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Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 7:15 AM
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Edith — on Christmas Trees

Edith — on Christmas Trees
  by Edith - Isidoro Mills — Every year it seems people are so anxious to get their Christmas decorations up the day right after Thanksgiving.  In some cases, it almost seems like a competition to get their Christmas decorations up faster than their neighbor that they start before Thanksgiving decorating their yards. However, there is one Christmas decoration I hope people will wait to put up and that is the Christmas tree if they want to have a fresh cut tree.One advantage to cut trees over potted live trees is cut trees can be larger because you aren’t worried about how well they will transplant outdoors after Christmas.  Still it’s a good idea to measure the location where you plan to place the tree.  Get a height and diameter.While you are measuring the location note various characteristics of the location such as heat vents, fire place, heaters, electrical appliances, window aspects, and electrical outlets.Even though it may look nice a Christmas tree should not be placed next to an open fire place.  Also avoid any south facing windows, heat registers, or electrical appliances as they put out heat that can dry the tree out faster.If you plan to put lights in the tree locate the tree near an electrical outlet so that you don’t have to run a power chord any great distance or across a traffic pattern in your house.  Use small, pin-point lights for tree decorating because they don’t put out as much heat as strings of lights with larger light bulbs.  Make sure the lights you use have the UL approval label on the package and are protected with an in-line fuse.Once you have surveyed the prospective location for the Christmas tree and determined it safe, it’s time to go shopping.  Usually it’s best not to have the tree in the house form more than two weeks.  Putting off purchasing the tree too soon is the best plan but sometimes the best selection is available earlier rather than later.  If this is the case the tree can be stored outside in a shady location on the north side of your house with the cut end in a bucket of water.  Make sure you cut an inch off the cut end of the tree immediately prior to placing it in the water.The reason for cutting an inch off the bottom end of the tree before placing it in the water is if the end has been out of water for any length of time the vessels in the xylem that carry water to the top of the tree may be plugged up with resin or air pockets.When picking a tree at the Christmas tree lot, check for freshness by rubbing your hand gently on the branches to see if any green needles fall off.   If the needles aren’t flexible or they easily fall off don’t buy the tree.  A few brown needles in the center of the tree is natural and not an indicator of a dried-out tree as long as the green needles are soft and flexible.When it’s time to bring the tree in the house find a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water.  Make another fresh cut in the cut end of the tree when transferring it to the tree stand.  Fill the stand with water and check the water level daily.  Maintain the water level such that the cut end has continuous contact with water.  The tree should take up most of a gallon of water everyday.  If the water level stops going down daily the tree may have stopped absorbing water and needs to be removed from the house soon. ​ ​

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COMMENTS
Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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