The INDEPENDENT, November 21, 2002
Page 9
Astoria author will read newest children’s book in St. Helens
A reading of Petra Mathers’
latest children’s book, Herbie’s
Secret Santa, will be accompa
nied by a slide show, some very
special cookies and book sign
ing by the author. St. Helens
Book Shop will host the reading
at 2:00 p.m. on November 29.
Suitable for children ages
four to eight, Herbie is ready for
Christmas, dressed as Santa
and humming a tune. But,
when he and best friend, Lottie,
set off to buy a tree in Oyster-
ville, then find themselves in Ali
Baba’s bakery, the holidays
take a turn for the worse.
Herbie’s Secret Santa is
published by Atheneum Books.
Petra Mathers was born in
Todtmoos, in the Black Forest
region of Germany, and moved
to Portland when she was 23.
She now resides in Astoria.
She has been involved with
books most of her life, selling,
editing or writing them.
She has illustrated 18 books
by other au ¡ors, and written
and illustrated 10 books, with
more on the way. Four of Math
ers’ books have appeared on
the annual New York Times list
of Ten Best Illustrated Chil
dren’s Books. Her books have
been frequently cited on best
book lists by School Library
Journal and Parent’s Choice
Magazine. The award-winning
author earned the New York
Society of Illustrators Silver
Medal in 1995 for Kisses from
Rosa and in 1999 for Lottie's
New Friend.
St. Helens Book Shop is lo-
cated at 1550 Columbia Blvd.
in St. Helens. For more infor
mation on the Literary Arts Se
ries, contact the St. Helens
Public Library at 503-397-4544
or St. Helens Book Shop at
503-397-4917.
The Literary Arts Series is a
collaboration of the St. Helens
Public Library, the Friends of
the St. Helens Public Library,
the St. Helens Book Shop and
the Columbia Foundation. All
events are free to the public.
Play it safe when using candles
for festive decorations or for light
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While candles can add a
special touch to home decorat
ing, they can also present a fire
hazard. Last year in Oregon,
there were 168 candle related
fires, causing one fatality, 26 in
juries and $1,944,097 in prop
erty loss.
“Most candle fires start when
they are left burning, unattend
ed. That’s why the Insurance
Information Service of Oregon
& Idaho (IISOI) encourages
you to "blow it out, before you
go out," says IISOI Executive
Director, Krista K. Fischer.
Only you can prevent candle
fires. The Insurance Informa
tion Service of Oregon & Idaho
recommends following some
simple guidelines -
• Stay in the same room with
burning candles; never leave
them burning unattended. Al
ways make sure candles are
blown out before leaving home
or going to bed.
• Keep candles away from
things that can burn. Keep can
dles at least one foot away from
clothing, curtains, upholstered
furniture, greenery, decorations
and any other flammable items.
Always use a sturdy metal,
glass or ceramic candleholder.
• Place candles out of reach
of children and pets. Many can
dle fires are started when pets
knock them over, or when chil
dren touch or play with them.
• Keep wicks trimmed to
one-quarter Inch. This keeps
the candle from smoking.
• Avoid candles with com
bustible items embedded in
them such as twigs, flowers or
leaves. These items can ignite
and even explode, causing fire.
Remember to make sure
you have working smoke
alarms on every level of your
home, outside each sleeping
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Consider a home fire sprinkler
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For free consumer bro
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