Ask Us has moved!

Find the answers to your questions at the new location:

http://askus.bloginky.com/

Be sure to change your bookmarks!

Energy-saving CFL bulbs

In this month’s issue of the Kentucky Utilities newsletter PowerSource, it reports “Using a 23 watt CFL (light bulb) for 10,000 hours at the same energy rate will cost you only $16.10. This is a savings of $53.90, without factoring in the savings in air conditioning energy as CFLs generate much less heat than regular bulbs!” Who sells 23 watt CFL bulbs?

The local Home Depot and Lowe’s stores keep them regularly stocked. The websites of both companies also have them available.

From a reader:

This question may have arisen because the bulb manufacturers generally package the bulbs with the incandescent equivalent wattage as the predominant number.  The 23 watt CFL’s will have the incandescent equivalent wattage all over the package and sometimes it is harder find the actual wattage.  Check the link from Home Depot’s website for an example.

Amateurs at the Olympics

I thought the Olympics was for amateurs. Why are Kobe Bryant and others from the NBA playing?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica’s entry on the modern Olympics, the term amateur was removed from the Olympic Charter in 1971. Eligibility rules were changed to allow payments to athletes, and financial sponsorship of athletes. In 1986, the International Olympic Committee adopted a rule stating that the international governing association of each sport must decide whether or not to permit professional athletes in Olympic competition.

Professionals from the NBA began to compete in the Olympics in 1992. From the IOC entry on the history of basketball at the Olympics:

“After another semi-final victory for the Soviets in 1988, the sport opened to professionals. … In Barcelona in 1992, with a squad featuring some of the world’s best-known athletes – Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird – the gold-medal winning US “Dream Team” gave an exhibition of basketball at its best.”

Interurban rail service

About a hundred years ago central Kentucky had a light rail service called the Inter-Urban. Which towns were served by this and how long did it last?

From Lexington: A Century in Photographs, the electric interurban train traveled from Lexington to the neighboring communities of Georgetown, Paris, Nicholasville, Versailles and Frankfort. Construction began on the lines in 1902, but were not in full operation until 1910. The interurban cars existed until 1934.

Go Vols?

At the new UK Hospital site, some of the cranes seem to have a University of Tennessee flag flying on them. Why?

According to Amanda White Nelson, University of Kentucky Public Relations: The orange and white checkered flag the reader mentioned is on top of the construction cranes for the new UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. An orange and white flag is how pilots recognize cranes. If we could use blue and white I’m sure we would, but the color is designated by the FAA.

Where to shred paper

Is there a service in Lexington where you can take in your unwanted
mail, documents, etc. to be shredded, paying a reasonable fee? In
Florida, there are ship ‘n pack stores that allow you to put those
documents into a locked container and they will have them shredded for
you, charging you per pound. This works out great for those of us who
are allergic to paper dust.

Lexington city waste collection service does not offer shredding paper. From the Better Business Bureau of Central Kentucky, this business is described as “office records-destruction.” For further details, contact them directly.

Name:	Cintas Document Management, LLC
Phone:	(859) 252-2121
Address:	2512 Palumbo Drive, Lexington, KY 40509

Fireworks over Lexington

Last Saturday evening I saw fireworks. It was a lovely show. Can you tell me where the celebration was and what was being celebrated?

The University of Kentucky held its annual “Fan Day” for the upcoming football season at Commonwealth Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Coach Rich Brooks, the staff, and the players signed autographs, posters and schedule cards were given away, plus other activities. The evening concluded with a fireworks show. For video of the event: 2008 UK Football Fan Day.

What’s that white stuff?

I have lived here (in Lexington) for 28 years without this problem. Starting around April, a fine white substance has been coming through the screen on my patio and settling on everything. I first thought it was pollen, but I know of no plant that would release pollen over such a long time (April, May, June and now July). Do you know of anyone that has started releasing new particles into the air?

According to Luke Mathis, environmental health team leader, the LFUCG Dept. of Environmental Health is the agency that would investigate. The staff will make an initial visit to determine if the substance might pose a health risk, or to make a referral to another agency if it isn’t something they can address. Residents can call LEXCALL, (311) or they can call the department directly: (859) 231-9791 to request assistance. The department has 24-hour availability for emergencies at the same phone number.

Kentucky school numbers

Could you find the class size for elementary school students in Kentucky and the proper length for school year? I found 185 days, including 10 non-instructional days but I don’t know what that means.

According to the Kentucky Department of Education:
The number of days in the school year is 187 days (includes 177 days of instruction; 4 days of professional development; 4 holidays; 2 planning days)

The number of students in a classroom is regulated by Kentucky state law 157.360

Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the maximum number of pupils enrolled in a class shall be as follows:

1. Twenty-four (24) in primary grades (kindergarten through third grade);

2. Twenty-eight (28 ) in grade four (4);

3. Twenty-nine (29) in grades five (5) and six (6);

4. Thirty-one (31) in grades seven (7) to twelve (12)

Jacks Creek Pike cemetery

There is a small cemetery located in the front yard of 5459 Jacks Creek Pike. It also has a concrete vault which appears to be quite old. I would like to know who is buried there and the date they were buried.

Indeed, a cemetery lies in the yard of Steve and Marlene Catt, who have lived in this location since 1980. They occasionally have travelers stop and ask about the old cemetery and the vault which can be seen from the road. The plot is apparently a family plot. The names and dates on the gravestones are:

Samuel Moore, husband, March 14-1836; Lafayette Cook Moore, wife, April 5, 1844 – February 17, 1917. Sadly, the children died within four days of each other: son William S. Moore, Dec. 11, 1867-March 9, 1887; daughter, Mary E. Moore, Sept. 29, 1882-March 15, 1887. According to Marlene Catt, as long as they have lived there, they have not had any family members visit the cemetery.
Jacks Creek Pike is covered with cemeteries, according to the Fayette County Cemetery Index produced by the Lexington Public Library. The Moore family cemetery is mentioned in a past issue of the Fayette County Genealogical Quarterly, but does not have any other information about the family.