After being cooped up indoors for a typical long Western New York winter, people like to spend as much time outside as possible once summer finally rolls around.

People all over are tending to their properties to create that ideal summer paradise in their backyards. That means that the folks over at Pinelli Landscaping, located at 4524 Clinton St in West Seneca are hard at work turning the chore of lawn work into works of art.

“I worked for another company for four years,” said owner Tony Pinelli. “That’s where I started to get into design and installation and my passion grew from there. I felt I had the capabilities and talent to do good work so that’s what drove me into starting my own business.”

Pinelli Landscaping first opened in January of 1994. Over the years they have progressed from a lawn cutting service to paving and blocking (laying out bricks for walls and walkways), they’ve turned what they do into as much a form of art as it is a business.

“We have a full-time blocking crew, two full-time maintenance crews, who do smaller landscaping projects, a crew that does both, and I have two landscaping crews,” Pinelli said. “There’s also a lawn cutting crew.”

He added that in order to keep busy during the winter months they do snow removal, snow plowing and salting. In the past few years they have also been in service installing Christmas lights at local residences.

“What drives me every day is the satisfaction of my customers,” Pinelli said. “My goal when I first started was to build a reputable company. The customer needs to be 100 percent satisfied, not 95 percent, not 90, 100 percent. That’s how I operate, how the crew operates. That’s how I train them.”

Pinelli Landscape takes a great deal of care when planning out a project. First they consult with the customer to discuss their visions and try to put ideas together. Then a blueprint is drawn up so they can see if everyone is on the same page.

He says that once the design is on paper, several different budget options will be assessed and presented to the customer so they can pick which works best for them.

“It’s not difficult if you’re open minded when you assess the property,” Pinelli said of working with other people’s visions for their lawns. “You want their ideas as much as possible because it is so wide open, the same project can be done hundreds of different ways, I want to know what they want to look at.”

Pinelli does just offer landscaping services, his office is also a licensed nursery, they have examples of the plants they work with in the store so they people can come in and choose. He says that it helps make it easier to visualize the designs.

While they do have a retails aspect to the business, they mostly focus on the design and lawn care, although he says they might get more into it in the future.

According to Pinelli that best part about the job is getting to go out and work in the field, the actual installation of plants is what got him into landscaping and it’s his reputation for great customer service and creativity that has kept him here for nearly 20 years.

“It’s turning things from what it was to what it will be,” he said. “That’s what I like to do.”

After being cooped up indoors for a typical long Western New York winter, people like to spend as much time outside as possible once summer finally rolls around.

People all over are tending to their properties to create that ideal summer paradise in their backyards. That means that the folks over at Pinelli Landscaping, located at 4524 Clinton St in West Seneca are hard at work turning the chore of lawn work into works of art.

“I worked for another company for four years,” said owner Tony Pinelli. “That’s where I started to get into design and installation and my passion grew from there. I felt I had the capabilities and talent to do good work so that’s what drove me into starting my own business.”

Pinelli Landscaping first opened in January of 1994. Over the years they have progressed from a lawn cutting service to paving and blocking (laying out bricks for walls and walkways), they’ve turned what they do into as much a form of art as it is a business.

“We have a full-time blocking crew, two full-time maintenance crews, who do smaller landscaping projects, a crew that does both, and I have two landscaping crews,” Pinelli said. “There’s also a lawn cutting crew.”

He added that in order to keep busy during the winter months they do snow removal, snow plowing and salting. In the past few years they have also been in service installing Christmas lights at local residences.

“What drives me every day is the satisfaction of my customers,” Pinelli said. “My goal when I first started was to build a reputable company. The customer needs to be 100 percent satisfied, not 95 percent, not 90, 100 percent. That’s how I operate, how the crew operates. That’s how I train them.”

Pinelli Landscape takes a great deal of care when planning out a project. First they consult with the customer to discuss their visions and try to put ideas together. Then a blueprint is drawn up so they can see if everyone is on the same page.

He says that once the design is on paper, several different budget options will be assessed and presented to the customer so they can pick which works best for them.

“It’s not difficult if you’re open minded when you assess the property,” Pinelli said of working with other people’s visions for their lawns. “You want their ideas as much as possible because it is so wide open, the same project can be done hundreds of different ways, I want to know what they want to look at.”

Pinelli does just offer landscaping services, his office is also a licensed nursery, they have examples of the plants they work with in the store so they people can come in and choose. He says that it helps make it easier to visualize the designs.

While they do have a retails aspect to the business, they mostly focus on the design and lawn care, although he says they might get more into it in the future.

According to Pinelli that best part about the job is getting to go out and work in the field, the actual installation of plants is what got him into landscaping and it’s his reputation for great customer service and creativity that has kept him here for nearly 20 years.

“It’s turning things from what it was to what it will be,” he said. “That’s what I like to do.”

After being cooped up indoors for a typical long Western New York winter, people like to spend as much time outside as possible once summer finally rolls around.

People all over are tending to their properties to create that ideal summer paradise in their backyards. That means that the folks over at Pinelli Landscaping, located at 4524 Clinton St in West Seneca are hard at work turning the chore of lawn work into works of art.

“I worked for another company for four years,” said owner Tony Pinelli. “That’s where I started to get into design and installation and my passion grew from there. I felt I had the capabilities and talent to do good work so that’s what drove me into starting my own business.”

Pinelli Landscaping first opened in January of 1994. Over the years they have progressed from a lawn cutting service to paving and blocking (laying out bricks for walls and walkways), they’ve turned what they do into as much a form of art as it is a business.

“We have a full-time blocking crew, two full-time maintenance crews, who do smaller landscaping projects, a crew that does both, and I have two landscaping crews,” Pinelli said. “There’s also a lawn cutting crew.”

He added that in order to keep busy during the winter months they do snow removal, snow plowing and salting. In the past few years they have also been in service installing Christmas lights at local residences.

“What drives me every day is the satisfaction of my customers,” Pinelli said. “My goal when I first started was to build a reputable company. The customer needs to be 100 percent satisfied, not 95 percent, not 90, 100 percent. That’s how I operate, how the crew operates. That’s how I train them.”

Pinelli Landscape takes a great deal of care when planning out a project. First they consult with the customer to discuss their visions and try to put ideas together. Then a blueprint is drawn up so they can see if everyone is on the same page.

He says that once the design is on paper, several different budget options will be assessed and presented to the customer so they can pick which works best for them.

“It’s not difficult if you’re open minded when you assess the property,” Pinelli said of working with other people’s visions for their lawns. “You want their ideas as much as possible because it is so wide open, the same project can be done hundreds of different ways, I want to know what they want to look at.”

Pinelli does just offer landscaping services, his office is also a licensed nursery, they have examples of the plants they work with in the store so they people can come in and choose. He says that it helps make it easier to visualize the designs.

While they do have a retails aspect to the business, they mostly focus on the design and lawn care, although he says they might get more into it in the future.

According to Pinelli that best part about the job is getting to go out and work in the field, the actual installation of plants is what got him into landscaping and it’s his reputation for great customer service and creativity that has kept him here for nearly 20 years.

“It’s turning things from what it was to what it will be,” he said. “That’s what I like to do.”

After being cooped up indoors for a typical long Western New York winter, people like to spend as much time outside as possible once summer finally rolls around.

People all over are tending to their properties to create that ideal summer paradise in their backyards. That means that the folks over at Pinelli Landscaping, located at 4524 Clinton St in West Seneca are hard at work turning the chore of lawn work into works of art.

“I worked for another company for four years,” said owner Tony Pinelli. “That’s where I started to get into design and installation and my passion grew from there. I felt I had the capabilities and talent to do good work so that’s what drove me into starting my own business.”

Pinelli Landscaping first opened in January of 1994. Over the years they have progressed from a lawn cutting service to paving and blocking (laying out bricks for walls and walkways), they’ve turned what they do into as much a form of art as it is a business.

“We have a full-time blocking crew, two full-time maintenance crews, who do smaller landscaping projects, a crew that does both, and I have two landscaping crews,” Pinelli said. “There’s also a lawn cutting crew.”

He added that in order to keep busy during the winter months they do snow removal, snow plowing and salting. In the past few years they have also been in service installing Christmas lights at local residences.

“What drives me every day is the satisfaction of my customers,” Pinelli said. “My goal when I first started was to build a reputable company. The customer needs to be 100 percent satisfied, not 95 percent, not 90, 100 percent. That’s how I operate, how the crew operates. That’s how I train them.”

Pinelli Landscape takes a great deal of care when planning out a project. First they consult with the customer to discuss their visions and try to put ideas together. Then a blueprint is drawn up so they can see if everyone is on the same page.

He says that once the design is on paper, several different budget options will be assessed and presented to the customer so they can pick which works best for them.

“It’s not difficult if you’re open minded when you assess the property,” Pinelli said of working with other people’s visions for their lawns. “You want their ideas as much as possible because it is so wide open, the same project can be done hundreds of different ways, I want to know what they want to look at.”

Pinelli does just offer landscaping services, his office is also a licensed nursery, they have examples of the plants they work with in the store so they people can come in and choose. He says that it helps make it easier to visualize the designs.

While they do have a retails aspect to the business, they mostly focus on the design and lawn care, although he says they might get more into it in the future.

According to Pinelli that best part about the job is getting to go out and work in the field, the actual installation of plants is what got him into landscaping and it’s his reputation for great customer service and creativity that has kept him here for nearly 20 years.

“It’s turning things from what it was to what it will be,” he said. “That’s what I like to do.”

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The Thunder Mountain Twirlers are holding our Annual Freedom Square Dance on Friday, July 5, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Juanita Portz will call mainstream, with a plus tip at the end of the evening. Only $4 for members, $5 for non-members. Snacks and friendship are provided. Sierra Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 101 N. Lenzner Ave., Sierra Vista. For more info contact Sandy at (520) 378-6719 or email svtmt@cox.net.

The American Legion Post 52 will host breakfast Saturday, July 6, from 8-10:30 a.m. Open to all members, guess and all active duty service members and family. For more information, call 459-6050, American Legion Post 52, 12 Theater Drive, Sierra Vista.

The annual Christmas in July Bazaar will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the Ethel Berger Center and Oscar Yrun Community Center in Sierra Vista. There will be a wide selection of wares to choose from with many items handcrafted including jewelry, quilts, pictures, crocheted items, aprons, wreaths, candles and more. A snack bar will be oopen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

The Huachuca Saddle Club will be holding open gymkhanas and open Western/English horse shows during the 2013 season. All events are held at Fort Huachuca at Wren Arena. Plenty of parking under the oak trees, no charge for spectators. Events are open to all equines. Remaining gymkhanas are July 6, Aug. 3, Oct. 19 and Nov. 2. Day shows, sign ups at 8 a.m., runs start at 9 a.m. Aug. 3 will have a night show with sign ups at 4 p.m., runs start at 6 p.m. Cost: $5 members/$7 non-members. Must be a member to win buckle.

The Friends of the San Pedro River will conduct interpretive walks along the river Saturdays at 8 a.m. on July 6, 13, 20, and 27.  All walks depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river. The San Pedro River features some of the richest wildlife habitat in the United States. There is no charge for the walks, however donations are accepted to support the docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, trail shoes or similar footwear, a hat, and use sun protection.  For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

The Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Foundation will have a car wash starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, in the ZBar parking lot on the corner of Fry and Avenida Escuela. Come and meet this year’s Miss Sierra Vista contestants and donate to a good cause. All proceeds will benefit the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Foundation. For more information, contact Krista York at kyork_14@hotmail.com.

Richard Etheridge, a gifted photographer, is the featured artist for July at the Huachuca Art Gallery at the Mall at Sierra Vista. The “Meet the Artist” reception is Sunday July 7, 3–5 p.m., the public is invited. Refreshments are being offered. For more info call 803-0195 The HAA Gallery is open Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Lori Kovash is giving another jewelry making workshop Sunday July 7, 1 – 3 p.m. at the HAA studio in Hereford, 3818 Astro St., south of Hwy. 92. This time it is all about working with copper and brass. All supplies are included, the fee is $ 20. The class is limited, so make your reservation immediately at 234-5528

The Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP), also known as the wastewater treatment plant, is open for bird walks each Sunday morning.  The walks take about two hours and are led by docents from Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO), Huachuca Audubon Society (HAS), and the Friends of the San Pedro River (FSPR). The walks begin Sundays at 7 a.m., on July 7, 14, 21, and 28 and depart from the viewing platform inside the EOP.  The entrance is located on Highway 90 between mileage markers 324 and 325 on the north side of the highway.  All tours are free, although donations are accepted.  Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, trail shoes or similar footwear, a hat, and use sun protection.  For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

American Legion Post 52, July free pool Sundays; open to members, guests and all active duty service members. For more information, call 459-6050, American Legion Post 52, 12 Theater Drive, Sierra Vista.

A Japanese culture festival will be held on Sunday, July 7, at the Tompkins City Park on S. Seventh St., in Sierra Vista, starting from 10 to 3 p.m. If you are interested in Japanese culture and learning about our club, Sakura No Kai, (Japanese traditional art club) Come join us and bring your family. It’s a pot luck, so bring a potluck covered dish. Donation are welcome. For further information, Mrs. Norico Blair. 515-7414 her cell phone 226-6091.

The Huachuca Area Republican Women’s Club will meet for lunch on Tuesday, July 9, at Pueblo del Sol Country Club. Registration and social time begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch and a program at 11 a.m. A presentation will be given in the form of a panel composed of Fry Fire Chief, Bill Miller; Sierra Vista Deputy Fire Chief, Ron York and Palominos Interim Fire Chief, Steve Able. They will provide an update about the recent changes within their departments as to training, coordination for future fires and other citizen-related issues. Cost for lunch is $16. Please call Sandy at 378-6238 no later than July 7 for reservations. Prospective members and guests are always welcome to attend.”

Birders of all levels are invited to participate in upcoming bird walks sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River.  The walks are scheduled for Wednesday,  July 10, and Saturday, July 27, at 7 a.m. and depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river. There is no charge for the walks, however, donations are accepted to support docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, a snack, good trail shoes, a hat, and sun protection. For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

The Sierra Vista Farmers Market will move to its new location in Veterans’ Memorial Park, on Thursday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, with a special grand opening planned. Folks can order lunch from several food trucks and relax at the park, while listening to live music from local musicians. Gardening will be the theme for the grand opening, with lots of information and an activity for kids. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. with remarks by Mayor Rick Mueller.  The community is invited to meet local growers and ranchers, shop locally, and take home some healthy and nutritious foods. For more information call 520-678-2638 or visit www.sierravistafarmersmarket.com.

Together with the SVRHC Wellness Depot, DaVita® Sierra Vista will host a free Kidney Smart® class the second Thursday of each month at the Wellness Depot in the Mall at Sierra Vista. The next meeting will be held Thursday, July 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. The class is part of a nationwide effort to empower those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by providing a basic education course on how to manage their health. For more information on this or any other event at the Wellness Depot in the Mall at Sierra Vista, call 459-8210.

Sierra Vista Community United Church of Christ, 240 N. Highway 90 Bypass, close to the Target, is sponsoring a second “lunch and learn,” at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 12. Guest speaker is Tom Shupert, Sierra Vista Historical Society.  His presentation is “A Long Road to the Best Kept Secret.”  A light lunch will be served for $4.  Reservations required.  Call 458-4895 by noon, Tuesday, July 9.

Two thirds of the Thunder Mountain Road Crew will call a Mainstream Square Dance on Friday, July 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for the Thunder Mountain Twirlers. Lisa Wall is back with Rounds, and there will be a Plus Tip at the end of the evening. Only $4 for members, $5 for non-members. Snacks and friendship are provided. Sierra Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 101 N. Lenzner Ave., Sierra Vista. For more info contact Sandy at 520-378-6719 or email svtmt@cox.net 

The 17th Annual Back To School Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Mall at Sierra Vista. Included are referral information, children’s activities, health and nutrition services, family services, support groups and free back to school used clothing store. For more information, contact Ken James at 458-7922 or ken.james@sierravista.gov. Sponsored by the Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, First Things First, Sierra Vista Leisure and Library Services, the University of Arizona Sierra Vista and University South Foundation.

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s Wellness Depot will provide information about “Backpack fitting for school children” on July 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Understanding how a backpack should fit and be loaded can help prevent back injuries for your child. A licensed physical therapist from Sierra Vista Regional Health Center will be on hand. Bring your backpack if you have one. This presentation will be held during the Back to School Fair in front of the Wellness Depot located in the Mall at Sierra Vista between the food court and Sears. To learn more, you can call 520-459-8210.

The Sierra Vista Historical Society is sponsoring free hotdogs and popcorn at “Summer Saturdays at the Hauser Museum!” on July 13, 20, and 27. Join us for family activities for both kids and adults 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each Saturday will introduce a hands-on activity for children ages 5-10 years of age. Parents are encouraged to attend all sessions. The Henry Hauser Museum is located at 2930 E. Tacoma St., in Sierra Vista. Saturday, July 13, will explore “Seeds of the City — Discovering SV’s Past” for kids planting a Victory Garden, and for adults “Long Road to the Best Kept Secret” with Tom Shupert, SVHS researcher. Saturday, July 20, will explore “Santa Fe Trail — Cochise County” for kids creating tools for the trail, and for adults “Bloody Doubtful Canyon in Cochise County” with historian Doug Hocking. Saturday, July 27, will explore “A Street Named After Me?” for kids designing their own street sign, and for adults “Cruisin’ the Streets with the Former Chief” presented by David Santor, SVHS researcher. Please help us plan for supplies by registering your family for this free, fun and entertaining program by contacting Nancy Krieski at 520-417-6989 or Nancy.Krieski@SierraVistaAZ.gov.

Please come support the Cochise County Children’s Center in Huachuca City at the July 13 Fundraiser Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Huachuca City Park. The center provides safety and shelter for thousands of children and youth from Cochise and surrounding counties. Volunteers and donations are needed to help at the festival. Please contact Jesika Cahel, (520) 732-6272; Dina Barnhart, (520) 220-7409, or Nichole Long, (520) 678-2537.

Free Water Wise Rainwater Harvesting Tour in Sierra Vista on Saturday July 13.  Come see how your neighbors harvest rainwater and get inspired! Several rainwater harvesting systems in the Sierra Vista area will be open for guided tours. The tour begins 8 a.m. at Cochise College Career Technology Education Building, 901 N. Colombo Ave., Sierra Vista. Take south entrance, then second driveway on right. Contact Water Wise for site information and locations at (520) 458-8278 ext. 2141 or waterwise.arizona.edu.

Friends of the Library will host its monthly sale on July 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friends is located on Tacoma Street, adjacent to the Sierra Vista Public Library. Also mark your calendars for Sept. 14, when Friends will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a multitude of events at the same location.

Friends of Huachuca City Library will hold a book sale Saturday, July 13.  The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the storage shed behind the HC police station.  We have a new selection of hard cover books suitable for children ages 6-12.  All proceeds go to support the HC Public Library.

Carr House Sunday Programs 1:30 p.m.  July 14,  Animal Adaptations — Jane Chambers, Environmental Educator. This will be a family presentation about how animals use structure and behavior to adapt to their environment. There will be some hands-on materials and activities for school-age children and for those that are young at heart. Directions to Carr House: From Sierra Vista travel south on Highway 92 to Carr Canyon Road (at the Mesquite Tree Restaurant). Turn right (west). Drive about 2.1 miles up Carr Canyon Road. Carr House is on the left after a concrete dip in the road. Visit our website at www.huachucamountains.org.

Church On The Street will host its first fundraising banquet, with reservations by July 15. The banquet will be held July 27 at First Christian Community Church, 55 Kings Way, Sierra Vista, at 6 p.m.. For more information contact Pastors John and Cheryl Sutton at (520) 222-2139.

The 1200 Club of Greater Sierra Vista will meet on Friday July 19. at Pueblo del Sol Country Club. The guest speaker will be Mary Jacobs, Assistant City Manager, Sierra Vista. The focus of her presentation will be the recent “Dream Your City” process and the incorporation of some of the ideas into the city council’s strategic plan. Mayor Rick Mueller will conclude the presentation with a  few remarks.  The meeting begins with Social Time at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the evening’s presentation.  Cost of the meal is $22 per person. Reservations can be made by emailing Kathy Dolge at Kathy@Dolge Family.net.  Please make your reservations by July 17, 2013.

Join The Salvation Army for a “Coffee Meet and Greet” open house. It will be on July 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at The Salvation Army Corps, 156 E. Wilcox Ave., in Sierra Vista. You will have the chance to meet Salvation Army Captains Bob and Karen Schmig, Mayor Rick Meuller, Advisory Board Chair Tim Cervantes and Major Gift Chair TK McCutcheon.  Come join us and find out what The Salvation Army is doing in your community!

The Friends of the San Pedro River offer a presentation by Sarah Porter of Audubon Arizona about Audubon’s Western Rivers Action Network. This network is focused on advocating for conservation actions that will increase river flow and enhance the health of our environment and restore valuable wetlands and forests.  The event will take place at the Sun Canyon Inn, 260 N. Garden Ave., in Sierra Vista, on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. Call 459-2555 or visit sanpedroriver.org for directions to these sites and further information.

The Sierra Vista Area Gardeners Club will meet on Thursday, July 18, at  12:30 p.m. in the Constable’s Office in the old County Complex at 4100 East Foothills Drive, in Sierra Vista. The public is invited to hear Rebecca Hillebrand speak about the Sierra Vista Community Gardens. Club member Jackie Jones will also discuss topics presented at the recent Cochise County Master Gardeners Association’s High Desert Gardening and Landscaping Conference. For additional details, visit our site at www.svgardenclub.org or call Jane at 732-1822.

The Happy Achers Senior Group at the United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Buffalo Soldier Trail and St. Andrews Drive will have their monthly potluck at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, July 18.  The program will be presented by Michael Grande.  Everyone 50 or older is welcome so bring a covered dish and join us for a good time.  For more info call 378-1924.

Free Water Wise Rainwater Harvesting Tour in Bisbee on Saturday July 20.  Several rainwater harvesting systems in the Bisbee area will be open for guided tours. Come get inspired!  The tour begins 8 a.m. at Grassy Park, next to the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum on Main Street, Old Bisbee.  Contact Water Wise for site information and locations @ (520) 366-8148 or waterwise.arizona.edu.

The Third Annual Bikers for Boots fund-raiser will take place July 27 at the American Legion Post 24 in Tombstone. Registration for the poker run/pub crawl starts at 8:30 a.m. with the first bike out at 9 a.m. The crawl starts at 10:30 a.m. with the last bike/crawler back at 4 p.m. Pre-registration and sponsorship information available at sites.google.com/site/bikers4boots. Cost is $15 for single and $25 for couples. Other activities include a live auction, silent auction and door prizes from 5 to 7 p.m. Starting at 8 p.m. until midnight, the Rowdy Johnson Band will play. Public is welcome. One hundred percent of the profits will go to Boots for Our Troops Foundation (bfot.org).

The Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, SWABS, is having a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Landmark Cafe, 400 W. Fry Boulevard, in Sierra Vista. Funds raised at the event will help graduating seniors with college expenses. Tickets are $3 for all you can eat pancakes, from 6-11 a.m. For information, or to purchase tickets, call 417-1453.

The Huachuca Saddle Club will be holding open gymkhanas and open western/English Horse Shows during the 2013 show season. All events are held at Fort Huachuca at Wren Arena. Plenty of parking under the oak trees, no charge for spectators. Events are open to all equines. Remaining Western/English Combination shows are Aug. 17 and Oct. 5. Books open at 8 a.m., show starts at 9 a.m. Along with regular classes, a Ranch Pleasure Class has been added. This is a pattern class with extended gaits, trot or lope overs, side pass and single spin in each direction. An Open Country Pleasure Driving is added starting with the June 15 show. Cost: $5 members/$8 non-members. Classes with less than three entries may be cancelled or combined with like class. Sponsored classes are held regardless of number of entries. Must be a member for year end awards. Exhibitors must compete in two of three English shows or two of three Western shows to qualify for year end awards.

If you find a correction for this story, please contact our editorial department

There is a home along Summerfield Rd. that has been there for a while. Nearly 100 years to be exact. It is painted red now, but for at least 20 years it sat in disarray. It was so covered in vines and the land was so over grown, it wasn’t visible from the road. In 2003, efforts began to save the old house once owned by famous hymnist Ina Duley Ogdon.

A garden wraps around the cabin, filled with native plants, shrubs and flowers. Volunteers have spent years try to restore not only the house, but the garden as well. This year, the garden at the Ogdon cabin, or Century House, as volunteers call it, will be featured on the July 13 Garden Tours sponsored by the Bedford Flower Garden Club.

“It’s a work in progress and will be forever,” Trudy Urbani, coordinator of the Century House Preservationists, said of the garden she and fellow volunteers have been working to re-create. “We have this beautiful treasure here. It is a historic site and should be preserved.”

This year’s event, Tour des Fleurs, is the 17th year for the garden tours, and will feature five gardens across Bedford Township. This includes the garden at the library that club members work to maintain.

After purchasing tickets at the Bedford Branch Library, participants will receive a map directing them to the gardens. Club members will be stationed at each garden to help answer questions.

Tour coordinator Cindy Skaggs said gardens are chosen to be on the tour for a number of reasons. Most were featured as Yard of the Month by the Bedford Township Beautification Committee. Others were chosen simply because a club member drove by and found the garden appealing. Still others are gardens of club members themselves.

New to this year’s garden tour are seminars — one on vertical gardens at 10:30 a.m. and one on invasive and native plants at 1:30 p.m. — held at the library. Other aspects of the garden tour to look forward to include a Backyard Boutique where garden decor is sold, a Booktique selling gardening magazines and books, and the annual raffle.

Besides the library’s garden, this is the first year a nonresidential garden was chosen to be featured on the tours, Mrs. Skaggs said. What makes the Century House’s garden so special is that gardeners from around the community come together to work there.

Every plant and every idea featured in the Century House’s garden was donated by a member of the community. The rain garden was created by Joyce Blanton. The pond was restored by Ralph Collins. The butterfly garden was the work of the Tammy Gangway and her family. And all the puzzle pieces come together to create one beautiful environment.

“It reflects a little bit of everybody,” Mrs. Urbani said of the garden, “and that’s what makes it so good. It’s part of the community. The Bedford Community is the one that’s saving this.”

Although many residents who attend the garden tours are looking for ideas to take home to their own gardens, Mrs. Urbani is hoping more volunteers will be drawn to the garden. This strategy has earned the Garden Club at least 40 new members over the years.

Tickets for Tour des Fleurs cost $8 and can be purchased at the library on July 13. Proceeds go to help cover the costs of maintain the Bedford Branch Library garden and to an annual scholarship given to a Bedford Township senior looking to go into an area of study related to the environment. The tours will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Spending a lazy summer afternoon floating down the Okanagan River Channel is a little more expensive this summer.

The $2 environmental levy being implemented by Coyote Cruises is aimed at improving the channel experience for everyone, cleaning up the channel, the walkway beside it, the landing zones and maybe even some shade tree plantings.

Coyote Cruises is a Penticton Indian Band-owned company that provides both tube rentals and lake to lake bus service for people floating down the channel. Anona Kampe, one of the directors of the company, estimates that about 100,000 people from all over the world take the popular trip each summer. A majority of the people who float the river channel bring their own floatation devices, beverages and food, with the packaging from those items often winding up in the river.

The idea of an environmental levy, Kampe said, is not a new idea.

“Even before us it had been discussed, but nobody knew how to just get the ball rolling,” said Kampe. They took it first to the PIB administration and then to the City of Penticton, earning the support of both councils. Permission for a fence — intended to help collect the levy even from those not using Coyote Cruise services —- at the cruise starting point was denied.

“We had thought perhaps erecting a fence would get the traffic to go right through past the cash registers, but the fence was denied by the City of Penticton. “I understand, erecting a fence in that area might not be cosmetically pleasing.”

Kampe said they are proceeding with the levy regardless.

“I would pay $2 myself to use the stairs, for the convenience,” said Kampe, noting that the channel is not easily accessible except at their starting point.

“If people are that upset about the $2 levy for the environment and they want to jump in down the way, then so be it,” said Kampe.

Coyote Cruises understands that this initiative might be unpopular since floating the river channel has always been free for the floater, provided they use their own floatation device and transportation. However, the levy has the potential to generate a substantial amount to care for the water and the land.

“We are the stewards of the environment,” said Kampe, explaining that the funds would be used to help refresh the landscaping at the pickup points as well as keep the river channel and walking path on the western side clean.

“The pickup point is pretty shabby looking, the one at the very end near Skaha, the asphalt is coming up in the parking lot. The weeds are out of control down there, the landscaping itself just looks run down,” said Kampe. “When you are first coming into Penticton from that side and people are driving by, it looks pretty run down. We want to update the landscaping and beautify the area, and also in the halfway point as well.”

They will be looking into bag dispensers to try to deal with the large amount of dog feces on the walking path as well as talking with a local diving club to help clean up the channel bottom. Kampe would also like to see some trees planted at locations along the west bank as the city has done on the east, which would provide shade areas for spawning salmon and kokanee.

“These are all the ideas we are throwing around,” said Kampe, who added they still need to lay out a strategic plan and consult with stakeholder groups, like the PIB, the City of Penticton or the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “We’ve got all these great ideas and it is just a matter of getting them done now.”

James Young

Last January I wrote about the possible effects of Peak Oil and Climate Change on landscaping. The effects will extend well beyond landscaping, of course. However, what better place to start doing something about these problems than the landscape just outside our door?

There’s a name for these efforts to adapt to this new world of diminishing energy and unpredictable climate. It’s called “Transition

The Transition Movement

Illustration by the one of the primary originators of the Transition Movement, Rob Hopkins. Learn more at Transition Culture.org.

Transition started in Great Britain but has spread around the world. It’s an approach to handling the coming challenges we all face using a philosophy that leads us in a positive and empowering direction. The hallmarks of the process are self-determination combined with local action teams and a worldwide network.

Transition is not centered on trying to change other’s behavior. The idea is not to dictate to an unreceptive audience how we must respond to these coming problems. Nor does it seek direct political sway in the halls of power.

Transition asks each of us who are willing, to envision how to live our lives better, period. Given our personal desires and the background of constant change that engulfs us, our answers won’t all be the same but they will be channeled in the same direction. The needs and constraints of our time will necessarily lead us in the right direction. And when good ideas arise, they will spread through the network and beyond.

Transition is a set of guidelines that allow us to envision a better future based on resilient ways of living and by finding roots in our local culture. Transition teaches us that resilience is the goal we should shoot for, not dependency on ways of living that will essentially disappear in the near future. The need for resilience is the backdrop that will tend to channel us all in the same direction.

Resilience is a much under appreciated characteristic. We usually only need it during times of great change. However, who can predict when sudden change will come upon us? Those who question the status quo are generally ignored until radical change comes upon so forcefully that it is undeniable. For example, the housing crisis was predicted by a handful of people, like Dean Baker. They were all ignored and the lack of resilience in our financial system was revealed to the world.

Another example of resilience (or lack thereof): Hurricane Sandy came ashore and over 8 million people lost power. A city the size of New York just about came to a standstill. Take away the easy energy and the modern city falls apart. This is not a city of resilience; this is a city utterly dependent on an increasingly scarce and clearly limited resource; fossil fuels. Lucky for New Yorkers there is still plenty of easy energy left to rebuild. How long will that last? And what about the next time it happens?

Transition gives individuals and small groups a way to affect their own futures, without dependence on government or big business to do it for them or get in the way. It asks the question: What can we do today to bring a better vision of the future into our immediate reality? Let’s look to where we need to go instead of focusing with dread on the oh-so-many negative things coming our way. And we certainly have a plethora of negativity to distract us these days.

With each of us dreaming a new world and forming small local groups dedicated to shared visions of resilience and sustainability that we want to live in, in roles that we want to play, we can finally move forward with enthusiasm.

My description of Transition does not do it justice. Follow the links here to get to the source:

http://www.transitionnetwork.org/

http://transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins

In the spirit of Transition then, I have been envisioning my response and my dreams for the future of my particular family unit.

For a start, I decided to plant an orchard. I’ve always wanted to be better at orcharding. What better place than just outside my door, right? And I love a garden that you can eat. It’s not lost on me that our supermarket food supply will begin to stress and strain from the impacts of Peak Oil and Climate Change in the coming years. This orchard will develop resilience against that. Regardless of the added resilience provided by a hyper-local food supply, it’s the fun of it all that draws me in.

The next article, “An Orchard in the Front Yard,” will follow shortly.

– By James Young

James Young is the owner of Blue Wheelbarrow Landscaping in Edmonds.

 

David Broyles | The News

This is a view of the newly installed pond on Surry Community College’s Dobson campus. Horticulture students installed this near a high traffic walkway on the lawn of the Richards building. Students put down more than 2,000 square feet of sod and planted dozens of trees, shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses.

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David Broyles | The News

These are just some of the trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and ornamental grasses SCC horticulture students planted on the Dobson campus. Students not only designed the plantings and a small pond, the project had to be reviewed and approved by Director of Facilities Randy Rogers.

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DOBSON — Horticulture students at Surry Community College turned ideas into reality, building a waterfall and small pond on the Dobson campus.

According to Horticulture Instructor Jeff Jones, the work was the result of a capstone design project for students in Horticulture 112 and Landscape Design I.

Jones said the project was closely tied to real world experience with students presenting their proposal to SCC’s Director of Facilities Randy Rogers who approved the project. Rogers had previously assisted the students with a site location for their project.

“The Horticulture program at SCC is second to none. The work done by this group of students proves that they not only learned the principles of landscape design but they also learned how to work together to put them into practice,” said Rogers.

Students installed near a high traffic walkway on the lawn of the Richards Building where a new sidewalk had recently been completed. They put down about 2,500 square feet of zoysia sod and planted dozens of trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and annuals. The Ararat rock company also donated large rocks which were used to create a small pond.

“We were dealing with a large area with a limited amount of time and weather is always a factor in our work,” said Jones. “The water feature was new to many of the students including myself. There weren’t any challenges we couldn’t overcome. They put a real life project into action including design, approval and installation. They improved a section of campus for all the students, faculty and staff to enjoy for years to come. “

Jones said two factors involved in the high profile area project were making the area look nice and make it engaging to persons using the sidewalk. Student Hallie Johnson had landscaping experience and had installed pre-formed ponds before but said she had never worked with a free form pond.

“It was a challenge but not too challenging. Of all the components in the project the sod surprised me most,” said Johnson. “It surprised me how quickly it went down. We worked together well and I enjoyed it. This is what I want to do for a profession.” She estimated the entire project took two months with four days devoted to pond installation. She said she wound up doing a lot of the tractor work which made her feel at times like she was at home and not school.

Johnson said the class was surprised at times by people who would just watch them preparing and planting the areas. She said she had never thought of landscaping as a spectator sport. Classmate Pam Dhesi said this had been her first time participating in a landscape project of its kind. She said the students received a lot of support from the administration and were pleased with how the project went off.

“It’s a big difference from paper to planting,” said Dhesi. “It was a lot of work and well worth it. Teamwork is what made it easier.”

Jones said students had done various other projects around campus but this was the first one with such a high level of coordination with the facilities and maintenance department.

“We are able to use our campus almost like a laboratory at times,” added Jones. “Trial and error can teach us a lot and we are always able to fix our errors.” He said recent trends in outdoor living spaces, edible landscaping and emphasis on local produce were opening up more opportunities for horticulture students.

SCC offers a diploma and degree in horticulture technology and a certificate in sustainable horticulture. Interested persons may get more information by contacting Jones at 336-386-3391 or visit the school web site at www.surry.edu.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@civitasmedia.com or 336-719-1952.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– The vision for the West Meadows of Jordan Valley is getting closer to reality.  Crews have planted grass on the rolling hills just west of downtown Springfield.  And this morning, various city departments, along with engineers and landscape architects met to tour the site and share ideas for the park design.  The sixteen acre site will have a greenway trail running through it, as well as some historical features.

“There’s a lot of history, a lot of Springfield history gathered in a relatively small place, so we’re going to play off those synergies and make sure that when you’re at the mound in West Meadows, you’re learning about College Street Corridor, Route 66, Fulbright Springs, the Civil War Fort, all the different aspects of Springfield history,” says Springfield City Manager Greg Burris.

The initial landscaping and trail could be complete sometime next year, with additional features being added to the park in the coming years.

“We talked about things like having an observation deck off the big mound, having educational kiosks around, creating some spots that can become an outdoor classroom, and those aren’t going to happen right away, but they might happen five, ten, fifteen years down the road,” says Burris.