Dog Park Paws Ahead.

Representatives of he Carthage Dog Park Committee met again with the City Public Services Committee last week to discuss various aspects of the project to date. Discussion centered around the Dog Park Committee’s proposal to sell advertising to be placed on the proposed fence along the eastern border of the 1.7 acres.

The 540 foot section of fence would hold up to 54 of the eight by four foot vinyl signs and face inward toward the west. Some consideration was given to the effect the wind may have on the structure. The Public Works Committee had requested that all signs have slits in them to reduce the chance of the fence being blown over. Signs located at the City owned ball fields are required to have that design. The City also requires that the signs be up no longer than 90 days at a time.

City officials and the Park Committee are to meet later this month to put together a Memorandum of Understanding to further define the relationship. The basic relationship is the Park committee is mainly a fund raising organization. The City will own the facility if funding is secured.

I hear some complainin’ from time to time from folks who have more trouble rememberin’ than they used to. Some fear it might be caused by gettin’ older.

Although there is prob’ly some who loose ‘memberin’ capacity as the years go by, I’m more inclined to believe as ya get older, you’re just more picky as ta what ya store in the brain.

I’ve heard ya only use about 10% of our grey matter. Maybe the longer ya live, the less room ya have for stuff that isn’t really important to ya. Most folks have some really good memories tucked away that takes up precious head room. Plus, as we mature, we are better able to distinguish what we should remember and what isn’t really worth the effort. I’m sure there was a point to all this, but I lost it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Slow-Running Kitchen Faucet

Q: Help! The faucet on my kitchen sink recently stopped flowing at full strength. It has hot and cold knobs (rather than one lift control), and neither is flowing well. I checked the shutoff valves to both hot and cold feeds, and they are all the way on. The rest of the faucets in the house are OK. I guess the only good thing is that the constant drip from that faucet has stopped. What’s happening? -- Theresa in Wheeling, W.Va.

A: Since you’ve checked the shutoff valves under the sink (the first step in diagnosing a flow problem), the next step is to look for what may be restricting water flow.

The aerator attached to the faucet sometimes gets clogged with scaly buildup, especially in areas with hard water. Unscrew the aerator (if you must use a wrench, wrap the aerator in a cloth to prevent scratches) and check the screen. If there’s buildup, soak it in a solution of vinegar, water and baking soda for a couple of hours, then rinse.

If that isn’t it, the faucet may need maintenance. Washers in the cold- and hot-water "stems" (the hardware underneath the knobs of a compression faucet) deteriorate over time and must be replaced. You mention that the faucet used to drip constantly, a clear signal that maintenance is needed.

Replacing the washers in compression faucets takes a bit of elbow grease but can be done. If you don’t know the exact model of your faucet, purchase several sizes of washers at the home-improvement store and match up the old washers with the new ones to get the correct size. You also should purchase a seat dressing tool to polish the "seat" (bottom) of the cavity in which each stem sits.

Turn off the water at the shutoff valves (make sure it’s off by turning the faucet on). Remove the knobs by popping the top covers off and loosening the screws, then lifting the knobs away. Loosen and remove the valve stems. Clean them and remove the old washers, even if they look OK; replace with new washers (aka O-rings). Insert the seat dressing tool into each stem seat and turn just one or two times. Replace the stems and secure the control knobs in place. Open the shutoff valves. If water leaks around the knobs, repeat the process to make sure the new washers are in place. If the water flow still doesn’t improve, contact a plumber.