only one credit card.

 Red Bank Commission meetings in December are Tuesday, the 3^rd & 17^th at 6:00 PM in the courtroom.

Finally, I am sincerely happy to serve You as a Red Bank commissioner. I have hosted numerous Listen & Learns on the third Monday of each month, except November & December. Make it a point in 2025 to communicate with all your commissioners as you voted us to serve.  Thank you!

 Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! May you lovingly celebrate this season with family & friends!

 Jamie Fairbanks-Harvey

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Thank You to Our Snowman & Elf Sponsors!

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Here are some holiday safety tips that might have saved Clark Griswold a headache—or ten—if only he’d subscribed to our monthly newsletter. Had he taken a few of these into consideration, his holiday season might have been a little more "merry and bright" and a lot less... explosive!

• Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other flammable items.
• Make sure you use indoor lights indoors, and outdoor lights outside.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands you can safely connect together.
• Never overload electrical outlets or extension cords.

• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
• Keep decorations away from windows and doors.
• Keep Christmas trees away from heat sources and exits.
• Only purchase live Christmas trees that are fresh and green with needles that are difficult to pull from the branches. 
• Water live Christmas trees daily to prevent them from getting dry and becoming a fire hazard.
• When using a ladder to hang decorations, always make sure the ladder is on even and solid ground, and keep three body parts in contact with the ladder at all times. 
• Never run electrical cords under rugs or carpeting; it’s also best to tape cords down to avoid a trip hazard

Holiday Safety for the Kids and our Furry Friends.

• Holiday decorations can easily be mistaken for a shiny snack, so keep bite-size ornaments out of reach (this includes items like tinsel.)
• Tinsel is lovely, but keep it away from kitties, if ingested it could lead to severe blockage and surgery.
• Remember, mistletoe, poinsettia, lilies, and holly berries are all toxic; It’s best to avoid decorating with these plants if you have kids and/or pets.
• Keep children/pets away from cooking areas; use back burners and turn pot handles inward.
• If you have a live Christmas tree, ensure kids/pets cannot drink the water from the stand or consume fallen pine needles.
• Ensure children and/or pets don’t have access to open trash cans and table scraps.

And now, the moment everyone’s been waiting for—tips for preparing the grand holiday feast!

• Fully cook meats; insert a meat thermometer into the densest part and check these temps:

1. Turkey/Poultry 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Beef Roast 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Fresh Ham 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Fully cooked Ham 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables.
• Wash hands, cutting boards, and preparation surfaces between uses, especially after handling raw meat.
• Be sure to keep hot liquids and food away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can easily be knocked over by young children. 
• Never put a spoon used to taste food back into the food without washing it (Cousin Eddie).
• Bring leftovers to a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate bacterial growth; never reheat a portion more than once.
• Always thaw food in a refrigerator, NOT at room temperature.
• Refrigerate food promptly if not eating right away or within two hours of cooking.

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One final defense against incurring losses at the hands of porch pirates is to carry financial protection for the theft of precious packages. Check your renter/homeowner policy to determine if you’re covered, or be sure to use credit cards that carry purchase protection online.

Package theft prevention isn’t complicated, and generally, our advice falls into three categories:

1. Secure your home: Modern technology offers myriad ways to secure and monitor one’s home and surroundings. Internet-enabled doorbell cameras allow you to keep an eye on the porch even when away from home. Security systems can offer the same service for every angle of your house (while supplying additional measures to keep thieves outside the home). Providing well-lit delivery areas is an excellent deterrent that becomes more important during the early nights of the holiday season. After installing such measures, announce their presence clearly – it’s better to scare off a thief than catch them after the fact.
2. Avoid prolonged exposure: The longer your packages sit unprotected, the more likely someone will snatch them. Having friendly hands ready to receive parcels is the best way to keep shipments safe. Take advantage of online scheduling options to arrange delivery times when you will be home, when you can take a break and get home, or when someone else can bring your package inside. Most delivery apps provide real-time tracking so you can follow your packages and perfectly time their collection. For added assurance, you can require a signature so the package won’t be left unattended if no one’s around. Instead of leaving your packages unattended in plain sight, ask delivery drivers to drop them in a more private or protected part of your property. In your delivery instructions, tell drivers to place packages in discrete or monitored areas where they won’t be visible from the street. Consider putting a package lockbox on your property, accessible only to you and delivery drivers. If you live in an apartment building, specify that packages should be left with door attendants or in protected mailrooms rather than entryways or sidewalks.
3. Designate an alternate delivery location: Packages waiting on the doorstep are convenient and fun, yet far from the safest option. Ensure parcels are left in trusted hands or under lock and key whenever possible. Choosing delivery to a work/business address allows staff to accept and protect parcels. If you have friends or family who are always at home, you might route packages to them. Amazon and other services also offer delivery lockers in prominent public locations so you can grab packages when your schedule allows. Alternatively, you can choose a “hold for pickup” option if the delivery service has a hub near you. Finally, you can forgo delivery altogether and shop in a brick-and-mortar retailer – don’t worry, you can still order online and have the package waiting for you (perhaps even brought to your car).

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1. Recycle real Christmas trees this season with submitting a work order online for a “brush” pickup.
2. Leaf Season has begun! Starting on the North End of Red Bank, our employees will make their way to the south end. Please have leaves down by the street, do not mix with Brush. For priority pickup please bag leaves up and submit a work order online.
3. Please remember Trash service scheduled for December 24^th (Tuesday) will be made up on December 26^th (Thursday), and trash scheduled for December 25^th (Wednesday) will be made up on December 27^th (Friday).

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Red Bank Business Highlight-PDX (Play Dog eXcellent)

Bev Eitner, Managing Partner of Play Dog eXcellent, recently gave City Manager Martin Granum a tour of her Red Bank business. During the visit, she highlighted the wonderful programs and activities focused on dogs—and their best friends—that take place right here in Red Bank. It turns out that PDX is a very special place for dogs and their families, so much so that some families have relocated to Red Bank specifically to be near this unique business!

PDX offers access to a comprehensive ecosystem of dog activities that extend well beyond basic obedience training. They provide programs for everyone, from first-time puppy owners to advanced training in obedience, agility, "nose work," trials, events, competitions, and more.

 City Manager Granum expressed his amazement, stating, “I was blown away. I was astonished not only by the scale of the building, which is much larger than it appears from the street (it used to be a skate rink), but also by the variety of training options and the access to world-class, high-quality dog programs available right here in Red Bank.”

If you love your dog and want to fully develop your pet’s amazing talents and personality, stop by to have a conversation with Bev and her team. You may be welcomed by Macy at the front desk, a sure sign that this is a truly special place for dogs and their companions.

 For more information, visit the Play Dog eXcellent (PDX) website at https://pdxdogs.com/. Location: 4113 Dayton Blvd, Red Bank, TN 37415. Phone: 423.870.7740. Email: mail@pdxdogs.com.

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Coca-Cola Santa is Coming to a Food City Near You!

Santa's spreading festive cheer at a Food City near you, located at 3901 Dayton Blvd! Join the holiday fun and snap a pic with the man in red on Monday, December 16th from 5pm-7pm. 

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                         Call and Respond

 “The colors, patterns, and calls of the Eastern Towhee, White-Throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, and Ruby-Throated Hummingbird inspired the design.”

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              Looking Ahead

               December 3rd - Regular Commission Work Session - 5 PM

                                           Regular Commission Meeting - 6 PM 

               December 17th - Regular Commission Work Session - 5 PM

                                           Regular Commission Meeting - 6 PM 

              December 11th - Planning Commission Work Session - 12 PM

              December 18th - Regular Planning Commission Meeting - 6 PM

 *City offices will be closed December 24th &25th in observance of Christmas.