Parking Policy On The Block.

The City Council Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet this evening at the Police Station for its regular monthly meeting. The agenda includes a proposal to eliminate the two hour parking restriction in the downtown area. Downtown parking has dominated Public Safety Committee meeting for the last several months. A past proposal to raise the fine from one dollar to fifteen dollars was soundly defeated when presented to the full Council. Other proposals included selling monthly passes to residents on the Square have also met the same response.

Part of the interest in the issue may have to do with the fact that enforcement of the parking restriction has been more consistent in the last year. The Mornin’ Mail reported a few days ago that fines for the first four months of this fiscal year already the total of fines issued for the entire proceeding fiscal year.

The agenda also includes a discussion of the upcoming Christmas parade, a presentation by Anywhere Mobile Solutions, and a discussion concerning car bids.

In all the discussion about the parkin’ on the Square, there is one thing that I figure ‘bout ever’one can agree on. The laws that are on the books should either be enforced or they should be eliminated. Applyin’ one set a rules for some and not for others just doesn’t seem ta line up with most folks sense of fair play.

One idea that has been tossed around that may have some merit and some compromise is the elimination of two hour parkin’ restrictions only on the inside of the Square. If there were to be a "test run" this might be the place to start. ‘Course mainly locals would take advantage of this set-up, but at least the tourists would be afforded a spot somewhere near the shops. Of all the ideas floated, this one seems the least offensive to business owners.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Q: Can I clean my own chimney to save money? -- Paul in Pittsburgh

A: I wouldn’t recommend it for do-it-yourselfers. Chimney cleaning is one of those maintenance items that is best done by professionals. You can certainly take some preventive measures to make the job less expensive, but to keep your home safe, enlist the help of a licensed chimney cleaner.

Preventive measures include burning higher-quality wood. Hardwoods -- like oak, for example -- produce less creosote, a sticky, highly flammable substance that coats the inside of the chimney and is often the culprit in chimney fires. Cheaper wood, especially pine, produces more creosote and should be used sparingly.

Maintain the health of your chimney by cleaning the firebox regularly. Once the ashes of a fire have thoroughly cooled (you should be able to put your hand right on them without feeling any heat), sweep them out and dispose of them or add them to your compost pile. You can clean the damper occasionally using a bristle brush or broom to sweep ashes and debris down into the firebox, but don’t reach up into the chimney flue.

If you maintain the roof and gutters yourself, visually inspect the outside of your chimney during the maintenance task. Note any damage to the bricks, mortar or metal flashing around the chimney.

Anything beyond that, a professional chimney sweep should come in. Once a year, prior to the onset of cold weather, schedule a chimney cleaning service. The professional should inspect the inside of the chimney, the chimney stack, the fireplace, flue and all associated parts. He or she must provide a written estimate of necessary repairs and should not start any work until you’ve approved it.

HOME TIP: "Cleaner logs" don’t really "clean" your chimney. They’re just cheap composite logs that purportedly burn cleaner and create fewer creosote deposits. Don’t spend good money on them.