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Give empty pill bottles the old heave-ho

By LINDA D. COLE and INGRID L. KOHLER
Published January 21, 2006

"Pitch it!"

Sometimes those can be words to live by. If we saved every useful-looking cardboard box in case we might someday need to ship a package, or stashed each piece of aluminum wrap we've used only once, eventually the clutter would force us from our homes.

Urging folks to throw things away may sound like odd advice in an exchange column, but let's face it: Some items just lose their cachet after the first gross, no matter how admirable the impulse behind recycling them.

That's the time to start practicing pitches. So hear this, folks! Warm up those arms; start aiming those empty pill bottles at the trash basket. People in Exchange Land need our old medicine containers about as much as Bill Gates needs another billion bucks.

Whatever the saturation point is for empty pill containers on Florida's west coast, it has been reached. That's what we've been told by readers who recently requested the bottles and, months later, are still being deluged by donations. So even though you hate to throw away an item that's potentially useful, remember that some pretty effective recycling starts right in your trash bin.

Marge Marante loves music and old musical instruments that have been well-loved. She still has the piano her mother gave her when she was 7; it's now more than 50 years old but still going strong. (So is Mom, too, at age 96.)

Marge used to play the violin, and she has a hankering to again practice on one, and maybe even take some lessons. She is hoping to find a violin that has been passed down through a family but is no longer used. You can reach Marge by phone at 727 944-2727 or Mar1927@aol.com

Carol Hume of Hudson would like to give away her 21/2-story doll house that measures 16 by 12 inches and is 25 inches high. It is papered and has some furniture, but it needs curtains and a little more loving attention than it is currently receiving. Please call Carol at (727) 856-7330 to take on small-scale housekeeping.

Donna Herrick needs infants clothes hangers made to accommodate two-piece outfits. Please call (727) 819-8417; Donna can pick up in the Port Richey vicinity.

Mary is "desperately" looking for a video titled Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes. We suspect she is referring to an exercise video the frenetic guru made for seniors quite a few moons ago; requests for it are occasionally sent to the column, and there should be some copies kicking around in Exchange Land. Please call (727) 546-1119 if you would be willing to part with yours. Do you dig stuff that's free? Gina has a deal for you - but the free part doesn't happen until you've done some digging first. Gina is offering free plants and trees to those willing to dig them up and haul them away. Take your choice: bamboo, two loquat trees, and a century plant that is about 50 years old. Grab your shovel and call (727) 372-3263 or (727) 869-7079.

Lots of REXers have transferred Super 8 movies to DVDs; we know because they've written to ask other readers how it's done. Now these folks can return the favor: Sharryn Brown needs advice on the procedure.

Sharryn also needs to copy the instruction booklet for a Yamaha PSR-185 keyboard. If you can help her with either project, please call Sharryn at (727) 647-3265.

Some Largo readers wish to give away their collection of about 80 reel-to-reel tapes containing classical and popular (mostly easy listening) music. If your old-timey tape player still works (theirs doesn't), please call (727) 584-4233.

Mary Jane Worley of Brooksville is also relocating sound equipment: an AM/FM radio with record player and tape deck, plus two speakers and a stack of albums that feature the music of the '30s, '40s and '50s. If you want these items, you will have to pick them up. Please call (352) 596-1748.

Katherine Griffin of Tampa is trying to locate a leaf for a vintage oak table that is 40 inches round. Katherine may be reached at (813) 926-0576.

Mary Silkowski of Spring Hill is collecting used stamps from foreign countries and the United States, for missionaries in Africa; the children they teach enjoy looking at the stamps, which, in most cases, will be foreign to them. Please call (352) 666-0358.

Send requests to Reader Exchange, Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Readers must agree to publication of phone numbers, including area code. ON THE WEB: An interactive version of Reader Exchange is available at itsyourtimes.com.

[Last modified January 20, 2006, 08:59:03]