HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-12-19, Page 36PAGE 36. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013.Blessings of the Seasonto all and thank you for your business
this year.
Gerald Exel
Carpentry
Brussels
519-887-9616
439 Turnberry St., Brussels ~ 519-887-9682
www.solacespa.ca
With thanks for your business
Wishing you and your family
a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Be sure to stop by for
last-minute gift certificates
We’d like to join you and your family, in singing His praises,
as we share the spirit of this holy season.
BORRMANN'S GARAGE
86924 Brussels Line
RR #1 Bluevale 519-335-3857
’Tis the season to spread the message of our holy Saviour,
and to give thanks for good friends and neighbours like you.
Merry Christmas to all!
Brussels
519-887-9595 • Cell# 519-357-0241
Broker: Steve Nixon
Wingham
519-357-2222
website:
www.stevennixon.com
Merry Christmas
From Our Family To Yours
Aerial truck fills gap in serviceContinued from page 1impossible to do a tender or requestproposals because they would belooking for a used vehicle.
“Every vehicle is different, we
won’t know what is going to come
up,” he said.
Sparling did say, however, that the
department had created a list of
minimum specifications.
“What it comes down to is we
need an engine that can pump water
primarily,” he said, explaining that
Engine 2 in Wingham is three years
past its 20-year service life as a
frontline truck. “We need to replace
that.”
He also said that the truck needs
not only the height to fight fires in
tall buildings, but to also reach new
heights. Sparling said this was
important, especially with some of
the larger farming operations in the
area. That is why the department was
looking for a truck with a 105-foot
ladder.
Sparling also said the truck needed
to be reliable. He said they were
looking for a truck they could get 30
years out of, which is reasonable for
the amount of usage it would get in a
rural fire department like the FDNH.
Earlier this year, that list was
delivered to a company in Ayr, Darch
Fire. The company is the primary
Pierce dealer for Ontario, the make
of truck the department was looking
for, thanks to good experiences notonly with other Pierce trucks butwith Darch Fire as a dealership andservice centre.
All of their requests, including a
warranty for the serviceable life of
the truck, were met when Darch Fire
found a Pierce dealer in Florida with
a 2002 Pierce Quantum.
The unit, which was used by a
volunteer fire department at Cape
Canaveral until federal funding
allowed them to buy a new unit, has
very few kilometres on it and met or
exceeded all the necessary
specifications set out by the FDNH
“It’s a very good deal and has
everything we want,” Sparling said.
“Within the funding we set out we
can bring it to Ayr and then can bring
it to standards and expectations of
today’s firefighting. We can do
everything to the truck so when it
arrives it would be like brand new
and have 29,000, or maybe 30,000,
kilometres on it. Everything will be
replaced, inspected or refurbished as
needed.”
All of this will be done for
$389,000, plus applicable taxes
Sparling said.
To buy a new version of the truck,
Sparling said, would cost the FDNH
over $1 million.
“We’re getting a really good value
for our dollar,” he said.
The other benefit to the purchase is
that Darch Fire, with which theFDNH has dealt many times, isallowing the department to pay forthe full value of the truck upon
delivery and not requiring a down
payment, meaning that the entire
cost can be put against the 2014
budget instead of borrowing ahead.
Sparling said that having a reliable
truck is a “big win” not only for the
fire department but for the ratepayers
and people the department protects
through protection agreements.
Beyond that, he said, it is a really
big win because the truck can be
deployed and operational within two
minutes of arriving on scene, thanks
to advanced equipment in not only
the ladder but also in the driving
mechanics of the truck itself. He said
those facts were what really “nailed”
the deal for him.
The reason Sparling brought the
issue to council before the new year
was that other fire departments had
expressed interest in the truck and he
had seen other such offers, and offers
of lesser value, snapped up very
quickly.
Council authorized the purchase of
the truck for up to a limit of
$389,000 plus applicable taxes to be
paid for in the 2014 capital budget.
Sparling said that once the truck
arrives, it will take 18 weeks for it to
be retrofitted. He said it will likely
be in service in May.
When picking a tree, fresh is
best, look for colour, fragrance
Continued from page 30
than one imported from outside the
province, says Orazietti. “All in all,
consumers can feel good about
buying a Christmas tree grown close
to home.”
Everyone has a favourite. Whether
it be a fir, pine or spruce, Ontario
Christmas tree farmers offer up a
range of evergreens. Choosing one
really comes down to personal
preference, physical requirements,
budget and availability.
Before you and your family
venture out in search of that
“perfect” tree, arm yourself with
some important information and
tools:
• Consider where in your home
you’ll display your tree. Grab a tape
measure and record the height and
width available for a tree and size of
your door frames. Bring the tape
measure with you to ensure an
accurately-sized tree is chosen.
• Dress for the weather (layered
clothes are best) and bring snacks
and fluids as the hunt could take
longer than expected.
• If heading to a tree farm, confirm
any hay rides or other fun activities
offered at the farm to add to the
overall experience for your family.
The trees closest to the parking lot
tend to get picked over first. You may
have better luck further into the field.
• Check for freshness. Pick a tree
with strong green colour and a
noticeable fragrance. The needles
should be resilient. To check this,
slip a branch through your fingers –
the needles should adhere to the
branch. If bent gently, an unfrozen
needle from a fresh tree should form
a “u” shape without breaking.
• When it’s time to make the first
cut, ensure you’re on a level line.
Allow for enough trunk length to be
secured in your tree stand, and
always saw away from your body to
avoid injury.
Ontario Wood encourages
Ontarians to purchase made-in-
Ontario wood products, including
locally-grown Christmas trees.
Among other Ontario forestry
products organizations, the CTFO,
the Ontario Forestry Association and
Trees Ontario have teamed up with
the ministry to help support this
program.
To ensure you’re purchasing an
Ontario grown Christmas tree, look
for the Ontario Wood tag or simply
ask the retail vendor where their
trees were sourced. To find a
Christmas tree farm closest to you,
go to christmastrees.on.ca. To learn
more about Ontario Wood and its
many benefits, visit
Ontario.ca/wood.
To help care for your tree at home:
• Store the tree in a sheltered but
unheated area such as a porch or
garage. When you’re ready to bring
the tree indoors, make a straight cut
across the trunk about two
centimetres from its end,
enabling the tree to better absorb
water.
• Once inside, place a tree-moving
bag at the base of your tree to allow
for easy disposal in January and
secure the tree in its stand. Fill the
stand with about four litres of water
and ensure the tree is hydrated at all
times. There’s no evidence that
adding floral preservatives, aspirin
or honey to tree water will
extend their life. Plain tap water
should do.
• Place your tree away from any
heat sources, including fireplaces,
television sets and radiators, to
prevent it from drying prematurely.
• Before decorating, ensure that all
electric lights and connections are in
good condition. Never use
combustible decorations or lighted
candles on a tree and always unplug
lights before retiring to bed or
leaving the house.
519-887-9061 R.R. #1 Bluevale
In the spirit of community,
we’ve gathered together to wish
our friends, neighbours, customers
and associates
a very merry season and a
prosperous new year.
We’re deeply grateful for your
loyal support and look forward to
serving you in the new year.
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
John