Mark, that fish on a plank one reminds me of an old one; draw the joke and recipe out as long as you can hold the audience - but you end up throwing the fish out and eating the plank. :)
I understand that the hackberberry's brittleness is like that of many fast growing (trash) trees.
I too like the the idea of using local wood, if for no other reason than its lower price. I'm curious to hear how your projects come out - it seems that with every storm (like today) another one comes down in the neighborhood.
It looks like Mark, LKB, and I are within a stone's throw of each other.
Thanks to the group!