Review-Mirror

Last weekend the lights on a tree on Foley Mountain were lit mark- ing the beginning of the Christmas season in Westport. Getting the tree ready and keeping it lit is a decades-long labor of love for Robb Merkley who has taken on the project each year for 29 years. The tradition was begun by Dick Ready, the owner of the Tweedsmuir Hotel-now The Cove, who strung five 100 ft. extension cords up the mountain to light the tree in 1988. Ready became ill and died in 1989. Merkley took that first year's lights down and turned Ready's vision into a Westport tradition which has continued with fundraising efforts each year. He credits Terry and Mary Cowan and the staff at the Cove who have been instrumental in recent years to help him raise money, along with some businesses and private donations. This year there is fundraising at the Cove with a draw for a gift bas- ket. Last year the Christ- mas tree got LED lights, eliminating the need to completely change the lights on the tree every year. The location of the tree near Spy Rock is highly visible as well as vulnerable from winds of every direction. Elgin area entrepreneur Sean Price will be pitching his Sure Fire Cube next week on CBC's Dragon's Den episode to be broad- cast Thurs., Dec. 7, 8 p.m. Price, a log home builder has invented a 3"x3" inch fire starter which can turn a pile of logs into a fire without paper or kindling. The product is chemical free and made out of recy- clable materials. "It's safe and burns away to nothing -no foot print and no toxic smoke. Pretty much all the compe- tition is chemicals and that's what we were trying to avoid," said Price. Four years ago Price came up with the idea and, after three prototypes, came up with a design he was ready to take to the patent office. "People who still start wood fires think it's a pain. You need paper, matches, and then kin- dling. With us, you start the box on fire and stack your wood," he said. After one attempt at getting a patent for his product he hired a patent lawyer, who in two tries succeeded. "It was my wording. There are patent lawyers out there who know what to do," said Price whose next challenge was mar- keting his product. "I'm pretty good at a lot of things and I'm grateful for that when it comes down to marketing it was way beyond my capabili- ties," he said. A test market, an after- noon at a Canadian Tire store in Kingston in 2015 brought him 117 sales and affirmed his drive to get a spot on Dragon's Den. A year later Price got his opportunity to pitch to the Dragon's Den investors. "You know they are interested in your product Thursday, November 30, 2017 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 126, No.47 $1 incl. tax Get your Don't go viral. eet (613) 273-2922 h Str c 3 Chur .A. estport Village I.D W Pu *Source: ur u shot. Agency of Canada ublic Health al.ca vir dontgo Mirror The Review Elgin entrepreneur in the Dragon's Den next Thursday Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 •Continued on back page Shop Local. Spend Local. Eat Local. See pages 8-9 Christmas Special NO PAYMENTS FOR 6 MONTHS... Plus, Scratch & Win up to $2500 pre-paid Visa card Town & Country Kerry Ryan 613-464-1460 Duncan ' s APPLIANCE SALES & SERVICE Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin Stainless Dishwashers 24" Stainless Dishwasher •Orbit Clean® Wash System •Sahara Dry™ •Store-More™ Capacity •Aqua Surge™ Technology Reg. $749.00 Model #FGID2466QF $ 649 95 24" Black Stainless Dishwasher •Orbit Clean® Wash System •Sahara Dry™ •Aqua Surge™ Technology Reg. $799.00 Model #FGID2466QD $ 699 95 Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds Cash & Carry - Delivery & Set Up Available Dick Ready Christmas tree tradition closing in on 30 years Viewers won't find out until next week how things turned out for Sean Price on the Dragon's Den. •Continued on page 3 Santa Claus was busy in and around Westport on the weekend, wrapping it up with the Lions Club parade and visiting children at St. Edward School Saturday.

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