Monday, July 30, 2007


Jul. 30, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Q. I have been converting to fluorescent bulbs for obvious reasons. The only ones left are the six candle-shaped bulbs in my chandelier, but even the mini-twist bulbs I find are too large to fit the connection. -- Greenie, of Fairview Heights

Q. In a recent column, you mentioned how you disposed of your computer at a special recycling day and received a fluorescent light bulb in return. But how do you dispose of fluorescent bulbs? I understand they contain toxic substances, so throwing them in the trash is not an option. -- Georgia Allen, of Cahokia

A. Always happy to hear about people wanting to do their part to conserve natural resources, so let me light up your life with what I hope will be good news.

Just for you, Greenie, I went shopping at the Belleville Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and, sure enough, there amidst rows and rows of fluorescent bulbs with the bigger screw-in bases were a couple racks of Philips 9-volt candelabra bulbs ($3.88 each) -- the equivalent of a 40-watt incandescent -- with the mini base you likely need for your chandelier.

I'm sure other stores carry them, too, so you might want to ask a friendly sales clerk. If that's not a big enough selection for you, try searching the Internet for something like 'chandelier (or candelabra) fluorescent bulbs.' At www.bulbs.com, I found two 5-watt (25-watt equivalent) and an oddly shaped 7-watt (30-watt) for $7.49-$7.99 each.

As for disposing of them, you, too, are to be commended for your concern, Georgia. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which is why if you break one, you should take exceedingly stringent precautions in cleaning up the residue.

The proper way to dispose of them is to stash them away and take them to one of those hazardous-waste disposal days that many counties offer every year or so. (I took four or five fluorescent tubes along with my batteries, computers and old TVs.)

Unfortunately, while large handlers of fluorescent tubes and similar lighting are required to follow rigid disposal guidelines, individuals are not. According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 'Mercury-containing lamps discarded by households are not subject to hazardous waste rules and can be accepted by municipal-waste landfills. However, the Illinois EPA recommends you take these lamps to household-hazardous-waste collection centers.'

So do I.

Q. Is the 1958 movie 'Home Before Dark' with Dan O'Herlihy and Jean Simmons available? -- R.F., of Granite City

A. Not at any of the major movies sites I usually frequent (Amazon, Movies Unlimited, Deep Discount DVD, etc.) However, I did find one buy-it-now offer on eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) for $11.99 now through Wednesday, and it may be available through MovieLead at (866) 741-8714. I have never used either of these sellers, so I cannot vouch for them.

Q. How could I write Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards?

-- P.D., of Swansea

A. Now battling a recurrence of the breast cancer she first fought three years ago, Elizabeth Edwards would welcome notes, get-well wishes and other messages at 410 Mark St., Suite 400, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 -- or write her through the Web site www.johnedwards.com.

'Although the cancer is no longer curable, it is treatable, and many patients in similar circumstances have lived full, energetic lives,' writes John Edwards on the site about his wife, a former lawyer. 'We expect nothing less for Elizabeth.'

She now spends much of her time running the Wade Edwards Foundation, named for their 16-year-old son, who was killed in 1996 in automobile accident. Its mission is to 'reward, encourage and inspire young people in the pursuit of excellence,' according to its Web site at www.wade.org.

Q. A number of years ago, I purchased several Ferrandiz collectible plates from The Swiss Gift Shop in Highland. They have since gone out of business, and I'm trying to date my plates. Can you give me any help?

-- R.B., of Troy

A. Haven't been to Highland for a while, eh? They may have changed owners a couple of times in the past 20 years, but the Swiss Gift Shop is still yodeling away at 1009 Washington St. (654-2004).

However, the owners who handled ANRI/Ferrandiz took all the records with them when they left, and the store no longer sells the line, so all they could say was that you bought them sometime before 1992.

For more exact dating, you might try sending information to ANRI Art in Gardena, Italy,  atinfo@anri.comor perhaps one of the online collectible-plate sites. You also can visit the ANRI Web site at www.anri.com.

Send your questions to Roger Schlueter, Belleville News-Democrat, 120 S. Illinois St., P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427 or  rschlueter@bnd.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0023-18510059


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