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Page 8 Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 Spring Home Maintenance Checklist As the last of the snow melts, most people’s thoughts are on the warmer months ahead. Spring is the time to prepare your garden for the growing season, and it’s also an excellent time to check your home for winter damage. “Proactive maintenance is always better than reactive maintenance,” says Colin Smyth, business leader for AmeriSpec of Canada. “Just because its spring, doesn’t mean you can’t get things ready for the following winter.” AmeriSpec of Canada recommends the following activities to assess your home for winter damage, start repairs and prepare for next winter: * Check foundation walls, floors, concrete and masonry for cracking, heaving or deterioration. * Check the roof for any missing, loose or damaged shingles. * Check all decks and stair railings. They should be secure and have vertical guardrails with no more than 4.5” spaces. * Check your ceilings and attic for evidence of water penetration. * Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves and exposed lines. * Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalks. * Prune your trees and shrubs. * Check carbon monoxide detectors. * Inside your home, check caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilet base. By following these simple recommendations, your property will be ready for spring planting and summer barbecues and free of maintenance problems for another year. More information about home maintenance is available online at www.amerispec.ca or toll-free 1-800-263-5928 ext. 433. News Canada YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERKEEPING YOU INFORMED Camera Buffs learn new Skills Recently, the Dorion Recreation Committee sponsored a Digital Camera Course which was well attended by local residents along with a few budding photographers from the region. Peter Tracz, a professional photographer, was the instructor. Along with some technical information, Peter passed on many tips including - how to reduce “red eye”, how to take pictures in fluorescent light, improving composition, how to properly clean your lens, use of filters and flashes, how to scan and save photos for e-mailing, and on and on. After coffee and refreshments Peter illustrated his points with a slide presentation - beautiful photos! Perhaps the most important lesson a lot of us learned was how little we know about our cameras and the potential there is for amateurs to take better pictures. Two websites that you may wish to visit are www.steves-digicams and www.dpreview.com Submitted by Ed Chambers Some of the participants at a digital camera camera workshop in Dorion - testing their newly learned skills. Instructor Peter Tracz is third from the right Ed Chambers Photo Nipigon Native Mixed Bonspiel a Huge Success “A” Event winners Brie Anne Button, Mitch Shallow, Erin Harper and Matt Dupuis (skip). Karen Hardy Photos Karen Hardy Staff________________ The weekend of February 22nd, 23rd & 24th saw rocks flying “at the house”, “in the house” and “thru the house” at the Curling Club during the 2008 Annual Native Mixed Bonspiel. Sixteen teams competed for top prize, with Matt Dupuis’ (skip) team of Erin Harper, Mitch Shallow, Brie Anne Button beating out Paul Ertel’s (skip) team of Karen Hardy, Hoss Pel- letier & Lisette Pelletier in the “A” final on Sunday. In the “B” event: Art Jalkanen, Theresa Jalkanen, Darrel Kwisses & Delena Toset defeated Sylvio Pelletier, Amelia Hardy, Bubbus Hardy and Pam Hardy. In the “C” event: Chris Giguere, Leslie Morris, Ryan Dutil and Jocelyn Johnson defeated Steve Kusznier, Jen Tuck, Chris Pristanski and Kim Ray. And the final in the “D” saw Kevin Hardy, Jolene Laframboise, Ryan Petrie and Tara Hardy edge out Tony Mancuso, Michelle Legacy, Crystal Ray and Doug Kashak. The fans were treated to some awesome curling and the fantastic shot-making kept them on the edge of their seats. On Friday night, Gloria Laliberte took home the big raffle prize of a Barbeque and Saturday night: Sue McConnell was thrilled to win the 20” Flatscreen T.Y. Rock On! “B” Event winners Art Jalkane Theresa Jalkane, Darrel Kwisses and Delena Toset. Check Out Our Business & Service Directory on Page 10. St. Edward’s Valentine’s Day Tea con’t Continued from Page 7 entitled “Grandparents” and the second one known as the “A.B.C. Poem.” To end the presentation of the tea, the Senior Kindergarten students shared two prayers, “God Bless My Grandparents” and “Chain of Love.” After each presentation, students had an opportunity to visit with the honorary guests and presented wonderfully decorated homemade valentine cards and crafts. This event could not have been as magnificent and as successful without the assistance and support of all the staff at the school along with the help of Mrs. Marlene Ilijow, trustee for the school, Mrs. Leon Renaud, Mrs. Theresa Munro, the School Council Chairperson, the generosity of the Catholic Women’s League for lending the school tea equipment and provisions and the many parents and community members who donated sandwiches, cheese and crackers, pickles, or baking for this event. Thanks goes to Mr. Peter Kutok as well for accepting the challenge to be the Master of Ceremony for the afternoon. To quote Franklin P. Jones, “Love doesn’t make go ‘round. Love is what the ride worthwhile.”