If you don’t happen to have an outdoor space or you’re just looking to bring some greenery inside your home, a pretty hanging garden is the perfect solution.

Heather from Whipperberry created this fun and colorful design by simply using old coffee creamer bottles. After cutting them down to size, adding a little paint, some twine and great summer plants: succulents, she was able to create the ultimate planters. These guys don’t take up space and there’s seriously no need to worry about your black thumb.

Head over to Whipperberry for the full tutorial, and be sure to checkout other great DIY ideas below.

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• Install Metal House Numbers

  Improve your home’s curb appeal with new house numbers. Metal numbers can match any style, from vintage to modern, and adds a refined look. All you have to do is drill into the masonry with a specialized bit to anchor the numbers.

• Re-Gravel The Driveway

  Because gravel driveways and paths can get “potholes” too. The good news is that all you’ll need are a few bags of gravel, a 2×4 (or something to “tamp” the gravel into place) and, if on a driveway, a car. Simply fill, tamp and then run over the filled-in spot. For a more detailed how-to, visit a href=”http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/driveway-cracks5.htm” target=”_blank”TLC/a.

• Freshen Up Your Fence

  If your backyard fence has never been stained, or the color has faded from the sun, adding a fresh coat is sure to brighten it up and protect the wood. First choose your stain and make sure your fence is clean and dry. Using a roller with a long attachment, coat about 3 feet of fence at a time. It is best to roll in the same direction as the wood grain. Then, move to the next section. Staining the fence in small sections will help make sure you cover each area completely. Allow to dry and apply a second coat if needed.

• Turn A Rug Into A Welcome Mat

  Bring new life to your old rug with a little spray paint. We love how blogger Kinsey Mhire of a href=”http://sincerelykinsey.blogspot.com.es/2012/02/wont-you-stay-awhile-rug-diy.html” target=”_blank”Sincerely Kinsey/a used masking tape to create a chevron pattern. She also used adhesive lettering, which is available at your local craft store, to personalize her mat with a message. For the full tutorial, visit a href=”http://sincerelykinsey.blogspot.com.es/2012/02/wont-you-stay-awhile-rug-diy.html” target=”_blank”Sincerely Kinsey/a.

• Install Window Awnings

  Installing window awnings is a good way to give your home some curb appeal if it’s looking a little tired and they’ll also keep the summer heat from beatingbeaming in. First, using a power drill and the supplies provided in a a href=”http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?walst=truesearch_query=Window+Awning+Kits” target=”_blank”window awning kit/a, center and mount your brackets above the window. Then slide the bead of the curtain in the mounting bar, allowing the curtain to hang down. Center the curtain on the mounting bar and use pliers to squeeze the ends, locking the awning into place. Next, attach the support beams to the bottom piece of the awning and twist to lock them into place. Afterward, attach the support arms and secure them into the wall brackets using screws.

  For a full tutorial, visit a href=”http://www.nuimageawnings.com/Instructions/assets/product_pdf/NI-55-5700-Instr.pdf” target=”_blank”Nuimage Awnings/a.

• Build A Sitting Wall

  Take advantage of the beautiful weather with an outdoor DIY project. A sitting wall is a stylish addition to any backyard and a great way to add some flair to your landscaping. You’ll need to do some measuring and digging before you get started. Once the area is dug out, lay the bricks. Use construction adhesive to make sure the wall is secure.

  Visit a href=”http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-build-a-stone-sitting-wall/index.html” target=”_blank”DIY Network/a for an in-depth tutorial.

• Paint Your Mailbox

  Add serious curb appeal by fixing up your mailbox. If it’s looking a little weather-worn or isn’t standing straight, a few quick and easy fixes will ensure you’re giving off a positive first impression to passers-by. Replace the stand or repaint the box with a fresh, vivid coat. If it’s damaged beyond repair, buy a new mailbox and start fresh. Then, add accents and decorations to personalize.

  Learn how to replace your mailbox and create a nautical design and more at a href=”http://gmctradesecrets.aol.com/decor/how-to-dress-up-your-mailbox/” target=”_blank”GMC Trade Secrets/a.

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A new application called Nextdoor is available for neighbors to stay connected.

The free app provides access to what’s happening on your street anytime, from anywhere.

It was launched nationwide in October 2011.

The app helps neighbors network and get to know one other.

TJ Ticano lives in the southern part of Las Vegas and uses Nextdoor even though he said he was not a techie kind of person.

“I moved around a lot as a kid, probably a dozen times, so I never had a sense of community,” he said. “What drew me to this is, everybody’s on Facebook and things like that, so maybe they’d be more inclined to reach out to one another this way. So I kind of pushed this out to our neighbors. I knew my immediate neighbors, but our community is 240 homes. I’d like to know at least half those people.”

Almost immediately, Nextdoor proved helpful. Ticano and his girlfriend were leaving home when they noticed a man with a crowbar lingering around a neighbor’s house. They called the police and notified neighbors via the app. Ticano later learned that the man was stalking his former girlfriend, who had a protective order against him.

Another time it came in handy was when teens broke into a vacant home nearby. But mostly, Ticano and his neighbors have used Nextdoor to share landscaping ideas, offer safety tips and organize a block party.

When someone signs up, Nextdoor headquarters can send a postcard to that person’s neighbors, asking them to download the app to be a part of the neighborhood.

“Once we had a few neighbors on board, they became proactive because they wanted more of their neighbors (to join), and they put clippings on the mailboxes and word of mouth,” Ticano said.

He laughed about it being a low-tech way to advance a high-tech solution.

Block parties and other social interactions are just what app co-founder and CEO Nirav Tolia said he likes to hear about.

“The reason we’ve lost touch with our neighbors over the last 20 or 30 years is because there’s been a massive increase in the number of dual working households, and as a result, no one is home during the day to meet their neighbors,” he said. “No one’s sitting on the front porch. No one is walking the dog. They’re in the office.”

Fifty-nine Las Vegas neighborhoods and more than 15,000 neighborhoods across the country are on board with the app.

“Once you’re connected with your neighbors,” said Tolia, “you can make it what you want — get to know neighbors, get a dentist recommendation, find a baby sitter, advertise a garage sale, ask if anyone’s seen your lost pet. The days of posting fliers on telephone poles” are over.

Research from Harris data shows that 92 percent of Americans don’t have most of their neighbors’ cellphone numbers.

“We see how smartphone use is exploding and how mainstream America really prefers to use the Internet from their phone,” Tolia said. “As a service that has critical information that can be very, very important, and a real-time importance, it was an absolutely critical thing for us to develop a dedicated mobile app.”Only 29 percent of Americans know some of their neighbors, and 28 percent know none of their neighbors by name, according to a June 2010 survey by the Pew Research Center. Neighbors who engage in an online conversation are 75 percent more likely to meet in person, according to Pew Research.

That’s one goal of Nextdoor — to bring back a sense of community, Tolia said.

“We don’t believe you should use Nextdoor as a substitute or the primary way to speak with your neighbors,” Tolia said. “We believe Nextdoor is a very efficient way to get the word out when you want to reach a lot of neighbors at the same time.”

Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.

By this time of year, I feel like I should be merely maintaining my yard. The majority of the landscaping and curb appealing should be complete, and I should only be responsible for watering and pulling the odd weed. Unrealistic expectation? Maybe. But if I’m honest, I’m nowhere near this scenario. Among the yet-to-be-dones are mulching, weeding, pruning what we have, not to mention envisioning and executing any new DIY projects to enhance our yard.

Not knowing where to start, having admittedly little skill, and being a bit overwhelmed by our 16,000 sq. ft., I decided to break it down into categories: what I love about my yard and what I don’t. This way I can at least establish a game plan.

Likes: spacious lawn, mature trees, established flower beds (except I can’t readily identify all of the plants), and plenty of room for potential.

Dislikes: flower beds without borders, somewhat wild-looking shrubs, and little visual separation between us and our neighbours.

What was clear at the end of my list was that I needed some advice. I got in touch with Laura Coupar, vice-president of Elmsdale Landscaping Ltd. With 12 years of industry experience with product supply, estimating, installation and maintenance, she really knows her stuff. Plus, she serves as vice-president of Landscape Nova Scotia, the industry’s local professional body.

I let her know that we are far from fancy folk. We don’t need elaborate water features or expensive stonework. What we need is a space that works well for our family, but that also doesn’t offend the neighbours.

“Most of our clients are looking for usable space, which is very individually suited to every family,” Coupar says.

“Some homeowners like lots of lush grass for kids and pets to play on. Others look for entertainment purposes with large decks, pools and fire pits. Some prefer integrated pathways and colourful gardens. The possibilities really are endless.”

She assures me that I’m not the only one who is looking for a low-maintenance yard and instant gratification when I undertake lawn and garden projects.

“Our clients’ biggest complaint is that they have no lawn, and they want something that will be useable right away,” she says. “So much focus is put on moving into a home; the landscaping normally is not completed until the house is being lived in.”

That’s very true in our case. Our first summer was spent exploring what was already established in the yard. This year, I think we should be moving on to some bigger changes and more consistent maintenance. My intention of prepping-and-forgetting my lawn isn’t realistic either. Not long after I’ve completed my spring/summer work, I need to start thinking about fall/winter.

“Season changes are when your lawn will require the most work,” Coupar says. “In the fall, you need to make sure that all the leaves are cleaned off your lawn so it doesn’t rot out your lawn over the winter. In the spring, it’s about winter clean up, bringing your lawn back to life while dealing with the regularly heavy rain, which can create ruts.”

On a budget

Budget is always a factor for us, too, so I was interested in what Coupar might suggest as a best bang-for-our-buck solution.

“Hydroseeding is a nice alternative for someone who has time, and wants a lush lawn, eventually. It is a cheaper option then sodding, and if you are not looking to have traffic on your lawn right away, it’s a great cost saver.”

Money to spend

But if we want to spend, what then? “Creating a special outdoor living space is always a nice splurge. Depending on the homeowner, this may be a nice paver fire pit, an outdoor cooking area, or a gazebo — creating something in your yard that draws you outside.

“If you doing any intensive landscaping at your home, you’re going to want to talk to someone about the best positioning for your installations. Sometimes it can get overlooked about where a tree is being planted (such as under power lines, too close to septic tanks or wells, etc.) or where you are putting in a paver pathway, which could be an issue down the road. You only want to do an install once, so make sure your locations are correct.”

Edible gardening

Last year we planted a few cucumbers, zucchini and pea plants that yielded a little fresh produce. I didn’t plant any veggies this year, but it’s definitely something that provides fond memories from my childhood and an experience I plan to share with my own kids.

“There has been an increase in edible gardening,” Coupar says. “More people are planting for food, instead of visual impact. We are hearing more enquiries about fruit trees and potable berries.”

The next step, it would seem, is to get to work.

“The best possible landscaping ideas for gardeners are those that require minimal supervision and care,” Coupar says. “Nature tends to care for its own in many ways. Choose plants and flowers that grow naturally in the area in which you live, and take care that you cover them up when the temperatures get too cold and add a little extra water during excessively dry times.”

Ultimately, I’m still a brown thumb and I’ll take any suggestions for making the process more fun and less stressful.

“Be aware of the condition of your soil,” she notes. “It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on plants; if your soil cannot sustain them, they will die. Test your soil before you begin planting or transferring any plants if at all possible. We have our soils tested regularly at the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture for around $30. This could save you countless dollars, as well as hours of labour and grief, when nothing you plant is growing.

“If your soil is not ideal, invest a little time and money into the process of getting your yard in order before you introduce new life to the mix.”

 

 

 

 

Daily file photo by Skylar Zhang

Commuters wait for a Chicago-bound train at the Davis Street CTA station in April. Earlier this year, the CTA began its first major upgrade to the Purple Line in nearly four decades.

Amanda Gilbert, Summer Reporter
July 25, 2013

The Chicago Transit Authority this month entered the third phase of its first major construction on the Purple Line in nearly 40 years.

The $2 million project involves replacing over 6,000 aging and deteriorated rail ties with new, longer steel bridge spans, according to the CTA. Some sections of the track are more than 100 years old.

“It will help increase commute speeds and improve service reliability for customers,” CTA spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski said.

The project is expected to decrease travel time by eliminating slow zones on the route.

The renovated section of the Purple Line will also see new sidewalks, fencing and landscaping.

The CTA began the project earlier this year near its South Boulevard station and has moved north since then. The latest phase covers the track between Lee and Church streets.

Hosinski said the project will improve the Purple Line’s reliability until funding is secured for a new Red Purple Modernization project. RPM is a part of a CTA program to maintain and modernize its El system.

Other construction ideas are under consideration for the next RPM project, such as widening platforms or eliminating stops.

The CTA recently changed its construction method so that most of the work on the Purple Line will be done earlier on weekday evenings.

Evanston resident Olga Jasinsky said she relies on the Purple Line to get to work every day.

“It’s been a little challenging getting to work with the construction,” Jasinsky said. “But I’m glad they are making sure the train will work safely and quickly.”

Construction is expected to be completed in November.

Summer reporter Amanda Gilbert can be reached at amandagilbert2015@u.northwestern.edu. Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/amandadance5.

David Rogers grew up around racing machines. There were snowmobiles, four-wheelers among others.

“I actually traded my snowmobile for a go-kart,’’ Rogers recalled. “My father, Dee Rogers, said it was OK with him, so we made the trade.”

Rogers raced the go-kart for about a year. After the elder Rogers saw that his son liked racing, he bought him a new go-kart.

“I raced a go-kart from the age of 12 until I was 17,’’ Rogers said. “I won championships over the years.

“In my last year in go-karts I competed at the Route 58 track near Gouverneur and won all of them. I wanted to race cars so I sold the go-kart at the end of that season.”

Rogers started competing in the pure stock class at Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville and at the former Thunder Alley in Evans Mills when it had a dirt surface.

“In my rookie year I won the track championship at Thunder Alley,” Rogers said. “I won five race features between the two speedways.”

He didn’t make all the races at Can-Am in his rookie year, but still managed to finish in fifth place in the point standings. In 2012, Rogers moved up to the pro-stock division.

“It was a rough year,” Rogers said. “I had motors going south on me. It seems that every time I would moved up toward the front an accident happened, and we were usually involved in it.”

Rogers said he was getting quite discouraged until late in the season he won a race at Can-Am, giving his confidence a boost. This season he is leading the points race.

He has been in the top four all season. He said he’s won two races this season. One was a special 25-lap race that paid $1,000.

“You really don’t have to win a lot of races to win a track title,” Rogers said. “If you have a lot of top-five or better finishes, one should have a pretty good chance to win their division.”

Rogers was all set to either win or have a good finish last week at Can-Am when the weather had other ideas.

“I had won a heat race and was in my car as we were getting ready to weigh the car on the scales when it started to rain,” Rogers said.

Besides racing at Can-Am, Rogers has also competed at Rolling Wheels Raceway and Canandaigua Speedway.

“I also raced in the Keith Doxtater Memorial race on the black top last month at Evans Mills,” Rogers said. “I was running has high as second and third. With about 50 laps in the 60-lap feature, my tires started to go and we finished fourth.”

Rogers has a lot on his plate for a 23-year-old. He own an auto detailing business on West Main Street, and a lawn and landscaping business. During the winter, it is snow plowing that keeps the business busy.

The businesses help fuel his love for racing. It appears Rogers has many years ahead of him to continue pursuing his love of auto racing.

From left: Futures at Fenway (Boston Red Sox); “Audubon’s Birds, Audubon’s Words” (Museum of Fine Arts); Angelique Kidjo will be at Summer Arts Weekend (Andrea de Silva/Reuters)

Making plans? Short on ideas? No worries. See Milva DiDomizio and June Wulff’s picks for the top things to do around the Hub this weekend.

FRIDAY

TGI FRIDAY Citizens Bank, The Boston Globe, and WGBH team up to make summer in the city even hotter with the 2nd annual Summer Arts Weekend. Opening night features Italian guitar/harmonica player Noe Socha, all-female bluegrass band Della Mae, and in the category of venerable, established artists, Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Saturday’s offerings include a line-up of family concerts, and a focus on world music with Galician piper Carlos Nunez, ukulele virtuosos Jake Shimabukuro, singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo, Bhangra band Red Baraat, and Boston ensemble Session Americana. The festival closes on Sunday with a performance by Grammy-winning bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss. July 26, 7 p.m. July 27, 11 a.m. July 28, 1 p.m. Free. See website for full schedule of performances and events. Copley Square, Boston. www.bostonsummerarts.com

SPICY VARIETY The all gender, all genre variety cabaret show celebrates nine years of drag, burlesque, aerials, and performance art with MC Heywood Wakefield at “Traniwreck: Old + Now.” Performers include Madge of Honor, Johnny Blazes, Boston Sass Attack, and Rainbow Frite. DJ Brian Halligan provides music for dancing. July 26, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $15-$35. Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge. www.cluboberon.com

SATURDAY

DOGS AND MORE DOGS When is the last time you saw dogs at Fenway that weren’t the eating kind? For Futures at Fenway, you can bring your pooch to the park for photos and a pre-game dog parade around the warning track at this celebration of minor league baseball. At noon, it’s game time when the Portland Sea Dogs (more dogs) play the Harrisburg Senators. July 27, noon (gates at 11 a.m.; dog owners must bring completed waiver from website). $5-$30. Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston. 877-733-7699, www.redsox.com/futures

A BIRD’S LIFE John James Audubon didn’t wait for the birds to come to him, he went to the birds. During the early 1800s, he traveled all over the eastern US and Canada to observe North American birds where they live, and create his famous drawings for “The Birds of America.” “Audubon’s Birds, Audubon’s Words” features 30 works (including prints from “The Birds of America”) paired with writings that illuminate the artist’s methods, obsessions, and difficulties he encountered. July 27-May 11. Mon-Tues and Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Wed-Fri 10 a.m.-9:45 p.m. $25, discounts for students, seniors, and kids. Museum of Fine Arts, Edward and Nancy Roberts Family Gallery, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 617-267-9300, www.mfa.org

IT’S REAL Do you think art is something fun you can participate in? It’s not all in your imagination, it’s at Figment Boston. The weekend of art, performance, and creativity features interactive art projects, dance performances, and music. July 27, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 28, noon-6 p.m. Free. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. www.figmentproject.org

PAULA’S RETURN One of the reasons we love NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” is comic Paula Poundstone. The Massachusetts native who now resides in California returns to the venue where her recent CD “I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston” was recorded. July 27, 7:30 p.m. (rescheduled from April). $22, $35. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 800-745-3000, www.thewilburtheatre.com

SUNDAY

EXTERIOR DECORATING Head for the financial district to see the city in a new, geometric, art deco kind of light. Boston By Foot’s Art Deco Tour features Harold Field Kellog’s Batterymarch Building, Arthur Bowditch’s Paramount Theater, and other architectural and landscaping examples of the 20th-century design style. July 28, 2-3:30 p.m. $15. Meet at Angell Memorial Fountain, Post Office Square, Congress and Milk St., Boston. 617-367-2345, www.bostonbyfoot.org

Sober promise, pleasant prize

Elmer Barrueta wins the “All In Driver” drawing

BY BRIAN WRIGHT

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anta Maria High School graduate Elmer Barrueta recently won a Mini Cooper for pledging to drive unimpaired for one year. He was selected from hundreds of students in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara counties. The drawing was a part of the “All In Driver” program sponsored by McCarthy’s of San Luis Obispo. 

The program aims to encourage students to drive without distractions or impairment whether it’s because of alcohol, drugs, or even the use of cell phones or other electronic devices.

Barrueta commented on how he found out about the pledge: “I actually walked into prom with my buddy and saw the table next to the door, and, next thing I knew, I was signing it.

“I was already well aware of the dangers of driving drunk or impaired, so I hardly had to even think about signing it,” he said. “It was an easy decision for me at that point.”

Before the drawing took place, Barrueta promised classmate Jade Dodson—mere days before she was killed in a tragic accident—that he would do her a favor if he won the car.

“I made a promise to take her for a drive around town or something if I won. Unfortunately, she passed before I could,” he said.

Participants had to be present at the drawing to be eligible to win the final prize. It was held on June 22 at McCarthy’s of San Luis Obispo.

“I honestly hesitated about going to the drawing,” he said. “My dad needed help with landscaping and I didn’t think they could get anyone else to help at that time. Luckily my mom called and insisted I go, and there you go. I was there.”

Barrueta admitted he was extremely nervous, but felt that he would be content even without winning the car.

The teenager said he experienced both surprise and elation when the contest organizers called his name.

“The second they called my name, in that moment, I immediately thought of Jade,” he said. “As I walked up to the podium, my knees were really weak, and I nearly tripped over myself.”

Barrueta will be going through the process of acquiring his license later this year, and he’s excited at the prospect of driving his very own car, especially one received through these means.

He will major in computer science at San Jose State University in the fall.

 

Intern Brian Wright composed this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.

 

Mercer Arboretum Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, will showcase blooms and foliage for a colorful summer garden 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 27.

The Summer Color Conference Plant Sale will feature a tour, guest speakers, lunch and an opportunity to buy unique and hard-to-find plant species.

“The theme is color: how people can get good color in their gardens in the summer months when the heat and humidity are prohibitive,” said education director Scott Meadows.

“Whenever you have extreme temperatures, and it’s not rainy, it will suppress flowering. A lot of annuals do well during the spring, but in the heat they don’t bloom well at all.”

In addition to covering colorful summer plants, speakers will recommend plants that are large enough to be enjoyed from the window during the hottest parts of the day.

The presenters will provide information on native plants, but the conference will not be limited to those options.

“There are locations around the world with similar climates,” Meadows said. “You can expand the variety you have in your garden by going non-native.”

The day will open with a tour led by Darrin Duling, director of Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, who will point out examples of colorful summer blooms and foliage on the botanic garden’s grounds.

Speakers are scheduled for 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., with lunch at 12:30 pm.

The plant sale will be limited to registered conference-goers until mid-morning, when it will open to the public.

“So paying customers will get first dibs,” Meadows said.

Conference-goers also will have the option of leaving their purchases with center volunteers until they’re ready to leave for the day.

The plant selection will include a number of the varieties to be addressed by the speakers.

The first presenter, Ceil Dow, will focus on ginger.

“The gingers are fabulous if you have a partially shady spot,” said Suzanne Chapman, Mercer’s volunteer coordinator. “They’ll take a little morning sun, but they need shade in the afternoon.”

Chapman’s favorite ginger varieties include curcuma, also known as hidden gingers because they grow their flowers on short stalks amid their foliage. Another nice summer variety is the hedychium coronarium or butterfly ginger, Chapman said. Also scheduled to speak are Norm Arnold of Glorious Gardens, who will share landscaping ideas for bringing out color. Caladium expert Margaret Cherry will be the final speaker.

This is Mercer’s fourth year to present a summer color conference, Chapman said. During past years, it has presented programs on tropical plants and bamboo.

“The goal is to educate the gardening public and make people aware of everything they can grow in this area,” she said. “We’re considered sub-tropical. We have one pallet for winter and a completely different group in the summer that looks fabulous.

“The great thing about this conference is it gives people a chance to see the garden. They’ll go to classes, and they’ll have time to shop in a shaded area.”

Participation costs $70 for members of The Mercer Society and $80 for non-members. Reservations are required.

Proceeds will go toward The Mercer Society’s efforts to support Mercer Arboretum Nature Center.

For information, call 281-443-8731, e-mail msociety@hcp4.net or visit http://www.hcp4.net/mercer or www.themercersociety.org.

No, this isn’t the opening scene of Waterworld. One of the biggest cities in America could soon source drinkable water from sewage.

The Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, a $68 million facility that will service San Jose and the surrounding area, is set to open in October. And, though the center will source all of its water from treated sewage, it will reportedly produce water that’s six times cleaner than what comes out of the tap.

“To give you an idea, this facility should be able to produce water that has a TDS (total dissolved solids) content of 40 parts per million,” Marty Grimes of the Santa Clara Valley Water District said to The Huffington Post. “Now compare that to drinking water, which typically has about 250 parts per million.”

But though the water might be clean, it won’t be coming out of your tap anytime soon. Instead, it will be used for irrigation, landscaping, industrial processes and other uses typically reserved for recycled water. The reason? Public perception.

“It takes a long time to educate folks and grasp this concept that this water can be purified to a level that’s cleaner than what we are already drinking,” said Grimes to CBS.

Grimes hopes that, eventually, the public will be ready to make the switch.

“We’ll have a lot of work to do before that time,” he told HuffPost. “But through outreach and tours of the facility, we hope to show the public lab results proving this water is virtually free of impurities.”

Such a toilet-to-tap system is already alive and well in Orange County, where water is scarcer than it is in the north. But will San Jose eventually do the same?

“In 20 years,” said Grimes, “It may be our best choice.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the TDS levels of water in parts per billion instead of parts per million.

Also on HuffPost:

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• Sweet Snorkeling Pics

  As humans increase atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, oceans absorb some of the CO2. The resulting drop in ocean pH, known as ocean acidification, has been called a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/ocean-acidification-reefs-climate-change_n_1658081.html” target=”_hplink”climate change’s “equally evil twin”/a by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco.

  Coral reefs, which are an invaluable part of marine ecosystems and tourism economies, are threatened by ocean warming and acidification.

  At the 2012 International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia, 2,600 scientists signed a petition calling for international action to preserve global coral reefs, a href=”http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18765584” target=”_hplink”reported the BBC/a. Noting that 25 to 30 percent of the world’s reefs are already “severely degraded,” a href=”http://www.icrs2012.com/Consensus_Statement.htm” target=”_hplink”the statement asserts/a that “climate-related stressors [represent] an unprecedented challenge for the future of coral reefs and to the services they provide to people.”

  A a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/coral-triangle-reefs-threatened_n_1662620.html” target=”_hplink”recent report from the World Resources Institute/a found that the Coral Triangle, an important area from central Southeast Asia to the edge of the western Pacific with many reefs, is threatened at a rate far greater than the global average.

• Wine Tasting Parties

  Winegrowers in France’s Champagne region and scientists have already seen changes in the past 25 years, a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/business/energy-environment/winemakers-rising-to-climate-challenge.html?_r=1pagewanted=all” target=”_hplink”reported emThe New York Times/em/a last year. They have “noted major changes in their vineyards, including an increased sugar content in the grapes from which they make their wine, with a consequent decrease in acidity, and a harvest time that regularly comes two weeks earlier than it once did.”

  Last year, the emTelegraph/em reported that Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous wine-producing regions, may be “a href=”http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/8354820/Global-warming-threatens-wine-production-in-France.html” target=”_hplink”unsuitable for wine-growing by 2050/a.”

  a href=”http://e360.yale.edu/feature/what_global_warming_may_mean_for_worlds_wine_industry/2478/” target=”_hplink”Yale Environment 360 explains/a that many European wines are tied to a specific geographical area, creating a problem for regions which may soon find themselves most suited to a new kind of grape.

  In the U.S., a href=”http://www.climatechangeandwine.com/noticia-detalle.php?id=421″ target=”_hplink”researchers at Stanford University found/a that climate change could mean “50% less land suitable for cultivating premium wine grapes in high-value areas of Northern California.”

  A 2006 study published in the emProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences/em found that “up to 81 percent” of “premium-wine-grape production area” could decline in the U.S. by the end of this century, a href=”http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/04/climate-desk-wine-industry/” target=”_hplink”reported Wired/a. Without any adaptation measures, wine-grape production could disappear from “many areas” of the country.

  Wired notes, “By the law of supply and demand, that suggests the best wines of tomorrow will cost even more than the ridiculous amounts they fetch today.”

• Winnie The Pooh’s Key Plot Point

  a href=”http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Hone/Hone-03-30-2012.pdf” target=”_hplink”According to the USDA, bee populations are dropping nationwide/a. Wetter winters and rainy summers make it harder for bees to get out and about to collect, leaving them to starve or become malnourished and more prone to other diseases. This doesn’t just mean a decline in honey. We rely on bees to pollinate crops. When bees disappear, many food crops could also die off.

• Spring Break, Wohoo!

  As global temperatures rise this century, sea levels are also expected to increase. South Florida may be hit particularly hard.

  If greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, global sea levels a href=”http://globalwarming.markey.house.gov/impactzones/florida.html” target=”_hplink”could rise over three feet/a by 2100, with a six foot rise possible. The U.S. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming notes:
  blockquoteThis threatens to submerge Florida’s coastal communities and economies since roughly 9 percent of the state is within 5 feet of the existing sea level. Rising sea level also threatens the beaches, wetlands, and mangrove forests that surround the state./blockquote

  University of Florida professor Jack Putz said in 2008, “People have a hard time accepting that this is happening here,” a href=”http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/globalwarming/article435224.ece” target=”_hplink”reported the emTampa Bay Times/em/a. Seeing dead palm trees and other impacts “brings a global problem right into our own back yard,” he added.

  a href=”http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/florida.shtml” target=”_hplink”Click here/a to see a map showing what different levels of sea level rise would look like for Florida and other states.

• Cute Baby Polar Bear Videos

  A November 2011 study found that polar bear litters are getting smaller as climate change causes sea ice decline. a href=”http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2011/WWFPresitem19837.html” target=”_hplink”According to World Wildlife Fund/a, the study “found that if spring sea ice break-up occurs one month earlier than usual, 40-73 percent of pregnant females could fail to bring cubs to term.”

  The National Snow and Ice Data Center found that in 2010, a href=”http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=49132src=share” target=”_hplink”Arctic sea ice/a was at its lowest January level in 30 years.

  With decreased sea ice, polar bears may have greater trouble finding food sources. This could lead to cannibalism, which has already been observed by photographers. Environmental photojournalist Jenny Ross a href=”http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16081214″ target=”_hplink”told BBC News/a in 2011, “There are increasing numbers of observations of it occurring, particularly on land where polar bears are trapped ashore, completely food-deprived for extended periods of time due to the loss of sea ice as a result of climate change.”

• PBJs

  Thanks to a failing peanut crop due to last summer’s scorching hot weather, a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/peanut-butter-price-jump_n_1003732.html” target=”_hplink”there was a shortage of peanuts in supply/a at the end of 2011. If temperatures continue to rise, a jump in peanut butter prices is just the prelude to what could be in store for the beloved spread.

• Chocolate Cravings

  a href=”http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/Newsroom/Documents/ghana_ivory_coast_climate_change_and_cocoa.pdf” target=”_hplink”A report released by the International Center For Tropical Agriculture /awarns chocolate could become a luxury item if farmers don’t adapt to rising temperatures in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, where a majority of the world’s cocoa is grown.

  The October 2011 report, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, “calls for increased research into heat and drought resistant crops, and to help transition cocoa farming to new regions that will be suitable for production in the future,” a href=”http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/09/30/332951/chocolate-climate-change-cocoa-industry-study/” target=”_hplink”reported ThinkProgress/a.

• ‘Friday Night Lights’ ‘Varsity Blues’

  As average temperatures rise over the course of this century, states in the Southern U.S. are expected to see a greater number of days with temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit each year. Hotter temperatures will mean that football players in the South will face a greater risk of hyperthermia, a href=”http://txchnologist.com/post/41213194156/heres-a-reason-to-care-about-climate-change-it-could” target=”_hplink”explains GE’s TXCHNOLOGIST blog/a.

  a href=”http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/02/05/419061/will-global-warming-ruin-football-in-the-south/” target=”_hplink”ThinkProgress suggests/a, “Indeed, it is the conservative southern U.S., especially the South central and South east, who have led the way in blocking serious climate action, as it were, making yesterday’s worst-case scenario into today’s likely outcome.”

• Not Sneezing

  Bad news for allergy sufferers — climate change, and specifically warmer temperatures, a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/31/seasonal-allergies-rising_n_913650.html” target=”_hplink”may bring more pollen and ragweed/a, according to a a href=”http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21259264″ target=”_hplink”2011 study/a from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

  Along with allergies, a changing climate may be tied to more infectious diseases. a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/flu-pandemic-climate-pattern-la-nina_n_1211480.html” target=”_hplink”According to one study/a, climate change could affect wild bird migratory patterns, increasing the chances for human flu pandemics. Illnesses like a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/global-warming-lyme-disease-west-nile_n_1400692.html” target=”_hplink”Lyme disease could also become more prominent/a.

• Keg Stands

  Famed for producing some of the world’s best beer, a href=”http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080502/full/news.2008.799.html” target=”_hplink”Germany could suffer from a drop in production due to climate change-induced water shortages/a. Barley and hops can only be grown with water, and using cheaper alternatives like corn isn’t possible in Germany because of a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot” target=”_hplink”strict regulations/a about what you can make beer with.

  Research published earlier this year in the journal a href=”http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n7/full/nclimate1491.html” target=”_hplink”emNature Climate Change/em/a found that “unless farmers develop more heat-tolerant corn varieties or gradually move corn production from the United States into Canada, frequent heat waves will cause sharp price spikes,” a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/business/climate-change-effect-seen-for-corn-prices.html” target=”_hplink”reported emThe New York Times/em/a. Price spikes for U.S. corn could affect prices of a href=”http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/38/” target=”_hplink”American macrobrews/a made with an a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjuncts” target=”_hplink”adjunct ingredient like corn/a.

• Valentine’s Day Cliches

  With higher temperatures expected in northern latitudes in coming decades, the U.K. has begun a program to develop strawberries that will survive in higher temperatures with less water. Since chocolate also may be threatened, could sexy chocolate-covered strawberries, a Valentine’s Day staple, be endangered?

  a href=”http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8603607/Climate-change-resistant-strawberries.html” target=”_hplink”According to emThe Telegraph/em/a, Dr. David Simpson, a scientist with England’s East Malling Research, said last year, “Consumer demand for fresh strawberries in the UK has been growing year on year since the early 1990s. The British growers have done a great job of increasing their productivity to satisfy this demand between April and October. The future will be challenging due to the impacts of climate change and the withdrawal of many pesticides but the breeding programme at EMR is using the latest scientific approaches to develop a range of varieties that will meet the needs of our growers for the future.”

• Coffeehouse Snobs

  Coffee lovers may want to get that caffeine fix before the treasured drink becomes a rare export. Starbucks raised the issue last year when the company’s director of sustainability told emThe Guardian/em that a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/16/starbucks-climate-change_n_1011222.html” target=”_hplink”climate change is threatening the supply chain/a for the Arabica coffee bean.

  Starbucks Sustainability Director a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/13/starbucks-coffee-climate-change-threat?newsfeed=true” target=”_hplink”Jim Hanna told the paper/a, “What we are really seeing as a company as we look 10, 20, 30 years down the road – if conditions continue as they are – is a potentially significant risk to our supply chain, which is the Arabica coffee bean.”

• Water Out West

  According to a 2011 U.S. Interior Department report, “annual flows in three prominent river basins – the Colorado, Rio Grande and San Joaquin – could decline by as much [as] 8 percent to 14 percent over the next four decades,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/26/western-us-water-supplies-climate-change_n_853882.html” target=”_hplink”reported the Associated Press/a. Expected changes in temperature and precipitation are likely to alter river flows “with increased flooding possible in the winter due to early snowmelt and water shortages in the summer due to reductions in spring and summer runoffs.”

  Mike Connor, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said, “Impacts to water are on the leading edge of global climate change.”

  Earlier this year, the Bureau of Reclamation a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/us-reviews-ideas-for-boos_n_1418724.html” target=”_hplink”asked the public to suggest ideas/a for meeting future water demand around the Colorado River basin.

• Rudolph (And Donner And Blitzen)

  Reindeer, also known as “caribou” in North America, could face a difficult future in a warmer climate. a href=”http://www.usnews.com/news/energy/slideshows/10-animals-threatened-by-global-warming” target=”_hplink”According to U.S. News World Report/a, “Russell Graham, associate professor of geosciences and director of the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum at Penn State University, says global warming will most harm the animals adapted to the coldest environments, primarily those accustomed to life in the Arctic.”

  A 2008 study found that caribou in West Greenland are “now arriving after peak foraging time, fewer calves are being born and more calves are dying,” a href=”http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/341435/title/Animals_on_the_Move” target=”_hplink”reported ScienceNews/a.

• Yummy Pancake Breakfasts

  It may be a bit harder to drown your pancakes in maple syrup in the future, a href=”http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/effects-global-warming-maple-syrup-production-20078.html” target=”_hplink”studies suggest/a.

  According to a href=”http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov10/SyrupClimate.html” target=”_hplink”a 2010 Cornell University study/a, “maple syrup production in the Northeast is expected to slightly decline by 2100, and the window for tapping trees will move earlier by about a month.” Additionally, most maple syrup production south of Pennsylvania “will likely be lost by 2100 due to lack of freezing.”

  a href=”http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/01/no-maple-syrup-2100″ target=”_hplink”Click here to watch one farmer’s fight to save New Hampshire’s sugar maples./a

• Gone Fishin’

  According to a a href=”http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/ntrout.asp” target=”_hplink”2002 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Defenders of Wildlife/a, a warming planet does not bode well for species that thrive in cold streams. The study found that “global warming is likely to spur the disappearance of trout and salmon from as much as 18 to 38 percent of their current habitat by the year 2090.”

  A 2011 study published in the emProceedings of the National Academies of Science/em produced “models [which] forecast significant declines in trout habitat across the interior western United States in the 21st century,” a href=”http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/trout-fishing-in-a-climate-changed-america/” target=”_hplink”reported emThe New York Times/em/a.

  The study claims, “The decline will have significant socioeconomic consequences as recreational trout fisheries are valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars in the United States alone.”

• NYC’s Waterfront Real Estate

  According to a 2012 report from New Jersey-based nonprofit a href=”http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/” target=”_hplink”Climate Central/a, thousands of New York City residents may be at risk for severe a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/rising-sea-levels-threate_n_1347333.html” target=”_hplink”coastal flooding as a result of climate change/a.

  a href=”http://slr.s3.amazonaws.com/factsheets/New_York.pdf” target=”_hplink”Climate Central explains/a, “the NY metro area hosts the nation’s highest-density populations vulnerable to sea level rise.” They argue, “the funnel shape of New York Harbor has the potential to magnify storm surges already supplemented by sea level rise, threatening widespread areas of New York City.”

• The Best Part Of July 4th

  With droughts and wildfires hitting many parts of the U.S., municipalities from a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/colorado-wildfires-2012-f_n_1647571.html” target=”_hplink”Colorado/a to a href=”http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2012/07/03/climate-change-is-totally-ruining-your-4th-of-july” target=”_hplink”Tennessee/a canceled July 4th public fireworks displays or banned personal fireworks this year, citing the fire hazards they posed.

  In June, a a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/climate-change-wildfires_n_1588741.html” target=”_hplink”study published in the journal emEcosphere/em/a found that almost all of North America will see more wildfires by 2100, reported Reuters. The study’s lead author, Max Moritz, said, “In the long run, we found what most fear – increasing fire activity across large areas of the planet.”

• The Non-.com Amazon

  Along with a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/brazil-amazon-rainforest-deforestation-levels_n_1130554.html” target=”_hplink”deforestation/a, climate change also poses a serious threat to South America’s Amazon rainforest.

  A 2009 study from the U.K. Met Office found that a global temperature rise of four degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would cause 85 percent of the Amazon to die off in the next 100 years. Even a two degree Celsius rise would kill 20 to 40 percent of the rainforest, a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/11/amazon-global-warming-trees” target=”_hplink”reported the emGuardian/em/a.

  In May, The Club of Rome think tank predicted a global average temperatures rise of “2 degrees Celsius by 2052 and a 2.8 degree rise by 2080,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/club-of-rome-climate-change_n_1499183.html” target=”_hplink”reported Reuters/a. Jorgen Randers, author of the club’s report, said, “It is unlikely that governments will pass necessary regulation to force the markets to allocate more money into climate-friendly solutions, and (we) must not assume that markets will work for the benefit of humankind.”

  He added, “We are emitting twice as much greenhouse gases every year as are absorbed by the world’s forests and oceans. This overshoot will worsen and will peak in 2030.”

• Island Getaways

  As global sea levels rise during the 21st century, low-lying island nations like the Maldives could see their very existence threatened. With a three to six foot sea level rise predicted by 2100, nations like the Maldives could become uninhabitable, a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/25/25climatewire-island-nations-may-keep-some-sovereignty-if-63590.html” target=”_hplink”explained emThe New York Times/em/a.

  a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/06/mohamed-nasheed-maldives-climate-change-united-states_n_1652409.html” target=”_hplink”Maldives’ former president, Mohamed Nasheed/a, has been a tireless campaigner for the urgent need for countries to take action against climate change, arguing “You can’t pick and choose on science.”

• Ski Bums

  Although seasonal fluctuations occur and El Nino/La Nina weather patterns affect snowfall, global temperature rise may impact conditions for skiers and boarders.

  “The long-term trend is less snow and earlier snowmelt. This means more frustration for snow sport enthusiasts and a negative impact on the snow sports industry,” a href=”http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/tspencer/skiing_snow_blog_2312.html” target=”_hplink”writes the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Theo Spencer/a.

  In May, a snow-less ski race was held in Aspen, Colorado to “highlight the effect climate change has on the outdoor recreation industry,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/06/aspen-ski-area-climate-change_n_1489390.html” target=”_hplink”reported the Associated Press/a.

• Thanksgiving Dinner Food Comas

  A 2010 paper in the journal emFood Research International/em found that climate change may one day affect the cost and quality of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, a href=”http://news.discovery.com/earth/thanksgiving-climate-change.html” target=”_hplink”reported Discovery News/a.

  Future temperature rises could impact the quality of turkey meat. Additionally, foods like “pumpkins, sweet potatoes, potatoes, grains [and] green beans … will be sensitive to water shortages should they arise,” study author Neville Gregory told Discovery News.

  In fact, common Thanksgiving foods were a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/thanksgiving-dinner-battles-weather_n_1099899.html” target=”_hplink”impacted by weather events in 2011/a, with shortages and price spikes hitting over the holidays.

• The Views On Your Alaska Vacation

  Earlier this year, researchers from the U.S. Forest Service confirmed that climate warming is killing southeast Alaska’s mighty yellow cedars. The study, published in the journal emBioscience/em, found that with decreasing snow cover, the trees’ shallow roots are more vulnerable to freezing, a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/18/climate-change-yellow-cedar_n_1286387.html” target=”_hplink”reported AP/a.

  Paul Schaberg, a U.S. Forest Service plant pathologist, said, “As time goes on and climates change even more, other species, other locations, are likely to experience similar kinds of progressions, so you might do well to understand this one so you can address those future things.”

• “Lady The Tramp”-Like Scenes

  Scientists at the British Met Office warn that Italy may soon be forced toa href=”http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/climate-threat-to-italys-pasta/story-e6frg6so-1225797946930″ target=”_hplink” import the basic ingredients to make pasta because climate change will make it impossible to grow durum wheat domestically/a. The crop could almost disappear from the country later this century, scientists say.

• Home Sweet Home (For Kiribatians)

  Along with the Maldives and other island nations, Kiribati is also threatened by climate change. Earlier this year, the president’s cabinet endorsed a plan to spend about $9.6 million for 6,000 acres on Fiji’s main island, a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/kiribati-global-warming-fiji_n_1334228.html” target=”_hplink”reported AP/a.

  President Anote Tong told AP, “We would hope not to put everyone on one piece of land, but if it became absolutely necessary, yes, we could do it.” He added, “It wouldn’t be for me, personally, but would apply more to a younger generation. For them, moving won’t be a matter of choice. It’s basically going to be a matter of survival.”

• Super Duper Fast Wi-Fi Connection

  A 2011 report from the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that climate change could affect certain infrastructure, like wireless internet. a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/09/climate-change-wi-fi-connections” target=”_hplink”The emGuardian/em reports/a, “higher temperatures can reduce the range of wireless communications, rainstorms can impact the reliability of the signal, and drier summers and wetter winters may cause greater subsidence, damaging masts and underground cables,” according to secretary of state for the environment.

  The emGuardian/em notes, “The government acknowledges that the impact of climate change on telecommunications is not well understood, but the report raises a series of potential risks.”

• The Great Smoky Mountains’ Smoke

  The Great Smoky Mountains have the most annual rainfall in the southeastern U.S., which mostly falls as a light, misty rain, a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/28/great-smoky-mountains-climate-change_n_1461482.html” target=”_hplink”explains OurAmazingPlanet/a.

  A study by a team from NASA’s Precipitation Measurement Missions found that “light rainfall is the dominant form of precipitation in the region, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of a year’s total, governing the regional water cycle.”

  a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/28/great-smoky-mountains-climate-change_n_1461482.html” target=”_hplink”OurAmazingPlanet/a notes:
  blockquoteThe results suggest the area may be more susceptible to climate change than thought; as temperatures rise, more of the fine droplets from light rain will evaporate in the air and fail to reach the ground. Lower elevations will have to contend with not only higher temperatures, but less cloud cover./blockquote

• California Beach Bums

  Along the California coast, beach communities are finding that it may be impossible to stop coastal erosion as global sea levels rise.

  a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/02/beach-communities-moving-inward_n_1565122.html” target=”_hplink”According to AP/a, David Revell, a senior coastal scientist at a href=”http://www.pwa-ltd.com/” target=”_hplink”ESA PWA/a, acknowledged the relentless power of the sea, saying, “I like to think of it as getting out of the way gracefully.”

  A a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/22/west-coast-sea-level-rise_n_1619568.html” target=”_hplink”report released in June by the Natural Resources Defense Council/a found that West Coast ocean levels will rise several inches in the next few decades. Sea levels along the California coast are expected to be six inches higher by 2030 and three feet higher by the end of the century.

  Despite the risks, another recent NRDC study found that a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/08/california-climate-change-study_n_1409312.html” target=”_hplink”California is one of several states/a with the best plans to deal with the effects of climate change.

• Repeats Of The Titanic

  2012 could be a record year for the extent of Arctic sea ice at its yearly summer minimum. Walt Meier, a research scientist at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, said that with recent satellite observations, “It definitely portends a low-ice year, whether it means it will go below 2007 (the record minimum in September), it is too early to tell,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/18/arctic-sea-ice-levels_n_1605441.html” target=”_hplink”reported LiveScience/a.

  As sea ice declines in the Arctic, countries are anticipating a a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/arctic-climate-change-military-activity_n_1427565.html” target=”_hplink”competition for control of shipping lanes and mineral extraction/a in the region.

  In Antarctica, research from the United States’ Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula has found that “87 percent of the peninsula’s land-bound glaciers are in retreat,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/12/environmental-threats-antarctica_n_1669023.html” target=”_hplink”reported OurAmazingPlanet/a.

  Decreasing sea ice levels were also addressed in a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/shell-arctic-ready-hoax-greenpeace_n_1684222.html” target=”_hplink”a recent spoof of Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic this summer/a.

• Crazy Sugar Highs

  Climate change has already impacted sugarcane production in Indonesia.

  In late 2011, the a href=”http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/09/sugar-association-blames-climate-change-production-drop.html
  http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/09/sugar-association-blames-climate-change-production-drop.html” target=”_hplink”chairman of the Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association said/a, “sugarcane production decreased by up to 30 percent in 2011 due to climate change that has occurred since 2009.”

• Warning Joe: Coffee Extinct in The Future?

  Climate changes and insect invasions threaten the future supply of morning joe.

• ian somerhalder

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• Adam Wiesehan

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Posted at: 07/23/2013 6:11 PM

By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4

The city of Albuquerque has demolished a traffic circle out in front of the Albuquerque Country Club, and now plans to replace it with  (trumpet fanfare please) a new improved traffic circle!

Most neighbors will tell you that the traffic circle was there for six months, maybe eight months. But city officials say nope, make it two years. At any rate it was never intended to be permanent, just a cheap asphalt pin-down job to see how people liked the traffic circle concept, and it seems they did. Price tag? About $16,000.

“It’s materials we can save and use at another location, so it’s not a waste of money,” said city Municipal Development chief Michael Riordan. “Then there is some pavement striping, some temporary striping. That will be a lost cost, but most of that $16,000 we’ll be able to use somewhere else in the city.”

The new traffic circle will be made of stouter stuff – concrete, curb-and-gutter, nice landscaping – with a price tag of about $150,000.

“It seems a bit much to me,” said neighbor Gordon Wohlert. “These are difficult times. $150,000? Well, that’s more than I have in my pocket!”

City officials plan to meet with neighbors next month to get their ideas about landscaping and design.

We feel compelled to point out that the Albuquerque Country Club is a well-known hub of affluence and influence. And the surrounding neighborhood is far from shabby! We’re just saying.

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