OH, ZIPPO: We always think we’ve heard every story there is
about Zippo but Alice Razzano of Winnabow, N.C., passes along a new
one about the company’s first art director, Jack Clark, who lives
in her neck of the woods.

Jack was the subject of a feature story in the Brunswick Beacon,
a newspaper published in Shallotte, N.C.

The article said Jack, who once turned down an artistic job with
Walt Disney, did “everything” during his 37-year tenure at Zippo.
George G. Blaisdell hired Clark as his art director stating, “I
want you to build me the biggest and best art department in this
part of the country.”

Jack lives in Calabash, N.C., near his son and is seen driving
around with his personalized license plate bearing – what else? –
the word “Zippo.”

SPRING THING: Maybe we haven’t heard the peepers yet in Bradford
but just a whiff of spring air is enough to get most of us thinking
about the annual ritual known as spring cleaning.

Organizing Guru Rosemary Chieppo, author of the handbook
“Clutter, Chaos & the Cure,” passes along a few hints to help
you get organized:

1. Start with small tasks so you can indulge in the victory of
completion. Most people feel defeated before they start, so this
mindset is going to keep you motivated.

2. Give your things a home at the point of their use. Think
toothbrush. You never misplace it because its home is where you use
it. The same concept should be applied to just about everything
else in your space.

3. Group like things together. It allows you to keep inventory
of what you do have so you don’t end up with 17 black turtlenecks
or 67 AA batteries!

4. Don’t put tall things in front of short things and don’t put
big things on top of little things. Most people are visual; if they
don’t see something, it may as well not exist.

5. Remember, organizing is an ongoing process. Once you’ve done
the initial work of creating a place for everything, don’t sabotage
your progress by falling back into old habits. Try to return each
item to its designated spot as soon as you can.