Dart to grease and the cumulative effect it’s having on Salisbury’s arteries. In this case, we’re referring to the city’s sewer lines, which suffered a bad case of greasy buildup back in August.
That’s when city technicians suspect grease from East Innes Street restaurants created a major blockage in a 42-inch sewer collection line. When a contractor finally dislodged the goo, the massive flow of solidified grease —ugh! — proceeded to foul up the works at the Town Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Now, there’s a mental picture.
The city has wisely decided to require restaurants to install grease traps. In the meantime, this bit of news may give pause to folks who frequent the restaurants in question. If their grease can clog up a 42-inch sewer line, what is it doing to us?
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Laurels to the smell of fresh Fraser firs and white pines, which will soon be taking their places in homes across the land. Nearly 80 million Americans celebrate Christmas with a tree, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Forty-five percent of American homes chose a real tree in 1999, while 55 percent had an artificial tree. Artificial trees may be more economical and practical;you can use them year after year. But there’s nothing like the scent of the real thing.
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Dart to tragic holiday fires, which happen every year as families overload their circuitry with decorations, get distracted by all the holiday hubbub and rely on sometimes sketchy heaters to keep everyone warm. If you didn’t remember to change your smoke alarm batteries when the time switched back in October, tend to that chore now. Make this a Christmas season to remember, rather than one you wish you could forget.
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Laurels to Lutheran Nursing Home for collecting a ton of food — and then some — for Rowan Helping Ministries, and to other local nursing homes who have fielded teams to gather food. While food donations are always appreciated, Rowan Helping Ministries is especially in need this season because of plant closings and layoffs, which have increased the number of people in the community needing help. The agency also diverted substantial amounts of food to help flood victims last year. RHM distributes about 400 pounds of food a day to families in crisis, and it relies on contributions to restock those rapidly depleted shelves.
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