Dust

Baltimore housing officials have ordered several two-story heaps of rubble leveled after Upton neighborhood residents began complaining that dust from the debris of the recently-imploded Murphy Homes complex was making them sick.For weeks, residents say they watched while contractors wearing masks and special suits ground bricks, mortar and concrete into fine gravel. Yet those living in the community say they have no protection from the daily dust storms that blow through the area, leaving a thick layer of dust on almost everything.

LEWISTOWN, Mont. -- When computer programmer William White saw "City Slickers," the Billy Crystal movie about stressed-out city types taking a cowboy vacation, he decided to trade his hard drive for a cattle drive."

The Board of Zoning Appeals has approved a request from Carolyn Cornwell for a conditional use for a kennel to house 10 dogs or less at asite in the 3500 block of Nicholson Road.The property is zoned agriculture and kennels are allowed as conditional uses. The Cornwellsown four golden retrievers and asked for the conditional use to comply with the zoning ordinance.Approval was granted on condition that: no more than four dogs beallowed; no commercial boarding, breeding or grooming be done; no business identification sign be displayed; and the use be restricted tothe Cornwells.

uffing on a cigar in a fancy hotel room, Robert Towne says, "It's not politically correct to say so, but people in this country didn't alM-W ways feel victimized by racial slurs," even though his new movie, Ask the Dust, decries racism against Mexicans in 1930s Los Angeles. "They'd turn around and say 'I'm just as American as you are.' "I love the feeling of that. The minute that sentence is spoken it means there's something we're all aspiring to, which is to be American. It means no matter how diM-W verse we are, no matter how different our backgrounds, we have the dream of being one people.

A state inspector saw something he shouldn't have been able to see at Lehigh Portland Cement Co. last weekend.During a random, unannounced visit to Lehigh Feb. 23, the inspector for the Maryland Department of the Environment saw dust coming out of the stacks and issued a"site complaint" to the plant.Maryland law requires the smoke or dust that comes out of an industry's stacks to be in such a small amount that it can't be seen.Plant Manager David H. Roush said the malfunction that caused the emission was repaired within several hours, and the MDE confirmed the plant has passed emission tests since then.

Around the house* Before painting a room, glue a paper plate underneath each can of unopened paint. This will catch spills which would normally run onto newspapers that have been used to protect floors, but ultimately wind up stuck to the cans.* Loosen stubborn windows. Try running a pizza cutter between window and jamb to cut through dried paint.* Store an excess of coffee beans in an airtight container in your freezer. Beans will stay fresh up to three months and may be ground frozen; beans can be stored in refrigerator for about three to four weeks.

Around the house* Spray kitchen curtains with a fabric protector. Curtains that hang directly over a sink are particularly vulnerable to splashes and spills.* Hang small wicker baskets on bathroom wall for extra storage. Each family member's basket can hold razors, toothpaste, toothbrush and other items.* Minimize static cling. Rub a fabric-softener sheet over a slip or the inside of a dress.* Remove coffee stains from the inside of a thermos. Place crushed ice, a small amount of water and several teaspoons of salt inside thermos, shake vigorously, then rinse.

Around the house* Clean salt stains from shoes and boots. Wipe with a damp cloth that has been dipped in a mixture of 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Buff dry.* Remove purple price-tag spots from counter tops. Dampen a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and take away stains.* Store bananas in the refrigerator without the skins turning dark. Place fruit inside a white plastic bag, such as a kitchen trash bag, and store inside crisper. Skins will remain yellow for several days.* Organize this year's tax files.

Make sure you take a break Saturday from your weeding, planting and other household chores to stop by the CityLit Festival at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. It's one of Baltimore's best literary events, and the schedule is always packed with an entertaining list of speakers. The headliner this year is Walter Isaacson, biographer Steve Jobs, the late Apple CEO. At noon, I'll moderate a panel called In the Service of Short Stories, with authors Rafael Alvarez, ("Orlo and Leini")

Stargazers say Comet Hyakutake is brightening nicely as it rushes toward its closest approach to Earth on Monday, making this weekend a prime viewing opportunity. Happily, Maryland's skies are expected to clear."It's visible even in the light-polluted area of Abingdon," said Larry Hubble, an amateur astronomer in Harford County. (He doesn't think he's related to famed astronomer Edwin P. Hubble, for whom the Hubble Space Telescope was named.) "I actually saw it with the naked eye a little fuzzy ball in the sky."