Well, for those trying to recycle, you might already find the government or locals are beating you to it. It might even be a requirement to reuse used metal for all I know. For someone in bad need of help, you can go to government. There's foodstamps, missions, churches that will give food away. There's meals on wheels for older people if they qualify. Ask you local human services department for help if things get real bad. It's really businesses that yours and our community has allowed in. I've been listening to a lot of small town talk, we can't have a walmart, it wasn't approved, we can't have a burger king, it wasn't approved. Businesses have to be chosen so not to run anyone else out of business, but they bring in a slave labor factory every time when they could have brought in something stable, then it moves to Mexico. You're not really losing anything worth keeping, but you are losing a pay check, definitely means something. I love economics, but not enough to study it properly. When you plan for the worst first, then plan for the extras, you are always covered. We are covered for the best, then they hide the truth before it caves, this creates desperation, and it could have been avoided if given warning or used the implementation to prevent it by some efforts even if it's just a vegetable garden. Do you remember in the year 2000 and New York City turned every vacant lot and building into a greenhouse or garden, they were going to fight off any kind of trouble that may come if the computers sent us back to 1900. They even made it a patriotic fun local thing to do. That's the spirit you should see, community planning to prevent it, or meet it with an alternative when it falls through. Really what we should all be doing is calling our local city boards and asking for some community planning, what ever it may be, that people in hardship can work to make something good out of hard times.

My 2 cents , Honda Engines are still solid performers . Their carbs have suffered from downgrading to a small degree. They do require more proactive care. Using common sense and a little preventative mtce and these issues can be avoided . Ethanol is evident in most if not all fuel to some extent in the U.S . Treating this fuel will resolve any problems. I remember when many engine manufacturers pre ran their units , and most likely still do for Q.A. Rational. Fuel may be evident within the fuel system therefore from the get go . Rusting is a Red Light of Ethanol fouling from long term . I suppose 1 yr would do the trick . The owner may have not seen the small amount of oxidation around the low speed jet area which can cause this condition . 13 $ is cheap for a quick fix . Very few owners are experienced within carb rebuilding and often do more harm then good . As for Viton and solvent usage as advised by Tom I agree some swelling could occur . EPDM seals are the only type I would allow Acidic or Amine solvents clean . Have owned previously Honda Engine Units and have had good service from them . Currently have a Toro , but would not hesitate on a Honda should the price be right .

Melissa, love the pictures! Your yard is maturing so beautifully. I too, love the headboard idea and the gaura and blue basil are amazing. Yes, our yards are bad now, but with spring we'll be happily planning and planting again. By the way, I love the purple ruellia with the firebush. Great color contrast. Sun worshiper, isn't the farfugium a great plant? I have tried every which way I know to propagate them. I have spread seed, I have chilled the seed in the fridge for weeks as I saw somewhere, I tried from leaves like begonias. I also tried to secure the flower stems to the ground to see if that distal little leaf would form roots. Nothing. I do have a 3-4 year old plant that looks like it has a baby- but the baby has been the same size all year. I think maybe it came up from the roots? Mine do get bigger. Almost like they get more than one head, but it takes a couple of years. Maybe that's why they're so expensive. I buy them when I see them though, because I rarely see them. I plan on getting more because they are so easy and always look good, especially in cool weather. Let me know if you figure out a way to propagate, and I will post if I do too. Anyone out there know? Anna

Just to clarify: the depot is not used for train passengers but as a covered area for vendors or music groups. Trains come through Gibsonville but do not stop. There is an official train station in Burlington. There are two town festivals, spring and fall, when vendors up and down the town main street pay a fee to sell and music groups perform all day. We don't have the regular market on those Saturdays. During the summer there are gospel groups and other musicians that play at the bandstand. Last night PresbyOpia played under the big tree from 6-8 PM and I went to listen. This was a very casual, sing-a-long and bring-your-own-chair kind of performance. There were 2 guitars, 2 mountain dulcimers, and my friend Bill on his hammered dulcimer - all sang. They played folk tunes, hymns, novelty tunes, and standards. We all sang along on Comin' Round the Mountain, Amazing Grace, All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir, and other favorites. We only had to stop when the trains came thru! LOL! Teresa