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Extension service networks with state
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By Holly Edwards
County Editor
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Brunswick County recently became part of a new statewide
computer network established by the N. C Cooperative Extension
Service. The network - one of only two like it in the country -
allows local county agents to communicate via desktop computer
terminal with slate specialists and administrators, said Milton
Coleman, county extension director.
The computer system makes large volumes of information
contained in state and national databases available to county
extension agents, Coleman said, and opens up “exciting possibili
ties" for improving services to county residents.
"Framterminalsoneacbdeskinourofftce.wecancommunicate
and exchange information with any other extension agent in the
state or specialist on the N. C. State University campus,” he said.
"We will now be able Instantly to access farm commodity market
reports, and other valuable reports farmers need, as they are
released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture."
Hie state cooperative extension service began in the fall of 1990
to develop a netwotlc in which all county agents and university
specialists would have a computer terminal on their desks. The
project was completed in October.
Coleman said electronic mail will now replace written corre
spondence among extension workers, and that plant an j insect
disease analyses will be available as quickly as the diagitoses are
made at N. C. State University.
Also, in November when tornadoes struck several regions of the
state, Coleman said extension agents in the affected counties had
immediate access to valuable recovery information that had been
developed for Hurricane Andrew victims in Florida and Louisi
ana.
"We are just barely scratching the surface of the potential that
this electronic system has for helping us provide improved educa
tional services to this county," Coleman said. "We are grateful to
the county commissioners for their support in helping to pay for its
installation."
Plant 1
Doctor^®
Bruce Williams Ph.D. t
December catch-up
month for gardener
By Bruce Williams, Ph.D.
Brunswick County
Cooperative Extension Service
December is a great month to
catch up on gardening chores and to
share a little Christmas spirit with
family and friends. Here are some
gardening tips and suggestions for
the season.
How many "live" Christmas trees
do you notice in your community or
- city that are actually still alive? It
has been my experience to notice
that the majority of B&B Christmas
3 trees don’t survive. There are
numerous reasons to consider.
. One is that the tree simply is not
acclimated to the new environment.
Frasier firs and white pines like it in
the mountains and that’s where they
should be planted in landscapes. If
you want narrow-leaf evergreen
trees for piedmont and eastern North
Carolina go to a nursery and buy a
red cedar, Leyland cypress, Scotch
pine or possibly a Deodar cedar.
Another "kiss of death" to a live
Christmas tree is how it is cared for
in the home during the holidays.
Too much or too little water and
heat are common problems associa
ted with the "Christmas Tree Short
life”.
Other tips:
•Continue to plant nursery stock
in the landscape. The one major
consideration at this time of year is
the soil condition. Wet soils are
rather unforgiving.
•Tip pruning can be accomplished
this month. Many evergreens are
used in various Christmas decora
tions - both the foliage and the ber
Merry Christmas y
& tiappy Mg.'u)

ries. Favorites include the hollies,
boxwoods, nandina, pines and
cedars. Save the real heavy "renova
tive” type pruning until the winter
(February).
•Continue to plant spring flower
ing bulbs.
•Compost, compost, compost.
Give a loved one a backyard corn
poster.
•Consider a water garden. Now is
a great time to plan where and how.
•Give gardening tools and sub
scriptions to landscaping magazines
as gifts. One of my personal favor
ites is Southern Living. Other favor
ites are Taunton's Fine Gardening,
American Nurseryman and Horticul
ture.
•The dead tops of many peren
nials can be removed. Frost has
killed back the top growth of most
of our favorite perennials. This in
cludes Mexican bush sage, pineap
ple sage, cannas, coneflower, rud
beckia, peonies and veronica. The
tops of others are still green and
they don’t need to be completely
trimmed backed. These might in
clude liriope, daylily, tansy and hol
lyhock. Just a general clean-up of
any brown foliage is necessary at
this time. Some perennials, although
dormant during the winter, offer
winter interest. Don’t cut the tops
back until the early spring clean-up.
This list includes sedum and the
many ornamental grasses.
•I’m sure you’ve enjoyed some of
the over 400 acres of wildflowers
the North Carolina Department of
Transportation has planted and
maintained across our state. After
judging their accomplishments, it
became apparent which wildflowers
performed the best. These would in
clude black-eyed Susan, bur
marigold, cardinal flower, com
flower, cosmos, Joe Pye weed, ox
eye daisy, Queen Anne’s lace and
toadflax.
^Vievtfs On
Cental Healtti
Larry Hemby, D.D.S.
THE PREGNANCY MYTH
It you are an expectant motner,
don't listen to any Old Wives Tales
that tell you pregnancy will hurt your
teeth. Neglect of regular dental care
or failure to have an ailing tooth
treated when needed can hurt your
teeth, but not your pregnancy. It's
only a myth that says having babies
drams all the calcium out of your
teeth and makes diem decay.
Sometimes certain hormonal
change that occur during pregnancy
may lead to puffiness and bleeding of
the gums. This usually subsides after
the baby is bom. But it should not be
ignored when it happens. Nor should
any other dental problem during
pregnancy. Regular physical check
ups to help you stay as healthy as
possible, for your own sake as well as
your baby's, are especially important
during pregnancy, i nai snuuiu aisu
include dental checkups so any de
cay or infection can be treated. See
your dentist for a checkup so any
dental problem you have can be
treated to help keep your teeth and
your body in good health.
Prepared as a public service to
promote better dental health.
From the office of:
LARRY HEMBY, DJJ.S.
621 Fodale Avenue
Southport, N.C. 28461
<919)457-5026
CAISON
i W \
JONES
M l W M
CASTEEN
LAYMAN
4-Her achievements
are cited at banquet
There were a lot of smiling faces
at the annual 4-H Achievement Ban
quet held at the Brunswick County
Government Center assembly build
ing on December 3.
Perhaps the biggest smiles were
those of Heidi Layman, Jessica
Jones, Tiffany Casteen and Amy
Caison, who received top honors as
outstanding 4-Hers for 1992.
Or possibly the biggest smiles
were those of the Lakeside 4-H Club
members, who were honored as the
outstanding 4-H club for 1992.
And there were certainly a lot of
smiles from the other 4-Hers receiv
ing awards, many of them for the
first time in front of a large
audience.
But it seemed the biggest smile
were those of proud parents and 4-1
club leaders as one by one the chil
dren they worked with during th
year were recognized.
The theme of the 4-H Achieve
ment Banquet was "Making the Be:
Better". Rep. David Redwine, a
guest speaker, spoke of the impoi
tance of striving for excellence.
For more information about the A
H program in Brunswick Count;
persons should call Billy Privetti
extension agent for 4-H, or Mar
Lou Cumbee, 4-H program a:
sistant, at the cooperative extensio
service office, 253-4425.
lOpen Monday-Saturday 10:00-6:00

^DISCOUNT
FURNITURE
WAREHOUSE
OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY
"Quality furniture at discount prices."
Come and check out our
Large Selections of RECLINERS
tfavea very
Ovterry Christmas!
Last delivery date is Tuesday, December 22.
We will be closed December 24 & re-open December 28.
LONG BEACH RD. • 457-6613 • FREE DELIVERY
Tidemark Rag-N-Bones
ANTIQUES 8 COLLECTIBLES
620 N. Howe Street
Southport, N.C. 28461
PHONE
(919) 457-9363
Oak Island Senior Citizens
|Craft Shop
'i
L
&
Come in and browse.
"Handmade Gifts for Christmas Giving
Paintings by Local Artists
Complete lines of tole supplies, fine art materials, books,
basketry supplies, DMC thread, counted cross stitch fabrics,
general craft supplies.
■ 5610 Oak Island Drive, Long Beach, 278-5224/ ^ J-'f
SL New Hours Monday-Saturday 10:00-4:00
✓
Warm Up to These Values!
•Men's Summer Sportswear & Swimwear 50% OFF
•Ladies Sportswear & Swimwear Up To 60% OFF
•Children's Sportswear & Swimwear 50% OFF
•Selected Gifts 50% OFF
•aii i-aii i-ianaDags « oacKpacKs *uvo wrr
•Assorted Sandals 10% OFF
•Men's & Ladies Topsiders 20-40% OFF
•Billabong Jackets 20% OFF
•Name Brand T's 10% OFF
•Beach Bikes $10OFF
•Men, Women & Children's Jogging Suits 20% OFF
•Men's Fall & Winter Clothing 25% OFF
•Ladies & Children's Winter Clothing 20% OFF
•Ladies Jackets 20% OFF
•Aleeda Wetsuits $99.95
v BERTS
SURF SHOPS .
rr ^ Tini
on.-Sun. 10-6, Fri. & Sat.
Yaupon Beach, 278-6679
Aleen
f°r Ch)ris?®reQt ic/e
***%!>»
For Details Call
<919)278-1621

Pre-Inventory
End of Season Sale
Summer & Fall Clothing
Everything Must Go
To Make Room For
Spring Clothing!
Wednesday-Saturday 10:00-5:00
701 Yaupon Drive, Yaupon Beach