Kira;

Decline of elms, slippery or Chinese, is a common occurence.  Elms do not seem to live long in the Piedmont.  Root rot, trunk cankers, borers are more likely invaders.  The  variable oak leaf caterpillar, green striped maple worm, the elm leaf beetle and the gypsy moth have a taste for elm.  However, observations of this genus indicate a general weakness in NC.

I also suspect that extended droughts weaken the elm, more suited to northern forests, longer winters, and shorter droughts.  The tree is not part of the climax forest in our region and, thus, may have decided to bow out of competition with other genus early in the forest development process.

Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma ulmi) is not a major factor here, as in the north.  In this disease, the Scolytus beetle is thought to carry the fungus.

Tom Glendinning

Cecilia Grimes in Siler City, former English teacher, author of “What It Means to be Southern” and other southern gift books, is an etiquette consultant.  She was trained at the Washington School of Protocol and does a wonderful with small group settings with children onto prestigious university and corporate settings.

Her website is ceceliabuddgrimes.com

Janice Britson

I’ve just received the most recent warning from Chatham County offices
http://www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx?recordid=1635&page=19
about safety issues related to the predicted winter weather we’re all preparing for.  Some good suggestions there and I commend it to your attention.  One of the items mentioned is the potential for downed trees on power lines and blocking roads.

This is the worst possible situation for using a chainsaw.  Many of us think we know how to use one.  But when trees fall, there are many more safety issues to consider.  First of course is whether a “hot” electric line is involved.  None of us needs to go there.

Another consideration is to keep an eye out for what is overhead.  Trees and limbs often get caught part way down and need only a minor shift to continue falling.  Don’t be under one of those.

When you finally get to the tangle of limbs and trunks on the ground, chances are good that most of them are caught up under some tension.  When you saw into that limb under tension, it’s a good idea if you know which way it’s going to snap.  If you don’t know, it could break your leg or take off your ear.  If you don’t know, stay away.

And among the tangle of things on the ground, always leave yourself at least one, preferably more than one escape route.  If you need to get out of the way quickly, you don’t want to trip over a tangle of limbs with things falling all around.

In short, clearing fallen trees and limbs is work that needs to be done with considered deliberation.  Chainsaw accidents are not pretty and are usually much worse than the problem they were set up against.  Don’t be in a hurry.  And if you don’t have training and experience for the situation, wait for someone who does.

I agree with Tony Tucker, director of Emergency Management for Chatham County.  We mostly need to get where we’re going early this evening and plan to stay there for a while.

Be careful.
alcooke

Al Cooke
Extension Agent, Horticulture
Chatham County Center
N.C. Cooperative Extension
PO Box 279, Pittsboro, NC  27312
919.542-8202; Fax 919.542.8246
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/staff/acooke/home.html

Yes, your 2009 Federal and North Carolina income tax can be prepared and filled electronically (e-file) for free. Chatham County residents can take advantage of this service sponsored by the IRS, Orange County RSVP and the Chatham County Council on Aging. The service is designed to assist low to middle income taxpayers of all ages. It is called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program providing computerized preparation of your 2009 income tax by IRS trained and certified preparers. In addition, by taking advantage of the e-file or electronic filing capability, you will receive any refund due in half the time compared to returns filed on paper and even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into one’s bank account.

This service will be offered at both Chatham County Senior Center locations with the following schedule:

Eastern Chatham Senior Center, Highway 87 North in Pittsboro from 1-4 PM on the following  Wednesday’s – February 3 and 17, March 3 and 17 and April 14 and from 10 AM to 4 PM on the following  Saturday’s – February 6 and 20, March 6 and 20 and April 3.

Western Chatham Senior Center, 112 Village Lake Dr, Siler Business Park in Siler City from 1-3 PM on the following Wednesday’s – February 10 and 24, March 10 and 24 and April 7 and from 10 AM to 4 PM on the following Saturday’s – February 13 and 27, March 13 and 27 and April 10.

Appointments are necessary so do not delay. Call Evelyn White at 542-4512 to book your day and time. Spanish speaking clients are welcome and can make an appointment by calling Vinculo Hispano at 742-1448.

To speed tax preparation and to insure the accuracy of your return, it is important to bring the following documentation to your appointment:

·        Last Year’s Tax Return

·        Social Security cards or ITIN’s for you, your spouse and dependents

·        Birth Dates

·        Wage and earning statements (W-2, 1099R)

·        Interest and Dividend statements (1099 Int. / 1099 Div.)

·        Totaled receipts for all medical expenses and charitable contributions

·        Proof of Property tax payment

·        Total paid for daycare and the providers tax identification number

·        Education expenses plus information about any student loans

·        Proof of Unemployment Compensation

And new for 2009 there are 2 new credits if you qualify:

1.      Proof of a home purchased during the year if you are a first time home buyer

2.      Deduction of the state sales tax on the purchase of a new car, light truck, motorcycle or motor home purchased after February 17, 2009.

“Bringing the appropriate information to your appointment will speed the process, save you time and perhaps some money” said White. And do not forget that if you are married filing jointly both spouses must be there to sign the return.

Early appointments fill up fast so call as soon as possible.

We wanted to recommend a very good company for hardwood floor  installation and repair. It’s called Bohemia Floors. The owner is Mark and his  number 308-8500 and his e-mail is Mark@bohemiaco.com .

He installed a nice wood floor in our office. When we had a flood  only a short time later, we thought we’d have to put new wood floors in.  Thanks to his advice, we were able to save the floors (and a lot of $)

Deck for Marie

Chris Ketchel (NCPrime.com) 919-656-3862 has done extensive work on my
little old fixer upper including a fantastic deck. He is detail oriented,
fairly priced and extremely reliable.

Julia Kennedy

Almost every lawn mower repairs shop has some mowers which were repaired and left by the owner.  Just ask if there are any.

Western Auto, Siler City, Brooks Repair, Pittsboro, etc., etc., etc.

Tom Glendinning

If you’re going to mention that your item is on craiglist, you might want to provide a direct link to the craigslist post.

When you say you have, for example, a Honda Accord and we can look on craiglist for pix but you don’t give a link, your potential buyers go to craigslist and search for Honda Accords.  Not only is it annoying to have to wade through 50 other Honda Accords for sale to find yours, but I’m not sure that re making people examine  50 of your direct competitors to find your listing is a good marketing strategy.

Just a suggestion.

Kathy Morris

I am the current VP for NHS athletic boosters club. NHS Athletic Boosters does not have a phone soliciting campaign going on. We do not solicit funds from local business by phone. We believe in face to face conversations with the business owners in our community to ask for their support of our student athletes. We do appreciate your support in the past. We look forward to a long lasting relationship with our community in the future to help provide the athletes at NHS all the tools they need to be successful.

Thank you for your support

Harvey Skinner
Northwood High School
Head Softball Coach
Boosters Club VP

Also, NHS Boosters will provide written receipts in person when a donation is given.  Please contact us if you have any other problems or questions.  Thank you.

Darcey Moore President, Booster Club

www.SueWilsonDulcimer.com

Sue Wilson is great , She plays for some very special people at Careview Resthome in Snow Camp , we love her and the music is superb, her music  is outstanding ,You want be disappointed.

Kathy Gaddis