Etc. Column

Hog Heaven

set for Dahmen

Hog Heaven Big Band will play at Dahmen Barn Aug. 25 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. They play tunes from The Great American Song Book for listening or dancing. Admission will be $8 for a couple and $5 for a single. Children under 12 are admitted free. There will be no dance lessons that evening.

The Hog Heaven Big Band has played on the Palouse for more than 35 years and has performed regularly at the Dahmen Barn since its grand opening in 2006. The 16 piece band includes two female vocalists. Folks are welcome to dance or enjoy the music and watch some expert dancing by the regulars.

National honor

Jenna Moser, daughter of Dan and Nora Moser of Colton, has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars. Jenna has maintained a 4.0 grade average while participating in the Colton varsity volleyball, basketball and softball teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society and will be a junior at Colton High where she will be ASB secretary-treasurer.

BIRTHS

Clinton daughter born

Kailee Susanne Clinton was born at Whitman Hospital Aug. 2, 2012, at eight pounds, three ounces, to Cheryl and Mark Clinton of Colfax. Maternal grandparents are Don and Joan Adolfson of Moses Lake. Paternal grandparents are Daley and Linda Clinton of Clarkston. The baby joins siblings Michael and Kendall.

ON CAMPUS

ART

University of Idaho Prichard Art Gallery: Synthetic Ritual, a display of work by a number of Los Angeles and international contemporary artists to explore the idea of ritual as a faith-based activity. Aug. 17-Sept. 29. Hours are 10 to 8, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 6 on Sundays at 414-416 S. Main.

BOOKMARK

Pajama Storytime Under the Tree is Wednesday, August 15, at 7 p.m. in Hayden’s Corner at the Colfax Library. Participants are invited to wear their pajamas, bring a favorite teddy bear or other bedtime buddy and enjoy stories and sing-a-longs. No registration is required for this free program.

Come join the fun as the Whitman County Library and Book Bear participate in the Lentil Festival Parade on Saturday, August 18, at 11 a.m. in Pullman. For more details about this event, go to http://www.lentilfest.com.

Teen and Adult Summer Reading continues through August 31 with grand prizes including an iPod Nano and $10 iTunes gift card for teens and a Kindle Touch for adults. Completion forms can be accessed from the library’s website at http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us or by stopping in at any branch of Whitman County Library. Summer Reading is sponsored by the many businesses and individuals who support the Friends of Whitman County Library.

For a complete list of events and programs happening in all fourteen Whitman County Library branches, including a Police, Fire & Car Seat Safety program, visit the library’s event calendar at http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us or call the library toll free a (877) 733-3375.

Summer Stage productions

IDAHO REPERTORY THEATRE— Annie Baker’s renowned Circle Mirror Transformation. Aug. 16-18 and 23-25, 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Aug. 19 and 26. The play follows a small group of students enrolled in an adult dramatic acting class for six weeks. On the top 10 list for the New York Times and the New Yorker.

REGIONAL THEATRE OF PALOUSE— Oliver! The musical version of Charles Dickens’s beloved novel about orphan Oliver Twist and the colorful characters he meets in the streets of 19th century London. Aug. 23-25 and Sept. 5-9 7:30 p.m. Matinees August 25, Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m.

Reaney Park concert

Food vendors begin selling at 5:30; Free Concerts, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 15- Snake River Six, Heros ‘n Sports.

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Shower Head a Leaky Mess

Q: I have one of those flexible sprayer shower heads that you can lift from its holder and use. Whenever I turn on the shower, water squirts from the part where the holder attaches to the water pipe, and also runs from the end of the hose where it attaches to the shower head. Do I need to replace it or can I fix this? — Lorelei D., Atlanta

A: Check the shower head attachment points for any visible damage first. A visibly cracked hose or plastic attachment piece often means the entire unit needs to be replaced. However, if you can’t see any damage, you may be able to fix this with just the twist of an adjustable wrench.

To avoid damaging or scratching the connector nut — which attaches the shower unit to the inlet pipe (sometimes called a goose-neck pipe) — wrap a soft rag around the nut. Use an adjustable wrench that can fit comfortably around the connector nut, and gently turn the nut clockwise just slightly — one-quarter turn at most. Unwrap the rag from around the connector nut and turn on the shower to see if the leak has diminished or stopped. If it needs more adjustment, replace the rag and gently turn the connector nut another quarter-turn.

Keep in mind that turning the connector too tight may make the leak worse; that’s one reason to make such small incremental adjustments. Another reason is to avoid damaging the connector nut or the seal.

If you notice cracks or other damage to the shower unit, in most cases you’ll need to replace the entire unit (except for some more expensive shower heads, which often offer replacement parts from the manufacturer). To replace the unit, head to the home-improvement store and pick out a shower head of your choice, along with some Teflon tape.

Back home, turn off the water feed to the shower. If you can’t find the nearest shutoff valve, turn off water to the house.

Unscrew the old shower sprayer unit from the inlet pipe, using your pliers and turning counterclockwise to loosen and remove it. Clean away any old sealant, tape or gunky buildup from the threads of the inlet pipe.

Unwrap the new shower unit and take a look at the connection and accompanying hardware. Connectors that come with a rubber washer generally need to be tightly screwed on using your pliers; connectors that don’t generally just need to be hand-tightened.

Now, take your new Teflon tape. Wrap it carefully around the threads of the inlet pipe, creating a single layer around the threads from the end of the pipe to just below the end of the threads. (The tape will push upward when you screw on the new shower head, so leave a bit of space.) Press the tape into the threads with your fingers.

Carefully line up the connector of the new shower unit with the pipe and screw on, turning clockwise. Use your hand to tighten the connection; if you need to tighten more, protect the finish of the connector by wrapping a rag around it and tighten in small increments using pliers. Turn on water to the shower to test the connection, adjusting slightly if needed until the connection no longer leaks.

HOME TIP: Don’t have a set of pliers that fit your pipes? Look for channel locking pliers, which can open to a range of widths to fit varying widths of pipe.

Send your questions or tips to ask@thisisahammer.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.