Dear Neighbors With the first snow flurries this week, it's time to think about keeping our sidewalks safe. In addition to making sure no one gets injured by falling on them, we need to keep our rivers, drinking water, plants and pets safe from the effects of salt. We usually buy rock salt (sodium chloride). It is cheapest per pound, but melts less snow than alternatives, so it ends up costing more. It only works down to 15 degrees. It also has cyanide in it. Although there is no completely safe alternative, calcium chloride is a better bet. It is much more effective than rock salt, so you use less and that makes it cheaper too. It works down to -25 degrees. It has no cyanide in it. To decrease harm to your sidewalk, garden plants, pets and our rivers, use a little as possible to get the job done. Shovel your walks to prevent ice forming. De-icers don't work very well on snowy sidewalks Stay warm and safe, Nancy