dougp:
What sort of license/permission do I include to state that it's OK for public use and simultaneously protect myself from somebody down the road - this is unlikely, but you never know - complaining I'm violating *their * rights in something *I * created?TIA
Well, maybe it will be a bit stupid suggestion, but please remember there are more countries than USA and in some of them... there are literally no copyrights 
In others rules are messed.
It was to make You down, but in general i have to agree: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 look like the ebst way to protect private project 
Good luck!