Last year a devastating fire in New Year's Day ruined the Chapin home in Seabrook. According to fire Chief Jeff Brown, the origin of that fire was a staple of the holiday season: the Christmas Tree.
As a result, Brown is seriously warning residents to be very careful with Christmas trees, especially now that they've been in warm homes for a while and may be drying up.
Live trees make lovely and fragrant decorations for the holiday, he said, by they're very dangerous if not cared for correctly. Cut in late summer by Christmas tree farmers in Canada and elsewhere, by the time they're purchased and decorated, they've been cut and drying for months, he said. Left unwatered, or left up too long, trees are disasters waiting to happen, he said.
"Once a spark hits, the dry trees go up in a matter of second," Brown said. "It's just woof, and they're gone and so is the room they're in."
While in the home they should be watered at least once a day, candles or flames should never come near trees, and they should never be left with their electric tree lights on when not attended, he said.
When needles start to fall, trees should by taken down and out of the house, Brown said.
Trees are lovely, but the safety of humans is more important, he added.
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A reminder to teens and others addicted to their cell phones and texting to their friends: Starting on New Year's Day, it is illegal to text while driving in New Hampshire.
The law also bans typing on laptop computers or other electronic devices while driving. An exception is made for entering a name and number in a cell phone to make a call.
According to police, texting is a problem on the roads, especially among young drivers.
"They're inexperienced drivers anyway, and texting adds another distraction," said Seabrook police Sgt. and New Hampshire state Rep. Mark Preston.
There are hefty fines involved if caught. Texting violators face a fine of $100, but if police go further, charging negligent and distracted driving, a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $500 for a first offense could come into play.
New Hampshire legislators got tough on texting after reports of road accidents blamed on texting grew more frequent.
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Seacoast Youth Services is hosting a new and exciting fundraiser. On Jan. 30, SYS will host a live auction, a delicious dinner buffet and present the wonderful music of Beatlejuice at Ashworth by the Sea hotel in Hampton.
The cost of everything is $49 per person, and the proceeds benefit after school programming at Seacoast Youth Services in Seabrook.
Call 603-474-3332 for tickets.
Seacoast Youth Services is a non profit agency that offers programs to youth that educate and empower them into becoming positive role models and strong youth that make healthy decisions.
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New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney announced recently the filing of a Petition for Injunctive Relief and Petition for Ex Parte Attachment against Flynn's Oil Company of Exeter.
Flynn's Oil Company sells home heating oil to consumers. Delaney is charging Flynn's entered into prebuy contracts for the purchase and delivery of home heating oil, but failed to comply with the state law that governs such transactions.
The state alleges that customers of Flynn's have called Flynn's to complain that they are not receiving the correct amounts of oil or have run out of oil.
Consumers who have complaints can file a complaint electronically by logging onto www.doj.nh.gov/consumer <http://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer> and clicking on "Filing a Consumer Complaint."
Consumers can also call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454 and request that a complaint form be mailed to them.
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Starting the first week of 2010, local households will can obtain a free, hot evening meal in town three nights a week at Seabrook Community Table: On Monday and Thursday night at Seabrook's Church of Christ near the 99 Restaurant on Route 1, and on Tuesdays starting, Jan. 5, at Trinity United Church Parish House, across from Town Hall on Route 1.
For more information, to volunteer to help or make donations, contact program coordinator Joyce Addison at 603-474-9608 or 603-475-5227.
Angeljean Chiaramida is the Seabrook reporter and can be reached at 603-462-6666 ext. 3271 or via e-mail at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com
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