Proposed New Fireworks Ordinance.

The City Council Public Safety Committee submitted the following ordinance to be considered in second reading at tomorrow night’s Council meeting. Section 10-3 referred to generally forbids the discharge of fireworks in the City limits. This ordinance would allow fireworks during these dates.

"SECTION I: Chapter 10 of the Carthage Code is hereby amended by adding the following new section thereto: Chapter 10, Article I, Sec. 10-4: Exceptions

The follow shall be exceptions to Sec 10-3: (a) December 31st from 5:00 p.m. to January 1st at 1:00 a.m.

(b) June 30th to July 3rd from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. each evening.

(c) July 4th until July 5th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m.

(d) July 5th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

(e) Nothing in this section shall allow the discharge of any firework in the Municipal Park at any time.

(1) The Fire Chiefshall have sole discretion of suspending Section 10-4 of the City Code in times of high fire risk or drought."

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I think there are more than a few out there that want this fireworks discussion to be over. Not because they care one way or the other whether explodin’ fireworks in the city is legal, they just want me to stop talkin’ about it.

Tomorrow night is scheduled to be the end of the discussion, unless the Council decides to postpone the vote. Hopefully the members have a real sense of how the community feels. That’s really what all this chatter has been about all along. If the majority of the citizens want legalized fireworks in the city, then so be it. I just don’t happen to think that is the will of the people.

I’ve heard and read local opinions that tend to support that thinkin’.

This will be the first close call for many on the Council, it will be interestin’ to see how the vote goes. I’ll let ya know.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake talkin’.

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THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Old CDs Find New Life in Garden

Q: A friend passed on this tip to me, and I want to pass it along to your readers. I like to start my backyard garden from seeds rather than planting seedlings, but birds are a problem as they fly in and eat the seeds before they sprout. To combat this, my friend told me to put my old, unused CDs to work.

Place stakes all around the garden perimeter -- and up the middle if need be -- and string sturdy twine along the stakes, wrapping once around each stake to keep it level. Then, run a short piece of string through the center of each CD and tie them to the perimeter string so that they dangle between the string and the ground.

The reflecting, shimmering light and spinning CDs frighten off birds. I’ve had a lot more success this year getting plants to sprout and get established! -- Sara F., Glens Falls, N.Y.

A. Thanks, Sara. That’s a pretty brilliant way to reuse old CDs! Keeping birds away from seeds -- whether garden vegetables or grass -- is an annual challenge, one that novice gardeners and experienced landscapers alike must often face.

Here’s a few other ways to discourage birds from nibbling away at freshly sown or planted seeds:

• For small garden plots or spots on the lawn being patched, place stakes in a square around the perimeter and tie string along the perimeter and crisscrossing over the area. Tie strips of old cloth every 9 inches or so.

• Large areas where seeds have been sown -- such as several feet of bare lawn -- can be covered with a layer of dry straw, which lets water in but discourages birds and other creatures from getting at the seeds.

• Hang wind chimes at the edge of garden plots. The sound sometimes alarms birds and pests and keeps them away.

Finally -- and this might not be practical in your neighborhood -- but my mother placed her clothesline right next to the garden. She hung out washing several days a week, and rarely had trouble with birds coming around.

HOME TIP: When planting seedlings, place a flattened paper bag or cloth sheet next to you and put excess dirt onto it, so the dirt can be moved easily and won’t cover up other plants.