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Trees turn into Quasimodo, once inside Columbus and Area News by Lorna Miller Hi, Fellow Columbites: Well, Christmas is coming. There have been several gatherings behind closed doors where presents of various shapes and sizes were wrestled into Christmas finery and stuck with tape. The tree is up, after much arguing between Andrea and Wayne as to how it should go, who should turn it and where it should turn to and whether or not it was straight. I've often wondered how a tree in the wild can be so straight, but when you bring it home to decorate it, it becomes the Quasimodo of trees and wants to hunch over into a corner, exposing the only bare patch in the foliage to the room. It takes an even temper, a good saw, strong arms and a lot of yelling to get a tree to reside in your livingroom. Plus, a good vac- he HRISTMA Vo SS SL SS SS OURS Starting Wednesday, Dec. 9th OPEN WEEKDAYS -- 9 AM to 9 PM SATURDAYS -- 10 AM to 4 PM Closed at 5:30 PM, Wednesday, December 23rd Closed at 4:00 PM, Thursday, December 24th / Ni = ANGER PORT PERRY STAR c.. 1a 235 Queen Street -- Port Perry -- 985-7383 GEE ELECTRIC "MOTOR SERVICE Sales, Repairs & Rewinding to All Motors. . Pressure & Swimming Pool Pumps. -- SHIRLEY ROAD -- 985-8049 JAMES RANKIN ELECTRIC Resident | - Farm - Commercial ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEMS Hot Water Tank Installation & Repairs Free Estimates and Repairs SAS Jepg (ey. NE ele] hy). Nopgge of JACK MONSMA ELECTRIC Industrial - Commercial - Residential R.R.1, PORT PERRY 285-2917 RICHARD HONEY ELECTR C Pole Line Construction INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL R.R.1, Port Perry, Ontario 285-9364 RICK LAROCGUE ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL -- COMMERCIAL Pole Line Service R.R.2, PORT PERRY 085-3261 SCUGOG PLUMBING & HEATING New & Old Installations - Specializing in Custom Homes Complete Bathroom Renovations from Drywall to Finished Floors. BOX 966 - PORT PERRY BOB GOODMAN PLUMBING R.R. 3, Port Perry 985-7758 New Installations - Repairs Rebuild All Types of Water Pumps Older Homes - Our Specialty CALL TODAY FOR "FREE" ESTIMATES & FAST NEIGHBOURLY SERVICE PHONE: 985-9361 MAGNETIC SIGNS For Trucks, Cars, etc. PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street 985-7383 cuum to clean up the mess. One year, our tree lost every nee- dle over the course of its stay with us. The bare skeleton looked su pathetic, I was too embarrassed to put it out in the garbage, so I chop- ped it up and burnt it in the fireplace. The rug had needles for months. Andrea has decorated the house very nicely, and she has baked, bak- ed, baked. This Christmas, more than the goose will be getting fat! There are many people that we would like to thank for making our first Christmas in Columbus a hap- py one; for without them we wouldn't be as well disorganized as we are now. Thankyou, first, to all of you nice people who have patronized our business, without you it never would have worked. Thanks to: Bill: Lankhof who backed us financially to make this project viable: Barry Huron, a genious in his own right, (and anybody else's), who fixed, re- wired and generally orchestrated the improvement of the store, ~ Phillip Miller, who sanded and repaired our floors; to Annabell, who helped us get equipment we desperately needed, and to everyone of you who painted, cleaned, picked stuff up and put stuff down and generally made yourselves in- dispensible. Thank you very much. Because of you, this will be one of the most memorable Christmases ever. And, I must mention our resi- dent MS Pac Man Wizard, Peter Szarka, hit a high score of 85,140 on learn Cleaning carpets §& couches \\ 852-6711 5 985-8552 nie" BASSETT'S SMALL ENGINES -- REPAIRS TO -- Outboards - Tillers - Lawnmowers Snowmobiles - Chainsaws - Fibreglass Repairs - Sun Valley, Seagrave 985-8677 = BUSINESS DIRECTORY DUNCAN'S PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 22, 1987 -- 39A the Pac Man Machine. (He would have done better -- but Pac Man had to get her numbers fixed). More on this next time. oo So, from us to you, Merry Christmas, drive carefully, enjoy each other's company and the closeness of family and friends, eat until you're more stuffed than the turkey and have a good time! Just got back from the Candlelight Service and the combin- ed efforts of the Columbus and Prince Albert Choirs was a great success. The children's voices lent a sweet air to the carols and the soft glow of the candles bathed us all in the beauty of the moment. The even- "ing was the Celestial icing on our Christmas cake. Let's hope the choirs get together - again soon, we would all love a repeat of last evening's choral pleasures to renew the flagging soul and put a song in our hearts to carry us through our days. Merry Christmas once again. Next week it will only be a memory, make some happy memories for the future. See you in the paper. The care and safety of Christmas trees In preparation for the Holiday Season, most of us will soon be trim- ming the traditional Christmas tree. In addition to enjoying a white Christmas, most Canadians like to have the scent and beauty of a natural Christmas tree in their homes. The Canadian Forestry Ser- vice, in collaboration with the Christmas tree growers' association across the country, offer some carefully researched information about the natural Christmas tree. * Purchase a fresh tree and store it outdoors in the shade until time for decorating. Christmas tree growers in Canada are committed to deliver- ing trees to market that meet rigid standards of form and freshness. To MISCELLANEOUS =] J SAV [of f=) DON CORNEIL Auctioneering Services ALL TYPES OF AUCTION SALES Auction Barn Facilities & Pickups. R.R.1, LITTLE BRITAIN Call [705] 786-2183 CLARENCE WILLCOCK WELDING Shop & Mobile Fab. & Repairs PHONE 985-2589 HOUSE CLEANING & HOME SERVICES For further information & free estimates call Rose Ann 985-2795 REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES Washers - Dryers - Stoves BUY -- SELL -- TRADE 4 BD @ (od INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. LOB 1NO (416) 985-7306 Scugog Appliance Repair Fridges - Dishwashers - Freezers Call 986-5312 Anytime SO MEEEE TOM VANDERENDE test a tree for freshness, grasp a needle between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze gently. The needles of a fresh tree should bend rather than break. A tree that is not fresh will have brittle twigs and may easily shed its needles. * Once the tree is ready to put up, recut the base (butt) of the tree diagonally and immerse in plain water. A tree cared for in this man- ner will be virtually fireproof, hav- ing a moisture content in the needles as great or greater than that present when the tree is harvested. Check the water level daily, to ensure it does not drop below the tree trank. Trees may absorb up to a gallon of water per day. * Additives will interfere with the tree's ability to draw up moisture and could render it less safe. There 1s no basis to the rumours that ad- diuves to the water will prolong the lite of the tree or render it more fire resistant. * Spraying the natural tree with any fire retardant solution is essential ly useless. The needles cannot ab- sorb moisture. The moisture content of the needles is supplied only through the trunk from its water supply. * In placing the tree, keep it away from heat sources and ensure tree lights are turned off before leaving the home or retiring for the night. The following facts will relieve the minds of those who may feel that Canadians who buy natural Christmas trees are depleting our forests. * Most Christmas trees sold by dealers are grown on land that might otherwise be unproductive, such as abandoned farmlands or areas of poor soil. These plantations often produce scenic greenbelts and can offer environmental benefits such as the reduction of soil erosion and air pollution. * The Christmas tree market creates jobs and, in some cases, is 'a source of extra income to farmers and other people in rural areas. Ap- proximately 80 per cent of Canadian Christmas trees are exported to foreign markets, thus enhancing Canada's positive balance of trade and providing jobs for Canadians. This message 1s sponsored by the Port Perry Star.