As many of you know, I will be retiring from the Delaware County District Library on Sept. 30 after 31 years of service to the Delaware community.

It’s been a joyous and fulfilling ride and leaving the library that has been such a huge part of my life for almost half of it will be a challenging transition for me. I intend to remain active and involved in the Delaware community in a variety of ways (many of which are unknown right now!), but I leave knowing the library will be left in the experienced and knowledgeable hands of incoming director George Needham. I am certain this community will welcome him, and he is anxious and enthusiastic about getting to know all of you.

Please mark your calendar for Sept. 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. to stop by the library and help me celebrate my retirement. Come and share your favorite library memory as well as some delicious refreshments with me and many other Delaware residents and library patrons.

I have met hundreds of you over my tenure at DCDL, and I look forward to giving you a hug or shaking your hand on my final day as library director.

What is mirin?

Mirin is an essential condiment used in Japanese cuisine. It is a type of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content and higher sugar content. There are three general types of mirin. The first is hon mirin (true mirin), which contains approximately 14 percent alcohol and is produced by a 40- to 60-day mashing process. The second is shio mirin, which contains alcohol as well as 1.5 percent salt, to avoid alcohol tax. The third is shin mirin (new mirin), which contains less than 1 percent alcohol, yet retains the same flavor.

Mirin is used to add a bright touch to grilled fish or to erase the fishy smell. A small amount is often used, instead of sugar and soy sauce. It is sometimes used to accompany sushi. Mirin is used in teriyaki sauce. I checked in “Herbs and Spices” for this answer.

Which is a better battery: lithium or alkaline?

Consumer Reports had this to say about this question: They evaluated 13 alkaline and two lithium batteries, and test scenarios were based on typical battery usage in toys and in flashlights. The toy test mimicked an hour a day of continuous play. A second test involved turning a flashlight on for four minutes every hour for eight hours, then leaving it alone for 16 hours. They repeated each test until the batteries were drained. The two lithium models they tested (Energizer Ultimate Lithium and Energizer Advanced Lithium) outperformed all of the alkaline batteries. But alkalines are far less expensive, and several brands came close to the lithiums in performance. The top-scoring alkaline battery model — Duracell Quantum — was not significantly different from the high-scoring lithium models, and it costs less than half as much. It’s a cheaper option than lithiums for high-drain situations (such as often-used flashlights). Consumer Reports analysts prefer lithium batteries over alkalines for hard-to-access or infrequently used devices, because of lithium’s higher stability. Unlike alkalines, lithium batteries don’t contain a corrosive liquid. Remember, most alkaline batteries have a shelf life of about seven years, though some makers claim up to 10 years. And you do not have to store them in the refrigerator to prolong life, contrary to any old-wives’ tale you might have heard.

Is athlete’s foot contagious?

Athlete’s foot, according to Consumer Health Complete, is a fungus infection that causes a scaly, cracked rash between the toes. The rash usually itches and burns, becomes raw, oozes fluid when scratched, and spreads to the instep. Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that grows on warm, damp skin. It is not easily passed from person to person but is thought to be spread by direct contact with contaminated surfaces, such as locker room or bathroom floors. The fungus won’t grow on dry, normal skin. Athlete’s foot mainly occurs in teens and adults, and improves much faster if the feet are kept dry. It helps to go barefoot or wear sandals or thongs as much as possible. You can treat athlete’s foot by using antifungal creams and keeping the area dry. To control foot odor caused by athlete’s foot, rinse your feet and change socks twice a day. As with all medical issues, please consult your health care provider for more information.