Be extra cautious this holiday season
IN THE CITY
by Matthew J. Irwin
It’s time to gear up for winter and all of the holiday fun that comes with the season. Please keep the slippery roads in mind as you drive around town; in particular, keeping a safe distance from the car in front of you and allowing plenty of time for your car to come to a stop.
Also, don’t forget parking issues change this time of the year to allow for snow removal, so please take a quick look at Presque Isle’s parking ordinance for a reminder of the do’s and don’ts to avoid getting parking tickets or having your car towed.
As holiday shopping gets into full swing in the next week or two, please use common sense when placing gifts in your car while you continue to shop. Locking items in the trunk and ensuring your passenger compartment is locked are a couple of easy ways to retain your newly purchased gifts (giving is always better than receiving but I prefer to give my gifts to those I intend rather than some local hoodlum I’ve never met, or at least never met under social circumstances!). Rarely does the city of Presque Isle have incidents of criminals actually breaking car windows to gain access to the vehicle … thefts from cars almost always occur to cars that have been left unlocked by the drivers!
While not a substitute for common sense shopping, Presque Isle police officers will be spending a great deal of time around our various shopping locations and walking through stores and store parking lots this holiday season so say hello when you see them.
This is a great time for giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. The Presque Isle Rotary Club is holding an auction that will run from Nov. 27 through Nov. 29 wherein the proceeds are to be given to the Homeless Services of Aroostook to help with additional beds, mattresses, and personal lockers. For those who don’t know, the Homeless Services of Aroostook provide the only homeless shelter in Aroostook County. So anyone in need of shelter assistance from Fort Kent to Houlton comes through this shelter. The shelter’s funding is quite limited and you can be sure there are no luxuries built into their budget. Please give where you can.
Things desperately needed by the shelter are: clothing; towels of all kinds; bedding of all kinds; personal hygiene items (containing no alcohol); kitchen items; toys for children; gift wrapping paper; gift cards to places like Walmart, Kmart, Lowes, Staples; cash; and people to volunteer time at the shelter. Please feel free to check out PIPD’s Facebook page to see a video about the shelter and the needs of residents there.
Lastly, don’t forget to take special care of your pets this winter. If it’s cold outside to you, it’s cold outside for them! Bring them inside and ensure they are properly cared for.
As a reminder, all dogs residing in the city of Presque Isle must be properly licensed, this can be done at Presque Isle City Hall. This process makes certain proper vaccinations are in place to prevent a multitude of diseases and problematic conditions for our dogs. Renewal of all dog licenses is due by Jan. 1, 2013.
Matthew J. Irwin is chief of the Presque Isle Police Department. He can be reached at 764-2535 or via e-mail at pipd@maine.rr.com.
