By BEN

jhummel@southjerseymedia.com

Web: nj.com/ben

Phone: 856-451-1000, ext. 556

Cellphone: 856-237-6645

FAX: 856-455-3098

U.S. Army: RA13815980

The column that says Land Dimensions is playing it close to the vest.

—

Good afternoon!

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Last day of warm weather forever.

—

“Jack,

“The person who could not hear the noise needs to get his or her hearing checked.

“I can hear the glass plant from my house and I live on East Commerce Street.

“Listen for the noise several nights in a row.

“Sometimes, it is bad and, sometimes, you can’t hear it.’’

— Mike Abbott

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How come we don’t hear these things?

—

Land Dimensions of Glassboro is coming to a special session of Bridgeton City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Larry DiPietro Co. will be laying out what Bridgeton can do with its city park to make it a destination.

This is not unlike what Salmon Ventures did for Hopewell Township.

DiPietro said it will be PowerPoint presentation on strategy to make Bridgeton City Park a destination.

It will include ideas from the entrance to the park at East Commerce Street to and including the Donald Rainear Amphitheater.

“We will touch on Sunset Lake,’’ he said.

DePietro will do the land plans, and an associate will do landscaping.

There is no 500-foot waterslide in the plans.

“And we’re not confining it to a specific cost figure,’’ he said.

It will include trails and how to marry the recreation area to the park, itself.

“Enhancements is the best term,’’ said DiPietro.

The Raceway will be included.

“Strategy to create a sense of place,’’ he said.

—

“Mike Abbott, it’s time to be part of the solution and not add to the problem.  

“Since you have what appears to be all the time in the world to watch specific vendors, then why don’t you sign the complaint yourself and follow it through?  

“Allow our police officers to fight crime, real crime and not your petty agendas.  

“As a resident of this town, I’m amazed that we are now complaining about the noise from Ardagh (sic).  

“A twenty four-seven operation that employs how many locals?  

“Yes, sounds like a winner winner chicken dinner!

“Let’s chase them out of town, too.

“One more less ratable.  

“It’s winter time. Sound travels much farther than summer when trees have full leaves, and, believe it or not, they do suppress noise.  

“BEN column, where it’s not that bad when the obvious solutions are in your face.  

“Time to stop passing the buck and stand up!

“It takes a village. Let’s see it!’’

— resident of the towne

—

Why the sic after Ardagh?

It’s not Ardagh Group?

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“Good afternoon,

“My name is Katie and I am the public relations officer for FURever Friends.

“We work in conjunction with Pennsville Animal Rescue located at the Pennsville Township Pound.

“We are contacting you because we saw in the South Jersey Times that you write blurbs for organizations and print it in the BEN Column for upcoming events.

“We are having an event at the end of this month and we were wondering if you would be able to publish something for us.

“I have added in an image of our flier and a short description of our event below.’’

— Katie

—

Katie, when it pertains to animals, you’ve come to the right place.

When it comes to unloved animals, we’re listening.

When it comes to animal cruelty, we’re on our way.

—

Back to Katie.

“Join Pennsville Animal Rescue for their Cash Bingo on Friday, Jan. 24, at Pennsville VFW.

“Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first game starts promptly at 7.

“They are giving away almost $1,100 in cash prizes.

“Each ticket is $25 and supports the medical programs that assist FURever Friends in spaying/neutering and the first-year shots of all rescues available for adoption.

“You can order tickets by calling 856-469-7179 or by visiting www.pennsvilleanimalrescue.net to purchase via secure PayPal.

“If you book a table of eight or more, you will have reserved seating and each person receives a free raffle ticket.

“They are giving away lots of cash and as always they have table service for everyone, so no need for you to leave your seats.

“No tickets will be sold at the door so get yours today and join them in an evening of fun and great prizes!’’

— Katie

—

You mean we don’t have to play for handbags?

We can play for straight cash?

How long has this been going on?

It at least sounds like a free meal.

Count us in!

—

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where why isn’t the Pennsville Library doing this at least once a month?

Trends in gardening are like the latest fashions in the clothing world. Some will work for you and others simply will not. Each January you see the latest and greatest ideas promoted in the media and you wonder, “Should I follow that?” Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to follow the latest trend in gardening.

Gardening trends may refer to the plants you grow, how you combine them, the containers you plant them in, how you lay out your landscape or collection of plants or a number of other factors. Each year experts in the field of landscaping and gardening choose what they feel are great and innovative ideas and plants to spotlight along with related products.

Trends can be a good thing in that they provide ideas that you may never have thought of on your own. These ideas, depending on the source, are usually well thought out and have been tested before they go public in a big way. Always consider your source when deciding whether a new trend is truly a good, workable idea.

The plants and materials related to a current year’s trend are often front and center on garden center displays and in online catalogues. If you are shopping in a smaller town, you may have to hunt for them a little harder.

What are some of the “trends” being promoted for 2014? The ever-expanding interest in container gardening continues to be at the forefront of trends for 2014. This will mean that a wider variety of pots and planters will be available in stores. Of course, you can always use your own imagination or what you have around the house to create your own collection of containers.

Combining plants of varying heights, textures, growth habits and colors can be a tricky thing. Whether you are growing in pots or in flower beds, this takes some forethought. You can garner many workable ideas about mixing up plants that work well together from the promotions and pictures you will see in the media this year.

A focus on neon colors as well as gardening in black and white will be evident in gardening this year. This may be reflected in the plants you see for sale or the shades of containers on the shelves.

The National Garden Bureau spotlights one annual, one perennial and one vegetable each year. Their goal is to educate the public in a focused way. Though their approach is not really the same as designating plants as part of a trend, it does mean that the plants they choose are often more available that year. In 2014, they are focusing on the petunia (an annual), echinacea (a perennial) and the cucumber.

Another trend for 2014 that should be promoted each and every year is educating gardeners and increasing their knowledge. You may find that more of the plants you buy have detailed care instructions or that garden centers are offering more educational workshops.

How do you know when to follow a trend? Ask yourself these things. Will it work for you in your particular situation? Does it fit into your budget? Are items available locally or easily through mail order? If I go all out with this year’s trend, can I still put it to use next year?

Trends are simply ideas you have never thought of before on your own. You can often create the same effect for far less money than the pre-assembled items that you will find for sale.

The bottom line is: Do you like it? If one of the gardening trends being promoted for 2014 really appeals to you, go with it.

Contact the writer: 138 Nature’s Trail, Bamberg, SC 29003.

R.S. Walsh In The Garden, Sanibel’s Retail Garden Center and Outdoor Showroom will donate 20% of all sales to The Sanibel School, January 27 – February 1. In The Garden is a tropical plant nursery that features garden pathways that showcase the latest in landscape design and outdoor living ideas. Purchases of colorful pottery, hand-crafted garden art, garden benches, fountains, plants, mulches and soil will apply toward the donation.

“Our company feels a great responsibility to make a positive contribution in the community where we live and work,” said Robert Walsh, president of R.S. Walsh Landscaping. “The Sanibel School’s emphasis on environmental education is important to us and we hope that this fundraiser will enhance the educational opportunities for the students at the school.”

R.S. Walsh Landscaping is a family-owned and operated, full-service landscape design-build Company specializing in landscape design, installation, and maintenance. For 30 years, R.S. Walsh has been committed to superior workmanship, the highest standard of materials and the constant pursuit of excellence. R.S. Walsh In The Garden – Retail Garden Center Outdoor Showroom is located at 3889 Sanibel Captiva Road, across from the Sanibel School, and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information call (239) 395-5859 or visit www.rswalsh.com

Created: 01/09/2014 2:57 PM WHEC.com

By: Networx

I don’t know about you, but I’m an avocado fiend. I adore these delicious little fruits, particularly the rich, creamy Hass that’s widely cultivated in California and parts of the Southwest. And, like so many of us, every time I wrench a pit out of an avocado to get at the goodness inside, I mull over the thought of growing my own avocado tree. I’ve even sprouted a seed or two in my day, but I never really committed to the project, assuming it was too cold for me to grow avocados, and thinking it would be too much work.

Turns out, I was wrong.

While avocados can be a bit fussy (they really prefer to be grown in USDA zones 9-11, although you can grow them in greenhouses), it’s totally worth a try. Even if you don’t get your avocado tree to bear fruit (and we’ll talk about that more in a moment), avocado trees are actually rather gorgeous, and well worth keeping up as part of your landscaping. You can buy them at some nurseries to get a jump start, but the fun part is actually sprouting them from seed — though be warned, because commercial avocados are grown with grafting techniques, your tree might not behave exactly as you expect. If you want a reliable outcome, you’ll have to go with buying a tree from a nursery. Consider this more like a fun gardening experiment.

Start out with an avocado pit. Make sure to cut the fruit open carefully to get to the pit, and take it out without disrupting the layer of brown material on the outside of the pit. Run it under water to remove any remaining flesh, which could rot and damage the pit while it’s sprouting. Then, point the narrower end up (that’s where the tree will sprout) and the broader end down (that’s where your taproot will develop) and use a few toothpicks or prongs to pierce it, much like you’re setting up a Christmas tree stand.

Rest the edges of the toothpicks on a glass, bowl, or similar container and fill it with water. Make sure to let the top of the pit stay dry, while the bottom of the pit stays wet, and change the water every three to six days, keeping the pit in a bright, sunny, warm area of the house. It can take up to two months for an avocado pit to sprout, and while you’re waiting, make sure it doesn’t develop mold and mildew. If you’re having trouble with light levels, talk to your Dallas electrician about setting up a grow light.

You’ll know you have a starter when your seed starts to dry out and crack at the top, sloughing away the brown casing material. A small shoot will start to appear, even as a taproot develops at the base of the pit and branches out into a series of roots. Keep the avocado pit watered, warm, and well-lit for several weeks, until the young tree is about a hands-length tall. Cut the stem back to promote healthy growth (I know, it feels cruel, but do it anyway!) and then allow it to grow back to the same height before potting it up in rich, moist soil.

As your avocado tree grows, you can gradually transplant it into larger containers, and eventually into the ground. If you live somewhere warm and temperate, your avocado tree will likely be happy outdoors in a sheltered, sunny place. If you live somewhere cooler, keep your avocado in a wheeled container so you can move it indoors for wintering on a sun porch or in a sunny part of the house.

Avocado maintenance is actually pretty simple. Periodically pinch the leaves back to encourage the tree to develop a bushy form, rather than a leggy one. Generally, you can pinch the top two leaves to promote the formation of branches, rather than more leaves, and as the branches grow out, you can keep doing this to make your avocado even in form. If your avocado starts being nibbled on by aphids or other insects, wash it in warm water with mild dish soap, or consider applying neem oil, a good source of natural pest control.

Is your tree browning? It may be drying out, or it could be upset about being buffeted by winds. Looking wilty? Low water may be a problem, but it could also be drowning in too much water, so check the soil carefully. Houseplant food with a good balance of nitrogen and zinc is usually sufficient for avocados.

So, when will your tree produce fruit? It takes around five to seven years for a tree to fully mature and start bearing, and be aware that avocados are what is known as alternate barriers. That means that one year, they’ll set a large crop, and the next year will be smaller. The year following will have a large crop, and so forth.

Avocados are also not very good at pollinating themselves, although they technically can. The problem is that while the flowers are both male and female, the sex organs open at different times, making it difficult for the pollen to reach the female organs and fertilize them, even with bees or manual pollination. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a second tree around to help out; when the female parts are open on the first tree, the male flower parts on the second tree produce pollen to fertilize them.

These fruits are actually pretty special snowflakes in the flowering department. The trees are broadly broken into two categories. “A” avocados open their female parts in the morning of the first day of flowering, and their male parts in the afternoon of the second day. “B” avocados do the opposite. If you have one of each, they’ll fertilize each other, and the trees should both set fruit.

Hass is probably the most famous A variety, but there are a number of others, including Pinkertons. Bacon and Fuerte cultivars, meanwhile, fall into the B category. (Yes, there’s an avocado cultivar called “Bacon.”) Get one of each, and you’ll be getting happy avocado fruit! Once a tree starts fruiting, unless it’s damaged or diseased, it can keep going for decades…or hundreds of years, as attested by some truly ancient but still productive Mexican avocado trees.

P.S. If you’re running out of ideas for that bumper avocado crop, here are some tips.

Katie Marks writes for Networx.com.

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First Selectman Rudy Marconi has a lot on his desk for 2014, from working on further Schlumberger land sales to finding a new fire chief. —Macklin Reid photo

Continuing efforts to recover some of Schlumberger’s $7-million purchase cost by selling off parts of the property is a major priority for First Selectmen Rudy Marconi in 2014.

Other tasks on his to-do list include hiring a new fire chief, and finishing work on the proposed town blight ordinance.

He anticipates step-by-step progress toward a bike path envisioned as eventually connecting the trail at the Recreation Center site to Branchville, by using the Rail Trail, and will continue working with the state on plans to smooth Main Street traffic flow, with more turning lanes.

On the budget, Mr. Marconi expects town boards will collaborate in an effort to hold taxes to about a 2% increase. And he’ll unveil a request for a new $3-to-$4 million radio system for police, fire and emergency services.

The year 2014 will be distinguished by Ridgefielder Tucker West representing the United States in luge competition in the Winter Olympics, Mr. Marconi noted. It will see the 100th anniversary of the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, as well as the 50th anniversary of two distinguished arts organizations, The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra.

The anniversary of the orchestra’s founding is near the end of the year, he said, so the organization plans to celebrate 2015 as its 50th year.

Schlumberger

The 45-acre Schlumberger property consumes attention.

“We closed on this property in 2012,” Mr. Marconi said. “We need to continue to work on that.”

A town meeting has approved a $1.24-million sale of five acres to developer Steve Zemo, so the selectmen are focused on trying to sell 10 acres off Sunset Lane for residential development.

“We have solicited bids and are currently negotiating with at least one and as many as possibly four different bidders for the 10-acre parcel,” Mr. Marconi said.

The selectmen are continuing talks about selling parts of the former scientific research campus as a storage site for an art collection, and Schlumberger’s environmental clean-up in the area continues.

But some residents, most persistently Chuck Hancock of North Street, have lobbied to get townspeople more opportunity to discuss the plans, offer ideas, raise objections.

“Any time a resident is concerned and feels there hasn’t been enough transparency is a concern to me,” Mr. Marconi said.

“But at the same time I responded to Mr. Hancock that what was proposed as a vision for the use of the property over two years ago continues to be exactly how the property is being divided and sold.

“Suffice it to say at this point I will be asking the Board of Selectmen to consider Mr. Hancock’s request that we slow things up — I don’t know how much slower we could go — and get a little more input from residents,” Mr. Marconi said.

“That doesn’t mean the Board of Selectmen would agree that we stop negotiations, because this what we told the public we’d be doing from the beginning,” he said.

Blight law

The proposed blight law has been months in the works — and a draft was headed for a public hearing Wednesday.

A town meeting would be the next step to be considered.

It’s the second time in Mr. Marconi’s tenure as first selectman that the board has worked on a blight law, though the previous effort never got to a town meeting.

“We’ve been working on this for several years,” Mr. Marconi said.

Main Street traffic

The Main Street traffic redesign aims to reducing congestion — no easy task.

“This is a project that has been ongoing for the last three years with the State of Connecticut,” Mr. Marconi said. “For overview, the hope is to create traffic lanes allowing cars heading north from the fountain, when they get to the center of town there will be a left-hand turn at Catoonah Street and a separate right-hand lane to allow those cars to bypass cars making a left onto Catoonah Street.

“What delays traffic now is, if you have more than two cars waiting — or one car — making a left on Catoonah Street, traffic is stalled completely, to the south, sometimes missing an entire rotation of the traffic signal lights.

“Additionally, heading south, when approaching town hall, there will be a left-hand turn into Bailey Avenue, with a direct travel lane through on the right side, thereby eliminating the necessity of cars having to stop to wait for the left-hand vehicles to make their turn.”

Governor and Catoonah streets will be “nominally” widened to three lanes, so traffic onto Main will have two stacking lanes, one for turns in each direction. The third lane is for cars turning off Main onto the side street.

“In addition to the lane realignment, the parking area in front of the Addessi and Ridgefield Hardware block will be constructed of a different material than asphalt — possibly Belgian block — to differentiate the parking area from the travel portion.

“The loading zone is being eliminated completely, and other arrangements will need to be made with stores, and the delivering companies,” Mr. Marconi said. “That’s up to them. But trucks will no longer be allowed to park in the middle of the street.

“We attempted a multitude of solutions, all of which met with rejection by one or more of the parties.”

And another cross-walk would be added, going from near Town Hall and Century 21, across the street to Neumann Real Estate, creating a fourth crossing at that light.

“And, finally, given the removal the elm tree at the intersection of Prospect and Main Streets, we will be asking the DOT to review the realignment of that intersection, and the synchronization of that traffic light with Catoonah and Governor, allowing for a smoother flow of traffic,” Mr. Marconi said.

“Of course, the project would take into consideration all the amenities — landscaping plantings, sidewalk improvements, drop curbs for handicapped accessibility,” he said. “Some of the landscaping would be the removal of some of the overgrown trees that need to taken down and replaced.

The work is to be done with federal and state money — but not soon.

“We’ve probably got a good two or three years prior to the work beginning,” he said. “We’ve already discussed the work taking place during the evening hours.”

Bike trail

Mr. Marconi cited another long-term project should make some progress: “The Bike Path, the beginning of which is evidenced with the installation of the walking bridge over the Ridgefield Brook at Route 35, adjacent to the Parks and Recreation Center.”

The planned route would go from the footbridge down Route 35 to Copps Hill Plaza with a sidewalk, cross to Farmingville Road, then go through the Great Swamp to an area near the Goodwill trailer, and through the Schlumberger property to the connect to the Rail Trail.

Connecticut Light Power, which owns the Rail Trail, will change policy to allow bicycles to use it. “They have agreed to that, considering the town is willing to sign an agreement on liability,” Mr. Marconi said.

“There is no intention at this point in changing the current surface,” he added. “It’s stone dust.”

The idea is to do the project over several years, without using town tax dollars.

“We have groups that have organized already to begin soliciting of funding contributions, as well as exploring grants,” Mr. Marconi said.

“This next calendar year, we’d hope to have our sidewalks completed — from where it currently ends, it would extend south to Copps Hill Road,” he said. “And perhaps some work on the Rail Trail in addressing safety concerns along some steep embankments.”

Fire chief

Finding a new fire chief to replace Heather Burford, who led the department for seven years and left for a job in Florida,  will involve several levels of review. There be the screening of applications, a questionnaire step with applicants’ responding in essay format, then interviews by a panel of fire chiefs from other departments. They’d recommend some candidates for interview by town department heads, and the volunteer department.

The decision will be made by the Board of Selectmen.

“You’re going to be looking at two to three months,” Mr. Marconi said. “Kevin Tappe, our acting chief, will continue to oversee the operations of the fire department.”

Charter revision

The recently appointed Charter Revision Commission starts its process tonight, Thursday, Jan. 9, with a “kick-off public hearing” at 6:30 in town hall.

“This will be the first of several public hearings,” Mr. Marconi said. “Each department, commission, has been asked to review their specific area of the charter and to make any recommendations that they may have.

“It is the responsibility of the Charter Revision Commission to collect, digest and in the end file a report to Board of Selectmen, with its recommendations for any changes,” he said.

“The Board of Selectmen then reviews and votes on what to send forward to the public to be voted on in the November 2014 election.”

Tight budget

Mr. Marconi wants to keep budgeting tight, he said.

“The unemployment rate in Ridgefield  continues to hover at the 5.8% level; normally about 2%. So we need to keep that in mind,” he said.

He recalled that Finance Board Chairman Dave Ulmer suggested that if town and school requests were held to about 3% spending increases, the finance board could look for non-tax revenue in the fund balance and try to present voters with a tax increase in the 2% range.

“I feel we need to continue to be conservative in our spending,” Mr. Marconi said.

The selectmen’s budget meetings start  in February.

A substantial request Mr. Marconi anticipates is for “a new town-wide radio system for police, fire, emergency services” proposed by a Radio Communications Task Force, which has representation from the police, fire chiefs and emergency management departments.

“The last time we did this was 12, 13 years ago,”  Mr. Marconi said.  “This is an antiquated system.”

The new system may total close to $4 million, he said, which would use nearly all of what the selectmen like to allow for capital budget spending a given year.

“A $4 million request for radio communications improvements on the heels of a $5 million allocation for the library is not coming at a good time,” Mr. Marconi said, “and we may have to hold off on that for a few years.”

PITMAN — It was the hottest show on turf. Hundreds of homeowners attended the Gloucester and Camden County Spring Home Show at Total Turf Experience on Lambs Road Sunday. The show featured demonstrations and informational booths from home improvement contractors and vendors, and featured a keynote speech by John Gidding, host of the HGTV show ‘Curb Appeal.’

Other presentations included home organization tips from Barbara Berman and a talk by Chef Warren Caterson. Vendors moving everything from vacuum cleaners to hot tubs peddled their wares as visitors looked for contractors and decorating tips.

“We’re looking for ideas for the house,” said Laura Golden of Pitman. “We’re always doing 10 projects at a time.”

Other visitors had come to see new products.

“We’re finding it interesting,” said Luci Nurkowski of Washington Township. She had just decided to buy a combination floor steamer and mop, but like many other attendees, she was waiting for Gidding. “I’m a huge fan of the show,” Nurkowski said.

The ‘Curb Appeal’ star opened his presentation by talking about the preparation that goes into shooting each episode of the show, which brings in experts to make over home exteriors. Gidding then moved on to discuss the fundamentals of design, eliciting laughs from his audience as he spoke.

“Could this be any more depressing?” he said of a particularly drab picture of an unfurnished front yard.

The worst news he had to deliver to his New Jersey fans was that only homes in the San Francisco Bay area are eligible to appear on ‘Curb Appeal.’

“The first question is always, ‘can you do my house?’” Gidding said. “We don’t travel, so people are always a little crestfallen. But I love spilling the secrets of behind-the-scenes television.”

Gidding said he tailors his live appearances to meet the interests of each audience. After taking a few questions, he focused the Sunday’s discussion on landscaping. And the lecture circuit isn’t just for the fans. Once in awhile, public speaking helps Gidding drum up clients for his own business.

After Gidding spoke, fans lined up to chat and take photos. Several people in the audience said Gidding’s talk had been useful for their own decorating plans.

“We just purchased an older home,” said Denise Sabelli of Washington Township. “It definitely gave us some inexpensive ideas.”

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A clash over leadership of a major transit corridor in south Washington County emerged last week when a former state legislator challenged an incumbent commissioner for a County Board seat.

Karla Bigham, who served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, announced her candidacy in the county’s District 4. That seat is held by Autumn Lehrke, who said she intends to campaign for a second term on the five-person board.

Both candidates live in Cottage Grove and they’re close in age — Bigham is 34, Lehrke is 32 — but their similarities end there. Bigham was critical of Lehrke’s recent abstention from a key vote to build the first transit station on the Red Rock Corridor and said the vote compelled her to run.

“Absolutely. How is she supposed to represent us if she’s not going to vote on this very important issue?” Bigham said.

Lehrke responded that she expected to vote on future Red Rock decisions. “Now we move forward,” she said. “To say that I can’t represent my district is totally false.”

At issue was Lehrke’s purchase of the Red Rock Saloon in Newport, near the new transit station. Autumn and Derrick Lehrke — he’s a Cottage Grove City Council member — plan to renovate the blue-collar bar into a microbrewery once a property appraisal is completed. A block of houses and small businesses separates the bar from the transit site, but a larger tract of land that includes the bar is under study for potential new retail businesses and housing.

Autumn Lehrke abstained from the Nov. 5 vote to award a $970,000 contract for construction of the transit station, citing a potential conflict of interest, although on Oct. 22 she voted in favor of a $1.3 million contract for grading, utilities, paving, landscaping and irrigation on the five-acre site.

She said last week she intended to abstain from future votes only if a possible tax-increment finance district is considered that might affect her new business. She chairs the Red Rock Corridor Commission and, on Tuesday, was elected to chair the County Board in what has been a traditional rotation of members.

“For too long, our transportation priorities have gone unsolved or turned into a political football,” Bigham said in her announcement last week. “The Red Rock Corridor is a major economic development opportunity for the region but has languished because of regional politics and a lack of leadership.”

Bigham said Lehrke has not built ridership interest in a Red Rock transit line and said it’s foolish for Lehrke to oppose the quarter-cent sales tax that funds transit at a time when Washington County stands to benefit from the revenue.

“It feels like we’re isolating ourselves. That style of leadership will isolate us, and that’s not what I’m about,” Bigham said. “I’m about building coalitions and partnerships and delivering services.”

Lehrke, however, said that “I’m doing exactly what the people asked me to do,” and said she’s saved taxpayers more than $500 million by promoting Rapid Bus Transit over rail as a proposed mode of transportation on the corridor. “You don’t increase ridership by waiting 30 years for commuter rail,” she said.

The quarter-cent sales tax, she said, “isn’t an issue anymore” because she supports a County Board agenda requesting that the state take over transit funding. Lehrke said the Red Rock project is advancing because of her leadership.

“I’ve delivered more for transit in one term than my predecessor did in a decade,” Lehrke said, speaking of Myra Peterson, the incumbent she defeated in 2010.

Bigham also took exception with Lehrke’s recent statement that Newport, a city of about 3,500 residents, has no commerce to keep transit riders there. “I just think that’s unfortunate,” Bigham said.

A few weeks ago, Lehrke described herself and her husband as “young entrepreneurs” who will bring new business ideas to a blighted area. Other commercial properties adjacent to the Red Rock Saloon also are for sale, she said.

“South Washington County has numerous challenges that deserve public attention and require a passionate advocate,” Bigham said in her campaign announcement. “Our roads, like 70th Street, have continued to receive temporary fixes and continued delays. We need someone who is going to deliver results for Washington County taxpayers.”

District 4 covers the entire south end of the county, including Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Denmark Township and Grey Cloud Island Township. Bigham cited greater government transparency, economic development and transportation, including the development of Red Rock Corridor, as her campaign priorities.

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DEAR EDITOR:

I am so happy that the houses are finally coming down, with the Moving Ohio Forward Grant money from the state of Ohio. I want to personally thank the MM demolition and landscaping company, special shout out to Flip and Dante, the excavating crane operators and the entire crew. I watched them take down three houses on Washington Street, which were beautiful once upon a time, but they had become havens for prostitutes and people up to no good. I spend countless hours picking up beer bottles, trash and used contraceptives to protect the children who catch the bus in the mornings on the corner of my street. Since the houses have come down it has changed the landscape of our neighborhood, and for that we are thankful.

I am proud to be a resident of Central City Warren Neighborhood, a.k.a. the “Garden District,” and look forward to the next few years of development by the residents of our neighborhood. This is the end of the second season for the community garden and finishing up our community pocket park. Both of these land reuse projects have brought pride back to our neighborhood by providing new and innovative ideas for our children to enjoy.

It could not have been done without support, and we thank the Trumbull 100 for their mini-grant to our community garden, special friends like Helen, Marie and Kenny and Robin for their gift to the project, even though they do not live in the immediate area. We appreciate R.J. Wean Foundation for their support of our neighborhood’s vision for itself. Our neighborhood has generated so many good reuse projects, and we are working toward changing the image of Warren as a whole. The city of Warren is made up of many parts, with many different needs; we are choosing to focus on ones that we can do for ourselves with a little financial help. I am happy that instead of focusing on what is not being done or being done wrong, we are moving forward on what we can do with a little bit of imagination and lots of elbow grease. Finding ways to repurpose land and resources has been both fun and very rewarding. Hopefully, this will develop strong neighborhood leadership that will share our values and concerns, and will communicate them in the necessary forums and keep us informed of important decisions that affect our city. We are glad that the city is moving forward so that we can continue working toward changing the reputation of the entire city of Warren, starting with “Area 51.”

Look for us to do our part of revitalization of Warren, and we are inviting some and challenging others to become a part of the solution.

What’s in your neighborhood?

— Joan S. Sullivan, Central City Neighborhood Association, Warren

I don’t know about you, but I’m an avocado fiend. I adore these delicious little fruits, particularly the rich, creamy Hass that’s widely cultivated in California and parts of the Southwest. And, like so many of us, every time I wrench a pit out of an avocado to get at the goodness inside, I mull over the thought of growing my own avocado tree. I’ve even sprouted a seed or two in my day, but I never really committed to the project, assuming it was too cold for me to grow avocados, and thinking it would be too much work.

Turns out, I was wrong.

While avocados can be a bit fussy (they really prefer to be grown in USDA zones 9-11, although you can grow them in greenhouses), it’s totally worth a try. Even if you don’t get your avocado tree to bear fruit (and we’ll talk about that more in a moment), avocado trees are actually rather gorgeous, and well worth keeping up as part of your landscaping. You can buy them at some nurseries to get a jump start, but the fun part is actually sprouting them from seed — though be warned, because commercial avocados are grown with grafting techniques, your tree might not behave exactly as you expect. If you want a reliable outcome, you’ll have to go with buying a tree from a nursery. Consider this more like a fun gardening experiment.

Start out with an avocado pit. Make sure to cut the fruit open carefully to get to the pit, and take it out without disrupting the layer of brown material on the outside of the pit. Run it under water to remove any remaining flesh, which could rot and damage the pit while it’s sprouting. Then, point the narrower end up (that’s where the tree will sprout) and the broader end down (that’s where your taproot will develop) and use a few toothpicks or prongs to pierce it, much like you’re setting up a Christmas tree stand.

Rest the edges of the toothpicks on a glass, bowl, or similar container and fill it with water. Make sure to let the top of the pit stay dry, while the bottom of the pit stays wet, and change the water every three to six days, keeping the pit in a bright, sunny, warm area of the house. It can take up to two months for an avocado pit to sprout, and while you’re waiting, make sure it doesn’t develop mold and mildew. If you’re having trouble with light levels, talk to your Dallas electrician about setting up a grow light.

You’ll know you have a starter when your seed starts to dry out and crack at the top, sloughing away the brown casing material. A small shoot will start to appear, even as a taproot develops at the base of the pit and branches out into a series of roots. Keep the avocado pit watered, warm, and well-lit for several weeks, until the young tree is about a hands-length tall. Cut the stem back to promote healthy growth (I know, it feels cruel, but do it anyway!) and then allow it to grow back to the same height before potting it up in rich, moist soil.

As your avocado tree grows, you can gradually transplant it into larger containers, and eventually into the ground. If you live somewhere warm and temperate, your avocado tree will likely be happy outdoors in a sheltered, sunny place. If you live somewhere cooler, keep your avocado in a wheeled container so you can move it indoors for wintering on a sun porch or in a sunny part of the house.

Avocado maintenance is actually pretty simple. Periodically pinch the leaves back to encourage the tree to develop a bushy form, rather than a leggy one. Generally, you can pinch the top two leaves to promote the formation of branches, rather than more leaves, and as the branches grow out, you can keep doing this to make your avocado even in form. If your avocado starts being nibbled on by aphids or other insects, wash it in warm water with mild dish soap, or consider applying neem oil, a good source of natural pest control.

Is your tree browning? It may be drying out, or it could be upset about being buffeted by winds. Looking wilty? Low water may be a problem, but it could also be drowning in too much water, so check the soil carefully. Houseplant food with a good balance of nitrogen and zinc is usually sufficient for avocados.

So, when will your tree produce fruit? It takes around five to seven years for a tree to fully mature and start bearing, and be aware that avocados are what is known as alternate barriers. That means that one year, they’ll set a large crop, and the next year will be smaller. The year following will have a large crop, and so forth.

Avocados are also not very good at pollinating themselves, although they technically can. The problem is that while the flowers are both male and female, the sex organs open at different times, making it difficult for the pollen to reach the female organs and fertilize them, even with bees or manual pollination. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a second tree around to help out; when the female parts are open on the first tree, the male flower parts on the second tree produce pollen to fertilize them.

These fruits are actually pretty special snowflakes in the flowering department. The trees are broadly broken into two categories. “A” avocados open their female parts in the morning of the first day of flowering, and their male parts in the afternoon of the second day. “B” avocados do the opposite. If you have one of each, they’ll fertilize each other, and the trees should both set fruit.

Hass is probably the most famous A variety, but there are a number of others, including Pinkertons. Bacon and Fuerte cultivars, meanwhile, fall into the B category. (Yes, there’s an avocado cultivar called “Bacon.”) Get one of each, and you’ll be getting happy avocado fruit! Once a tree starts fruiting, unless it’s damaged or diseased, it can keep going for decades…or hundreds of years, as attested by some truly ancient but still productive Mexican avocado trees.

P.S. If you’re running out of ideas for that bumper avocado crop, here are some tips.

Katie Marks writes for Networx.com.

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Beginning tonight at 5 p.m., the 11th Annual Northwest Iowa Home and Builders Show returns to the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer for a three-day showcase concluding Sunday. A variety of exhibits and seminars will target the latest in home landscaping, building and remodeling products and services. There is no charge to attend.

“We always have a good array of exhibitors who offer a lot of new ideas to people whether they want to build a new house or remodel a house,” Bill Jackson, producer of the show and president of West Des Moines-headquartered Jackson Expo Group, said.

Jackson said he never knows exactly what the vendors will be showcasing but suggested, “Whatever it is, they always try to bring in the biggest and latest.”

Exhibitor displays will include such diverse products as remodeling materials, interior decorations, kitchens, appliances, flooring, garage doors, siding, landscaping ideas, windows, heating and air conditioning, water conditioning systems, home theaters, and more.

In addition to exhibits, the show will offer “How-To” seminars featuring a variety of expert presenters speaking on topics of interest to homeowners. Each seminar will be repeated several times during the three-day event.

“The seminars are always interesting for people to sit in on and come up with different ideas,” Jackson said. He pointed out a diversity of topics, ranging from food preparation to new home builder guidelines.

Also participating in the show, Papa Balloon who will be crafting balloon animals for children visiting the show with their parents.

“It’s a good show and has a good representation of exhibitors. They’re all professionals in their field and they know what they’re talking about,” Jackson said.

The show is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Northwest Iowa and will be open to the public from 5-9 p.m. Friday; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

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6 p.m. — Quinoa: The Great Grain — Spencer Hy-Vee

7 p.m. — What’s New in Window Treatments: Motorized Blinds — Steffen Furniture

8 p.m. — Radon: The Facts and Fixes — Advantage Home Inspection

11 a.m. — What’s New in Window Treatments: Motorized Blinds — Steffen Furniture

Noon — Radon: The Facts and Fixes — Advantage Home Inspection

1 p.m. — Building a New Home: Getting Started — Nordaas American Homes

2 p.m. — Sunpower Solar — Green Energy Products

3 p.m. — Beer and Food Parking — Spencer Hy-Vee

1 p.m. — Building a New Home: Getting Started — Nordaas American Homes

2 p.m. — Sweet Treats — Spencer Hy-Vee

3 p.m. — Radon: The Facts and Fixes — Advantage Home Inspection