Q: I am curious about getting into beekeeping. Are there any local resources for getting started?
C.S.
A: The Forsyth County Beekeepers Association can help you. You can learn the basics about beekeeping in "Bee School 2012," a six-class program the association is sponsoring that begins Feb. 25.
Classes will be from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 25; March 3, 17, 24 and 31; and April 14. An optional test to become a certified beekeeper will be given on May 5.
Registration and books are $50. The classes consist of lectures by Buddy Marterre and demonstration stations by members of the beekeeping association of aspects of beekeeping, such as building equipment, lighting smokers and hive inspection.
A drawing for one of four free hives — complete with bees — will be held at the end of the course, said Betsy English, a member of the association. "Club members will serve as mentors for the new beekeepers, and we encourage them to join the Forsyth County Beekeepers Association and attend the monthly meetings for continued education and support," she said.
For information about the school or general information about the association, go to forsythbeekeepers.org/bee-school/.
Q: How do you clean tombstones in cemeteries? What do you use to clean them without damaging the granite?
S.H.
A: One of the best ways to safely clean a tombstone would be to use white distilled vinegar and baking soda, said Deborah Womack, an extension agent with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center.
"The baking soda and vinegar will not hurt the surface," Womack explained. "The baking soda and vinegar can be mixed together to clean the tombstone using a cloth or sponge."
Some tombstones are made from different materials, such as marble or bronze, and using harsh chemicals could damage the tombstone, she said.
You can find more in-depth suggestions on cleaning tombstones at www.everlifememorials.com/v/headstones/cleaning-cemetery-tombstones.htm. And if any of SAM's readers have other tips, we can pass them along.
Q: I have seen some of the backup singers from the Grand Ole Opry's Carol Lee Singers on TV lately, but Carol Lee Cooper, the lead singer, hasn't been with them. Could you find out what, if anything, has happened to her?
P.R.
A: "Right now, Carol Lee is on leave from the Opry for personal reasons," said a spokeswoman for the Grand Ole Opry, who declined to give further details.
Cooper joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957, when she was 14, and later formed the Carol Lee Singers, which has been the vocal backup group for the Opry since 1973.
Cooper's website, www.carolleecooper.com, has not been updated recently — it still has Christmas decorations on the home page.
You can write to Cooper care of the Grand Ole Opry, Carol Lee Cooper, 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214.
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