This Friday -- March 28 -- is when we're all supposed to be seen on The Square in Downtown Washington from about noon until 6:30 p.m. That's when

WJBF-TV News Channel 6 will be in town visiting and filming for broadcasting its 90-minute newscast live from The Square from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Washington-Wilkes is the first of the 'Your Hometown' segments that are being reactivated on Channel 6. Churches, civic clubs, school groups, and others are invited to join the crowd on The Square and use the opportunity for fundraising, The newscast comes just before next week's Spring Tour of Homes and is expected to be a big boost for that event. So get yourself ready and head on down to The Square to shop, eat, visit, and have a good time all afternoon.

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When the Diabetic Support Group of Wills Memorial Hospital meets on Friday, April 4, the speaker will be Dr. Vishal Arora who will talk about cardiac concerns for the diabetic. Dr. Arora specializes in cardiology and is a member of the medical staff at the Medical College of Georgia. He is also the husband of Julie Burton and son-in-law of Allen and Patricia Burton, all of Washington-Wilkes. He and Julie have two sons, three-year-old Karthik, and two-month old Nathan.

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Have you seen the beautiful "Gone With the Wind" mural on Spring Street? Richard and Dana Kibbey commissioned Brent Chitwood of Royston to paint the mural on the side of their home and building which is next door to the Washington Police Station. The painting is a classic picture of Rhett and Scarlett from a scene in the movie.

. Bill Green on Water Street likes to grow lemons and oranges -- in Wilkes County. I saw one of his lemons this week. It's very large -- about 4 1/2 inches in circumference and three inches long.

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The hummers are back! Jim DeWeese saw a hummingbird at his home on the Lundberg Road Monday. So, if you haven't already done so, get out your feeders and get ready for the beauties.

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The CD, Clover Country: Songs from Famous 4-H Alumni, featuring Washington's Hillary Lindsey, was released Tuesday and will be available in Wilkes County Thursday, March 27. The Wilkes County 4-H Officein the Courthouse will have them for sale for $10 each. The CD has been produced by the National 4-H Council in conjunction with EMI Music and features famous 4-H alumni. Other singers on the CD include Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Martine McBride, and Glen Campbell. CDs can be purchased at the 4-H officeor by calling Carol Jackson at 706-678-2332.

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I'm sure we're all aware of all the beautiful flowers and trees blooming -- early this year and with a promise of being "at their peak" for the Tour of Homes next week. Be sure to see Kermit's red tulips on Spring Street and Liz Reynolds' tree of Pink Perfection camellias on Liberty Street. I know there must be 250 to 300 blooms on that tree.

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The News-Reporter will publish its annual Tour of Homes supplement next week -- Thursday, April 3. It will contain all the information you will need for the tour itself and lots of advertisements and events from merchants and organizations. The deadline for submitting advertisements or items for the supplement is Thursday, March 27. Call Tara Townsend at 706-678-7370 for advertisements. Call The News- Reporter, 706-678-2636, for other items.

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Beverly Magid, the author of the book which Peggy Barnett is reviewing this week, is a friend of

Kathy Dinneweth of Washington- Wilkes. The title is Flying Out of Brooklyn and it's available at the Mary Willis Library.

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It seemed like and sounded like a lot more, but Norris says his rain gauge measured just .75 of an inch of rain in that downpour Wednesday of last week.

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The Episcopal Church of the Mediator will have its Teahouse and Cathedral Book Store open during the Tour of Homes April 5. . . . The first floor of the old North Alexander Avenue School Building will be open during the Tour so that visitors and local people, too, can see what has been done in recent months. No ticket is needed. It's free. Of course, you can make a donation if you want to.

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Are there still chinaberry trees in Georgia? This is a question which

Betty Lane of Rutherfordton, N.C., asked in an email this week. Yes, there are still chinaberry trees in Georgia, in Wilkes County. They are not as prevalent as they were when I was a child some 60-65 years ago, but they are here. Betty says the question came up when she and Ed attended a book signing for a book of poems by their friend,

Lynne Tanner. Many of the poems related to the author's experiences as a child while visiting her grandparents in Garfield,Ga. As the poet mentioned, the berries and branches provided entertainment for children and young folks. It was fun to have chinaberry battles and the branches were good for climbing and getting a bird's eye view of the surrounding countryside. . . . It hasn't been so long ago that I wrote about chinaberry trees in Wilkes County in this column. I think I remember that

Stephen Jones has one in his yard and there are several on the Danburg Road. But many years ago just about everybody had at least one chinab- erry tree in their yard. The poet is right. They provided lots of fun. . . . Betty also said that their grandson won an award for best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Yellow Tuesday" at the North Carolina Theatre Conference at Kings Mountain High School. J.E.B. is the son of Jim and Edie Lane Crook of Gastonia, N.C.

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On Easter Sunday while visiting his grandparents, Janet and Martin Burgess, in Washington-Wilkes, four-year-old Jack Durham Marable from Athens attended the morning worship services at the First Baptist Church. He was fascinated with the sound of the pipe organ and the beautiful gold pipes which are visible. After the service he came down to investigate the organ, and he told his mom, "We don't have an organ in our church, do we." Organs used to be standard fare in churches but in recent years have faded out with reports of many on the East Coast just being abandoned. I think it's partially because there are not many organists around to play them any more. . . . Jack Durham is the son of Mandy and Brent Marable and goes to Friendship Presbyterian Church Pre-kindergarten in Athens.

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Linda Lucas Hopkins of Washington Wilkes and Marietta, sent me an article from The Marietta Daily Journal about the research going on at Wilkes County's Kettle Creek. The article tells about a Savannahbased nonprofit archeological research organization spending time at the site searching for artifacts. The group has determined that "most of the 1779 battle between the Patriots and Loyalists took place in 300 to 400 acres that surround the site" and they are seeking permission from the owners of this land to continue the study on their land. According to the article, historians have studied the Battle of Kettle Creek site since the 1970s, but this is the first time archeologists have researched the grounds.

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Pete Gartrell of the Washington- Wilkes Parks and Recreation Department says that both the Liberty Street and Whitehall parks are in need of a large birdbath and a concrete picnic table, as well as other items. Anyone who would like to contribute to the project should call the department at 706-678-1454.