Feature ESL Monday, December 24,1990 — A13 CAROLING CARTOON CHARACTERS in Ann and Don Patierson’s yard were a year-long. Christmas project for the North Saanich couple. Project fills yard with Christmas Ann and Don Patterson’s yard is a light-spangled carol to Christ- mas. Cartoon characters, Disney fig- ures and Santa cavort in bright splendor under a note-scattered banner wishing passers-by a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The 24 feet of painted notes are accurate, Don says. “My wife’s the musician. She tells me they re right for the tune.” Last January the couple began @Bmaking the display for their yard at 1760 Fairfax Place. They decided on a musical theme and picked illustrations from children’s Christmas books and Christmas cards to form groups of carolers. Fire chief Sidney Fire Chief Mel Baldwin is retiring January 1 after 39 years of continuous service with the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. An employee of the town’s pub- lic works department, from which he is also retiring, Baldwin has been fire chief for 14 years. He started with the fire depart- ment as a probationary firefighter qin 1951. “Mel served his apprenticeship in fire suppression and safety at a time when funding was difficult, equipment hard to come by and much ingenuity was required to obtain a modest level of prepared- ness,” noted Sidney fire inspector Larry Buchanan in a tribute to Baldwin. Baldwin worked on the team that built an addition to the old firehall in the mid-1960s and changed the alert system from an old Second World War air raid alarm to individual pagers for each firefighter. In addition to answering thou- sands of fire calls, he was also a volunteer on the ambulance ser- vice which was part of the fire department for several years. Major fires which he helped control were blazes at the San- down Hamess Raceway, at North Saanich School, at Cheema Dairy Barn, at the Anacortes ferry termi- nal, at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada Sidney Museum Unit building, at the White Birch Road apartment and two fires involving the Clarke plane, one near the Legion and one near Sanscha Hall. He also helped during emergen- cies, including helping ferry pas- sengers stranded by a strike and pupae Out basements chang 2 a Don cut out the wood figures and Ann painted them. The first sets of figures were made from January to March and the reindeer-styled dogs pulling a sleigh were made in the fall. The display includes 36 figures lit by 24 spotlights. Piped music floats over the yard and strings of Christmas lights — most of the 950 lights used by the couple throughout their home this Christ- mas — outline the figures, shrub- bery, house and driveway. “Tt was a lot of fun. You really got into it,” Ann said. Don is a retired military officer and public servant and Ann still works as a banker. Both have decorated their home at Christmas before but never to this extent. They drove around the south Island last Christmas looking at displays before starting their pro- ject. Don said neighbors have com- plimented the couple on the dis- play and one neighbor has sent a card praising the effort. “Tt’s a contribution to the neigh- borhood,” Don said. It also provides a festive setting for a large family Christmas planned at the home this year. The couple have five children and three grandchildren. “We'll have 13 people here Christmas morning ranging in age from five months to 80 years,” Ann said. retiring January | November high tide. As chief he oversaw much of the modernization of the department. Among his achievements were the opening of a new hall in August 1989, development of a training program for firefighters and pur- chase of a new pumper truck and rescue truck. “This came about through a judicious and thoughtful plan for acquisition of fire, safety, training and communication equipment, never losing sight of the need for a new hall to meet a fast growing Sidney’s emergency needs into the 21st century,’ Buchanan said. Administration achievements include overseeing preparation of a policy and procedures manual and development of training and per- sonnel records for the volunteer fire department. The department boasts an exten- sive library of manuals, audio- visual equipment and cassettes along with specialized equipment, such as a smoke generator, to improve firefighters’ skills. “Keeping volunteers informed, involved and prepared without appearing to give orders is a unique skill,’ Buchanan said. “Mel has it.” Baldwin was born in Resthaven Hospital, Sidney. He and his wife Greta have two children, Maurice and Janice, and live in Sidney. Following his retirement, Bal- dwin will remain associated with the fire department as a Fire Warden. Housing starts still spiral Housing starts for the Peninsula and the rest of Greater Victoria continued a downward trend last month, a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation spokesman said last week. King Lee said a decline in the building of multiple units, such as condominiums, is to blame for the HOUSE OF RUSSEL continued drop in starts. “Apartment and rowhouse con- ” struction is expected to remain low through mid 1991 as excessive inventory is absorbed,” he added. _ Leading the way for the Penin- sula in housing starts last month was North Saanich, which saw six single-family houses begin con- struction. Our Reputation is on Your Head HAIRSTYLISTS LTD. UNISEX @ 656-1522 see ® Precision Cutting IN SIDNEY CENTRE #102-2367 Bevan Ave., Sidney, B.C. (Next to Safeway) Unique Gifts and Crafts would like to wish all our customers and their families a very merry Christmas and the best of the New Year. We will be closed Dec. 25th = Jan ist UNIQUE GIS & CRAFTS #107-2506 BEACON AVE. 655-7189 [|] Real estate. [J Family law, divorce and separation. [-] Wills and estate matters. [-] Impaired driving. [J Personal injury and insurance claims. [J Incorporations, business law and litigation. [-] Commercial fishing and marine law. e offer a complete range of legal services, both personal and corporate. Please enquire about a free initial interview and estimate of legal costs. Dale R. Henley Michael A. Walden Maureen A. Sullivan Sara E. Pope Henley & Walden 201-2377 Bevan Ave. Sidney, B.C. 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