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Page 14 THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday December December can be a deadly month I Christmas collectibles More residential fires and fatalities occur in December than in any other month Trees fireplaces and busy kitchens all contribute to this un fortunate statistic and all deserve extra care and caution But sometimes even good inten tions are not enough when it comes to holiday safety Iris Boyko claims adjuster Wellington Insurance in relates two incidents where clients took basic safety precau tions yet still experienced pro blems One client plugged in a string of bulbs and laid them out on the carpet to inspect them before put ting them on the tree Good thing she did too because the wir ing had deteriorated and burned her carpet much less serious than the damage that would have resulted had the lights been on the tree Boyko advises Inspect bulbs on a concrete floor to avoid the danger of scor ching or fire advises The basement or your garage are good alternatives but make sure the floors are dry or you could be in for a shock Check light sets for cracked bulbs and frayed broken or ex posed wires Never use indoor lights outdoors or outdoor lights indoors and always use lights that are approved by the Cana dian Standards Association Its also advisable not to overload electrical circuits or run electric cords under rugs A cheerful blaze in the fireplace is always welcome over the holidays but Boyko stresses the importance of ensuring the fire is completely dead before disposing of the ashes She recalls another Wellington client who waited overnight before cleaning out the ashes from the fireplace Unfortunately it wasnt long enough says Boyko There were still some live embers in the ashes which started a fire in the garage where the garbage was stored Use a metal container for fireplace ashes Boyko advises and store them outside not in the basement or garage To avoid other fire hazards trees should be kept in water and positioned away from heat vents to prevent drying out Always shut off bulbs before going out or going to bed and never use elec tric lights on metallic trees This month Canadian Con sumer The Radio Edition spon sored by Wellington Insurance focuses on holiday safety tips from the Canada Safety Council The Safety Council recommends keeping an allpurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher han dy This is true at all times of the year but if you dont have one now is a good time to get one for yourself and as a gift for someone you care about More information on holiday safety and fire prevention is available from Wellington In surance brokers Holiday Safety Check List Inspect electrical light sets for worn or frayed cords and damag ed or burnedout lights Never use outdoor lights in doors or indoor lights outdoors Dont overload electrical cir cuits with too many plugs in one outlet Keep Christmas trees in water to prevent drying out Do not block exits with trees or decorations Shut off all seasonal lights before retiring for the night Be sure fireplace ashes are extinguished before disposing of them Dispose of ashes and ashtrays outdoors in a metal container Keep a fire extinguisher handy make fine gifts Town Gardener What constitutes a fresh tree By TOM CA VAN Christinas Trees Christmas is a special time of year for all people Historians trace countless sources that have led to present day custom of set ting up a tree and decorating it The most directly related story occurred in Virginia in A man named Charles introduced the custom and the tree was described as being splendidly decorated with str ings of popcorn gilded nuts and lighted candles Obviously Charles didnt listen to the fire marshal I am not recommen ding you use lighted candles but I would like to recommend the following tips on how to pick the freshest tree and how to keep it fresh whether its a pot ted or cut your own Christmas tree Many people believe that cut ting their own tree is the only way to insure a fresh tree Well disagree and I will give you my reason AH woody plants reduce their moisture content as cooler temperatures prevail in fall Deciduous trees drop their leaves during fall as part of their moisture reduction Evergreens slow down their metabolism by reducing their moisture content by dropping older needles inside underneath the canopy of foliage and by redirecting their moisture to the root system This allows them to withstand the desiccating winds of old man winter Therefore the growers cut their trees prior to the moisture reduc tion period to ensure maximum moisture levels After the trees are cut and handled will deter mine the freshness and safety of your tree Now Im not saying cut your own is not fresh Im just pointing out what constitutes a fresh tree CHOOSING A FRESH TREE For many years I cared for 18 acres of Scots pine and white spruce I had always cut my trees prior to the moisture reduction time and piled them underneath a stand of maple and beech where they sat wet and shaded After frosts the leaves covered the trees until Christmas I also entertained a cut your own opera tion for five of those years and I will never forget watching people dragging their lime green trees past the emerald green trees I had prepared Both trees coming from the same field For many the tradition of Christmas would not be the same without that experience So whether its or cut fresh from the fields in December look for dark colour in your tree and ask yourself does it look dry and pale or soft and moist A fresh tree will have good resistance to you pulling off any needles CARING FOR YOUR TREE After picking your one and only place the tree in cool spot in the house assuming you have shaken all abascised needles hiding in your tree just waiting for their chance to enhance your plush rug There are tree bags available now that are really easy to handle and contain all of the mess So just place it in the bag and let it sit at least one day so it can thaw out When you set it up just leave the bag underneath for removal after the festive season Before putting your tree in its stand recut the stem by removing approximately thereby opening up the steam so it can draw water A tree can draw a lot of water in the day so be careful and check it the next day Water intake will depend on how dry your house and how well you prepared the tree Think of it as a big cut flower and you will have a fresh safe tree Keep your tree away from heat sources and use your lights spar ingly and never leave them on when you leave the house Avoid combustible decorations and candles sorry Charles You will enjoy a safe Christmas but what will you do with the tree after Christmas Start a fire Well I recommend placing it in your compost or covering over delicate perennials For those in country place it in the woods with string or popcorn to attract birds or small animals for observation The children will it I hope this information will help your family have a safe Christmas you have any questions call the Grapevine Hotline 8332117 or write The Town Gardener Erin Wettmafg it and instalt it right Mountainvfew Rd Georgetown Ontario L7G GEORGETOWN OPTICAL NO ONE EVER REGRETTED BUYING QUALITY MARKET PLACE PLAZA 8773562 HOURS CLOSED MONDAY TuesFri Saturday 1000500 The Christmas giftbuying season finds us all scrambling to find the perfect gift for everyone on our list How do you find the right gift for family friends and business associates What do you buy for that person who has everything How do you find something that will be ap preciated and that will last past Christmas How do you avoid the impersonal gift of money or gift cer tificate in a card How do you avoid the disappointment of picking something thats the wrong size or color These are all the challenging questions for us all COLLECTIBLES MAY BE THE ANSWER YOURE LOOKING FOR Most people collect something and the range of collectibles is as diverse as people are Some people collect music boxes souvenir spoons from faraway places menus from famous restaurants thimbles com memorative plates comic books figurines of their favorite animals brass ornaments the list is endless If your gift adds to their collection its sure to be appreciated If someone isnt yet a collector but does have some special interests your gift can get them started on a collection Then your choice each year after that is easy just add to their collection For example equestrian enthusiasts may like horse ornaments in fine china Art and history buffs would love the commemorative coins on historial themes issued each year by the Royal Canadian Mint Coins are also a good choice if youre looking for a keepsake that holds its value Many youngsters have started coin collections and savings accounts on the basis of coins they received for Christmas or birthdays Often you may have to send presents to people in other parts of the country or even overseas A souvenir of your town may be just the thing For example a town plate or souvenir spoon that bears the name of your town would be welcom ed by the person who collects those items Souvenirs of Canada like the picture book of scenic views or a special proof set of Canadian coins are great for family or friends in other countries Remember that if youre sending presents by mail its best to select something small and nonbreakable If the item is fragile pack it careful ly in a sturdy box and surround it with popped popcorn which will cushion it from the shocks of shipp ing and handling Its a good idea to insure a gift sent by mail and in surance is available from the post office Look at all the names on your list Take the time to find out what collec tible items would appeal to each of them and give it a try If its a hit your shopping decisions next year could be very easy Theres something in human nature that makes us all collectors at heart When you add to someones collection your interest and friend ship is remembered long after the gift is given THE GEORGETOWN LIONS CLUB wishes to thank the following businesses for their support and generous donations to the 5th Annual Santa Claus Parade Fund Paul C Insurance Broken Ltd Halton Print AllBake Confection Ltd Helson Kogon Schaljo Almands Auto Service Hasty Market The Bank ol Nova Scotia Howell Plumbing Supplies Limited John Boughton Jewellers Halton Community Credit Union Limited Barragers Charters Humberstone Woodworking Limited Barber Henley Limited House of Buddha Restaurant Blue Dragon New Age Source Ltd Henrys George Carpentry Jones Son Funeral Home Llmted Camerons Fashions Lynn Ferguson Enterprises Ltd Caroles MVP Distributors Cachet Mackenzie Lumber fines McNalfy Construction Ltd Criterion Carpet Main Mart Dominion Seed House Ltd Hotel Downtown Pizza and Submarine Mertan Scientific Ltd Elizabeths Fashion Bridal Boutique Earl Merrill Emerald Isle Mr Submarine Fletchers Family Shoes Municipal Savings and Loan Steven Foster Barrister Solicitor Foodstuffs Ninth Line Food Emporium Freds Towing North Star Cleaners Georgetown Chrysler Park Lincoln Mercury Georgetown Golf Country Club Office Magic Georgetown Honda Oxbow Books Georgetown Independent The Royal Bank ol Canada Georgetown Terminal Warehouse Ltd RJ Heating and Plumbing Georgetown Deli Shoppere Drug Mart Drugs Georgetown Fruit Market Ltd Varlan Canada Inc Georgeview Restaurant Victoria Lane Golden Chipl The Vifiage GoebeHe MacAdam Alexander Video Plus Yongs Restaurant Chamber Commerce Youngs Pharmacy HattmtffeHcnU