Holiday Safety Tips At Civic

The FDNY's Mike Jones (standing) offers holiday safety tips to residents planning on buying a Christmas tree and decorating their homes. With the holiday season in full bloom, attendees at the Nov. 20 Maspeth West End Block Association meeting were offered a comprehensive rundown on how to safely decorate their homes and maintain their Christmas trees.

Firefighter Mike Jones of FDNY's Fire Safety Education unit warned people congregated at Trinity St. Andrews Church against purchasing decorative lights at 99- cent shops, since most of them are made in China and have never been tested for safety.

All lights, he stressed, should be non-combustible and U.L. or F.M. approved.

He urged residents to pay careful attention and make sure that outdoor lighting is weatherproof.

When those lights are finally plugged in, he continued, they should be inserted into a surge protector instead of being placed in a crowded set of outlets and risk a circuit overload.

On the subject of Christmas trees, Jones recommended that people hold off on buying them early

-CONTINUED FROM PG. 6- since indoor humidity tends to dry them out.

Before purchasing a tree, the FDNY spokesman told those in the audience to check for any discoloration and pull the needles out of the tree to see what type of condition it's in.

If the needles come right out with the slightest tug, that means the tree is dead; if any of its branches come right off, that also indicates that the branch is lifeless.

Upon bringing the pine home, he observed, two to three inches should be cut off from the bottom of the tree before it goes up. Plenty of water should then be placed at the base of it.

Placing gifts too close to the decorative lights on the tree was also discouraged since Christmas tree fires, according to Jones, are some of the most "horrible" ones his department has to deal with, due to how rapidly the flames move.

"Make sure you have a plan in case you get hit by a fire," said Jones. "Know where to meet outside. Someone should be assigned to help a handicapped person."

"Practice ways to get out of your house and know your exit points," he added. "It shouldn't take you all day to get out."

He went on to advise civic members to take pictures of their house in order for them to get insurance money in case their property is destroyed. Insurance agents may ask for photos as proof that the house once existed.

Smoke detectors

Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors were also part of the program, with Jones reminding people to change their smoke detector batteries every six months.

As in the case of decorative lights, batteries, he pointed out, should never be bought at a 99-cent shop.

Cheap batteries are reportedly known as soft batteries, which don't offer the same quality and durability that a hard battery does.

In addition to suggesting that residents continually check the functionality of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, Jones further mentioned that both devices need to be no farther than 15 feet from where people sleep.

The audience was told to keep smoke alarms away from stoves which often emit kitchen smoke that cause them to incessantly beep.

They were also admonished not to install their detection device in or too near to the bathroom since the unit doesn't know the difference between steam, smoke or small particles from aerosol-laden spray cans.

Several new detectors reportedly come equipped with a nuisance feature that allows someone to deactivate it for eight to 15 minutes if it is too close to the kitchen.

In closing, he said that smoke detectors are only good for about 10 years, while carbon monoxide devices should be replaced every five years.

Landlords were instructed to have their tenants sign a written document confirming that they received a new alarm.

Battery disposal and dog waste

Department of Sanitation Citywide Community Affairs Officer Ignazio Terranova noted that rechargeable batteries are to be taken back to the stores from which they were purchased.

"You can take 10 at a time," he said. "If they refuse to take them, they could get fined."

Terranova also updated community members on fine increases for dog owners that refuse to pick up after their four-legged friends.

After fines reportedly went up from $50 to $100 last year for the offense, an individual that's caught not cleaning their dog's waste can now be issued a $250 summons.

Locals in attendance were told to call 311 if they know of anyone that doesn't adhere to the law. Terranova promised that a complainant can remain anonymous if they prefer.

Traffic/parking issues

Civic president Kathy Hamilton received conflicting opinions on whether "No Standing" signs should be added in the area of 62nd Avenue and 60th Street in West Maspeth.

One resident argued that the addition of those signs would only contribute to the loss of parking spaces, while another party claimed that the signage would ensure safety by allowing drivers to have a better view of their surroundings.

Another resident requested a two-way stop sign at the intersection of 60th Street and 60th Road which would force cars to slow down.

Neighbor remembered

Church Pastor Terrence Weber offered words of remembrance for John Randazzo, who passed away on Nov. 6 at the age of 95.

He was described as a "great neighbor" with a true community spirit in the way he would always provide refreshments to people who participated in local leaf cleanups.

The Maspeth West End Block Association will hold its next session on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Trinity St. Andrews Church, located at 60- 06 60th St. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.