in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 9, 20 21 | 22 When You Sell With Tony You Will Receive The Following At No Extra Charge: √ FREE Services Consultation √ De-Cluttering √ Packing √ Moving √ Un-Packing & Set-Up at your new retirement suite √ Donation, disposal or auction of your unwanted belongings √ Preparation of your original home for maximum results √ Retirement residence incentives √ Professional Financial Consultation (if required) Tony is your one-sTop service provider TransiTioning seniors wiTh digniTy, respecT & peace oF Mind HELPING EMPTY NESTERS & SENIORS ACROSS THE GTA WITH REAL ESTATE, DOWNSIZING & TRANSITION SERVICES www.tony-whitehouse-royal-lepage.metrolandwebservices.com Tony Whitehouse Sales Representative Accredited Senior Agent (ASA) Call: 647-378-1789 Email: twhitehouse@royallepage.ca Unit 101 1595 Upper James St. Hamilton, Ontario L9B0H7 • 905-575-5478 Bill Anderson 1587 HALDIBROOK Road, Caledonia $1,999,000 Luxury is the word that hits you first here. The long paved drive leads you to a 7 yr old bungalow on 1.5 acres with all the extras including 3 car garage, covered 14 x 16 back porch, elegant front door, 9 ft ceilings through-out, main fl laundry, 3.5 baths, 3 bedrooms with primary 5pc ensuite and walk-in closet, hardwood floors, main floor office, built in fish tank with fish, open concept kitchen with large island overlooking great room with walkout to covered patio. The lower level is fully finished with a full bath and massive Rec rm to entertain. 200 amp service, automatic backup propane generator, 2264 sq ft per builders plans plus lower level to total near 4000 sq ft of finished space. MLS® Number: H4122146 Real Estate Advertorial A guide to picking the perfect fresh Christmas tree Come the holiday season, perhaps no tradition evokes the warm and fuzzy "feels" more than a family outing to pick a Christ- mas tree. Whether it's a trek to a live Christ- mas tree farm or a short drive to the near- est pre-cut tree lot, the process of selecting a tree that will serve as the crown jewel of the entire season is a great way to make lasting memories. Selecting a tree is a yearly ritual and each person has his or her set of criteria for what makes the ideal Christmas tree. These tips can help families � nd the right tree. Choose your species Do some homework on the type of tree you want prior to buying the tree. Balsam � r and fraser � r are popular Christmas tree varieties, but there are many others, such as noble � r and Norway spruce. Balsams are known for having the most fragrant smell, but frasers tend to keep their nee- dles the longest. For those who prefer a douglas � r, keep in mind that they some- times drop their needles prematurely due to foliar diseases like needle-cast fungus. Space for ornaments In addition to aroma and needle lon- gevity, look for trees that have a desir- able shape and allow for adequate space between branches, advises the home and garden resource The Spruce. Trees groomed to be lush and full will look beau- tiful unadorned, but once ornaments are added, full branches may cause those or- naments to hang low or even fall off. Trees with sparse branches allow for ornaments to hang straight. Measure your space Trees in the � eld or in a lot may look much smaller than they do when brought into the living room. Don't make the mis- take of selecting a tree that is too large for your home. The agricultural � rm Ragan & Masey says to measure the room from � oor to ceiling and subtract the height of the tree stand and tree topper. It's equally important to measure the width of the area where the tree will stand and allow for ample space for foot traf� c around the tree. Perform a needle check Every tree will drop some needles, and most evergreens hold their foliage. Mod- est needle loss is not an indicator of a poor tree. However, Decker's Nursery in Greenlawn, NY says if 50 per cent of the needles are lost when you swipe your hand down three to � ve different branches around the tree, the tree likely is not a good choice. In addition, avoid a tree that has glaring defects in the trunk as it can impede water � ow through the tree. Heavier is better A heavy pre-cut tree means it is full of water and has been cut more recently. A healthy, fresh tree is going to require an effort to lift. Older, dried out trees will not be heavy. Upon arriving home, make a fresh cut off the tree trunk and get it in water as soon as possible -- even if that's a bucket until the tree stand can be set up. MCC