ATHENS • MALLORYTOWN
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ATHENS& RR#4 BROCKVILLE
ROCKPORT • LANSDOWNE
CHARLESTON LAKE • ELGIN
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The Mural
VOL. 20 NO. 1 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015 • DELIVERED TO OVER 9,200 HOMES • 75¢ INCL. HST
Seeley’s Bay
Frost Fest
Celebrate Valentine’s Day
See Page 11
See Page 6 & 7
Annual community bonfire brings residents together
BY SALLY SMID
A large crowd enjoyed this year's Athens Community Bonfire.
It seems that bonfires have
traditionally been a way of celebrating and socializing in our
area whether in a backyard or
while camping. But the biggest
one again in Athens is at the
annual Christmas Tree Bonfire.
Unlike the night of the
Christmas Parade, snowflakes
flew in the air and there was a
good blanket of snow on
January 10th. A real highlight of
the winter, this event is in its
31st year. Perhaps it is a way to
bring closure to the Christmas
season and also a great time to
enjoy the sports and activities
that our northern climate offers.
Trees were picked up at the curb
side for a week before along
with many other surplus trees
collected by volunteers. The
event at Centennial Park was
provided by the Township of
Athens and many volunteers
helped to make it possible
Photo: Sally Smid including the usual attendance
by the Athens Fire Department.
Free skating took place at
Centre ‘76 from 7 - 8:00 pm as
well as free “sleigh rides” provided by John Male and his
horse team Ben and King. Free
hot chocolate was very welcome
in the freezing temperatures.
Athens District Snowmobile
Club, now in their 40th year,
provided, as always, the traditional torch light parade.
“There were 30 torches,”
reported Kent Mainse of the
Club who was thankful for the
ample snowfall. “There have
been some years when we had to
carry the torches in.” There
were many more snowmobiles
present as well.
The crowd cheered loudly as
the flames began to light up the
cold winter night, bringing to a
climax the celebrative attitude as
friends and neighbours made
connections. The annual bonfire
always seems to be a great way
to welcome in a new year and
promote a spirit of community.
Carbon monoxide detectors being installed free in Athens
BY SALLY SMID
When Athens resident
Karen Sands heard about
how a carbon monoxide
detector possibly saved
the lives of two Augusta
Township residents, she
was convinced that she
should contact the Athens
Fire Dept. about being
part of the program and
have a free carbon
monoxide/smoke detector
installed. A team of firemen visited the Sands’
home in response to their
request to do a very basic
fire inspection which is
non-binding but can provide some friendly advice
on how to make their
home safer. They also
installed a combination
smoke and carbon
monoxide detector without charge.
Deputy Fire Chief
Mike Smid informed the
couple that there should
be a detector on each
floor of the home. This
model requires two AA
batteries. When it sounds
an alarm, it also gives
instructions about what
the problem is. If it
resounds after being reset
it is time to call 911.
Carbon monoxide is
odourless, silent and
invisible and kills 50
people each year in
Canada. CO can be
caused by poorly maintained or malfunctioning
fuel-burning appliances
or blocked venting. The
provincial government
recently updated the
Ontario Fire Code to
make the use of carbon
monoxide
detectors
mandatory where there
are fuel-burning devices
such as a fireplaces, gas
stoves, water heaters or
furnaces or if there is an
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attached garage. After
April 2015 the fine for
failing to comply will be
$235.
Enbridge has donated
these detectors to the
AFD and they are still
taking requests, making
appointments, inspecting
and installing the devices
in township homes. The
Athens firemen are
unpaid volunteers and
give of their time and
effort in training, fighting
fires, doing medical
assists, and providing fire
safety.
Tom Fenn,
Athens Fire Prevention
Officer, reports that 66
detectors have been
requested and some have
been installed. There are
some 200 more that can
be requested by e-mailing
your name and contact
number to or leaving a
message at the fire hall
by calling 613-924-2127.
The AFD CO Detector Program included (L-R) Lt Anthony Stanzel, Deputy
Chief Mike Smid, Capt. Tom Fenn, Firefighters Bernie Cormier, Philip
Vanderlinden, Todd Evans, Clark Schaafsma, John Nyland and Ron Karas.
Photo: Sally Smid
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