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Tree branch crashes through roof of home during ice storm `New addition' to Grunwald home narrowly missed decorated Christmas tree by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, January 2, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Amidst the chaos of the ice storm that started Sunday, Dec. 22, an Oakville home got a new addition in its living room the following Monday morning. At 6:15 a.m. on Dec. 23, a large tree branch crashed through the roof of Rebecca Grunwald's parents' home on Dornie Road, narrowly missing the family's decorated Christmas tree. "Myself and my two younger brothers just got home from university to our parents' house for the holidays," said Grunwald. "We were all sound asleep when my family woke to a loud thud. My dad (Mark) had thought the Christmas tree had fallen." Coincidentally, the Grunwald's Christmas tree had toppled over a few days before Christmas last year, smashing all of the ornaments. "Despite this, my parents had picked an even bigger tree this year, so much so that they had it suspended by a rope from a wall," said Grunwald. When the Oakville family heard the thud, they ran down to their living room to find a massive icy tree branch had crashed through the roof, inches from their Christmas tree. "It was quite frightening, but luckily it managed to preserve our perfect Christmas tree," Grunwald said. "It looked like a huge icy spear and yet it was so dark out we couldn't see the extent of the storm outside. We have several huge trees in the backyard but we never expected to see one in the house." While the family took the Christmas addition in their living room in stride by decorating it for the holidays, Grunwald admits things could have taken a tragic turn had the branch crashed through Sunday night. "That previous evening, we hosted Christmas dinner with my mom's family and 15 of us had been sitting in that very same family room. Had the branch fallen that night, the consequences could have been tragic," she said. "We all felt a sense or relief that this had happened when everyone was in bed." On the morning of Dec. 24, a family friend of the Grunwalds came over with his chainsaw and, with the help of the family, was able to safely remove the branch. A temporary patch was placed on the roof to prevent snow from coming into the home, until the Grunwalds could put in a permanent fix. The Grunwalds awoke the morning of Dec. 22 to a new addition to their Dornie Road home as a tree branch had crashed through the roof as a result of the ice storm that hit Oakville and the GTA Sunday, Dec. 22. | photos by Rebecca Grunwald SEXUAL ASSAULT & VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES (SAVIS) OF HALTON · Free anti-violence presentations to businesses/associations/schools · Free confidential counselling · Free 24-hour support line - anyone may call: 905.875.1555 905.825.3622 · Toll free: 877.268.8416 · www.savisofhalton.org Supporting further education of talented local artists Featuring world renowned Canadian baritone tist r A l a c o L rt e c n o C t fi Bene Russell Braun with pianist Carolyn Maule www.russellbraun.com plus instrumentalists, dancers, singers, storytelling, choirs and more · Good will offering · Light refreshments will be served · Receipts available for donations over $20 Join us: POOL TABLE BOXING WEEK SALE!! STARTS TODAY 50% - 70% OFF · 4 Person Spa · Plug n' play 110v · Just Plug It In! ALL POOL TABLES * 4' x 8' Hardwood Slate Table Sample Special * $1,499 FACTORY CLEARANCE Knox Presbyterian Church Acton Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 7:00 pm For further information contact: 519-853-1639 BARS $ FLOOR MODEL 1,999 $ 504 IROQUOIS SHORE ROAD, UNIT #1, OAKVILLE, ON L6H 3K4 WHY PAY HIGH RETAIL? BUY FACTORY DIRECT 799 FROM BAR STOOLS PUB TABLE $ 119 FROM $ 199 FROM Photo by Johannes Ifkovits *Not exactly as shown *Limited Time Offer, No Dealers Please, Quantities Limited. 905.815.5252 www.leisureindustries.ca