Hi everyone, I'm Phil Jentz, your communications manager, and welcome to the council update. Today I'm joined by council member Dave Clawson to talk about parks, recreation, and all the great programming happening here in Cottage Grove. So, Council Member Clawson, >> thank you. Thanks for having me again. All right, this is one of my favorite topics to talk about. >> Fantastic. We'll we'll jump right into it then. Well, as we all know, Cottage Grove is known for its parks. So, Council Member Clawson, can you give us a quick snapshot of what residents can expect for the rest of the winter? >> Yeah, absolutely. We have a full lineup of parks and wreck programming to do even in the winter. Um, no matter the season, uh, for example, on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. we have a 5K run or walk or ruck even. Um, if you want to do that, every Saturday that's free and that's at Hamlet Park. Um, we also have hockey games going on, open skates, a Valentine's Day skate, an egg hunt, and an ice show coming up. Um, talk a little bit about the egg hunt. That's on March 28th. It's always popular. This sells out every year. You need a ticket for it. So, I would say navigate to the city web page, go to recreation, and get some tickets. Very popular. And again, that sells out. And we also have an ice show on May 16th and that is a opportunity for friends and family to see the youth figure skating clubs that have been practicing all winter. And this is a show that they put on and that's at 10:30 on May 16th. >> That is super cool. A lot of fun stuff always happening at the ice arena. And so moving just beyond uh the ice arena. What other events around town are coming up that you are excited about? There are a number of skating rinks, warming houses throughout the community, but also we host an amazing event such as a fire and ice event at Hamlet Park on February 13th. Going to be a bonfire, skating, hot chocolate, and gnome hunt. And uh that's free. And also coming up at Glacial Valley Park is a puzzle competition. And we've done this before. And that sells out every year that you get a group of four people together. You assemble a puzzle. It's timed prizes for first and second place. And that is becoming very popular. >> It is very popular. What a fun way to kind of beat the cold and have fun with the with the with a team doing the puzzles. And so there really, you know, there really is no shortage of things to do even during the colder months. And uh beyond all of what you've already mentioned, how can residents stay informed or even get involved? Yeah, like I said, go to the city web page, navigate to uh recreation, and there's a whole list there of things you can sign up for and activities that you just may want to want to attend. >> That is great. So, beyond that, any final thoughts, Council Member Clawson, >> I just want to encourage everyone to get out, try something new, and enjoy everything that our parks and recreation has, and go get some vitamin D this winter. Uh, guys is a great place. People love our parks. They're rated very high. Just enjoy them. Absolutely. Get outside and skate. Go hunt some gnomes at Hamlet Park. Put a puzzle together, play some games, whatever it is. So, Council Member Clawson, we'll let you get back to it. I know you're busy, but thanks so much for your time and for joining us for this council update. And beyond that, we'll see you, Council Member Clawson, or everyone else out in the parks. Thanks, everyone.