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cookie packaging By Marie Carras’ estimation, baking nearly 200 finikia for her church’s annual Greek Festival is the

easy part if she bakes three dozen each night after working all day.Dipping each Greek spice cookie in honey syrup and nuts

is the most time-consuming task, she said.Luckily, Carras, a member of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in

Frederick, had some help Tuesday evening in packaging her cookies to sell at the church’s annual Greek Festival, which

begins today.Nearly a dozen members of the Ladies Philoptochos Society rolled up their sleeves and donned rubber gloves as

they assorted and packaged eight different Greek pastries into clear, plastic containers on tables in the church

basement.Sheets of baklava — filo dough with honey and syrup —were cut and lifted into containers as the women arranged

kourabiedes, a powdered sugar cookie, on white wrappers. The shelves on the far side of the basement were already half-

stocked. The work would continue until the festival ends Sunday.‘‘Just boxing it is a lot of work,” said Georgia Lizas of

Frederick. ‘‘I feel good that when it’s over, we’ve donated time to the church.”The Ladies Philoptochos Society is a

philanthropic organization of women at Saints Peter and Paul Church that regularly holds charitable fundraisers for

organizations and supports the church in its mission. The Ladies Philoptochos Society is national in scope.Since 1993, when

Frederick’s Greek Orthodox community began worshipping at its current location, the Ladies Philoptochos Society has baked

pastries to sell at the church’s Greek Festival. The proceeds go back to the church’s operating budget.Last year, the

society sold 15,000 individual pastries and cookies, selling out their stock.The women have also published a cookbook of

Greek and American family recipes, which will also be on sale throughout the weekend.Georgette Calomeris said she turns to

her grandmother’s recipe from the Greek island of Chios, to make her favorite cookie, koulourakia, a dense butter cookie

that goes well with coffee. The island of Chios is famous for mastina, a tree resin that is used to make ouzo and Easter

bread, she said.Calomeris, a Frederick resident and Philoptochos member, said she baked five dozen koulourakia and twisted

them into braids, s-shaped waves and buns and lightly sprinkled with sesame seeds.Philoptochos members choose what they want

to make for the festival and bake at home, Carras said.Some specialties, like galatouboureko, custard with filo dough and

syrup, must be made last, said Gloria Palios, treasurer for the Philoptochos Society.‘‘Presbytera’s Rice Pudding,” a

family recipe shared by the Rev. Anastasios Kousoulas of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Church also has a short shelf-life and

must be made the day before.As the women organized cookies and pastries, Kousoulas was overseeing the rice pudding that a

trio of men boiled in three, four gallon pots in the church’s full service kitchen.Only six ingredients make up the family

recipe that was handed down from his father-in-law and has become a church tradition and popular festival food.Long-grain

rice, whole milk, sugar, butter, eggs and pure vanilla extract are the special ingredients. ‘‘It’s not just a recipe. It’

s how you stir it,” Kousoulas said.Boiling the rice in milk will bring out the rice’s starch and thicken the mixture into a

custard-like consistency without using cornstarch, he said.Every night until the festival ends, the church will make 12

gallons of rice pudding to sell for $3.50 in eight-ounce dessert cups.Last year, the rice pudding sold out during the last

day of the festival, Kousoulas said.Greek festival11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., today through SundaySts. Peter and Paul Greek

Orthodox Church, 920 W. 7th St., FrederickCall 301-663-0663 or visit www.stspeterpaul.net

Chemical Auxiliary LAWRENCE — A fire described as "too bright to look at" broke out in packages of chemicals at the

train yard last night — the same chemicals cleared off the railroad tracks two nights ago after it spilled out of a derailed

and punctured tanker.Fire officials first worried the toxic smoke from the burning boxes of sodium chlorate might threaten

residents of the neighborhood near the railroad crossing at Andover and Blanchard streets.But a potential chemical scare

ended without an evacuation similar to the one Thursday night when people were forced to leave a dozen houses on State and

Andover streets for more than four hours."We just told people to stay inside their homes and keep their windows closed,"

Lawrence police Chief John Romero said.ENPRO Environmental Services of Newburport, the company that conducted the

decontamination and cleanup efforts after Thursday's chemical spill, were back late last night investigating what caused the

fire and making sure the public was protected from any further environmental or health threats.Sodium chlorate is used to

produce chlorine dioxide for bleaching paper. In large amounts, it can become volatile if it comes in contact with water or

other organic items such as wood or other natural debris, said Lawrence fire Chief Peter Takvorian."If any wood or paper got

into the boxes with the product, it could certainly cause the chemical to generate some heat. And that may have been the

reason why it ignited," Takvorian said last night.Takvorian said an official cause of the fire is still to be determined.The

chemical that caught fire last night was the same taken from about 900 feet of railroad track Thursday after the tanker

derailed. Described as white and granular like sugar, the cleaned-up chemical was put in cardboard boxes lined with plastic.

The remainder of the chemical contained in the damaged tanker was also being stored at the site but in nearby Dumpsters,

Takvorian said.Takvorian said fire officials were concerned about putting out the blaze to keep a dangerous cloud of smoke

from threatening the neighborhood. The quantity of the chemical was small enough that extinguishing the fire didn't pose a

serious threat, he said."This is a small amount. So, we can definitely dilute it with water and keep the smoke down," the

fire chief said.Takvorian said the runoff water from last night's fire would be tested to determine whether there's a

potential health or environmental threat. State environmental and hazardous waste officials were at the scene last

night.Meanwhile, public safety officials were taking precautions to restrict people from coming in contact with any smoke

from the fire. Auxiliary police Chief Jay Jackson and his volunteers were involved in crowd and traffic control, blocking off

Andover Street from South Broadway to Parker Street. They also blocked off Winthrop Avenue between Andover and Salem

streets."All 22 officers were called in tonight just in case we had to evacuate the homes. We took special precautions

tonight," Jackson said.Last night's incident disrupted rail service through the area. Officials said one Amtrak Down East

train to Portland was canceled. In another one, 90 passengers were transferred to buses in Andover to take them to

Portland.The commuter rail service to Haverhill needed buses to take passengers from Andover to the Lawrence train station,

avoiding the rail yard. The fire broke out at about 9:15 and was extinguished in about an hour.It was a fire that drew

attention quickly because of flames that some observers said they couldn't bare to look at"When the fire was really going, it

was a white bright light — too bright to look at. It was burning like phosphorus," Sgt. John Nicoletti said.The immediate

concern for police and fire officials was the smokeA fire involving sodium chlorate may produce irritating, corrosive or

toxic gas. Police officials were initially aggressive in crowd control, ordering people to stay behind the yellow crime scene

tape or risk arrest.Another concern for fire officials is the runoff from the fire, which can cause pollution problems.

Officials were monitoring that situation early today.Once the fire was out and the smoke had dissipated, police allowed the

media and spectators to move a little closer to the railroad crossing, but still maintain a distance. Smaller flames

reignited. Fire officials decided to let those burn themselves out.Firefighters remained at the scene overnight as ENPRO

Environmental Services work crews continued their cleanup efforts.Shortly before 1:30 a.m., fire officials had given

clearance for rail service to resume in the area.

v belt Spring has arrived and road trips, scenic drives and more time spent behind the wheel beckon.However, without a

proper automotive overhaul this season, you may spend more time at the mechanic than enjoying the beautiful weather. Here are

some ways to keep your car in top shape:Inspect the driveway - Most people think to look under the hood as a starting point.

However, check the driveway first instead. If you see oil where you park your car, you could have a potential problem. You

should have your car inspected by a professional.Fluid levels are key - All fluid levels should be checked and topped up as

needed (engine oil, transmission, cooling system, power steering, brake fluid and washer fluid). Fluids are the lifeblood of

your car. Purchasing high-quality fluids and regularly changing old fluids will improve your car's performance and

reliability.Keep cool - Overheating, especially as the weather gets warmer, is the leading cause of preventable breakdowns

and one of the main areas where prevention is much cheaper than the cure. Simply stated, a fried engine is an expensive

repair. If your antifreeze is more than a couple of years old, play it safe and replace your antifreeze. You should also

consider adding a coolant to your radiator. It's been shown to reduce engine temperature as much as 30 F or more, and it's

commonly used to help cool hot racing engines. It also helps condition seals to prevent leaks.Upgrade your oil - Another way

to reduce engine heat is to upgrade to high-performance synthetic motor oil. Synthetic motor oils disperse heat faster and

have a lower coefficient of friction than mineral-based motor oils; this helps reduce engine heat. For instance, high-

performance synthetic motor oil has been shown to decrease engine temperatures up to 12 per cent while improving horsepower

and fuel economy. (Data on independent testing of their products is available at www.royalpurple.com.)Inspect belts and hoses

- After checking and/or adding fluids, check the belts and hoses. A worn or loose belt can cause the engine to overheat. A

cracked belt or a hose that is unusually soft or overly hard needs to be replaced. Make sure hose clamps are tight and check

the ends for cracks or corrosion. Because extreme heat can cause leaks and other damage, keep an eye out for hard, blistered

or spongy hoses. If any of these warning signs are present, replace the hoses immediately. It's also a good idea to keep

spare belts in your trunk, especially if your vehicle has a single serpentine or multi-v belt. If this belt fails, you'll be

left going nowhere.Clean battery terminals, hinges and latches - Battery terminals should be cleaned, tightened and

lubricated. It's also good to clean and lubricate hinges and the hood latch. Make sure the battery terminals and hold-downs

are tight. If corrosion is present (you'll see white residue cake on the battery terminals), clean it with a mixture of

baking soda and water, and put on a set of battery washers to keep corrosion from coming back. Top any low battery cells with

distilled water.Keep tires properly inflated - Finally, inspect your tires. All tires should be properly inflated, including

the spare. Refer to the sidewall of your tire for the proper pressure level. Properly inflated tires increase gas mileage,

lengthen tire life and are much less susceptible to blowouts. Properly preparing your car for summer doesn't require a lot of

time or technical expertise.The payoff of preparation is that your vehicle will have a reduced risk of a breakdown and an

improved performance.

Sanitizer CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- This week’s health inspection scores are among the best we’ve ever seen. Literally, it

was a great week to eat out, and there’s not much reason to be wary.We went through more than 150 reports, and found just

one restaurant that did not earn an “A” grade.That spot is the Red Bowl Asian Bistro on Mount Holly-Huntersville Road.

According to the health reports, inspectors found live roaches in the kitchen, and food that was stored on the floor.Red Bowl

was also storing some of its food too closely to chemicals like paint and WD-40. At the time of its initial inspection, Red

Bowl earned an 87.5. We’ve since learned that it was re-inspected, and its score improved to 93.5.We also want to tell you

about a re-inspection at Mama Fu’s Restaurant on Woodlawn Road. A few weeks ago, the restaurant was given a poor grade for

having too much cleaning sanitizer on its tables, and too little sanitizer in the dishwasher. That problem has now been

fixed, but Mama Fu’s is still cross-contaminating some of its meats. The score is much improved, though, jumping from an 83

to a 91.As for the best of the week, Bi-Lo’s Seafood section on Rose Commons Drive and its Produce Department on South Tryon

Street both made the top of the list. The Wendy’s on Statesville Road scored a 102. And McAlister’s Deli at UNCC earned a

101.5

PC ABS Rapid prototyping can reduce the number of costly engineering changes made to a mold, cut the time-to-market for

a new product, and—with the development of new RP systems and materials—even fill the gap between prototype and low-volume

processing.Developments in rapid prototyping (RP) have gotten to the point that firms such as Quickparts Inc. (Atlanta, GA)

are gaining more notice, and more competition. As its name implies, Quickparts can supply parts, quickly, using CAD models to

form parts via a number of RP methods. Patrick Hunter, VP of sales and marketing at Quickparts, notes, “The continual

evolution of materials has pushed prototyping into the mainstream as a technology. It allows designers to have greater design

freedom: they’re not as limited in their design, especially with respect to SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), which many

customers are choosing for actual end-use parts.”Rapid prototyping is no longer confined to just prototyping. Terry Wohlers,

publisher of the “Wohlers Report 2007,” a 220-page global study on advances in this field, points out that RP also entails

rapid manufacturing (RM), which can cover a number of “fast processes” including rapid tooling (RT), the speedy

manufacturing of mold or tooling. It also encompasses the new moniker ‘additive fabrication’ (AF), which has developed into

three basic categories: 3D printing for product design and concept modeling with machines such as those manufactured by 3D

Systems, Z Corp. and others; mid-range systems for fit-and-function applications and master patterns; and high-end systems

for the rapid manufacture of custom and short-run production parts, using machinery such as that produced by EOS.New

materials are cropping up with regularity, mimicking plastics of all sorts: polyamide (PA, neat or filled with glass,

aluminum, or carbon fibers); PS, ABS, PC, PC-ABS, and polyphenylsulfone, plus a growing family of photopolymers (mostly

epoxies and acrylates).Wohlers projects that the next frontier for rapid technology is applying it to the “actual

manufacture of end-use parts,” or RM. “Considering the array of possibilities, the market potential is enormous,” Wohlers

states. “However it will take years to develop. In the meantime, compelling examples of RM will stimulate the development of

the next generation of systems. These machines will eventually affect a wide range of industries and applications around the

world. Product ideas that were once impractical due to tooling and other costs will become a reality.”One of those new

machines recently was acquired by Vaupell Rapid Solutions (Hudson, NH). It added Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

capabilities with the installation of an M 270 DMLS system from EOS of North America Inc., a division of EOS GmbH, based near

Munich, Germany. Vaupell plans to produce tooling inserts, prototype parts, and end products directly in metal. “The M 270

will allow many of our customers to more quickly evaluate functional prototypes in actual or close-to-actual end materials,

and in design configurations and time frames not possible with any other established process,” explains General Manager

Steve Ettelson.

Aromatic Chemical BASF will double its manufacturing capacity for certain alkylethonalamines (AEOA) by mid-2009. This

expansion is the company’s response to increases in its customers’ demand for these products. BASF manufactures its range

of AEOA specialties at the integrated Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, by means of a flexible, fully backward-

integrated multi-product facility. AEOA, such as ethylethanolamines, propylethanolamines and butylethanolamines, are used

successfully in a wide array of applications, for example in coatings and lubricants, in pharmaceutical and agrochemical

products. AEOA belong to the alkylalkanolamine category that BASF now makes at its sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and

Geismar, USA, with a total annual capacity of 70,000 metric tons.“As one of the globally leading amine manufacturers, we are

expanding our production capacity in response to our customers’ growing demand for specific AEOAs,” said Dr. Stefan Blank,

head of the regional Amines business unit within BASF’s Intermediates division. He added: “We are pleased to see that this

increase in demand is driven mainly by innovations that we have developed in cooperation with our customers.” Examples of

this are the development of a new AEOA for high-grade emulsion paints and new options to use products from the existing AEOA

portfolio, for instance in certain industrial applications.The world’s most multifaceted amine selectionBASF has the world’

s most diverse portfolio of amines available to customers. In addition to alkyl-, alkanol-, alkoxyalkyl-, di- and polyamines,

the company also produces aromatic as well as heterocyclic amines. In addition it is marketing a constantly expanding

portfolio of chiral amines of high optical and chemical purity. BASF produces amines in Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide

(Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), in Geismar, in Cama?ari (Brazil), and in Nanjing, the Verbund site in China.Amines are being

utilized with great success in manufacturing pharmaceuticals and cosmetics as well as cleaning and crop protection agents.

They are also used in producing various plastics and coating resins. Amines are part of process chemical formulations

applied, for instance, in water treatment as well as paper, textile and leather manufacturing.BASFThe BASF Group’s operating

division Intermediates develops, produces and markets the world’s largest range of intermediates containing more than 600

products. The most important of the division's product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties.

Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile

fibers, detergents and crop protectants. Innovative intermediates from BASF help to improve the properties of final products

and the efficiency of production processes. The ISO 9001:2000-certified operating division Intermediates operates plants at

production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2006, the division generated world sales of about €2.3 billion with

2,600 employees. For more information, go to http://www.basf.de/intermediates.BASF is the world’s leading chemical company:

The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural

products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more

successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global

challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and

posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.