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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 13, 1998 EE , "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" A lifesaver Program aims to help seniors keep smoke detectors functioning By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Smoke detectors are probably the most impor- tant life-saving devices we have in our homes. And most are battery operated, which means they should be tested on a regular basis. Last year Energizer Canada donated 9-volt batteries to recipients of the VON Meals on Wheels in Hamilton. With the assistance of the city's fire department and students of the McMaster Gerontology Association, the batteries were used to replace old ones in- smoke detectors in seniors' homes. When Roxy Barnes, director of Durham Region Community Care heard about the program, she asked Energizer Canada if the company would donate batteries to seniors registered with Community Care here. "They (Energizer) were wonderful," she said. "They gave us $700 worth of batteries to be installed in senior clients' homes." Because more than 3,000 seniors are regis- tered with Community Care in the southern part of the Durham Region, Ms Barnes equally divid- ed the 180 batteries between the more sparse- ly populated townships of Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock to the North. ~ Upon receipt of 60 bat- teries, Dorothy Imperial, co-ordinator for Scugog Community Care asked Dave Ballingall, District Chief of the Scugog Fire Department, Station 1, Port Perry, to replace bat- teries in smoke detectors of seniors registered with Community Care. "I contacted our local fire department as they are always more than willing to help out in the community," Mrs. Imperial said. "And I feel this is a very worthwhile pro- gram," she added. "What point is there having a smoke alarm if it doesn't work properly?" Over the past month District Chief Ballingall has been busy installing half of the batteries. "It was good I did it as some smoke detectors were without batteries, and one wouldn't func- tion because its battery was dead," he said. He feels the program 1s very worthwhile, too. He cited a few deaths that had occurred in Scugog Township over the past few years, which likely could have been prevented. if the people had had smoke alarms working properly in their homes. If anyone registered with Scugog Community Care wishes to know more about the program, contact 985-8461 for fur- ther information. HEATHER McCRAE/PORT PERRY STAR Over the past month Scugog District Chief Dave Ballingall installs a 9-volt battery in Dorothy Ballingall of Station 1 in Port Perry, has been busy installing new batteries in smoke alarms of seniors donated by Energizer Canada. registered with Scugog Community Care. Here, Mr. Imperial's smoke detector. The batteries were Police report Rash of break-ins reported in Cadmus area Durham Regional Police are investigating a rash of break-ins in a subdivision north of Cadmus. Police report that some- time between Jan. 2 to 11, thieves entered and cleaned out six seasonal homes in the German Park near the hamlet. Police say that on one street, thieves broke into homes by either prying open or breaking basement or low windows. Between Jan. 4 and11, thieves entered three Wiesenweg St. homes and CHRIS HALL/PORT PERRY STAR A FINE WINE RACK: In an effort to help raise funds for Operation Scugog, employees at the Port Perry Liquor Store held a draw for a large wine rack. Participants had an opportunity to buy a ticket for one dollar, and, when the draw was made, $70 had been raised. Here, Operation Scugog representative Anne Wanninkhof, left, was on hand at the local store recently to receive the cheque from store manager Jim Paradine while Port's Donna Nesbitt picked up her new rack. took off with a variety of goods including televisions, stereos, VCRs, satellite receivers, a dirt bike, a chainsaw, fishfinder, a trolling motor, and a boat propeller. An original radio from a 1967 Camaro was also discovered missing. Police also report that one of the homes on Wiesenweg St. was entered when thieves smashed a kitchen window. Three bed- rooms in the residence were ransacked, police say. Thieves also gained entry to a Tannenweg St. home by prying open a win- dow above the front door, say police. A quantity of Nintendo games and equipment were stolen. Police were also called to a Birkenweg St. address when it was discovered that a locked basement window had been broken and a GoldStar television and NCR had been stolen. A Waldweg St. residence was also burglarized some- time in early January, police add. The home, which thieves entered by breaking a rear dining room window, was missing a 27" Sony televi- sion, Sony VCR, Sony AM/FM dual cassette stereo receiver, a quantity of jew- elry and a 40-ounce bottle of Crown Royal. Durham Police suspect that all of the break-ins are connected, and are still investigating the incidents. They report that a small blue car was seen in the area on a few occasions. Youths apprehended - As a result of an investi- gation, Durham Regional Police have charged two Port Perry youths in rela- tion to a December theft at a Highway 7A residence. Police report that two male teens have each been charged with one count of break, enter and theft as well as one count of posses- sion of stolen property. One of the youths has also been charged with one count of mischief after rude comments were scratched into the wall and bench of a holding room at Port's 26 Division. The two were charged after a Dec. 23 break-in at a home where suspects made off with a number of articles, including a quan- tity of jewelry. Some of the belongings had been found in a field behind a Highway 7A/ Line 6 home, and oth- ersarticles are still missing. The Port Perry youths are scheduled to appear in an Oshawa court on Feb. 3. Garbage can tossed Durham Regional Police were called to a Casimir St. home around 11 p.m. on Jan. 10 after a metal garbage can was tossed through the front window of the residence. Damage is estimated at $250. - northern part of the Ice storm makes driving treacherous "Local police. were kept busy late last week after horrendous weather was blamed for numerous Sopidents] in the Police report that oh) to inclement hoops hit the ice and ended up in the weather -- including freezing rain, snow, dite temperature drops and high winds -- there were close to 17 accidents alone in Simcoe St. near Seagrave on Friday hit one," he said yesterday. Accidents, of which almost all were single-vehicle mishaps, occurred when he continued. "I'think there was also a problem with what roads people thought were sanded and what weren't. Sy "There were some people comi from 1§ ut 0 passin RA nts Sok gog and some 5 And roads were sanded and