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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-01-05, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2000. LondesboroThe news from Ensuring carbon monoxide safety Compiled by Brenda Radford Phone 523-4296 Rev. encourages children undertake kind act daily The message for Epiphany Sunday at Londesboro United Church was titled Now That We Are Here, a reference to having crossed the threshold into a new year, a new century and a new millennium. Although unnoticed by others at the time, the visit by the wise men to Jesus was a millennia milestone also. The message continued, noting that now that all the hype about Y2K has passed, the world will return to normal and the passage will seem to have been a non-event. This is the time for a change in attitude towards the poor, the native, the refugee and to injustice and intolerance. Supporting scriptures were Isaiah 60: 1-6 and Matthew 2: 1-12. During the children’s time a brand new year 2000 calendar was drawn from the story bag, a calendar with 366 days of possibility. The children were encouraged to do one kind thing on each day of the new year. The greeters were Elgin and Joy Penfound. The ushers were Nick and Joan Whyte. The sacrament of holy communion will be held on Jan. 9. Reports for the annual meeting should be to Paul Ross or Harry Lear by Jan. 21. The flowers on the memorial stand were in memory of Helen (Snell) Heuton late of Windsor who passed away just before Christmas. Helen was the sister of Jack and Doug Snell, Elva Peck and Betty Fisher. To those families, the community extends sympathy. Community gathers for Duizer bridal shower Although the weather last Wednesday night was frightful, inside Londesboro United Church was quite delightful. Those who gathered for the bridal shower for Lisa Duizer spent a most enjoyable evening sharing a little dessert, puzzling over a couple of games and renewing acquaintance with Lisa. It’s 14 years since Lisa left Londesboro after completion of high school to continue her education. The community presented her with an embroidered afghan and a memory album of pictures of Londesboro and its residents. Lisa and her fiance Shane Walker, arrived in Londesboro a week before Christmas from Albany, New Zealand. Albany, a suburb of Auckland, is home to the agricultural college, Massey University, where Lisa has been lecturing on food science for four years. Shane, who comes from Dunedin, New Zealand, is also a food scientist specializing in horticultural research. Lisa and Shane are to be married Jan. 8 in Benmiller and will honeymoon for a week in Paris, France before returning to New Zealand. They plan to reside in Canada once Lisa finishes her Ph.D. The Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (CMSA) is on a mission to make homes safe from the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. “We think people are underestimating how easily carbon monoxide threatens the safety of their families,” said Michael Philip, chair of the CMSA, an Ontario­ based organization made up of representatives from the fire services, fuels industry, government, regulatory authorities, standards and certification agencies, public utilities and appliance manufacturers. “It’s as basic as this - if you burn gas, wood, or fuel oil in your home, you need to take preventive steps to protect your family from carbon monoxide.” Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odourless, colourless gas that kills several people in Ontario each year and leaves many others brain damaged. While there are a number of potential sources of carbon monoxide in our homes such as fuel burning stoves and dryers, and vehicles left running in garages, during the cold months, heating equipment becomes the most common culprit. And that’s what has the CMSA worried. Heating equipment can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide two ways: 1. when the fuel doesn’t get enough air to burn properly (possible causes: blocked air intakes, blocked furnace room grills) 2. when exhaust fumes are prevented from escaping up the chimney (possible causes: blocked vents or chimneys, or damaged parts inside a furnace) How do we protect ourselves from carbon monoxide poisoning? The number one line of defence is proper maintenance of home heating equipment, most importantly, annual inspections by certified heating technicians who look for problems inside furnaces, vents and chimneys that we can’t find ourselves. Also make sure outside vents and gas connections are clear of snow and debris, that all vent screens and hoods are in good repair, and the grill to the furnace room isn’t blocked. (When renovating, make sure the furnace room has sufficient openings to provide adequate combustion air.) As well pay attention to how heating equipment is working: is the furnace going on and off too often; is debris falling from inside the wood burning fireplace chimney; are the furnace vents cracked, rusty, loose or stained? These are all signs of problems that should be investigated by a certified heating technician. (TSSA-registered heating contractors and chimney inspectors can be found in the Yellow Pages.) Unfortunately, statistics show that most people are not taking care of their home heating equipment properly. The Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA), a member of the association, recently presented the CMSA with an alarming statistic. Eighty-two per cent of the 211 carbon monoxide incidents reported to them in the past five years in Ontario were the result of poor maintenance or no maintenance of fuel burning equipment such as furnaces and fireplaces. “This is the classic tip of the iceberg,” said Philip. “TSSA only hears about a small percentage of the total incidents but that statistic clearly indicates most people are not taking steps to prevent carbon monoxide from being generated and released inside their homes. And that’s frightening.” The CMSA is also concerned that many people rely solely on CO alarms to protect them. “While we certainly want people to install carbon monoxide alarms, they’re only a second line of defence - like a smoke alarm,” said Philip. “People shouldn’t treat the threat of carbon monoxide any different than the threat of fire in the home, and most people do their best to prevent fires even if they have a smoke alarm. Smoke can kill. Never enter a smoky corridor or stairway. Always protect yourself from smoke. FAST • To FIRE! * MFX' NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF HULLETT Please be reminded that vehicles are not to be parked on the roadsides during the winter months. Under the provisions of Township By-law 1973-21 snow is not to be pushed or blown onto the traveled portion of Township roads. Jim Johnston Road Superintendent Township of Hullett Also in Londesboro in advance of the wedding are Shane’s mother and stepfather, Robynne and Kevin King and the best man, Vernon McCarthy, all from Dunedin. Auburn tops Sting 4-2 PRINTING Snowmobilers raise funds Twenty-four persons from our area have decided to use their passion for snowmobiling for fundraising. The Londesboro Snowmobile Gang are going for a 150km. run on Jan. 8, weather permitting or Jan. 15. They are looking for pledges to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Dusty Hill and Scott Pettigrew from CKNX radio will be sledding with them. For information as to how to support this worthwhile cause. contact Hank and Shirley Reinink or Ed and Connie DeJong. We all know how easily simple can turn into complicated. These days Tim Elliott and Jennifer Szusz can tell you just how simple it is to have a wisdom tooth pulled. With the start of a new year we all have a fresh page of life. Write on that clean slate this year with kindness to yourself and others, and with optimism. Brussels Novices win 2-1 The Brussels Novices doubled up their Monkton opponent in a Dec. 21 exhibition game at home. Though Monkton was first on the board at 8:14 of the second, Brus­ sels recovered in the third, popping in two for the win. Ryan Jutzi took the pass from Wade Stephenson at 14:23 to even the tally. Cody Subject got the game-win­ ner at 11:42. Taylor Prior earned an assist. Auburn doubled up on the Sting in Week 9 of Blyth Industrial Hockey League play. With three goals from Ryan Chamney and a single from Jeff Elliott, they slid by their opponent 4- 2. Scoring for the Sting were Dean Whitfield and Scott Stevenson. The Stars and Bulldogs battled to the same score with the Stars com­ ing out on top. Hitting the net for the Stars were Steve Bromley (two), Tyler Stewart and Jeff Cowan. Mike Bromley and Shawn Brom­ ley scored for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs will go up against the Chiefs and the Sting versus the Stars next week. The top scorers in the league are: Mike Haggitt, Stars, 13 goals and 1 1 assists for 24 points; Steve Siertsema, Sting, 11-8-19; Steve Plunkett, Auburn, 10-8-18; Jim Oster, Sting, 9-7-16, Chad Haggitt, Stars, 6-10-16; Jack Watson, Sting, 5- 8-13; Todd MacDonald, Sting, 4- 8-12; Jeff Ferguson, Stars, 4-6-10: Brent Brooks, Sting, 8-1-9; Mike Millian, Auburn, 2-7-9 and Jeff Nesbitt, Auburn, 4-5-9. ■J8SF Got a beef? Write a letter to the editor. 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