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News and Information from Violet Township
Holiday Decorating Safety Tips
Holiday season is upon us and that means decorating will happen in our homes and office spaces. While decorating creates a festive atmosphere and adds color to our drab Ohio days, it also adds the potential for fires if not done correctly. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles and two of every five decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source (National Fire Protection Association, 2019). In Christmas season, tree fires are rare but very destructive when they do happen. A heat source too close to the tree or an electrical problem causes 50 percent of the Christmas tree fires (NFPA, 2019). This year the Violet Township Fire Department is providing you some seasonal decorating safety tips.
Decorating Safety Tips:
• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and any other flammable items • Place candles out of reach of children and pets
• ALWAYS make sure to blow out candles before leaving the home or going to bed
• If hanging lights, make sure to use only lights rated for outdoor use
• Never use nails to hang lights; only use clips
• Make sure to turn off all lights before leaving the home or going to bed
Christmas Tree Safety Tips:
• Pick a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched
• Cut 2 inches off the tree base before placing in the stand
• Add water to the tree stand daily
• Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source (fireplaces, radiators, vents, candles or lights) • Only use tree lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory (UL as an example)
• Strings of lights that show wear, have broken cords or loose bulb connections should be replaced
• Never use candles to decorate the tree
• Always turn off the tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed
If you have any questions about holiday safety or any other fire-related safety issue (other than emergencies), please call us at 614-837-4123. We are here for you 24 hours a day, every day. As always, remember we are your “Friends for Life.”
The Violet Township Fire Department will once again be looking for community support for our Holiday Toy Drive. We have several options available this year for in-person, contactless and virtual donations.
As always, you may drop off NEW, UNWRAPPED toys or gift cards in the lobby of any Violet Township Fire Station between Nov. 22 and Dec. 23, 2021.
We have expanded our popular drive-thru event to TWO days this year. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 11-12 you can drive-thru, without ever leaving your vehicle, at our station at 8700 Refugee Road, Pickerington and drop off a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy.
We have also partnered with Amazon and Target to have your donations delivered directly to the Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive Headquarters. This allows you to make your donation directly from your home or office. Be sure to select ‘ship to Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive’ on your order. A PayPal link for monetary donations has also been added.
Follow the Violet Township Firefighters Toy Drive page on Facebook for updates. Target: http://tgt.gifts/vtfdtoydrive
Amazon: https://www. amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/2OR5E73JR8EYR?ref_=wl_share
Outdoor winter activities can include bird feeding and wildlife watching
By Tommy Springer, Wildlife and Education Specialist for Fairfield SWCD
The winter season seems to be a slow time for finding outdoor activities to enjoy. Frigid temperatures, blustery winds and mixed precipitation turn playgrounds, parks and even residential sidewalks into virtual ghost towns compared to the bustle of summer. Organized sports switch from grassed fields to the climate-controlled comfort of indoor arenas, and there’s something to be said about snuggling under a warm blanket in front of a TV or tablet to enjoy your favorite show or movie.
But, if you are one that is prone to feeling the effects of cabin fever, there are several family-friendly options that can get you out of the house and into nature. The simplest of these is to bundle up in a couple layers of warm clothes and take a walk or drive to your nearest park and just enjoy the sights and sounds of the world around you.
Violet Township, the City of Pickerington and neighboring communities have numerous options all within a 10-minute or less commute. Busey Road Park, Harmon Road Park and Sycamore Creek Park offer small natural oases within the developed area with larger parks such as Pickerington Ponds and Blacklick Woods metro parks providing a much-expanded area to explore and observe.
Wildlife viewing adventures in the winter tend to be more successful, and sometimes more enjoyable, due to the lack of leaves, perennial plants and underbrush that provides camouflage and hiding places for wild animals during the summer. Pair this with a lack of mosquitoes, biting flies, spider webs and other annoying insects and it’s a win-win! Plus, with park visitor numbers typically much lower than the summer crowds, you’ll likely find less competition for trail space and the wildlife will often be more active during daylight hours with the reduced human encroachment as well.
However, if you’re someone who weighs risks such as frostbite, hypothermia or slipping on an icy sidewalk and decides it’s just safer to stay at home during inclement weather, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy wildlife watching. You can always make them come to you by putting up a feeder containing sunflower seeds, songbird mix or shelled corn in your own yard.
The birds, squirrels and deer won’t take long to discover an easy meal and will readily gobble down any offerings, even those placed mere feet from your house. By locating the feeder adjacent to a convenient window, you can enjoy the luxury of observing the resident wildlife from a recliner or the dinner table.
Whether you prefer an active, outdoor approach or the more passive method of putting up a feeder, wildlife watching can provide hours of entertainment during the winter months.
How to Reach Us
Violet Township Administrative Offices 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. Pickerington, OH 43147 614-575-5556 www.violet.oh.us Violet Township Fire Stations Phone 614-837-4123 Fire Chief: Michael Little #592: 8700 Refugee Rd. #591: 21 Lockville Rd. #593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. Violet Township Service Center Phone: 614-382-5979 490 Center St. Pickerington, OH 43147
