The record, 4 novembre 2004, Supplément 1

Wintertime • THE RECORD Thursday, November 4, 2004 page 1 Wintertime «.ANNA «AY KM 3 - ^ *• .Whether you just want to curl up with a good book and enjoy the birds pecking outside the window or enjoying day on the slopes, the Eastern Townships is the place to be.Ideal for those BIG AREAS model ESMIP Tecumseh/Snow King 10.5 HP 4 cycle motor.30 inch clearing width, electric starter, integrated light/alternator.Drift bars.5 inch remote control chute.Folding handles.Dual drive/ftee wheel 16 in.x 6-1/2 in.wheels.Sno-Hog tires with rubber studes.Steerable wheel with 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds s13 T month 12 months $0 down Tune-up Special $4995 INC 569-9821 340 Queen St., Lennoxville, QC | BFGoodrich www.bfgQodrichtires.ca Winter Slalom' • Premium ice and snow radial • Smooth, quiet highway ride • Molded for studs • Meets RAC snow traction performance requirements Service de Pneus Comeau 1 133 Angus St.South, East Angus (819) 832-3928 page 2 • Wintertime • THE RECORD Thursday, November 4, 2004 Capturing winter’s beauty I highly recommend that gardeners find a couple of plants, like the Hawaiian hibiscus that blooms inside during the coldest part of winter.By Anna May Kinney Being an avid gardener here in the North County usually means that there are only about six months from the time you start your seedlings until the time you harvest.It’s a big rush during this time to do everything possible to allow both flower and vegetable gardens to produce and improve.As we gently cover the gardens with layers of leaves, and resign ourselves that the closest we’ll come to gardening till next spring are the plants we share our home with and browsing through seed catalogues as we plan for next season, we realize that without motivation there will be nothing to keep us active this winter.While it is okay for our plants to go dormant during our six months of snow and cold, we humans need activity and stimulation to thrive.This is why gardeners need other hobbies during the winter months and seeing that gardeners are normally nature lovers, it is only logical that they would see nature through the eyes of an artist.They can bring this natural creativity into a new realm over the winter months.Many of my friends paint oils or watercolors from pictures of birds, flowers and wildlife they took during the summer.While photography has become my winter passion, it allows me to continue my love with the outdoors and through digital pictures 1 get to share this passion with friends around the world.Winter is the perfect time to learn a few computer skills, like Photoshop, or another photo editor program.In no time you’ll learn to crop, enlarge, reduce file size, correct lightness and color.Even creating a Web site is easy these days with all the online help available.Mine is at http://aradece.tripod.com You don’t have to be an able-bodied person or run outside in all kinds of weather to capture pictures of nature.With my health, walking on snow and ice is almost impossible, resulting in my spending most of winter inside, but this does not stop me from enjoying the world around me.By having a birdfeeder close to a window, a zoom lens and digital camera, you always have a subject to work with.One winter I was delighted to have a family of ruby-throated grosbeaks visiting my feeders, and captured them in both pictures and video.Subjects are all around you I highly recommend that gardeners find a couple of plants, like my Hawaiian hibiscus that blooms inside during the coldest part of winter.The blooms are huge, tropical and so inspirational, besides being relatively easy to grow.My hibiscus tree now sits in a corner where it gets the sun from a window half of the day, and sun from my glass doors till sunset, encouraging it to bloom a majority of the winter.These inside plants, accented against By J.Caroline Carroll (NC)—Winter gives us invigorating fresh air, but it also brings us hazards and emergencies with ice and snow.Winter is the season of Yuletide celebrations and New Year’s parties, but it is also the time of year when we catch colds and spread germs and share our food and drink with far more people.Canadians particularly love to break away from the city for snow sports and winter carnivals, and yet we have to be vigilant about road safety and weather advisories - and we must also protect ourselves with appropriate outdoor clothing and proper gear once there.Winter safety does have its challenges.Would you, for instance, know what to do if the power to your home was cut off by a winter storm?Does your car have four identical snow tires, inflated adequately for slippery conditions?For a day of skiing or snowboarding, skating or tobogganing, do you know how to factor-in the windchill to dress warmly enough?Did you know that you should never rub or massage frostbitten skin?Safety measures require a lot of common sense, but unfortunately some hazards lurk unforeseen.To be better prepared, take a look at the Public Safety Web site, http:// SafeCanada.ca.Spearheaded by the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, this site is a one-stop shop high- a window or door, which has a winter landscape outside creates exceptional images combining two extremes: the tropics and a frigid Quebec winter.If you have pets, this is also a great time to make them the object of your attention.Take the time to watch them as they sleep, eat and play and I am sure that the photographer hidden inside of you will see something to delight.With today’s technology, you don’t need expensive photo paper to print out small pictures onto a simple letter or onto a card.While the quality will not be as good as a commercially-printed photo, this is very acceptable for giving friends and family a look at your home, pets, flowers and landscape.Usually a small color printer will do the job.Of course if you want to make this a serious hobby, you can invest in a photo printer and photo paper, but when living on a limited budget why go through all this expense when nothing shows pictures better than an online Web site and free Web sites can still be found.We all need to fight the doldrums of short, cold days and the lack of stimulation that turns many people into couch potatoes.So no matter what new hobby you choose, this is the time to get busy and make the most of the up and coming wonders of winter.lighting safety and security information and services from over 50 key sources.It features more than 20 winter safety topics including Holiday Traveling, Holiday Entertaining, Winter Driving Tips, Sports Safety, Health Safety, the Family Emergency Handbook and more.Winter Safety tips are profiled on SafeCanada.ca’s homepage as one topic and are easily accessible.Here is a sampling of the tips for dealing with a winter power failure in your home: • Keep on hand: an Emergency supply of foods that require no preparation, plus flashlights, a battery-powered radio (with fresh batteries), anti-freeze to protect the plumbing, CSA emergency heating equipment, and candles or lanterns to provide light.• When the power goes off: Turn off all electrical appliances, notify your local hydro supplier and use a powered radio for information.• Don’t panic.Houses remain bearably warm for several hours when doors and windows are kept closed.• Conserve your emergency fuel by warming only one room, keeping the temperature low.Wear heavy clothing.• If you abandon your house, turn off the main electrical switch; turn off the water main and cover the valve, inlet pipe, and pump or meter with a blanket or other insulating material.(Source: Environment Canada 2004) 569-5959 563-0036 MUFFLERS CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAVY DUTY OVER AXLE PIPE HANGER TAll PIPE HEAVY DUTY CLAMPS IMPORTS WELCOME HERE! Locally installed.Nationally guaranteed Take extra safety steps Wintertime • THE RECORD Thursday, November 4, 2004 page 3 Preparing for the demands of winter driving The cooling system should be checked as well.It must put up with temperatures ranging from sub zero to well beyond the boiling point.Hoses and heater cores take a lot of abuse in all of that, and have the nasty habit of giving out if they aren’t looked after.Make sure your lights are all in working order, and that your windshield washer fluid is topped up.If you haven’t changed If you dress for the weather instead of for fashion, winter can be a lot less nasty.It can even be fun.The first rule when the weather gets bad is, if you Plumbing Become familiar with your plumbing.Find out where the pipes are located and team how to shut off the water in case the pipes should freeze.Drain and store all garden hoses and sprinklers.to high With Columbia, NO PAYMENT for 90 days!* *«ee details la store inanclng available 7 l Q% -12 months > PÈ^mJÊjL Look over your porches and docks.Replace any rotten or warpecl boards and repair all broken handrails or steps.Make sure the lights and timers work.Visit us for all these home projects and more! réSëÿgjl Have your furnace and heating ducts professionally cleaned.Before the cold weather sets In, turn on your furnace and make sure it is in good working order.Replace any dirty filters and check to confirm the thermostat and pilot light are working property.Be sure the pipe bringing fuel to the furnace is not loose or leaking.ffyhiÈÊtÈér^205 Centre Street, Magog w Tel.: (819) 843-4441 - Fax: (819) 843-9778 - Toll Free: OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday 7 a.m.to 9 p.m.Saturday 7 a.m.to 5 p.m.Sunday 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.Insulation " Check the condition of the insulation in your attic and basement.Replace any that needs it and add more to make your home energy efficient.Gutters and Downspouts and downspo ¦from tvickir ••'/my Check the iKiihj sure they a v Garage Doors 1 Make sure the weatfier stripping at the bottom of your garage doot is m good condition and keep snow and ice away from the door to prevent »t from warping by ap to keep exit animals 10.5H.P.-30 starting at S7 0/month * 24 months [ * small deposit Skiing Inspect the siding on your home and replace any pieces that are loose or warped.The Air Miles program, another reason to shop at RONA! 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SCIES à chaîne' CLAUDE C4RHER __.«i¦«¦¦i.H.mm — 45 Craig Street, Cookshire • www.scie-carrier.com 875-3847 • 1 -800-909-3847 >•©> By Maurice Crossfield It’s early November now, so it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to drive once the snow starts falling.While you might not like doing that, it’s better than trying to remember your winter driving skills when you’re suddenly confronted with several inches of the white stuff.That’s usually what happens to most motorists when we get hit with the first snowfall.With this in mind, here’s primer to get you ready for the driving you’ll have to face in the next Five years - err- months.First off, if your car needs any kind of a tuneup, get it done now before the cold weather arrives.The snow tires I talked about a couple of weeks ago won’t be much good if your car leaves you stranded.A winter checkup should include a verification of the battery and charging system.Your battery might be fine on a warm fall day, but at -20 it might not be up to snuff.your windshield wipers for awhile, this is a good time to do so.In The Trunk@tx: In the trunk you should have a few essentials in case disaster strikes.A good ice and snow scraper is essential, while metal snow treads can get you out of a jam if you get stuck, and a shovel is also handy.Jumper cables suddenly become vital if your battery gives out.A flashlight can also be worth its weight in gold in an emergency.If you do get stranded, a blanket can help warm things up a bit.Bring along a candle for a little extra warmth.If you’re one of those silly people who try to deny winter by not dressing for it, pack some warm clothes for use when winter just won’t be ignored.Warm boots, gloves and a hat can make a big difference.A non-automotive observation: The people who complain most about winter are often the ones who don’t have enough sense to dress for it.can avoid driving, do so.There’s not much in this world worth risking your life for, and that’s just what you’ll be doing trying to drive in a blizzard.If you have to go out, make sure your car is snow free.That includes lights, windows and even that big cake of snow that’s built up on the roof.Snow blowing off of your car could blind another driver, causing an accident.Once you’re on the road you have to adopt habits that you haven’t made use of since last March.First off, slow down, and pay attention to road conditions.Particularly in November, when temperatures tend to hover around the freezing point, changing things quickly.At this time of year deer can also wreak havoc with your nerves.Slow down and scan the ditches, especially at dawn and dusk.The chances of you getting into an accident with another car can also be reduced by simply keeping your distance.That way if someone else screws up it won’t become your problem, and if you screw up it won’t ruin someone else’s day too.If you do go into a skid, ignore the urge to jam on the brakes.Instead, ease off on the gas and steer against the skid.The basic rule of thumb is to try to keep the front wheels pointed in the direction you want to be going.On front wheel drive cars you can even press on the gas once things start to get under control again, to pull the car out of a skid.Be gentle on the pedals.The one I heard years ago was to pretend there’s a raw egg on the pedal, and you don’t want to squish it.Jamming on the brake or the gas is a good recipe for an accident.So be careful out there, and exercise a little caution when the temperature starts to drop.Winter is coming, and it would be nice for all of us to be here to see next spring arrive. pace'4 Wintertime • THE RECORD Thursday, November 4, 2004 i WELCOME TO THE DEEP.The most snow in eastern North America.The best glade skiing and riding on the planet.At-Par* lift tickets every day.Come check out the biggest, deepest ski and ride experience less than one hour from Sherbrooke.Jay Peak Resort.Like No Place Else.* Canadian funds are accepted at par for full-price lift tickets only.Valid proof of Canadian residency is required (Medicare Card, license).802.988.2611 JAYPEAKRESORT.COM/RECORD NO PLACE ELSE.