Financing On Agenda.

The City Council is scheduled to hear the first reading Tuesday evening of an ordinance that would authorize the issuance of $3.2 million in certificates of participation to fund improvements for CW&EP. The financing would allow the utility to purchase a new transformer, establish a new water well, and make other improvements deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

The twenty-year financing project is considered to be relatively small by the financial community and therefore it is expected that finance costs will be slightly higher that originally anticipated. According to City Administrator Tom Short, the City is expecting to pay somewhat less that 5% for the financing.

The Council is also scheduled to vote on a bank requisition in the amount of $1,830.88 for the Fair Acres Expansion Project. The first reading of an ordinance to increase the number of board members for McCune Brooks hospital board from seven to nine is also on the agenda.

The Council will also be asked to approve a request to the Steadley Foundation for a grant for the Over-Sixty Center.

Had some folks stop in from Texas the other day. First time visitors to Carthage.

It’s always fun to see people get excited about the history and attractions here in town and the surroundin’ area. The soon figured out that takin’ in Carthage is at least a two day event. They liked the place, spent the night and will likely be back for more visits.

I suppose for those of us who live in the community it’s easy to take for granted all of the sights we encounter ever’day. It takes an outsider to rekindle the excitement that comes with the discovery of our community.

This week there will likely be lots a folks comin’ in for the Maple Leaf Festival that aren’t from around these parts. Most likely they’ll wanna come back too.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Sam Mazzotta

Q: I have old wood-frame windows in my house, and a couple of panes are cracked. Can I replace the broken glass without having to replace the entire window? — Carly M., Stoneham, Mass.

A: Yes you can, although replacing glass is not much fun. Collect the following items first: work gloves, a hammer, an awl or screwdriver, measuring tape, a wire brush, steel wool, sandpaper, clear silicone putty (or glazier’s compound), linseed oil and glazier’s points.

Remove the window and lay it on a sturdy table. Put on the work gloves to protect your hands and carefully remove the broken glass, using the hammer to gently tap pieces out (if necessary) and an awl or screwdriver to pry out remaining fragments. Discard the glass shards.

Scrape the old putty off of the frame, being careful not to damage the wood. If the putty is too hard to scrape, apply linseed oil with a cloth or paper towel and let it soak in until the putty softens. Scour the remaining traces of putty away with the wire brush, steel wool and sandpaper, and then apply a light coat of linseed oil to the newly exposed wood.

Measure the frame, subtracting 1/16 to 1/8 inch from each side. This gap will allow the new pane of glass to expand and contract in shifting temperatures. Order the new pane of glass at the home improvement or window retailer. (If custom glass cannot be obtained the same day, cover the frame with a piece of plastic to keep weather and bugs out and put it back in place.)

With the new glass pane nearby, put a quarter-sized dollop of silicone putty (or glazier’s compound) in your hand and roll it into a long string about the width of a pencil. Repeat this for each side of the frame and press the silicone string into the edges (use the edge of a screwdriver to tap it in if necessary).

Carefully insert the new pane of glass, pressing it into the putty. Don’t worry about putty that squeezes up out of the frame just yet. Hold the glass in place with one hand and place glazier’s points partway into the wood between the glass and frame, one every 8 inches.

Secure the pane by applying a line of clear silicone putty along the outdoor side of the glass where it meets the frame, and then smooth it with a putty knife (or your finger) so that it matches the putty in the other frames. Use a wet cloth to clean excess putty from the glass, put the window back in place, and allow the putty to dry for at least four days before repainting exposed wood.