sun journal special sections let it snow

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8 Lewiston, Maine, Friday, November 8, 2002LET IT SNOW!

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‘Cocooning’ increases the importance of

chimney inspections(ARA) - As Americans find peace of mind at home “co-

cooning” with family this fall and winter, many will be enjoying the comfort of a warm fire. However, homeown-ers planning to make good use of their fireplaces this season should consider some simple maintenance proce-dures, including a chimney inspection.”

A chimney inspection is like an annual dental check-up,” states Ashley Eldridge, director of education at the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). “It’s preventative maintenance that helps minimize potential hazards. Sometimes, maintenance requires extra dili-gence. That’s the case this year.”

To reduce the risk of chimney fires, the CSIA cautions people that might be increasing their fireplace use in the fall and winter to put a chimney inspection at the top of their home improvement list. This caution is primarily directed at people who might increase their wood-burn-ing fireplace usage from an occasional fire to a weekly activity.

According to Eldridge, people who use fireplaces in-frequently tend to be less informed about the important role that the chimney plays in exhausting the hot gases and smoke from a fire. When a chimney has creosote build-up, or is obstructed by a bird’s nest or debris, it has the potential to catch fire and cause damage.This impact is demonstrated by recent statistics from the U.S. Con-sumer Product Safety Commission.

According to the CPSC there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States in 1998 originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in

property damage.In addition to an annual inspection, the CSIA recommends these tips for reducing the threat of a chimney fire:

W Add a chimney cap to the top of your chimney. A cap can keep out damaging moisture, which wears away ma-sonry and other metal components within a chimney.

W Ensure that your chimney has an appropriate liner. Chimney liners are required in new construction to sep-arate system emissions from the structure of your home.

W Have chimney flashing (the seal between the chim-ney and the roof) inspected and maintained. Flashing prevents rain water and snow melt from entering a house and causing costly damage to walls and ceilings.The Na-tional Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also recom-mends that all chimneys be inspected on an annual basis to prevent chimney fires. The CSIA adds that the best choice for a professional is a sweep certified by the Chim-ney Safety Institute of America.

Each fall, CSIA-certified chimney sweeps work togeth-er to raise awareness of chimney safety during National Chimney Safety Week, which begins this year on Sept. 29 and runs through Oct. 5.For more information about preventing chimney hazards or for a free copy of the brochure “Chimney Inspections Explained for the Hom-

eowner” call (800) 536-0118 or visit the CSIA Web site at www.csia.org. The CSIA also pro-vides a list of CSIA certified chimney sweeps online and by mail. Courtesy of ARA Content

Ken Cote of The Village Sweep

Denise Scammon photo

Ken Cote inspects a

fireplace in a newly purchased

home


By DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

Winter driving can be a challenge on Maine roads even for the most expe-rienced drivers. Is your car ready for driving conditions that call for maxi-mum traction?

Your vehicle’s traction on the road is only as good as its tires. The tires are the car’s only points of contact with the road, making adhesion — the grip your tires have on the pavement — a crucial factor in choosing your winter tires.

“For winter driving, make sure to choose tires with a tread designed to expel snow as they turn,” advised Pete Vachon, service manager at Stratham Tire in Auburn.

“Tread design is everything,” said Vachon who went on to explain, “Sipes are slit-like grooves in the tread designed to not only add more of a bit-ing edge for driving on ice and snow but also for not letting snow accumulate in the tread. In all-season tires, the sipes are narrower and closer together than in winter treads.”

Don’t wait until the last min-ute to get your winter tires inspected, installed and balanced. Those first snow storms of the season can be dan-gerous if you’re still driving with your summer tires. The rubber on summer tires becomes as hard as plastic in cold weather, meaning your summer tires

will offer little or no adhesion on slip-pery surfaces.

Also, as your tires wear, traction is reduced. Tread depth should be at least 4.8 mm (3/16”) to drive through snow. All season tires reach that depth in one or two winters, he noted. Winter tires usually last three or four win-ters because they begin with deeper treads and are only used during winter months.

You might be able to get by with all-season radial tires that are in good condition and have sufficient tread to grip the road in snow, slush, rain and mud. Most all-season tires are marked M/S or M+S and thus qualify as “snow” tires, but will these tires be adequate enough for your winter driving?

Consider using snow tires or metal-studded snow tires if you live in an area where roads are regularly snow-cov-ered, particularly Maine’s rural roads. Snow tires and studded snow tires can improve traction, reduce tire slippage and make for safer driving, giving you some peace of mind. Keep in mind that from the first day of May to the first day of October, a person may not operate a vehicle with tires having metal studs, wires, spikes or other metal protruding from the tire tread.

“Presently in Maine the law states that studded tires may only be used from Oct. 2 through April 30. Regular

snow tires can be used year-round,” noted Vachon.

Mixing different types of tires on your car can affect steering and control whether it’s front-wheel or rear-wheel drive. If studded tires are applied to the front axle, they also must be applied to the rear axle to minimize vehicle con-trol problems, according to tire manu-facturers.

“It is highly recommended to put studded

tires on both the front and rear wheels. There’s a good reason for this,” Vachon noted. “If you have studded tires only on the front wheels, in slippery condi-tions the studded tires would have a better grip on the road, but the rear wheels would slide out of control. Hav-ing studded tires on all four wheels will give better traction when braking.”

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2 Lewiston, Maine, Friday, November 8, 2002LET IT SNOW! Lewiston, Maine, Friday, November 8, 2002 LET IT SNOW! 7

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Cover designed by LINDSEY DURNBAUGHSun Journal Graphic Artist

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Birds may rely on you for food this winter,

say Audubon experts(NAPSI)-Savvy gardeners and birdwatchers have

discovered they can attract beautiful birds to their yard by selecting plants that provide food and shel-ter. All spring and summer, when gardens are in full bloom, birds typically have an ample supply of food. But as plants complete their flowering and fruiting cycles, it gets more difficult for birds to find food.

So this fall, the National Audubon Society reminds gardeners to think about our winged friends by plant-ing varieties that produce fruits, berries, nectar, seeds and nuts during the fall and winter seasons.

The National Audubon Society and Monrovia, a leading grower of plants, are making it easy for

people to create a backyard environment that is friendly to a variety of birds and butterflies with the Audubon Habitat Collection of plants. Just look for plants in Monrovia’s green-banded containers with a special Audubon label in select fine garden centers nationwide.

Here are some fall planting tips for a winter bird garden:

Fall is a great time to add bird-friendly plants. The heat of the summer is past, and plants have time to root before frost comes.

Select plants that provide nuts, seeds or berries in the coldest winter months, such as holly, junipers, oaks and other nut trees.

Other plants that provide late fall and winter food include: crowberry, staghorn sumac, pitch pine, ink-berry, smooth winterberry, Toringo crabapple, saw palmetto, Virginia creeper, Walter’s viburnum and myrtle dahoon.

Water is essential for birds, so provide a birdbath or dripping water source. If freezing is a problem, don’t put additives in the water to lower the freezing

point. Instead, consider a water heater designed for outdoor birdbaths. In the coldest climates, you may want to provide supplement food, such as seeds or a suet ball.

Faye Paquet at Provencher’s Landscaping & Nursery in Lewiston with a display of bird seed and feeder

products to help you get ready for feathered friends.

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Snow tires, studded snow tires, and all-season tires. Which is right for your car?Snow tires, studded tires and all-season radials. Which one is right for you?

Winter driving in Maine



Text and photos by DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

Do you remember the Ice Storm of 1998? Freezing rain fell for what

seemed an eternity... laying a sheet of ice on the roads and everything else. Eventually shrubs, tree branches and then whole trees were snap-ping under the weight of the ice, crashing down on homes and blocking roads. Pow-er lines and

poles came down with the trees, while transformer fires lit up the sky, a sure sign of a power outage.

I interpret the words ‘power outage’ to mean ‘loss of nor-malcy.’ Granted, the ice storm did not have the same impact on each of us. During that Jan-uary ’98 ice storm, my family was without power for 11 days.

The lessons learned during that power outage were not only about the generator we needed to heat the house and run a few appliances each day, nor were the lessons only about preparing food on a Coleman stovein the garage. We also had to learn to amuse ourselves without electricity.

The kids stayed home from school until the power was restored to most of the city. When the kids did return to school, we still didn’t have power at home, so it was nice to know that, for the length of time they were in school, they were not suffering for lack of heat and hot food. My kids’ friends came over after school and on the weekend to play in our non-electric house. I thought back to that time and what it was that the kids found so fun and entertaining about being without power. These

are some of the activities they liked best:

CAMPING: Most of my kids’ friends had lost their power for only three or four days. They didn’t know what it was like to be approaching the eighth, ninth and tenth day without power. We made it seem like an adventure when

we took out the camp-ing gear. Draped blankets over

tables created tents in which

the kids sat with

their flashlights, just as they do on real camping trips.

HIDE AND SEEK: The kids’ friends loved playing hide and seek in the dark house — and dark it was, as there was no daylight after 4 pm at that time of year. The kids thought it was thrilling to play hide and seek with flash-lights, especially in the base-ment playroom.

PICK-UP-STICKS AND BUILDING BLOCKS: Another game the kids liked playing was a building block game in which players take turns removing wooden blocks from a stack. The removed block must then be placed on the top of the stack. The game ends when the stack falls over. This game was played on the dining room table where the sunlight was streaming through the front window. The other end of the table was set aside for doing jigsaw puzzles.

CARDS AND BOARD GAMES: The kids enjoyed the card games and board games that had been packed away years before, such as Chutes N Ladders, Candyland, Uno, Old

Maid, and other simple games.

MAKE-BELIEVE, CHARADES & PUPPETS: The house was even darker at night, except for the two rooms in which we were using our only propane and battery operated lanterns.

The light cast by the lan-terns was great for making shadow puppets on the wall. We staged puppet shows and played games of make-believe including ‘charades’ and fol-low the leader.

CAT’S CRADLE: It’s hard to believe that a piece of string can be entertaining, but it’s true, which is why string games have been passed down for hundreds of years.

The kids enjoyed racticing the basic moves of Cat’s Cradle and other string-twisting de-signs such as Jacob’s Ladder, Cup and Saucer, and Kitty Whiskers. With just a bit of concentration, the kids were soon real pros at making fig-ures with the string.

OUTDOOR GAMES: There were no power lines down on my street, so once the trees and large branches stopped crashing to the ground, and once the ice stopped dropping off the trees, the kids played outdoors. The slick surfaces gave them plen-ty of areas where they could run and slide, blowing and catching bubbles in the yard. Playing dodgeball was also fun simply because the slippery surfaces made it hard to get out of the way of the ball.

House:SoapWhistleScissorsCandlesPet FoodDuct tapeTweezersSignal flareDisinfectantHeavy ropeToilet paperFirst Aid kitAluminum foilExtra batteriesPetroleum jellyWarm clothingPlastic sheetingFire extinguisherPrescription drugsWaterproof lighterPlastic garbage bagsMap of area shelters

Latex Gloves (2 pair)

Assorted safety pinsMoistened towelettesPersonal hygiene itemsBattery-operated radio, flashlights, clockPrescription medicinesNon-electric can openerCash, traveler’s checks, coinsOver-the-counter medicationsPaper cups, plates and plastic utensilsDrinking Water - store a minimum of 3 gallons per personAdditional Water for SanitationCellular phone (cordless phones use electricity)Spare house key (garage door openers use electricity)

FOOD - How much is enough? Start with enough to feed your own family for two weeks. If

you even suspect family and/or friends will need to be fed, increase the amount of food accordingly. Remember too that just

as the power outage effected your life, it just might have

affected your grocer’s ability to re-stock his shelves. Include food with long storage life in your pantry, such as ready to eat meals which can be good for 5 to 10 years.Dry Cereal - consider soy or rice milk which can be stored on the shelf but which must be used or refrigerated when openedCanned JuiceCanned FruitsPeanut ButterCanned vegetablesCanned meatsReady-to-eat soups (not concentrated)Quick energy snacks - cookies are okay! consider them ‘stress’ food(A special thanks to the offices of emergency preparedness city and state websites, the American Red Cross, and Central Maine Power for this important information.) — Denise Scammon

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Entertaining the kids without electricityEmergency kits for house and carCar:

TIP: Pack it all in an old duffel bag, backpack or suitcase and keep it in the trunk.

Small siphon pumpBattery booster cablesPlastic jug of water and funnelPortable radio and spare batteriesLarge flashlight with extra batteriesFirst-aid kit and necessary medicationsSpray graphite lubricant for de-icing locksOld rug, towel, shower curtain to kneel on, ragsCell phone or Quarters and coins for pay phonesDrinking water supply, non-perishable food, and blanketsRoll of mechanic’s wire (temporarily tie up a dragging muffler)Work gloves, extra set of mittens, socks, rain gear, and a warm hatEquipment needed to change a tire - jack and spare tire; pressurized tire inflatorHose Bandage - to temporarily repair a radiator or heater hose;

similar to duct tapeTools such as screwdrivers, pliers, rubber hammer, wrench, and short-handled or collapsible shovelSet of tire chains, traction mats, sack of sand, or bag of kitty litter - for traction on slippery surfacesWheel chock (piece of scrap wood placed on ground near tire - used as precaution so the vehicle will not roll away)Glow-in-the-dark safety vest and highly visible WARNING sign; also ‘Help’ and ‘Call Police’ signs for car windows

(Thanks to Luci Gagnon of Emerson Toyota for help in compiling this list.)— Denise Scammon

A variety of games that don’t need electricity to work!

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Text and Photos by DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

happens every time it snows. Citizens wonder when the plowing will start, why they’re sanding now, and when and if the salt will

work. They look to the Public Works Department for answers.

In general, the Public Works De-partment of a city is responsible for activities relating to the overall main-tenance of the city’s infrastructure. These activities are an integral part of a city’s ability to attract and promote economic development by providing much needed services, such as high-way maintenance, and that’s especially crucial during snowstorms.

“Every storm is slightly different, and I think that there’s a science to us-ing the right snow removal technique at the right time,” explained Bob Belz, Public Works Director in Auburn, which offers 24-hour snow coverage. “Our crew is divided into two shifts, with the majority on the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift. During a storm, half of that first shift will stay and work until 11 p.m. Those who went home will return to work from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and con-tinue to work through that day’s first shift. It’s basically 16 hours on, with 8 hours off.”

Winter operations really begin in the summer, with purchases of equipment such as plows and sanders, and ar-rangements for supplies such as blades and tire chains. “We like to be ready for snow removal at the end of October, even though we typically don’t have plowable snow storms before the end of November. Anything later than that is appreciated,” commented Belz. It’s easy to see why, when 50% of Maine winters are plowable through mid-

April, making for a long season.Roadways are classified in three

ways — arterials, collector roads and neighborhood/residential — and are plowed accordingly, starting with those with the highest traffic volume. In Auburn which has 485 plowable lane miles, and in Lewiston, which has approximately 380 lane miles, arteri-als are plowable when there’s an inch or more of accumulation. A liquid calcium will be used first to pre-wet arterial roads and important intersec-tions while a sand/salt mix is used on collector roads.

“Our snow removal pattern is geared towards efficiency. We want to get the streets plowed as quickly as we can,” said Sid Hazelton, Public Works Assis-tant Director in Auburn. “Once a plow or sander gets to the end of its arterial route, it moves on to its collector route, and then on to its neighborhood route. It takes four to six hours for some plows to make one pass on their route. During severe weather, sometimes before the driver gets to the end of a route, he may be sent back to the beginning of that same route because another six to eight inches has accumulated.”

Under certain weather conditions, the city of Lewiston crews will spray liquid calcium chloride on top of the rock salt as it leaves the truck but be-fore it hits the pavement. “When the temperatures are right around freez-ing, say 25 to 34 degrees, this method works very well to get a melting action going quicker,” said David Jones, Lewiston Assistant Public Works Di-rector. “Because of the storm drainage systems, we prefer to use straight salt. We don’t need the extra sand working its way into the drainage system and clogging up the pipes. And come spring there’s that much less sand to sweep off the streets.”

Most towns al-low residents to take a couple pails of sand for home use from the High-way Department’s sand shack or sand pile. In Lew-

iston, a sand pile is made available to residents at the Public Works facility on Adams Ave; in Auburn, residents will find the sand shack at the facility on Gracelawn Avenue.

Lewiston has had to relocate its sand making operations and shack (non-public) to a spot on River Road because of the new Wal-Mart distribution facil-ity. The old salt shed held 350 to 400 tons of salt, and the city uses 6,000 to 7,000 tons during an average winter. The new shed still under construc-tion will be able to hold 5,000 tons of salt. A second shed at the new location will hold 7,000 tons of a sand/salt mix.

“These sheds when finished will be large enough for a tractor-trailer to lift its back end up inside the building to dump a load,” not-ed Jones.

When a city plows its streets, it is some-times necessary to make several passes to clear the street. Ev-ery effort is made to not plow snow on sidewalks

and driveways, but it is sometimes unavoidable. Opening driveways is the sole responsibility of the property own-er, which is best done AFTER the snow-plows have finished on your street.

Out of a total of 22-24 winter storms, some 16-18 are plowale each winter; others might be rain or ice requiring only sanding or salt. The public works crew really likes to have at least three days in between storms. “Having a lit-tle breathing space in between storms gives the crews time to remove snow from parking areas. We can regroup, catch up on our work, and hopefully get some sleep before the next storm hits,” said Belz. “Winter snow removal and sanding activities take a toll on our drivers’ personal lives, especially dur-ing the holidays.”

“In addition to a dispatch office co-ordinating requests and answering phones, we have three foremen on the road whose job it is to know where our drivers are at all times. Two of the foremen dispatch the plows and one dispatches the drivers for the sand/salt runs,” said Jones.

Drivers must have a commercial driver’s license, which many acquire through apprentice programs. Over each of the last 20 years, Auburn has hired new drivers each winter, while Lewiston experienced downsizing this past winter.

“We have a core group of people who have been here for years and a small percentage that changes regularly. It’s important to note that everyone plays a valuable role in the work they do for us,” said Belz.

GENERAL WINTER REMINDERS: Winter parking regulations typically begin November 1 and run through April 1 when no vehicles may park on any street overnight. Parking may also be restricted during daytime emergencies and snow removal. Vehicles left on streets during parking bans are subject to removal (towing) by the Police Department.

Snow or ice should not be shoveled, blown or plowed into any street as it is unlawful and danger-ous to deposit snow upon public roadways. Piles of snow left on the roadway can freeze solid, and create a hazardous situation for vehicles and snowplows. Property owners can be held liable for col-lisions and damages caused by snow piles placed in the roadway.

Due to the size and force of the snowplow, it is important to keep items, such as vehicles, rubbish containers, etc., away from the plowable edge of the street.

For safety reasons, children should not play on, tunnel into, or slide down the snow banks that ac-cumulate at the end of driveways and along streets.

Properly installed mailboxes accidentally toppled by the blade of a city snow plow may be re-placed by city crews, but this varies from town to town. Most towns and Maine DOT do not replace damaged mailboxes.

Call your Public Works or Highway Department for more information.

It

Auburn has named one of its trucks “Snowfighter.”

This Lewiston truck has

liquid calcium holding tanks.

Gearing up for snow Auburn’s patriotic plow

Text and Photos by

DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

Winter can be a stressful time for your trees and shrubs. While you can’t con-trol the weather, there are certain steps you can take to protect your trees and

shrubs from winter damage.

“An important step to take before the ground freezes in the winter is to water deeply — saturate the roots — and then cover with a mulch once the ground has frozen,” stated Rick Gammon of Gam-mon Landscape Nursery in Auburn. “This is especially important for plant-ings under trees and eaves where light rains don’t soak through heavy mulch.”

There are two schools of thought regarding the use of fertilizers in the fall — those who think it’s important and those who feel it’s not necessary unless a plant is showing signs of deficiency.

“I feel that it is more important, when talking about winter protection, to talk about the ap-plication of an anti-desiccant on broad-leaf evergreens that are sensitive to win-ter sun and wind,” said Gammon. “An anti-desiccant ‘seals’ the foliage so as not to tran-spire, or lose, moisture through the winter.”

If you do use a fall fertilizer, use a high-qual-ity slow-release fertilizer. It should contain high amounts of Potassium, vital for root development. “Roots remain active even after the leaves drop, un-til the soil becomes too cold,” said Gammon. The fer-tilizer should also contain low amounts of slow-re-lease Nitrogen which will remain in the soil through the winter. When spring weather warms the soil, the Nitrogen is there to help the tree leaf out.

What you want to avoid is quick-release Nitrogen,

in late summer and fall, that promotes fast, weak fo-liage growth. New growth damage in the winter can show up as dried up, brown foliage. It also weakens the plant and makes it more susceptible to insect and disease infestation.

That new or late growth can be severely effected by the cold because it does not have mature, hard-ened growth prepared for the cold.

There are simple, cost-effective tree wraps that can be used on your trees at any time of year to control a variety of damaging insect pests, such as caterpillars and other crawling insects. “These

pests defoliate leaves and bore into the bark which can be fatal to a tree. At the very least, the trees will be severely damaged and more susceptible to seri-ous diseases such as Dutch elm disease and oak wilt in those tree species,” said Lisa Symes of Mountain Greenery in Rangeley.

The protective tree wraps or bands are typically made with specially developed glue that remains effective after repeated exposure to heat, cold and moisture. “Because these wraps are a type of physical control, insects must cross the band for it to work. To prevent insect infestation, it is recom-mended that the wraps be placed on all your trees,

not just the ones showing signs of damage,” ex-plained Symes.

Many trees are susceptible to frost cracks, found on the southwest side of the tree which receives the most winter sunlight. These cracks are found on young and mature trees alike, which usually repair themselves but remain vulnerable to weakening and subsequent cracking in that area.

“Sun scald is avoidable if you want to wrap your trees and shrubs,” noted Gammon.

Ice and snow accumulation on brittle branches is another winter problem. A careful pruning job

in the fall can help minimize branch breakage. You want to prune out the small and weak branches, but do your pruning after the tree or shrub has entered its dormant period.

Also, removing one of the branches making up a deep “V” will make that part of the tree less vulner-able to breakage. Many homeowners cover small trees and shrubs with ‘tepees’ - tent-like housing, especially over shrubs which are situated below snow and ice run-off. Larger trees can be tied up, wrapped up, or placed behind a burlap screen for protection from win-ter sun and strong winds.

If you think rodents are gnaw-ing your trees and shrubs, talk with an expert at your local tree care center.

They might sug-gest using plastic

guards or moving the mulch further away

from the tree so as not to offerany type of shelter for small creatures like mice, moles and voles.

“If you suspect it’s a rabbit chewing on your trees, old-timers use heavy gauge wire netting around plants to discourage them. They’re such cute ani-mals that most homeowners don’t want to use bait and traps.”

Paint-on repellents are available commercially, but Gammon offered this homemade version, “Mix tabasco sauce with a sticking agent and spray or paint it on your trees and shrubs. The rodents don’t like the taste and will go elsewhere for food, but you’ll need to reapply this mixture periodically.”

Minimizing winter stress

Here’s one creative method for protecting young shrubbery.

Text and photos by DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

Do you remember the Ice Storm of 1998? Freezing rain fell for what

seemed an eternity... laying a sheet of ice on the roads and everything else. Eventually shrubs, tree branches and then whole trees were snap-ping under the weight of the ice, crashing down on homes and blocking roads. Pow-er lines and

poles came down with the trees, while transformer fires lit up the sky, a sure sign of a power outage.

I interpret the words ‘power outage’ to mean ‘loss of nor-malcy.’ Granted, the ice storm did not have the same impact on each of us. During that Jan-uary ’98 ice storm, my family was without power for 11 days.

The lessons learned during that power outage were not only about the generator we needed to heat the house and run a few appliances each day, nor were the lessons only about preparing food on a Coleman stovein the garage. We also had to learn to amuse ourselves without electricity.

The kids stayed home from school until the power was restored to most of the city. When the kids did return to school, we still didn’t have power at home, so it was nice to know that, for the length of time they were in school, they were not suffering for lack of heat and hot food. My kids’ friends came over after school and on the weekend to play in our non-electric house. I thought back to that time and what it was that the kids found so fun and entertaining about being without power. These

are some of the activities they liked best:

CAMPING: Most of my kids’ friends had lost their power for only three or four days. They didn’t know what it was like to be approaching the eighth, ninth and tenth day without power. We made it seem like an adventure when

we took out the camp-ing gear. Draped blankets over

tables created tents in which

the kids sat with

their flashlights, just as they do on real camping trips.

HIDE AND SEEK: The kids’ friends loved playing hide and seek in the dark house — and dark it was, as there was no daylight after 4 pm at that time of year. The kids thought it was thrilling to play hide and seek with flash-lights, especially in the base-ment playroom.

PICK-UP-STICKS AND BUILDING BLOCKS: Another game the kids liked playing was a building block game in which players take turns removing wooden blocks from a stack. The removed block must then be placed on the top of the stack. The game ends when the stack falls over. This game was played on the dining room table where the sunlight was streaming through the front window. The other end of the table was set aside for doing jigsaw puzzles.

CARDS AND BOARD GAMES: The kids enjoyed the card games and board games that had been packed away years before, such as Chutes N Ladders, Candyland, Uno, Old

Maid, and other simple games.

MAKE-BELIEVE, CHARADES & PUPPETS: The house was even darker at night, except for the two rooms in which we were using our only propane and battery operated lanterns.

The light cast by the lan-terns was great for making shadow puppets on the wall. We staged puppet shows and played games of make-believe including ‘charades’ and fol-low the leader.

CAT’S CRADLE: It’s hard to believe that a piece of string can be entertaining, but it’s true, which is why string games have been passed down for hundreds of years.

The kids enjoyed racticing the basic moves of Cat’s Cradle and other string-twisting de-signs such as Jacob’s Ladder, Cup and Saucer, and Kitty Whiskers. With just a bit of concentration, the kids were soon real pros at making fig-ures with the string.

OUTDOOR GAMES: There were no power lines down on my street, so once the trees and large branches stopped crashing to the ground, and once the ice stopped dropping off the trees, the kids played outdoors. The slick surfaces gave them plen-ty of areas where they could run and slide, blowing and catching bubbles in the yard. Playing dodgeball was also fun simply because the slippery surfaces made it hard to get out of the way of the ball.

House:SoapWhistleScissorsCandlesPet FoodDuct tapeTweezersSignal flareDisinfectantHeavy ropeToilet paperFirst Aid kitAluminum foilExtra batteriesPetroleum jellyWarm clothingPlastic sheetingFire extinguisherPrescription drugsWaterproof lighterPlastic garbage bagsMap of area shelters

Latex Gloves (2 pair)

Assorted safety pinsMoistened towelettesPersonal hygiene itemsBattery-operated radio, flashlights, clockPrescription medicinesNon-electric can openerCash, traveler’s checks, coinsOver-the-counter medicationsPaper cups, plates and plastic utensilsDrinking Water - store a minimum of 3 gallons per personAdditional Water for SanitationCellular phone (cordless phones use electricity)Spare house key (garage door openers use electricity)

FOOD - How much is enough? Start with enough to feed your own family for two weeks. If

you even suspect family and/or friends will need to be fed, increase the amount of food accordingly. Remember too that just

as the power outage effected your life, it just might have

affected your grocer’s ability to re-stock his shelves. Include food with long storage life in your pantry, such as ready to eat meals which can be good for 5 to 10 years.Dry Cereal - consider soy or rice milk which can be stored on the shelf but which must be used or refrigerated when openedCanned JuiceCanned FruitsPeanut ButterCanned vegetablesCanned meatsReady-to-eat soups (not concentrated)Quick energy snacks - cookies are okay! consider them ‘stress’ food(A special thanks to the offices of emergency preparedness city and state websites, the American Red Cross, and Central Maine Power for this important information.) — Denise Scammon

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Entertaining the kids without electricityEmergency kits for house and carCar:

TIP: Pack it all in an old duffel bag, backpack or suitcase and keep it in the trunk.

Small siphon pumpBattery booster cablesPlastic jug of water and funnelPortable radio and spare batteriesLarge flashlight with extra batteriesFirst-aid kit and necessary medicationsSpray graphite lubricant for de-icing locksOld rug, towel, shower curtain to kneel on, ragsCell phone or Quarters and coins for pay phonesDrinking water supply, non-perishable food, and blanketsRoll of mechanic’s wire (temporarily tie up a dragging muffler)Work gloves, extra set of mittens, socks, rain gear, and a warm hatEquipment needed to change a tire - jack and spare tire; pressurized tire inflatorHose Bandage - to temporarily repair a radiator or heater hose;

similar to duct tapeTools such as screwdrivers, pliers, rubber hammer, wrench, and short-handled or collapsible shovelSet of tire chains, traction mats, sack of sand, or bag of kitty litter - for traction on slippery surfacesWheel chock (piece of scrap wood placed on ground near tire - used as precaution so the vehicle will not roll away)Glow-in-the-dark safety vest and highly visible WARNING sign; also ‘Help’ and ‘Call Police’ signs for car windows

(Thanks to Luci Gagnon of Emerson Toyota for help in compiling this list.)— Denise Scammon

A variety of games that don’t need electricity to work!

By DENISE SCAMMON / Freelance Writer

Winter driving can be a challenge on Maine roads even for the most expe-rienced drivers. Is your car ready for driving conditions that call for maxi-mum traction?

Your vehicle’s traction on the road is only as good as its tires. The tires are the car’s only points of contact with the road, making adhesion — the grip your tires have on the pavement — a crucial factor in choosing your winter tires.

“For winter driving, make sure to choose tires with a tread designed to expel snow as they turn,” advised Pete Vachon, service manager at Stratham Tire in Auburn.

“Tread design is everything,” said Vachon who went on to explain, “Sipes are slit-like grooves in the tread designed to not only add more of a bit-ing edge for driving on ice and snow but also for not letting snow accumulate in the tread. In all-season tires, the sipes are narrower and closer together than in winter treads.”

Don’t wait until the last min-ute to get your winter tires inspected, installed and balanced. Those first snow storms of the season can be dan-gerous if you’re still driving with your summer tires. The rubber on summer tires becomes as hard as plastic in cold weather, meaning your summer tires

will offer little or no adhesion on slip-pery surfaces.

Also, as your tires wear, traction is reduced. Tread depth should be at least 4.8 mm (3/16”) to drive through snow. All season tires reach that depth in one or two winters, he noted. Winter tires usually last three or four win-ters because they begin with deeper treads and are only used during winter months.

You might be able to get by with all-season radial tires that are in good condition and have sufficient tread to grip the road in snow, slush, rain and mud. Most all-season tires are marked M/S or M+S and thus qualify as “snow” tires, but will these tires be adequate enough for your winter driving?

Consider using snow tires or metal-studded snow tires if you live in an area where roads are regularly snow-cov-ered, particularly Maine’s rural roads. Snow tires and studded snow tires can improve traction, reduce tire slippage and make for safer driving, giving you some peace of mind. Keep in mind that from the first day of May to the first day of October, a person may not operate a vehicle with tires having metal studs, wires, spikes or other metal protruding from the tire tread.

“Presently in Maine the law states that studded tires may only be used from Oct. 2 through April 30. Regular

snow tires can be used year-round,” noted Vachon.

Mixing different types of tires on your car can affect steering and control whether it’s front-wheel or rear-wheel drive. If studded tires are applied to the front axle, they also must be applied to the rear axle to minimize vehicle con-trol problems, according to tire manu-facturers.

“It is highly recommended to put studded

tires on both the front and rear wheels. There’s a good reason for this,” Vachon noted. “If you have studded tires only on the front wheels, in slippery condi-tions the studded tires would have a better grip on the road, but the rear wheels would slide out of control. Hav-ing studded tires on all four wheels will give better traction when braking.”

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Birds may rely on you for food this winter,

say Audubon experts(NAPSI)-Savvy gardeners and birdwatchers have

discovered they can attract beautiful birds to their yard by selecting plants that provide food and shel-ter. All spring and summer, when gardens are in full bloom, birds typically have an ample supply of food. But as plants complete their flowering and fruiting cycles, it gets more difficult for birds to find food.

So this fall, the National Audubon Society reminds gardeners to think about our winged friends by plant-ing varieties that produce fruits, berries, nectar, seeds and nuts during the fall and winter seasons.

The National Audubon Society and Monrovia, a leading grower of plants, are making it easy for

people to create a backyard environment that is friendly to a variety of birds and butterflies with the Audubon Habitat Collection of plants. Just look for plants in Monrovia’s green-banded containers with a special Audubon label in select fine garden centers nationwide.

Here are some fall planting tips for a winter bird garden:

Fall is a great time to add bird-friendly plants. The heat of the summer is past, and plants have time to root before frost comes.

Select plants that provide nuts, seeds or berries in the coldest winter months, such as holly, junipers, oaks and other nut trees.

Other plants that provide late fall and winter food include: crowberry, staghorn sumac, pitch pine, ink-berry, smooth winterberry, Toringo crabapple, saw palmetto, Virginia creeper, Walter’s viburnum and myrtle dahoon.

Water is essential for birds, so provide a birdbath or dripping water source. If freezing is a problem, don’t put additives in the water to lower the freezing

point. Instead, consider a water heater designed for outdoor birdbaths. In the coldest climates, you may want to provide supplement food, such as seeds or a suet ball.

Faye Paquet at Provencher’s Landscaping & Nursery in Lewiston with a display of bird seed and feeder

products to help you get ready for feathered friends.

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Snow tires, studded snow tires, and all-season tires. Which is right for your car?Snow tires, studded tires and all-season radials. Which one is right for you?

Winter driving in Maine



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‘Cocooning’ increases the importance of

chimney inspections(ARA) - As Americans find peace of mind at home “co-

cooning” with family this fall and winter, many will be enjoying the comfort of a warm fire. However, homeown-ers planning to make good use of their fireplaces this season should consider some simple maintenance proce-dures, including a chimney inspection.”

A chimney inspection is like an annual dental check-up,” states Ashley Eldridge, director of education at the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). “It’s preventative maintenance that helps minimize potential hazards. Sometimes, maintenance requires extra dili-gence. That’s the case this year.”

To reduce the risk of chimney fires, the CSIA cautions people that might be increasing their fireplace use in the fall and winter to put a chimney inspection at the top of their home improvement list. This caution is primarily directed at people who might increase their wood-burn-ing fireplace usage from an occasional fire to a weekly activity.

According to Eldridge, people who use fireplaces in-frequently tend to be less informed about the important role that the chimney plays in exhausting the hot gases and smoke from a fire. When a chimney has creosote build-up, or is obstructed by a bird’s nest or debris, it has the potential to catch fire and cause damage.This impact is demonstrated by recent statistics from the U.S. Con-sumer Product Safety Commission.

According to the CPSC there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States in 1998 originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in

property damage.In addition to an annual inspection, the CSIA recommends these tips for reducing the threat of a chimney fire:

W Add a chimney cap to the top of your chimney. A cap can keep out damaging moisture, which wears away ma-sonry and other metal components within a chimney.

W Ensure that your chimney has an appropriate liner. Chimney liners are required in new construction to sep-arate system emissions from the structure of your home.

W Have chimney flashing (the seal between the chim-ney and the roof) inspected and maintained. Flashing prevents rain water and snow melt from entering a house and causing costly damage to walls and ceilings.The Na-tional Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also recom-mends that all chimneys be inspected on an annual basis to prevent chimney fires. The CSIA adds that the best choice for a professional is a sweep certified by the Chim-ney Safety Institute of America.

Each fall, CSIA-certified chimney sweeps work togeth-er to raise awareness of chimney safety during National Chimney Safety Week, which begins this year on Sept. 29 and runs through Oct. 5.For more information about preventing chimney hazards or for a free copy of the brochure “Chimney Inspections Explained for the Hom-

eowner” call (800) 536-0118 or visit the CSIA Web site at www.csia.org. The CSIA also pro-vides a list of CSIA certified chimney sweeps online and by mail. Courtesy of ARA Content

Ken Cote of The Village Sweep


Ken Cote inspects a

fireplace in a newly purchased

home


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