Tot Swim will be offered Friday, May 12 from 9:30-11 a.m. This will be the final tot swim for the spring. Tot swims will resume in the fall. Tot swim is an excellent opportunity to bring your favorite tot to enjoy the shallow area of the pool and tot slide. All children must be within arms reach of an adult of at least 18 years of age. Fee is $2.25 per tot. Adults are free.

City Tree Inventory Training Dates and Times: The City’s Tree Advisory Commission will be conducting an inventory of trees on city parks and streets. Volunteers are needed to assist with data collection. No experience is necessary. A free, two-day training will be provided by the University of Minnesota on Friday, May 12 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the New Ulm Community Center (600 N German St). Attendance at the training is strongly encouraged, but not required to participate in the inventory. Interested individuals should contact Shane Omersa at the Park & Rec office at 507-359-8341 or email shane.omersa@ci.new-ulm.mn.us for any questions and to be put on a mailing list for future notices. This will be a great opportunity to be active, increase your knowledge of trees and help maintain health and enjoyment of the local environment.

Invasive Garlic Mustard: One seed of garlic mustard can grow into a plant that can produce up to 4,000 seeds. Left uncontrolled, garlic mustard forms a dense carpet and kills off other shade-loving ground plants including tree seedlings, wildflowers, grasses, morels and more. Wildlife do not like its taste so they eat other plants.

Garlic mustard can be controlled by early detection and eradication. Volunteers are needed to help. If possible, bring gloves, dandelion digger or garden trowel and bucket. There will be short talks about recognizing and controlling the plant before each pull session. These programs will take place at Adams Park, 620 Cottonwood Street: Wednesday, May 10 at 9 a.m.; Thursday, May 11 at 1 p.m.; Friday, May 12 at 6 p.m.; Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m.; and Saturday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m. There will be a program at South Park, 1800 South State Street on Saturday, May 13 at 9 a.m. Garlic mustard goes to seed in early June, so May is the time to take action! For more information, go to www.thegarlicmustardman.com, contact Joe Gartner at 507-276-8326 or email jlgz1@juno.com (email).

Red Cross Lifeguard Review is being offered to individuals needing to renew their certification. Classes will be held May 20 and 21. We will offer a Lifeguard Training Course June 5-8 from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at the Rec. Center. Register for either or both courses online at www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us.

Adult Athletic League registration is currently open for Co-Rec Softball and Sand Volleyball. Leagues start in the spring and run into the summer. Call 507-359-8347 or pick up registration at the Rec. Center

Big Tree Contest is going on now through June 12. The entrant who identifies the largest Locust tree in New Ulm city limits will be reimbursed up to $200 to purchase and plant a tree from the city approved tree list, procured from a city designated local nursery. Please go to our website at www.new-ulm.mn.us for a full list of contest rules and contest form.

Summer Activity Registration available online at the City of New Ulm website, www.ci.new-ulm.ci.new-ulm.mn.us or in person at the Recreation Center.

Herbicides for Buckthorn in the Spring. Tordon is the only herbicide that works to kill buckthorn in the spring, but it remains in soil for many years. The City of New Ulm does NOT use Tordon; if you decide to use Tordon or any herbicide, follow these rules: 1. Use a herbicide blotter (Buckthorn Blaster) available at the Rec. Center front desk or online. Do not use the squirt bottle Tordon is packaged in, as it will cause soil and water contamination. 2. Apply only to the rim of the stump. 3. Use only in spring from bud break to full leaf flush. 4. Tint herbicide with Rit or pond dye or mark it to avoid treating the stump more than once. 4. Avoid contamination with eyes and skin.

Roundup is not effective in the spring starting with budbreak. Undiluted purple Roundup concentrate (50% glycophosate) is used to control buckthorn summer through winter, (about 9 months). Roundup should be used only in a Buckthorn Blaster (herbicide applicator) or small sponge brush and must be applied within two hours of cutting. Do not cut more than you can treat. Roundup and all herbicides need to be applied only to the rim of the stump. Questions: email: Ellen Vancura at newulmbuckthorn@

gmail.com or text/call 612-718-9774.

Information on Fees & Hours of Facility Operation: Visit us on the web at: www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us Email parkandrec@ci.new-ulm.mn.us or cheryl.kormann@ci.new-ulm.mn.us or call 359-8347. Rec Center, 122 South Garden St., hours: Monday-Friday 5 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. The Rec. Center hours on Memorial weekend will be Saturday, May 27 from 7 a.m.-12 noon and closed Sunday and Monday, May 28-29. Civic Center is located at 1212 N Franklin St. Community Center is located at 600 N German St.