YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
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DEC. 20-26, 2023 Vol 45 no 51 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
’Tis the season to sing
By nOrma B. dennis FReeLAnCe WRITeR ndworddesign@gmail.com Some people call December the most wonderful time of the year. It certainly can be one of the busiest. Ragsdale choral director Marcus Young, also a J.V. boys’ basketball coach, came straight from a game to accompany choral students as they sang at a special meeting of the Jamestown Rotary Club Dec. 12. Several of the students were leaving the performance to go back to school to participate
in a band concert. But for a brief period of time, all focus was on singing as the group entertained their audience with a variety of songs that highlighted their vocal skills and delighted their listeners. Past experience — as a member of his high school chorus and a member of another civic club before coming to Jamestown — influenced Bob Callicutt to invite the group from RagsPhoto by Norma B. Dennis dale to sing at the James- to start the program at a recent Jamestown rotary town Rotary Club meeting. Club meeting, samantha Blackwelder, a junior at ragsdale High school, led the Honors Choir in sevsee sing, PAGe 2 eral numbers.
The Town of Jamestown will be closed Monday, Dec. 25, through Wednesday, Dec. 27, in observance of the Christmas holiday and on Jan. 1, 2024, in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Garbage and recycling schedules will be impacted Dec. 26 and 27. Tuesday’s normal pickup will be collected on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Wednesday’s normal pickup will be collected on Friday, Dec. 29. That is a two-day delay from your normal pickup. There will not be any impact for the New Year’s holiday week and all collections will be on their normal schedule. As a reminder, all waste must be placed within the can and the lid must close to allow our crews to service your container. Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail.com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
Dec. 20 is shortest day of year By CarOl BrOOKs FReeLAnCe WRITeR cab1hp@gmail.com Most everyone has heard the phrase, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.” With the winter solstice coming at 10:27 p.m. Dec. 21, signifying the beginning of winter, we can say assuredly, “It’s summer somewhere.” That somewhere would be locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia is known to have opposite seasons than in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in North Carolina and other places, it is also the shortest day of the year, nearly nine hours less daylight than the longest day of the year. The first full day of winter is Dec. 22. Many of us hate going home from work in the dark at 5 p.m. at this time of year. The days will begin to get longer, and therefore lighter, as we work our way into the new year — but it will still mean it will get dark before you get home, at least for a while. see day, PAGe 2
Photo by Bob Callicutt
marcus young, center, conductor/teacher of the choral program at ragsdale, barely had time to finish coaching a J.V boys’ basketball game before bringing choral students to the rotary meeting and conducting their final songs of the evening.
Disinfectant brings smell, taste to water — but it’s safe By CarOl BrOOKs FReeLAnCe WRITeR cab1hp@gmail.com Does your water smell like bleach or a swimming pool? Not realizing the cause, some people believe there is a problem with their pipes and run baking soda down the drain thinking that would clear up the smell. No luck. The smell comes from changing from chloramines to chlorine as a disinfectant in the water. It’s been done before but it seems to smell stronger this year. It’s hard to believe it is safe for us and our pets to consume. But the smell or taste will decrease or go away totally as the system stabilizes and people get used to it. The level of chlorine is much less than is in a swimming pool. “The partners in the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority (PTRWA) switched from chloramines to free chlorine in early December,” said Paul Blanchard, Jamestown’s public services director of the temporary switch. “We periodically change disinfectants to meet state and federal requirements and to provide safe and depend-
Photo courtesy Pexels
able drinking water. Both disinfectants provide safe drinking water, and some people notice the change when the switch occurs.” Free chlorine is a slightly stronger disinfectant than chloramines. PTRWA uses it periodically in the water to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that cause illness. Disinfection of drinking water began in the early 1900s when waterborne diseases like typhoid fever and dysentery were common. Disinfection is now required for public water systems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states water treated with chlorine is safe to drink as the levels are low. Also,
bathing is safe as chlorine cannot enter the body through skin. However, some people could experience mild skin irritation. There are some things the EPA recommends residents do to lessen the taste or smell: Put a pitcher of water in the refrigerator and let it sit uncovered for a few hours. This will allow the chlorine smell to leave the water. Refill after 24 hours. Use cold water for all drinking water. Cold water has fewer taste and smell concerns. Using cold water also makes the water less likely to absorb lead and copper from plumbing. Use a filter. All water treatment units, even those in your home, require regular maintenance to work properly. Water
treatment units that are not properly maintained will lose their effectiveness over time. In some cases, unmaintained units can make water quality worse and make you sick. Boil the tap water before using. People on kidney dialysis should contact their doctors or dialysis center with questions. The Town of Jamestown issued a press release several weeks ago stating the changeover would begin Dec. 2, 2023, and end the week of May 5, 2024, but Blanchard believes that has changed. “Regarding the schedule, we will use free chlorine until mid-April or so,” he said. “The partners wanted to begin the changeover between Thanksgiving and Christmas. “We switch back after the cold weather season ends so we will not freeze water on roads when flushing hydrants. Furthermore, we will wait until after the International Home Furnishings Market to switch back to chloramines.” Any questions should be directed to the Town Hall at 336-454-1138.
Tour of homes highlights holiday style By nOrma B. dennis FReeLAnCe WRITeR ndworddesign@gmail.com
Photos by Norma B. Dennis
Friends are all smiles as they gather around one of the many decorated trees at the home of Janie Underwood and Bubba Judy.
Some people may still be recovering from being housebound during Covid and are just ready to get out and about. Others are interested in seeing the three beautiful homes on display in Sedgefield and still others hope to gain Christmas decorating ideas. Whatever the reason, the 2023 Holiday Tour of Homes sponsored by the Sedgefield Colony Garden Club was one of the largest held during its seven-year run. In addition to ticket sales two baskets filled with bourbon or wine were raffled to add to the monies raised at the event. see tOUr, PAGe 2
Correction
Jennifer Hull adjusts an ornament on seasonal yard decorations made a one of the many trees bordering each Professional pianist Keith Byrd added compelling statement at the entrance side of the patio pool at the home on to the festivities with special holiday of one of the houses. gaston road. music.
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Closing the year with appreciation (Jamestown News December 13, 2023 Issue) — Gary Haynes was not the chair of the Library Board when it merged with the Old Jamestown School Association. Brock Thomas was chair at that time. Haynes, however, was already a board member of the OJSA. After the two boards merged, Thomas continued to serve as president for a while, after which Haynes took over that position.