To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the modern household refrigerator, Frigidaire is launching a search for the oldest Frigidaire still operating in the United States and Canada. In 1915, Alfred Mellowes of Fort Wayne, Ind., came up with an electric refrigerator to replace the then-common ice box. He called it the Guardian Frigerator but General Motors bought his company in 1918 and changed the name to Frigidaire. Entries must be received by Dec. 15. Be careful using portable heaters More than one-third of home fire deaths occur in the winter and are largely attributed to using home heating equipment incorrectly, according to Lowe's Home Safety Council, an organization underwritten by the Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse company.
Portable heaters are a big part of the problem.
If you use a portable heater, says the council, be sure it's placed at least 36 inches away from anything that can burn, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets and people. Supervise children and pets when a portable heater is in use. Never try to dry something by placing it over the heater or closer than 36 inches to it. If you experience any problems with the Daily News Web site, please let us know. Include the date and time of the problem and a brief description.