4th Warder

News and Notes for Residents of South Euclid's Ward 4 from Councilwoman Jane Goodman.

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Location: South Euclid, Ohio

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Winter, finally

Hi, all. Happy New Year.

With the first snows of 2007, I want to remind everyone of South Euclid's snowplowing system. Crews started last night, even before the first flakes fell, salting intersections so that the stuff wouldn't stick where we're most likely to slide. Then, as the snow builds, they do the main drags, roadways where there are higher speed limits and more traffic lights, since those are the most dangerous areas. They leave a base layer of an inch or two of snow, which, they say, gives more traction than clearing down to the pavement and then having the surface freeze. Then they tackle the side streets, where people are supposed to drive SLOWLY anyway.

So if your street hasn't been plowed as quickly as you'd like it, all I can say is drive carefully, and know that the trucks are out there and they'll get to your street as soon as they can. Remember, our motto is "safety first, convenience next."

If you have a complaint, I encourage you to call the service department at 216-381-0402. If you get the machine, leave a message with your phone number.

Speaking of safety, 'tis the season to be alert and aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you haven't had your furnace checked in a while, do so. It'll keep you safe and save you money on gas if your furnace is burning clean and efficiently.

Make sure your fire alarm is working, too. Space heaters can be a major cause of house fires. Make sure you keep yours away from curtains and be sure it's not going to tip over.
Don't overload your electrical system, either, 'cause that can start its own problems.
If you use your fireplace, make sure the chimney's been cleaned so that old creosote stuck to the walls doesn't ignite.
And, finally, make sure you have enough of the right kinds of fire extinguishers in the right places. The code on the extinguisher tells you which kind of fire it puts out: "A" with a green triangle is for paper, fabric, garbage, wood, etc.; "B" with a red square is for flammable liquids like gas, kerosene, liquid fuels; "C" with a blue circle is for electrical fires. So you want an "A" that's accessible by the fireplace, a "B" near the kerosene heater and the kitchen, and a "C" in the office or wherever you've got all those wires tangled together. Some extinguishers are multi-purpose. Just be sure the ones you have are big enough. Fire grows fast, and the little weenie ones can leave you standing in front of a growing disaster with an empty extinguisher.

Also, remember that it's the homeowner's responsibility to clear the sidewalk in front of the house. So be safe, and stay warm, and if you can, help a neighbor shovel his or her driveway and front walk.