Alpharetta Cumming Lake Lanier Real Estate Blog

From Fire Chief Danny Bowman and the Forsyth County Fire Department:

"The Forsyth County Fire Department encourages everyone to take precautionary safety measures to help ensure safety this holiday season," Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. "Responsible use of items such as heating devices, decorations and candles can certainly play a role in preventing fires and injuries throughout the holidays."


Heating Devices

• Keep portable electric heaters at least three feet away from combustible materials such as drapes and upholstered furniture
• Never place heaters on tables or furniture
• Avoid using extension cords for heaters if possible
• Do not use unvented gas heaters in enclosed spaces due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning
• Follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding where and how to use any heating devices

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires
Selecting a tree for the holidays

• Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and poses a fire hazard.

Caring for your tree

• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.
• Disposing of your tree
• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. Consider disposing of your tree by taking it to a recycling center.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain your holiday lights
• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before using them. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do not overload electrical outlets
• Never link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe to link additional ones. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into an outlet. Periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use only nonflammable decorations
• All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never place wrapping paper in a fireplace
• Wrapping paper can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home capable of causing an explosion.
• Artificial holiday trees
• If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, be sure it is flame-retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid using lit candles
• If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked over easily. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Never put lit candles on a tree
• Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame (candles, lighters or matches).

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before purchasing a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, do not give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, consider toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
• Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could pose a strangulation hazard for babies.

Always have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries. Practice your home escape plan and dial 911 in an emergency.
These tips courtesy of the Forsyth County Fire Department and the United States Fire Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Labels: christmas, christmas tree, decorations, fire department, fire safety, forsyth county, heaters, holiday, lights

Get into the holiday spirit with activities, entertainment and more! Mark your calendar now for two days of family-friendly holiday fun at the fifth annual Christmas in Central Park. The event takes place Saturday, November 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Forsyth County's Central Park Recreation Center.

Attendees will enjoy a holiday shopping area featuring a variety of unique handcrafted items including pottery, stained glass, candles, jewelry, quilts and more. Photos with Santa, children's activities, live entertainment, hay rides and tasty holiday treats will also be available. Don't miss the special 'lighting of the tree' Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

Admission to Christmas in Central Park is free.

Central Park Recreation Center is located at 2300 Keith Bridge Road (Hwy. 306) in Cumming. To receive additional information, call 678.455.8540.

Labels: 2009, central park, christmas, cumming, forsyth county, georgia, holiday, november, photos, santa, shopping, tree lighting

Share the gift of a meal with home-bound senior citizens in Forsyth County this holiday season through the Home-Delivered Meal Holiday Gift Certificate Program. Purchase a holiday gift certificate through Forsyth County Senior Services, and meals will be delivered to home-bound senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels program.

You can provide a meal for one day or meals for an entire week, month or year. The cost of one meal is $3.39, one week is $16.95, one month is $74.58 and one year is $894.96. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Checks should be payable to Forsyth County Senior Services, Holiday Gift Certificate Program and should be mailed or delivered to the following address:

Forsyth County Senior Services
595 Dahlonega Highway
Cumming, GA 30040

From Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, all meals will be delivered to senior citizens with a special certificate to wish happy holidays from the meal provider.

Although funding for meal programs has decreased with budget cuts, the need for meals has increased. The goal of Senior Services is to provide 2,500 meals this holiday season. To receive additional information, call 770.781.2178.

Labels: forsyth county, georgia, gift certificate, holiday, meals on wheels, senior services

Georgia's 2008 Summer Sales Tax Holiday is this Thursday, July 31st at 12:01 a.m. - Sunday, August 3rd at midnight. Georgia's 4-day Summer Sales Tax Holiday provides for a sales tax exemption for certain items purchased, including:

* Articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

* Personal Computers - A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable.

* General school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item

The exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses, or purchased for resale. Also, the exemptions do not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and airports.

For more information visit the Georgia Department of Revenue's website at www.dor.ga.gov.

Labels: 2008, clothing, computers, georgia department of revenue, georgia sales tax, holiday, school supplies