While I love to browse the big box bookshops, there is nothing that says I heart Books like a man who's devoted 20 years to selling, appraising and genuinely caring about the written word.

You have to admire a man who's figured out a way to harness the power of the Internet to sell a product which many consider endangered by his very choice of sales and marketing.

That's chutzpah. And it's clearly working.

Lynn Roundtree, owner of Armadillo Books, a former mail-order business which crossed over to the Internet about 11 years ago, has an extensive selection of out-of-print, rare, scholarly, and antiquarian books in a wide variety of subject areas.

Roundtree's books cover almost any topic you can think of, but he specializes in the American South, Southern history, Southern literature, North Caroliniana, and the Civil War. He also has expertise in religion and spirituality, particularly Christianity and Catholicism.

Armadillo Books offers appraisal services - books, letters, diaries, family and personal papers, professional papers, photographs and other historical materials - as well as historical research and photo research services for individuals, families, corporations and nonprofits.

Clients have included major American authors such as Walker Percy, Shelby Foote, and Elizabeth Spencer, as well as major universities such as Duke and UNC.

Roundtree is going green with his business, recently certifying as a Green Plus Mover, through the Institute for Sustainable Development.

Seeing the light

Grouse about the weather or the kids these days, but I'm taking photos of my shabby lighting and joining the Cree LED lighting revolution. It's positively illuminating what they're doing over in the Park.

Ginny Skalski, social media director at Cree, is running a marketing campaign that's socially responsible, fun and each month gives away five Cree LR6 downlights.

Durham-based Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor solutions for backlighting, wireless and power applications.

The campaign, Lighting the LED Revolution at www.creeledrevolution.com features an informative blog, a funny and effective video depicting the all too unpleasant side effects of bad lighting, and the lighting giveaway, Cries for Help.

Participants post their heinous lighting situations at Cries for Help in hopes of being the ghastly lighting example to get an energy-efficient makeover. Follow the revolution on Facebook andTwitter.

The Cree CR6 LED downlight is designed to meet Energy Star® criteria at an end user price of approximately $60, which isn't exactly cheap.

The long term benefits of going green - saving money, saving energy - make the initial expense more palatable.If you've been living or working under the oppression of inferior lighting, as the folks at Cree say, you can enter to win too.

Oyster shells allowed

Any resident or business from Orange County may now bring loads of separated oyster shells to the Orange County Landfill at no charge, for recycling.

Collection will be allowed during only regular landfill operating hours, Monday- Friday 7a.m. to 4 pm. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to noon. Those bringing shells must go across the landfill scales. Shells will be returned to the North Carolina coastal waters by the State Division of Marine Fisheries to help rebuild the State's oyster fisheries.

Those bringing oyster shells may be eligible for a tax credit of $1 per bushel where a bushel equals about 55 pounds of shells or about 8 gallons. Visit the Division of Marine Fisheries website: www.ncdmf.net/shellfish/recycleform.htm or call1-800-682-2632 for the details. Orange County Landfill scalehouse staff will provide the necessary weight receipt for claiming a tax credit for the shells. Clam, mussel or scallop shells may be included.

Orange County has instituted this program to help local businesses and residents comply with the State of North Carolina's ban on the landfilling of oyster shells that became effective Oct. 1, 2009. The state implemented this disposal ban to prevent oyster shells from being discarded in landfills while there is heavy demand for oyster shells as material for building mounds or "oyster reefs". This ban was in part a response to the declining oyster stock in North Carolina and in part to help the health of our costal brackish-water ecosystems by rebuilding oyster beds.

Local jeweler shines

Looking for a beautiful, handcrafted ring to express your deepest feelings?

Specializing in custom designs since 1978, Kim Maitland of Creative Metalsmiths creates gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs that your immortal beloved will cherish.

We loved Maitland's Starry Nite fitted engagement and wedding ring set, reminiscent of Van Gogh's famous nightscape.

Creative Metalsmiths is located at 117 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.

New café opens

The newly opened Beyú Caffé, located in the historic Snow Building, 335 W. Main St., is going to be the go-to gathering spot for a quick cafe latte or to share the events of the day over a glass of wine.

The color scheme has island flavor while the comfortable sofas, armchairs and cafe tables set under sophisticated blown glass and track lighting create a relaxed urban coffee bar scene.

Owner Dorian (DJ) Brown has a hand in the smallest detail. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.