Here - Don Wyld

April 2009 Your Newspaper Page 11Don’t Wait Until it’stoo Late to ChangeYour Wiper BladesRetreat to tranquility in the south of France(NC)-A getaway to the French Riviera is the promise ofromance. But if you do bring the kids to this legendaryplayground on the Mediterranean Sea, then basing yourselvesat one resort, instead of many hotels, does make alot of sense.This coastline, known as C?te d’Azur, is a Europeanhotspot in summer. It’s a magnet for those who seek itsendless sunshine, alongside the yachting, art galleries,and medieval villages. People come from miles aroundfor the best French food, the best French wine, the bestFrench shopping-and there’s nothing more replenishingthan the frivolity of the beach. All of this makes the Mediterraneancoastline -from magical Monte Carlo to west ofSt. Tropez - as busy in summer, as it is sunny. If, however,you do decide to stay at just one resort, you can carve outyour very own bit of space.France, you may remember, is the birthplace of ClubMed, a resort network of global renown-and one that isevidently inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. Headquartersare here, so you can count on the Riviera’s Club Medto impeccably strut their stuff. It’s a name that has spentyears perfecting the art of French hospitality: a precisionblend of social tradition with the abundance of service,choice and fabulous food.Club Med Opio, for example, is perched on a C?te d’Azurcliffside shaded by a grand olive grove. Trails for ridingand hiking meander with such tranquility through the vastOpio forests of pine and oak, it is easy to forget that youGet the most out of your garage(NC)-For many Canadians, the garagehas become an extension of thehouse. It’s an extra room for completingsmall jobs, storing large items andeven entertaining - it doesn’t have tobe cluttered or difficult to navigate.Organization products designed specificallyfor the garage have evolvedto be both functional and aestheticallypleasing. Canadian Tire has thefollowing solutions for homeownerslooking to make their garage into amore functional space this spring:Problem: Not enough spaceThe garage is the area where manyseasonal items are stored - the snowblower and winter tires in the springand gardening tools and patio furniturein the winter. The ceiling can easilybe converted into valuable storagespace with ceiling storage units andracks that can be used for ladders,tools and other seasonal accessories.Garage ceiling hooks are also a greatidea for storing hockey sticks, skiis orextension cords.Problem: Too much clutterCategorize all of the different equipmentin your garage by type (gardening,kid’s toys, tools etc.). Once youare able to see the amount of equipmentin each category, select the mostare only 23 kilometers from bustling Nice. The perfumecapital, Grasse, is just five minutes by car and glamorousCannes is only fifteen minutes away.From Montreal and Toronto, Air Transat makes it easy toget to several cities of France, including Paris, Lyon, Niceand more-and at www.clubmed.ca, you’ll also get a snapshotof the fully renovated Club Med Opio, like this:• Spa facilities with 7 treatment rooms, sauna, and aprivate heated pool• Two central swimming pools• An on-site 9-hole golf course and a 70-post drivingrange with classes for all levels• 21 private golf courses in the area• 13 tennis courts and tennis instruction• 435 superior rooms, including 26 connecting, 10handicapped and 4 suites• 3 restaurants• 4 bars• Guided hikes• Excursions to perfumeries, wineries, and medievalvillages• Baby Club Med, a program with full amenities forinfants• Children and Teen clubs (from 4 months to 17 years)with a children’s swimming pool.• A restaurant exclusively for kids• Club Med circus school, where your children can betaught to be to acrobats, clowns and jugglers-or toentertain audiences on the flying trapeze.appropriate bin or storage tote to containthese items. For example, Mastercraftcabinets are great for storingtools and clear totes are ideal forkeeping sporting accessories visible.Problem: Storing bikesFree up floor space with a system thatis designed to get bikes off the floor.The Mastercraft bike lift eliminatesheavy lifting by raising and loweringbicycles against the garage wall withthe touch of a hand, making it easy toaccess the bikes at any time.Problem: Dirt and stains on the floorThe cement in the garage can be impossibleto keep clean - an epoxyflooring or fresh coat of paint designedfor garage floors, can help tokeep your garage looking like new.(ARA) - Clear vision is essential to safe driving. Neglectthe wiper blades -- the part of your car responsiblefor keeping your vision clear - and you may findyourself actually needing the traction control, antilockbrakes, dynamic stability control and airbags asyou crash into what you can’t see.A clean windshield is not only useful during rain, sleetand snow. How many times have you experienced awindshield that is smeared with insects, bird droppings,road tar or other messy deposits? Removingsuch dirt with worn wiper blades is nearly impossible.Usually, you wind up smearing the mess and obscuringyour vision even more. If you change your bladesregularly, you can avoid these problems and keep youreyes on the road.Know when to Change Your BladesGenerally, a blade will show physical wear signs likecracking or discoloration. Another way to know is bythe quality of the wipe. Streaking or un-wiped areasare a dead giveaway. In addition, if the blades makenoise or chattering sounds, then they need to be replaced.However, if you change your blades frequently,you won’t have to examine your blades looking forthese signs of possible failure.Blades can be easily damaged by snow scrapers andice during the winter but the sun is just as damagingto a blade in the summer. By simply doing a little preventativemaintenance, you can avoid these uncomfortablesituations. Wiper blades should be treated theway you treat engine oil -- you don’t wait until youhave engine trouble before you change your oil.How often should you replace your blades? The NationalHighway Transportation Board recommendsthat drivers change their wiper blades every year, howeverthe average vehicle owner replaces his/her wiperblades only once every two and a half years. “Mostpeople wait until they are in a downpour and nearlydrive off the road before they are convinced it’s timeto change blades,” says Jenifer Maddox, brand managerfor PEAK Automotive Products. Some blades,such as Optix Wiper Blades, even come with simpleconnector systems that make installing the blades onany vehicle a snap.So if you’ve been procrastinating about changing yourwindshield wiper blades, take a few minutes today tochange them. You’ll be glad you did when your windowsare clear and dry this winter.