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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1983-12-21, Page 354 .,,0* • 1.01:Ariawa,141;i4714. (.1,„ au rev^ 6:adi l'aul Handy, Vanastra Public School Coping with Christmas plants, keep them blooming longer There are Christmas plants that have no desire to become houseplants. They bloom, wilt and gladly follow the Christmas tree to the dust bin. Others, with special attention, will become a permanent member of your plant collection. You can persuade a poinsettia or cactus to flower again next year but don't waste breath on a potted mum. The following should help you cope with some holiday personalities. Poinsettia Proud of its status as symbol of the season. To keep top form for, four„o..six weeks, needs bright location, 70 degree days, 60 - 65 degrees nights and water when the soil dries out. With encouragement will produce bright bracts in time for next Christmas. After bracts fall, put plant m basement to dry out. Cut back; repot. Give water, bright light and 65-70 degree. In fall place in dark closet after daylight hours. Propagate new plants by cuttings. Jerusalem Cherry Cheerful but sensitive. Drops its leaves and red fruit if temperature exceeds 70 degrees. Likes sun, plenty of water and medium humidity. Looks spindly after a year. Dry its seeds and start new plants. Christmas Pepper - Hot-tempered annual. Dry its fruits for seasoning and replanting. Christmas Cactus Friendly member of the family. Has car- mine, white or pink flowers and no prickles. After its blooms fall likes sunshine, humidi- ty and once -a -week watering. Place it in a cool, bright basement for the summer and it will bloom again in December. Propagate with pieces of the fleshy branches. Christmas Begonia Extravagant and fragile. Produces masses of blooms that need full sun, moist soil and 50 degrees at night to last. Cuttings taken m March will produce Christmas flowering specimens. Mum Plant A familiar face you should toss as soon as its flowers wilt. With moist soil, sun and cool temperatures it will last what seems like months. Instructions for the care of all your plants, difficult or otherwise, can be found in 50 home study courses from the University of Guelph. The illustrated texts are often sup- ported by audio tapes and color filmstrips and you can study out of interest, for a cer- tificate or a diploma. Plant Propagation ($72) also comes in a mini course ($20). Indoor Landscaping ($94 ) teaches you how to use plants to spruce up your home and office. If you look forward to spring seed catalogues, Plant Care in the Home Garden ($110) is for you. For a eaten-, dar, call Lynne: 824-4120, Ext. 3400. Or write: Independent Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1. No Mantel, don't fret hang stockings anywhere "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..." It's a great Christmas tradition, but what about the many Christmas lovers with no fireplace? All the better! A Christmas stocking can be as much fun to place and as creatively challenging, as an Easter basket! Hang all the family's stockings on the bedroom doors for an instant Christmas morning surprise. Or hide them, Easter basket fashion, for some extra excitment: Hang them in the hallway or on the wall for a bright decorative spark. Or for extra personalization, hang your Christmas stockings from each family member's favorite haunt, from dad's favorite chair, mom's special corner or desk, sis' bedpost or stereo, little brother's toy chest or game table and Fido's basket! r lonely A soft blanket of snow covers the trees outside your house. Pine -scented candles cast a fragrant glow. Ice cubes tinkle in glasses of holiday drinks. A bountiful spread of snacks and cookies beckon. It's a scene from your fondest holiday dreams, but you're out of sync. Maybe you've lost a spouse through divorce, or a parent has recently died. Perhaps your drinking or overeating is causing family or work problems? Or you're unemployed and trying to feed and clothe a family. Unhappiness, stress and compulsive behavior are present in every season, say expe s. But they may seem especially pain- ful ►. .g holiday periods when happiness is osed to be the norm. sup But a variety of non-profit groups are around to help out. For example, most communities have groups such as Meals on WheeLs who pro- vide a noon day dinner to any senior citizen in need of the service and to those just out of hospital. They must, however, be referred by a doctor. There is a subsidy available to those in need. The meals cost $1.75 each and thetion can be reached at 482-9500 Baptist Church which is also in Clinton. For those who tend to overeat, Barb Guse, Clinton Public Hospital Dietician, is available for special menu planning and general counselling. Listening to personnss,,,with varied mental and emotional problein� is the job of the employees with the Addiction Research Foundation in London. Their phone number is 433-3171 and they are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Regional Director for the agency is Dr. Robert Brook. They specialize in social and health issues related to addiction problems (primarily alcohol and drugs) . The primary service provided is consultations in the areas of prevention, education and treatment. Assessment and referral service is available for all types of client contacts. Special projects are undertaken which add to public knowledge of the serious con- sequences of excessive consumption. Industrial and agency consultants are available to assist in the community relative to addiction problems. The ultimate in telephone help is the Reassurance Program. Initiated three years ago by Rosemary Armstrong of the organization Huron Day Centre, the program is designed or 482-7356. to prevent such things as seniors dying But what about the battle to overcome alone. It is run by volunteers who call people depression and problems with coping? Help who are alone and elderly or sick to check abounds — ranging from crisis -intervention how they're doing. If there is no answer, the groups to Alcoholics Anonymous. volunteer calls a friend, family member or In this area Alcoholics Anonymous can be someone who holds a key to the clients home reached at 524-6001. In Clinton the meetings to find out why the phone isn't answered. If are held at St. Joseph's Separate School every Monday at 9 p.m. On Saturdays at 10 a.m., open meetings are held in the First Buying: how to avoid panic The stores are decorated. The radio plays carols. Christmas is just around the corner. And, suddenly, you experience the annual "Christmas -list panic." It's a jungle out there. To help you sur- vive, here are a few shoppings tips: • Make a carefully thought-out list before you begin to shop. • Keep the gift recipient's age and tastes in mind. Will Uncle Harry care that magen- ta ties are all the rage this year? • Determine the store's policy on refunds and exchanges before you buy. • Get it right the first time. Write down sizes and color preferences! Retailers say that items most often returned are those that don't fit ( that child has grown again) or the color was wrong ( it's nice, dear, but the color just isn't me). • Be a comparison shopper. It's amazing the results a bit of shopping around can br- ing. Read the ads. You may find a store in which you normally don't shop has exactly what you're looking for. • Get a receipt or other proof of pufehase and keepit in a safe place, separate from the gift itself. Keep in mind that some refunds and exchanges are limited (often 10 days from date of purchase). Certain items, such as bathing suits, underwear and records, may not be returnable under any circumstances. Check first. • There is no law requiring stores to re- fund money or exchange merchandise. If your purchase is defective, you may have to deal directly with the manufacturer. For this reason, it is also a good idea to look for a manufacturer's guarantee with the item. • Some merchants open for business only to catch the Christmas season. They are gone Christmas Eve. Consumers should be cautious in dwelling with the seasonal operator. Defective merchandise cannot be returned and manufacturers may be dif- ficult to locate. The store's exchange and refund policy should be posted in a prominent place. Keep an eye out for it while you shop. If you don't see it anywhere, ask a salesperson. If you have good reason for returning a purchase and have compiled with the store's policy there should be no difficulty returning or ex- changing merchandise. Take your time and pace yourself. Don't impulse buy and by all means try to avoid the trendy, trivial or useless. Remember pet rocks? Well this year they are called punk rocks. Arm yourself with sound consumer knowledge as well as a comfortable pair of shoes. You'll be in for less grief when January rolls around. I'd like to thank my music students who treasure the joy of music as I do. Hoping all the bright days of your Christmas will glow with delight. Thanks. CLINTON TAXI CLOSED NEW YEAR'S EVE Doug and Juno Howse 482-9334 Ir Busy: 482-9844 Now accepting registration for tho Nolo Year 482-3597 "Loaner guitars available Phone Paul Stevenson Cllntor - 482-3597 or drop into Evertor Masonic Lodge Saturdays 4 a.m.-3 p.m. �► Greetings and hest. aL � of Grey -Bruce for a Very Merry Christina and a happy and healthy Wishes to the constituents l' New Year. 1 b. Murray Elston, MPP And Family CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983—PAG),1A one e 11 away the volunteer doesn't call, the client phones him. ..The call can be as little as a good morn- ing — all you need is a voice on the other line. But, if you enjoy chatting on the phone, it can be a good break for you. It's quite a commitment though, since you have to call every single day," says Mrs. Armstrong. To some seniors, the call is enough to clear their minds of the fear of dying alone. One client, who is over 80, thinks the pro- gram is wonderful because she has no fami- ly living nearby and the call relieves her of the worry of slipping in the bathtub or fall- ing and having no one find her. One of the aims of the program is to allow seniors who are alone to keep their in- dependence; they can continue looking after themselves but know someone can help in an emergency. Volunteers are screened and the clients meet them face-to-face when the calls Best wishes and our sincere gratitude for a cheer -filled holiday season. begin. The clients sign a form saying they will accept a daily call and allow the police or key -holder to enter the house if the call is not received. But, finding both volunteers and clients will be a problem until Mrs. Armstrong gets some more help. "I'm calling clients myself and if I could find a volunteer to co-ordinate the program I'd train her/hirn. There's a commercial on channel 12 cable and I've spoken to church groups. Maybe the best idea would be to let each town nm their own program and use the centre as a headquarters for any pro- blems, she says. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who would appreciate a call but we just haven't found them yet." Anyone who is interested in becoming a client or a volunteer can call Mrs. Arm- strong at 482-7943 or 482-9478; it could mean a very special Christmas gift for an elderly person. May the wonder, magic and merriment of the season be yours! Our very best wishes to all! '1. TthI'tbTCLEANERS � Ray and Mary Garon Lois Morrison FULL SERVICE DRY CLEANING•LAUNDRY FUR STORAGE•SUEDE AND LEATHER CLEANING 158 BEECH ST., CLINTON 482-7064 }.C. ;v. S }i::Si:i:'U.Y•:'1.. .i.fv:•: irJ..i:'. n�:•i •v}Jk:•. v:;f �. AND MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN We at 3 -Phase Electric would like to take this opportunity to 'wish everyone a very 1ierro Christmas, and sperail thanks to our customers in Clinton and area for your trust in us the past dear. Vf'e look forward to serving you - better than eo er - next year. �PHASE ELECTRIC Barry Buchanan UALIFPED LICENSED CONSTRUCTION - Quality - Economy - Service PHONE 482-7374 OR CALL 1-800-265-9255 (TOLL FREE) ASK FOR PAGER NO. 3078