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Holiday Caution Urged PAGE 15 - PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 17. lttt Every year at holiday time, accidents claim lives, injure people and destroy property. Press accounts tell of a family killed in an early morning fire when a Christmas tree caught on fire. The subsequent in­ vestigation often reveals that the holiday lights were left burning when the family went to bed, or that sparks from an unscreened fireplace triggered the fire. "Once a year use of holiday products contributes to the tendency of consumers to overlook hazards that they would not ignore at other times of the year" says Victor P. Petralia, Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Decorative lights used on the tree year after year can develop electrical problems. Overloaded electrical cir­ cuits often occur because of decorative lights, electric train sets, and so on. In addition to problems with decorations, toys can also present problems over the holidays. The painful, sometimes serious injuries that children can suffer with these products may last much longer than the toy itself. "Toys are a child's con­ stant companion, his best friend. Toys should never hurt," says Petralia. To avoid holiday problems, CPSC offers these suggestions: 1. Check all decorative lights for exposed wires and cracked sockets. Dispose of any with these problems. 2. Put your Christmas tree up well away from traffic patterns and heat sources such as heat vents and fireplaces. / 3. Use no more than three sets of lights for each ex­ tension cord. 4. Make certain all tree and display lights have been turned off and the plugs disconnected before retiring for the night or leaving the house. 5. Avoid toys with edges, sharp points or sma parts, especially for very young children. 6. Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous to very young children, since the cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck causing strangulation. Never hang these toys in cribs or playpens where children can become en­ tangled. 7. Supervise your children when they play with toys. An older child's toys can be very hazardous to a young child. 8. Check all toys periodically for loose nuts and bolts, and check wooden toys for splinters. Urge Winter Storm Caution M c H e n r y C o u n t y Emergency Services & Disaster agency (MCESDA) is taking this opportunity to remind people to take extra precaution with the ap­ proaching winter season. For the past several years, the winters in McHenry county have posed more than average problems. Winter storms can occur in many forms such as cold water, ice or glaze storms, heavy snow storms or blizzards. Frequently, the same storm changes precipitation form several times during its lifetime. All winter storms have common features despite the different forms of precipitation or weather they produce. They have the capability to completely immobilize large areas. Each in its own way is a potential killer of hundreds of people wherever and whenever the storm hits. Fortunately, winter storms are events which can be forecast, and in turn, well informed and knowledgeable citizens can take protective and safety measures to assure their personal safety. MCESDA initiates 24-hour operations when weather conditions warrant and activates their Emergency Operating center. This office has National Weather Service (NWS). When a snow storm closes down roads, their office, through its direct radio contacts with fire, rescue, police, county highway department, and township radios, coordinates emergency movements in McHenry county. It is not uncommon to receive a number of calls for assistance during a storm. If you have a snowmobile or a 4 wheel drive vehicle you would be eligible to apply for membership in the Emergency Assistance Division of MCESDA. These volunteers are essential to our overall emergency management program as these types of vehicles can often have access to areas when no others can, ac­ cording to John J. Shay, director of MCESDA. Wayne Aten of Union is serving as chief of this division and is going to hold an organizational meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 21. He urges anyone interested to contact the MCESDA office to pre- register or obtain additional information at 338-6400. Students Go To Divorce Court Forty-five students from the MCHS Adult Living class spent a day at Divorce court in Chicago recently. The purpose of the trip was to view the dissolution of marriage and witness the traumas, resentments, and harsh realities of what once was a close relationship between two people. The students were divided into small groups and each visited two to three cour­ trooms. Some students had the opportunity to talk with the divorce court judges about the problems which they encounter daily. Before leaving, they met with Dr. Small, Assistant director of the Conciliation service, who explained the role of the courts in dealing with the 30,000 divorces annually in Cook county. He explained the dif­ ference between legal and emotional divorce, the importance of each person getting to know himself, and how one psychologically chooses a marriage partner. Dr. Small also shared his views on love, "something so intangible that it cannot be explained and only gets in the way of the beginning of a sound realtionship between two people." He said people must also love themselves before they can love another. This is the elventh year that Mrs. Ames, Adult Living teacher, has taken students to the Cook county Divorce court. No HUD Selling List Due to holiday schedules, the Chicago area office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will not issue a selling list for single-family properties during December. The next selling list will be released Friday, Jan. 2. The new list will include additional, convenient features for homeseekers. These will include a "zip- coded" roster of HUD participating real estate brokers to assist bidders, n e w f u l l y - r e p a i r e d properties, plus multi-unit and bulk sale properties available to both owner- occupants and investors. After Jan. 2, new HUD selling lists will be released every three weeks. ILLINOIS MINES Illinois mines produced 5,194,647 tons of coal during October, according to Brad Evilsizer, director of the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals. COMMONS VISION CENTER LTD. SptctMulap Offer Buy NOW & Save!! For A Limited Time Onh£ •includes -Initial Ey© Exam m «**r cwmt. Of coupon* apply Oft* coupon food .for entire family. #n o t f. , i - »€ol<iCn»m.» NOTE: To all union members and their families. Receive a 20% discount on all prescription eye­ wear. Union cards must be presented at beginning of initial visit* •Frame* I Lwwi mud bo purchoaed together. *No other coupon* or discounts opfdy Most Prescriptions in Stock SPECIAL $20°° SAVINGS Save $20 on any complete pair of glasses you choose, regular prescription or prescription sunglasses. Choose from our ENTIRE selection of frames. Just bring this coupon with you when you come in to buy your glasses. Offer expires Dec. 31, 1980, so hurry and come in soon. Don't miss out. When purchased together, one coupon good for entire family. Coupon must be presented at beginning of initial visit. No other coupon* or ditcount* oppiy^j 'J-WJJX'Jr'* IHILiaifH McHENRY 4305 W. ELM ST. (RTE. 120) (Across the street from Horhsby's) (•15)344-3900 Layoway Pirns AweileMe-Ckerfe Itl- LOWD Lake loach I West BMNIH 829 E.Rollins | 120 Main Across from Post Office (312)42S-79M (*«) Coupons must not be used on purchases before 12/1/90 / S.A.VE. SqIG (Spiess Added Value Event!) Overture sweaters save $17 28.88 Reg. 46.00 sweaters in chin- cuddling angora blends. Warmth with­ out weight with a soft new look, the stovepiper from Overture. Holiday pastels of ivory, pink, blue, yellow and lilac, S,M,L. Isn't it nice to find something irresistible that you don't have to resist? In Better Sportswear, Elgin on 3, Crystal Lake & St. Charles •0$2 m m I pretty up your kittens without messing up your checkbook with our cute little outfits at cute little prices. A. Who says girls' clothes have to look like kid's stuff? Not with our brushed cowl sweaters in soft pink, blue and cream easy-care acrylic. S,M,L. Reg. 12.00 7.88 Pair 'em Up with navy denim jeans, a holiday favorite. Classic styles, all machine wash/dry. 7-14, reg./slim., Reg. 12.00 to 14.00 7.88 B. Grown up dressing with oxford shirts. Preppy solid pastels and stripes, and of course, a button-down collar. 4-6X. Reg. 10.00 6.88 Denim jeans, just like big sister's! Navy, in several styles. Machine wash/dry. 4-6X. Reg. 11.00 6.88 C. "Simply adorable!" is what youH hear when baby wears these terry sleep 'n plays. Ultimate comfort for baby, easy care for mom. Favorite styles in pastels. S,M,L. Reg. 8.50 5.99 Children's Department, Elgin on 2, Crystal Lake & St. Charles We welcome your Spiess Charge, Visa and MasterCard. Free Parking: St. Charles Mall, Crystal Point Mall, Elgin Plaza Upper Deck. I »