Today's Feature

Sales Tax on Budget Agenda.

The City Council Budget Committee will meet this evening in a regular session at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall. The committee is scheduled to discuss two items regarding a proposed Economic Development Sales tax. Those items include a Council bill authorizing the inclusion of the tax on the August election ballot and a memorandum of understanding between the City and the Carthage Economic Development Corporation.

The Budget Committee has been discussing the proposed sales tax for a number of months. The money generated by the 1/2 cent sales tax would be used for the purchase of land for industrial, commercial, business and retail development; bond payments, environmental assessments, engineering of the property and matching funds for state and federal grants.

The proposed tax would have a ten year sunset, and is projected to generate approximately $8 million over the ten year period. The Carthage Economic Development Corp. would be responsible for the purchasing of the property and the interaction with entities looking to locate in the development areas.

Saw a neat trick on a bicycle the other day. A small girl of five or six, apparently still learnin’ the art of survivin’ a two wheeler, was ridin’ with four other children. She turned out of the alley onto the street and didn’t get straightened out. She continued in a circular motion and bumped square into the curb. Her slow speed and low proximity to the ground eliminated any chance of serious injury, but she dropped like a rock. The small boy ridin’ beside her was havin’ his own problems keepin’ upright and didn’t stop. The girl brushed herself off and got back on slowly tryin’ to catch up to the rest of the group.

I never saw a tear, just a face of determination and possibly some embarrassment. A spark of hope for the next generation.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Don’t Toss That Paintbrush.

Q: I enjoyed your recent article on techniques that make it easier to restore paintbrushes. You didn’t mention oil-based paints and varnish. What would you recommend? -- Mario F., via e-mail

A: Naturally, the best way to keep paintbrushes in top shape is to clean them immediately after use. But even the most disciplined painters will leave a brush out too long or store it bristles-down, so that it becomes misshapen. It happens.

Brushes with dried oil-based paints should be dipped into a container of paint thinner, mineral spirits (also called white spirits) or another solvent such as turpentine. These thinners put out a lot of fumes and are very flammable, so use only in a well-ventilated area (away from common living areas) and well away from all other flammable materials.

Dip the dried brush into the solvent and keep it in just long enough to saturate the bristles. Then, either place it on a flat surface (protected by newspaper) or suspend it bristles-down by passing a wire through the hole in the handle and hanging the wire up. Don’t soak the brush in the solvent container, and don’t rest the brush on its bristles.

Periodically check the brush to see if the dried paint is softening up. Dip it in the solvent again if necessary. When the paint begins to soften, carefully run the spiky side of a cleaner tool (available at paint stores) through the brush, being careful not to tug out bristles. Repeat this process as needed.

Brushes that have become misshapen can be very difficult to straighten out. The only thing to do is clean them thoroughly, store properly, and then use on your next job. The painting action often works the bristles into a somewhat straight position.

HOME TIP: Paint thinner, mineral spirits and solvents can be reused.

Bump and bruise season is here. Sore backs from gardening to painting or jogging, bike riding, canoeing and other summer related activities may be alleviated with the help of arnica gel or cream. Arnica is described in homeopathic literature as THE solution to the aforementioned conditions.

Who is more prone to falls than that toddler or what about the track enthusiasts? In the MATERIA MEDICA by William Boericke, M.D. states " it is especially suited to cases when injury, however remote, seems to have caused the present trouble." He also suggests it in " traumatism of grief, remorse or sudden realization of financial loss" letting us know that it can be used when the emotions are involved. Arnica should not be used on open wounds.

On a different note, I find it interesting that a certain ad on television has been stating that it is the ONLY source of pryruvate or fat grabbers. How do these people get away with such straight out lies? The herbs they are promising are good, it is just the fact that they are not the first nor the only to have the product. Maybe it is just the exorbortant prices they ask that makes them unique. Why do we put so much stock in TV personality?